Essay Preparation Papers need to follow MLA style in format and documentation. The Waste Land Statement on Plagiarism Plagiarism is the representation of another person's words and ideas as one's own. This misrepresentation is a breach of ethics that seriously compromises a person's reputation. Professional and academic careers have been ruined by revelations of plagiarism. As a writer and a student, you must be aware that plagiarism is a serious offense.
Plagiarism is, therefore, theft.
A student who plagiarizes all or part of an assignment can expect penalties ranging from failure for that assignment to failure in the course. Writers, therefore, must scrupulously acknowledge sources to give proper credit for borrowed materials. The following rules should be observed to make sure that the distinction between one's own words and ideas and those of others is justly maintained. Words, phrases, and sentences of another person should be enclosed in quotation marks and cited in proper form. Paraphrases and summaries of the ideas of others should be properly cited.