Reviewing Your Documents for Plagiarism

Many people know what plagiarism is and have even heard of people using the “eye-catcher” to catch others who might be plagiarizing. The eye-catcher is a small device that looks like a tiny camera, which when turned on, can examine any documents for similarities to other documents that are in the public domain. This device, though very effective, is not foolproof. While it can often catch plagiarized work, it cannot necessarily tell if the source of the copying was truly plagiarized or if the document was truly written by the same person. So in many cases, a review of the documents for plagiarism will be necessary.

Using a plagiarism checker can be a useful way to discover if someone has intentionally written documents that are similar to yours so you can determine whether or not your works are similar. A plagiarism checker can also help you learn whether or not another person has blatantly lifted content from your own work, which is also another common problem. Simply having documents reviewed for plagiarism will not guarantee that the documents were actually plagiarized. Reviewing documents for plagiarism is an act of proofreading and analyzing, and it is important to ensure that all the documentation has been thoroughly examined before publishing or submitting any materials to the public.

The best way to learn whether or not your works are plagiarized is to simply read through your entire portfolio or curriculum and do a quick review of all of the documents for plagiarism. If you find several documents that seem to be lifted directly from your portfolio or from the Internet, then you may want to discuss the issue with your instructor or committee chair. Reviewing documents for plagiarism is just a precautionary measure and should be done immediately after you have finished your education. Do not ignore the possibility of plagiarism or pass up opportunities for professional growth or job opportunities simply because you are worried about being accused of plagiarizing. Reviewing your portfolio and other materials for plagiarism is a worthwhile investment in order to ensure that your future projects and presentations are truly your own works. If you find multiple examples of lifting content from other sources, then it is time to make a swift judgment concerning your professional future and career.