You may have to repeat the assignment
You could be suspended
You ruin your school's reputation
You may fail the course
You lose your credibility
You lose people's trust

Use your own words
Give credit to your sources
Be accurate to the original meaning

Rework someone else's paper or buy from paper mills
Use the author's sentences and replace words with synonyms
Forget to acknowledge a source
Change the meaning of a passage

Learn how to correctly cite sources by reading up on the American Psychological Association (APA) style. You can find more information on APA style in the Student Success Center's Writing Resources page.

Did you hear Bobby Failed? He copied Mary's Report!

Lichtenstein, R. (1965). Girl With Hair Ribbon

Lichtenstein, R. (1963). In the Car

Menager-Beeley, R. & Paulos, L. (2006). Understanding Plagiarism: A Student Guide to Writing Your Own Work. Boston: Houghton Mifflin

Academic Integrity

Students of Wilmington University are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic pursuits. It is inappropriate conduct to falsify the results of research; steal the words, phrases, or ideas of another; cheat or attempt to cheat on an examination; or to aid, assist, or allow another to commit an act of academic dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty are serious offenses.

Additional information may be found in the Wilmington University Code of Conduct.