The Consequences of Plagiarizing
Plagiarizing may seem harmless. That's not the case. There can be several short-term and long-term consequences to plagiarism:
Short term: Plagiarism can ruin your college career.
From the A-State Student Handbook:
Faculty members may respond to cases of plagiarism in any of the following ways:
- Return the paper or other item for rewriting: the grade may be lowered.
- Give a failing grade on the paper or other item - "F" if a letter grade is used or zero if a numerical grade is used.
- Give the student who plagiarized a failing grade in the course.
- Recommend sanctions, including disciplinary expulsion from the university.
Long term: Plagiarism can ruin your career.
As more and more things go online and it becomes easier and easier to search, plagiarism is easier to detect than ever. Even if you get away with something now, that doesn't mean that it won't resurface later in your career. A plagiarism scandal could ruin your career. Look at the headlines below:
From The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/08/walsh-quits-senate-bid-in-montana-after-plagiarism-scandal/375761/
From The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/09/german-education-minister-quits-phd-plagiarism
From The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/02/hungarian-president-resigns-doctorate-plagiarism
And it's not just politicians who face consequences. Other recent cases in include:
- Flaw (band) Fires Tommy Gibbons Over Plagiarism Scandal
- Director Kevin Bao Fired by Animation Studio After Accused of Plagiarism
- Scientist Leaves Swinburne After Journals Retract 30 Studies Over Plagiarism Claims
- University of Kansas Vice Provost Resigns Amid Plagiarism Allegations
- USC Professor’s Book Recalled After Multiple Plagiarism Reports
- Call of Duty dog skin images scrubbed following plagiarism claim
