Plagiarism, in general, is when you use someone else's ideas without giving them credit. There are different types, or levels, of plagiarism. If a source is copied exactly, it is called word-for-word plagiarism. If the idea is still there but the words have been rearranged or slightly changed, it is called paraphrase plagiarism. When only a few "keywords" are used, but the idea remains the same, it is called spot plagiarism (Sebranek, Meyer, and Kemper 179). At Miami University, if someone is accused of plagiarism "the consequences range from failing the particular assignment to failing the class, suspension, and dismissal from the university (www.sba.muohio.edu)." I would assume that how bad the person plagiarized decides the punishment.
             Really, the only way to avoid plagiarism is to cite your work. During my conversation with a third year Western major named Brendan McGill, we decided that it is possible for someone to be accused of plagiarism in pretty much any circumstance. He pointed out that the rules of plagiarism make it virtually impossible to take credit for original thought. Almost anything that is said or written has probably had been said before and if it has not, it is probably close enough to something else to be considered plagiarism.
             The rules of plagiarism are just too unspecific. If I were to write a paper for Hays Cummins for Natural Systems, he would post it on the Internet. The paper automatically becomes property of the school. If I were to come back later and use a quote from my paper, I could be accused of plagiarism if I did not cite my own quote. I can be charged with plagiarism against myself. That's ridiculous.
             I do not mean to mislead anyone. I do think that the idea of plagiarism is bad, but the rules are too strict. I would not want anyone copying my writing and claiming it was their own, but I don't want someone that has the same ideas to not b...