Final answer:
The citation in question is not acceptable because it lacks proper referencing, such as page numbers, and fails to meet academic standards for citation. Plagiarism, intentional or not, requires correct citation of all sources to maintain academic integrity and avoid serious consequences like disciplinary action.
Step-by-step explanation:
The citation provided by the student, "Das and Panjabi (2011) argue that plagiarism 'demonstrates your brashness' and to do it secretly amounts to cowardice," fails to be an acceptable citation or responsible use of material. This is because a proper citation should include explicit reference to the source material, such as page numbers for quotes, and the inclusion of quotation marks alone does not suffice. Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own without proper attribution, regardless of whether the act is intentional or not.
According to academic standards, there are several forms of plagiarism, which include submitting another person's entire essay or parts of it as one's own, copying and pasting from a source without proper citation, and not giving credit to the author when using their phrase or passage. Even if plagiarism is unintended, it is the researcher's responsibility to properly cite all sources used in their work. Unintentional plagiarism often happens due to careless note-taking or failing to reference material during the writing process.
To avoid plagiarism and adhere to ethical standards, it is imperative for students and researchers alike to practice careful research and writing. This includes correctly citing all borrowed material to respect intellectual property and uphold academic integrity. Failing to do so can lead to serious academic consequences, such as loss of trust and potential disciplinary actions.