Final answer:
Plagiarism is the act of using another's words or ideas without giving credit, which can result in severe academic consequences. The person who plagiarizes is known as a plagiarist. Students must avoid plagiarism by correctly citing all sources and respecting intellectual property rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plagiarism is the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving proper credit. This can include copying and pasting from a source directly into a paper without using quotation marks or providing accurate citations, submitting someone else's essay as your own, or even re-using a previous essay of your own without instructor permission. Plagiarism can be both intentional, such as deliberately presenting someone else's work as your own, or unintentional, which may happen when a student carelessly takes or copies notes into drafts without proper citation.
The individual who commits plagiarism is commonly referred to as a plagiarist. This term specifically applies to someone who steals intellectual property and presents it as their own. Intellectual property includes any work that results from someone’s creativity and effort, and is protected by copyright laws. Writers and speakers must always attribute the sources of words, ideas, or information they use to avoid plagiarism and respect intellectual property.
The consequences for plagiarism can be severe, as it betrays the trust of instructors, peers, and institutions. It is, therefore, essential for students to practice ethical research and writing, ensuring they avoid plagiarism through proper attribution and citation of sources.