Students should be taught to avoid plagiarism

The speech of Melania Trump, wife of Donald Trump, US Republican Presidential Candidate, has been criticized for partly plagiarizing that of Michelle Obama. This has caused a sensation not only in the US but the world over. There is believed to be, however, appreciation for the opportunity to teach students about plagiarism, as discussed in a BBC News article entitled ‘Teachers are thanking Melania Trump’ dated July 19.

I am definitely among these grateful teachers. I agree that this incident can serve as teaching material for a lesson on defining and avoiding plagiarism. It is very important to give students a clear concept about plagiarism as many are ignorant of the seriousness of the offence. They have become over reliant on information downloaded from the internet and have got so used to copying, cutting and pasting that they use others’ ideas and writings as their own, often with no sense of guilt at all. So, teachers ought to educate the students on the need to respect others’ work as their intellectual property, and make it very clear that plagiarism is a form of misconduct, no less serious than theft. It is unfair, even immoral, to use quoted writings without citing the original source. In writing lessons, there should be emphasis on the importance of originality, and plagiarized work should be disqualified and penalized.

Melania Trump’s speech has become a subject of ridicule rendering it necessary for the speechwriter to apologize. But somehow it has done the students a good turn by giving them a timely warning against plagiarism.