A Difference of Opinion: Interrogating the Ethics of Self-Plagiarism in Academia
By Makenna Kramer, Assistant Opinion Editor
When a professor releases an essay prompt that is nearly identical to a paper you wrote last quarter, it may seem like a good idea to reuse your old essay. However,
representing … the student’s own previous work as if it were the student’s original or new workis listed as a prohibited activity in UCLA's Plagiarism and Student Copyright policy, clearly condemning self-plagiarism.
The act of reusing old work for a new assignment raises serious ethical concerns, as it ignores the true purpose of college writing assignments. Professors assign papers to help students develop their writing skills and perspectives, not to produce groundbreaking work.
Some key points to consider:
- UCLA's honor code prohibits self-plagiarism
- Self-plagiarism ignores the purpose of college writing assignments
- Reuse of old work raises serious ethical concerns
Author's summary: Self-plagiarism is a serious ethical concern in academia.