A year in development, the WPA's official Statement on Plagiarism is at last finished and published to the web. The 7-page document (in .pdf format) is perhaps one of the most comprehensive statements on the subject to date.
WPA Releases Statement on Plagiarism
Submitted by platypus matt on January 21, 2003 - 14:33.
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Distinguishing between "misuse of sources" and "plagiarism"
I pretty much agree with the statement as published, but I wonder how academic institutions will respond. If I teach my students that there is a difference between "misuse of sources" and "plagiarism," but my institution makes no such distinction, I may not be doing my students any favors.
In addition, if institutions choose to adopt the WPA definition, I can imagine every student invoking the "misuse of sources" defense when plagiarism charges are brought. Isn't that why institutions typically make no such distinction in the first place?