Plagiarism verses inspiration: Students say use your own culture and experiences to keep your writing original and unique
Plagiarism and inspiration may share similarities, but both are entirely different from each other, said three BYU-Hawaii students. Kantima Romyasai, a junior from Thailand majoring in elementary education, said plagiarism involves copying someone else’s work without credit, while inspiration allows individuals to build on existing ideas to create new work.
Understanding plagiarism and inspiration
Renae Buckles, a junior from Las Vegas, Nevada, majoring in cultural and sustainable anthropology and a tutor at the Writing and Reading Lab, said she views plagiarism and inspiration as distinct but closely linked concepts in both academic and creative work. “For me, the line between plagiarism and inspiration is black and white,” she said. “You can’t discredit what’s already been done, but you also have to add your own creative twist,” she shared.
Mark Redd, a senior from California majoring in English with an emphasis on creative writing who is also a tutor at WRL, said he sees plagiarism and inspiration as distinct concepts, though the line can sometimes be blurry in creative works. “If you’re taking direct quotes, you obviously have to cite them, even in creative writing,” he said. “Inspiration can come from themes or archetypes, but the key is to make sure what you’re putting out is truly your own work,” he continued.
“Plagiarism is when you copy someone’s work and say it is yours,” Romyasai said. “Inspiration is when you get ideas from someone but make something new in your own way,” she continued.
The importance of giving credit
Buckles said understanding plagiarism is essential for academic success. “Plagiarism exists to protect research, but it’s also about ensuring accountability,” she said. “When you’re mindful of how to credit others, it often changes the types of articles you choose to use,” she shared.
Romyasai said giving credit when using someone else’s ideas is important for fairness and integrity. “The person who made the idea worked hard, so we should respect them,” she said. “Also, it helps people trust you when you do your own work,” she added.
Redd said one way to acknowledge inspiration in creative works is to reference it with an introduction. “If you’re pulling specific ideas, it’s good to say, ‘This is what inspired me,’” he said. “That way, you’re not misleading readers into thinking it’s entirely original,” he shared.
Challenges with plagiarism among students
In her experience working with international students, Buckles said many of them face challenges due to differing educational backgrounds. In other countries, “plagiarism hasn’t always been emphasized the way it is in the U.S.,” she said. “In American education, there’s a strong focus on crediting others, and if you don’t, you risk consequences,” she continued.
Romyasai said plagiarism has been a frequent topic in her education courses. “My professors talk about the need for citations a lot,” she said. “What stands out to me is sometimes students do not know they are plagiarizing, but it is still wrong,” she added.
Buckles said students often unknowingly plagiarize due to a lack of understanding. “It’s rarely intentional unless they’re blatantly copying or using AI tools like ChatGPT,” she said. “For many, it’s just that proper citation wasn’t part of their curriculum,” she added.
Redd said a common misconception among students is thinking AI-generated content is their own work. “Some students believe that because they typed the prompt, the AI-generated output belongs to them,” he said. “But you’re not the one who wrote those words. AI did,” he added.
AI and plagiarism detection
Buckles said AI can be both a helpful tool and a potential pitfall in academic writing. “I’ve worked with ChatGPT for a whole semester, and when used correctly, it’s an amazing resource,” she said. “But when students rely on it to generate full responses without analysis, it’s obvious because AI lacks the human element of sensory details and depth,” she shared.
Redd said he hasn’t seen many students plagiarize unknowingly. “Our English staff does a good job explaining proper citations,” he said. “I’ve run into a few cases of intentional plagiarism, and I gently remind students about the Honor Code and the potential consequences,” he added.
When asked whether he can distinguish AI-generated writing from human work, Redd said it depends. “Sometimes, it’s easy if I’m familiar with the student’s writing style or the topic,” he said. “Different AI tools have distinct patterns, so I can usually tell when something doesn’t sound like it came from a person,” he shared.
Romyasai said technology has helped her do grammar and plagiarism checks. “AI makes me more confident when I write because it helps keep my grammar in check,” she said. “I also use another tool, like Grammarly, to check plagiarism,” she added.
Encouraging creativity while avoiding plagiarism
When discussing inspiration in creative writing, Buckles said it’s important to recognize the difference between drawing ideas and directly copying. “We’re all taking inspiration from somewhere,” she said. “It’s about how much of that original work you’re borrowing and how you’re transforming it into something new,” she added.
Romyasai said elementary teachers can encourage creativity while also teaching students to respect original work. “Teachers can tell students to make their own ideas first before looking at examples,” she said. “Also, they can show how to change something to make it their own,” she added.
For creative writing, Buckles said variation is key to avoiding unintentional plagiarism. “I love fantasy and some tropes—like enemies to lovers or dragons—are common,” she said. “But the audience and the way you present the story make it unique,” she shared.
Redd said students can maintain originality by drawing on personal experiences or cultural backgrounds. “Academic resources are often Eurocentric,” he said. “Because of our university’s diversity, students can use their cultural experiences to say something different you won’t find in a typical research paper,” he shared.
Strategies for avoiding plagiarism
To maintain originality while drawing from existing work, Buckles said students should be able to analyze and reframe information. “Quoting is important, but paraphrasing and breaking down ideas in your own words are essential,” she said. “If you’re inspired by how someone said something, you can adapt it to fit a modern context,” she added.
Redd said students should be mindful of their inspirations. “You need to be conscious of where your ideas are coming from,” he said. “One way to avoid unintentional plagiarism is to have others review your work before you submit or publish it,” he shared. “They can help you spot similarities with other works and make sure you’re staying original,” he continued.
Buckles said creative inspiration often involves acknowledging influences while creating something different. “Tolkien’s work is a classic example,” she said. “He based parts of ‘The Lord of the Ring’s on religious themes and the world wars, but modern fantasy authors adapt those ideas for new audiences,” she added.