"What did I do wrong?"

Each year the problem seems to get worse. We advise several thousand students studying overseas each year and warn them about "plagiarism".

Plagiarism is a serious word in the academic world. Simply defined, it is stealing other people's ideas. At university this most commonly relates to using another person's written work and not quoting it as a reference. Schools, colleges and universities are strict about this. Lawyers could define your ideas as "intellectual property" - and indeed there are now law courses on this subject.

Not using your own ideas is a form of cheating. An education institute will take this very seriously and at best you will fail the course in question if you are found to have plagiarised someone else's work. At worst you could be asked to leave.

So why is it such a problem, and an increasing one? A great sense of competition maybe? So many students wanting to gain a better grade? Or maybe it is more to do with laziness - "well, I didn't have time to finish my paper so I needed to borrow from someone else".

To a teacher it is often glaringly obvious when a student has borrowed someone else's ideas. From the first time they look at your work, they quickly get used to your style - the way you present your ideas - and then, also, the type and range of ideas you present. Stick in something from someone else, and it is usually very obvious. Hiding plagiarised ideas is very difficult.

Anyway, why bother to plagiarise? If you are bright enough to succeed in getting a place in a good school, college or university, then you should be bright enough to develop your own ideas.

So, no, you can't borrow my mobile phone. How do I know that you aren't going to call someone in New Zealand? But, since I am such a kind person, you can borrow my pen and write to them.

John Kelly, Director

Mentor International

www.mentor.ac