GO! FOR JOB SUCCESS Discussion: What is Plagiarism? Your instructor may assign these questions to your class, and then ask you to think about them or discuss with your classmates: The Council of Writing Program Administrators (2013) defines plagiarism as: In instructional settings, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else's language, idea, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source. Why is it important to acknowledge someone else's work in your own work? What are some reasons students may plagiarize? What are some ways to avoid plagiarism in your own work