American academic writing is a special form of writing. It differs from business writing, letter writing and the writing done in high school, and also it differs from the type of writing done in other countries. American academic writing can be especially difficult to understand because it is based on contradictions.

For example, you have to do the following:

• Show that you understand the history of your topic and have performed enough research but write something that differs from the research you have done.

• Use the arguments of experts and other academics but improve upon or disagree with these very same experts.

• Improve your English by mimicking what you read and hear but use your own words and your own voice.

• Cite your sources and the ideas in their research but make your own ideas the focus of your paper.

• Accurately quote, summarize and paraphrase other’s work but analyze, evaluate and perhaps even criticize the flaws in that work.

When you fail in these tasks, the result is a form of plagiarism. Plagiarism is copying someone else’s ideas or work, and even if you do it accidentally, plagiarism has serious consequences. These consequences will vary based on the severity of the plagiarism and on the ethical codes used by your university or college