Plagiarism is a skill of many tactics. It's like theft. Just as there are many ways to steal, there are many ways to plagiarize. The key to proper plagiarism is choosing the right tactic for the right situation, employing the right weapons for the right enemy. It takes more than nimble hands to pull a casino heist. But, at the same time, you don't need Danny Ocean to pick a pocket.
Don't Bring an Elephant Gun to a Rat Hunt
A well-done bit of plagiarism takes a good deal of time and effort. Sometimes, it's simply not worth the trouble. Unless you're a plagiarist by principle, if original research and original writing would take you less time than going through the rigor of properly done plagiarism, then think about either doing original work—or, better yet, tone down the quality of the plagiarism.
An assignment worth 10% of your mark isn't going to be marked (or read) as closely as a paper worth 50%. Take advantage of this, work within the boundaries of the situation. Think of it like playing a footie match: if the opposition is shoddy, you don't have to play as well as against a classier team. Don't play brainless, but lay off some challenges, walk a little instead of sprint.
Which brings us back to the title:
Don't go rat hunting with an elephant gun, because an elephant gun is unwieldy and uncomfortable. Yes, you'll blow away the rats, but what's the point? Plagiarism is the art of getting by on minimal effort. If you want to lug a huge weapon around, just do the work.
Smart plagiarism starts with the application of the proper tools to get the job done.
see also: The Panzer Pistol Rule
An assignment worth 10% of your mark isn't going to be marked (or read) as closely as a paper worth 50%. Take advantage of this, work within the boundaries of the situation. Think of it like playing a footie match: if the opposition is shoddy, you don't have to play as well as against a classier team. Don't play brainless, but lay off some challenges, walk a little instead of sprint.
Which brings us back to the title:
Don't go rat hunting with an elephant gun, because an elephant gun is unwieldy and uncomfortable. Yes, you'll blow away the rats, but what's the point? Plagiarism is the art of getting by on minimal effort. If you want to lug a huge weapon around, just do the work.
Smart plagiarism starts with the application of the proper tools to get the job done.
see also: The Panzer Pistol Rule