The news media today is filled with articles on plagiarism. Well known figures such as Stephen Ambrose and Doris Kearns Goodwin parade across our newspapers charged with plagiarizing. Studies from around the country show a high number of high school and college students admitting to using others' works as their own. It's fairly clear that more should be done to prevent plagiarism. In reviewing the literature, prevention of plagiarism involves three issues: understanding why it happens, detecting it and structuring assignments to prevent it.