What is Plagiarism and how do you prevent it
What is Plagiarism and how do you prevent it
Plagiarism is the borrowing of material and trying to pass it as one’s own. It is important to understand what constitutes plagiarism:
- Quoting without citing references.
- Directly coping and pasting another author’s work and crediting their ideas as one’s own.
- Improper paraphrasing. This can range from substituting words in a sentence and/or reshuffling the sentence. In other words, the sentence is still borrowed.
An example taken from Butte College:
“Original:
To study the challenge of increasing the food supply, reducing pollution, and encouraging economic growth, geographers must ask where and why a region’s population is distributed as it is. Therefore, our study of human geography begins with a study of population (Rubenstein 37).
Inadequately paraphrased (word substitution only) and uncited:
To increase food supplies, ensure cleaner air and water, and promote a strong economy, researchers must understand where in a region people choose to live and why. So human geography researchers start by studying populations.
This writer reworded a two-sentence quote. That makes it his, right? Wrong. Word substitution does not make a sentence, much less an idea, yours. Even if it were attributed to the author, this rewording is not enough; paraphrasing requires that you change the sentence structure as well as the words. Either quote the passage directly, or substantially change the original by incorporating the idea the sentences represent into your own claim.
Adequately, substantially paraphrased and cited:
As Rubenstein points out, distribution studies like the ones mentioned above are at the heart of human geography; they are an essential first step in planning and controlling development (37).”
- Relying heavily on cited quotes in your document without any original idea that is stated in your own words to tie the information together. Essentially you are still borrowing.
- Dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class or a class taken in a previous semester(s) without express permission from the instructor.
How to prevent plagiarism from happening:
- Each journal article you read, use your note pad to make bulleted points on what the author has written, but phrase it in your own words unless you intend to quote.
- Make sure for every article you read, you record the source on your notepad along with the bulleted information.
- Read all your notes and organize them in terms of similarity. This will help you structure your paragraphs.
- Number each paragraph in the order you want them to go in your assignment.
- Rewrite your bulleted points into sentences.
- Reference each sentence unless you are concluding a thought process. If so, then justify your conclusion and at this point you might also want to reference an article that will lead to credibility of your conclusion.
Penalties for Academic Misconduct: Will be reported to the Dean of Students
- First offense: A “0” will be recorded as the score for that activity AND the final course grade reduced by one complete grade
- Second offense” Assignment of F (Fail) for the final course grade
- For grievous infractions such as, but not limited to, a systematic or collaboratory event: An assignment of F (Fail) for the final course grade may be issued in the case of a first offense.
- An example of a grievous 1st offense that will result in an “F” in the course would be turning in collections that you have stolen, borrowed, or otherwise not personally collected and try to pass them off as your work
The following is taken from the Policies Chapter under “Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.” UNT Undergraduate Catalog. The university is creating a database, so all incidents of plagiarism and cheating since April 2017 are now required to be reported to the university.
Academic dishonesty — Cheating
The term ‘cheating’ includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations;
(b) Dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying other assignments;
(c) The acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university;
(d) Dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class or a class taken in a previous semester(s) without express permission from the instructor(s); or
(e) Any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage.
Academic dishonesty — Plagiarism
The term ‘plagiarism’ includes, but is not limited to:
(a) The knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; and
(b) The knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
Plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test: copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers; representing the work of another as one’s own; collaborating, without authority, with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work: or otherwise practicing scholastic dishonesty.
“Academic dishonesty matters may first be considered by the faculty members who may assign penalties such as failing, reduction or changing a grade in a test, course, assignments, or other academic work, denial of a degree and/or performing additional academic work not required of other students in the course. If the student does not accept the decision of the faculty member, he/she may have his/her case heard by the academic department chairperson or head for review of his/her case. If the student does not accept the decision of the academic department, he/she may then follow the normal appeal procedures listed under Disciplinary Procedures.”
