Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the failure to acknowledge the use of someone else’s work or trying to pass the work off as your own. While there are cases of intentional plagiarism, most cases of plagiarism are unintentional, due to referencing errors, failing to use good academic practice or poor organisation and time management.

It is important to remember to reference any sources that you have used to inform your work. This is not restricted to text-based sources, but also includes audio, visual and physical sources such as films, videos, pictures, radio, music and dance. It is equally as important to ensure that you are referencing using the correct referencing structure. The college’s referencing guide can help you if you are not sure how to do this. You can also visit the Referencing page on the library website.

Plagiarism can have serious consequences and is a very serious academic offence. It can result in a grade cap or fail grade. Some universities may remove the student from a module or course if the student is caught plagiarising. However, while plagiarism is serious and is often a frightening concept for students, it can be easy to avoid by using good planning and good academic practice. This guide will help you understand plagiarism and how to avoid it.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM?   

There are many ways to plagiarise. The following are all considered forms of plagiarism:

• Presenting someone else’s work as you own. No matter how small the piece of work, using the work of someone else is a form of plagiarism. This includes copying work by other students as well as paying for someone else to complete the work (inc. essay mills and ghost writing).
• Directly quoting from a source without referencing. You can quote directly from a source as long as you reference your source and use direct quotes in moderation.
• Using too many quotations. You can overquote. There will become a point when your work becomes someone else’s work and ideas, with you providing linking sentences. You should only use direct quotations to emphasise key points or if you cannot put the information into your own words.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source. All ideas that come from someone else must be matched with an in-text citation and a reference in the reference list, even when you are using your own words to describe it.
• Just altering a few words. When you are paraphrasing, you must use your own words. If you just alter one or two words, retaining the original sentence structure, then you are plagiarising. The work has to be written completely in your own words.
• Audio plagiarism. Just as you can plagiarise by copying text, you can also plagiarise by copying lyrics or parts of a composition. Even a small rift or a couple of notes in a longer composition piece of your own can be considered as plagiarism if you do not acknowledge the original source.
• Visual plagiarism. Pictures are often forgotten in referencing, but if you are using a picture in your work then you have to credit the original creator. This stands also if you make minor adjustments to the image. You still need to credit the original creator.
• Recycling your own work. Assessments and other work tasks are given to student to demonstrate what you have learnt in that particular module or unit. Your work is also a reflection of the time you have spent on the unit. If you submit a piece of work that you have completed for another module, unit or task, then you are not demonstrating that you have learnt anything new nor demonstrating the time you have spent on this unit/module/task.
• Working with someone else but not declaring it. There will be situations that allow group work. Your tutor may set group work. However, it is important that when you are working with someone else, that you declare it so your tutor and any marker is aware of what work you completed and what work your partner/group did.

AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

In most cases student plagiarise unintentionally. However, with good planning and good academic practice students can be confident that they can avoid being accused of plagiarism. Good academic practice is something that students should learn and practice throughout their academic lives. Time management and personal organisation are also skills to help avoid plagiarism.

1. Manage your time. Most referencing errors (and therefore cases of plagiarism) is due to poor time management. Referencing can be tempting to leave to last minutes, but this often results in students rushing to complete it and making mistakes or omissions. Make sure you are leaving enough time to complete your references correctly.
2. Make notes of sources as you go. Many students will find that they have found the perfect source to use in their work, however, when they come to reference it at the end, they cannot find the source again. If you can’t reference the source then you cannot use the information. Making notes of the sources as you go means that that source is always available for you to use. You do not need to reference as you go but make sure you know what information you need to reference that source type and make a note of it. Keep those notes until your work has been graded.
3. When paraphrasing ensure you use your own words. The best way to ensure that you are using your own words is to write out a list of key points and key words and put them together in a paragraph in your own words. Place the original source aside as you do so, so you are not tempted to use their words and follow their sentence structure.
4. In your notes, highlight in colour any direct quotations that you want to use. Direct quotes should be used sparingly. Only quote if the direct quote will add something to your work. If it can be paraphrased and have the same impact, then paraphrase it.
5. Allow enough time to check your final draft for possible errors or emissions. Make sure that everything has been referenced and all references follow the correct referencing format.

GOOD ACADEMIC PRACTICE

Good academic practice is a skill that should be developed throughout secondary education so it is routine and instinctual for students as they enter university.

Good academic practice can be simplified into seven steps.

1. Really understand the task before you start. Make sure you know exactly what you have to do. Is your assignment asking you to describe, explain, analyse or discuss?
2. Doing your research. Use secondary sources to research your topic. These can include lecture notes and sources from reading lists and any independent research you have completed. Do initial research to assess the feasibility of your research, before completing a full research project.
3. Planning, constructing and preparing your assignment. Plan what you are going to write about. You may not be able to plan it all, as you may not know where your full research will take you, but you can give yourself a brief outline using conclusions drawn from your initial research.
4. Taking information from sources from your notes. Make notes as you research and note down what source provided what information.
5. Recording all references for in-text citations and the reference list. When you are researching recording the references for your sources means that it will be easier to reference later. You will need an in-text citation and a reference for the reference list for every source that you use.
6. Writing the assignment in your own words. Make sure that you are writing in your own words rather than reordering the words of someone else.

QUICK TIPS

• Quotations should be used sparingly and should be shown with clear quotation marks “ ” and followed immediately by the in-text citation.
• When paraphrasing a piece of work, make bullet points for the key points and then use the bullet points to write the information in your own words.
• When working in a group create a group work agreement to outline who will be doing what work. You can then easy declare this to your tutor or the marker.
• Never submit a piece of work completed by anyone other than yourself.
• Never hand in a piece of work you have submitted for a different assignment.
• Always check your references for any error or omissions before you submit.

The best way to avoid plagiarism is to avoid situations where you may be at risk of plagiarising in your work. Make sure you have read the College’s plagiarism policy and reference all sources correctly as you write you work.

If you need any additional help with plagiarism, you can contact the Librarian, Anysia, for assistance.