Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of another persons ideas as you own. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as:
"The action or practice of plagiarizing; the wrongful appropriation or purloining, and publication as one's own, of the ideas, or the expression of the ideas (literary, artistic, musical, mechanical, etc.) of another."
UK and US research shows that students plagiarise through:
- ignorance
- poor academic skills
- and a small number through choice, in other words deliberately.
Librarians can and should take an active role in educating others on the causes of plagiarism and how to avoid being a plagiarist. This should include advice on how to ethically communicate ideas and knowledge to others, as well as the mechanics of citation and the creation of bibliographies.
Plagiarism resources
- QCA. Authenticating coursework: teacher's guide. This leaflet will give teachers advice on how to check that the work is the candidate’s own independent work; what to do if cheating is suspected and useful sources of information and help.
- JISC Plagiarism Advisory Service offers guidance and advice on plagiarism prevention and detection.
- JISC-iPAS asked the NCC group to carry out a review of plagiarism detection tools. The results are now available.
- JISC-iPAS case studies on how to prevent plagiarism.
- Kevin Brace's wiki on Plagiarism and collusion.
- JISC Netskills Plagiarism Awareness Teaching Materials for Secondary Schools funded by Eduserv - Plagiarism is a high-profile issue for schools, particularly issues relating to the internet and coursework. These materials can be used with staff or students to help raise awareness of plagiarism and how it can be avoided.
- Plagiarism.org is a website that aims to provide guidance and advice on how to prevent plagiarism.
- Plagiarism prevention for students from Cal State San Marcos Library provides students with guidance on what plagiarism is, how to avoid it and how to cite correctly.
- Plagiarism Stoppers: A Teacher's Guide lists places to go for help with student plagiarism, how to identify it, what to do when it happens, how to prevent it.
- Copy, shake and paste - a blog on plagiarism
- Avoiding plagiarism - Leicester University have a set of subject specific interactive tutorials on what plagiarisn is and the study skills needed to avoid being a plagiarist.
- Plagiarism - University of Leeds Guide is aimed at both staff and students.
- InfoTrail@Lboro: Ethical use of information - plagiarism and citation, is an online tutorial aimed at students, which outlines what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.
- Olivia showcase - two modules aimed at students on plagiarism and referencing. Guest log-in to the complete OLIVIA module produced by Imperial College are: Username: oliviaguest07, Password: olivia07
- PLATO is an online tutorial that encourages students to reflect on what plagiarism is and how it can be avoided. It has been developed at Derby University for new undergraduates and is now available for purchase.
- Sharpen up your skills: tackling academic misconduct is produced by the University of Wolverhampton and includes advice to students on how to avoid plagiarism.
- University of Sussex Although this is aimed at HE students – the definitions, prevention and detection sections are useful for all sectors.
- University of Central Dublin provide a guide to students on how to avoid being a plagiarist.
- You quote it, you note it! is an interactive tutorial on plagiarism and citation from from Vaughan Memorial Library, Acadia
University.
Photograph obtained from www.freefoto.com
Page compiled by: the CILIP CSG Information Literacy Group
Updated: 14 February 2009.