Guilty or not? - Plagiarism2013-2014

Sara Burnett

Mechanical & Automotive Engineering

Karen Butcher

Aerospace & Aircraft Engineering

Davina OmarCivil Engineering

Hall, Matthew Henry (2007) ‘I like the writing in that paper. I only wish more of it had been yours’ . [cartoon] Teachable moments April 6th [Online] Available at: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/tm/cartoon0406. (Accessed: 4 November 2010)

What do you think Plagiarism is?

What do you think plagiarism is?

Why is it so tempting to plagiarize?

Image created with wordle.net October 2011

Situation 1

You rewrite a paragraph from a website in your own words making it shorter and changing the words used. You also change the order of the sentences to make it fit better into your report.

You put an in-text citation and a reference at the

end of your text. Is this plagiarism?

No. You have changed the language but have acknowledged the source of your idea – which is all you need to do.

Situation 2

You have written a piece of work and did not realise that there were parts of your work you had to cite and reference.

You defend yourself by saying you did not mean to do anything wrong.

Is this a valid argument?

No Plagiarism is still plagiarism regardless of whether it is accidental or deliberate. Saying I didn’t mean to – so surely I’m innocent – is not a defence. It is your responsibility to know what you can and

can’t do.

Situation 3

A student uses an idea from a book in their assignment.

The student puts the idea into his/her own words and so does not cite the source.

Is this plagiarism?

Yes it is. The idea may be expressed differently from the original text but it is still not the student’s idea. Putting an idea into your own words does not make it your idea.

Situation 4

A group of students are working on a poster for an assignment to which each member of the group will be assigned the same mark.

Each student contributes some text or an image but one image and one paragraph are cut and pasted from an Internet site and not referenced.

Are all students guilty of plagiarism or just the two who have cut and pasted their work?

All students. If your name is on the assignment then you must check ALL work before you

submit it.

Situation 5

A student is struggling to finish an assignment because of difficulties at home.

A second student gives him a copy of their assignment The first student changes some sentences of this work and submits it.

Who is guilty of plagiarism – the first student, the second student or both?

Both. This is collusion and the lecturer cannot tell who has done the work. The work you submit must be your own unless it is a group assignment. Even if you are trying to help a friend, you could be guilty of plagiarism if they use your work

Situation 6 A student studying for an honours degree was found guilty of

plagiarism in their first year and had to resubmit their assignment.

In their third year the student is again found guilty due to poor referencing.

Can the student have their qualification level reduced from honours to ordinary?

Yes. In fact they could have their degree taken away. It may impact on future work – integrity is seen by employers as a key attribute.

Section 2. Kingston’s definition of plagiarism

Plagiarism is "Presenting the work of another person (or people) as one’s own without proper acknowledgement" (Kingston University, 2012).

Kingston University (2012) Academic regulations 6: Academic Misconduct (Cheating in Assessment) Taught Courses. Kingston : Kingston University.

A Citation – a marker within your text formally recognising the source from which you have taken the information.

A Reference – a detailed description of the source of your information. These are listed at the end of the text as a Reference List.

When you use other peoples’ ideas your must acknowledge your sources through the formal process of Citation and Referencing. If done correctly this avoids charges of plagiarism.

Kingston’s definition of plagiarism

Presenting – Here it means giving the wrong impression (by accident) or misleading on purpose (deliberately) anyone reading your work. Plagiarism attempts to deceive the lecturer marking your work.

Work of another – Can mean the exact words (copying and pasting) but can more generally mean opinions, ideas, drawings, data that you have taken from someone else even if put in your own words. Paraphrasing without acknowledgement is plagiarism.

Kingston’s definition of plagiarism

One’s own – Ideas, words, opinions belong to whoever thought or wrote them first. It is OK to borrow them and use them in your assignments but you must make it clear that they are not your own.

Without proper acknowledgement – You can use the works of another (books etc.) but you need to indicate this with citations and references.

Section 3. Why is it necessary to use other peoples’ ideas?

When you research an area you have to use other peoples’ ideas. This is how knowledge progresses – you would otherwise be constantly re-inventing the wheel.

You are expected to use other peoples’ ideas in your work and you will get credit for this.

It shows you can find information and use ideas to support your thinking.

You cannot…

X Cut and paste text from an electronic document and claim that it is your work

X Copy text from a book or from another student’s dissertation and claim that it is your work

X Paraphrase or adapt the work of others without acknowledgment

X Present a group project with your name on it where some of the work has been cut and pasted

X Allow your own work to be copied by another student

X Plagiarise and then claim that you did not mean to do it. It is your responsibility to know what plagiarism is – claiming ignorance is not a defence

Batty, D. (2008) Raj Persaud: TV psychiatrist plagiarism. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jun/16/mentalhealth.health (Accessed: 16.10.12)

BBC. (2011) German minister loses doctorate after plagiarism row. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12566502 (Accessed: 16.10.12)

Wooldridge, Rebecca (2010) ‘Your future needs you’ [poster] Free plagiarism posters [Online] Available at : http://plagiarismadvice.org (Accessed: 4 November 2010)

Section 4. Why is plagiarism taken so seriously in Higher Education?

Ideas are the intellectual property of other people and theft of them is taken very seriously in the academic world.

Technology has made cutting and pasting easy – the Internet – Schools – a deluge - now a

war on plagiarism.

Because it devalues the worth of your degree. If plagiarism is allowed to grow unchecked, degrees will become worthless.

What are the possible consequences if you are caught plagiarising

You can have your qualification level reduced – e.g. honours to ordinary.

It can go onto your student record and passed on to prospective employers – raising questions about your integrity.

You can fail your degree

http://www.kingston.ac.uk/aboutkingstonuniversity/howtheuniversityworks/policiesandregulations/academic-regulations/documents/academic-misconduct-taught.pdf

Section 5. Technological Solutions to Plagiarism

We have to make you aware of the War against Plagiarism. But no matter we say, there is a percentage that will be tempted to plagiarise

Technology has created much of the problem – on the Internet are essay sites, even sites where you can get a bespoke master’s dissertation - but it can also be used to detect plagiarism.

Turnitin software in action: Catching the copycatSource: Catching the copycat (2010) BBC Learning Zone [Online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/catching-the-copycat/9567.html ( Accessed:4 November 2010)

Alliborne, L. (2012) Plagiarism tutorial. Available at: https://mykingston.kingston.ac.uk/mysupport/myskills/Pages/Plagiarism.aspx (Accessed: 16.10.12)

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SARA BURNETTKAREN BUTCHER

DAVINA OMAR