Plagiarism

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Plagiarism

• What it is, and why it matters
• Examples of plagiarism
• Intent is not relevant
• Using the work of other students
• Plagiarism To learn more

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Plagiarism

• What is it? Presenting as ones own work, the
  work of another person (University at Albany)
• Why is it a serious breach? U.S. universities
  privilege, as a fundamental learning objective,
  the capacity of student to develop ideas and
  arguments, and to reach conclusions. Assessments
  in course modules (and the thesis or
  dissertation) focus on the students own work.
  This means you, as the student, solved the
  problem or identified key findings from a
  research article or study or drew your own
  conclusions.
• In your work, dont plagiarize. DO attribute to
  the source (researcher, study) the ideas or
  argument or finding that you include in your
  submission.

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Examples of Plagiarism

• Word-for-word copy of text, without attribution
  of source. Set off in quotation marks, with
  attribution at the quote.
• Ideas, logical arguments, or conclusions from a
  source, without attribution. Refer to the source
  in the text, or cite in the text at the place
  where the idea, argument, or conclusion is
  introduced. A listing in the references is not
  sufficient attribution, nor is a general
  reference in the text.
• Keep in mind that the learning objective usually
  goes beyond identifying and knowing relevant
  ideas and findings. The students submission is
  judged by how you draw on the original work of
  others (attributed) to develop and support your
  own idea, your own analysis, and your own
  conclusions.

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Intent is not relevant

• If a student does not attribute the original
  source of an idea, finding, or conclusion, it is
  plagiarism. This is true, whether the lack of
  appropriate attribution is intended or not. It
  is the students responsibility to know what
  plagiarism is and how to properly attribute
  original material.
• The student is responsible for understanding the
  legitimate use of sources, the appropriate ways
  of acknowledging academic, scholarly, or creative
  indebtedness (University at Albany)

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Using the work of other students

• Copying text or re-phrasing arguments or
  conclusions of another student. If you are asked
  to complete an assignment independently, you
  should assume that the work must be your own.
  You should not use the work of other students in
  the class or of prior students in the course.
• The grey area Some course modules feature
  group work, where ideas, findings of research
  studies, and conclusions are shared in order to
  arrive at a group submission. Other courses
  permit students to share lab results (as a check)
  or reference material found to be useful, but
  expect each student to write up her or his
  results. In such courses, the instructor will
  make clear what part of the assignment is group
  work or is to make use of discussion and exchange
  with fellow students and what part is independent.

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Plagiarism To find out more

• Information is available in university student
  guides, in the library, books on the conduct of
  research and writing research papers, and through
  specific course modules to enable students to
  learn how to properly attribute the work of
  others.
• Instructors for each course can be asked to
  provide guidance for group work as well as for
  proper attribution of sources both at the
  beginning of work on an assignment and as the
  work on that assignment advances.