PLAGIARISMNevan Bermingham

Selected Content © Damien Gordon,

DIT

Plagiarism

• "regarded as either intentionally or unintentionally the ‘passing off’ of others’ work as one’s own. This includes the using of others’ ideas, information presented or accessed in either visual or audio formats and asking or paying another to produce work." [1]

Plagiarism

•That is not to say students shouldn't use the work of others:-•Most learning involves engaging with other people's ideas•Reading about them in books or on the web, or hearing about them in lectures, but it is very important to give credit where it is due in accordance with the scholarly method.

Plagiarism

• The purpose of the School's policy on plagiarism is not to catch students out; it is to teach you correct academic behaviour and conventions of referencing. For more details on the DIT's policy on plagiarism please refer to the General Assessment Regulations.

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Copying and pasting text without acknowledging its source

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Copying and pasting text without acknowledging its source

YES

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Copying and pasting text with a citation at the end, e.g. (Smith, 2006)

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Copying and pasting text with a citation at the end, e.g. (Smith, 2006)

YES

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Asking someone else to write your work for you.

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Asking someone else to write your work for you.

YES

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Copying and pasting text, and putting it in italics, with quotes (“ ” inverted commas), with a citation at the end, e.g. (Smith, 2006)

For example,

“College is enjoyable” (Bermingham, 2014)

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Copying and pasting text, and putting it in italics, with quotes (“ ” inverted commas), with a citation at the end, e.g. (Smith, 2006)

Not Plagiarism

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Half-coping the author’s sentence - either by mixing the author’s phrases with your own without using quotation marks or by plugging your synonyms (different words with the same meaning) into the author’s sentence structure without acknowledging its source

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Half-coping the author’s sentence - either by mixing the author’s phrases with your own without using quotation marks or by plugging your synonyms (different words with the same meaning) into the author’s sentence structure without acknowledging its sourceYES

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Restating the authors views in your own words without acknowledging its source

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Restating the authors views in your own words without acknowledging its source

YES

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Restating the authors views in your own words with a citation at the end, e.g. (Smith, 2006)

Plagiarism •Which of these is plagiarism?

Restating the authors views in your own words with a citation at the end, e.g. (Smith, 2006)

Not Plagiarism

Plagiarism

• If a student wishes to copy text verbatim from another source (usually no more than about ten lines) it is important that they do three things;

1. that they enclose the text in quotes (inverted commas “ ”),

2. they italicize the text, 3. they place a reference directly after quote to a

citation that will uniquely identify the source of that quote.

“Organising your time is the key to success in college” (Bermingham, 2014)

Plagiarism

•Ultimately it is vital that students include references to all materials read in the course of their research• Referencing serves to show the degree of research effort that they have undertaken and shows their academic integrity

Plagiarism- Why not?

•When you copy you cheat yourself. You limit your own learning, and education is about learning• It is only right to give credit to authors whose ideas you use• Citing gives authority to the information you present• Citing makes it possible for your readers to locate your source• Cheating is unethical behaviour• The consequences are not worth the risks!

Excuses for Plagiarism and Why they Don’t Work • I didn't realise I was doing it.

• The student is responsible for the work that they submit for marking in this course• It is their responsibility to fully understand what plagiarism is and to ensure that they do not commit plagiarism (intentionally or unintentionally).

Excuses for Plagiarism and Why they Don’t Work •We were doing a group project.

• Students are not allowed to submit work jointly unless they have first received permission from the lecturer in question that this is permissible• Individual work must not be done in groups.• It is not acceptable to come to the lecturer after submission and indicate that they worked with others. 

Excuses for Plagiarism and Why they Don’t Work • They said it so much better. Shouldn't I use their words?

• The problem with copying is that the examiner cannot be sure if the student really understands the material or is just cutting-and-pasting• It is better for students to express something poorly in their own words than steal somebody else's work.

Excuses for Plagiarism and Why they Don’t Work • I meant to include citations, but I forgot/ran out of time.

• It is important that students get into the habit of inserting citations, even in their rough drafts. • If they have difficulties remembering their references, there is a range of citation software on the market now. •Good citing is part of good project management.

Excuses for Plagiarism and Why they Don’t Work • I showed this work to my examiner before I submitted it and s/he didn't comment on it.

• Again it is the student's responsibility to ensure that they do not commit plagiarism (intentionally or unintentionally) when they submit a piece of examinable work – no one else’s.

Excuses for Plagiarism and Why they Don’t Work • I didn't think I would get caught.

•Not only is there a range of software available to detect plagiarism, but also most of the lecturers are familiar with a broad range of text books and have been using the Web for a lot longer than the students.•Webcourses has Plagiarism Detection Software called “Safe Assign”• Last year, in the IFP, 10 students were caught plagiarising by this software

What will happen a student plagiarises? • If an examiner suspects that plagiarism has occurred they will inform the appropriate individuals as per the D.I.T. General Assessment Regulations, • This may result in a Faculty level Panel of Enquiry (as per section 10.1.2 of the D.I.T. General Assessment Regulations).

•Penalties for plagiarism include •Failure of the entire year •Suspension from the course•Expulsion from the college

References

• [1] D.I.T. General Assessment Regulations, http://www.dit.ie/services/academicregistrar/student-assessment-regulations/general/ Date Accessed: 4 February 2010.