Beating Plagiarism

1
Beating Plagiarism

• presented by
• Judith M. Davis, Director
• Writing Technology Laboratory
• 20 February 2003

2
Understand the types of plagiarism

• Intentional
• Unintentional

3
Understand the causes of plagiarism

• Sometimes
• laziness
• concern with grades
• More often
• poor work habits
• lack of content proficiency
• lack of source understanding
• inability to use standard documentation styles

4
So whats a professor to do?

• Take responsibility
• discuss the types and causes of plagiarism
• include plagiarism on the syllabus
• Know whats out there
• Be proactive
• build the course to promote student mastery
• design plagiarism-proof assignment sequences
• spot check use of sources

5
Design plagiarism-proof assignments

• Use written assignment sheets
• Connect written assignments to specific course
  objectives
• Break big projects into a series of steps
• Require submission of interim assignments
• Teach good research habits and appropriate
  documentation style
• Diana Hackers Research and Documentation Online
• http//www.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc
• Require students to turn in copies of sources

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Sample assignment sequenceIntroductory Physics
Paper

• Assign content material on types of machines
• Conduct in-class activities to validate students
  reading and extend their knowledge
• Assign How XX Works paper in writing
• Require related interim assignments
• Schedule bibliographic instruction
• Incorporate instruction on APA or CSE style
• Use peer and instructor review

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Sample assignment breakdown

• research paper check list
• topic
• working thesis
• library project
• working outline
• annotated working bibliography
• preliminary draft
• revision exercise/plan
• final draft

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Resources on the Web

• Bedford St. Martins Technotes
• http//bedfordstmartins.com/technotes/techtiparchi
  ve/ttip102401.htm
• Bruce Lelands Plagiarism and the Web
• http//www.wiu.edu/users/mfbhl/wiu/plagiarism.htm
• Indiana Universitys Writing Tutorial Service
• http//www.indiana.edu/wts/wts/plagiarism.html
• Purdue Universitys Online Writing Lab (OWL)
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_
  plagiar.html