4.3 – Avoiding Plagiarism
Learning Objectives
- be aware of the importance of integrating Academic Honesty within all stages of your writing,
- define plagiarism,
- describe some common types of plagiarism,
- name one way to avoid plagiarism in your own work.
Introduction
Academic writing often requires many steps from researching, prewriting, drafting, and editing. Throughout each step of the process, you ensure your writing shows Academic Integrity by always giving credit to your sources. Good academic writing requires you to recognize and synthesize researched information with your own voice. Building these abilities will help your work stand out, as you share your unique perspective. Keeping good records of your research will help prevent any errors or omissions. Your future you will thank you,
Whether in the classroom now or later in the professional world, respecting the intellectual property of others is required by all communicators. Bottom line: avoiding plagiarism isn’t just a rule to follow; it’s a skill to master. It’s about integrity, originality, and practicality. Make notes of your sources!
What is Plagiarism?
Unsure of what plagiarism actually is?
Watch Don’t lose cite of avoiding plagiarism on YouTube (4 mins)
Video source: NC Libraries. (2018, December 21). Don’t lose cite of avoiding plagiarism [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/kCg8SdnaPjU
Plagiarism – Media Sources
Plagiarism – Media Sources (Text version)
True or False? I need to cite media sources including images and videos?
Check your Answer: [1]
Student Responsibilities:
Academic integrity means upholding the values of your school with respect to the production of your academic work and the completion of quizzes, tests, and exams. Every college in Ontario has an academic integrity policy. Read your college’s academic integrity policy and be sure you understand your responsibilities as a student and scholar.
For more information, visit Academic Integrity for Students [New tab] or revisit Academic Integrity in Chapter 1.
Plagiarism – Consequences
Plagiarism – Consequences (Text version)
The minimum penalty for a first offence of plagiarism at Georgian College is …?
- Expulsion from the school.
- A grade of 0.
- Automatic course failure.
- A verbal warning.
Check your Answer: [2]
Types of Plagiarism:
There is more than one way to get accused of committing plagiarism. Watch this video to learn the different types of plagiarism so that you can avoid it in your own work.
Watch Types of plagiarism on YouTube (2 mins)
Video source: NC Libraries. (2020, September 16). Types of plagiarism [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/hpYXJkjdip4
Plagiarism – Your own work
Plagiarism – Your own work (Text version)
True or False: It is okay to resubmit part of a paper that you have already written as part of a new assignment?
Check your Answer: [3]
The Why, Where, and When of Citing:
One of the easiest ways to avoid being accused of plagiarism is to always cite your sources. Watch this video for more information on why you should cite your sources, as well as where/when to cite your sources.
Watch The why, where and when of citing on YouTube (3 mins)
Video source: NCLibraries. (2017, October 4). The why, where and when of citing [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/bSDpIvw_zqg
Avoiding Plagiarism
Avoiding Plagiarism (Text version)
True or False: The best way to avoid being accused of plagiarism is to always cite your sources?
Check your Answer: [4]
Attribution & References
This chapter (text, H5P activities and embedded videos) was adapted from “Avoiding Plagiarism” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- True. You need to cite all of your sources including images and videos. ↵
- d. The minimum penalty for a first-time offence of plagiarism at Georgian College is a verbal warning. You can also receive a zero, be asked to complete training, fail your course or be expelled from school. ↵
- False. This is considered to be self-plagiarism and it is not allowed. ↵
- True. ↵
