How to Avoid Plagiarism Using Technology
Plagiarism isn't just confined to clear-cut cases of deliberately copying someone else's work, it can also mean unintentionally misusing sources or quoting sources without attribution. It can also mean copying sentences and making only minor changes. Teachers and professors all use technology to catch cheaters; you can also use technology to prevent and stop cases of unintentional plagiarism, long before you turn in a paper.
Instructions
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Keep track of references while you are writing a paper by utilizing reference tools in your word processing program. For example, Microsoft Word has the capability of tracking references and formatting in many styles, including APA and MLA. In MS Word 2007, select the "References" tab, click "Insert Citation," and "Enter New Source." Fill out the information for your source (for example, book or magazine). Once entered, you can quote that source again by selecting the "References" tab and choosing from your list of sources.
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Send your completed paper to Write Check from TurnItIn. Your professor or teacher is probably using TurnItIn, so you should consider it. For a small fee, they will compare your paper to Internet sources and the TurnItIn database. You'll receive a copy of a report which will highlight areas which may be plagiarized: giving you a chance to fix the errors before you turn in the paper. TurnItIn is used by colleges and universities all over the United States: their database includes over 100 million student papers and thousands of textbooks.
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If you cannot afford to pay for a TurnItIn report, try one of the free options available on the web. The free options include PlagiarismDetect.com, which will run your paper through a basic comparison search for free. Another option is Glatt Plagiarism self-detection, where you can cut and paste a paper onto their web form and get a rough idea if you have plagiarized.
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If you have doubts about specific sentences, cut and paste those sentences into a search engine. If nothing comes up you're probably safe.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to check computer programs for plagiarism, Stanford's MOSS utility can detect plagiarism in more than two dozen programming languages, including C, C++, Java, C#, and Python. It's free for instructors and students.
The only certain way to avoid plagiarism to to keep careful track of your sources.
The penalties for plagiarism can be severe, including expulsion from college and nullifying any degree. Always quote your sources. If you are unsure, quote: it's better to over-quote than plagiarize.
