How to Help Students Avoid Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of using another person's words or ideas without acknowledgment. A serious offense, it leads to school expulsion, lawsuits, employment termination and even incarceration. Since the consequences of plagiarism are so severe, K-12 and college instructors help students avoid it. Teaching students at an early age about plagiarism, its consequences and prevention helps them develop good habits and respect the writing and intellectual property of other people.
Instructions
-
-
1
Define plagiarism on the syllabus and discuss it on the first day of class. Many students, particularly those in lower grades, consider using someone else's words and ideas without acknowledgment as borrowing. They do not think it is wrong. Explain what plagiarism is and what will happen if they do it. Clarify your expectations and policies, and encourage them to ask questions if they do not understand your rules.
-
2
Inform them of the consequences of plagiarism outside the classroom. Have them read about Jayson Blair, Stephen Ambrose and Blair Hornstine---people whose reputations have been ruined because of plagiarism. Emphasize that plagiarism is easily detectable thanks to search engines and detection software, and describe its academic, legal and professional penalties. Most important, stress that plagiarism hinders their intellectual growth by preventing them from developing critical thinking, research and writing skills and, instead, relying on others.
-
-
3
Teach them how to cite. Inform them that citing is the only way to use another's words without plagiarizing. Teach them about different citation styles, such as MLA, Chicago and APA. To make sure they understand, test them on it.
-
4
Encourage them to manage their time and not wait until the deadline. Many students plagiarize when they leave writing long papers until the last minute. Make them submit outlines, research notes and rough drafts to ensure they are on track. This identifies students who are behind. Advise students that submitting a late paper (and getting a penalty) is always better than submitting a plagiarized paper on time.
-
5
Stress the importance of meticulous research. Tell them to take careful research notes and exercise caution when using secondary sources. During note taking, they should distinguish other people's words from their own. While paraphrasing, they should close the book or look away to avoid using language too similar to the author's. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and cite.
-
6
Tell them to seek help. If students do not know how to approach a paper or where to begin, encourage them to ask for help. Have office hours or times when they can consult with you. Tell them about places on campus, such as writing labs, where they can get help.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit taking notes image by Charles Jacques from Fotolia.com
