How to Teach Avoiding Plagiarism
"Who wants to sit around looking for websites trying to find out if a paper is plagiarized or not... pretty soon you're a private investigator," stated a Stanford University professor in an article for TechWeb news. Plagiarism is the act of stealing or misrepresenting work that belongs to someone else, and it's a continuing problem in schools today. Devote a lesson hour to discussing plagiarism and show your students how to research and write authentic papers.
Instructions
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Prepare a handout listing several facts about plagiarism and give one to each student as you begin your lesson. See plagiarism.org for statistics and facts about plagiarism in schools and colleges today. Answer any questions students may have and create an open environment for discussion and learning.
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Teach that interpretation and analysis of information is most important. Stress that you don't want perfect papers in your classroom, but that you want students learning, processing information and stating thoughts in their own words.
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Research together. Some students may lack in researching skills. Show students the appropriate way to cite sources and add quotes. During the researching process, show your students the abundance of free and available plagiarism tools online. Don't be afraid to use plagiarism tools on a regular basis or if you suspect a student may be plagiarizing. Sometimes the only deterring factor for students to avoid plagiarism is knowing they'll get caught.
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Require students to turn in research notes or note cards and stress the value of clear note taking. It will not only save time, but students will know to give credit when credit is due if they clearly mark notes that are direct quotes. Every note should be detailed and include the source, page number and any other relevant information. It keeps the student accountable and it allows you to verify facts and information.
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Break larger papers into several assignments, such as notes, rough draft, first draft and final draft. If you require your class to write a research report, track students' progress and make a timeline. Students will be less likely to plagiarize in a last-minute attempt to turn in their paper on time. Help them throughout each step of the paper-writing process and check to make sure each task is completed.
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References
Resources
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