Plagiarism
This is a guide to define plagiarism, how to identify forms of plagiarism, and the steps to take to avoid plagiarism.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism may be simply described as "using the words or ideas of others and passing them off as your own" (Source: University of New South Wales)
"Self-plagiarism misleads your readers by presenting previous work as completely new and original. If you want to include any text, ideas, or data that you already submitted in a previous assignment, be sure to inform your readers by citing yourself. "(Source: Scribbr)
Common forms of plagiarism
Self-plagiarism includes
an author republisheing their own previously written work and presenting it as new without referencing the earlier work, either in its entirety or partially
'recycling', 'duplication', or 'multiple submissions of research findings' without disclosure
re-using all, or parts, of a body of work that has already been submitted for assessment without proper citation.
Copying includes:
using the same words as the original text without acknowledging the source or without using quotation marks.
putting someone else's ideas into your own words and not acknowledging the source of the ideas.
copying materials, ideas or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document, presentation, composition, artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, website, internet, other electronic resource, or another person's assignment without appropriate acknowledgement.
Collusion includes:
acting with another person or persons with the intention to deceive.
Inappropriate citation includes:
citing sources which have not been read without acknowledging the 'secondary' source from which knowledge of them has been obtained
'padding' reference lists with sources that have not been read or cited within assignments.
Inappropriate paraphrasing skills include:
using the exact words of someone else, with proper acknowledgement, but without quotation marks.
changing a few words and phrases while mostly retaining the original structure and/or progression of ideas of the original, and information without acknowledgement.
paraphrasing another’s ideas or words without credit.
Relying too much on other people’s material includes:
repeated use of long quotations, even with quotation marks and with proper acknowledgement.
using your own ideas but with heavy reliance on phrases and sentences from someone else without acknowledgement.
piecing together quotes and paraphrases into a new whole, without appropriate referencing.
(Source: University of New South Wales)
Consequently, whenever you use the words or ideas of another person in your work, you must acknowledge where they came from.
Develop effective academic skills and practices
Reading
Reading is the way you deepen your understanding.
Document how others' ideas help identify how and why you think the way you do.
Select those ideas which you will use
Organise your citations is the beginning of the referencing process (i.e. Reference Management)
Develop your own mind map
(Source: University of New South Wales)
Summarise and paraphrase
The skills of summarising and paraphrasing need to be exercised at this stage.
Be careful: If you cut and paste directly from your readings, you are plagiarising.
Summarising and paraphrasing in your own words may take more time, but it is well worth the work and are excellent academic practices.
(Source: University of New South Wales)
Writing
Writing takes practice
Quite often your first draft is submitted with disastrous results.
As you become more practiced and better informed, you will begin to develop your own writing style, your own voice.
(Source: University of New South Wales)
Time management
Tme management is critical to avoid plagiarising. You need the time to:
Read
Take notes, summarise & paraphrase
Write
To become familiar with referencing conventions
(Source: University of New South Wales)