Recognising and avoiding plagiarism Viv Thom Education Developer - International QESS Student Experience Team Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Overview; in this presentation you will  be introduced to the significance of original writing and how this can help you avoid plagiarism  learn the fundamentals of referencing the work of others in your writing and where to find further support  explore the reasons for referencing and citations and why plagiarism matters in academic work and in life  examine the definitions of cheating and the penalties applied by the University Assessment Regulations  check your ability to recognise plagiarism Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

original writing avoids plagiarism  plagiarism can be defined as: taking and using someone else’s ideas or writing as your own, without acknowledgement.  the ability to transform text into your own words is an effective way to demonstrate deep and clear understanding. You must provide a reference or citation Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

quotations You can directly quote using: "quotation marks like this." ( Smith, 2007) to quote at length does not demonstrate thorough understanding. We want to see your own words and a creative understanding - in processed text, in your own words…… this is a citation which should follow a quote or a reference Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Referencing and citation  the way you show the sources of the information you have used in your assignment.  There are two ways to do this: 1. in the main body of the text - citingciting entries in the text which acknowledge the specific use of material from sources: e.g., quotations. 2. in the list of References at the end of the text Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

references or bibliography  A ‘bibliography’ is a detailed list of all the source material that you have consulted in the preparation of a piece of work: it comes at the end of the submission.  A ‘reference list’ is like a bibliography except that it contains only those sources to which you have made specific reference in your text. Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Information for References For most referencing systems, you should normally include the following information: Author (Surname and Initial) Date (Year published) Title (Book, Journal or Article Title) Edition Number (for books)OR Volume and Issue Number (for journals) Place of Publication Publisher’s Name (For more detailed information, check the specific referencing guidelines and check with your course –normally in your handbook)  Why might the reader want to know all this? Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Why is referencing and citation or quotation required?  to acknowledge your use of other's work  to demonstrate your thorough understanding of a topic in the selection and range of resources you consulted  to identify and locate your sources  to show critical discussion of the materials you have used Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Why does plagiarism matter? Take a few minutes to decide what you think about each of these situations, and then discuss with other students:  A medical researcher falsifies the results of a new cancer drug trial to make his discovery seem more important.  A writer submits an idea for a series to a television company, who turn it down. A few months later, they broadcast an almost identical programme. She never receives any acknowledgment or payment. Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

 A few students at a university are acquiring essays via the Internet. The University authorities have failed to detect this and it has led to a decline in the University’s reputation. All their graduates are now finding it hard to get a job.  A historian publishes a book claiming that the Holocaust never took place. He makes lots of detailed assertions backed up by anonymous quotations but does not give any sources for this information. Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Fundamental values of academic integrity  “Academic integrity is a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. From these values flow principles of behaviour that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action”. (Fundamental Values Project 1999, ICAI) Also requires courage Look for Study Support on SHUspace Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Activity 3: Other kinds of ‘borrowing’ Look at the following examples. Which do you think is the most serious? Why? Mary is a bridge builder. She pays £100 for an outline for an essay from a commercial supplier and uses it as the basis of her own coursework. Nazeem and Daniel work together on a piece of coursework and submit very similar answers, claiming in each case that it is their own work. Su, a first year Social Work student, copies her written work from other students. On her placement she is asked to write reports on her clients for use in court. She is unable to do this. Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

What are the penalties? DIFFERENT FORMS OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Plagiarism: this is where someone tries to pass off another's work, thoughts or ideas as their own, whether deliberately or unintentionally, without appropriate acknowledgement. Plagiarism can take a number of forms, including:  complete plagiarism: the substantial and unauthorised use of the work or ideas of another person without acknowledgement of the source. This includes copying the work of other students and can take the form of writing, computer programmes, designs, experiment results, music or copying of text directly from a website without acknowledgement.  partial plagiarism: the inclusion of several sentences or more from another person’s work which has not been referenced in accordance with Sheffield Hallam University conventions on academic referencing and citation; the summarising of another person’s work by simply changing a few words or altering the order of presentation, without acknowledgement. This may be intentional with the aim being to deceive the marker, or unintentional as a result, for example, of poor study skills.  self-plagiarism or duplication: copying work that was originally completed and submitted by the student and resubmitted for another purpose, without acknowledgement of this, unless resubmission is allowed. collusion: this is where a student undertakes work with others, without acknowledgement, e.g.  submits work done in collaboration with another person, as entirely his/her own work, with the intention to gain an unfair advantage, or  colludes with another student to complete work which is intended to be submitted as that other student's own unaided work or  knowingly permits another student to copy all or part of his/her own work and to submit it as that student's own unaided work.  If collusion is suspected and if after investigation it cannot be established which individual(s) is/are responsible, all students involved will be deemed responsible, provided there is sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations on the balance of probability. Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Falsifying data: this is where a student presents data in laboratory reports, projects, dissertations, etc. based on experimental/ experiential work which the student claims to have carried out but which he/she has invented or obtained by unfair means. False citation: this is where a student refers to work that does not exist, for example to lend weight to a point they are making. Group work: if academic misconduct is suspected in group work and if it cannot be established which individual(s) is/are responsible, the whole group will be deemed responsible, provided that there is sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations on the balance of probability. Impersonation: this is the assumption by one person of the identity of another person with the intent to deceive or to gain unfair advantage. Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Dishonest practice: This covers any form of dishonest practice not specifically identified by the above definitions and includes, but is not limited to: actual or attempted bribery making false declarations to deceive staff and/or to receive special consideration procuring another person's work or intentionally buying work from a website or other source submitting work which has been completed, altered, translated or corrected by another person, as if it was the student's own work. Dishonest practice also relates to the use of foreign language material. This is where the student submits work as their own but which has already been published in another language. The work will have been translated into English by the student themselves or by another person. This applies to direct verbatim copying of translated material, copying and re-arranging material, as well as taking the ideas and findings of the material without attribution. In other words, the exact same criteria apply to translation material as to that already written in English. Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Stage 1 Stage 2  Stage 1 A  A Warning: the task is marked and the mark is not restricted  This sanction will normally be applied to level 4 students and/or direct entrants.  Stage 1 B  Warning with capped mark of 40%  This sanction will normally be applied to level 5, 6 and 7 students and/or direct entrants.  Stage 2 A  Resubmission within restricted time and with capped mark of 40%  normally for repeat offences  Stage 2 B  Resubmission within restricted time and with capped mark of 40% for the whole module  This sanction cannot be applied to students already at the referral stage. Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Stage 2 levels C & D  Stage 2 C  Fail but can retake  Cannot progress to next level or pass.  Can retake failed module or substitute an elective module  This sanction cannot be applied to students already re-registered on a core module.  Stage 2 D  Fail in the module and cannot retake  Cannot retake the failed module.  Cannot continue on the programme of study  Other universities unlikely to take student Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

what did these students do? would happen to: Nazeem and Daniel work together on a piece of coursework and submit very similar answers, claiming in each case that it is their own work. A student acquires essays via the Internet. A masters student plagiarises and falsifies data in his project  If they were level 4 or direct entry students they may get a warning. more likely would be resubmission, possibly with a 40% cap on the mark.  Likely to be stage 2 b) for a first offence  possibly and likely to be the most serious 2c) Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

Where do you cross the line? Here are six ways to use sources. Example number one is plagiarism; example six is not. Where do you cross the line? 1. Copying a paragraph word for word from a source without acknowledgement. 2. Copying a paragraph and making small changes ‐ e.g. replacing a few verbs, replacing an adjective with a synonym; acknowledgement in the bibliography. 3. Cutting and pasting a paragraph by using sentences of the original but omitting one or two and putting one or two in a different order, no quotation marks; with an in ‐ text acknowledgement plus bibliography. 4. Composing a paragraph by taking short phrases from a number of sources and putting them together using words of your own to make a coherent whole with an in ‐ text acknowledgement plus bibliography. 5. Paraphrasing a paragraph by rewriting with substantial changes in language and organisation; the new version will also have changes in the amount of detail used and the examples cited; citing in bibliography. 6. Quoting a paragraph by placing it in block format with the source cited in text and bibliography. Based on an exercise in Swales and Feale(1993), cited by Jude Carroll (2001). Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

try an online quizquiz  There are plenty of other quizzes online to test your knowledge of plagiarism if you look/ Google plagiarism  Develop your paraphrasing skills by using similar online sources. This is a useful resourceresource Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013

 search the library catalogue using the term referencing referencing  Look for information about cheating and Academic Integrity Look for information about cheating and Academic Integrity  Find and read the University Assessment regulations Find and read the University Assessment regulations  'SHU Harvard system 'SHU Harvard system Viv Thom Sheffield Hallam University 2013