Plagiarism is a serious issue that university students must take seriously. It can result in poor grades, disciplinary action, and even dismissal from the university. So, it’s important to understand plagiarism and how to avoid it.
According to the University of Oxford (2023), “Plagiarism is presenting work or ideas from another source as your own, with or without the consent of the original author, by incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement.” To avoid plagiarism, follow these tips:
Plan ahead
Procrastination can lead to accidental plagiarism. If you rush to finish an assessment at the last minute, you’re more likely to make mistakes and plagiarize. To avoid this, plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to research and write your assessment.
Use your own words
When writing an assignment, using your won words to convey your ideas is important. This means that you should avoid copying and pasting text from other sources. Instead, read the information and then put into your own words. This will help you understand the material better and prevent you from accidentally plagiarizing.
Cite your sources
Whenever you use information from a source, make sure to cite it properly. This means including the author’s name, the work’s title, and the publication date. There are several different citation styles, so use the one specified by your professor or unit outline. Students can find more information about the reference guide on the Curtin Library website.
Use quotation marks
If you’re using a direct quote from a source, make sure to put it in quotation marks. This indicates that the words are not your own and gives credit to the original author.
Complete the Writing with Integrity module
This module can be found on the Curtin Library website. The program will guide you through the rules of academic integrity, including how and why students should reference. You’ll have the opportunity to test your knowledge and strengthen your understanding of key terms and their meanings.
Use a plagiarism checker
Several online plagiarism checkers can help you identify any instances of plagiarism in your work. This can help you catch any unintentional plagiarism and make corrections before submitting your paper.
Be informed about the appropriate use of Gen-AI technologies
Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) technology is software that can create new content like test, images, code, or audio and is becoming more accessible. However, Gen-AI systems contain biases, and how they produce outputs is unclear, so it’s important to use them ethically and responsibly. If using Gen-AI software in an assessment task, it’s necessary to get permission from the Unit Coordinator, document its use, verify its accuracy, and apply appropriate acknowledgement and attribution rules to avoid misconduct. Read more about Gen-AI technologies on the Curtin Academic Integrity website.
By using your own words, citing your sources, using quotation marks, using a plagiarism checker, and planning ahead, you can avoid unintentional plagiarism and make sure that you’re giving proper credit to the original authors. Remember, when in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and give credit where credit is due.
Sources Used:
The University of Oxford. 2023. “Plagiarism.” The University of Oxford. The University of Oxford. 2023. https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism.
