Plagiarism is a common breach of Academic Misconduct, especially amongst students in the earliest stages of their University journey.
Plagiarism can be considered as inadvertent or intentional, the burden of proof being on the University to make this assessment.
There are several factors to consider when assessing a case of suspected plagiarism:
- The amount or extent of copied text (i.e. a sentence or sentences, a paragraph, a page, etc.)
- Use of quotation marks in text
- Appropriate referencing
- Improper paraphrasing
Make sure your students understand what constitutes plagiarism in your assignment, subject or course.
Module Activity: Plagiarism
- Introduce the topic of plagiarism with students and establish a common understanding of plagiarism.
- Add to this general definition of plagiarism by including what constitutes plagiarism in your specific subject area, at the student’s level of study and for any particular assessments with special requirements.
- Ensure that students understand the referencing style required in your discipline.
- Model good academic practice by ensuring that your teaching materials include accurate citations.
Academic Markers who have identified plagiarism or another form of academic misconduct in a student's work should follow the procedures set out in Annex 10 of the Credit Framework for Taught Courses of Study to make a referral to the Chair of their Divisional Academic Misconduct Committee.