By Amrita Madray Reference Librarian/Plagiarism Coordinator LIU/C.W. Post Campus Library 516-299-2833 - [email protected]

 2005 -

Center for Academic Integrity

stated “levels of cheating and plagiarism remain high” study  2006 -

Chronicle of Higher Education

37 graduate students plagiarized their theses and dissertation.

noted  2006 –

The Harvard Crimson

reported sophomore plagiarized text in two novels 2

 2007 – Library Philosophy and Practice published a plagiarism research study that was conducted on C.W. Post College Freshman ◦ pre-test was designed to ascertain incoming students' basic understanding of plagiarism ◦ post-test was intended to indicate the usefulness of the Plagiarism Awareness session Study by Amrita Madray 3

Freshman are not prepared to do college level work  Need Help in ◦ Understanding plagiarism ◦ Reading and Comprehension ◦ Paraphrazing, Summarizing, Quote,Cite ◦ Writing skills are deficient 4

 High School: there is a need to have an emphasis on: ◦ early intervention – an intensified reading, writing, and research into the curriculum ◦ require Reading, Comprehension, and Writing competencies before diplomas are granted 5

College: there is a need to use and integrate information ◦ Recommendation for the creation of an intense one-or two-credit core course (over one semester) integrating information literacy, research techniques, citation formatting instruction, and extensive plagiarism discussions for freshmen 6



Collaboration

◦ academic librarian work with faculty to offer tips and techniques for designing assignments and exercises requiring the use of different sources of information McCabe (2005) aptly borrows from the popular African proverb: "It takes the whole campus community-students, faculty and administration-to effectively educate a student" (Madray, 2007) 7

 Pressure – teachers, parents  Fear – bad grade, weak writing skills  Procrastination – wait until the last minute  Lazy – no intention to do assignments  Access – readily available  Unconcerned – students’ perception of faculty 8

 ◦

Intentionally

Learned trait  ◦ ◦ ◦

Unintentionally

Unaware Lack ability and skills International Students 9

0,25 0,20 0,15 0,10 0,05 0,00 # Submissions # Plagiarized # Unintentional Spring 2005 16 12 10 Spring 2006 23 15 12 Spring 2007 20 14 13 10

 Librarian  Library Plagiarism Webpage  Turnitin.com

 Academic Misconduct Policy (work in progress) 11

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 Administer varied, specific and clear  Add an analysis or criticism component  Give smaller research projects  Coordinate due date with length of assignments  Require assignments written, orally and electronically 13

 Syllabus – define Plagiarism, Intellectual Property, Academic Integrity  Academic Dishonest Policy - explain yours  Plagiarism – create a debate   Skills – teach research skills Sources – demonstrate advantages of citing  Examples – offer some repercussions – e.g

http://lib.ollusa.edu/libinfo/info/plagnews.htm

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 Approve topic/thesis statement  Require draft/outline  Submit annotated bibliography that includes current sources  Specify style 15

 Schedule Library Instruction  Assign group work  Offer guidance  Set an example  Be Approachable 16

 Writing: The Writing Center  Citation Style for Research Papers  Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL )  Citation Style Manuals 17

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

Writing

◦ Is it too scholarly?

◦ Writing style - poor to excellent ◦ Sentences – unusual, spelling, verb tenses ◦ Setting - location 19



Inconsistencies



Font Style



Format/layout of assignment



Page Numbers



Imbedded links

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 Research topic differs from assignment, class work, incomplete assignment ◦ References    Is it current?

Is it complete?

Is it readily available?

◦ Know the Paper Mills 21

 Trust - your expertise  Request – a copy of sources  Search – invisible Web  Consult – librarian  Use – Plagiarism Detection Service http://www.turnitin.com

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 Make appointment with student  Discuss paper  Inquire/question  Require student give synopsis of their work on demand 23

 Unintentional – ◦ Offer help in the Writing Process, (note-taking, compiling a bibliography) ◦ Refer student to the writing center ◦ Recommend writing classes 24

 Intentional ◦ Repeat assignment ◦ Fail Course ◦ Face expulsion o Consult your school Academic Misconduct Policy 25

 Students' Guide to Preventing and Avoiding Plagiarism  Student Plagiarism exercise http://www.cwpost.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/exhibits/plagstudent.ht

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C.W. Post Campus Library Website: Preventing and Detecting Plagiarism

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