Transcript Avoiding the plague of plagiarism (PowerPoint Document)

Avoiding the plague of
plagiarism: good practice in
acknowledging others
Adapted for the Centre for
Health and Social Care
Studies and Service
development from work
produced in ScHARR
What is plagiarism?
• Plagiarism is “passing off others’ work as
your own, whether intentionally or
unintentionally, to your benefit. The work
can include ideas, compositions, designs,
images, computer code, and, of course,
words”.
Why is it important?
• “Any attempt by a student to gain unfair
advantage over another student in the
completion of an assessment, or to assist
someone else to gain an unfair advantage, is
cheating. Cheating undermines the standards of
the University’s awards and disadvantages
those students who have attempted to complete
assessments honestly and fairly. It is an offence
against the values of the academic community of
which students and staff are both part………“
Tackling Plagiarism
• Detection
{Ongoing}
– Looking out for
changes in style
– “Googling” a
student’s suspect
phrases
– Using Plagiarism
Detection Software
• Prevention {Preferred}
– Teaching everyone what
plagiarism is
– Giving students opportunity
to complete a formative
assignment
• Remedial {Timeconsuming}
– Disciplinary
procedures/possible
expulsion
– Resubmission of work
So what is unacceptable and
what is acceptable?
Some Bad and Good Examples
Original, from Frances
Tourdefrance (2006)
There is evidence to suggest that politicians are far from
reluctant to make political capital from the debate
regarding the effectiveness of bicycle helmets. When, for
example, then Prime Minister Tony Blair was seeking to
boost his popularity in 2005 he allowed himself to be
photographed, astride a mountain bike, wearing a
bicycle helmet. The National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence, an avowed apolitical organisation,
placed the photograph of the Premier prominently within
their published review of the effectiveness of bicycle
helmets and other road safety measures. Even though
the “jury is still out” on the Blair administration’s record
on road safety, many people were likely to see photos of
the Premier in the helmet and make a positive link
between Blair and road accident prevention.
Acceptable or
Unacceptable?
Attempt 1 – Acceptable or
Unacceptable?
• Evidence suggests that politicians are far from reluctant
to make political capital from the debate regarding the
effectiveness of bicycle helmets. When, for example,
then Prime Minister Tony Blair was seeking to boost his
popularity in 2005 he allowed himself to be
photographed, astride a mountain bike, wearing a
bicycle helmet. The National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence, an avowed apolitical organisation,
placed the photograph of the Premier prominently within
their published review of the effectiveness of bicycle
helmets and other road safety measures. Even though
the “jury is still out” on the Blair administration’s record
on road safety, many people were likely to see photos of
the Premier in the helmet and make a positive link
between Blair and road accident prevention.
Unacceptable Practice

Plagiarism – simple cut and paste
– no attempt to analyse, interpret
or paraphrase
Attempt 2 - Acceptable or
Unacceptable?
• Evidence suggests that politicians are far from reluctant
to make political capital from the debate regarding the
effectiveness of bicycle helmets. When, for example,
then Prime Minister Tony Blair was seeking to boost his
popularity in 2005 he allowed himself to be
photographed, astride a mountain bike, wearing a
bicycle helmet. The National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence, an avowed apolitical organisation,
placed the photograph of the Premier prominently within
their published review of the effectiveness of bicycle
helmets and other road safety measures. Even though
the “jury is still out” on the Blair administration’s record
on road safety, many people were likely to see photos of
the Premier in the helmet and make a positive link
between Blair and road accident prevention. (Frances
Tourdefrance (2006), p. 256).
Unacceptable Practice 
Still Plagiarism, Despite
Citation at End
Attempt 3 - Acceptable or
Unacceptable?
• Tourdefrance (2006) noted the ambiguity
of Prime Minister Blair’s position when he
sought to increase his popularity in 2005.
By posing for a photo opportunity in a
bicycle helmet, Blair, according to this
author, possibly used the appearance of
concern to mislead voters about his actual
record on road safety.
Acceptable Practice 
Successful Paraphrasing
Attempt 4 - Acceptable or
Unacceptable?
Tourdefrance (2006) noted Prime Minister
Blair’s apparent ambiguity when he sought to
increase his popularity in 2005. She records
that:
“he allowed himself to be photographed, astride a
mountain bike, wearing a bicycle helmet”. (p. 256)
She went on to comment that:
“many people were likely to see photos of the
Premier in the helmet and make a positive link
between Blair and road accident prevention.”.
(p.256)
Acceptable Practice 
Successful Citation
You should also be aware of:
• Collusion: occurs when two or more people work
together to produce a piece of work, all or part of which
is then submitted by each member of the group as their
own individual effort. Note: Where group work is
concerned academic staff give clear guidance to
students on the limits of collaboration.
• Self-plagiarism: If a student copies from or resubmits
his or her own previous work for another assignment,
this is self-plagiarism, and is not acceptable.
So what are you going to do
about it?
• Familiarise yourself with good citation practice
(e.g. ALWAYS reference sources of words or
ideas)
• Don’t cut and paste (try reading text aloud and
then paraphrase in your own words with screen
minimised) – then add reference!
• Follow guidelines in your Student Handbooks
and in the study skills module provided
So what are we going to do
about it?
• Every Student in the school of nursing will be
given the opportunity to complete a plagiarism
study skills package
• The student will be encouraged to submit an
800-word assignment to special software for
plagiarism checking
• The student should try to complete this
plagiarism task before submitting their first
assignment
Reports
If icon is
Blue – less than 20
matching words
Green – 0 - 24%
Yellow – 25 – 49%
Orange - 50 – 70%
Red – 75 – 100%
matching text
Remember!
• 24% or below is our test threshold for this
exercise. This means you have to receive either
a Blue report or a Green report
• If you get more than 24% (Yellow, Orange or
Red) you will have to resubmit, again and again
until you get it right.
• You should “Include quotes” and “Include
bibliography” within this generous threshold.
What you need to do
•
•
•
•
Work through the Study Skills Module
Complete the Practical Assignment
Submit it to your tutor via email
Wait for them to submit to turnitin and obtain
originality report
• Organise tutorial with tutor for discussion of
report
• Resubmit if necessary