How to keep the kids off plagiarizing.

A guide for Teachers

Preventing plagiarism

Set a climate where academic integrity is valued

Design thoughtful assignments Set up checkpoints throughout the

process Drafts, outlines, preliminary works cited,

first draft Keep portfolios of student work Vary assignments & topic suggestions

each semester

Preventing plagiarism, cont… Describe the degree to which

collaboration is acceptable to your students

Shorter papers are okay Make sure students understand what

plagiarism is and how you expect them to document

Make sure student know you check for plagiarism. Use google

Preventing Plagiarism, cont… Make sure students know how seriously

you personally take plagiarism as a violation of your trust, school rules, student code of conduct…

Make sure you are aware of how students plagiarize Demonstrate how you catch plagiarizers

Make sure you know your students writing level & style

More tips to keep ‘em honest Ask for outlines, drafts, and organizers Remind students that documenting their

sources strengthens their papers – gives more credibility

Have students present research orally Require oral defense of their research

Ask for photocopies of their “best sources”

Require an annotated bibliography Let the librarian help you

When you suspect plagiarism Google some of the research Check for inconsistencies in font,

format, text size Talk to the student about the paper, ask

questions – have them defend opinions Does the paper answer the question

posed in the assignment? Ask student to read part of the paper

For additional information

www.plagiarism.org

http://write.oid.ucla.edu/

http://www.wtps.org/WTHS/imc/ProfessionalDevelopment/plagiarism.htm

Works Cited

Timm, Christine. “How to discourage plagiarism”. Westchester Community College. 25 February 2009. <http://www.sunywcc.edu/dep/english/plag/discourage.htm>

Valenza, Joyce. What is Plagiarism?. Springfield Township Virtual Library. 25 February 2009. <http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/powerpoint/plagiarism.ppt>