Skip to Main Content
It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.

Plagiarism

What is Plagiarism?

Most people agree that plagiarism involves one or all of the following:

  • Using other people's text or ideas in writing without citation of the original source
  • Submitting a paper written by someone else, either downloaded on-line or from a friend who took the same class
  • Paraphrasing sources with an inadequate citation Failing to provide a citation when information is not common knowledge

How do I avoid it?

What are some examples?

Violation Example

Using a work from another source and not citing the source

 In 2013, there were 45.3 million
people in poverty.

Not putting quotation marks around a quotation

 Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.

Providing false information about where a quotation was derived

 "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" (Lincoln, 1861).

Reworking the words but keeping the exact same structure

 Toto, it doesn't appear to me that we are in our home state.

Claiming others' works to be yours

 I came up with this great physics formula: E=mc2.
Using an image in a presentation that you do not have permission to use I found this awesome picture on Google Images of a frog dissection for my presentation!

 

What are the consequences?

Consequences of plagiarism could include:

  • Expelled from school
  • Fail a course
  • Fail/re-do an assignment
  • Permanent transcript mark
  • Lose job
  • Damage reputation

How to avoid plagiarizing.

Just remember to always cite! This includes:

  • A phrase from a speaker or writer
     
  • Notes, experiments, surveys, data, lit reviews, interviews, or anything else that is used to create a finished product that is ready for submission
     
  • Anything that is printed, spoken or sung (except facts or common knowledge)

Plagiarism Detection Tools

  • Safe Assign in Blackboard
    • The University of Kansas Medical Center has enabled SafeAssign to detect plagiarism. SafeAssign compares assignments to other online-resources. 
  • IThenticate
    • ITHenticate is an online plagiarism detection and prevention application used by scholarly publishers and research institutions to ensure the originality of written work before publication. It is also used by federal government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to detect for plagiarism in submitted proposals.  "The University of Kansas Medical Center License is limited by the number of accounts and submissions so use of the tool should be limited to pre-submission of grant proposals and publications. It is not meant to be used for review of academic assignments or classroom activities."

References

Broussard, M. (n.d.). The Goblin Threat. Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.lycoming.edu/library/instruction/tutorials/plagiarismGame.aspx

Buranen, L. (2009). A Safe Place: The Role of Librarians and Writing Centers in Addressing Citation Practices and Plagiarism. Knowledge Quest, 37(3), 24–33.

Fischer, K. (n.d.). Subject Guides: Copyright: Plagiarism. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from http://guides.lib.uiowa.edu/c.php?g=132112&p=863897