Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as a student submitting the work of others as his/her own for the purpose of satisfying formal assessment requirements. Thus plagiarism is the use of the ideas, words and/or artefacts of others without due acknowledgement.
What is plagiarism?
- Copying and pasting text from a source without citation.
- Paraphrasing someone else’s ideas without giving credit.
- Failing to acknowledge the source of information, data, or images used in your work.
- Submitting someone else’s work as your own.
- Misusing Generative AI tools may also be considered as a form of plagiarism. Ensure that your use of these tools is in line with the selected level of the AI Assessment Scale, and the University guidelines on ethical AI usage. Please see here for further information.
Types of Plagiarism:
PLAGIARISM:
This is presenting another person’s work, without acknowledgment of the source, as your own work.
SELF-PLAGIARISM:
Submitting the same piece of assessment for two different modules would be self-plagiarism. Reference if you want to use it again.
COLLUSION:
This happens if you submit a piece of work done in collaboration with another student as if the work were entirely your own.
Consequences of Plagiarism
BUV follows Staffordshire University policy on academic misconduct and takes suspected cases of academic misconduct, including plagiarism very seriously. The penalties are severe and can in some cases result in a student not being allowed to continue their studies. Plagiarism can happen in any type of assessment where you are given the questions or tasks in advance.
If Academic Misconduct is proven by the university, then typical punishments include:
- The grade for your assessment, being reduced to zero with the right to resubmit.
- The grade for the whole module or supermodule being reduced to zero with the right to resubmit.
- Failure of the entire level of which you are currently studying with a requirement to re-start the level at the next opportunity
- Failure of the award and/or termination of your studies at the University. Your ability to reapply and enrol again at the university may also be restricted, normally for two whole academic years.
How to Avoid Plagiarism
- Cite Your Sources: Whenever you use someone else’s ideas, words, or work, make sure to cite them effectively using an appropriate citation style (e.g., Harvard, APA, MLA, Chicago).
- Paraphrase and Summarize: When incorporating ideas from a source into your own work, rephrase them in your own words and provide a citation to acknowledge the original author.
- Use Quotations: Directly quote from a source when necessary, and always provide a citation to indicate the source of the quotation.
- Manage Your References: Keep track of all sources you consult during your research process and include them in your bibliography or reference list.
- Understand Your Assignment: Clarify any questions you have about citation expectations with your instructor or supervisor.
RESOURCES FOR AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
- Research Guides: Explore our subject-specific research guides for tips on conducting research and citing sources in various disciplines.
- Citation management tools such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote
- SU & BUV Own Degree students can read training slides for assessment submission, Turnitin, and key academic regulations here; and Academic Conduct Key regulations here.
⚠BUV employs Turnitin to assess all submissions for potential academic misconduct. This software highlights to the examiners in detail where material may have either been copied directly or paraphrased from a source with correct citation.