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Schoolcraft College Writing Fellows

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Plagiarize Proof
Specific Assignments

First Step

The first step in plagiarize proofing specific assignments is to promote academic integrity at the classroom level.

Literature Review

Unfortunately, a general assignment almost invites students to cheat. It is more difficult to plagiarize on a focused assignment (Malouff and Randi 1996; Lathrop and Foss, 2000; Coffey and Casey, 2001; Drogemuller 1997; Vernon, Bigna, and Smith 2001; Moore 2002; Zack 1998).

As students are researching, faculty members should have them document and reflect on their progress and all steps of the process should be evaluated (Berg, 2003; Lathrop and Foss 2000; Malouff and Sims 1996). As Lathrop and Foss (2000) argue, “Specified parts of the paper should be submitted at stated intervals and supported with an outline, notes, note cards, drafts, photocopies of sources from books and magazines, copies of pages downloaded from the Internet, a working bibliography, etc.” (p. 175) Similar arguments have been made by others. (Harris 2001; Fain and Bates 2003; Center for Academic Integrity 2003; McKenzie 1998; Harris, “Presenting and Detecting Plagiarism, 2002; Wilhoit 1994; Drogemuller 1997; Vernon, Bigna, and Smith 2001)

Best Practices

During the 2005 fall semester, we are developing explanations for each of these bulleted points. Explanations will be hot linked as they become available.

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listBreak assignment up into parts

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listCombine assignment with campus activities

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listCombine assignment with service learning

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listHave verification as part of writing process

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listAssign unpublished or recently published materials

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listSpecify types of documentation required

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listRequire reflection

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listRequire photocopies

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listProhibit last minute topic changes

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listRead drafts

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listHold conferences

    blue bullet used to denote item in a listGet a writing sample


References and Resources

blue bullet used to denote item in a listCoffey, Monica A., and Kathleen E. Casey. The Cyberspace Detective: Uncovering Online Plagiarism. [Philadelphia, PA]: Xlibris Corporation, 2001.

blue bullet used to denote item in a listDrogemuller, Richard. "Designing Cyber-Assignments." Australian Science Teachers Journal 43.4 (1997): 42+.

blue bullet used to denote item in a listMalouff, John M., and Randi L. Sims. "Applying an Employee-Motivation Model to Prevent Student Plagiarism." Journal of Education for Business 72.1 (1996): 58+.

blue bullet used to denote item in a listMoore, Vincent. "Playing Dirty in the War on Plagiarism." The Chronicle of Higher Education (2002).

blue bullet used to denote item in a listMalouff, John M., and Randi L. Sims. "Applying an Employee-Motivation Model to Prevent Student Plagiarism." Journal of Education for Business 72.1 (1996): 58+.

blue bullet used to denote item in a listVernon, Robert F., Shirley Bigna, and Marshall L. Smith. "Plagiarism and the Web." Journal of Social Work Education 37.1 (2001): 193+.

blue bullet used to denote item in a listWilhoit, Stephen. "Helping Students Avoid Plagiarism." College Teaching 42.4 (1994): 161+.

blue bullet used to denote item in a listZack, Ian. "The Latest Academic Vice: Computer-Assisted Cheating." The New York Times on the Web. 16 Sept. 1998.

"Plagiarize Proof Specific Assignments" was written by Dr. Steven L. Berg.
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This page was last updated on August 28, 2005.
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