What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism occurs when you use another person's words, ideas or other work but do not say that you have borrowed or used these. For example, you might copy or reproduce words, sentences or whole sections from a book, journal, website or even another student’s essay without acknowledging that you have borrowed this work. It is also considered to be plagiarism if you copy or reproduce pictures, diagrams and other non-text materials without acknowledgement.
According to section 1.2 of La Trobe University’s Academic Misconduct Policy (2007, p.1) , there are many forms of plagiarism.
These include:
- direct copying of sentences, paragraphs or other extracts from someone else’s published work (including on the Internet and in software) without acknowledging the source;
- paraphrasing someone else’s words without acknowledging the source;
- using facts and information derived from a source without acknowledging it;
- using ideas directly derived from an identifiable author without acknowledging the source;
- producing assignments which should be the student’s own independent work in collaboration with and/or using the work of other people (e.g. a student or tutor).
We have borrowed the words from the Academic Misconduct Policy and reproduced them here. So that we don’t plagiarise, we have included information about where these ideas and words came from. In other words, we have acknowledged the source of the information we have used.
What is La Trobe University’s Academic Misconduct Policy?
The Academic Misconduct Policy was put together by staff at the University to outline the procedures that the University will follow in regard to behaviour that is considered unethical, inappropriate, wrong or cheating.
The policy talks a lot about plagiarism and the different forms it might take (see Section 1). The guidelines part of the policy describes types of offenses and the penalties that may be given to students who plagiarise and/or cheat (see Guidelines pp. 14 - 19).
The policy also details student responsibilities and staff responsibilities (see Academic Misconduct Policy, Section 3 pp. 3 - 6).
Your responsibilities
The Academic Misconduct Policy (p.5) states that:
Students have a responsibility to:
- observe in all respects the ethical approaches to learning that the University fosters;
- declare all printed, electronic, graphs, works of art, and other kinds of sources in their work submitted for assessment, from which they obtain material or ideas;
- do this in ways approved by the discipline, school and faculty in which the assignment is set, for example through footnotes, endnotes, textual references or other devices;
- consult and use the guides and information provided by the University toinstruct them in the avoidance of plagiarism;
- take part in the sessions on plagiarism avoidance and learning programs provided by the University to enhance their writing and analytical skills, which will contribute to the diminution of plagiarism in their work;
- seek individual instruction from staff of Language and Academic Skills Units when they are counselled to do so;
- submit work for assessment with the appropriate statement of authorship, the consent to copying and transmission for electronic analysis for the detection of plagiarism, and declaration that the plagiarism avoidance advice issued for the unit or course has been read;
- retain copies of all assignments they submit for assessment;
- ensure that they do not knowingly or carelessly make their work available to other students in any form; and consult with staff when in doubt about any matter where plagiarism is or may be involved.
University values – academic integrity
La Trobe University takes an academic integrity approach. This means it values honesty in all work produced by students and staff. It also means that you need to learn how to follow the conventions of academic referencing, and the university will give you opportunities to learn these conventions.
'La Trobe University regards academic honesty as the foundation of teaching, learning, and research. It requires its academic staff and students to observe the highest ethical standards in all aspects of academic work' (La Trobe University, Academic Misconduct Policy, 2007, p.1).