A quick quiz to test your knowledge of what plagiarism is. Compiled from questions created by the Info Skills team at UEL. Click the grey boxes to see the answers.
1. It is plagiarism to copy and paste a paragraph of text from a website without putting it in quotation marks and referencing the source?
True
This is true. Using text from web pages without referencing it is an example of plagiarism.
False
That's not right. This is definately plagiarism. When you copy the exact words from any source, including web pages, you should put them in quotation marks and give a reference.
2. It is plagiarism to use the ideas of another author without giving a reference, even if you write them in your own words.
True
That is right! Plagiarism applies to using someone else's ideas just the same as using their actual words. You still need to reference this source.
False
That's not right. Actually this is plagiarism. Even if you do not directly copy the author's words, you must give a reference when you talk about their ideas.
3. It is plagiarism to claim work produced by another student as your own.
True
That's right. It is plagiarism to use another student's work and submit it as your own. If you collaborate with other students on a group project set by your tutor, everyone who contributed must be acknowledged as co-authors.
False
That's not right. Buying, stealing or copying an assignment to produce your own work is plagiarism. Collaborating with another student, unless asked to do so by your tutor, is also plagiarism.
4. It is plagiarism to copy a diagram or data table from a web site, giving a reference for the source underneath.
True
That's not right. You can include a table, diagram or image from another source as long as you give a reference. You do still need to check that the copyright restrictions allow you to copy the information.
False
That's right! This is not an example of plagiarism because you have referenced your source. You do however need to check that the copyright restrictions allow you to copy the information.
5. It is plagiarism if you submit all or part of an essay for two separate assignments.
True
That's right. It is a type of plagiarism called self-plagiarism.
False
That's not right. It may surprise you, but this is considered self-plagiarism and is also not permitted.
6. It is plagiarism if you copy words from a book into your own work, but place quotation marks around them and provide a citation.
True
That's not right. It is not plagiarism to copy words from another source, as long as you put them in quotation marks and reference them correctly. This means citing them within your text and adding the full reference to the list at the end of your work.
False
That's right. This is not an example of plagiarism because you have used quotation marks around the exact words and cited them in your text. You would also need to add the full reference to the list at the end of your work.
7. It is plagiarism if you include a fact or saying in your assignment which is generally known without giving a reference.
True
That's not right. If a fact is generally well known or "common knowledge", then you don't need to reference it. Bear in mind that what you consider to be common knowledge may not be well known to others. If in doubt, provide a reference.
False
That's right. It is not plagiarism to use well known facts without a reference, but you need to be sure that it is "common knowledge". If in doubt, provide a reference.
8. It is plagiarism if you incorporate text from another source, changing one or two words and providing a citation.
True
That's right. It is still plagiairism if you use too many words form the original source instead of writing about it in your own words, even if you give a reference.
False
That's not right. If you are not quotong directly from the source, you must write about it in your own words. Using too many words from the original source is plagiarism even if you do give a reference.
Did you find this unit helpful? Could we make it better? Let us know by emailing m.kelt@gcu.ac.uk