# Welcome to SMIRK Unit
5 - What is plagiarism?

- What is it?
- Is plagiarism just about writing?
- Benefits of not plagiarising
- Life on campus - part 1
- Life on campus - part 2
- Life on campus - part 3
- Life on campus - part 4
- Life on campus - part 5
- Types of plagiarism
- I, student
- Back to main index

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# What is it?

Plagiarism is when you copy someone else’s work or use their ideas in your essay, course work, or thesis and then do not acknowledge what you have done.

Plagiarism - the presentation of the work of another as if it was one’s own independent work or any improper use of sources which seeks to gain an unfair advantage

We use the Turnitin system at GCU, this is an online system which checks coursework for instances of plagiarism. It is highly effective and widely used in UK univiersities. This means that you won't get away with it!

###### SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# Is plagiarism just
about writing?

People tend to associate plagiarism with writing but you can be accused of plagiarising other things, for example music, images and even code!.

#### Example

George Harrison (My Sweet Lord) versus The Chiffons (He’s So Fine). Harrison was found to have committed ‘unconscious' copying and had to pay royalties. Click here to see examples of cases of music plagiarism that went to court.

#### Images

Images are also the products of other people's work and should be treated in the same way as a piece of writing. Many people assume that if an image is made available on the internet, then it is all right to download and use it. This is not so! However, there is a source of copyright cleared images which are free to use. It is called a creative commons search. Look for this symbol:

#### Code

Programming code should be treated as writing. Even though it does not look the same, people still work hard to create it. Every programmer has his or her own style of coding, and experienced lecturers can spot a sudden change of style immediately! If one of your classmates allows you to use a portion of their code, and you do so without crediting them, then this counts as collusion and you can be penalised for it. So, if you use code from a classmate, or an open web site, you should always credit the source in your written work and in the coding screen itself.

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# Benefits of not
plagiarising

#### By not plagiarising you will:

- feel more confident when tackling exams
- feel confident at seminar discussions
- know how to express an academic opinion, backed up by strong information sources
- be better able to answer questions at your project viva or presentation
- be competent in handling literature searches for major coursework projects
- develop your subject knowledge
- gain academic credibility (and thus gain credibility with future employers)
- have pride in your work : it's all yours
- apply for jobs with confidence, knowing that you won't be discovered as incompetent in basic information-handling skills.
- not be detected by Turnitin and so will avoid losing marks or being disciplined

#### Task:

Watch the individual chapers of the Life on Campus movie on the next few pages and think about the point each chapter is making.

'Learning how to make proper and responsible use of other people's work ... is the heart of academic life.'

###### Pyper H. (2000) Avoiding plagiarism: advice for students. Leeds, School of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds.

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# Life on campus - part 1

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# Life on campus - part 2

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# Life on campus - part 3

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# Life on campus - part 4

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# Life on campus - part 5

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# Types of plagiarism

There are many different ways to plagiarise but the most common ones are:

Copy and Paste: when a student copies a piece of text from any source and pastes it into their assignment without acknowledging their source.

Collusion: when one student produces work and allows another student to copy it. If both students submit the work, BOTH students will have colluded. Collusion differs to group work - some assessments will involve students working together on a particular project. Such assignments may require:

- you to share ideas, research and have joint responsibility for the development of a project.
- you to work together and produce a joint piece of work for assessment.
- you to work together but then produce an independently written piece of work.

Check with your lecturer so that you are sure of what is required of you!

Word switch: If a student copies a sentence or paragraph into their assignment and changes a few words it will still be classed as plagiarism.

Concealing sources: If a student cites a piece of work from a source more than once they must reference it each time. No matter how many times they refer back to the source they must acknowledge it, even if it is in the very next paragraph.

Self plagiarism: Self plagiarism is when a student re-uses their own previously written work or data in a new assignment and does not reference it appropriately. This could be conceived as deceiving their lecturer.

Ghost writing: If you pay someone to write your assignment for you, (like if you sign up to an internet service), then this will count as plagiarism as you are passing someone else's work off as your own. If you are found guilty, then you will be subject to our disciplinary procedures.

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/

# I, student

Watch the film 'I Student' and then discuss the different types of plagiarism mentioned in the film.

Now you know what plagiarism is, check out the next unit on how to avoid it!

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SMIRK by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.gcu.ac.uk/library/SMILE/