Academic Integrity
What does plagiarism mean?
How to Avoid It
Avoiding Pitfalls
Collaborative Work
Paper Mills
Multiple Submissions
English Language Support
What does plagiarism mean?
According to the Ryerson University Code of Academic Conduct , plagiarism means claiming the words, ideas, artistry, drawings, images or data of another person as if they were your own.
You are probably aware that purchasing an essay or having someone else write it for you constitutes plagiarism, but there are other forms of plagiarism that may not be so obvious. In University, you will often be required to use outside sources like websites, books, articles, and textbooks, but in your written work or oral, you must separate your ideas from those of others and properly cite your sources . Whether you are writing a research essay, a self-reflection paper, a lab report, a computer program, or an oral presentation you must always do your own work.
There are many different types of plagiarism, including:
- Copying and pasting material from a website
- Making minor changes to an author's words or style and then presenting the material as your own
- Taking text from published authors, your friend's paper, or work you've already handed in
- Using a direct quotation but leaving out the quotation marks
- Paraphrasing too closely to the original
- Failing to cite sources or citing them incorrectly such that the work cannot be properly found
- Working with another student on a project but failing to put both names on the final product
- Having someone else re-write or heavily edit your paper
How to Avoid It
Think about Why You're Here
Let's face it: you didn't struggle to get into University so you could cut and paste someone else's ideas from a website. You came to Ryerson to learn the skills you need to succeed in your field. Being a student means struggling with concepts, assimilating new facts and approaches, and sometimes reconsidering the knowledge that you already possess. It is hard work! As a student, it is your responsibility to ask for help when you need it.
No one expects you to know everything when you start university-you will get the most out of your Ryerson experience if you approach courses and assignments as learning experiences. If you don't understand an assignment or a concept from class, you should ask your professor to explain it again or seek out academic support services on campus. Above all, consider your reasons for being here and keep them in mind at busy times of the year. If you are crunched for time, get some help with time management from Ryerson's Learning Success Centre. If you're struggling with concepts from class, talk to your professor during office hours or arrange to have a tutor.
Make a conscious decision not to plagiarize (Just say "No"!)
Reading this website and viewing the tutorial on Academic Integrity is an excellent way to educate yourself about Ryerson's policies and expectations of you as a student. Sometimes avoiding plagiarism is as simple as understanding what it is and making a conscious decision to avoid it. If you're not sure, ask. Be aware of your practices, learn necessary skills, and commit yourself to responsible scholarship.
Learn the Skills you Need to Succeed
Being a successful university student doesn't just mean going to class and reading your textbook. The content that you learn in lectures and textbooks is important, but you also need a toolbox of academic skills in order to succeed at university. You have probably already noticed that university courses require you to read more material than college or high school courses. Once you start getting assignment sheets, you might be overwhelmed by how many sources you are required to find and how many pages you have to write. Many first year university students lack the academic skills that they need to succeed in school, such as:
- how to read an assignment sheet
- how to manage your time
- how to do research
- how to take research notes
- how to integrate sources in an essay or report
- how to cite sources
If you're just starting out in University, make learning new academic skills a priority. Students often put their academic standing in jeopardy because they lack academic skills, such as how to research and how to take notes. Once you know how to cite a source properly or paraphrase someone else's ideas, you will feel more confident about all your written assignments. Doing so will help you throughout your academic career.
Avoiding Pitfalls
Copying and Pasting
"Copy and Paste" plagiarism is exactly what it sounds like: anytime you take a sentence from an original source (a website, a journal article, or someone else's paper) and paste it into your own essay, you are guilty of bad scholarship. Copy and paste plagiarism is especially tempting when it comes to web sources or online journals.
Why should you retype a sentence or paragraph from a website if you know you're going to use it in your paper and when copying and pasting it is so much easier?
You should make a rule to NEVER copy and paste text because:
- It can become difficult to separate your text from the source text
- It's much harder to write a good paraphrase of a source if the source text is on the screen in front of you
This practice makes it far too easy to use source material: when you select a quote, THINK about it, make sure you understand it, and have clear reasons for using it in your paper. Copying and pasting text is just too easy-good scholarship takes time and effort
Changing Words
What's the difference between these two sentences?
- Toronto's new green bin program not only prevents waste from going to Michigan landfill sites, but also helps people become more aware of the type and amount of waste they create on a daily basis; this program encourages people to take responsibility for the garbage they produce.
- The new green bin program used in Toronto not only reduces the amount of garbage going to Michigan landfill sites, but also encourages citizens to become more aware of the waste they create on a regular basis; this program helps homeowners to take responsibility for the waste they produce.
The second passage is almost identical to the first. Sure, the author has changed certain words, trading garbage for waste and people for citizens, but the structure and the content of both passages are almost identical. If you want to paraphrase a passage, you must PUT IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS, which means more than simply changing a few words.
To put something in your own words, read the passage and think about what it means. It may help you to circle key words. Make brief notes on a separate sheet of paper (think of it more like sketching the ideas than copying phrases-diagrams or symbols are helpful and don't lead to plagiarism). Then, turn the paper over or minimize the window and think about how you would explain what you just read if you were talking to another person. Take out a separate sheet of paper and write down the paraphrase, using your rough notes as necessary.
FYI-a good paraphrase of the example sentence you just looked at might read like this:
The green bin program has two distinct benefits: composting waste locally means less waste is going across the border to Michigan, and sorting household garbage makes Torontonians more conscious of the waste they create (Author, 2005).
Borrowing an Author's Style
Also be careful to avoid the type of plagiarism that involves borrowing an author's style or ideas. If the author has said something particularly well or has used a unique style or structure, you should quote directly. A passage that contains rich or striking language or that you consider to be beautiful or extremely well written deserves to be quoted directly. If you feel the passage would lose something in translation, preserve the original and put quotation marks around it and cite appropriately where the information came from.
Taking Someone Else's Ideas
Don't rely on someone else's ideas! You have good ones of your own! Especially if you are in first year and doing your first big research project, you might get the feeling that everything has been said before and that the people who said it before probably said it better than you ever could. This is simply not true: you are just entering the field, so the learning curve may be steep at first, but you have something to contribute to discussions going on in your field. If you don't feel confident, talk to your professor or get help from the Learning Success Centre,
Here are some tips for how to avoid using other author's idea as a crutch:
- Do some hard thinking BEFORE you consult sources-if you have some ideas written down before you begin, you won't run as much risk of borrowing heavily from other people's ideas
- Take careful research notes-include a space to write down your own thoughts and questions as you go
- Update your research log on a regular basis.
If you are relying on other people's ideas, you need to tell your reader where those ideas came from. Whether you are presenting ideas that came from a paper you read during the course of your research or from a lecture you remember hearing in your first year Psychology class, as a scholar, you must follow up on those ideas and give your reader a sense of where those ideas came from.
Quoting and Paraphrasing
You will use sources in different ways in your paper. When you use a direct quotation, it means you have taken EXACTLY what the author said and put it into your paper. You must let your reader know that the material comes from another source by putting quotation marks around the passage. Be careful with the use of direct quotes and avoid the temptation to fill your paper with long stretches of direct quotations: these can really break up the flow of your ideas.
Use a direct quote when:
- The author has said something particularly well (i.e. the passage would lose something if it were translated into different words; the style is as important as the content)
- The original source contains a sentence or two that says exactly what you want to say
- You are quoting from a work of literature or an original historical document or the author is a famous person or a well known authority on the subject
Rather than using a direct quotation in your paper, you might consider paraphrasing . When you paraphrase, you put the author's ideas into your own words and use your own sentence structure. When you paraphrase, you must make sure you understand the original passage. The best thing about paraphrasing rather than quoting directly is that your paper won't be filled with long stretches of quotation. Rather, the source ideas you are using will be nicely integrated with your own thoughts.
Paraphrase when:
- There is nothing striking or unique about the way the author has phrased the passage. If the passage is mundane, it's better to paraphrase it-your words will do just fine.
- The passage is really long and full of details that don't really apply to your paper. Think about why you're using the quotation and "trim" it, or simply put it into your own words.
Using the Internet
Can you imagine being a student before the Internet? The Internet has obviously changed scholarship dramatically. It presents a challenge for researchers and students because the content found on the internet is often less reliable than information in books or articles, mostly due to the fact that online texts don't go through the same rigorous editing and fact checking procedures as traditional published texts. So, when you use the Internet, use it safely and wisely.
Here are some guidelines that will help you do that:
Think before you search
After receiving an assignment sheet, the first impulse of many students is to log on and see what Google has to say about the topics on the list. Aside from being inefficient, this approach can also lead to plagiarism because the student has begun researching before he or she had a good idea of what to write about. Students may end up finding a paper online that seems to say what they want to say and then they set about trying to change the argument to fit the assignment sheet. Or, students may find themselves changing their mind with each new website they read.
The bottom line is that you should always think before you search. When you get an assignment, read each question carefully and ask your professor questions if you aren't sure about how to proceed. Next, do some brainstorming and put some ideas down on paper. Then, write a research question or a statement of purpose, decide what kind of sources your need and how you will use them and then (and ONLY THEN) begin your search. Not only will you have a clear idea of what your topic is and why you're interested in it, you'll be able to do more specific keyword searches and therefore your research process will take less time.
Keep a record of your searches
The web is a big place, and it's very easy to lose track of where you are and how you got there. Your overall research process will be easier if you keep a record of your search, including dates, search engine used, search terms used, and general pathways you followed. This also helps if you need to explain your methodology in your paper.
Assess web sources carefully
Web sites aren't subjected to the same rigorous editing and fact checking process as books or journal articles. So, if you want to use Internet sources, you will have to become your own detective and assess each source very carefully.
Print off a page from the website you're using in your essay
If you find a website that you really want to cite, be sure to print off the first page. This will give you evidence of the website's existence (just in case it disappears or radically changes before your paper is handed back), and will give you a record of the date on which you accessed it.
Take accurate notes
Many students make the mistake of thinking that they don't have to take notes from websites the way they would from a book or a journal article. It is very important to take notes on a separate sheet of paper or on a separate word file.
Don't have website windows open when you're writing your essay
You've been working on your essay all week and are finally writing the draft. It's late at night. You're tired. You have four windows open on your desktop and are switching back and forth between original source material and your essay. Any guesses as to what could happen? Even if you don't copy material and paste it directly into your website, you run the risk of borrowing or stealing the author's words. To avoid this problem, avoid the temptation by taking good notes in the first place. Keep your research and your writing processes separate!
Never cut and paste directly from a website
Sometimes, never means never. Don't cut and paste directly from the Internet, even if you know you're going to use a long quote. Taking notes on a separate sheet of paper is a step in the critical thinking process. Cutting and pasting directly from websites is lazy and puts you at risk of plagiarism. If it seems too easy, it probably is. Trust us on this one.
Collaborative Work
According to Ryerson's Student Code of Academic Conduct, working together when it is not assigned or permitted by the professor and then handing it in as if you did the work yourself is a form of plagiarism.
Some examples of this are:
- Working together to do graded homework
- Asking someone else to write or help write a paper
- Putting someone else's chart or graph in your graded assignment
Ways to avoid unauthorized collaboration include:
- Be clear about the expectations of your professor
Some students say it is difficult at times to understand when they are supposed to work on assignments in a group or when they are supposed to work on their own. The best way to find out is to read the course outline. Here you can find specific instructions from the professor about the expectations and details of the assignment. - Ask your professor or TA for more direction if you are still unclear
You may feel intimidated approaching your professors for help outside of class, but this is part of their job. Professors have specific office hours during which they are usually available to see students. If you prepare yourself in advance, it can make the experience a little easier. Here are some tips:
While looking at the course outline, try to determine what you think is expected. Ask yourself some questions to gather your thoughts:
- What are the main parts of the assignment?
- What part (or parts) of the assignment is (are) unclear?
- Does it seem as if you are supposed to work with someone or work alone?
- Underline or highlight these parts of the course outline and bring it with you to speak with the professor or TA.
- Write down your questions or make notes in point form so you have something to refer to if necessary.
- Ask for examples to illustrate areas of difficulty.
When doing lab or studio work, if permission for collaboration is given, be certain that you understand which parts of the work you can do together and which parts must be done individually.
Paper Mills
Ryerson's Student Code of Academic Conduct clearly states that "submitting stolen or purchased assignments or research" is a clear case of Academic Misconduct.
A number of websites market essays to students. Why not purchase your papers rather than writing them yourself?
- you don't learn anything from buying a paper
- purchasing an essay undermines the academic community that you are part of and is against University policy
- papers available on these sites are generally poorly written. You can produce far more interesting material on your own
Multiple Submissions
According to the Ryerson Academic Misconduct Policy, "submitting the same work, in whole or in part, for credit in two or more courses, or in the same course
more than once, without the prior written permission of the instructor(s)" is a form of academic misconduct. When submitting work to be graded, the university expects the work to be original and created by you for the purpose specified in the assignment.
If you are uncertain about if you can use a piece of work, clarify it with your professor!
English Language Support
Even when plagiarism is unintentional, you are still responsible for the offence and liable for its consequences. Therefore, it is in all students’ best interest to familiarize yourself with the rules governing plagiarism in order to be absolutely sure that you are not taking credit for material that is not fully your own. This can prove to be more challenging when English is not your first language or when you are from a culture that may not promote plagiarism as we define it in North America.
The purpose of any academic paper is to show your own thinking. Developing critical thinking skills by questioning and evaluating are intricate parts of North American academic culture. What and how sources are documented varies widely around the world. English as a Second Language students’ (ESL) need to become knowledgeable of North American documentation techniques.
The English Language Support is part of Student Services and offers students on-going help when their first academic language is not English. Visit http://www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/els/ for more information. This website provides resources specifically for ESL students. If students need more help with English Language Support programs or services, they are encouraged to make an appointment by contacting http://www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/els/contactus/
Some advice if English is not your first language (ESL)
- Make sure that you understand the expectations of assignments early in the semester.
- Remember that quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation. In research papers , you should directly quote from a source:
- To show that an authority supports your point;
- To present a position or argument to critique or comment on;
- To present a particularly well-stated passage whose meaning would be lost or changed if paraphrased or summarized.
- Learn to paraphrase, or summarize, an author's viewpoint without resorting to direct quotations. You should summarize or paraphrase when what you want from the source is the idea expressed, and not the specific language used to express it. Remember, when paraphrasing, even though the words are yours, the idea belongs to someone else who must be given credit; failing to do so is plagiarism.
Steps for Paraphrasing
- When reading a passage, try first to understand it as a whole, rather than pausing to write down specific ideas or phrases.
- Think of what "your own words" would be if you were telling someone who is unfamiliar with your subject (your mother, your brother, a friend) what the original source said.
- Look away from the source; then write the text in your own words.
- Check back with the original text for accuracy and clarity.
- Taking good notes is essential. Don't paste passages from WebPages into your draft. As you read any text - online or on the page - summarize useful points in your own words. If you record a phrase or sentence you might want to quote, put quotation marks around it in your notes to remind yourself that you are copying the author's exact words.
- Expose yourself to academic writing. Read academic journals and you will soon get used to the ways writers in your field refer to their sources.
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