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Tips for Discouraging Plagiarism
Here are a few tips that will help you discourage plagiarism in your classroom:
- Provide your students with a clear explanation of what you want them to get out of the assignment.
- Require that a variety of sources, in all formats, be used in the assignment.
- Create assignments that require creativity and original thought.
- Assign narrow and specific research topics. Create a list of acceptable topics and have students select from this list. Change this list every semester.
- Make sure your students know how to properly cite sources and paraphrase information. A discussion of this topic may be appropriate.
- Encourage or require (as appropriate) the use of scholarly publications. Explain what makes a scholarly publication “scholarly.”
- Make students aware of the resources available to them as they write papers and cite sources. Provide them with contact information for Off-Campus Library Services and the CMU Writing Center.
- Be involved in the writing process. Require that outlines be submitted three or four weeks prior to the due date, and that all drafts be submitted with the final paper.
- Do not allow last-minute changes of topic.
- Require detailed citations, including page numbers.
- Spot check bibliographies for questionable sources. Let your students know that you do this.
- Encourage students to come to you if they are confused about citation practices.
- Be a good role model. Cite sources in your lectures, presentations, and handouts. Talk to students about how citation shows respect for others.
- Discuss CMU’s Policy on Academic Integrity with your classes at the beginning of each semester.
- Discuss the penalties for plagiarism in your class.
- Create an ethical academic environment by talking about academic honesty with your classes, making sure your students understand both the reasons and the tools for avoiding plagiarism.
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