Tools in the Classroom to Stop Plagiarism
- Research skills encourage originality.old books on a table. image by Petr Gnuskin from Fotolia.com
Plagiarism is an increasing problem in schools due to the use of the Internet for research, as well as the easy accessibility of previously-written research papers. Students turn in plagiarized material because they have difficulties with writing original work for a variety of reasons. Clearly defined assignments and specific research titles help students focus on research and writing. Teachers that are aware of the reasons behind plagiarism can work proactively to assist students in developing proper research and writing habits. - Students may be unsure of what constitutes plagiarism. Teachers should be specific about the definition of plagiarism and offer examples of how to acceptably reference another person's work. Time spent on demonstrating proper citation practices and paraphrasing will help keep students from inadvertently plagiarizing. A thorough explanation of the penalties for plagiarism will emphasize the school's position on this issue. Teachers can include a discussion of widely publicized cases of plagiarism in the world of literature and science.
- Plagiarism is easiest with broad, undefined research topics such as The History of Indonesia. Customized topics that are more narrowly defined are easier to track for plagiarism. A list of topics that students are required to choose from will help them develop focus for their research from the beginning of the research and writing process.
- Teachers should provide time for students to work on assignments in the classroom. Students will often plagiarize an assignment because of poor time management skills. If a teacher allows students structured class periods for research and writing, it is harder for students to plagiarize material. Assignments can be broken down into steps like bibliography, introduction, rough draft and final draft, with deadlines for each step.
- Specific guidelines for research, such as using three books, two magazine articles and two Internet sources, aid teachers in preventing plagiarism. A bibliography can be required as the first step in the process of writing an assignment. This gives teachers time to check references and guide students if they need assistance with finding the proper resources.
- Students may have poor or limited research skills, including a lack of understanding how to use a library for research. Teachers should work in conjunction with the school librarian to help students develop strong research skills. This should include how to cite resources, how to create a bibliography and the differences between primary and secondary sources.
- There are many commercial software programs now aimed at detecting plagiarism. Teachers can schedule weekly periods during class when students need to submit the work that they have completed up to that time. This work can be checked using anti-plagiarizing software.
