The document discusses the issue of plagiarism, highlighting the need for a common understanding and consistent application among educators and students. It raises concerns about the increasing prevalence of cheating and contract cheating services, driven by competitive pressures and technological advancements. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of fostering academic integrity and improving student writing through positive reinforcement and support.

1. Plagiarism – What is all the fuss about? Dr Fiona Duggan Head of Advice and Guidance

2. Plagiarism What is it? Is it a new problem? How do we address the problem?

3. What is plagiarism? Theft? Disease? War? Other?

4. Problem One in six students admit to copying from friends and one in ten confesses to looking for essays online (Shepherd,J. (2006) 1 in 6 admits to cheating. THES 16/03/06 p.1) Lecturer plagiarised student’s work (Baty, P. (2004) Lecturer plagiarised student’s work. THES. 17/09/04 p6) Leading academics argued that more researchers were resorting to scientific fraud because of intense competition to publish research results (McCall, B (2006) Push to publish leads to fraudTHES 24/03/06 p11)

5. Defining plagiarism Need a common understanding Need consistency in application Need to practice what we preach!

6. A new problem? Shakespeare Martin Luther King Princess Michael of Kent

7. Reasons Concept of ownership not yet developed Oral tradition of sharing resources Cryptomnesia

8. Current issues Increasing consumerism in attitudes towards education Students adopting a more strategic approach to their studies Diverse nature of student population

9. And Increased access to electronic resources Widespread confusion about referencing and citation Changing attitudes in popular culture e.g. sampling in music, file-sharing

10. And ‘Bespoke’ essay writing services Sale of student work on e-commerce sites ‘Contract cheating’ sites (Clarke, R & Lancaster, T (2007) Eliminating the successor to plagiarism? Identifying the usage of contract cheating sites in Duggan, F (Ed.) 2 nd International Plagiarism Conference Proceedings, Northumbria Learning Press)

11. HE in FE issues Lack of up-to-date knowledge when citing electronic resources Lack of confidence when teaching academic writing Inadequate knowledge of cultural issues relating to plagiarism Duggan, F. & Mazey, R (n.d.) Perceptions of plagiarism: An HE in FE case study Available at: http://www.jiscpas.ac.uk [Accessed 26/03/07]

12. Responses Use of detection software Revision of institutional policies and procedures Review of assessments Increased guidance for students

13. Referencing and attribution An out-dated practice? Isn’t everything freely available? Negative associations

14. However Probably more relevant than ever in the current knowledge-based society One of the building blocks of good academic practice A positive action rather than a negative one

15. So Need to provide students with opportunities to practice Need to provide an example in our own practice Stress the positive aspects of attribution

16. “ Quite simply, those who can write well have the potential to achieve, both in their coursework and their exams. They are at an enormous advantage.” Ahmad, R & McMahon, K (2006) The benefits of good writing: or why does it matter that students write well? In Davies, S. Swinburne, D & Williams, G (Eds.) Writing Matters. Royal Literary Fund