This document discusses plagiarism, defining it as using another's work (words, ideas, or thoughts) without giving proper credit. Plagiarism can be intentional or accidental. The consequences of plagiarism are outlined, including failing assignments, lowering of grades, failing courses, and removal from the university. Tips are provided for avoiding plagiarism, such as proper citation of sources, putting ideas in one's own words while still giving credit, and asking for help if unsure. Resources for students on campus are highlighted, such as tutorials, writing centers, tutoring, and coaching to help prevent plagiarism.

1. Academic Integrity:
Plagiarism& How to Stay Safe.
Avoiding Plagiarism: What is Plagiarism and its impacts

2. • Plagiarism is using someone else’s words, sentences, thoughts, ideas and
presenting them as your own.
• Plagiarism is “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's
own: use (another's production) without crediting the source” and/or “to
commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived
from an existing source”1
• Plagiarism can be accidental or deliberate.
1 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarize
What is Plagiarism?
Office of Global Affairs

3. Office of Global Affairs
https://www.planetminecraft.com/blog/plagiarism-a-worldwide-problem-a-thoughtful-blog/

4. Consequences of Plagiarism
• Plagiarism is a serious academic offense.
• Plagiarism is considered academic dishonesty at WVU.
• Consequences can be, but are not limited to the following:
• Failing an assignment
• The lowering of your course grade
• Failing a course
• Removal from the university
• Revocation of your Visa
• For more information and to review WVU’s Policy on Academic Dishonesty, please
see:
http://catalog.wvu.edu/undergraduate/coursecreditstermsclassification/#academici
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5. Know
the
Rules!
How to know if you are plagiarizing?
• Did you copy the words of someone else? Either from a source (book,
website etc.) or from another student?
• Did you put your name on a paper that someone else wrote?
• Did you put someone else’s ideas into your own words but not give
them credit for the idea?
• Did you purchase or download the paper from the web and turn
it in as your own?
• Did you use statistics, graphs, or drawings that you did not gather or create?
• If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you have plagiarized.

6. How can you avoid plagiarism?
• Citations – Be sure to cite any and all of your sources. Complete citations will make a
difference.
• If you have used a website in your work, be sure to include the URL.
• Know MLA (Modern Language Association) style and how to use it to document your
ideas, opinions and the facts. For more information on MLA, please see
https://www.mla.org/MLA-Style. If your faculty would prefer you to use a different
style of citation, please see the WVU libraries site for citation help.
(https://lib.wvu.edu/instruction/guides/citation/)
• If you are not sure if an idea, opinion or fact should be documented, err on the side
of caution and document.

7. Student Resources
• WVU has a plagiarism avoidance tutorial through the Library. You can access this
tutorial by visiting: https://lib.wvu.edu/instruction/plagiarism/
• You can log in with you WVU ID and password or you can review the tutorial as a
guest.
• If you are not sure, ask! The library is a great resource as well as your academic
advisor and your professors.

8. More Student Resources
• Tutoring Centers at WVU -
https://studentsuccess.wvu.edu/services/tutoring-centers
• SPEAKWRITE – Writing Studio for all WVU students. You can work with
one-on-one peer consultants. https://speakwrite.wvu.edu/writing-studio
• Student Success Coaching – Coaches work with students to assist with the
coming to WVU as well as help you stay on track academically.
https://studentsuccess.wvu.edu/services/student-success-coaching
• MindFit Academic Enhancement – This program offers academic support
to students who learn differently. https://mindfit.well.wvu.edu/academic-
enhancement