AVOIDING PLAGIARISM AND USING LIBRARY RESOURCESWriting Across the Curriculum Fellows

Jake Cohen and Claire HoogendoornBronwen Densmore, Ursula C. Schwerin

LibraryNovember 11, 2014

Workshop Agenda

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I. Understanding plagiarismII. Strategies for preventing plagiarism

1. Educate students and explain research2. Library support3. Design plagiarism-resistant assignments4. Teaching paraphrase

III. Responding to plagiarism

I. Understanding Plagiarism

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“Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity.” – NYCCT statement on academic integrity

“Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity.” – NYCCT statement on academic integrity

“Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity.” – NYCCT statement on academic integrity

Brainstorming Questions

1. How do you address plagiarism with your classes?

2. Are there kinds or levels of plagiarism?3. What, in your opinion, are the main causes

of plagiarism?

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Common Justifications and/or Actual Reasons for Plagiarism:

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1. “I didn’t know this was plagiarism.”2. “But, my professor asked for two quotations

and that’s what I did!”3. “My writing isn’t good enough.”4. “My English isn’t strong enough.”5. “I’m not an expert in this topic, what could I

possibly have to say that’s important?”6. “I can’t write this entire paper tonight!”

Unintentional Plagiarism

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• Students aren’t always trying to cheat when they plagiarize!• (Sometimes they do cheat)

• “Good faith” citation errors• Bad Paraphrasing• Cultural differences

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II. Strategies for Preventing Plagiarism

1. Education and Awareness

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• Discussion, assignment, handouts• Student workshop in the spring

• Pedagogical purpose of research• “Coach” not “Police”

• Provide students with examples• Baruch library tutorial• Quiz

• Model correct citation format

Group Exercise: Gray Areas (Sample from Plagiarism Quiz on Handout)

• 4. “After my friends and I had a big discussion and disagreement about the reading, I used some of our points in my paper.”

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NO

• 6. “I read an article on the internet, used some parts of it word-for-word in my paper, and listed the article on my works cited page.”• 11. “My tutor rewrote my thesis statement to change it from a summary to something that opens up an argument.”

This quiz was originally generated by the Freshman English Office at the University of Connecticut; small adaptations were made by Rebecca Devers.

YESYES

2. Library Support

• Collaborate with library faculty to develop research skills throughout the semester.

• Make sure you are familiar with local collections. Different libraries (even within CUNY) can have very different resources available.

• Be clear with your students about what kinds of resources you want them to use: feel free to guide them to books or databases that will be fruitful.

• Librarians are available to help you develop subject and research guides for your class. Pathfinders can be helpful in intro and advanced classes.

• Urge students to visit the reference desk or schedule research consultations with librarians. 10

Library Resources

Library subject specialists: http://cityte.ch/dir

Library catalog: http://cityte.ch/cat

Library databases: http://cityte.ch/db

Tutorials and Subject Guides11

3. Plagiarism-Resistant Assignments

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• Guide students to outside sources • Disciplinary specific!

• Scaffolding• Use unique details in assignments• Empower Students

Scaffolding and Low-Stakes Assignments

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• Informal writing assignments (in-class or homework)• Discrete steps

• Facilitate understanding of class material• Process course content• No pressure to be “right”

• Examples of some plagiarism-resistant scaffolding• Teach quotation • Peer review• Justify inclusion of resources cited

Sample Scaffolded Schedule

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Assignment: Find an idea in one of the assigned critical readings of Jane Eyre with which you disagree. Figure out why you think it is wrong, and write a 5-7 page persuasive essay arguing for your own, “better” reading…

In-class summary of novel: 10% of grade – 10/25

Summary of idea with which you disagree: 10% of grade – due 11/1

Annotated bibliography of at least 2 sources that support your reading: 10% of grade – due 11/8

First Draft: 10% of grade – due 11/21

Peer Review Participation: 10% of grade – 11/21

Second Draft: 50% of grade – due 11/26

Use Details in Assignments

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• Current events

• Specific, novel/unique applications of concepts(Original): “Define and explain classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning”

(Revised): “Professor Catlove opens a can of cat food and his cats run into the kitchen purring, meowing, and rubbing his legs. What examples of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning are at work here?”

-Bean, John C. Engaging Ideas. 2nd Ed. 2011. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Empower students

• Students’ opinion

• Example: Thought question

• Avoid discouraging feedback

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4. Teaching Paraphrase

• Paraphrasing is difficult• Tough cognitive ability (native and ELL

students)• Developing paraphrasing skills• Beyond summary synthesis •Develop student voice

• Model good paraphrasing• Understand course content

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Group Exercise

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Revise the following assignment to make it more plagiarism-resistant, using strategies such as scaffolding, using specific details, and incorporating low-stakes assignments, etc:

“Write a 10-15 page paper on the role of technology in education.”

III. Responding to Plagiarism

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Detecting Plagiarism

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We have to report every case of plagiarism.

Electronic resource for suspected plagiarism:

• SafeAssign

Academic Integrity Committee

Refer to the Academic Integrity Policy Manual for info about how to report cases of plagiarism.

While the consequences for plagiarizing are very serious, it is still possible to respond constructively and make sure that your students understand what is expected of them moving forward. 21

Recommended

• Discuss you your expectations when introducing any assignment. Checklists can help.

• Keep copies of student work, including any written comments or feedback you’ve given.

• Keep records of your interactions with the student (office hours, conversations, etc.).

• Schedule a meeting with your student to discuss which elements of their work failed to meet standards listed on your syllabus.

• If passing the class is still a possibility, make sure students understand what kinds of grades they will need to achieve.

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Contact

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• Jake Cohen: jcohen@citytech.cuny.edu

• Bronwen Densmore: bdensmore@citytech.cuny.edu

• Claire Hoogendoorn: choogendoorn@citytech.cuny.edu

• NEXT WORKSHOP: The Creative Classroom, Tu 12/9, Namm 1105

• http://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/writingacrossthecurriculum