Technology of Plagiarism or Internet Plagiarism Revealed

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Technology of Plagiarism or Internet Plagiarism
Revealed

• Margaret Fain
• Peggy Bates
• Librarians
• Wed, Sept. 15, 2004

http//www.coastal.edu/library/papermil.htm
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Current State of Plagiarism

• 199910 of college students admit to cut
  paste plagiarism.
• 200141 of college students admit to cut
  paste plagiarism.
• (Center for Academic Integrity)

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2000/01 H.S. students

• 74 -- admit serious test cheating.
• 72 -- admit serious cheating on writing
  assignments.
• 50 -- admit some level of plagiarism on
  writing assignments using the Internet.
• (Center for Academic Integrity)

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Intellectual Property?

• No awareness of intellectual property.
• Everything on Internet is free.
• Internet has no owners, it belongs to everyone.

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Detecting Plagiarized Papers

• Writing style doesnt sound like the student.
• Strange text at top or bottom of page.
• Gray letters in text.

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Detecting continued

• Paper printed from students web browser.
• Browser addresses on page or at end of text.
• Poor or strange layout, cut off words.

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Detecting continued

• References to accompanying material that is not
  there.
• References to classes/professors not at CCU.
• Citations are to materials not owned by CCU or
  are all from another country.

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Detecting continued

• Web sites are inactive.
• Historical events are referred to in the present.
• Student can not identify or provide copies of
  cited materials.

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Locating Suspect Papers

• Google It
• search terms using quotes in Internet
• search engines.
• be prepared to find multiple variations.

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Locating Suspect Papers

• Search full text databases for text that matches.
• -use phrases with quotes.
• -search all full text databases, not just
  those in your discipline.

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Locating Suspect Papers

• Ask your librarians for help.
• Use a commercial paper locator service.
• Some papers cant be found.

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Easy Steps to Combat Plagiarism

• Define what plagiarism is and isnt.
• State your penalties clearly.
• Guide the research process. Require copies of all
  drafts of the paper.
• Focus on the process of writing and/or research.

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Easy steps continued

• Have the students turn in portions of the paper
  over the course of the semester.
• Ask students to reflect on their research in
  class or on exams.
• Let them know you read all papers.
• Tie topics to local issues or class experiences.

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Summary

• Be proactive.
• Inform students.
• Structure plagiarism free assignments.
• Be prepared to follow-up.

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Locating Internet Paper Mills

• http//www.coastal.edu/library/mills2.htm
• Over 257 paper mill sites as of June 2004