Plagiarism
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
- What is plagiarism?
- Can students be penalised if they plagiarise unintentionally?
- How can plagiarism be avoided?
- How easy is it to detect plagiarism?
- Are there different rules regarding plagiarism when information is accessed from the world wide web?
Plagiarism
A: 'Plagiarism is when you pretend that you have written or created a piece of work that someone else originated. It is cheating, it is dishonest, and it could jeopardise your HSC exam results.'
(Board of Studies, HSC Assessments and Submitted Works, Advice to Students
, 2006)
Q: Can students be penalised if they plagiarise unintentionally?
A: Yes. It is the responsibility of all students to understand what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it.
Q: How can plagiarism be avoided?
A: Students can avoid plagiarising by acknowledging the sources they have used. Using the Information Process will assist students to avoid plagiarism.
Q: How easy is it to detect plagiarism?
A: Teachers are very skilled in detecting plagiarism. They may require students to confirm their knowledge of a topic orally if they suspect plagiarism.
Plagiarism detection methods are becoming more and more sophisticated as technology is used to expose malpractice.
Q: Are there different rules regarding plagiarism when information is accessed from the world wide web?
A: No. The same scholarship principles apply no matter what the source of the information that has been used. The only difference is that the form of acknowledgement for web-based sources is different.