LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE DEPARTMENT’S PLAGIARISM POLICY

AND STUDENT CONTRACT

Clayton State University Student Code of Conduct, 1.E from the Student Handbook:      

Plagiarism and Misrepresentation of Work

 “No student will represent the work of others as his or her own. Themes, essays, term papers, tests, presentations and other similar assignments must be the work of the student submitting them. When direct quotations are used, they must be indicated and when the ideas of another are incorporated, they must be appropriately acknowledged.”

Language and Literature Departmental Statement

Plagiarism involves copying another person’s words or ideas without citing the source with appropriate documentation.  Any student who plagiarizes fails the plagiarized assignment.  A plagiarized paper is considered an incomplete assignment.  Any student who plagiarizes will fail the course. All student papers will be submitted to Turnitin.com to check for plagiarism.          

What is Plagiarism?

 Plagiarism occurs when you represent someone else’s words or ideas as if they were your own.  It can range in scope from accidentally forgetting to place quotation marks around a borrowed sentence, to careless paraphrasing, to deliberately trying to pass off someone else’s paper as your own.  Plagiarism is always a serious violation of the Clayton State University Student Code of Conduct and the Language and Literature Department policy. 

 Avoiding Plagiarism

o       Remember that you are responsible for all your work, including group assignments.  If you put your name on an assignment, you are responsible for that work.  Give yourself plenty of time to produce and complete an assignment.   Do not wait until the last minute to begin planning, researching, and writing your assignment.  You need to give yourself time to revise your paper before it is due.

o       Make sure you clearly understand the assignment.  Don’t be afraid to ask your instructor exactly what is expected; if necessary, contact your professor by email or make an appointment to speak with him/her during office hours.

o       Make sure you clearly know and can practice the rules for MLA documentation style.  Look up the details in the assigned handbook or on-line from the library’s web site.  You’ll want to know how to correctly cite a variety of sources, both in your text and on a work cited page.  See your professor or instructor if you have any specific questions.  You could also make an appointment with a tutor at the Center for Academic Assistance to discuss citation models and go over the citations in your paper.

o       Take careful notes on your sources, and be very careful when you paraphrase an idea.  Use the author’s name in the paraphrase or summary and again in the citation so that you don’t mistake the paraphrase for your own thinking at a later time.   

What should you cite in your paper?  

o       You must cite all quoted or paraphrased material.  Any information you use that is not “common knowledge” must be cited and the source must be credited.

o       Any supporting materials such as graphs, charts, and outlines must be cited properly. 

o       A writer’s ideas, including exact words, specific sentences, metaphors, and word choices, also belong to that writer and must be cited. 

o       Every source used in your paper must be listed on your “Works Cited” page.

 Exercises for Practice

Depending on your instructor’s instructions, practice the electronic exercises provided on the CD-ROM of your handbook, A Writer’s Reference by Diana Hacker, or do the plagiarism exercises linked online when you click on MLA at http://www.dianahacker.com/writersref/flash/rs_menu.asp.

Clayton State University

Language and Literature Department

Plagiarism Education Assignment Contract

Student's Full Name: _________________________________________

Course Number and Section: ______________________________

 I understand that plagiarism in any form is a violation of Clayton State University Student Conduct Code and the policies of the Language and Literature Department, and I am aware that it can result in failure of the class and academic sanctions.  I realize that helping or knowingly allowing others to plagiarize involves me in plagiarism.   Furthermore, I understand that any instance of plagiarism needs to be officially reported to the Language and Literature Department.

 I have completed a plagiarism education exercise.  My instructor has stressed the importance of avoiding plagiarism and satisfactorily answered my questions about what it is and what the consequences of it can be.

Signature: _____________________________

Date:  ________________________________