The University’s Plagiarism Policy, and Advice on How to Avoid Plagiarism
Plagiarism and How to Avoid it
Plagiarism:
- Is a very serious academic offence; and
- Carries heavy penalties, from failure in a piece of assessment to exclusion from the University.
The University has adopted the following definition of Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional use of the work of other persons, copying (in whole or in part) the work or data of other persons, or presenting substantial extracts from written, printed, electronic or other media in a student’s written, oral, electronic/on-line or group assignment work without due acknowledgment. Plagiarism involves giving the impression that a student has thought, written or produced something that has, in fact, been taken from another. Any act of plagiarism constitutes a breach of this policy.
For details on what constitutes plagiarism and how the University deals with allegations of plagiarism, students are referred to the University Policy on Plagiarism and Improper Conduct in the University of New England Handbook. A copy of this Policy is also available at the Office of the Secretariat’s Policies page . Students are expected to read this policy.
All students must sign a plagiarism declaration and submit with any piece of written assessment. This declaration says that you understand what is plagiarism and that your written work contains no plagiarsm. It is essential that you take responsibility for ensuring that there is no plagiarism in any work you submit for assessment. The declaration is included on the Essay Style Checklist, the Assignment Coversheet for External students, and is also incorporated on UNE’s E-Submission service for external students. Failure to submit a plagiarism declaration will result in the piece of assessment not being marked until the declaration is received.
Avoiding plagiarism
To assist you in avoiding plagiarism, you should refer to these resources:
- Plagiarism – Avoiding Plagiarism & Academic Misconduct (Coursework): Information for Students
- Plagiarism – Avoiding Plagiarism & Academic Misconduct (Higher Degree Research): Information for Students
- tUNEup your subject-specific writing skills: Law site (writing site for law students incorporating plagiarism workshops) (Requires UNE account to access)
- Plagiarism and How to Avoid it by William and Cogill from UNE’s Language Training Centre (online tutorial, designed to help students understand plagiarism and teach them how to avoid plagiarising in their work)
- eSKILLS UNE, Keeping Track (strategies for keeping records on your referencing when you are researching and using information)