Am I plagiarising?
Real-life scenarios
It is quite acceptable to discuss your studies with other students and to ask other people for certain kinds of help. However, it isn’t acceptable to ask other people to do your work for you. It is important to avoid any form of plagiarism and/or cheating.
Still not sure if you are doing the right thing? Here are some scenarios that may help you decide.
Examples of unacceptable student conduct:
Scenario |
Rationale |
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My flatmate and I write our assignments together, and, since we’re in different tutorials, we can just hand in the same assignment and change the name on the cover sheet. |
If it’s an individual assignment, it should be your own individual work. If not, this is considered cheating. |
I’ve seen notices around the university advertising help with assignment writing essays. If I pay what they ask, that’s not plagiarism, is it? It’s not like I’m stealing. |
It’s passing someone else’s work off as your own. This is an example of cheating. |
I have a really good memory. I remember most of what I read although I can’t always remember where I read it. My essays are usually full of memorised passages. That’s not plagiarism, is it? |
If you are using someone else’s words, you should put those words in quotation marks and provide reference details. If not, this is plagiarism.
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This is my first year at university in Australia. My friend did this subject last year. I read his final report for the major assessment task and it was really good. I copied a few paragraphs because he explained the problem and solution so well. That’s not really plagiarism, is it?
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Copying from a friend’s assignment is considered to be cheating.
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I always do the research for my assignments and make notes on what should be in the answer, but I get my sister to write the final report because her English is much better than mine. That’s acceptable, isn’t it? |
If someone else writes an assignment for you, it is their words not yours. You are passing off someone else’s words as your own. This is considered cheating.
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My boyfriend has had some family problems this semester and has had to make several trips home. Because of that he’s had to work more hours in his part-time job. To help him out, I wrote part of his assignment for him. I won’t be in trouble, will I? |
A student who assists another student beyond the boundaries of legitimate co-operation can also be penalised. This is a form of collusion and is considered cheating. |
Examples of acceptable student conduct:
Scenario |
Rationale |
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My flat mate and I are doing the same subjects and so we talk about what we’re reading and learning about in class. |
Discussing your subject is a good way of consolidating your learning. |
I’m not always sure if I’ve structured my assignment in the way required, so I sometimes make an appointment to see a HELPS advisor to get some guidance. |
If you’re unsure about how to structure an assignment, it’s a good idea to get some advice.
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Sometimes I make careless spelling mistakes when I type my assignments. I can’t always find them when I read my assignments because I’m usually concentrating on the meaning. It’s OK to ask someone to proofread my assignment for typing mistakes, isn’t it? |
Asking a friend to proofread is not plagiarism or cheating. In fact, it’s a good idea to ask someone else to check your writing for typing mistakes.
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