Off Campus Students (Learning Support)

Where can I get help to avoid plagiarism?

A few of you get together to talk about your next assignment. Each of you contributes equally to generate ideas and together develop a rough plan or approach. How do you write up your assignment?

	Continue working together through the drafting and writing processes. The assignments you submit are quite similar and answer the question.
Negative impact on your learning outcomes You spent a lot of time working together and the assignments you submitted were so similar that the marker is concerned that they don't represent individual work. Note This could be considered plagiarism.
	Continue to work collaboratively using and sharing the same sources, ideas, language and approaches to produce early drafts. You then finish writing your assignments separately.
Better impact on your learning outcomes You enjoy working together, but you all took care to make sure your finished assignment reflected your own individual approach and work. Note Studying together is not a problem as long as you make sure that you write your assignments separately.
Neither good nor bad effect on your learning outcomes You've supported each other really well through the assignment process, but there is a risk that your work could look as if it has been plagiarised. Note Remember that you are required to write your assignment to reflect your individual viewpoint.
	At the rough draft stage, you share the ideas you've developed and help each other with any problems. You then work separately to finalise your assignments.
Better impact on your learning outcomes You've taken full advantage of working with other people to clarify for yourself what the assignment requires you to do and what would be appropriate arguments and ideas to cover. As a result, you feel confident in using your own words to explain your answer. Note Studying together is not a problem as long as you make sure that you write your assignments separately.

This question is often asked by students who are worried about inadvertently doing the wrong thing.

For those who would like to avoid inadvertent plagiarism, work through the resources and guidance supplied in the previous sections What is plagiarism?

Also check:

Support for dealing with the charge of plagiarism

Sometimes, students find that the originality of their work is questioned. Student Associations Opens in a new window and
Community Services are both areas of the university which can support a student when their work is queried. You will also find a link to your faculty's resources , including faculty policy.

The penalties that may be imposed for a charge of academic misconduct and avenues for appeal are outlined under University Statute 4.1: Discipline Opens in a new window .

Download a printable version of this page.
Problems? Questions? Comments? Please provide us feedback.

Previous |

Need help? Library frequently asked questions and online inquiries: current students/staff \| public users, online chat, or phone +61 3 9905 5054 Something to say? Send us your feedback and suggestions: current students/staff \| public users
Copyright © 2003 Monash University ABN 12 377 614 012 - Caution - Privacy - CRICOS Provider Number: 00008C Last updated: 02 April 2009 - Maintained by lsweb@lib.monash.edu.au - Accessibility information

Table of contents

Where can I get help to avoid plagiarism?

Negative impact on your learning outcomes

Better impact on your learning outcomes

Neither good nor bad effect on your learning outcomes

Better impact on your learning outcomes

Support for dealing with the charge of plagiarism