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Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using or copying someone else’s ideas or work without providing proper acknowledgement. This includes using words, images, designs, code, or any other intellectual or tangible work created by something or someone else (including, but not limited to, researchers, authors, journalists, academics, artists, other students and GenAI).

There are various types of plagiarism: 

Type of plagiarism 

What does it look like? 

Copying 

Duplicating a source, in part or in full, without using quotation marks and/or providing acknowledgment 

Self-plagiarism 

Using any part of your work from previously submitted assessments 

Copying other people’s work 

Presenting other people’s unpublished work, in part or in full, as your own independent work, with or without their permission 

Inappropriate paraphrasing/quoting 

Integrating ideas from another source with very few changes, without using quotation marks and/or without acknowledgement 

Inappropriate citation 

Acknowledging a source that you have not used and possibly learnt about from another unreferenced source 

Even if the lack of acknowledgement is unintentional, it is still plagiarism and therefore, a serious offence at university.  

Proper acknowledgement

Proper acknowledgement means providing a correct reference in two ways: 

  • In-text citation: Within your work indicating when you have used information from a source.
  • Reference list: Detailed information about the source in a list of sources at the end of your assessment.  

Different faculties, schools and academic disciplines have preferred referencing styles. Information about what style you should use in your assignments can be found in the Subject Outline. If you’re unsure what to use, ask your Subject Coordinator or tutor. You can ask a Learning Skills Advisor for advice on referencing. 

No.

  1. You do not have to reference your own ideas, observations, insights, results, experiences, or conclusions.
  2. Additionally, if something is considered “common knowledge”, you don’t need to provide a source for the information. Common knowledge is something that most people know, or something that is widely known by people in a particular field of study or expertise.

For example, it’s common knowledge that Italy is a country in Europe, so you would not have to provide a source for that fact. However, the fact that Italy’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021 was approximately US$2.1 trillion would not be considered common knowledge, therefore the source would need to be accurately referenced.

If in doubt, check with your tutor or Subject Coordinator. You can also speak to a Learning Skills Advisor. 

There are two main reasons why you should acknowledge your source of information:

Red cross in circle 1. By not acknowledging the source, you are in effect stealing the ideas, work or intellectual property of others (and you risk being penalised for plagiarism).
Tick symbol in green circle

2. By acknowledging the source correctly and effectively, you are supporting the reliability, validity and integrity of your own work and arguments, as well as enabling your readers to find and read those sources themselves.

Acknowledging trusted sources of evidence – for example, scholarly sources, statistics, facts, research findings, expert opinion, and examples – strengthens your work by showing that your views are well-informed and well-supported.  

There are a range of penalties for plagiarism which can be severe. A zero grade may be awarded for an assignment or subject through to expulsion from a subject or even from the university. 

Seek advice

  • Check your Subject Outline for the preferred referencing style guide for the subject. Follow the referencing guidelines provided by the School or Faculty.
  • Book a consultation with an Academic Learning Skills Advisor.
  • Become familiar with the UOW Referencing Style Guide/s for your subjects, and use the conventions in the guide accurately. 

Take notes effectively

  • Write up your notes in your own words
  • Use an evidence-based strategy such as the Cornell Method
  • Record accurate publication details about the sources for reference in your assessment
  • Further reading on effective Note-taking

Quote correctly

  • Use the exact words from the original source
  • Enclose quotes in quotation marks
  • Provide a reference for each quote including page number/s from the original source 
  • Further reading on direct quotations

Summarise

  • Use the main ideas from a source and re-write in your own words
  • The focus of your summary will be guided by your topic
  • Actively engage with the text by adding your questions and point of view
  • Record accurate publication details about the sources for reference in your assessment
  • Further reading on Summarising

Paraphrase

  • Read the whole section of relevant information from the source until you understand the ideas
  • The ideas can then be included to support your argument
  • Record accurate publication details about the sources for reference in your assessment
  • Further reading on Paraphrasing