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Student Resources: Academic Honesty - Plagiarism

Academic Integrity

This term refers to intellectual and personal honesty in “learning, teaching, research, and service” (Center for Academic Integrity, 1999). 

Students at Kent State University are expected to understand and follow accepted standards for academic integrity.  They are expected to do their own work and to respect and acknowledge the work of others.

Cheating and plagiarism have no place in the university.  They undermine academic goals and objectives and infringe on the rights of other students. 

Honor Pledge

The University's Honor Code provides students with the opportunity to affirm that they understand and will comply with accepted standards of academic integrity.

Signing the code is completely voluntary.  It is not a contract and, although added to the student's university record, has no effect on how the student is treated if accused of academic dishonesty. 

What is Plagiarism?

The Kent State Univesity definition of plagiarism is

 "To take and present as one's own a material portion of the ideas or words of another or to present as one's own an idea or work derived from an existing source without full and proper credit to the source of the ideas, words, or works."
 

For more information about Plagiarism visit the Kent Plagiarism page. here you can learn about Plagiarism School and find resurces such as the Kent State University administrative policy on student cheating and plagiarism.

In your academic work, you always need to cite your sources to show where you found the information you've used and to give credit to the original authors.  It doesn't matter where your information came from.  It could be in print, online, on television, or in conversation. 

 

This applies to all academic work: papers, presentations, and other written work.  If you didn't do the work, you shouldn't claim it as your own. 

 

Failure to cite sources properly is plagiarism.

 

Here are some suggestions for keeping track of your sources and avoiding any suspicion of plagiarism:

 

  • Take careful notes of your sources clearly identifying quotations and recording page numbers.
  • Use database options for e-mailing or saving bibliographic references and full text to ensure that you have the correct information.
  • Understand when (and how) to cite your sources.

Consequences

Instructors may impose these sanctions for plagiarism:

  • Refuse to accept the work for credit
  • Give an F or zero on the assignment
  • Give an F for the course
  • Recommend that the incident be forwarded for further review as a student conduct issue
  • Require you to attend “Plagiarism School”

Due Process

  • Your instructor informs you verbally or in writing that he/she suspects you of plagiarizing
  • Your instructor provides you with an opportunity to explain orally or in writing why you believe you did not plagiarize
  • When a sanction is imposed the instructor must report the act of plagiarism and the sanction applied to the Office of Student Affairs and  inform you in writing that you have the right to appeal within 15 days
  • If you do appeal, a hearing will be scheduled before an Academic Hearing Panel where the instructor must prove you plagiarized. You and the instructor can call witnesses and cross examine each other (neither side can be represented by legal counsel)
  • The Dean or Associate Provost for Regional Campuses makes a final decision in the matter and notifies you in writing within 15 working days of the hearing.

How to Cite Sources and Avoid Plagiarism

Additional Plagiarism Tutorials (15 Videos)

Learn More

Watch this video from Kent State University Libraries.  Your instructor may provide access to the Avoiding Plagiarism quiz through yourBlackboard Learn Course page. 

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