On the first day of class, discuss cheating and let students know what will happen if they are caught. If your school/college has one, provide students with a copy of the school honor code. On the syllabus, include information about cheating and its consequences, and encourage students to ask questions.
Have students sit far apart from each other during tests, and make at least two versions of the same test. The two versions can be similar or identical, but the questions should be numbered differently. Make students clear their desks and turn off their cell phones. During the test, watch out for roaming eyes.
To prevent plagiarism, make students submit thesis statements, outlines, bibliographies and drafts before the final deadline. Teach students how to correctly attribute in their essays or other graded work the ideas or actual words written by someone else, without unintentionally plagiarizing. Showing students written examples of what is acceptable and what is not.
Encourage students to seek help if they do not understand the course material or an assignment. Some students resort to cheating when they feel overwhelmed. Have office hours during which they can consult with you, and tell them about places on campus where they can get extra tutoring.
Inform students about the long-term consequences of cheating. Let them know that many employers and graduate schools ask about honor code violation. Furthermore, notify them that cheating denies them the opportunity to develop their own critical thinking, writing and research skills. The lack of such skills could hinder their academic, professional and personal growth.