Accidentally forgetting to name a source in a parenthetical citation and providing incorrect attribution or page numbers is plagiarism. Cutting and pasting information from a source directly into a paper without quoting or citing is also plagiarism. Patchwriting occurs when students copy a source's words and try to make it appear original by changing words and phrases while omitting some parts. Whether intentional or deliberate, students who plagiarize can fail the paper and the class.
Changes in tone, font and writing style can prompt a plagiarism investigation. When instructors suspect plagiarism, they collect documentation and meet with the student to discuss the plagiarized work. Once the meeting occurs, students will not get a break. Even if the student cries or bargains, the teacher must uphold the class policy to maintain integrity. Paperwork will be turned over to judicial affairs. If found guilty, students may be suspended, expelled and lose scholarships.
Teachers are profoundly disappointed when students plagiarize. Some report feeling deceived and assaulted, reports Dr. Chris Anson in the article "We Never Wanted to Be Cops: Plagiarism, Institutional Paranoia, and Shared Responsibility," appearing in the book "Pluralizing Plagiarism: Identities, Contexts, Pedagogies" by Rebecca Howard and Amy Robillard. It can take upward of 15 hours of extra work to build a case, forcing schedule and grading delays.
To simplify detecting plagiarism, some professors use Turnitin and MyDrop Box. These sites highlight plagiarized sentences, phrases and words, color coding them and matching them to the URLs of the source material. Performing a Google phrase search also leads to articles in which suspect phrases appear. Teachers should carefully consider their use of these sites as they can intimidate students, reports Shelly Savage, author of "Staff and Student Responses to a Trial of Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software."
As a preventative measure, students may be required to turn in notes, outlines and drafts. This allows teachers to view the work as it progresses and to offer feedback while there is still a chance for student to make changes. Students and teachers benefit from a strong plagiarism policy that is discussed thoroughly in class. High expectations for ethical behavior and activities that allow students to practice documentation skills is also effectively eliminates plagiarism.