Handout at Blend Conference in Fresno, CA 2011

1. Got Plagiarism? I Have a Cure!
2011 BLEND Conference
Ida M. Jones, J.D.
Verna Mae & Wayne D. Brooks Professor of Business Law
Special Assistant to the Senior Academic Technology Officer
California State University, Fresno
idaj@csufresno.edu
559 278-5711
Symptoms of Plagiarism
• Writing varies from assignment to assignment
• Paper or other assignment:
– Demonstrates sophisticated mastery of terminology
– Includes information not specifically covered in the course
– Has very sophisticated writing style
• Others?
One test to Determine Cause: Survey
Proportion
of
Participants
Who
Admitted
to
Plagiarism
94.1%
100.0%
71.6%
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
26.8%
20.0%
5.9%
0%
1.6%
Plagiarized
0.0%
Never
Plagiarized
Failed
to
Respond

2. Cure
Treat Students’ Lack of Clear Definitions:
• Workshops
• Face to Face: Academic Integrity Workshop
• Online: Online Plagiarism Module
Treat Students’ Ability to Find Assignments Elsewhere
• Re-design assignments to make them more plagiarism-resistant
• Re-consider how you assess whether students have used sources
– Use plagiarism detection software such as Safe Assign
– Require that students attach copies of their sources to their
assignments
– Others suggestions?
• Ask students to prove what they have learned
– Brief oral presentations
– Office meetings to ask for summaries
– Other suggestions?
• Create assignment(s) that tie to personal or classroom experiences
– Require that assignments make specific reference to textbook,
classroom discussions
– Require that assignments make specific reference to personal
experiences
– Other suggestions?
• Re-evaluate course structure and assignments
– Change the assignments every semester
– Require submissions in steps
– Other suggestions?
Treat Lack of Institutional Support with Institutional Policy Implementation
and Enforcement
• Create institutional definition of plagiarism
• Institute an Honor Code
• Encourage consistent enforcement of policies

3. • Implement University-wide sanctions