1. Combating
Plagiarism
Easy Steps to prevent
plagiarism in your classes

2. Step 1 – Define What Plagiarism
Is and Isn’t
 Make students aware of what constitutes
plagiarism and how you handle it.
 Let students know that you know about term
paper mills.
 Talk about copyright and the Internet.
 Talk about how to document web pages, how to
document materials from online databases and
the differences between web pages and online
databases.

3. Step 2 – Guide the Research
Process
 Structure the research project so that it fulfills
the goals of the class. Set up the project so
that sections are worked on over the course
of the semester. Don't let students get into a
time crunch.

4. Step 3 – Focus on the Process of
Writing
 Have different sections due at different times
and provide feedback along the way.
 Have conferences with students regarding their
progress and to see what they have produced
so far.
 Being familiar with a student's style of writing,
grammar, and vocabulary makes it easier to
determine if they are the writer of the paper.

5. Step 4 – Collect Work During the
Writing/Research Process
 Have students turn in any or all of the following over the
course of a semester:
 A thesis statement/abstract.
 Written proposal for paper.
 Working or annotated bibliography.
 Rough draft or working notes.
 Outlines.
 All working drafts turned in with the final paper.
 Copies of cited references. (Some services provide
these for an extra fee)

6. Step 5 – Require Personal
Reflection
 As part of the paper or as a separate
assignment, have students reflect personally
on the topic they are writing on or on the
process of doing research and writing.

7. Step 6 – Read the Student’s
Papers
 Make sure students know that you read the
papers that are handed in
 Be sure to comment on all written work due
throughout the semester
 By providing feedback, the students will take
the assignment more seriously and know that
you are familiar with their writing “voice”

8. Step 7 – Tie the Topics into the
Class Experience
 Have writing assignments that have students
analyze classroom activities or discussions in
light of the text.
 Use local issues as topics.
 Ask students to include a section in their term
paper that discusses their topic in light of what
was covered in class.
 On the final exam, ask students to summarize
the main points of their research paper.

9. Step 8 – Use the SASS Writing
Consultant Services (or the
online Grammarly tool)
 Require or recommend students to use the SASS Writing
Consultant Services
 Our writing consultants are trained to help students in any step
of the writing process. Our consultants help students to
understand the writing process and help build writing skills.
However, they are NOT a proofreading service.
 Require students to have a writing consultation as part of the
class requirement. (Required in all Composition I and II
courses)
 Encourage students to use the online Grammarly tool, Defiance
College has a premium subscription which unlocks additional tools
for students to utilize. To create a free premium account follow
these steps:
1. Go to grammarly.com/enterprise/signup
2. Provide your name and @defiance.edu email.
3. Check your inbox for the email and click on the activation link.

10. Sources:
 “Easy Steps to Combating Plagiarism.”
Coastal Carolina University- Kimbel Library.
http://www.coastal.edu/library/presentations/e
asystep.html