What are the Case Studies?
In the following pages, we will present three Case Studies of student writing. In each case, we will present the original source, and some writing samples using this source. Your task will be to identify which writing samples display academic integrity, which do not, and why.
What Should I Look For?
Look for these clues to tell you if a writing sample displays academic integrity (good) or not ( bad!):
|Use of a direct quotation to indicate that the words quoted were taken from another source.|
|Use of a paraphrase that is clearly acknowledged. A paraphrase uses your own words to explain someone else's idea or information obtained from another source. (It is often preferable to paraphrase rather than quote directly in order to emphasize the points that are particularly relevant for your argument.)|
|Use of citations within the text to accompany each and every use of another source, whether directly quoted or paraphrased, including sources from the Internet. Every citation matches a full reference in the Bibliography or Works Cited page included with your paper, allowing your readers to easily find the original source.|
|Copying (quoting in whole or in part without citing a reference). Anything that includes most of the words or phrases in a passage can be considered copying, even if some of the original words are omitted or changed.|
|Paraphrasing without acknowledgement. Failing to acknowledge a paraphrase implies that the writing represents your own original idea.|
|Using an idea or information without acknowledgement. Be careful of situations where you use another person's idea without directly quoting or paraphrasing a specific passage of their writing. It is still necessary to acknowledge that idea, or it will appear that you are misrepresenting it as your own.|
|Making up references to non-existent articles– this is a violation of academic integrity for which you may be charged and, if found guilty, heavily penalized.|
Ready for some examples? Go on to Case Study 1.