Referencing
What is another word for citation (9 letters) that starts with the letter "R"?
Another word for citation is: Reference
You spent 3 hours finishing your assessment task on the weekend. It is the best work you have done in a long time. You go to submit it, and you have forgotten to add the bibliography.
Could this be considered a breach of academic integrity?
Yes, this is a breach of academic integrity. Working hard on a task is not an excuse.
You must always include a bibliography with your work. If you are in doubt, include it anyway!
What is meant by the term "AI" and what are some examples of AI programs?
AI is the abbreviated term for Artificial Intelligence. It is an automated process that simulates human thought processes.
Eg: ChatGPT, CoPilot, Perplexity, Midjourney and Grammarly etc
You find a great source for research on the internet. The site has no 'author' so you copy the information and use it in your assignment. Is this plagiarism?
YES, this is considered plagiarism.
This is because ALL sources used to develop your understanding of the content, must be cited/references correctly.
TRUE or FALSE:
If you need to add more words to your essay, you can just use more quotations!
FALSE!
Quotations DO NOT add to the final word count.
TIP: Many teachers will suggest that quotations should be no more than 30 words.
What is the accepted referencing style at Merici College?
For most subjects, the Harvard referencing style is that accepted format.
Best practice is to access the LearnPaths on Oliver to access the Merici College Referencing Guide to ensure you are using the correct format for your referencing and bibliography.
You forgot that your English assessment was due in tomorrow! You know that some students have used Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the past. Although you don't want it to do all the work, you are tempted to use AI to complete some of your assessment task.
Is this a breach of academic integrity?
Yes, this is still considered a breach of academic integrity. You cannot use AI to complete your work for you.
TIP: Check your Assessment Task Cover Sheet. This will indicate how much AI you are permitted to use and where you are able to use it.
Can using AI to complete an essay be a breach of academic integrity?
Absolutely! Even using it for part of your essay or assessment task, is a breach of academic integrity.
HOWEVER it also depends on how much AI you were allowed to use according to your task sheet.
You paraphrase an idea you really like from a resource your teacher recommended. You don't bother with a citation or reference because you have put it in your own words. Is it plagiarism?
Yes, this is plagiarism.
You must always provide a reference, even when you paraphrase an idea.
TRUE OR FALSE
If you paraphrase someone else’s work, you don’t need to cite it.
False.
You must provide quotation marks, an in-text reference and a citation in the bibliography.
If you write an essay on the novel you are reading for English, and you don't use any other sources, do you have to provide a citation/ reference for it?
Yes you do. Both as an in-text reference as well as in your bibliography.
You should also acknowledge any other sources (like websites, interviews, images etc) you may have used to assist your understanding of the novel and task.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is using someone else's ideas, words, or work without giving them proper credit and presenting it as your own. You can acknowledge someone else's work by including a reference/ citation as well as in your bibliography.
TIP: If you are not sure how to write a reference or bibliography, check the LearnPaths on Oliver for the Merici Referencing Guide
Can you ask an AI generator to help you in understanding a concept as you prepare for an assessment?
Yes you can. However, you need to be mindful of how much help the AI is providing. According to the BSSS, "You can ask general questions that direct to useful sources or help you to understand what the question is asking. Assistance should not result in having the questions answered, or the problem solved for you."
The College has guidelines and practices on this topic. You will have an indication of what AI you are allowed to use and at what stage of your task (planning for example) you can use it.
Your older brother did a similar assessment task when he was at school. He gives you permission to copy his work and hand it in as your own. Is it plagiarism?
YES, this is plagiarism.
If you hand in the work of another student, even if they gave you permission, you are actually plagiarising. Furthermore, this is a case of academic misconduct and can have serious consequences.
TRUE OR FALSE
If I pay for someone to write my essay but don’t cite them, it’s not actually plagiarism because I paid for it and have their permission to call it mine.
False.
This is called ghost writing and is not acceptable under any circumstances.
Where can you find the accepted formats and information about referencing at Merici College?
You can access the LearnPath on Oliver or seek out one of the TLC staff to help you.
What are 2-3 common forms of plagiarism?
Some common forms of plagiarism include copying and pasting from a source, paraphrasing and using someone else's work as your own without acknowledgement with a citation or reference.
Can you use AI to write a draft of your assessment task but then you rephrase it and add references?
No, this would be a breach of academic integrity. If the original draft of your work was created using AI, even if you referenced accordingly and rephrased it, you would have had significant assistance in the creation of the assessment piece.
You have an English Creative assessment task that requires you to write a short story. Coincidentally, you have been writing a story that could be used for a few months. You have not published or submitted this story before. To your knowledge, it is not similar or influenced by any other narrative you have read before. Is it plagiarism?
No, this is not plagiarism!
This is because the work is uniquely yours and you have created it independently. Also, as you have not published or submitted it for any purpose, you are not in breach of any rules regarding plagiarism.
TRUE OR FALSE
If you change most of the words from a source, it’s not plagiarism.
False.
You need to provide a citation, even if you have changed the words (paraphrased) or used a thesaurus/synonyms.
How do you cite a book using Harvard referencing? (Write an example on the whiteboard)
Author's last name, first initial. Year of publication, Title of the book, Publisher, City of publication.
For example: Miller, D. 2012, The Girl With The Butterfly Tattoo, Random House Australia Pty Ltd, North Sydney.
Is self-plagiarism considered a breach of academic integrity?
Yes, self-plagiarism, which involves submitting your own previously submitted work for credit in another context without proper reference or citation, is a breach of academic integrity.
That means, you cannot submit the same assessment task across different subjects.
True or False?
Using Grammarly (or a similar AI program) to help with grammar and spelling errors after you have completed your assessment is not considered as generative AI.
False.
While AI can be helpful in correcting mistakes and improving writing skills, if it is changing your words, it is generative and will be seen as a breach of academic integrity.
In other words, you cannot use "Grammarly" or similar programs.
You hand in an essay where almost every line is a direct quotation from a source. In fact, you have done a lot of reading for this assignment. You have referenced these sources correctly (quotation marks and citation). Is it plagiarism?
YES, this is considered plagiarism.
In many cases, where the majority of the response is in the words of others, your work may be considered as plagiarised as you have relied too heavily on the words and ideas of others. Even though you have referenced accurately.
TRUE OR FALSE
Plagiarism is only a big deal in education settings (schools and universities).
False.
Plagiarism is a serious matter and can be a criminal offence, carrying consequences including fines and even prison in very serious cases.