
Plagiarism: Home
What is plagiarism?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines plagiarism as "The action or practice of taking someone else's work, idea, etc., and passing it off as one's own." (1) This can happen intentionally, for example, by copying another person's essay and turning it in as your work. That would be a clear-cut case of plagiarism. However, plagiarism can also happen unintentionally. For example, you could read an article and then write about the author's ideas in your own essay without giving them credit. Understanding the guidelines of plagiarism can be tricky at first. Thankfully, there are skills and tools we can learn to help us to avoid plagiarism and retain our academic integrity.
Watch this quick two minute video from the Proquest Research Companion to familiarize yourself with the common pitfalls of plagiarism and the surefire tactics that we use to avoid it.
1. "plagiarism, n.". OED Online. December 2021. Oxford University Press. https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/144939?redirectedFrom=plagiarism (accessed March 03, 2022).
Citation Resources
Citation Generators:
Many research databases have citation generators that will create citations for a specific resource. Collect these as you research to save yourself time, but also remember to look over them for accuracy before finalizing your assignment. If you need to build a citation from scratch, sign in with your SVA credentials to access this free Proquest citation builder.
Citation Guides:
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University is a longstanding reputable resource for learning about citation formats. Check out the links below for concise usage guides on each style.
Citing Generative AI:
Check with your department or instructor before using generative AI for an assignment. The SVA Institutional Statement on Artificial Intelligence can be found here. Many of the longstanding style guides are working on creating their guidelines for citing material created by generative AI.
Zotero:
Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. Includes a Word and Google plugins to pull in citations while you write and generate a bibliography. View "Documentation" for a quick start guide.
Watch this one minute video about the two kinds of citations you will use — both in-text and also collected in a list at the end of your work.
Style Guides
The following style guides are available as either books or online resources. Which style should you be using? That depends! It's best to check with your teacher to be sure before you begin your research.
Style Guides:
MLA Handbook by
Publication Date: 2021The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition by
Publication Date: 2017
- Chicago Manual of Style This link opens in a new windowThis is the complete Chicago Manual of Style online. Just log in with your SVA credentials to access!
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by
ISBN: 9781433832161Publication Date: 2019-10-01
Writing Resource Center
- SVA Writing Resource CenterThe Writing Resource Center (WRC) at the School of Visual Arts helps students develop the skills they need to convey their ideas clearly, creatively, and analytically. Through personal, one-on-one tutoring sessions, students learn to sharpen their writing skills. Click the link above to schedule an appointment.
Books About Writing
The Elements of Style Illustrated by
Publication Date: 2005
Teaching Resources
Here are just a few examples of resources that are available at the SVA Library and on the open web to support teaching about plagiarism. Looking for something specific? Ask a librarian!
- Proquest Research CompanionThe ProQuest Research Companion is a self-guided online tutorial that supports students in learning information literacy, writing, and research skills. It's an engaging combination of videos and quizzes that takes about 3-4 hours to complete. You can assign the course as a whole or choose topic-specific sections. This tutorial can also be managed by a librarian in Canvas and coupled with a session on how to use the SVA Library resources for research.
- TurnitinTurnitin is a plagiarism detection service embedded in your Canvas courses. Follow the link to a video tutorial created by the Office of Learning Technology on how to use and make the most of this resource.
- Lesson Ideas from Purdue Online Writing LabDeveloped by Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL), this link leads to a collection of classroom activities developed to help students learn the skills they need to avoid plagiarism.
Teaching to Avoid Plagiarism: How to Promote Good Source Use by
ISBN: 9780335245949Plagiarism by
ISBN: 9780791480373