Plagiarism

Plagiarism is interpreted by the University as the act of presenting the work of others as one’s own work, without acknowledgement.

Plagiarism is considered as academically fraudulent, and an offence against University discipline. The University considers plagiarism to be a major offence, and subject to the disciplinary procedures of the University.

Visit http://tcd-ie.libguides.com/plagiarism

Template for Plagiarism Summary Procedure

Calendar Statement on Plagiarism for Undergraduates - Part II, 82-91

Plagiarism

82  General
It is clearly understood that all members of the academic community use and build on the work and ideas of others. It is commonly accepted also, however, that we build on the work and ideas of others in an open and explicit manner, and with due acknowledgement.

Plagiarism is the act of presenting the work or ideas of others as one's own, without due acknowledgement.
Plagiarism can arise from deliberate actions and also through careless thinking and/or methodology. The offence lies not in the attitude or intention of the perpetrator, but in the action and in its consequences.

It is the responsibility of the author of any work to ensure that he/she does not commit plagiarism.
Plagiarism is considered to be academically fraudulent, and an offence against academic integrity that is subject to the disciplinary procedures of the University.

83  Examples of Plagiarism
Plagiarism can arise from actions such as:
(a)    copying another student's work;
(b)    enlisting another person or persons to complete an assignment on the student's behalf;
(c)    procuring, whether with payment or otherwise, the work or ideas of another;
(d)    quoting directly, without acknowledgement, from books, articles or other sources, either in printed, recorded or electronic format, including websites and social media;
(e)    paraphrasing, without acknowledgement, the writings of other authors.
Examples (d) and (e) in particular can arise through careless thinking and/or methodology where students:
(i)   fail to distinguish between their own ideas and those of others;
(ii)   fail to take proper notes during preliminary research and therefore lose track of the sources from which the notes were drawn;
(iii)   fail to distinguish between information which needs no acknowledgement because it is firmly in the public domain, and information which might be widely known, but which nevertheless requires some sort of acknowledgement;
(iv)   come across a distinctive methodology or idea and fail to record its source.
All the above serve only as examples and are not exhaustive.   

84  Plagiarism in the context of group work
Students should normally submit work done in co-operation with other students only when it is done with the full knowledge and permission of the lecturer concerned. Without this, submitting work which is the product of collusion with other students may be considered to be plagiarism.
When work is submitted as the result of a group project, it is the responsibility of all students in the group to ensure, so far as is possible, that no work submitted by the group is plagiarised.

85  Self plagiarism
student's No work can normally be submitted for more than one assessment for credit. Resubmitting the same work for more than one assessment for credit is normally considered self-plagiarism.

86  Avoiding plagiarism
Students should ensure the integrity of their work by seeking advice from their lecturers, tutor or supervisor on avoiding plagiarism. All schools and departments must include, in their handbooks or other literature given to students, guidelines on the appropriate methodology for the kind of work that students will be expected to undertake. In addition, a general set of guidelines for students on avoiding plagiarism is available on http://tcd-ie.libguides.com/plagiarism.

87 If plagiarism as referred to in §82 above is suspected, in the first instance, the Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate), or their designate, will write to the student, and the student’s tutor advising them of the concerns raised. The student and tutor (as an alternative to the tutor, students may nominate a representative from the Students’ Union) will be invited to attend an informal meeting with the Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate), or their designate, and the lecturer concerned, in order to put their suspicions to the student and give the student the opportunity to respond. The student will be requested to respond in writing stating his/her agreement to attend such a meeting and confirming on which of the suggested dates and times it will be possible for them to attend. If the student does not in this manner agree to attend such a meeting, the Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate), or designate, may refer the case directly to the Junior Dean, who will interview the student and may implement the procedures as referred to under conduct and college regulations §2.

88 If the Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate), or designate, forms the view that plagiarism has taken place, he/she must decide if the offence can be dealt with under the summary procedure set out below. In order for this summary procedure to be followed, all parties attending the informal meeting as noted in §87 above must state their agreement in writing to the Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate), or designate. If the facts of the case are in dispute, or if the Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate), or designate, feels that the penalties provided for under the summary procedure below are inappropriate given the circumstances of the case, he/she will refer the case directly to the Junior Dean, who will interview the student and may implement the procedures as referred to under conduct and college regulations §2

89 If the offence can be dealt with under the summary procedure, the Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate), or designate, will recommend one of the following penalties:
(a)    Level 1: Student receives an informal verbal warning. The piece of work in question is inadmissible. The student is required to rephrase and correctly reference all plagiarised elements. Other content should not be altered. The resubmitted work will be assessed and marked without penalty;
(b)    Level 2: Student receives a formal written warning. The piece of work in question is inadmissable. The student is required to rephrase and correctly reference all plagiarised elements. Other content should not be altered. The resubmitted work will receive a reduced or capped mark depending on the seriousness/extent of plagiarism;
(c)       Level 3: Student receives a formal written warning. The piece of work in question is inadmissible. There is no opportunity for resubmission.

90 Provided that the appropriate procedure has been followed and all parties in §87 above are in agreement with the proposed penalty, the Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate) should in the case of a Level 1 offence, inform the course director and where appropriate the course office. In the case of a Level 2 or Level 3 offence, the Senior Lecturer must be notified and requested to approve the recommended penalty. The Senior Lecturer will inform the Junior Dean accordingly. The Junior Dean may nevertheless implement the procedures as referred to under conduct and college regulations §2.

91 If the case cannot normally be dealt with under the summary procedures, it is deemed to be a Level 4 offence and will be referred directly to the Junior Dean. Nothing provided for under the summary procedure diminishes or prejudices the disciplinary powers of the Junior Dean under the 2010 Consolidated Statutes.