Modules
The Modules
The activities included here are suggestions for teachers who want to inform their students about academic integrity by emphasizing how to avoid plagiarism. The modules include outlines for class discussions, small group work, reading and writing activities, homework, and handouts.
The design is purposely flexible: teachers will recognize how all or part of these resources might be useful in the context of their own curriculum. Some of the exercises will jell nicely with course materials; instructors might have to carve out separate space for others. Still, for many of our colleagues, these modules will offer points of departure for their own creative exercises and assignments.
To that end, teachers might decide to re-write the assignments in their own voice with their own variations. While the activities may be a better fit for some courses or disciplines, they might also serve as a way to bring faculty from diverse departments together in conversation around this important subject.
Note: Many students do no have access to online resources at home, or even in the classroom. Teachers may have to print and make copies of many of the web resources here.
What is Plagiarism?
This writing and discussion exercise will expand students' understanding of plagiarism and academic integrity.
Identifying Plagiarism
This activity asks students to answer short questions about a number of scenarios from real-life and popular culture.
Resources:
- Activity sheet
The Consequences of Plagiarism
Beginning with a homework assignment, students learn about the costs of plagiarism (includes a option specific to Lehman College).
Resources:
- Purdue University OWL "Avoiding Plagiarism" handout
- Lehman College "Academic Integrity" handout
- "Suspicion of Cheating or Plagiarism" handout
- Student testimonials handout
- "Current" events handout (Stephen Ambrose)
How to Avoid Plagiarism: Quoting Directly from Print Sources
Avoid-quoting from print: Students will practice the mechanics of citation.
Resources:
- Tip sheet: "Suggestions for incorporating direct quotations into your work"
How to Avoid Plagiarism: Paraphrasing & Summarizing
This activity stresses the importance of citation even when the material isn't quoted directly.
Resources:
- Short text for student exercise
- Tip sheet: Paraphrasing and Summarizing
How to Avoid Plagiarism: Using the Internet
This exercise teaches citation styles through students' opinions about relatively recent stories concerning academic integrity.
Resources:
- Activity sheet
- Citation format for including Internet sources
- Four Internet handouts
The Teacher's Perspective
This discussion activity allows teachers to be upfront with students about the view from the teacher's side of the desk.