Plagiarism

If you are studying an accredited programme, there may be varied forms of assessment. Usually, assessment will involve the production of written work (coursework). Your tutor will provide guidance about the format, style and content of the written assessment, including advice on how to use written sources (i.e., information from books, periodicals, articles, the internet etc.). It is very important not to copy sections of any written source that you use and pass it off as your own work. This is called “plagiarism”.

Plagiarism involves taking someone else’s words, thoughts or ideas and trying to pass them off as your own.  It is a form of cheating which is taken very seriously.

Don’t think you won’t be caught; there are many ways to detect plagiarism.

• Markers can spot changes in the style of writing and use of language.
• Markers are highly experienced subject specialists who are very familiar with work on the topic concerned – they may have read the source you are using, (or even marked the essay you have copied from).
• Internet search engines and specialised computer software can be used to match phrases or pieces of text with original sources and to detect changes in the grammar and style of writing or punctuation.

If your work is submitted and it is discovered that you have broken the regulations, one of the following penalties will be applied:

• The piece of work will be awarded zero marks.
• You will be disqualified from that unit for the examination series in question.
• You will be disqualified from the whole subject for that examination series.
• You will be disqualified from all subjects and barred from entering again for a period of time.
• If you have copied from another learner, they may also have the above penalties applied.

Your awarding body will decide which penalty is appropriate.

Remember it’s your qualification so it needs to be your own work.