• directly copying any material from electronic or print resources without acknowledging the source
• closely paraphrasing sentences or whole passages without referencing the original work
• submitting another student's work in whole or in part
• using another person's ideas, work, or research data without acknowledgment
• appropriating or imitating another’s ideas.

This means, if you include someone else's materials, information, images or ideas in your work, you must acknowledge the original author/creator in both the in-text reference and the  reference list.  If you do not cite the sources you use, this is considered plagiarism. You should also use your own words (paraphrase) to express their ideas (this shows that you've understood them).  If you use their exact words (direct quote) you must put them in quotation marks to show they are being quoted.  Some of the practices above may be permitted in specific assessments, but this will always be clearly stated and provided in the Course Outline. 

You should therefore:

Include in-text references and a reference list for material from other sources

Paraphrase/summarise original material into your own words to demonstrate understanding and include a reference

Submit your own work (unless where permitted for group assignments).

To learn more about plagiarism, a concept which is the same regardless of what referencing style you use at university, watch this short video. 

(Video: 2 minutes, 50 seconds)

Bainbridge State College. (2010, January 6). Plagiarism: How to avoid it [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q0NlWcTq1Y

 Plagiarism: check your understanding

So, now you know when plagiarism can occur, try the Plagiarism Quiz to check your understanding.

• There are 6 questions in this quiz.
• When you have answered all questions, click 'Finish' to see your result and the correct answers.
• You can attempt the quizzes more than once if you want to practise and improve your understanding. 
• If you do not understand the quiz questions and/or answers, book an appointment with a Learning Adviser. Bring your questions and your quiz result to the appointment.

 Paraphrasing: check your understanding

You can also check your understanding of what is acceptable paraphrasing by doing the Paraphrasing Quiz below.

• There are 4 questions in this quiz.
• When you have answered all questions, click 'Finish' to see your result and the correct answers. 
• You can attempt the quiz more than once if you want to practise and improve your understanding. 
• If you do not understand the quiz questions and/or answers, book an appointment with a Learning Adviser. Bring your questions and your quiz result to the appointment.

Here is an extract adapted from page 42 of Stefanone, M.A., Lackaff, D., & Rosen, D. (2011). Contingencies of self-worth and social-networking-site behavior. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(1-2), 41-49.

Are the following 4 paraphrases of the original text acceptable, or are they plagiarism?