Why academic integrity is unacceptable.
Many people often think that plagiarism is simply copying text from the internet and pasting it into a report, but the truth is, it's about... Academic integrity It has a much broader meaning than that.
Academic integrity means respecting the work, ideas, and information of others, while communicating one's own work transparently and responsibly.
Universities worldwide are taking this issue very seriously now, as plagiarism negatively impacts the credibility of both students and the educational institution.
The penalties may vary from university to university, ranging from...
- Points were deducted.
- I need to resubmit the work.
- I failed the subject.
- Suspended from school.
- Or, in serious cases, it could lead to expulsion from the student body.
The worrying aspect is that many students aren't intentionally plagiarizing, but rather lack a proper understanding of referencing, paraphrasing, or managing sources from the outset.
Therefore, learning about... Preventing plagiarism. Therefore, it's not just about avoiding punishment, but about building professional work habits that will stay with you for life.
Understand plagiarism in all its forms.
Plagiarism takes many more forms than many people realize. See international guidelines for avoiding plagiarism here. Purdue OWL
Types of plagiarism.
Direct plagiarism
It is the act of copying text, speech, or content from others without using quotation marks or citing the source.
example
❌ Do not copy paragraphs directly from a website and paste them into your report.
Paraphrasing isn't enough.
It means changing only a few words while keeping the original sentence structure.
example
manuscript
Social media significantly affects students' academic performance.
A poorly paraphrased
Social media greatly affects students' academic achievement.
Even with some word changes, it's still considered too close to the original.
Self-plagiarism
Reusing your own old work without permission or informing your teacher, even if it's your own work, may be considered a violation of rules. Academic Integrity can
Forgot to include the reference.
Many people mistakenly believe that paraphrasing eliminates the need for citations, which is incorrect. Even if you rephrase, it still reflects someone else's ideas.
The line between being inspired and copying.
Not everything needs to be cited. What is called Common Knowledge does not necessarily require a citation. For example:
Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand.
However, for specialized information, statistics, research findings, or academic ideas, citations are always required. If unsure, a simple rule of thumb is: if the information doesn't come from general knowledge and you had to research it, there's a high probability that a citation is needed.
Paraphrase and summarize correctly.
Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills in academic writing.
Paraphrasing techniques that go beyond simply changing words.
Many people mistakenly believe that paraphrasing means replacing the original word with a synonym.
But the truth is, everything needs to change.
- Sentence structure
- Presentation order
- How to explain
- Storytelling perspective
example
manuscript
Regular exercise can improve mental health and reduce stress levels.
❌ Change the wording slightly.
Frequent exercise can enhance mental health and decrease stress.
✅ Good paraphrasing
Studies suggest that maintaining a consistent exercise routine may help individuals manage stress and support overall psychological well-being.
Then, a citation must be included every time.
When should you quote directly?
Quoting text directly should not be used too frequently.
Suitable for the following cases:
- The words of experts carry weight.
- Specific definitions requiring precision.
- A remarkably powerful sentence.
However, after a quote, there should always be further explanation; the quote itself shouldn't be left unsaid. If you want to further develop your writing skills, you can read the article. Academic Writing Excellence: Write a research article and get an A+ grade.
Reference systems you should know.
One of the things students often get confused about is choosing the right citation style.
What are the differences between APA, MLA, and Chicago?
APA (American Psychological Association)
Popularly used in the field.
- psychology
- business
- study
- social science
Focus on the year of publication, and view the full APA format guide here. Purdue OWL APA
example
(Smith, 2024)
MLA (Modern Language Association)
Popularly used in the field.
- humanities
- language
- literature
Focus on the page number.
example
(Smith 45)
Chicago Style
Popularly used in the field.
- history
- Some branches of the humanities.
Footnotes or endnotes are usually used before starting any work. Check to see what format your instructor specifies.
In-text Citation and Reference List
A proper reference must include both parts.
In-text Citation
References in the text
Reference List
References at the end of the document.
Both sections must always match. If it's in the text, it must also be in the references, and if it's in the references, it should appear in the text as well.
Use tools ethically.
Many tools are available today that make academic work easier, but they must be used correctly.
Reference Manager and Citation Generator
Popular tools include:
Zotero
Free to use, store websites, research papers, and automatically generate reference lists.
Mendeley
Ideal for research with a large number of documents; it allows for storing PDFs and adding annotations.
However, results from the 100% citation generator should not be trusted reliably. Always double-check, as it may sometimes retrieve inaccurate data.
Understanding Turnitin and Similarity Values.
Many people mistakenly believe that high similarity equals plagiarism. In reality, similarity is simply an indicator of how much text is duplicated from other sources.
Examples that may lead to high similarity.
- References
- Title
- Technical terminology
- Standard sentences
Therefore, don't just look at the percentage, but also consider the context of the duplicate messages.
Ethical considerations for the use of AI in academia.
AI has become a widely used tool among students.
AI can be used to...
- Brainstorming
- Summary of key topics.
- Check Grammar
- Help me structure the work.
But you shouldn't.
- Copy and submit all the answers.
- Using AI to generate fake data.
- It is used to represent the entire thought process.
It is important to check the policies of each university, as some have different requirements.
6 Reasons Why You Unintentionally Plagiarize.
I didn't note the source when I searched for information.
Many people only look for their sources close to the deadline, making it difficult to remember where the information came from.
The paraphrase is too close to the original.
Changing just a few words is not enough.
Mixed reference formats
Using APA and MLA in the same project will make the work look unprofessional.
I copied and pasted it, then forgot about it.
Many people store text temporarily in a document and forget to add references or citations later.
I don't understand Common Knowledge.
The inability to distinguish between cited sources is another common cause.
Rushing to do it at the last minute.
When time is limited, students often decide to copy or skip the source verification step.
To further develop your research skills, you can read the articles. Library Research Mastery is your expert in finding information in English.
Honesty Checklist Before Submitting Work
Before submitting your work, always check these things.
- All borrowed information is referenced.
- In-text citations correspond to reference lists.
- Paraphrase it in your own words.
- Do not use AI-generated text without verification.
- Use the same citation style throughout the work.
- Similarity checked.
- Review the work one more time.
A quick check that takes just a few minutes can help prevent major problems in the future.
FAQ
What percentage of similarity is considered plagiarism?
There is no fixed number because each university has different criteria. Some prioritize context over numbers.
Can I use ChatGPT to submit an assignment to my professor?
Depending on each university's policy, you can generally use it as a reference, but you shouldn't copy and submit the entire document without making any corrections or providing citations.
How to reference images and information online.
Sources should be cited as appropriate for any article, book, or website, and the formatting should be checked according to the citation system used.
How much paraphrasing is safe?
There is no fixed percentage, but you should change the entire structure, the way you explain it, and use your own language, while always including citations.
Submit your work with confidence, without worrying about plagiarism.
Development Academic integrity It's not about being afraid of being criticized, but about establishing good work standards starting from university life.
The more you practice Preventing plagiarism. From today onwards, it will help to produce higher quality reports, research, and future work.
If you want to develop your skills. University English For a comprehensive view, please refer back to the main article. University-level English proficiency: A guide to academic success.
Or, if you prefer to learn with an instructor and receive practical guidance, you can find more details here.
