Stay Three Steps Ahead of Plagiarism: Use the WAC PIP
By Chrissine Rios, KU Writing Center Tutor
For instructors teaching Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC), charging a student with plagiarism is unpleasant, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. The key is not to wait until plagiarism happens to learn what it is and what to do about it.
Stay three steps ahead of plagiarism by being proactive and prepared: Read the plagiarism policy, review the form for reporting plagiarism to the provost, and learn how to understand a Turnitin report because proof of intentional plagiarism requires more than a percentage of similarity. You can do all this and more on the KU Writing Across the Curriculum Plagiarism Information Page (PIP).
The PIP offers the following areas of support:
1. Faculty Resources on Plagiarism Policy and Reporting
- How to Report Plagiarism (Video)
- Faculty Form for Reporting Plagiarism (KU Password Required)
- Plagiarism Policy and Procedures (PDF)
- Plagiarism Policy and Academic Appeals (PowerPoint)
- Faculty Guide for Plagiarism: Education, Avoiding, and Detecting (PDF)
2. Faculty Resources on Using Turnitin®
3. Student Resources on Avoiding Plagiarism
- The Kaplan University Plagiarism Policy (PDF)
- Basic Citation Guidelines (PDF)
- Podcasts on Understanding Plagiarism and Citation
- Citation Videos: Title Page, Reference Page, Citations, and More
- APA 6th Edition Guidelines and Common Citations
- Quick Tips Workshop for Students: Plagiarism
- KU Radio Interview with the KUWC on English Language Learners and Plagiarism
- KU Radio Interview with the KUWC on Plagiarism
4. Copyright Information for Faculty
- Link to the Copyright Clearance Center website that has a searchable database of books, journals, and other publications as well as information on copyright law and fair use guidelines.
- A video tutorial that explains what KU faculty can and cannot share or use based on the license agreement between the Copyright Clearance Center and Kaplan University.
Photograph (c) 2014 Jupiterimages
All faculty who teach Writing Across the Curriculum would benefit from reading and bookmarking the Plagiarism Information Page (PIP).
The PIP is part of the Kaplan University Writing Center’s new website in the Kaplan University Online Library where faculty and students can access the resources without having to login to KU Campus, and so the academic community at large can use and share the resources as well.
Kaplan faculty in the School of General Education also have a link to the PIP in their classrooms, and throughout the coming year, the link will be added to all online classrooms at Kaplan, so all instructors can stay steps ahead of plagiarism and be on the same page.
For questions or comments about the Plagiarism Information Page, you may write me at crios@kaplan.edu.