Teaching to Avoid Plagiarism: How to Promote Good Source Use

Plagiarism is a serious problem in higher education, and one that the majority of university teachers have encountered. This book provides the skills and resources that university teachers and learning and development support staff need in order to tackle it. As a complex issue that requires thoughtful and sensitive handling, plagiarism simply cannot be addressed by warnings; detection software and punishment alone. Teaching to Avoid Plagiarism focuses on prevention rather than punishment and promotes a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to dealing with the issue.

Topics covered in this book include:

The causes of plagiarismHow universities currently deal with plagiarismHow teachers can support students in effective source useThe role of technology Issues for second language writers and international studentsDrawing on her teaching experience as well as her academic research, Diane Pecorari offers a unique insight into this pervasive problem as well as practical advice on how to promote good source use to students and help them to avoid plagiarism. With a series of activities to help readers solidify their grasp of the approaches advised in the book, Teaching to Avoid Plagiarism is an essential guide for anyone in a student-facing role who wants to handle plagiarism more effectively. 

"Diane Pecorari’s book provides practical examples and activities on handling plagiarism blended with research-based findings. It is useful for teachers wanting to improve their understanding and practices in managing plagiarism, but also student advisors and academic support skills staff who deal with issues of academic integrity. This book makes a unique contribution to the field of plagiarism management as its structure affords direct professional development opportunities."Dr Wendy Sutherland-Smith, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Australia

"Teaching to Avoid Plagiarism successfully turns attention away from the detection and punishment of plagiarism and focuses instead on understanding and prevention through the promotion of good source use."

Maggie Charles, Oxford University Language Centre

"Diane Pecorari’s insightful research and scholarship on plagiarism is used to excellent effect in this book which advocates a proactive rather than reactive approach to the difficulties faced by students in learning how to integrate their source texts."

Dr Ann Hewings, Director, Centre for Language and Communication, The Open University

"As stated by Diane Pecorari in the first sentence of this excellent volume, 'plagiarism is a problem in our universities'. The volume demonstrates clearly how teachers and students can deal with this 'problem' by developing a better understanding of the phenomenon, on the one hand, and developing specific skills in dealing with it, on the other."

Professor John Flowerdew, City University of Hong Kong