How To Avoid Cheating and Plagiarism in Your Write-Ups

Academic misconduct by college students, such as cheating and plagiarism, is a cause of concern. According to a Donald McCabe survey, nearly 64% of students admitted to cheating and 58% confessed to plagiarism. Students use unethical tactics as they believe it is a quick way to success or they're just unaware of the implications of being caught. The sole aim of assigning homework is to foster creativity and critical thinking; however, cheating and plagiarism undermine this goal.

Ways to Cheat and Plagiarize in College

There are different methods employed by students to avoid getting caught by the plagiarism checker, these include:

• Students insert hidden characters to get a negative plagiarism report. This includes empty characters or Unicode characters to evade getting caught by a tool while checking for plagiarism in an article.
• Students are encouraged to cite an article that is used while submitting a paper. However, sometimes students give completely fabricated references to give the impression of the research done in writing the paper.
• Paraphrasing and submitting the articles in different formats are other ways used by students to cheat the system.

How to Avoid Cheating and Plagiarism in Write-Up?

For academic success, a student should try to work hard and incorporate new things in his writing. Some ways to create unique content without getting embroiled in cheating or plagiarism are given below:

• Read Your Syllabus

Before the start of the session, read your syllabus and take information from the teacher on the expectation, the format of the assignment, and more. Such practice will apprise the students on the red-lines not to cross, the resources to be used for reference, and in case of any doubt, clarify it with the instructor.

• Complete Work On Your Own

Completing the assignment through unethical ways draws punishment. Unless otherwise stated, a student should complete each paper, task, project, or test on his or her own. Furthermore, do not copy texts from the internet at random and never share your work with other students

• Use Resources

If you need help citing an article or understanding a subject, don't hesitate to ask. The teacher will give you the required guidelines. Students may use the anti-plagiarism checker to double-check their work before sending it.

• Better Time Management

To prevent a last-minute panic, prepare ahead for all of your future assignments. Students who attempt to finish a work assignment at the last minute are forced to use fraudulent practices.

Teachers can also help the students in staying away from the malpractices in the following ways:

• Inform the students of the negative impact of dishonest practices on their future. They should be aware of the zero-tolerance policy towards the plagiarized content and the severe consequences they may have to face for it.
• Teachers should inculcate the value of academic integrity among students. Original content should be appreciated, and students who submit it should be encouraged to keep doing so.

Students who attempt to boost their grades by cheating must be reprimanded and told to stop immediately. Teachers may use an AI-based anti-plagiarism checker to detect all kinds of plagiarism in the papers or assignments submitted.