Five ways to avoid plagiarism:
1. Don’t cut corners
Word-for-word copying is easily spotted by electronic plagiarism-checking programs, so only copy and paste direct quotes into your essay and remember to add quotation marks and attribute them to the correct source then and there.
2. Don’t neglect your reference list
Compile your reference list or bibliography as you work, rather than when the essay is finished. Whenever you use a reference, be sure to record the necessary source details (i.e. author name, title of the work, date, publisher and page number) immediately.
3. Use your own words
When you are using reference materials, such as books and journal articles, it can be very easy to stick too closely to the writer’s words when explaining theories and concepts — a surefire way to get yourself caught out for plagiarism. Instead, try closing the book/article, thinking about what the concept means to you and then explaining it in your own words — whatever comes naturally to you.
4. Use direct quotes instead of paraphrasing
Paraphrasing may involve summarizing an academic’s theory in your own words and attributing that information to them. It is just as to use a direct quote from the academic’s work, put it between quotation marks, reference it and then give your opinion on how the concept contributes to your essay topic.
5. Unless it’s a group assignment, don’t work with a friend
If the essays are too similar, the essay marker can easily catch you out for plagiarism. So keep your essay response and structure to yourself and don’t fall into the trap of emailing your essay to someone in class who insists that they will rewrite it in their own words; it could be detrimental to you both.
Source link: https://www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au/education-blogs/student-life/how-to-avoid-committing-plagiarism
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