The copy and paste, 'save as', and print features on today's computers has increased the opportunity for students to construct plagiarized papers and projects. Today's busy student will often opt to use a pre-written paper or copy and paste information from the Internet because of a lack of time away from school to research and take notes. Other students may not fully understand the process of locating, retrieving, and evaluating information. The library staff can support the instructor and student during the research and writing process by following some or all of the guidelines listed below:

Ways to Stop Student Plagiarism

1. Selecting a topic - Students often indicate that they want to write about a particular topic. When asked to write the thesis statement or state the problem, students are often confused, hence sit in the LMC wasting precious research time. the library staff can offer materials that can assist the instructor and student in narrowing a topic.
2. Note Cards (research process) - During the research process students are responsible for turning in note cards to the instructor at the end of each hour spent in the LMC. On the cards the students list sources researched, results, and write bibliography of sources that will be used.
3. Note Cards (information gathering) - Students write notes from their resources on note cards to be approved by the instructor and turned in with their rough draft.
4. Write Rough Draft in Class - this is the most important part of the lesson. Most learning takes place during this process. The instructor is assured the student is doing original work while students gain confidence and self-esteem under the guidance of their instructor.
5. LMC Finale - Students may need one more day in the library media center to fill in the gaps of their research. The library staff can assist in locating information and lost citation information.
6. Final Paper - The final paper can be finished at home, during study hall, or during scheduled lab time. The LMC has computers available for students needing to type or print their finished paper. There is no charge for printing.
7. Suspect a plagiarised paper? - Type the phrase in Yahoo!; Google; or better yet in a meta search engine such as Mamma; Dogpile; or Metasearch to determine if the paper was copy and pasted from a web site.

Sites and articles devoted to assiting the instructor in
stopping and identifying plagiarism.

The article, "From Now On", from The Educational Technology Journal focuses on "seven antidotes to prevent high way robbery".

Plagiarism.org is devoted to asssiting instructors in stopping student plagiarism.

Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It

Plagiarism prevention guidelines for parents and instructors.

What are the tell-tale signs of a suspect plagiarism?