Techniques for Spotting a Plagiarized Paper

Formatting

• Look for strange text at the top, bottom, or end of the paper. Internet browsers typically print web addresses at the top or bottom of a page. Many free essays have a tag line at the end of the essay that students miss.
• Look for gray letters in the text, an indication that the page was downloaded from the web since colored letters on the web show up as gray on a printout.
• Strange or poor layout, inconsistent with the stated requirements. Papers that have been downloaded and reprinted often have page numbers, headings, or spacing that look odd.
• Mixed citation styles.
  

Content

• Writing style doesn't sound like the student. Look for changes in language, tone, or grammar that are inconsistent -- either with the student's other work or within that individual work.
• Sections of the paper or sentences sound "tacked on." Students may "personalize" the paper to tie it to the course or assignment. Keep in mind that this may be a paper this student wrote for another class -- reborn, but not necessarily rejuvenated.
• Spelling or idioms used are not part of the student's native language or manner of writing.
• Jargon or advanced vocabulary.
• Quality is grade-school.
• Quotes or citations in the paper are not in the works cited or the bibliography.
• Citations are to materials not owned by the College of Charleston Library. Note that Interlibrary Loan is free to our students and we encourage its use, but the Interlibrary Loan process takes time, preparation, and forethought. Last minute papers and Interlibrary Loan are not bedfellows. Last minute papers, full text databases, and the Internet -- that's another story!
• Citations in the bibliography or works cited cannot be verified.
• All citations are to material that is older than five years.
• Web sites are inactive or cannot be located as typed.
• Anachronisms are present.
• References to professors, classes or class numbers that aren't taught at the College of Charleston.

Questions for the Student

• Students can not identify citations or provide copies of the cited material.
• Students can not provide note cards for their work.
• Students can not summarize the main points of the paper or answer questions about specific sections of the paper.
• When provided with a page from their paper that has words or passages removed, the student can not fill in the blanks with the missing words or with reasonable synonyms.

return to main plagiarism page

Alis Whitt '04, revised, Phillip Powell '07.