Plagiarism
Students copying secondary literature
In the past, cases (some rather extensive) of “copying without due credit” of secondary literature have been revealed. Copying without due credit is defined as literal quotations where quotation marks have been omitted and the source not stated. At the same time, we have experienced some uncertainty among some students as to which academic conventions they must follow in connection with the use of source material.
Therefore, we urge all students to acquaint themselves with and remain aware of these conventions – already from the beginning of the first semester.
- All literal quotations must be marked as such, and accurate and unambiguous reference to the source must be made. Quotations in main text should be given in quotation marks. Long quotations which make up whole paragraphs must be indented and/or written in a smaller pitch. Quotations must be accurate, i.e. the exact spelling and punctuation of the source text must be copied. Omissions should be clearly marked, usually with [...].
- When paraphrasing points and information from secondary literature, appropriate reference to the source must be given.
- Both literal quotations and paraphrased secondary literature must give a true and fair view of the source’s own opinion. You are not permitted to use selected or abridged quotations to prove your own point of view if this does not correspond with that of the source text. You are, of course, allowed to disagree with the source you quote or refer to, but it should be easy to distinguish your own opinion from that of the source text.
- All written work must include a bibliography stating all used sources, including those which are not quoted directly.
- These guidelines apply to all forms of source material, including Web documents and TV and radio programmes.
- “Copying without due credit” or other “blurring” of sources used for written work is considered cheating. When discovered, the examiner must pass the grade -3 and report the cheating to the Director of Studies who may pass the case on to the Rector. The general rule at Aalborg University is that students who are caught cheating are expelled from the university for at least one semester.
- When paraphrasing points and information from secondary literature, appropriate reference to the source must be given.
- Both literal quotations and paraphrased secondary literature must give a true and fair view of the source’s own opinion. You are not permitted to use selected or abridged quotations to prove your own point of view if this does not correspond with that of the source text. You are, of course, allowed to disagree with the source you quote or refer to, but it should be easy to distinguish your own opinion from that of the source text.
- All written work must include a bibliography stating all used sources, including those which are not quoted directly.
- These guidelines apply to all forms of source material, including Web documents and TV and radio programmes.
- “Copying without due credit” or other “blurring” of sources used for written work is considered cheating. When discovered, the examiner must pass the grade -3 and report the cheating to the Director of Studies who may pass the case on to the Rector. The general rule at Aalborg University is that students who are caught cheating are expelled from the university for at least one semester.
