This is a simple and free way to check for plagiarism. If you find that it is a case of plagiarism, make sure to save the link to the site where you found the original source.
Dupli Checker PaperRater Plagiarism
Some of the most popular services are Turnitin. com and EVE (Essay Verification Engine).
Try requiring a specific font type and size. That might make it even easier to notice if someone changes the format.
If you require APA formatting and the student uses Chicago, for example, that is a sign that they might have copied the sources from another paper or site.
For example, maybe you asked a question specifically about Reagan’s economic policies. If the essay starts with an introduction on that topic but then ends up discussing issues completely unrelated to economics, the student might have used a generic essay on President Reagan to copy.
For example, this passage has distinctly different styles within it: “I really liked watching the movie. Director Ava Duvernay deftly weaves emotion and facts in her portrayal of this watershed event. All of the acting was cool!” The middle sentence doesn’t have the same tone or style as the other sentences.
You could say, “You made a really sophisticated argument when you compared Shakespeare to more modern playwrights. What led you down that path?” If the student can’t articulate answers about their paper, that is a red flag.
You can say something like, “Anything that is not general knowledge or your own idea needs a citation. Direct quotes and statistics must always have a citation. ” If your school has a policy on plagiarism, include it in your syllabus. If necessary, you can write your own.
You can also include a link to the citation guide in the guidelines for the paper.
If you teach the same class every year, make sure to change up the paper topics each term. This will help cut down on students using papers that previous students wrote.
If you aren’t sure what the policy is, ask a co-worker or your supervisor to provide you with that information. Meet with the student first if you think it was an innocent mistake. Many students plagiarize without even realizing it. Consider talking to the student first to see if they understand what they did wrong. [17] X Research source
