According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, to “plagiarize” means “to steal and pass off ideas or words of another as one’s own” without crediting the source.” In other words, plagiarism is an act of taking someone else’s words and/or ideas and pretending as if they were his/her own without giving credit to the existing sources.
‘Turnitin’ identifies 10 types of plagiarism (https://www.turnitin.com/static/plagiarism-spectrum/).
Plagiarism as intellectual theft and fraud
Plagiarism is a serious issue in academia. Students plagiarize with various reasons such as fear of failure, lack of interest, pressure, arrogance, or even as a thrill (https://paper-due-now.com/reasons-for-plagiarism).
Many students commit plagiarism and pay the disastrous price for it, including expulsion from their programs, revocation of their hard-earned degree, and even loss of their careers. The academic world treats it critically because it is considered as an act of intellectual theft and fraud.
As a Christian university of higher learning, the WUV is committed to the values of integrity and honesty and does not allow plagiarism in our students’ academic work. School policy on committing plagiarism is described in the school Catalog (pp. 41- 42).
How to avoid plagiarism?
Students can avoid plagiarism by properly citing sources. The following video clip will show you how to quote and paraphrase, and to properly cite your sources using the American Psychological Association (APA) Style. Watch this video clip – APA Style 7th Edition: In-Text Citations, Quotations, and Plagiarism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8914hv18xnU).
Starting from the Fall 2021 semester, WUV Moodle platform for online courses is equipped with a new app, ‘Turnitin’, a tool for checking the degrees of plagiarism on students’ research and written results. The Turnitin function is also available on Google Docs from the Google classroom. Students can utilize the Turnitin function prior to submitting their papers to verify whether there are any signs of plagiarism in their writing.
The instructors may also check their students work via Turnitin if they deem it necessary to do so. If flagrant plagiarism evidence is detected, instructors may ask students to correct their papers through Turnitin and resubmit them.
Purpose of Using Turnitin Plagiarism software
The primary purpose of WUV’s adoption of the Turnitin program is for each students’ benefit because through this program students can practice their writing appropriately, build the habit of developing effective skills, and thus becoming all-around better writers.
Good writing skills are one of the fundamental elements for a successful academic life, and furthermore, to develop a flourishing career in an increasingly competitive world. A little effort to obtain good writing skills during one’s college life can go a long way in building a better life and career. Why don’t you take advantage of this opportunity?
How can students use Turnitin in WUV?
The students in WUV can find Manuals & Tutorials for Turnitin in Help Desk tap of my.wuv.edu
