Academic Skills Advisers

M012; Tel: 01707 281248

http://go.herts.ac.uk/bs.academicskills
Introduction
What is plagiarism?
Using Turnitin
Sources
Avoiding plagiarism
Quotations, Paraphrase & Summaries
How to reference different sources using Harvard
List of References
Practice: Exercises & Quiz
Q & A ASU, 2009. 2
ASU, 2009. 3
Plagiarism is…
Representation of another person’s work as your own
with or without acknowledgement, either
intentionally or not:
- not using quotation marks and identifying the source
- summarising or paraphrasing another’s work extensively
without acknowledging the source
- using other’s ideas as your own or without acknowledging the
source
- presenting another’s work as your own without
acknowledging the source Source: UH UPRs, 2009-10

ASU, 2009. 4
Main Ways Students Plagiarise
The Ghost Writer
The Photocopy
The Patchwork Writer
The Poor Disguise
The Labor of Laziness
The Self-Stealer

ASU, 2009. 5
 Types of plagiarism (Source: iParadigms (2008))
Ghost Writer: submits another’s work word-for-word as his/her
own.
Photocopier: copies significant portions of text straight from a
single source, without alteration.
Patchwork Writer: copies from several sources, retaining most
of the original phrasing but tweaking sentences to make them
fit together
Poor Disguiser: essential content of the source retained but key
words & phrases are altered slightly
Labor of Laziness: time taken to paraphrase most of the essay
from other sources & make it all fit together, instead of putting
effort into original work
Self-Stealer: borrows generously/recycles from previous work
ASU, 2009
 Types of plagiarism to avoid cont.
The Forgotten Reference: in-text reference is present BUT
there’s no reference in References list

The Misinformer: provides inaccurate information regarding the

source, making it impossible to find it

The Too-Perfect Paraphrase: source is properly cited but text

has been copied word-for-word or close to it & quotation marks
are missing

The Resourceful Citer: properly cites all sources, paraphrasing &

using quotations appropriately but has no original work of
his/her own Source: iParadigms (2008)

ASU, 2009. 7
Do I need to know all this ?
Yes, yes, yes, yes ….
Each time you
submit an
assignment you
are signing to
confirm that it is
your work.

ASU, 2009. 8
Using Turnitin

Guidance on using Turnitin

ASU, 2009. 9
 Only 29% of the
student’s work is
his/her own!

Too much information copied

from Internet sources

ASU, 2009. 10
Turnitin report 1

This is better – your

sources should be max.
1% similarity to other
sources and ensure
they are all referenced

ASU, 2009. 11
Range of Recent Relevant sources
Theory
Academics (esp. books and refereed journals)
Experienced practitioners
Practice

Module Handbook:
- See Recommended Reading list
- Matrix (table with checked boxes) linked to Learning
Outcomes (at the start of handbook)
ASU, 2009. 12
 Be wary of websites!
Not all have reliable information.
Anyone can put information up on Net.
Avoid using Wikipedia in assignments (also MoneyChimp;
Investipedia; Bized; tutor2you)
Commercial websites don’t offer unbiased opinion-will
always promote their products/services.
Don’t over-rely on them in your assignments
Use ATHENS and VPN off campus
Use Google Scholar, Google Books and Intute.
Use the IH Business databases.
Try iSpy tutorialASU,
– 2009.
evaluating sources 13
IH Learning Resources

ASU, 2009. 14
 Have you tried iSpy?
(see Learning Resources on StudyNet)
Search Smarter:
http://www.studynet2.herts.ac.uk/ptl/common/LIS.
nsf/lis/ispy_connecting
Become a Critical Thinker:
http://www.studynet2.herts.ac.uk/ptl/common/LIS.
nsf/lis/ispy_interacting
Write a Better Essay:
http://www.studynet2.herts.ac.uk/ptl/common/LIS.
nsf/lis/ispy_usinginfo
ASU, 2009. 15
 Have you completed
‘Information Toolkit for Business’?

ASU, 2009. 16
ASU, 2009. 17
 Refer to all sources using Harvard
Referencing
 Record details of all the secondary sources (books, journal
articles, electronic sources, tables, graphs, diagrams, etc.)
to which you refer in your work

in 2 places-

 in the body of your work  (author’s surname, year)

 in the end list of References/Bibliography.

See ASU Guide to Harvard Referencing

ASU, 2009. 18
 In-text citations are needed with:
Direct quotations
Paraphrases & summaries of others ideas
Arguable assertions
Statistics, charts, tables, graphs
(Source: Smith (2007:34) OR Adapted from: Jones (2009))

These do not need a citation:

Facts, e.g. London is the capital of England
Common knowledge, e.g. Reduce the supply =
increase in demand; businesses need to make profit!
Your own ideas, discoveries or words
ASU, 2009. 19
 Using data in your assignment
Remember:

Quotation: exact words in quotation marks.

needs author’s surname (year: page no)

Paraphrase: acknowledging somebody else’s idea

in your own words
&
Summarise: a condensed statement in your own
words of the main points of others’ views
needs author’s surname (year)
ASU, 2009. 20
 Quotations
…should be used sparingly.
…support but NOT usually present the main ideas.
…should be exactly as it occurs in the original text.
…should be enclosed in “quotation marks”.
…should note the page number, e.g. Jones (2004: 21)
...should be from an authoritative source in the field.

Marks are not usually given for quotes

but
for your comment on them.
ASU, 2009. 21
 DO NOT…
...make a quotation a paragraph (= too long).
...insert a quotation without commenting on it (= so what?)
...put in-text references at the end of paragraphs – place
them where the citations are (=‘says who?’ or ‘ref?’)
...leave in-text references sitting alone in sentences (use
punctuation correctly)
...use if it’s not related to the topic & it doesn’t strengthen
your argument

ASU, 2009. 22
 Referencing
Verbs which help incorporate paraphrases, quotations and
summaries):
analyse complain find offer show
argue concede illustrate point out see
speculate conclude insist note think
reportsuggest explain observe say
comment assert consider maintain reveal
suppose claim describe write ask
(Troyka, 1987)
Barnes (2009) describes this as …
Barnes (2008) defines this as…
Barnes (2009) ascertains that …
According to Barnes et al (2008) …
ASU, 20 23
 Using sources
Support what you say in your writing by referring to ‘experts’.

When you refer to these experts, you should use the following
verbs to avoid being too assertive:
Brown (2009) suggests that …
Brown (2008) indicates that …
Brown (2007) claims that …
Brown (2009) maintains that …
Brown (2008) argues that …
Brown (2009) attributes this to…

See ASU AcademicASU,

Style
2009. Guide 24
 Other examples…
According to Brown (2004), …
It has been argued (Brown, 2004) that …
Some research (Brown, 2004) indicates that …

To achieve a balanced argument, show you’ve

read widely and you’re aware of 'the other side' of
the argument, e.g.:
On the other hand, it may be the case that … (Smith,
2005).
However, as Smith (2005) indicates, …

ASU, 2009. 25
Evidenced based critical writing
There is currently an ongoing debate in HRM about the
role of HRM providers within companies. For example,
there is a growing trend for HR Managers to participate
more in the company strategic decision making process
(Green, 2006). It is not clear however whether this trend
might have an adverse effect on the ability of HR to deal
directly and effectively with employee related issues. It
may be that this change of focus will have negative latent
functions as Brown (2005) suggests.

Note: punctuation

ASU, 2009. 26
How many in-text citations? E.g.
Too many of the same in a short paragraph on one topic
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(Brown, 2007)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(Brown,2007)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(Brown,2007)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(Br
own, 2007).

OK - one paragraph, one topic, one shared view

xxxxxx(Jones,2008)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(Smith,2004)xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

OK - one paragraph, one topic, two different opinions

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(Clark,2003)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxBrown(2006) and Bloggs(2005)
arguexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
ASU, 2009. 27
How to reference different sources

ASU, 2009. 28
 Primary Source Referencing
Books (see Referencing Guide pg. 4)

In-text citation
As Barro (2008) suggests, the terms micro and macro
economics are to a large extent misnomers.

References
Barro, R.J. (2008) Macroeconomics. 5th edn. London: MIT

Use et al in text when there are 2+ authors AND include all

authors’ names ASU,
in the
2009.
Reference list (see No.3 in Guide) 29
Referencing a Journal
(see Referencing Guide pg. 5)

In-text citation
Differing perceptions of organisational fairness provide
grounds for resistant behaviour (Folger and Starbuck, 2002).

References Volume

Folger, R. & Starbuck, D. (2002) 'Constraints on change'.

Journal of Organisational Change Management. 12(1) pp.
34-45.
Issue/Number

Note the use of italics and inverted commas

ASU, 2009. 30
Referencing a website URL

Title of webpage

Author & year

ASU, 2009. 31
 Referencing a website
(see Referencing Guide Pg. 6 No.13)
An organisation website

In-text citation
The diversity of risk factors affecting CIOs today has placed
risk management at the forefront of CIOs’ concerns
(Morgan Stanley, 2009).

References
Morgan Stanley (2009) Public Fund CIO Survey: Optimizing
Resources to Meet Evolving Demands. Available at
http://www.morganstanley.com/views/perspectives/inde
x.html#anchor7585 [Accessed: 2 July, 2009].
ASU, 2009. 32
Referencing a Journal from a Database
(e.g. Business Source Premier) (see Referencing Guide Pg.7 No.14)

In-text citation
Macedo (2004) discusses new ways of designing the structure
and working procedures of a manufacturing system.

References
Macedo, J. (2004) ‘Unified structural procedural approach for
designing integrated manufacturing systems’. International
Journal of Production Research. 42(17) pp. 356-378. Business
Source Complete [Online] Available at:
http://web.ebscohost.com/bsi/results?
vid=2&hid=113&sid=5c0a86c6-ece7-48cd-8a61-
f24bce43b9f0%40sessionmgr103 [Accessed: 20 May, 2009].
ASU, 2009. 33
 Referencing a Database Report
(See Referencing Guide Pg.7 No.15)

In-text citation
Mintel (2007) found that although it may appear that retailers
and consumers are tiring of the celebrity phenomenon, celebrity
fragrances are the biggest growth area over the review period.
Use when a hard and soft
copy version is available
References
Mintel (2007) ‘Women’s Fragrances UK - August 2007’. [Online].
Available at:
http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/my_repo
rts/display/id=220169&anchor=atom#atom0 [Accessed: 23
September, 2009].
ASU, 2009. 34
 Chapter in an Edited Book
(See Referencing Guide Pg.4 No.4)
In-text citation
Both qualitative and quantitative data have subjective aspects
which must be controlled for (Mason,1994, in Bryman and
Burgess,1994).

References
Mason, J. (1994) ‘Linking Qualitative and Quantitative Data
Analysis’. In Bryman, A. & Burgess R.G. (eds.) (1994) Analyzing
Qualitative Data. London: Routledge.

ASU, 2009. 35
 Secondary Referencing
(one author citing another)
(see Referencing Guide pg.5 No.9)

In-text citation
Current levels of competition demand that companies
consider new ways of organising their accounting systems
(Javier et al, 2005, cited in Poole et al, 2006).

References
Javier, M., Mathews, P. & Corcoran, G. (2005)
'Management Accounting for Global Growth'. Financial
Management. 12(2) pp. 18-26. In Poole, A.M., Brown, R.,
Lauchan, L. & Roose, W. (eds.) (2006) Journal of Business
Finance and Accounting. 33(10) pp.1402-1434.
ASU, 2009. 36
ASU, 2009. 37
References (See Harvard Referencing Guide Pg. 15)
Brassington, F. and Pettitt, S. (2006) Principles of Marketing. 4th edn. London: FT
Prentice Hall.

Companies House (2008) Accounts and Accounting Reference Dates – GGBA3.

Available at: http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/gbhtml/gba3.shtml
[Accessed: 2 October, 2009].

Hines, R.D. (2006) ‘Financial Accounting: In Communicating Reality, We Construct

Reality’. Accounting, Organizations and Society. 13(3) pp.251-261.

Mintel (2007) ‘Women’s Fragrances – UK – August 2007’. [Online]. Available at:

http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/my_reports/display/id=220
169&anchor=atom#atom0 [Accessed: 23 September, 2009].

Shell (2009) Environmental performance 2008. Available at:

http://shell.com/hom/framework?siteID=UK [Accessed: 2 March, 2009].

Walton, P. (1991) The True and Fair View: A Shifting Concept. London: The
Technical and Research Department of The Chartered Association of Certified
Accountants.
ASU, 2009. 38
 References and Bibliography
 One reference for each in-text citation
 On a separate page, following the Harvard System
 List alphabetically by author’s surname
 Insert a space between each reference
 No bullets, numbering or segregated by type of source, i.e.
books/websites

Bibliography (check with lecturer if it’s needed)

All sources used in your background reading but NOT referred to in-
text.
Do not create a ‘double’ list of References & Bibliography
Bibliography is usually only used in dissertation reports

ASU, 2009. 39
 Summary
Reference sources thoroughly and accurately in
your assignment and in your list of References:

- To show that you have read around the subject.

- To acknowledge other people’s work.
- To avoid plagiarism.
- To help other researchers access your material.

ASU, 2009. 40

Golden Rules
 Use 'primary sources' where possible, but cite the actual source
used. (Avoid lecture notes/slides!)

 Attribute words and ideas which aren’t your own to their original
source. Failure to do so may result in plagiarism.

 Always back up and support your point by referring to recent data.

Justify - by referring to theory / experts / examples.

 Weave the sources into your assignments, so your writing flows and
is coherent. Don’t leave references standing alone! Your writing
needs to be cohesive: remember PEEEL (Essay Writing Workshop)

 Reference as you read! Keep a record of your bibliographic details.

 Authorship – it’s your assignment so ensure you’re in it!

ASU, 2009. 41
 A Grade work
Excellent achievement of all module learning outcomes &
an excellent understanding of key concepts within the
subject
Theoretical concepts applied to empirical issues with
appropriate reflection, where appropriate
Evidence of reading beyond that specified by the lecturer,
reflecting a broad literature review
Ability to approach reading with a critical understanding
Independent thought, rather than relying on others’ ideas
High level of analysis & synthesis of information
Clear and concise writing, well constructed & the argument
flows smoothly
Appropriate range of references, following Harvard
Referencing
ASU, 2009. 42
 Do not…
Forget to back up what you say with reliable evidence
(avoid assertions)

Forget to mention the source each time it is referred to.

Put one reference after another. Where are you?

Justify your points using only 1 source – show you’ve read

widely by referring to multiple sources (Smith, 2006; Jones,
2008)

Put a ‘www...’ in the body of your assignment

Have new references/information in your conclusion

ASU, 2009. 43
Checklist to avoid plagiarism:
Ask Yourself ‘Have I ...?’

Adapted from: Charles Darwin University (n.d.)

ASU, 2009. 44
-Referencing Quiz
(see ASU Guide to Harvard Referencing p.16 )

-Exercise 1 (Test your understanding of plagiarism’)

-Exercise 2 (‘What exactly is plagiarism?’)

Are the sources referenced correctly or are they plagiarised?

Answers will be emailed to you later
Examine the ‘Examples of poor referencing or plagiarism’
worksheet

Spot the referencing errors students made in their writing

Have you made the same mistakes?

.
 Web-based Plagiarism Course
http://logos.herts.ac.uk/libqdp/plagiarism/start.html
Access is restricted to on-campus or through VPN.

Helps understand how to avoid plagiarism, including

how to reference sources correctly. The course
includes a video, interactive quizzes, useful links and
resources.

ASU, 2009. 47
 Other Help Available …
IH Consultants - Help you search for sources:
Mike Mylles: m.mylles@herts.ac.uk
Jane Bilson: j.bilson@herts.ac.uk

Click on ‘Learning Resources’, then ‘Business’

English Language / Business Communication help:

Mary Martala-Lockett
Email: m.martala-lockett@herts.ac.uk

ASU, 2009. 48
 References
*Charles Darwin University (n.d.) Plagiarism. Available at:
http://www.cdu.edu.au/division/studserv/learning/plagiarism/plagiarism.pdf

iParadigms (2008) Types of Plagiarism. Available at:

http://writecheck.turnitin.com/static/citation_help/types_of_plagiarism.html [Accessed:
6 March, 2009].

*Troyka (1987)

UH UPRs (2008) Academic Regulations for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate

Programmes. University of Hertfordshire Higher Education Corporation

*Note: Unable to locate exact reference

ASU, 2009. 49