How to avoid unintentional breaches of academic integrity

What a student says:

I tried to do the best I could with citing and referencing, but the system is just so confusing. I’m not used to it.

What we suggest:

Citing and referencing is definitely a strange convention. It is like learning another language. But it’s easy once you get the hang of it.

Referencing should be clear enough that your reader can go and find where you got your information from. Know which referencing style is preferred by your faculty/discipline, download a guide for the style (the library will be a help here!), and then follow it.

What a student says:

In my home country, it is quite common to copy the words of the teacher, word for word. I was also taught to memorise ideas and facts and that is how I learn. I’m not used to presenting my own ideas as separate from the ideas of someone else’s, especially someone with authority.

What we suggest:

While you are not expected to come up with new ideas, your lecturers are interested in what you think about your unit material. You are encouraged to demonstrate critical thinking. You might begin by weighing up two contrasting views and looking at the evidence behind each viewpoint. Your ideas about the value of different viewpoints is the critical thinking and writing that lecturers want you to demonstrate.

What a student says:

This assignment is really important. It’s worth 50% of the overall grade and I don’t want to fail. But I’m not sure I actually understand this subject, and that I can actually do the work. Maybe copying an assignment that I know has earned a pass mark last year is the only solution?

What we suggest:

It’s never too late to approach your tutor or lecturer to clarify your understanding. Go through the material by yourself and prepare questions that your tutor can answer. You can form study groups and go over things you don’t understand with each other.

Learning advisers can help you read efficiently, take good notes and learn your material thoroughly.

What a student says:

I am the first in my family to attend university. They believe in me and they want me to succeed. They want to see me get HDs. They have been saving up to help me pay my fees. I can’t let them down but getting HDs is not always achievable.

What we suggest:

We understand that there is a lot of pressure on you at the moment! But in the long run, cheating isn’t going to help you learn or succeed. It’s better to start where you are and build up your skills gradually, getting better and better at your studies as you progress. Monash offers a host of support for you, including Learning advisers, Monash counsellors and tutors.

What a student says:

If I’m honest I’ve been avoiding this assignment for weeks. Now I only have two days to complete this work and I’ve run out of time. I’m stressed. I have seen advertisements for people to help me with this if I pay for it. They will get something back to me in 48 hours and then I can submit on time.

What we suggest:

There are still options, even with two days. Perhaps there are exceptional circumstances that need to be taken into account. Can you discuss these with your tutor/lecturer-in-charge? Also, speak to a Learning adviser about how to manage the time that you do have, in order to submit your assignment.

What a student says:

I am not motivated to complete this assignment. I’m bored and if I do this by myself it will take too long. It will be much quicker if I just cut and paste this assignment or copy it from someone else. I just don’t want to do it!

What we suggest:

This is tough! Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture of what you want to achieve with your degree when faced with a frustrating assignment that is right in front of you. But cheating means you don’t learn anything. A Learning adviser will help you to break down your assignment into manageable chunks. You might also like to check in with a Monash counsellor to discuss motivation - everyone goes through difficult times and help is available.

What a student says:

A friend asks me to do them a favour by sharing some test questions with them. They’ll pay me money. It’s an easy way to make $50.

What we suggest:

Don’t do it, ever! Even if it sounds very attractive in the immediate future, it’s not worth the risk. You’re doing someone else’s work, and you will be held responsible.

What a student says:

There are 400 students in my subject turning in assignments. My tutor only spends 5 minutes marking each one. They’re not going to notice if I take a short-cut here and there and borrow some words from another source.

What we suggest:

Your tutors and lecturers are experts in their field and very familiar with the academic material. It’s hard to believe, but they will notice if you’ve quoted from the key scholars without citation!

Text-matching software is increasingly sophisticated at identifying poor academic practices. But more positively, your teacher wants to give you feedback on your work and your thoughts, which hopefully you will be able to improve on, not someone else’s work.

What a student says:

There are so many different definitions online and policies to read. For example, my tutor tells me that collusion means one thing, but then I read another explanation of it online. I don’t understand what I can and cannot do, so I just muddle through and hope for the best.

What we suggest:

Academic Integrity can seem like a minefield, but you’re in the right place. We hope these resources will explain academic integrity to you in simple, clear language, using lots of everyday examples that you will encounter in your studies:

• What is Academic Integrity and why is it important?
• Dos and don’ts of academic integrity
• What happens if I breach academic integrity
• Glossary of academic integrity terms

For further clarification, talk to a learning adviser.

What a student says:

I find paraphrasing and summarising in English really difficult. I know that I shouldn’t just look up and replace a few words using the thesaurus, but my language skills are not strong enough and it takes too long. I can’t complete my assignments on time.

What we suggest:

Paraphrasing, summarising, and quoting are essential academic writing skills that will support you throughout your time at university and beyond. So it’s a good idea to learn and practise them as soon as possible.

There’s lots of support available! You can talk to a learning adviser, who will direct you to online resources and help you practise your skills in academic writing and help you master your academic English.