Professor Skonieczny Guidelines regarding Academic Integrity

Fall 2010

I. Purpose

This document explains what plagiarism is and how you can avoid it. It also contains a copy of
the IR Department plagiarism pledge. You need to sign and return only the second page
(entitled “SFSU Department of International Relations Plagiarism Policy and Pledge”). You do
not need to turn in this page.

II. Defining Plagiarism

“Plagiarism is defined as appropriating words or ideas of another person and offering them as
one’s own.” “Merely copying a direct quotation without offering quotation marks or crediting
the source is considered plagiarism. Another form of plagiarism consists of paraphrasing an idea
or use of an original idea without properly introducing or documenting the paraphrase or
borrowed idea.”

“A common violation is the use of another student’s work without acknowledgement. The most
common violation involves a student using published materials, particular from electronic
sources such as web pages and email, and failing to acknowledge the sources.”

III. Avoiding Plagiarism

a) You must use quotation marks when you are using someone else’s words verbatim. A citation
is not sufficient.

b) Even if you put quotation marks around someone’s words, you still must provide a citation
indicating from where you obtained the words.

c) If you are using someone else’s material, it does not become yours merely because you have
rearranged its ordering. Even if you change an author’s wording and style, it still may be
necessary for you to use quotation marks if your ideas closely track the original author’s
thoughts. At a minimum, you need to provide a citation to show where you obtained the ideas or
words that you drew upon.

IV. Consequences

Plagiarism is a very serious offense. It can lead to expulsion, suspension, or other penalties as
specified by California State University Standards of Conduct [see below].

Source: GatorAid: New Student Handbook, 2005-2006

1 of 2
 SFSU Department of International Relations
Plagiarism Policy and Pledge

Definition

Plagiarize: “To steal or purloin and pass off as one’s own (the ideas, writings, etc. of another)”.
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1956, p. 644.

Common methods of plagiarizing include using the ideas or words of another without crediting
them; paraphrasing (putting into one’s own words) material taken from another source without
crediting it; and using the exact words of another without enclosing them in quotations even
though you reference the source of the words. Cutting and pasting from the web is plagiarism.

To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use the words or ideas of another. In
other words, you must provide a citation after every quotation or after every passage in
which you make use of the words, data, or ideas of another. DO NOT forget to quote
material that is used verbatim.

Department of International Relations/University Policy

It is Department of International Relations policy that you will receive an “F” on the relevant
assignment if you are caught plagiarizing.

It is university policy that all cases of plagiarism be reported to the Dean of the College or the
University Judicial Affairs Officer which could result in further penalties such as forced
withdrawal from the class, suspension from classes, or expulsion from the University.

Student commitment vis-à-vis plagiarism:

I understand the meaning of plagiarism and the consequences of plagiarism. I hereby promise
that I will not engage in plagiarism.

Class name and number (printed): ________________________

Name (printed): _______________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________

Date: _______________________________________

2 of 2