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Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using work written by someone else in your assignment without acknowledging where it came from.

Correctly acknowledging all sources of information is the foundation of academic integrity and honesty. It is important at every level of academic study and research.

Plagiarism applies to any material:

  • Written (including books, articles, websites)
  • Visual (including images)
  • Spoken, performance or any other medium

Plagiarism can be intentional or unintentional. It is a type of academic misconduct.

Plagiarism includes:

  • Quoting or direct copying of someone else’s work without acknowledgement
  • Paraphrasing (putting into your own words) someone else’s work without acknowledgement
  • Summarising someone elses work without acknowledgement
  • Re-using part of a previous marked assignment without approval from your lecturer
  • Letting another person help you by providing content for your assignment

Consequences for plagiarism at MIT, even if it is unintentional, can include:

  • Marks taken off
  • Mark of 0
  • Course failure

Refer to the MIT Student Regulations and your Course Outlines

It is your responsibility to avoid plagiarism.

 You can find information more information on plagiarism and how to avoid it on the Academic Integrity page

Note that some MIT courses use Turnitin (via Canvas) to check assignments for plagiarism.

  • Always cite and reference your sources of information!
    Citation - The note you make within your assignment about where you got your information
    Reference - The full details of your source of information, put in a list at the end of your assignment
  • Make use of MIT’s referencing resources and recommended online information (see below)
  • Ask your lecturer or your Subject Librarian if you are unsure

Key research tips to help you avoid plagiarism:

  • Keep a record of your sources of information as you go.  For example, create a reference for everything you read
  • Make a note of the page number of every quote, image, chart etc you may use in your assignment

Useful resource

Useful Referencing resources:

More help: You can:

Updated 15/04/2024

Generative AI is changing the way we find, organise, produce, and share information. 

Tools for generative AI are developing quickly, and new details regarding their uses, regulations, and social effects are published every day. Although we will make every effort to keep this guide as current as possible, please be advised that the material included below may become outdated quite fast.  

Examples of generative AI Tools include ChatGPT, virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, face recognition software and writing and paraphrasing tools such as Grammarly and Quill Bot. 

Learn more about generative AI  

For ākonga - students

Always read the assignment question and rubric carefully to see what AI use is allowed.  

 

When AI is not allowed to be used within your assessments: When AI is allowed to be used within your assessements:
  • Do not use any generative AI tools such as Grammarly Pro or ChatGPT.
  • Make sure you understand and follow the approved use of AI in any assessment. 
  • If you do not understand, ask for clarification from your lecturer or tutor.  
  • If you do not understand the usage regulation, ask for clarification from your lecturer or tutor. 

  • Always check the validity of the information generated by AI tools. Tools such as ChatGPT may create false sources and references.

  • Consult the library databases or Google Scholar to check that the sources actually exist.  

  • See a Subject Librarian for help if you are unsure. 

  • Provide a reference when AI tools are used. (See Generative AI & software example - page 18) 

  
  • If you use AI tools, there may be serious repercussions, including a charge of academic misconduct. 
  • Do not use AI tools outside the scope detailed in your assignment question and rubric.
    If you do, there may be serious repercussions such as a charge of academic misconduct.  

  

  

Consult student regulations here: 

  

Consult student regulations here: 

  

 

For Researchers: Using AI for information discovery 
Your assignment may allow for the use of AI tools for research. Below is a list of AI-powered search tools to help you identify and evaluate academic research. 

For Kaimahi – Staff 

AI and assessments