Instructor guide

The Plagiarism
Spectrum 2.0
The Plagiarism Spectrum 2.0 identifies twelve types of unoriginal work.
Familiarity with traditional forms of plagiarism and emerging trends helps
students develop original thinking skills and do their best original work.

Original Student Word-for-Word Self Mosaic Software-based Contract

Thinking Collusion Plagiarism Plagiarism Plagiarism Text Modification Cheating
Working with other Copying and pasting Reusing one’s Weaving phrases Taking content Engaging a third party
When someone
students on an content without previously published and text from written by another (for free, for pay, or
submits assignments
assignment meant proper attribution. or submitted work several sources into and running it in-kind) to complete
that are their own
for individual without proper one’s own work. through a software an assignment and
work, composed of
assessment. attribution. Adjusting sentences tool (text spinner, representing that as
original ideas built on
without quotation translation engine) one’s own work.
attributed sources.
marks or attribution. to evade plagiarism
detection.

Inadvertent Paraphrase Computer Code Source-based Manual Text Data Plagiarism

Plagiarism Plagiarism Plagiarism Plagiarism Modification Falsifying or fabricating
Forgetting to properly Rephrasing a source’s Copying or adapting Providing inaccurate Manipulating text data or improperly
cite or quote a source ideas without proper source code without or incomplete with the intention appropriating
or unintentional attribution. permission from and information about of misleading someone else’s work,
paraphrasing. attribution to the sources such that plagiarism detection putting a researcher,
original creator. they cannot be software. institution, or
found. publisher’s reputation
in jeopardy.

Pedagogical strategies and technology interventions

you can use to uphold originality in your classrooms.

Types of Unoriginality Why It Occurs What Educators Can Do

Original Thinking Students produce original work when they Original thinking is a learned skill that educators help cultivate
are empowered with an understanding through consistent and ongoing opportunities for learning and growth.
of academic integrity and their ideas Original thinking skills are essential for academic success and serve
are supported. students throughout their personal and professional journeys.

Inadvertent Plagiarism Students may produce work with Educators may incorporate direct instruction around citation,
these forms of plagiarism when they paraphrasing, and appropriate collaboration into lesson plans to increase
Student Collusion
lack a foundational understanding awareness of academic integrity and mitigate academic misconduct.
Paraphrase Plagiarism of academic integrity.
Educators may also adopt a text similarity checking tool to help
Word-for-Word Plagiarism reinforce students’ developing academic integrity skills.

Computer Code Plagiarism Students may turn to these forms Educators may provide more nuanced definitions of different forms
of plagiarism when they lack advanced of plagiarism so that students understand that even if it’s their own
Self Plagiarism
academic integrity skills or are words, their own research, their own arrangement of ideas, if not cited
Source-based Plagiarism under pressure. correctly, it still counts as plagiarism.
Mosaic Plagiarism Educators may adopt a holistic academic integrity tool that not only
checks for text similarity but also addresses mosaic and code plagiarism.

Manual Text Modification Students may purposefully engage Educators may incorporate explicit instruction on these more
in these forms of misconduct when deliberate forms of academic misconduct to raise awareness in students
Software-based Text
they lack knowledge of ethical issues and to make known educator vigilance around academic integrity.
Modification or intrinsic motivation.
Educators may adopt a new standard in academic integrity solutions
Data Plagiarism that addresses both text similarity and trends such as text modification
Contract Cheating and contract cheating.

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