Swamped?

Don't let haste and disorganization turn you into a plagiarist!

You’re swamped with work - you haven't felt organized or in control of your time this whole semester. You're trying to finish a 10-page paper that’s due tomorrow. You feel pretty good about it; you know what you want to say, you've done tons of research, and you have quite a lot written. But now you're beginning to panic.

Hurrying to do your research , you cut and pasted a lot of material into your paper. But which parts did you write yourself and which parts did you borrow? You didn't keep track of your sources, so it's impossible to go back to the original sources to check.

It's too late to redo it all. You are tempted to just turn in the paper as it is, perhaps with a few made-up sources in your Works Cited section, and hope your professor doesn't figure out that some of the material is not your own.

Your Choices:

1. Plagiarize by inadequately citing your sources

Your risks academically:

• an "F" for the assignment
• an "F" for the course
• suspension
• permanent dismissal from the university
  
See the Academic Integrity Policy for the procedures involved.

Your risks personally:

• erosion of your self-regard
• compromise of your values (Is this the kind of person you want to be?)

2. Ask for an extension, find your sources and get the citations right.

Your risk: a failing grade on the assignment, if your professor won't grant the extension.

To choose this option:

• E-mail your professor (or call or stop by), explain the situation, and ask for an extension on the deadline. (You can find a professor's email address, phone number and office location using the Clemson Phonebook.)
• The penalty for turning in a paper late is far smaller than the penalty for plagiarism, even if it means a failing grade on the paper.
• Don’t be afraid to ask your professor for help.

How can you prevent this next time?

Take notes carefully and systematically

• Identify words that you copy directly from a source by placing quotation marks around them, typing them in a different color, or highlighting them.
  
  Do this immediately, as you are making your notes. (You won't remember, days or weeks later, what phrases you copied directly.) Be sure to indicate the exact beginning and end of the quoted passage. Copy the wording, punctuation and spelling exactly as it appears in the original.

• Jot down the page number and author or title of the source each time you make a note, even if you are not quoting directly but are only paraphrasing.

• Keep a working bibliography of your sources so that you can go back to them easily when it's time to double-check the accuracy of your notes. Do this faithfully during the note-taking phase and you'll have no trouble completing the "works cited" section of your paper later on.

• Keep a research log. As you search databases and consult reference books, keep track of what search terms and databases you used, and the call numbers and url's of information sources. This will help if you need to refine your research strategy, locate a source a second time, or show your professor what works you consulted in the process of completing the project.

The Academic Success Center can help you manage your time

Don't let yourself get to the point of desperation. Develop time management skills to help avoid situations like this. Request individual assistance (it's free!) from an Academic Success Center instructor, who can help you develop a time management schedule that will work for you.

Call 656-6452 for an appointment. The Academic Success Center also offers handouts and time management workshops.

Make an appointment with the Writing Center

The Writing Center is in 305 Daniel. Call to make an appointment: 656-3280.

Writing Center hours:

Monday-Thursday	10:00 to 4:00
Friday	10:00 to noon

 

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