One way to combat plagiarism is to develop unique assignments that are difficult for students to plagiarize. Here are some suggestions that might help you.
Ask yourself: Why do you want students to conduct research in your course? What learning goals do you have for them?
Instructors often assign a 10 page research paper on a topic because it is “good for them” (like Wheaties), but this can lead to a “data dump" rather than any kind of learning. You might consider an alternative research assignment, depending on the learning goals you have for students.
“I want students to get a sense of the range of research on this issue.”
You might have students do an annotated bibliography (see Progression of Assignments).
“I want students to enter the critical conversation.”
With a librarian, you might have students generate a list of good articles on a topic (perhaps using something like Delicious). Using this limited list, students could write a short response paper that incorporates 2 or 3 of the sources the group agrees are good representatives of multiple views on the issue.
(To curtail plagiarism)
First Assignment:
- using a lead in phrase with the name of the author and
- an end of text citation.
Second Assignment:
- using a lead in phrase with the name of the author and
- an end of text citation.
- using a lead in phrase with the name of the author and
- an end of text citation
Third Assignment:
Create an Annotated Bibliography of articles regarding XY problem using at least 4 sources.
Fourth Assignment: