Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity & Plagiarism
Academic Integrity refers to maintaining honesty, responsibility, and ethical behavior in all academic work, including assignments, examinations, presentations, research papers, and reports. The Tariq Amin Library supports students and faculty in understanding and practicing academic integrity in their academic and research activities.
Plagiarism is one of the most important components of academic integrity and must be avoided in all academic work.
⚠️ What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism occurs when someone uses another person’s ideas, words, or work without proper acknowledgment. This includes:
- Copying text from books, articles, or websites without citation
- Using someone else’s ideas without giving credit
- Submitting another person’s work as your own
- Improper paraphrasing without citation
- Using Generative AI content where it is not permitted
Plagiarism can occur intentionally or unintentionally, but both are considered academic misconduct.
✅ How to Avoid Plagiarism
Citation is key to avoiding plagiarism. However, simply citing sources does not allow direct copying. Below are two proper ways to avoid plagiarism:
✍️ Paraphrase + Cite
Paraphrasing means rewriting information from a source in your own words without changing the original meaning. Even when paraphrasing, you must properly cite the source.
Example:
- Read the original text
- Rewrite it in your own words
- Add proper citation
📝 Direct Quote + Cite
Direct quoting means copying exact words from a source. When using direct quotes:
- Use quotation marks ” “
- Cite the original source properly
- Use quotes sparingly and only when necessary
💡 Good Practices to Avoid Plagiarism
Follow these best practices:
✔ When in doubt, always cite the source
✔ Keep a list of all reference materials used
✔ Clearly differentiate your ideas from sourced material
✔ Use reference management tools (e.g., EndNote, Mendeley)
✔ Plan your assignments early to avoid last-minute copying
✔ Follow citation guidelines provided by instructors
✔ Review your work before submission
⚖️ Plagiarism vs Copyright Infringement
Students often confuse plagiarism and copyright infringement. While they may overlap, they are different concepts.
Plagiarism
Using someone else’s work without giving proper credit.
Copyright Infringement
Using copyrighted material without permission from the owner.
Example: If you submit a photograph taken by someone else under your name, you commit:
- Plagiarism (claiming someone else’s work as your own)
- Copyright infringement (using copyrighted material without permission)
📚 Using Copyrighted Materials
When using copyrighted materials:
✔ Use limited portions for academic purposes
✔ Cite the original author
✔ Follow fair use guidelines
✔ Seek permission when necessary
Avoid:
❌ Copying entire works
❌ Distributing copyrighted materials without permission
❌ Uploading copyrighted content to public platforms
🧠 Academic Integrity Support
The Tariq Amin Library provides support for:
- Plagiarism awareness
- Citation guidance
- Referencing styles
- Turnitin similarity report interpretation
- Research ethics guidance
Students and faculty may contact library staff for guidance and consultation.
🎯 Importance of Academic Integrity
Maintaining academic integrity helps:
⭐ Build academic credibility
⭐ Promote original thinking
⭐ Develop research skills
⭐ Maintain ethical academic standards
⭐ Avoid academic penalties
🤝 Library Commitment
The Tariq Amin Library is committed to promoting academic integrity and responsible research practices. The library supports students and faculty in understanding plagiarism, proper citation, and ethical academic writing.
For guidance on academic integrity or plagiarism, please contact the Tariq Amin Library team.
