Module 2: Upholding academic integrity in your writing

Communication, Culture and Indigenous Perspectives in Business (CCIB)

Module Two: Upholding Academic Integrity in Writing

• Raised by Curtin University.

Importance of Academic Integrity

• Definition: Adhering to ethical conduct in the university environment (TEQSA 2022).

• Expectations:

  • Submitting your own work.

  • Maintain honesty in work and interactions.

  • Acknowledge others’ ideas and contributions.

• Significance:

  • Preserves the value of degrees and enhances employer trust (Chugh et al. 2021).

  • Cultivates essential skills for future careers (Dawson 2020).

Actions to Uphold Academic Integrity

At the University Level

• Complete the Academic Integrity Program (AIP).

• Review official communications and guidance on academic integrity.

In Your Units

• Utilize unit materials (e.g., outlines and assessment instructions).

• Seek clarification from instructors in writing.

• Maintain records of your assessment processes.

Types of Academic Misconduct and Prevention

Plagiarism

• Definition: Using another’s work or ideas without proper citation.

• Examples:

  • Direct copying, poor paraphrasing, insufficient citations.

• Consequences: Misrepresents abilities and discredits original authors.

• Avoidance Strategies:

  • Take detailed notes throughout the assignment process.

  • Use the Plagiarism checklist before submission.

Collusion

• Definition: Collaborating on assessments when not permitted.

• Examples: Sharing notes or drafts for individual work.

• Consequences: Misrepresentation of individual capabilities; disadvantages to other students.

• Avoidance Strategies: Clarify individual/group work expectations; do not share individual assessments.

Falsification or Fabrication

• Definition: Misrepresentation of data or sources within assessments.

• Examples: Creating fake quotes or data; listing non-used references.

• Consequences: Misleads others and misrepresents understanding.

• Avoidance Strategies: Keep accurate notes; represent data truthfully.

Cheating

• Definition: Dishonest practices to gain unfair assessment advantages.

• Examples: Unauthorized materials in exams; submitting non-original work.

• Consequences: Provides unearned advantage; distorts assessment reliability.

• Avoidance Strategies: Assess if seeking assistance could constitute unfair advantage.

Use of Generative AI Tools

• Definition: Unauthorized usage in assessments constitutes cheating.

• Consequences: Similar to other cheating forms; undermines integrity.

• Preventative Measures: Verify assessment guidelines and misuse ramifications.

Referencing and Paraphrasing

Why Reference?

• For Yourself:

  • Builds persuasive arguments.

  • Integrates diverse information; avoids plagiarism risks.

• For Others:

  • Credits original authors, allows confirmation of information, clarifies idea ownership.

Why Paraphrase?

• Purpose:

  • Demonstrates comprehension of material.

  • Flexibly incorporates information into assignments while maintaining writing voice.

  • Mitigates plagiarism accusations.

Guidelines for Effective Paraphrasing

1. Understand original text thoroughly.

2. Identify main points and keywords.

3. Rewrite key concepts in your language without paraphrasing the original text directly.

4. Utilize synonyms and change grammar/sentence structure.

5. Maintain subject-specific terminology.

6. Adjust the order of presented ideas.

7. Critically assess the author’s tone and perspective.

8. Review your paraphrase for accuracy against original meaning.

Reference Management

Components of Referencing

• Match in-text citations with reference list entries.

Chicago 17th Author-Date Referencing Style

• Primary referencing style for business units at Curtin.

• In-text citation format: (Author Year) and full references at the end.

Academic Misconduct Process

• Insufficient citations or inadequate paraphrasing leads to warnings rather than formal misconduct cases.

• Managing skills issues appropriately can prevent alarming consequences.

Academic Support Services

Available Resources

• FBL Assignment Skills modules and workshops.

• UniPASS and Peer Academic Mentors for guided study sessions.

• Studiosity for online study assistance.

Useful Links

• Assessment extension applications.

• Mental health and counseling services.

Generative AI in Academia

Definition and Utility

• Generative AI creates unique content (text/images) by training on extensive datasets.

Limits and Ethics

• It cannot evaluate content credibility; raises ethical questions due to lack of sourced acknowledgment.

Curtin’s Policy

• Gen-AI use in assessments requires specific approval; guidelines must be followed strictly.

Conclusion

• Upholding academic integrity is crucial to ensuring a valuable educational experience and the credibility of universities.

• Students should engage actively with resources available to support academic success.