subject: Dissertation Plagiarism Detection Tips [print this page] A dissertation is a document that contributes new knowledge. It is a students responsibility to ensure that the manuscript contains original information free from plagiarism. Plagiarism is serious offence with heavy penalties including suspension and expulsion. It occurs when part of the information in a dissertation has been copied directly from other sources without proper citation.
How to detect plagiarism manually:
Check your writing style. If the writing style tends to change a lot in the manuscript, it is a strong indicator of plagiarized content. Read the dissertation and identify the areas that do not sound like your own voice. Focus more on the introduction, discussion, and conclusion.
Check the flow of sentences. If the flow is bumpy and inconsistent, probably part of it was cut and paste material. Try correcting the text using your words.
Similarity of texts and sentences. If you notice that two sentences sound similar, or that the order in which they appear is questionable, probably one of the sentences was lifted from the original source. You can get rid of one text and use your own phrases to pass the point.
Overdependence on certain words or phrases. If you overuse a word or a phrase in your dissertation yet these are words distinct to a particular researcher, then possibilities of plagiarism cannot be ignored.
Use of obsolete texts and sources. If the manuscript uses texts or cites sources that are outdated, it indicates plagiarism. Ensure that all your sources are current to avoid plagiarism.
Inconsistent citation Styles. If the dissertation contains more that one different type of citation styles, it indicates possible plagiarism. Your dissertation should feature uniform citation style.
References. If references appear in the dissertation and not in the bibliography section, it indicates presence of plagiarized content. All references should be indicated at the bibliography section.
Check plagiarism using the internet
Identify the texts that appear plagiarized and enter them in a search engine. Select only a small portion of the document, about one or two sentences only. Once you enter, a number of results will appear. Check through the first results whether it matches with your text. If you find more than three consecutive words matching, it indicates possible plagiarism.
You can also use an online plagiarism checker tool to detect plagiarism. Subscribe to a plagiarism checker service that you trust. Most teachers and students prefer to use Turnitin.com, which offers both paid and free service. It is always advisable to rely on reputable services, which have been tested and approved.
Sometimes plagiarism can happen accidentally through combination of words that are commonly used or those that have no alternative phrasing. That is why it is always advisable to get a dissertation checked before submission. There exists a plethora of resources offering plagiarism detection services online. Find the one that suits your needs and is able to detect plagiarism in your document effortlessly. Also, make sure you proofread your document for grammatical errors, miss-spellings, and inconsistencies before submitting it.
