Referencing and plagiarism

Make sure to cite your sources in the main text and that you list them all at the end in a reference section. This allows the marker to see which references you have used and how/where they have informed your analysis and argument.

The University Library’s My Learning Essentials is an award-winning skills programme which offers a number of online tutorials and workshops. For example, the ‘Writing’ resource will take you through the writing process from start to finish and help you to produce a well-structured, coherent piece of work that answers the question, evidences your own analysis and is easy for the reader to follow. The ‘Referencing’ resource explores the principles behind referencing, highlighting why it is good academic practice. It outlines when and how you need to reference and how to read a reference when following a source listed on a reading list or bibliography. The ‘Original thinking allowed: Avoiding plagiarism’ resource explores some of the issues surrounding academic integrity, providing you with techniques to help you to avoid plagiarism when referring to the work of others and to add your own voice into your work.

In addition to the online tutorials workshops are also available:

  • Academic writing – structuring for effective essays
  • Academic writing – referencing in your writing
  • My Learning Essentials (The University of Manchester Library)

Failure to properly cite and reference material may raise questions about plagiarism, which the University and AMBS take very seriously. You should read and make sure you understand the contents of the University document Plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice - Guidance for students before you submit your coursework to make sure that you don’t commit academic malpractice unintentionally or otherwise. When you are ready to upload your work online you will be acknowledging a disclaimer at the point of submission that the work you are submitting is your own.

Proofreading

Please note the following University statement on proofreading:

If a student chooses to approach another person to proofread their written work, or seeks to use the services of a proofreading service or agency, they must take account of the following principles:

  1. It is the responsibility of students to ensure that all work submitted is their own and that it represents their own abilities and understanding. Any proofreading of work that is undertaken by a third party must not compromise the student’s own authorship of the work;
  2. Proofreading undertaken by a third party must not take the form of editing of text, such as the adding or rewriting of phrases or passages within a piece of student’s work;
  3. Proofreading undertaken by a third party must not change the content or meaning of the work in any way.

Note: The University Library’s My Learning Essentials provides an online tutorial, 'Better safe than sorry: Proofreading your work', which allows you to learn and apply techniques to ensure you check your work properly. My Learning Essentials (The University of Manchester Library)

Plagiarism detection software

The University uses electronic systems, such as TurnitinUK, for the purposes of detecting plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice and for marking. Please note that work submitted to TurnitinUK or other electronic system may be copied and then stored in a database to allow appropriate checks to be made.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We urge students to be cautious when using a chatbot or AI tool within their learning. Chatbots and AI tools can be useful, but there are a number of risks associated with using them. Please ensure that you are aware of what is permissible use of AI for each assignment. You can utilise AI to generate ideas, key themes, and plan your assessment but not to write your assessment.

Do not use AI to generate text, or partial text for use in your assessment unless the assignment brief explicitly states that this is permitted, otherwise use will be deemed academic malpractice. This is academic malpractice because the words and ideas generated are not your own and not an accurate reflection of your learning. Further to this, the words and ideas generated by the chatbot or AI tool may make use of other, human authors' ideas without referencing them, which is plagiarism.

Where a chatbot or other form of AI has been used, make sure you acknowledge that use. Information on how to cite can be found on the Library Help FAQ webpage.

Some units, for example those on AI and technology, permit the use of AI. However, they require you to sign a code of conduct which must be adhered to. Make sure you understand and follow these codes. If you are unclear on what is permissible, speak to the unit lead.