Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism
There are many ways to avoid plagiarism, and good study habits can help you stay on track and reduce the temptation to plagiarise. The following strategies will help you manage your time, research effectively, and maintain academic integrity.
Time management and planning ahead
Life can be busy, and it’s easy to fall behind in your studies. Distance learning requires self-discipline, and while there may not be strict deadlines, the suggested guideline dates help you pace your learning. If you follow them, you can avoid last-minute stress and the pressure to rush assignments.
You can also refer to our Wellbeing section for more information on time management and studying.
The following time management strategies will help you manage your studies.
- Make a note of your suggested deadlines, then proceed as if the assignments are due a week (or a few days) before those deadlines. By doing so you should be able to complete the assignment well before it is due, leaving time to edit, complete additional research, or just relax. If something unexpected happens, you will have extra time to finish the assessment or ask for help.
- While completing your assignment, keep a list of all your sources. Your bibliography will be significantly easier to write, and you won’t forget where you found them. If you can’t reference something that requires a source, you cannot include it, so make sure to keep a detailed list.
- Break down your schedule. If you use ‘to-do’ lists, don’t write one enormous list for everything that needs to be done in the next six months. Break it down into manageable task lists that suit your lifestyle and needs. For example, if you are time orientated, you could have a list of tasks that must be completed in the next week, next two weeks, next month, etc. If you like to list things by priority, you could have rated lists, e.g. ‘High Priority,’ ‘Medium Priority’ and ‘Low Priority.’ You could also group things by category, e.g. ‘Things I need to do for my job,’ ‘Things I need to do for my studies,’ ‘Things I need to do for the house,’ etc. Use whatever approach works best for you.
- Avoid procrastination! No one wants to complete assignments at the end of a long day. If you are prone to procrastination, create a reward system. For example, if you enjoy social media, allow yourself to spend 15 minutes online for every hour you spend studying. If you enjoy a certain type of food, allow yourself a bit of indulgence for every task that you complete. When you break down large assignments in this way, you motivate yourself to finish the task. Make sure that you don’t get too focused on ‘finishing’ though, as you must still give the task the attention it needs.
- Most importantly, allow time for yourself in order to avoid becoming burned out and uninterested in your studies. Employing good time management skills will allow you enough time to learn, enjoy your studies and avoid stress, so it is unlikely you will be tempted to plagiarise.
Stress management
Stress is a normal part of life, but too much stress can lead to poor decisions—including plagiarism. Managing stress helps you stay organised, motivated, and focused on learning.
Maintain a balance between work and relaxation
- Set time aside to rest, sleep, and do activities you enjoy.
- Avoid overloading your schedule with too many commitments.
Look after your health
- Eat nutritious meals to fuel your brain and keep your energy levels steady.
- Exercise and good sleep improve concentration and memory.
Stay organised to reduce last-minute panic
- Poor time management increases stress—start early and work steadily.
- Avoid leaving assessments until the last minute.
Use available support services
- If you have questions, check your Learner’s Guide and Student Handbook first.
- If you still need help, contact Student Assist or our Wellbeing Coach—we’re here to support you.