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LL.M. HANDBOOK 2011-2012APPENDIX 3:Faculty of Law Policy on Plagiarism(NB: This document is based in large part on the Policy on Plagiarism prepared by theFaculty of Divinity and Faculty of Music. We are grateful to both.)(i) Plagiarism in work submitted for examinations, such as open-book examinations,assessed essays and dissertationsCopying out someone else’s work without acknowledgement (i.e. by using quotation marksand footnotes) is plagiarism; so is rewording someone else’s work in order to present it asyour own without acknowledging your debt. Students who submit dissertations andassessed essays for examinations are required to sign a statement that the writings inquestion are their own, and that any use of others’ work is indicated by quotations marks,footnotes and in the bibliography. Although no such formal declaration is required ofcandidates who write open book examinations, it is expected that the work submittedshould be substantially their own, and that they will not copy or re-word other people’s workand present it as their own.Plagiarism in work submitted for formal assessment is regarded by the University as theuse of “unfair means” (i.e. cheating), and is treated with the greatest seriousness. Whereexaminers suspect plagiarism, the case may be referred to the Proctors. It may then bebrought before the University’s Court of Discipline, which has the power to deprive culpritsof membership of the University and to strip them of any degrees awarded by it. Furtherinformation concerning the University’s position in relation to plagiarism, including a copy ofthe University-wide Statement on Plagiarism, can be found viahttp://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/. The Faculty’s Policy should be read inconjunction with that Statement.(ii) Plagiarism in supervision work and studySupervision essays and other assignments are meant to be your own work. Part of the pointof a university degree is that you learn to read, think and write for yourself. Deliberateplagiarism in your supervision work is therefore not only dishonest, but also misses thepoint. Supervisors who suspect a student of plagiarism are advised to raise the matter withthe student. If there is no improvement, they should report it to the Director of Studies, whomay take disciplinary action.Unconscious plagiarism is a more common failing in essay work. It often arises fromexcessive note-taking followed by excessively faithful use of notes in writing essays. Theseare bad working habits. Notes should be a summary in your own words of an argument andof the evidence or reasoning used to support it. Essays should be written with reference tonotes rather than by copying them out. Plagiarism can also creep in when, instead of takingnotes, you mark texts or photocopies with highlighting pen and then write your essay withclose reference to such materials.Downloading material from the internet into essays (without acknowledgement) alsoconstitutes plagiarism. Internet material should be treated like other primary or secondarysources. You may wish to download material, but you should then read, question and take67