Plagiarism: make the source of work visible

This is an attributed academic-integrity meaning, not a finding about a particular piece of work. A reference list, a paraphrase, and an acknowledgment each raise questions about how material is represented. This entry does not decide whether a submission meets a school's rules.

Separate your observation from borrowed material

Imagine a learner drafting a fictional report about a community mural. They have three kinds of material: their own notes from looking at the mural, a passage from an exhibition leaflet, and an idea raised by a classmate.

If all three are pasted into one unlabeled notebook, the learner may not know which part they meant to attribute. For this invented project, an origin record keeps the sources distinct before a final draft is prepared.

Item: Observation about the mural's border
Origin: My own viewing notes
Item: Historical statement in the exhibition leaflet
Origin: Leaflet title, author if supplied, and page
Item: Possible interpretation discussed with a classmate
Origin: Record who raised it and what I need to clarify.
Unresolved question: What acknowledgment does this assignment expect?

The record is original and contains no real borrowed passage. It is not a sample submission, a citation style, or a guarantee against plagiarism.

A source reference is not a verdict

Finding a source URL at the end of a paper does not tell this glossary how every sentence was written. Conversely, a shared phrase alone is not enough for this page to adjudicate a person's work. Questions about wording, representation, assistance, and assignment requirements need the actual material and the relevant institutional process.

If the learner cannot tell where a passage came from, the record can say “origin unresolved.” It should not invent an author, page number, or access history. A family member can help locate the original notebook or write a question without manufacturing missing evidence.

Preserve the learner's authorship decisions

A student may ask someone to listen while they explain an idea, help locate a source, or check the assignment instructions. Agree on the role before rewriting their submission. When assistance is relevant to the assignment, ask the instructor how it should be described.

The same approach applies to questions about AI tools: locate the current assignment's instructions and ask the responsible instructor. This glossary does not give blanket permission or prohibit every possible use on behalf of every school.

Keep integrity and reuse questions separate

The cited definition concerns how work and ideas are presented. It does not provide copyright permission, legal advice, or a disciplinary decision. Oxford's page contains additional policy details that are not summarized here. The mural scenario and origin record are independent explanatory material; they do not copy Oxford's policy examples or certify any real work as plagiarism-free.

Source

[1] University of Oxford. Plagiarism. No exact page-specific publication date shown. Accessed September 6, 2026. [1] uses only the terminology specified above; additional findings, recommendations, and source examples are not adopted.

Related guides

• Source citation
• Paraphrasing
• Annotation
• Assignment brief