• Look out for the following signs
• Track it down by using web resources
• Track it down by using a detection service

1. Look out for the following signs

Visual

• Layout irregularities.
• Different fonts and styles.
• Unusual formatting implying the Internet as source such as URL, greyed out letters or words, incorrect page numbers.
• Mixed referencing styles.
• Sections or sentences that do not relate to the rest.

Content

• Paper does not address the assignment requirements: it is way off the topic or is the wrong type of answer.
• Most sources are older than five years.
• Quotations seem out of place: are there bibliographic entries for them?
• Bibliography and in text references do not match.
• Bibliography or reference list not according to instructions.
• The library does not own these materials.
• Inactive web sites listed.

Knowledge

• Paper exceeds the student's capabilities or appears too scholarly.
• Vocabulary and jargon are complex and differ altogether from subject vocabulary used in class.
• Inconsistent writing style: some parts poorly written compared to rest.
• Student is unable to summarize the paper.

2. Track it down by using web resources

Search engines

• When a paper is suspect it may be a good idea to search for an unusual sentence or phrase in one of the major search engines such as Google, Lycos or AltaVista. Use the Advanced Search option when available/

Electronic journals and full text databases

• The full text (electronic journals) databases are not searchable with ordinary search engines. You may search for an unusual phrase or sentence by typing it in the full text box of the search screens of products such as ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, Emerald, Proquest or Infotrac.

3. Track it down by using a detection service

A number of software options are available to detect plagiarism in electronic texts. For information on these services visit Dalhousie University's Detection Software Sites.

An investigation into buying a campus license to one of these products is in process. We have access to MyDropbox until the end of August. Please contact mrs Sanet Haupt if you want to join the trial.