Your success in this course is determined by your proficiency in the assignments of each workbook. Your responses to assignments indicate the extent of your attainment of outcomes established by Alberta Education.

Before responding to the assigned questions, read all relevant directions in the course materials, including the appropriate online content, textbooks, and other resources.
When you encounter difficulties, reread the directions for the assignments and review assignment exemplars provided in the assignments.
If you require further clarification, contact your Alberta Distance Learning Centre teacher for assistance.

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is presenting someone else's ideas as one's own. Plagiarism occurs when information is inserted into an assignment without proper credit to the person who wrote it. Students who plagiarize might use phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or writings of others without proper citation, or they might state as their own some ideas or theories that others have created.

Students plagiarize for various reasons. Sometimes students plagiarize because they do not know how to give credit properly. Stress is also a common reason. Students may struggle with assignments, feeling the pressure to succeed. Many students are challenged by busy schedules, as they juggle among commitments to family, friends, work, sports, and other extracurricular activities. Academic integrity, a strong work ethic, and time management skills help students succeed.

Plagiarism is a criminal offence under copyright laws.

Regardless of the reason for it, plagiarism carries serious consequences. Students caught plagiarizing may receive a mark of zero on the assignment or they may be removed from the course.

How Do I Avoid Plagiarism?

Manage your time effectively. Your teacher can help you set a schedule that will help you meet your individual goals for the course.

Acknowledge your sources. Use the techniques provided in the course to help you collect information appropriately, including bibliography and in-text notation or footnotes.

Ask for help early!

Avoid plagiarism by acknowledging all sources you use. Contact your teacher if you are uncertain how to document sources.

Although you are encouraged to work collaboratively and discuss various aspects of this course with others, all submitted work must be your own.