Module 13: Be Original!

We understand that a boot camp can be quite difficult and that, at times, you may feel overwhelmed or frustrated. Try to remember that the goal of this program is to teach you valuable skills. Don't be afraid to reach out. There are many resources available to you, including Slack, office hours, and tutoring sessions.

No matter how difficult the course becomes, you must always turn in original work. Plagiarism is not tolerated. If your instructional staff, student success managers, or program support managers determine that you have plagiarized work, your student success manager will determine the appropriate course of action. Such actions may include, but are not limited to, a documented plagiarism discussion, an incomplete grade assignment, or ineligibility for graduation.

Module 13 Deliverable

This module does not have a deliverable that you will place in your prework folder. It is, however, important that you read all of the following information on plagiarism.

What Is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the act of presenting the material, concepts, or products of another person, group, or entity as one’s own work without providing citation or reference. Acts of plagiarism may include but are not limited to:

Copying the direct words or images of another person without using quotation marks and/or citing the original source.
Presenting another’s ideas in your own words without acknowledging the original source.
Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and project assignments.
Submitting work that you previously wrote for an assignment in another class without identifying it as such (self-plagiarism).
Using, paraphrasing, or copying content, statistics, images, and other materials directly from blogs, websites, or online publications without citing the original source.
Submitting downloaded papers, slide decks, or other documents without citing the original source.
Taking code written by another person and presenting it as your own work.

This definition from the University of Birmingham School of Computer Science provides useful additional details about avoiding plagiarism as it relates to code:

"Almost all computer programs contain many ideas borrowed from elsewhere. Many also contain short sections of actual code copied from elsewhere. For example, writing a section of program to create a new window on screen with a menu at the top of the window is often done by simply copying a few lines of code from an example in a programming manual or textbook, either with or without a few minor changes. This is normally regarded as fair use and typically requires no acknowledgement.

Any more significant copying of code from elsewhere should be acknowledged, however. The acknowledgement can be put in comments within the program itself. Reference to the source of the original material should be made in the same way as in essays or other documents (except that it may not be possible to use italics or other font variations). Obviously, it is not possible to put sections of code in quotation marks to indicate that they have been taken directly from elsewhere. Instead, the comments should make it clear which sections of code have been copied from elsewhere. Equally, the comments should make it clear when the basic method has been copied from elsewhere, but changes made to the details."

Definition from the University of Birmingham School of Computer Science

You may share ideas among peers as long as you cite all sources accordingly.

Tips to Avoid Plagiarism

Following the tips below can help ensure that you meet boot camp standards for submitting original work while avoiding plagiarism:

Cite All Borrowed Content

Whenever using a portion of someone else’s content, be sure to either put the material in quotation marks, use an in-text citation, or cite the source in your notes. Wherever possible, include a link to the original source, the name of the author, and the name of the publication from which you derived the content, and the date of publication in your citation.

Submitting assignments as Google Slides or PowerPoint presentations carries the same rules as writing a paper or report; as long as you provide a proper citation, it's acceptable to quote from someone else’s work to reach your goal or illustrate an idea.

Try to follow general APA citation style guides when citing your sources. For more information, go to Purdue Online Writing Lab’s page on citing electronic resources.

Use Your Own Designs

During the boot camp, you may look at other people’s work for design inspiration. While you might use the same color palettes, typefaces, or assets, it is not acceptable to copy the entire visual composition of someone else's work. Make it your own.

Cite All Borrowed Code

Whenever you use a portion of someone else’s code, be sure to provide a web link and the source of the material as a comment.

Think of writing code like writing an essay: it's totally acceptable to quote a few sentences from someone else’s work, but copying an entire work and passing it off as your own is unacceptable.

Comment Your Code

Use comments to break down how your code functions. Thoughtfully commenting on code will benefit you in a variety of ways. Most industries that involve coding consider having easy-to-read code with comments that detail functionality a best practice. This makes it easier for collaborators to engage easily with the work.

Commit to GitHub Early and Often

Whenever you complete a step or fix a bug, commit your code to GitHub. This provides you and your instructional staff a visible way to track the evolution of your code, bit by bit. Frequent commitment to GitHub is also a standard in the industry that helps prevent impediments with collaboration.

Additional Resources

Remember: copying someone else's work and passing it off as your own, violates an ethical code among you, your fellow students, and the original creator of the work. Below are additional resources that can help you understand best practices for avoiding plagiarism and guidelines and tools to help you create proper citations.