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Going to the Source:

A resource provided by collaboration between the College Libraries, the Writing Center, and the Faculty

VII.

Making sure you do not plagiarize in collaborative work

KEY POINT:
Make sure to get clear instructions from your professor before working with others on collaborative projects.

When instructors ask you to work with classmates, listen carefully to their directions. Don’t assume that because you worked with other students on a group project, it’s also acceptable to share notes or finish a homework assignment together. Many plagiarism cases emerge from situations in which students allow others access to their work. If you lend your essay, report, or problem set to a classmate, you may still be responsible to the Academic Panel for contributing to plagiarism, even if you are unaware of what the borrower did. Collaborative work–from group projects to peer-review workshops–will enrich your studies at Vassar. However, you should never work with others on an assignment unless you have permission to do so and a clear understanding of what your instructor does and does not allow.