​ Introduction In this Topic, you will learn more about collegiate-level writing requirements, the academic community, and plagiarism. The objectives for this Topic, listed in the syllabus, state that after completing this Topic, you will be able to: · Identify strategies to prevent plagiarism. · Identify academic expectations of a GCU Students. To help you accomplish these objectives, this Lecture has been provided as a guide, along with specific assignments and main forum activities. ​​Plagiarism Grand Canyon University is committed to academic integrity, and our goal for all written assignments is to have "students producing the most academically rigorous and substantiated work possible" (GCU Plagiarism Tutorial, 2013). All students must have a solid understanding of what plagiarism is, and how to avoid it. "Plagiarism is defined as the use of another person''s thoughts, ideas, words, quotations, or phrases without showing proper acknowledgment of where the information came from" (GCU Plagiarism Tutorial, 2013). It is literary theft or what would be considered as the stealing of words of another author and taking credit for them as your own work. Plagiarism is not tolerated at Grand Canyon University. Please read the Student Handbook to become aware of the consequences associated with plagiarism. This may include, but is not limited to taking a zero on an assignment, failing a course, being suspended, being expelled, or having your degree revoked. Here are four helpful rules to follow for any and all written assignments: 1. Write your own original work, with your own thoughts, and in your own words. 2. When you use anything from another author or source, you must give proper credit to that author or source by citing within the text and including same on the Reference page at the end of your work. Even if you are using your own words, you must cite your source material (paraphrasing). 3. If you use a quotation from another source (word-for-word, or extremely similar) you must use quotation marks, and then cite the source correctly. 4. Always avoid using long quotes and do not use more than one quote that is more than 40 words in any given paper. Any quote more than 40 words must be formatted as a block quote (Owl at Purdue, 2013). Commit yourself to academic integrity throughout your entire educational journey. Make sure you review the course material in this week''s Topic to further educate yourself on this topic. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask your instructor. Academic Writing Students occasionally ask instructors why they are not permitted to write the way they speak. Barzan (1994) argues for writing that is simple and direct, but he also writes that "most speaking is not plain or direct, but vague, clumsy, confused, and wordy" (p. 12). Such problems are the bane of student writing. In academic writing the writer turns attention to the diction (word choice), syntax (sentence structure), and general mechanics, which includes grammar and punctuation. These style issues are signals of the author''s credibility and integrity. Missing commas, sentence fragments, and random capitalization devalue writing. They suggest some indifference on the writer''s part. The writer does not care enough to dress up; he or she is presenting serious ideas wearing a T-shirt with holes. Tidying up makes a good impression in writing, and in life. Before completing this week''s assignment, please be sure to refer to the resources listed in the Additional Materials in your Syllabus Conclusion Hopefully you are more comfortable with academic honesty now! Being familiar with academic writing guidelines and plagiarism will be a huge benefit for you in future classes because it will enable you to focus on learning versus worrying about formatting and the integrity of your writing. References Barzun, J. (1994). Simple & direct. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Grand Canyon University (2013). Plagiarism Tutorial. Retrieved from http://www.gcu.edu/Academics/Academic-Integrity.php Purdue Online Writing Lab (Owl) (2013). In-Text Citations. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/ ​please see attached. 62694_1UNV103 DevelopingAcademicSkillsGuide.docx​