USE OF SOURCES IN ACADEMIC WRITING BY MA APPLIED LINGUISTICS & TESOL STUDENTS: TEXTUAL BORROWING OR PLAGIARISM?

Abstract

The purposes of the project were (1) to enhance our understanding of students' use of sources, from the accessing of sources to the production of academic writing. This was achieved through a literature review and the student interviews based on their submitted academic assignments. We found that there was a connection between some students' approaches to the composition of assignments and their use of inter-textual borrowing, which in some cases was in danger of constituting plagiarism. A related difficulty facing students, revealed in the course of the project, was how to articulate their own voices with those of the literature.  (2) To contribute to improved guidance and training for students in the use of sources in academic writing, according to prevailing academic conventions. Training and awareness raising material has been produced and disseminated. Research articles are in progress.