Software Systems Components

Code Referencing

This page explains in details how to reference your code carefully to avoid accusation of plagiarism.

In cases where you have not referenced, you are likely to get 0 mark because you have not worked according to these guidelines.

Reusing code is not a problem, however too much reuse IS a problem. Over 65% of reused code is NOT acceptable. You have to demonstrate your ability to code individually.

We have on average over 90 students, and it is very common to find two students that have googled and found the same source and copied it without referencing! Don't under estimate the importance of referencing, as surely no one wants to get 0 mark in his/her assignment or being accused of intentional plagiarism.

Please when reusing code, pay attention to the following:

1) Reusing Classes

a) Reusing a whole class from the internet, book, from your lecturer, or from anyone else is ONLY acceptable when correct referencing is in place (you may NOT reuse code from students on the module or work on the coding together!), Your reference should be indicated clearly at the top of a class before the author and version numbers as follows:

/**
* This class does this and that.
* It originally belongs to so and so, and is reused as is.
*
* @source            www.plagiarism.catchme\class.java <<<<< you must provide a direct URL or book details... or lecturer code
 * @author            The original author's name or organisation... NOT your name since you are not the author
* @version            1.2
*/

b) Reusing a class with major/minor modification....

/**
* This class does this and that.
* It originally belongs to so and so, I have made Major/Minor modifications to the class to get a list of blabla... and to return some Data....
* The original class can be found in:
* @source            www.plagiarism.catchme/class.java <<<<< you must provide a URL or book details... or lecturer code
 * @author            If minor modifications, you may put your name, if Major modifications you must NOT put your name since you are not the original author, but you've modified it.
* @version            1.2
*/

Reusing Blocks of code

a) When reusing blocks of code with or without Major/Minor modification you MUST include the block in your code either at the end of your class or above the method that uses it... and mark it with a number as follows:

/**
* REUSED CODE <1>
*
* @source            www.plagiarism.catchme/class.java <<<<< you must provide a URL for the source code or book details... or lecturer code
 */
@public void yourMethod(){...}

AND at the end of the class

/**
* REUSED CODE <1>
* [Paste code here]
 *
* @source            www.plagiarism.catchme/class.java <<<<< you must provide a URL for the source code or book details... or lecturer code
 */

OR you can just paste the code above the method directly.

/** * REUSED CODE <1>
* [Paste code here]
 *
* @source            www.plagiarism.catchme/class.java <<<<< you must provide a URL for the source code or book details... or lecturer code
 */
@public void yourMethod(){...}

Reusing 1-2 lines of statements

a) Reusing one statement or two is not a problem and does not need to be referenced... but three or more lines IS.. and needs to be referenced. Refer to "2) Referencing Blocks of Code"

Note:
ClassS e = getSomething().readInt().getBla().getChildrent().get..get...
is multiple statements... don't waist your time hiding plagiarism that way... our Plagiarism Checker is a program checker NOT a document checker... (i.e. compares logic rather than statements.).