Multiple programs and services are available to help you adjust to the rigors of graduate level writing and research. We encourage you to review the information below designed to help you make a smooth transition.
Writing Resources
- Dr. Brien Benson's Guidelines for Effective Writing.
- PUBP 709, Professional Writing for Policy, is a 3-credit course focusing on effective writing for the professions. The course includes the fundamentals of writing (grammar, word usage and paragraphing) and instruction in writing selected genres, including news stories, editorials, and research writing.
- SPP offers an optional one-day writing workshop each semester. This workshop provides proven strategies to improve academic and professional writing. The announcement for the course will appear on the student listserv. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up early.
- The Writing Center offers helpful information on everything from grammar to drafting an effective argument, all of which can be found on the resources link of their website.
- The Writing Center also provides free individual tutoring to SPP students on the Arlington campus, in addition to the Online Writing Lab (OWL), an email-based tutoring service. Look here for information about the services offered.
- For international students needing language assistance, free tutoring is available through the English Language Institute (ELI). Information about the ELI assessment for incoming international students can be found under topic 10.
Avoiding Plagiarism
The Honor Code and SPP Policy on Plagiarism
The profession of scholarship and the intellectual life of a university, as well as the field of public policy inquiry, depend fundamentally on a foundation of trust. Thus, any act of plagiarism strikes at the heart of the meaning of the University and the purpose of the School of Public Policy. It constitutes a serious breach of professional ethics and it is unacceptable.
Plagiarism is the use of another's words or ideas presented as one's own. It includes, among other things, the use of specific words, ideas, or frameworks that are the product of another's work. Honesty and thoroughness in citing sources is essential to professional accountability and personal responsibility. Appropriate citation is necessary so that arguments, evidence, and claims can be critically examined.
Plagiarism is wrong because of the injustice it does to the person whose ideas are stolen. But it is also wrong because it constitutes lying to one's professional colleagues. From a prudential perspective, it is shortsighted and self-defeating, and it can ruin a professional career.
The faculty of the School of Public Policy takes plagiarism seriously and has adopted a zero tolerance policy. Any plagiarized assignment will receive an automatic grade of “F.” This may lead to failure for the course, resulting in termination from the program and possible dismissal from the University. This dismissal will be noted on the student's transcript. For foreign students who are on a university-sponsored visa (e.g., F-1, J-1, J-2), dismissal also results in the revocation of their visa.
To help enforce the SPP policy on plagiarism, all written work submitted in partial fulfillment of course or degree requirements must be available in electronic form so that it can be compared with electronic databases, as well as submitted to commercial services to which the School subscribes. Faculty may at any time submit a student's work without prior permission from the student. Individual instructors may require that written work be submitted in electronic as well as printed form. The SPP policy on plagiarism is supplementary to the George Mason University Honor Code; it is not intended to replace it or substitute for it.
Please be sure to review the Mason Honor Code in its entirety as well.
Proper Citations and Responsible Research
The St. Martin's Tutorial on Avoiding Plagiarism will prompt you to create an account, but this is free and worth the time.
The Washington State University's Plagiarism site includes a section explaining cultural differences regarding what counts as plagiarism.
Library Tools and Tutorials
- The Get Help page on the GMU Libraries website is the perfect place to start if you're not sure where to go.
- GMU Libraries offers numerous online tutorials covering a range of topics. You can learn how to start your research, search a library database, and use the interlibrary loan services by visiting the library tutorials page.
- The Arlington Campus Library offers workshops for students on such topics as bibliographic management software and advanced research tools. Students are eligible to register for the workshops as soon as they have an active Mason email account.
Continue to Topic 6: Quantitative Skills
Return to PhD 101 Menu