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I accidentally plagiarised a student paper (2%) and I am terrified (pls read context)

Basically I have an assignment (computer science) that asked for some examples of some syntax/how I would implement an idea using a syntax example. For those that do not know what I mean, this is something in programming that is used to do things like declare objects, kind of like the start of an instruction. Each programming language has its own syntax and syntax rules.
I was trying to do syntax for REST architecture. My lecturer had given an example from a previous student essay. I spent hours searching for the syntax for this particular answer but could not find it aside from in this student essay and assumed that, like other programming languages, that the example he gave was generalised, used everytime anyone wanted to do the specific operation.
I submitted the paper, but now I have a plagurism warning. I am so scared, it seems I was wrong and I have directly copied a student's work that does not apply to my work. I spend almost four sleepless nights trying to perfect this whole project so im freaking out man
Could i email the lecturer and say I forgot to citate it? I edited it slightly so the urls in the example were mine rather than the previous student's, but upon reviewing I also noticed I forgot to change one so i think im screwed. What will happen??? Honestly in so freaking done, if i get done after all this i might as well stop everything i tried so hard
sorry if you dont understand what i mean, ill try and explain more if people ask. also sorry if i have posted this in the wrong area I cant figure out how this website works rn im seeing double because I havent really slept much lol
Original post
by not-freaking-out
Basically I have an assignment (computer science) that asked for some examples of some syntax/how I would implement an idea using a syntax example. For those that do not know what I mean, this is something in programming that is used to do things like declare objects, kind of like the start of an instruction. Each programming language has its own syntax and syntax rules.
I was trying to do syntax for REST architecture. My lecturer had given an example from a previous student essay. I spent hours searching for the syntax for this particular answer but could not find it aside from in this student essay and assumed that, like other programming languages, that the example he gave was generalised, used everytime anyone wanted to do the specific operation.
I submitted the paper, but now I have a plagurism warning. I am so scared, it seems I was wrong and I have directly copied a student's work that does not apply to my work. I spend almost four sleepless nights trying to perfect this whole project so im freaking out man
Could i email the lecturer and say I forgot to citate it? I edited it slightly so the urls in the example were mine rather than the previous student's, but upon reviewing I also noticed I forgot to change one so i think im screwed. What will happen??? Honestly in so freaking done, if i get done after all this i might as well stop everything i tried so hard
sorry if you dont understand what i mean, ill try and explain more if people ask. also sorry if i have posted this in the wrong area I cant figure out how this website works rn im seeing double because I havent really slept much lol

Who has given you the plagiarism warning?
Original post
by not-freaking-out
Basically I have an assignment (computer science) that asked for some examples of some syntax/how I would implement an idea using a syntax example. For those that do not know what I mean, this is something in programming that is used to do things like declare objects, kind of like the start of an instruction. Each programming language has its own syntax and syntax rules.
I was trying to do syntax for REST architecture. My lecturer had given an example from a previous student essay. I spent hours searching for the syntax for this particular answer but could not find it aside from in this student essay and assumed that, like other programming languages, that the example he gave was generalised, used everytime anyone wanted to do the specific operation.
I submitted the paper, but now I have a plagurism warning. I am so scared, it seems I was wrong and I have directly copied a student's work that does not apply to my work. I spend almost four sleepless nights trying to perfect this whole project so im freaking out man
Could i email the lecturer and say I forgot to citate it? I edited it slightly so the urls in the example were mine rather than the previous student's, but upon reviewing I also noticed I forgot to change one so i think im screwed. What will happen??? Honestly in so freaking done, if i get done after all this i might as well stop everything i tried so hard
sorry if you dont understand what i mean, ill try and explain more if people ask. also sorry if i have posted this in the wrong area I cant figure out how this website works rn im seeing double because I havent really slept much lol

Hey,

Accidental plagiarism is more common than you might think, especially in a field like Computer Science, where some examples can feel universal. What’s important now is how you approach resolving the issue.

It’s a good idea to email your lecturer as soon as possible to explain the situation honestly and calmly. Mention that you misunderstood the example provided, thinking it was a general standard for REST architecture, and that this was an unintentional mistake. Make it clear that you had no intention to plagiarise, and highlight the effort you put into the project overall. Apologise for not properly citing the example and ask if there’s anything you can do to remedy the situation, like resubmitting the assignment with proper citations.

At the University of Salford, if a similar situation arises, we encourage students to contact their lecturer or module leader directly and to work with academic support services to navigate such issues. Your university will likely have a process in place for handling accidental plagiarism, and being proactive and transparent will work in your favour.

Also, don’t panic too much about the small percentage (2%) flagged. Many universities have a threshold for plagiarism reports, and 2% might not even trigger severe consequences. However, it's still important to address the issue before it escalates, especially since this is your first encounter with such a situation.

Moving forward, this is a valuable learning opportunity. Familiarise yourself with your university’s plagiarism policy and best practices for citing sources, even in technical subjects like Computer Science. When using code from any source, include a comment in your code or an acknowledgment in your report to make it clear where it came from. Tools like Turnitin or Grammarly can help you catch potential issues before submission.

Finally, take some time to rest. Exhaustion makes everything feel worse, and a fresh perspective will help you manage this situation more effectively. Mistakes happen, and what matters is how you respond. You’ve worked hard, and addressing this responsibly will show your dedication and integrity.

Best of luck!
Arslan University of Salford Student Representative

Reply 3

I honestly wouldn’t worry. 2% is so small. At my uni it was only if it was a significant chunk (like 25%) had been copied because most things you submit will likely have familiarity to things already published/ submitted and this is what gets flagged. If they ask you about it you can explain yourself, or you can email your lecturer if you would feel better about it. They likely won’t do anything serious if they do bring it up to you though if this is the first time this has happened. You would likely get a warning.

Reply 4

Original post
by tashkara
I honestly wouldn’t worry. 2% is so small. At my uni it was only if it was a significant chunk (like 25%) had been copied because most things you submit will likely have familiarity to things already published/ submitted and this is what gets flagged. If they ask you about it you can explain yourself, or you can email your lecturer if you would feel better about it. They likely won’t do anything serious if they do bring it up to you though if this is the first time this has happened. You would likely get a warning.

This isn't accidental plagiarism though OP directly lifted it from the paper provided by the lecturer

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