How to avoid plagiarism within group work

[tachik]

We have to write a pair paper and my group member is the type that leaves everything to the last minute (we recently finished another project). I do not have time to edit her work, and even if I do edit it, I am afraid to make it worse (I do not have time to read her sources since I have too much things on my plate).

[fuzzylogician]

I am not sure how the question in the title relates to the content of the post. Are you saying you suspect that she might be plagiarizing and you want to "fix" it for her? If you are each writing your own section of the assignment, the easiest way to avoid being suspected of foul play is to add a note to the assignment specifying who wrote which part. It doesn't sound like you have a particularly functioning group, though. You should really be talking to one another throughout and you should leave enough time for you both to read the entire assignment and agree on the content. 

[tachik]

Thanks so much! Unfortunately yes I'm afraid she will plagiarize. She even asks for my help on another assignment....

[fuzzylogician]

I don't think asking for help with an assignment amounts to anything like plagiarism. But in any case, you are not obligated to help her if you don't want to. 

[TakeruK]

I just want to second fuzzy's suggestion that if you are concerned that your partner will plagiarize then when you submit your assignment, or that if you felt the distribution of work in the joint assignment was uneven, then when you hand in your work, you should write your professor that specifies exactly which portions are yours and which are not. Do this before any accusations of plagiarism happen. 

It's your judgement whether or not you think you have seen your partner do something that would be plagiarism and if you suspect it, then you should follow the procedure for your course/department/school to report it. Also, if you do not think this collaboration is fair for you, you should try to find a different partner next time (or if you are assigned partners, ask your professor for a reassignment).

[mbennett]

I just want to second fuzzy's suggestion that if you are concerned that your partner will plagiarize then when you submit your assignment, or that if you felt the distribution of work in the joint assignment was uneven, then when you hand in your work, you should write your professor that specifies exactly which portions are yours and which are not. Do this before any accusations of plagiarism happen. 

It's your judgement whether or not you think you have seen your partner do something that would be plagiarism and if you suspect it, then you should follow the procedure for your course/department/school to report it. Also, if you do not think this collaboration is fair for you, you should try to find a different partner next time (or if you are assigned partners, ask your professor for a reassignment).

Yes, I definitely agree. If you let your professor know what's going on with the situation, he/she should judge fairly. I've been in situations in the past where group members weren't doing their share of the work or they didn't put much effort into it, and my professors were always good about judging/grading all of the group members accordingly. You shouldn't get in trouble if someone else is plagiarizing.