Web sites like offers links to thousands of databases and Web sites that aren't indexed by a regular search engines (Harris 172).

Another resource to search is the Invisible Web.

You can specify the formats you would like to search, the language, and you can construct far more specific searches.

In addition try using Google's Advanced Search feature.

Because no search engine can index the entire Web, it is advisable to use more than one search engine. Try typing in an unusual phrase or sentence from a suspect paper into a search engine like Google or Lycos.

The same searching techniques that students use for locating papers on the Internet can also be used to retrieve plagiarized papers.

Most professors can gauge what level their students are at.

As a general rule, follow your instincts.

There are links or URLs at the top or bottom of the paper or greyed out letters or areas.

For example, it may be long, the style guide used for the bibliography is different from the one used in class, the citations are all from older sources, or few or none of the materials referenced can be accessed in the library.

The topic of the paper isn't consistent with the assignment, class lectures, or class handouts.

There are imbedded links, page breaks, or incorrect page numbers in the paper.

The title page, font, references, format, or layout of the paper is inconsistent.For example, the introduction or conclusion may be poorly written compared to the body of the paper. The quality of writing is inconsistent.

The student's paper contains complex or specialized vocabulary, jargon, technical terms, or other words and expressions beyond what would be expected from a student at that level.

A student's paper exceeds his or her research or writing capabilities, sounds professional or journalistic, or is too scholarly.

Indicators of possible plagiarism include:

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