During the semester, they become familiar with the student's weaknesses and writing style through in-class assignments and shorter papers. Some professors aware of the growing problem are changing their class assignments. Some require more drafts of papers and make students turn in copies of research materials. Some do not let students choose their topics anymore. Each student instead writes on the same narrow topic.
Some professors are de-emphasizing research paper grades in the overall course grades.
Kelly Wray began making those changes, as well as giving a minilecture each semester about the evils of plagiarism. Some professors do not often use the Internet, she said, which causes students to think they can slip someone else's work by them. But the students aren't.