Dealing with plagiarism

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 16

That's what I'm going to do. A few semesters ago I had three students who were copying each others' exams. It was really uncomfortable, and I couldn't "bust" them for sure until the Final. I just gave them all Ds.

6 people like this

Nancy Zink

@ramapo17 (30441)

• Melbourne, Florida

20 Mar 16

@TheHorse I bet they were surprised.

1 person likes this

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

16 Mar 16

I recall a conversation with a friend of mine about his daughter's school projects. It seems that she was amassing data on a subject online and using it as part of the submission. My initial assumption was that the data would be used to acquire information only, but apparently the idea was to simply copy and paste large portions directing into the report. I was also led to believe that this approach was known and accepted, which in my opinion makes a total mockery of schooling.

5 people like this

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

16 Mar 16

@TheHorse The very concept of a personal computer would have qualified as science fiction when I was at school.

4 people like this

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

16 Mar 16

@TheHorse I sat my GCEs 15 years before DOS existed, so it was a totally different planet in those days. Even pocket calculators were unknown then, although they would not have been permitted in exams even if they had existed.

4 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 16

@Asylum I wrote my earliest papers on a Smith Corona. I'm sure my parents thought it weird that we "kids" got to type on "electric" typewriters.

4 people like this

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

16 Mar 16

I still encounter them regularly plagiarising things in my work moderating Wikinut submissions. I don't know how people think they can get away with it. The work they copied is clearly not theirs. The annoying thing about it is that you can take an idea from a site like Wikipedia and turn it into your own words quite simply.

5 people like this

Patsie Hatley

@Hatley (163781)

• Garden Grove, California

19 Mar 16

@pgiblett back when I was in college a long time back if you paper was plagiarilzed y o u were kicked out ofcollege. we were taught the basics on showin g where we got thje guotes but otherwse you must have read it digested it and comeup with your pwm words not steal from, otthers so easy whyh do it.

3 people like this

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

17 Mar 16

@TheHorse To take an idea and turn it into your own words is so simple I don't know why people would plagairise. The citation rules are also well defined.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 16

It's not that hard. But you do have to process the information at least a little bit.

4 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (325105)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 Mar 16

Everyone deserves a chance to get stuff right I think. Hopefully he'll learn a lesson which will stand him in good stead throughout his academic career. Did he think you wouldn't pick up the plagiarism?

4 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

17 Mar 16

I always wonder how they think they won't be "caught."

4 people like this

Anh Phan

@anh101 (1379)

•

17 Mar 16

teachers in the US are great! Vietnamese students are not taught what is plagiarism. I did choose not to do the paper the last year in college just because everyone does copy it from online and teachers never say anything. lolz.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

3 Apr 16

@anh101 It's just a part of educational tradition there? But does one learn anything by writing cut and paste papers?

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Mar 16

Do you know why the teachers in Vietnam don't seem to care about plagiarism?

Anh Phan

@anh101 (1379)

•

3 Apr 16

@TheHorse i do know, of course, because they seems doesn't care much about it. It's kind of something that roots

1 person likes this

John Roberts

@JohnRoberts (109857)

• Los Angeles, California

16 Mar 16

Forcing him to make a suitable rewrite was the way to go. Needs to taught "in your own words." But there should be a warning that next time, no second chance and public humiliation in front of his peers as opposed as a "cheater."

3 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 16

I'd never humiliate anyone in front of his or her peers. He has since emailed and apologized. I told him I'd help him understand proper citation further if he needs it.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 16

@JohnRoberts I hope he comes through. I'm kind, but I have a decent BS detector.

3 people like this

John Roberts

@JohnRoberts (109857)

• Los Angeles, California

16 Mar 16

@TheHorse Sometimes humiliation is effective but it's your classroom and if he has learned his lesson, case closed.

3 people like this

Michelle

@infatuatedbby (95001)

• United States

18 Mar 16

You are very nice to allow your student a second chance. Not many teachers will

1 person likes this

Michelle

@infatuatedbby (95001)

• United States

19 Mar 16

@TheHorse what grade do you teach??

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Mar 16

I should check with my colleagues and see what they say. I think many will give ONE chance.

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Mar 16

@infatuatedbby I teach at a community college, so it's first and second year college students. In my other jobs, I work with younger kids (and their parents).

1 person likes this

YoghurtGal

@flapiz (22402)

• United Kingdom

21 Mar 16

I think you did the right thing by giving that student a chance. Frankly speaking when I first moved here in Australia I got a shock when I was called in because I plagiarised an assessment. Now I didn't copy word for word. In fact my work was in my own words. I later found out that I need to reference every 2 sentences. Back I the Philippines if it's from the same source we just reference at the end of each paragraph so that's my first and last case of plagiarism and it was strictly out ignorance and unintentional. I'm glad I was given the benefit of the doubt.

1 person likes this

YoghurtGal

@flapiz (22402)

• United Kingdom

26 Mar 16

@TheHorse Yep I used to work in research back in the Philippines so I was pretty confident with my referencing skill. But I was horrified to find out that I lack the skills when I got here in Oz. Do you follow the APA style as well?

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

26 Mar 16

@flapiz Yes, I use and teach APA style. Why/how is Australia different?

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Mar 16

Interesting that there may be slightly different rules for citation in different places.

1 person likes this

Silvermist

@silvermist (19702)

• India

16 Mar 16

@TheHorse No,you are absolutely right.Your giving him one chance is also as it should be.If he is a good student, he will learn from this experience.

2 people like this

Silvermist

@silvermist (19702)

• India

17 Mar 16

@TheHorse Your action is so commendable,especially in a teacher.

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 16

It's my approach to most things, including working with younger kids. I prefer a gentle "redirect" to a door in the face.

1 person likes this

Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

18 Mar 16

the only way I ever used wiki? As a overview to give me a rough idea of the topic, and then maybe some sources I could track down and use

1 person likes this

Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

24 Mar 16

@TheHorse I was told to never use it as a resource, but a place to find sources or at least figure out some very basic details

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Mar 16

@Jessicalynnt I use it often to get a broad overview of a subject. But I'm not writing papers for classes right now.

1 person likes this

Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

25 Mar 16

@TheHorse It was often my first stop when writing a paper, like preresearch!

pgn

@pgntwo (22412)

• Derry, Northern Ireland

16 Mar 16

Everyone's entitled to one mistake in that regard - your way is good, provided the student realizes the gravity of their mistake...!

2 people like this

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69416)

• Germany

17 Mar 16

@TheHorse We can't kick out a student for plagiarising. We can only give a low mark or a 'not passed'.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 16

I did let him know that people can "get kicked out of class" for plagiarism. We shall see.

2 people like this

pgn

@pgntwo (22412)

• Derry, Northern Ireland

17 Mar 16

@MALUSE Which is surely enough of a threat, I'd've thought.

1 person likes this

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

17 Mar 16

Giving them the one-time chance is a good idea @TheHorse . It allows them to correct the mistake and also lets them know you can't be fooled. Not to be nosey, but is that a picture of you?

2 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

18 Mar 16

Even if they were trying to BS me, I want to give them one chance to change. Yes, that's me.

2 people like this

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

18 Mar 16

@TheHorse I have to say, "You are really one very good-looking dude." Seriously, you are extremely handsome. I hope you're not offending by my stating so.

1 person likes this

ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12074)

• United States

17 Mar 16

It all depends upon the circumstances. If he is very young, like ninth grade, then fine give him another chance (once). But if he is older, then this was not an "accident", it was intentional. Then nail him. I gave students an "F" when they copied work out of another source.

1 person likes this

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69416)

• Germany

17 Mar 16

I'm also for being strict in this matter. Older students know precisely what they're doing.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Mar 16

I'd imagine he's 18. I doubt he'll make it through the class.

1 person likes this

ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12074)

• United States

17 Mar 16

@MALUSE They certainly do. I used to start each new school year with a week of non-curricular instruction. I explained first that I knew that they learned the rules in Kindergarten. They did not change in the first grade, or second, or ever. I knew that they were smart, so I would not insult them by thinking that they did not know the rules. They would get no second chances. My rules were simple: 1. Be polite 2. Be polite 3. Be polite. It took about three weeks for them to really get it, but they did, and I had almost no disciplinary problems at all.

minisam

@miniam (9154)

• Bern, Switzerland

16 Mar 16

l feel you did right,you just cant punish students in the first mistake, by letting him you know he had plagiarized will make him think twice in the future before trying it again

2 people like this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Mar 16

That's my hope. If he turns out to be one for whom cheating is a "way of life," at least I tried.

Always smiling

@allknowing (130067)

• India

18 Mar 16

I would not give a second chance because the student knew what he was doing was wrong and perhaps thought it would skip your attention.

1 person likes this

Always smiling

@allknowing (130067)

• India

20 Mar 16

@TheHorse You know best the circumstances under which you gave him a second chance.

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Mar 16

If that was the case, and he can't handle really writing a paper, he will fade away and stop coming to class.

1 person likes this

Nancy Zink

@ramapo17 (30441)

• Melbourne, Florida

20 Mar 16

I think you are a good teacher to give the student another chance. Maybe he did not know what plagiarizing is. Hopefully that is the case. I wish I had teachers like you when I was in school.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Mar 16

I suspect he actually knew, but I still want to give him a chance to seee that he can succeed without resorting to that kind of thing.

1 person likes this

Nancy Zink

@ramapo17 (30441)

• Melbourne, Florida

25 Mar 16

@TheHorse Like I said previously, you are a good teacher and I hope your students appreciate you.

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (305173)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

18 Mar 16

I think you were fair. It will be interesting to see if he does what you asked without an attitude about it.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Mar 16

He did NOT have an attitude about. He has since emailed me a paper that is in his own words. The writing is TERRIBLE, but I will reward him for trying, and make as many corrections as I can. He has to know that I care. Then perhaps he will care more.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (305173)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

29 Mar 16

@TheHorse Excellent! I'm glad he didn't have an attitude about it. I hope he takes the corrections good as well and will try harder in the future.

Angel_15

@Angel_15 (670)

• Manila, Philippines

21 Mar 16

I think you did the right thing. Maybe the student just doesn't understand how to do things properly. But if it happens again then I think that would be the time for a more drastic action.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Mar 16

Agreed. Of course, I worry that he may be one who tries it in every class. I checked his first exam score. It was not good.

1 person likes this

Angel_15

@Angel_15 (670)

• Manila, Philippines

21 Mar 16

@TheHorse Oh no, that is a bad sign.

Vivian Sudhir

@gofsey (1912)

• Madurai, India

27 Mar 16

Yes you certainly did right by letting them have another chance. The young ones never seem to understand the seriousness of being right. But I think with teachers like you, they will not have to learn the hard way.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Mar 16

I hope so. I take the greatest pride in helping students who weren't really students before they came into my class.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (205010)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Mar 16

@gofsey Thanks. My hope is that he comes to see both psychology and being a student in a new way.

1 person likes this

Vivian Sudhir

@gofsey (1912)

• Madurai, India

29 Mar 16

@TheHorse Thing is, as we grow older, we have answers to many questions. But when we are young, we do not know that such questions exist. When a student begins to think of the sun's rays as being deflected by the atmosphere, he begins to think of the 'sky' in a new light. Am I sounding pompous? Sorry! But your kind nature reminded me of the sky.

1 person likes this

Joshua Cintron

@Cintronwriter (564)

• United States

24 Mar 16

If you state zero-tolerance for plagiarism in the course syllabus and you still give the student a chance to resubmit their assignment, I think that's fair.

1 person likes this