Plagiarism
[Faculty Handbook Category #2]
Plagiarism, or the act of plagiarizing, occurs whenever a person, orally or in
writing, attempts to pass off as his/her own the words
and ideas of others. Since plagiarism is
more readily discovered and proven when the appropriated ideas have been
previously written down, the offense of plagiarism most frequently pertains to
the wrongful use of another person's writings.
In college, plagiarism most often occurs in student projects (written or oral)
that require independent work. Though
plagiarism could also occur in an essay examination, it is usually not thought
of in this context. The pressure of time
during an in-class examination makes adequate acknowledgment of sources
difficult; moreover, frequently the purpose of the examination is to check on
what a student has absorbed of lectures and readings rather than to provide an
opportunity for the student to argue a personally endorsed thesis.
The real problem of plagiarism centers on those projects prepared by a student
outside the classroom and meant to be presented as representative of the
student's own thinking.
Unless there is some indication to the contrary, the reader assumes that a
written work (or an oral presentation) bearing a person's name as author represents
that person's own words and ideas, hence, there is a tacit warranty that the
ideas and phraseology in student papers are his/her own, except insofar as
he/she acknowledges them to be the work of another. Moreover, in the world outside the classroom
there is a recognition that words and ideas formally
recorded are the property of their author and that they cannot be appropriated
without acknowledgment. But even apart
from the necessity to protect property rights, writers have an intellectual responsibility not to mislead readers by presenting as their
own the words and ideas of others.
Plagiarism is repugnant to the academic environment for two reasons: First, it is a practice fundamentally in
opposition to the process of educating one's mind by personal exploration of
material and by the effort necessary to shape that material to one's own ends;
second, it is immoral behavior in that it deceives or misleads the hearer or
reader in regard to the true authorship.
The plagiarism that occurs in student work may be described as
willful (a conscious intent to fool or cheat the reader) or inadvertent (a
failure to understand the responsibility for acknowledgment or the means by
which acknowledgment should be made).
Three categories of borrowed words and ideas need to be acknowledged:
(i) Direct
quotation from the work of others
(ii) Paraphrase
of the work of others
(iii)
Certain other uses of information which are neither
quoted nor paraphrased.
The third category clearly presents more difficulties than the first two
because it requires discretionary choice.
How much of an idea must be borrowed before acknowledgment is due? Though the decision is not always easy,
neither is it beyond the average intellectual and moral capacity. If there are no specific sources that can be
recalled, and if the information is generally known, then it may be used
without acknowledgment. If the writer is
aware of the source, then, depending on the use he/she makes of this material
and whether it is in fact particular to its source and not generally known
information, he/she may be obliged to provide acknowledgment. He/she should ask him/herself in full honesty
the following question: How much do I
really owe the other writer? Finally,
the submitting of the same paper for credit in more than one class can relate
to the question of “original work” and academic ethics. Unless there is full knowledge and approval
of the instructors of both courses, such a practice is considered unethical and
will be treated in the same manner as plagiarism.
Penalties for Plagiarism
The problem of plagiarism is considered under two separate categories:
1.
Plagiarism that involves the presentation of a
paper or report as one's own when in fact the major portion is the
work of others; and
2.
Plagiarism that involves inadequate crediting of
various sources.
The
teacher involved shall judge under which category the offense is to
be considered. The teacher shall
also be the judge of guilt in both categories.
1.
Plagiarism involving the presentation of a paper or
report as one's own when in fact the major portion is the work of others.
This offense is considered to be more serious than that
defined under (2), as it appears to indicate a clearer intent to deceive. The normal and usual punishment for this type
of offense: the offender shall receive a
failing grade in the course for which the paper or report was presented. This is understood to be a punitive grade and
shall be reported by the teacher to the Dean of the College. A student who is assessed a penalty of
failure in the course is not permitted to drop the course in question.
2.
Plagiarism that involves inadequate crediting of
sources.
Part of
the problem in these cases lies in the unfamiliarity of many students of what
is expected of them in writing papers and reports. At the time when such work is assigned, the
teacher shall make clear to the students that all borrowing from other sources
(from printed materials, typescripts, manuscripts, lectures, etc.)
must be acknowledged in footnotes. This
is to be done not only in the case of direct quotations, but also in the
case of paraphrased reporting of material from such sources. Thinly disguised borrowings of this
type, when not credited, shall be considered an offense. If
such uncredited borrowings are judged by the
teacher to be extensive enough, the teacher shall impose a penalty no more
severe than giving a failing grade for that paper or report (with no
opportunity to make up the assignment).