First-Year Experience (Destination Kent) Plagiarism Workshop Rob Kairis Library Director Kent State Stark

Definition … “To take and present as one's own a material portion of the ideas or words of another or to present as one's own an idea or work derived from an existing source without full and proper credit to the source of the ideas, words, or works.” Kent State’s policy on Cheating and Plagiarism:

In Context … Not just college students … Barack Obama vs. Hillary Clinton Barack Obama vs. Hillary Clinton 1 (Meet the Press, February 24, 2008) “Silly Season” Senator Quits Montana Race After Charge of Plagiarism (New York Times, Aug 7, 2014) “His withdrawal from the race comes about two weeks after The New York Times reported that in 2007 Mr. [John] Walsh plagiarized large sections of the final paper he completed to earn his master’s degree at the prestigious Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.” 2 Depends on how the information is delivered … Speech Newspaper Term Paper 1. Russert, T. (2008). Sound Familiar? / Video,News Report Feb 24, 2008 [electronic resource] / Tim Russert. New York : NBCUniversal Media, LLC., Martin, J. (2014). Senator Quits Montana Race After Charge of Plagiarism. The New York Times. p. A12

If You’re Accused … 1.Your instructor informs you verbally or in writing that he/she suspects you of plagiarizing 2.Your instructor provides you with an opportunity to explain orally or in writing why you believe you did not plagiarize 3.If your instructor still believes you plagiarized he/she may impose sanctions: Refuse the work submitted for credit Student gets an F or zero on the assignment Student fails the class Request that stiffer sanctions be applied “Plagiarism School”

Plagiarism School … Modeled after Traffic School … Instructor agrees to mitigate sanction if student completes plagiarism school: review “plagiarized” assignment university policy case studies homework (“spot the plagiarism”)

If You’re Sanctioned … The Instructor must report the act of plagiarism and the sanction applied to the Office of Student Conduct The Office of Student Conduct will inform you that you have the right to appeal the sanction by writing to that Office within 15 days of getting their notification of the sanction If you have been successfully sanctioned previously or the instructor or dean request disciplinary sanctions, you must appeal before the Academic Hearing Panel

Appeals … If you appeal … A hearing will be scheduled with the Academic Hearing Panel where the instructor must prove you plagiarized You and the instructor can call witnesses and cross exam each other (neither side can be represented by legal counsel) The AHP makes a decision in the matter and provides it to you in writing within 7 calendar days of the hearing

Avoiding Plagiarism … Always do your own work Be organized (failure to properly attribute someone’s work by mistake is still plagiarism) When using facts or figures always cite a source (only widely known or accepted facts can be presented without citation—there is no need to cite a source for suggesting that the world is round, for example) It is okay to seek help or advice, but thoughts, ideas, words, phrases, interpretations etc., should be your own or the source of origin should be properly cited “Double-dipping” (using a substantial portion of a piece of work for two or more classes without notifying the instructor) is a form of cheating similar to plagiarism If in doubt, ask for help from your instructor (the Library or the Writing Center)

Case Studies … 1.George Bono's paper on AIDSGeorge Bono's paper on AIDS 2.Rosie Pinetar's essay on The NaturalRosie Pinetar's essay on The Natural 3.Stuart Lavaman's term paper in GeologyStuart Lavaman's term paper in Geology 4.Gilbert Trout's book report on Slaughterhouse-FiveGilbert Trout's book report on Slaughterhouse-Five 5.Lonnie Shakespeare trades papers for a Psychology classLonnie Shakespeare trades papers for a Psychology class 6.Jill St. Blonde writes two papers on the same topicJill St. Blonde writes two papers on the same topic

Honor Pledge … 1.Signing the pledge is completely voluntary. Students are under no obligation to sign it and will not be penalized in any manner for not signing it. 2.The pledge is not a contract. It serves as a symbolic gesture or statement by each student signing that he or she will not commit an act of academic dishonesty. 3.Although added to the student's official university records, it does not indicate any different treatment. Whether or not a student signs the pledge will have no effect on how a student is treated if accused of an act of academic dishonesty. 4.The pledge is an initiative originating from Student Advisory Council of the College of Arts & Sciences.

First-Year Experience (Destination Kent) Plagiarism Workshop Rob Kairis Library Director Kent State Stark