Academic Honesty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NfuniN0Sdg

Understanding the Behaviour

cheating scamming ripping off taking the easy way out copying stealing ACADEMIC DISHONESTY scamming ripping off copying taking the easy way out stealing breaking the rules plagiarising No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

What is plagiarism? According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to “plagiarize” means: To steal and pass off [the ideas or words of another] as one’s own To use [another’s production] without crediting the source To commit literary theft To present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source http://www.plagiarism.org/research_site/e_what_is_plagiarism.html

Did you know that… Research shows that cheaters : tend to be the better students, since they were often under the most academic pressure to succeed

How Often Does it Occur? 80% of high achievers have admitted to having plagiarized at least once Half said … “I don’t think it is wrong.” 95% said… “I have never been caught” 3 in 4 students admitted to plagiarizing on at least some parts of term papers “Recent studies indicate that approximately 30 percent of all students may be plagiarizing on every written assignment they complete.” - Turnitin.com

What do you think academic honesty includes? Let's discuss it... What do you think academic honesty includes? Downloading a text and handing it in Getting a friend’s old assignment and handing it in Handing in an assignment that you already did for another class Giving somebody an assignment to copy Copying from one of your peers on a test, quiz or exam Getting your parents, family or friends to write some of your work for you ?

What do you think academic honesty includes? Let's discuss it... What do you think academic honesty includes? Copying a friend’s homework Working on an assignment with others when it was assigned as individual work Copying one sentence from an internet site with out citation Using another person’s ideas as your own Changing the words around to make it yours, but not citing the source of the information ?

Academic Dishonesty Includes… Copying and pasting from an electronic encyclopedia, online database, or the Internet Buying a paper from the Internet or another source Finding an essay in a foreign language and then using a program to translate it Quoting directly from a source without citation Paraphrasing but not citing the source Using an essay from another course/source Copying a friend’s homework or project Using another person’s ideas as your own Source: Ontario School Library Association Grade 12 Supports

Who Cares? Teachers Parents Students Employers

You Are Here to LEARN Course curriculum.… “If you use other people’s work you aren’t learning the material.” Good work habits… “Don’t leave things to the last minute and you won’t need to panic and plagiarize.” How to properly cite work…“Give CREDIT where CREDIT is DUE!”

You Are Here to LEARN Honest and integrity…“Feel proud about your accomplishments rather than guilty about your dishonesty” Fairness: “How is your cheating fair to your peers who are also trying to succeed?” It makes our job harder … “I hate having to look for copied work instead of marking. Legality…”In the workplace, people could get fired or sued for plagiarism.”

Why Students Are Tempted To Do It: Stress and competition to do well in school (parents, getting into university/college) “ I am stressed out.” It is worth the risk: “The odds are with me… I may get away with it.” The teacher won’t notice and/or care Some students feel their writing skills are inadequate “Everyone else is doing it.” “I didn’t know it was cheating/plagiarizing.”

Why Students Are Tempted To Do It: Lack of perceived punishment. “Even if I get caught nothing will happen.” Some students think that copying or buying material from the Web is a form of “research” Poor time management skills. “I have too many things due.” “I’m working too many shifts.” “I didn’t understand the material.” “I just wanted to help my friend”

Why Students Come To Their Senses: Right vs. wrong  “It is wrong.” It isn’t worth the risk: “If I get caught, I’ll be in a lot of trouble!” Fear of disappointing parents, teachers, friends…themselves Integrity … honesty Fear of punishment Pride in work

Preventing Academic Dishonesty

Give credit where credit is due! Acknowledge your sources of ideas and information when you write a research paper, create a poster, post a web site or do a presentation 4 p’s – papers, posters, postings, presentation Source: Ontario School Library Association Grade 12 Supports

Use information in a legal and ethical way Don’t look for ‘short cuts’ Give yourself time to plan your work Be confident in the value of your own ideas Use your own voice in your writing Develop strong research and literacy skills Ask for assistance from your teacher Don’t look for “short cuts”. Learning is a process with many important steps along the way – Hey, you need the practice! The journey is one you’ll take many times throughout your life Worth the effort – the grade belongs to you and you alone Give yourself time Don’t leave it to the night before when you may be tempted to plagiarize Be confident in the value of your own ideas The assignment was given to you with the purpose of having you demonstrate your learning-not someone else’s! Be yourself in your writing The teacher does not expect your writing to be that of a professor, or wordsmith. Your unacknowledged use of an author’s distinctive word or “unique phrase” often is the red flag to teachers. Remember that the only the expression of information is protected by copyright. So putting ideas or information that you have researched into your own words is not an infringement of the copyright, as long as you cite it. Developing your own personal style of writing is only done with practice. Develop strong research and literacy skills Learn a research process Learn how to cite sources Ask for assistance Teachers are there to help throughout the process. They have been there before! Source: Ontario School Library Association Grade 12 Supports

Use school as an opportunity to fine-tune your research and writing skills: Asking key questions Note-taking Organizing Paraphrasing Revising and editing Citing sources Review the school’s research model (or use the 4 major stages of OSLA’s Information Studies’ Inquiry and Research model Source: Ontario School Library Association Grade 12 Supports

Resources to Support Preventing Academic Dishonesty Teachers and teacher-librarians School research and essay writing guides Student Research Guides Your school’s research guides in the library Books Large variety of books on writing essays, reports, etc. Class Website and Student Agendas The Internet OWL at Purdue University: Avoiding Plagiarism owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/REsearchW/plag.html Help is there for the asking Add examples from your own school situation – especially existing school research and essay writing guides Use the Internet for the purpose of learning how to research and how to acknowledge sources Source: Ontario School Library Association Grade 12 Supports

Be Careful with Peer Editing Friends? There is a difference between editing and revision If you get others to look over your work, they should only point out areas for improvement – if they revise your work for you, then it isn’t your own work Parents? Teachers?

Responding to Academic Dishonesty

Chances are…you’ll get caught! Teachers know you and your writing style Teachers have great memories Teachers are content experts and read widely Teachers, teacher-librarians and administrators work as a team to trace questionable information High-tech programs are available to detect plagiarism see http://www.turnitin.com/static/home.html Source: Ontario School Library Association Grade 12 Supports

What are the consequences? If I cheat could I still get a zero? You could. Teachers need to collect evidence of your learning in order to determine your overall mark. If you cheat, then you are not demonstrating your learning. Your teacher should conference with you to determine the best way for you to demonstrate your learning so that an applicable grade can be determined However, at the end of the semester, if you have not demonstrated the required learning, then a zero may be assigned.

What are the consequences? How will I make up the test, paper, assignment, project? This is up to your teacher but he/she may have you… Complete a different assignment, rewrite a different test, complete a paper instead of a test that you have cheated on Remove you from a group and have you complete an individual assignment, Spend time over lunch completing extra work and/or the project your have plagiarized

Further Consequences Your name may be entered in a book that records all instances of academic dishonesty You may have difficulty getting your teacher to recommend you and/or write you a letter of reference for a school, award, scholarship or job You may be asked to visit the principal to discuss the matter further You may be required to make up the work through a detention or ‘make up’ classes over lunch Your parents/guardians may be involved

Last Resort

Last Resort “Exhausting all other options with students who have not demonstrated evidence of the required learning prior to the reporting period, a zero may be assigned as a last resort” (HDSB Policy)

Remember… It is better to ask for an extension for an assignment than to take the “easy way” out Teachers are here to help you to learn You are here to learn so you can be successful after high school If you don’t understand the assignment, the instructions or the expectations, ask for help!

Any Questions?                 

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