1. Academic Integrity Policy (AIP)
The Department believes that integrity is of paramount importance in life and in academic matters. Honesty and respect for others are expected of all students in all Social Studies classes.
Cheating on examinations, presenting copied homework as your won work, and allowing your work to be copied are common activities that violate the Department’s principle of academic integrity.
Another common dishonest practice is plagiarism. Plagiarism is essentially presenting another person’s words or thoughts as your own. Plagiarism can be the result of a conscious effort to deceive the teacher or can be the result of lazy research. In either case, the student will be held to the Department’s standard of academic integrity.
Consequences
It is essential that you understand the importance of academic integrity and the need to adhere to its principles. The ease of the Internet and the demands of a heavy school schedule are but a few of the reasons given by students to rationalize dishonesty. However, the Department will assign consequences regardless of outside influences.
Receiving help on an exam, handing in copied homework, allowing another student to copy your work, giving assistance to someone during an exam, using “cheat sheets” or hand signals during a quiz, etc. all violate the student’s, as well as the Department’s integrity.
Students will be given a grade of “zero” for any test or assignment that is determined by the teacher to be an act of academic dishonesty. The student will be expected to meet with the teacher to address and correct the situation. Additional violations will result in referral to the school administration.
A Special Note for Students Involved in Research
It is especially important that credit is given when presenting your findings for an assignment that involves research. Your Social Studies teacher will review the methods to properly attach credit whenever a research task is assigned. It is your responsibility to consult with your teacher if you have any questions about proper citation and paraphrasing.

2. Plagiarism Guidelines
The Social Studies Department is providing the list of “do’s and don’ts” to clarify any confusion about what constitutes accepted academic practices as they pertain to plagiarism.
Please remember that the penalties for unethical academic actions are severe. The best way to avoid such problems is to assume active responsibility for your academic work. This entails understanding what is considered plagiarism, as well as understanding what practices can enhance academic success.
The best source for answers concerning the Department’s integrity policy is your Social Studies teacher.
The following practices are considered acceptable and supportive of academic growth:
copying class notes after an absence
using sources with proper documentation
discussing the assignment with other students for clarification
discussing the details and ideas in a literary work to achieve greater meaning
exchanging papers in class in order to receive feedback from fellow students (“Clayton”)
The following practices will be considered violations of the Department’s policy:
copying someone’s paper and presenting it to the instructor as your own
copying portions of another person’s work and presenting it as your own
not properly citing source material
simply rearranging the words of another’s work (“Columbia”)
copying papers from the Internet
working with others as a group on an assignment that was meant to be done by
individuals (“Cheating”)
Works Cited
“Columbia High School – Plagiarism.” 15 March Columbia High School Home Page.
26 March
“Clayton High School – Plagiarism Policy.” Clayton High School Home Page. 26
March
“Cheating and Plagiarism Policy.” 5 June 2002 John Hersey High School Home Page. 14
June

3. Please sign and return this to your Social Studies teacher by Friday, September ___ 2016.
I, ____________________________, understand the Social Studies Department’s Academic Integrity Policy.
Student Signature: _________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________________________________