Integrity Quiz

Question 1: Self plagiarism?

You are nearing the end of a very busy term, with several final projects and papers due, in addition to a couple of final exams. One of your final paper assignments is on the same topic as a paper you submitted a previous term. The only difference is in how the assignment question is phrased. Given your busy schedule, you decide to submit the same paper from a previous term, albeit changing slightly the wording of your introduction and conclusion to ensure it matches the phrasing of the current term’s assignment. Is this okay since it is your own work?

Answer:

No, using the same paper for different classes without the authorization of your instructor – a practice that is sometime called “duplicate submission,” “essay recycling,” or “self plagiarism” – is a form of academic misconduct. The Student Conduct Code defines “cheating” as “any act of deception by which a student misrepresents or misleadingly demonstrates that he or she has mastered information on an academic exercise,” and this includes “use of sources or resources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments.” [AOR571-021-0105(3)] It is expected that you will do original or new work for each course you take, and some instructors will state this explicitly on the course syllabus or in the assignment instructions. If you encounter an assignment that is similar to one you did in a previous course, talk with your instructor about how you might be able to use your previous work and build upon it, and get her or his approval before you proceed.

Question 2: Ignorance is bliss?

You are charged with plagiarism but didn’t realize that what you did was wrong. In fact, you were not even aware of UO’s policies about student academic conduct. Are you still subject to a sanction? Can it be as serious of a penalty as that faced by a student who is caught willfully plagiarizing or cheating?

Answer:

Yes, you are still subject to a possible sanction even if you didn’t realize you were engaging in plagiarism or are unaware of the provisions of the Student Conduct Code. And you can face a penalty just as serious as that faced by another student, in the event of misconduct. By enrolling as a student at the University of Oregon, you are a participating member of the University community and must abide by the standards of this community, per the Mission of the Student Conduct Code. [AOR571-021-0100(1-3)] Regardless of the action in which you’ve engaged that is subject to possible sanction, you do have certain rights and appeals, as indicated in the Student Conduct Code. [see especially AOR571-021-0140] It is a good idea to become familiar with the Student Conduct Code and all the resources at the Student Conduct and Community Standards Web site.

That said, coming to the University is about learning. Be proactive in identifying what you want and need to know: go to your instructor or the Writing Lab with questions you have about the use of sources before handing in your work. Everyone wants to help you get this right!

Question 3: No big deal?

True or False: Nobody really gets into trouble for this “academic misconduct” stuff.

False. More than 700 UO students have been officially charged, including notice to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, with academic misconduct in the past three years; their penalties ranged from lowered grades–frequently an “F” in the course–to suspension.

Question 4: The Limits of Teamwork

You are in a class that includes a lot of group discussion during class time, and the instructor has emphasized more than once that collaboration is a powerful way to learn. So, when you are having difficulty with an assignment outside of class, you meet up with two other students who are also having trouble, and the three of you talk it through and together identify a solution. One of you types up your result and sends an email so that all three of you can print and turn it in. Is this academic dishonesty?

Answer:

Yes. Unless the assignment is specifically a group project or the instructor gives explicit instructions allowing for collaboration, it is expected that all students submit their own individual work. The Student Conduct Code indicates that “giving or receiving unauthorized help in an academic exercise” is a form of “cheating.” [AOR571-021-0105(3)] If you are having difficulty with an assignment, talk with your instructor about it. Also, it is a good idea to keep rough drafts and revisions of your work so that you can demonstrate you did your own work, should questions arise.

Question 5: Peer review

You have a friend who happens to know a lot about your paper topic, so you ask her for feedback about your paper. During the course of your conversation with her, you decide to revise your thesis statement to something more pointed and provocative, and she helps you strategize which sections you could re-write to express stronger arguments in keeping with the new thesis. With her input, you are able to express more clearly what you are thinking. You now feel much better about your paper and turn in it. Is this academic dishonesty?

Answer:

Not necessarily – so long as you are the author of the paper. It is a good idea, and standard academic practice, to get feedback from others about your ideas and the organization of your paper. Conversations about your work can be a crucial part of the thinking and revision process for every writer. There is a reason, after all, that most scholarly books and many articles include “acknowledgements.” Many instructors also encourage students to have someone else proofread a paper for grammar, spelling, and clarity. Getting such assistance is not cheating or plagiarism unless you are “using the ideas or writings of another as one’s own… without full and clear acknowledgment” [AOR571-021-0105(26)]. In other words, don’t let others write parts of a paper for you, and give credit for ideas that are not your own. (It is okay to use a footnote to give credit even if the idea is not found in a published text that you can cite–or even to offer a word of thanks to a peer for his or her thoughtful feedback.) If you are in doubt about which kinds of assistance from others are acceptable, ask your instructor for help.

– Jason Schreiner