Academic Honesty

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Watch the video link: Academic Honesty Links to an external site.

Academic dishonesty is an ethical issue known as plagiarism.  Plagiarism can occur in one of three forms.  First, a student may knowingly cheat.  Second, a student may omit citations in their work.  Finally, academic honesty is violated because a student simply does not know they are being academically dishonest.  

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

  • Discuss plagiarism and how to avoid it in academic work.

Background Information

You have been taught to use the MLA format throughout your school career, especially in English class.  This format is not only applicable to your English classes.  In fact, anytime you submit work that is not your authentic work including but not limited to pictures from the internet for any class,  math homework where Quizlet and other outside sources are used is considered plagiarism.    When you use other sources you are required to provide references you will be expected to use the MLA style guide to format research papers and cite referenced works (in all classes, not just English).  In some instances, teachers may expect you to use other formatting styles    This type of expectation is common in academic programs and learning.  Properly citing referenced works is the best way to avoid plagiarism.

Proper formatting guidelines can be found using Purdue's Writing Lab.  Purdue's OWL Links to an external site.

Another source to help you cite your sources appropriately is Knight Cite - Citation Source Links to an external site.

Examples of plagiarism include:

  1. Copying another person's actual words without the use of quotation marks, source citation, or footnotes.
  2. Presenting another person's ideas or theories in your own words without citing the source.
  3. You are failing to acknowledge contribution and collaboration from others.
  4. Using information that is not common knowledge without citing the source.
  5. Submitting downloaded papers or parts of papers, "cutting and pasting," or paraphrasing or copying information from Internet sources without proper acknowledgment of a source.
  • Turnitin is a tool that is used by teachers that will highlight unoriginal content in papers submitted to it.  PHHS teachers use this product to search for possible plagiarism in a student's work.  Turnitin can be used in conjunction with Canvas.  Take a moment to familiarize yourself with Turnitin by watching the video.

Turnitin -- Overview Links to an external site.

Another tool is the Grammar and Spelling check that is provided with your Google Chromebook.  These check tools are resources that can help you identify errors in grammar and spelling.  While no tool is without flaws -- these tools used together help you submit work that has minimal errors. It is always important to proofread any of your work prior to submission and utilizing these tools helps you catch errors you may have overlooked. 

  • The Parke Heritage High School Student Handbook addresses Plagiarism and Cheating as follows:

Presenting another’s ideas or words as your own without crediting the source is considered plagiarism. Changing words in an original source is not enough to prevent plagiarism. Retaining the ideas without citing the original source may be considered plagiarism. Claims of ignorance will not excuse the offense.

Cheating is not limited to copying or using notes on exams but includes copied homework, assignments, and assigned classroom work. Individuals who share required graded classroom assignments, exams, or tests, or have plagiarized will receive the same consequences listed below as follows:

The following procedures are to be applied on a nine weeks basis:

1st offense - “0%” (calculated as 0% in figuring grades for the assignment in question).

 2nd offense - “F” for nine-week grading period

3rd offense - “F” for semester average

Further discipline may be issued at the discretion of the administration.

Consequences for cheating in multiple classes may include but are not limited to removal from extra-curricular activities, revocation of driving privileges, or ASAP

 

References

Harris, M. (2006). The Prentice Hall reference guide. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Lindley, A. (2006). Plagiarism and originality. New York, NY: Harper.