Plagiarism

[soliloquy]

It's a history course.



I'm not spending time collecting evidence. I was actually reading information on the topic of our discussion after reading the text on Stanford University website, to get a better ideal of the material, and as I began to respond to other students I realized that the material I was responding to I read previously on the Stanford website. I won't report him though. We only have 2 weeks left in the course. I just found it interesting that people will copy word for word with little to no fear at all.

You are better than me. I would tell it. Why should I have to bust my butt coming up with new material while some dishonest, lazy, student sails through the course. No, it doesn't affect me directly but I'm not one of those people that thinks the solution to the problem is to let wrong just slide by.

[bricabrac]

I'm not spending time collecting evidence. I was actually reading information on the topic of our discussion after reading the text on Stanford University website, to get a better ideal of the material, and as I began to respond to other students I realized that the material I was responding to I read previously on the Stanford website. I won't report him though. We only have 2 weeks left in the course. I just found it interesting that people will copy word for word with little to no fear at all.

Actually all the student(s) really had to do was write a few sentences and quote the copied dialogue and it would have been fine. Most would hope, through academic studies (Eng Comp I&II) the student(s) in question would have already learned this but there is always room for growth. Maybe the professor will instruct the student on how to correctly quote source material.

Separately, there would be no need for programs such as turnitin if counteless students did not blatantly plagiarize papers.

[Exfactor]

Actually all the student(s) really had to do was write a few sentences and quote the copied dialogue and it would have been fine. Most would hope, through academic studies (Eng Comp I&II) the student(s) in question would have already learned this but there is always room for growth. Maybe the professor will instruct the student on how to correctly quote source material.

Separately, there would be no need for programs such as turnitin if counteless students did not blatantly plagiarize papers.

Exactly, but the student didn't do that. Nothing was in his words. He went and found information on the topic of our discussion via Google, copied all the information on the Stanford website (page), posted it as his discussion post, then went to answers.yahoo.com, searched for questions that people asked years prior in regard to our topic of discussion, copied their answers. Then went to the excelsior library searched for peer-reviewed studies on our topic of discussion and selected a few random studies and plugged them in as sources for the copied material. Some students just want the degree without putting in the work.

I think one of the benefits of turnitin is that it keeps a copy of the papers submitted, which pretty much makes papers useless if they were to be used again in another course. However, with other things I've found Google to be just as good as turnitin in regard to searching for random plagiarism.

[bricabrac]

Exactly, but the student didn't do that. Nothing was in his words. He went and found information on the topic of our discussion via Google, copied all the information on the Stanford website (page), posted it as his discussion post, then went to answers.yahoo.com, searched for questions that people asked years prior in regard to our topic of discussion, copied their answers. Then went to the excelsior library searched for peer-reviewed studies on our topic of discussion and selected a few random studies and plugged them in as sources for the copied material. Some students just want the degree without putting in the work.

I think one of the benefits of turnitin is that it keeps a copy of the papers submitted, which pretty much makes papers useless if they were to be used again in another course. However, with other things I've found Google to be just as good as turnitin in regard to searching for random plagiarism.

What's funny is that with all the work plagiarists put forth trying to save time/work, wouldn't it have been so much easier, and faster, to just type up 3 sentences (topic, point, conclusion), copy a supporting paragaph and quote. IMO, it's actually ridiculous to do especially since in most discussion forums a 150-200 word post is usually more than enough. Followed by two 50-100 word responses.

Why anyone would risk their academic career on something so easy to complete is simply beyond understanding.

[defscarlett]

IMO someone else blatantly plagiarizing at the school would absolutely affect another classmate. The worth of everyone's college degree is good enough reason for me to turn someone in.

[Westerner]

You are better than me. I would tell it. Why should I have to bust my butt coming up with new material while some dishonest, lazy, student sails through the course. No, it doesn't affect me directly but I'm not one of those people that thinks the solution to the problem is to let wrong just slide by.

IMO someone else blatantly plagiarizing at the school would absolutely affect another classmate. The worth of everyone's college degree is good enough reason for me to turn someone in.

I agree with you guys. We need to stand up for what's right. Plus, the college being an institution that each of its students is a part of, this issue affects all the students. Word of cheating and plagiarism spreading will hurt the college and each of its students. We need to show them we're better than that.

[Prloko]

What's funny is that with all the work plagiarists put forth trying to save time/work, wouldn't it have been so much easier, and faster, to just type up 3 sentences (topic, point, conclusion), copy a supporting paragaph and quote. IMO, it's actually ridiculous to do especially since in most discussion forums a 150-200 word post is usually more than enough. Followed by two 50-100 word responses.

Why anyone would risk their academic career on something so easy to complete is simply beyond understanding.

Especially when these are basically "gimme" points.

[cookderosa]

Actually all the student(s) really had to do was write a few sentences and quote the copied dialogue and it would have been fine. Most would hope, through academic studies (Eng Comp I&II) the student(s) in question would have already learned this but there is always room for growth. Maybe the professor will instruct the student on how to correctly quote source material.

Separately, there would be no need for programs such as turnitin if counteless students did not blatantly plagiarize papers.

Maybe he CLEPped English 101 and 102? LOL sorry, couldn't resist. milelol:

[Prloko]

Maybe he CLEPped English 101 and 102? LOL sorry, couldn't resist. milelol:

Although you are joking, your implication is true. There is a reason why it's the first course you take in college.

[mrs.b]

You are better than me. I would tell it. Why should I have to bust my butt coming up with new material while some dishonest, lazy, student sails through the course. No, it doesn't affect me directly but I'm not one of those people that thinks the solution to the problem is to let wrong just slide by.

This exactly. Letting that sort of thing slide drags down the integrity of the whole educational process. If it's a TESC course, most of the mentors are barely engaged and likely will not notice so the lazy and dishonest student's grade may possibly exceed someone's who is actively trying. I do not know of mentor/teacher engagement is different at EC, but I'm assuming it is similar.

Each stolen grade demeans the work every other student and graduate actually invested. I'd report it by calling the general line and asking for whoever handles plagiarism complaints, whether there were 11 weeks or 2 days left in the course.