R.P Boire Secondary School Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating

My English teacher is sitting here watching me as I write this. Besides making sure I am using "proper English" (ugh!), she is making me copy and paste the school's policy on plagiarism and cheating from our handbook. She says, "Document that, April! Because plagiarizing a passage about plagiarism would be stupid!"* In case you are wondering what is going on (of course you are!), it seems a little bird told our teacher that somebody might have approached me about letting said somebody copy my English paper. "April, we teachers have to be savvy about the Internet these days, since so many youngsters use it to be dishonest! So I came across your blog. Rest assured that I am not planning on reading it, as you and your friends need a safe space to express yourselves. But I must insist that you post our official school policy on academic honesty. And keep in mind that even if you are the one sharing your work with a friend, you are considered just as guilty." I started to say that since my blog is a place for my own free expression, I shouldn't have to, but she cut me off with, "I imagine your mother doesn't know about your blog, and that she might find it interesting?" So, here I am, copying and pasting.

Academic Honesty

Real learning is enhanced when you think independently and honestly. It is expected that you will demonstrate respect for the intellectual property rights of others and adhere to a code of honour in all evaluated activities.

Because classroom teachers are experts in evaluating the writing of their students, and because they are most familiar with the writing styles of their students, they are recognized as authorities in identifying plagiarism. When a situation involving suspected plagiarism arises, it is your responsibility to demonstrate the work to be your own. You must be prepared to orally defend all written assignments, including answering questions about content, ideas and resources.

Any information that is obtained from the Internet and/or other software programs and incorporated into your assignment must be properly documented.

Ask your teacher for the format she/he expects you to use when documenting the sources you have used to research and write your paper. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (Fifth Edition) is available in the Library Resource Centre.

Plagiarism is

• The use of ideas or thoughts of a person other than the writer without proper acknowledgement.


• The use of direct quotations, or of material paraphrased and/or summarized by the writer, without proper acknowledgement.


• The submission of an essay or assignment that has been written in part or in whole by someone else as one’s own.


• The submission of material that has been obtained from a computerized source, with or without minor modifications, as one’s own.

Cheating is

• The buying and/or selling of essays, assignments, or exam/test questions.


• Submission of the same piece of work in more than one course without the permission of the teacher.


• The preparation of an essay or assignment by someone other than the stated writer.


• Allowing one’s essay or assignment to be copied by someone else.


• The unauthorized giving or receiving of information or assistance during an examination or a test.

Whether intentional or through ignorance of the rules, incidences of plagiarism and/or cheating will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the severity of the incident, acts of academic dishonesty may lead to severe consequences. One or more of the following steps will be taken:

• The teacher will interview the student about the incident.


• Parents or legal guardians will be contacted.


• The department head and/or administrator will be informed.

Penalties

• Oral and/or written warning or reprimand.


• A make-up assignment or re-write may be given.


• A failing grade or mark of zero.


• Suspension.

Sorry about all this, everyone, but I had to!

*By a strange coincidence, the R.P Boire Secondary School Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating is identical to the policy that appears in the student handbook for Thornhill Secondary School.