SAHS Academics > English Department Web Site > Philosophy & Mission Statement > Plagiarism

"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of one's own mind" ~ Emerson

Unfortunately, the information age has given rise to more and easier opportunities for plagiarism. Plagiarism is the practice of representing as your own the ideas of another. It is cheating. The language arts department will not tolerate plagiarism no matter how minor the infraction is perceived to be by the student. A plagiarized paper or one that contains phrases or paraphrases that have been plagiarized will receive a zero.

Frequent causes of plagiarism to be avoided

• Your exact topic appears on a Web site. OK, read it, get some ideas, and then leave it alone.
• The paper on the Web says just what you mean. OK, quote the paper and give credit to the source.
• You just want to lift a phrase or two. OK, quote the paper and give credit to the source.
• You have reworded the document, but the ideas are essentially not yours--although you totally agree with them. OK, paraphrase and give credit to the source.
• Your friend had the teacher the year before and has a paper that fits the bill. DANGER DANGER DO YOUR OWN WORK!
• You are working with a friend and your papers turn out quite alike. NO NO Unless you are working on a collaborative project, do your own work.If not, you will both risk a zero.
• A chapter-by-chapter summary of the book popped up on your computer screen. OK , you can’t resist. Read it, but realize that a summary is no substitute for reading and comprehending--not to mention enjoying--a piece of literature. Summaries on the Web will not be of much help in essay questions that require analysis.
• You have waited until the last minute, and you find a paper for sale on the Web that fits your assignment. RUN FOR YOUR ACADEMIC LIFE! Be a man/woman. Take the zero or beg for an extension. Have a shred of integrity.
• Finally, do not insult the intelligence of your instructor by thinking that he/she will not recognize material that is not your own. We have computers too. As easily as you located your source, we can also locate it. In the case of those tricky paper sellers, when an instructor is locked out of a source or a source is a college or high school site, you are doomed. You are all bright enough to do your own work. Think for yourselves, and note the new plagiarism/cheating discipline policy:
  
  First offense: student receives a zero for the assignment.
  Second offense: student receives a failure for the marking period.
  Third offense: student fails the course.

PLAGIARISM IS A NO NO!