An accessible, printer friendly version of this syllabus can be found in the Text Only Diversity Class Syllabus.
There are 2 fundamental beliefs that are embedded in my teaching philosophy and affect how I approach students:
Assumption 1: Each student is doing the best that they can and is here at ARC to become a better version of themselves.
Assumption 2: Each student has the potential to achieve their personal and professional goals.
Thus, I assume that you are planning to complete my class with integrity and honesty - this is my default assumption. Violating this policy is the equivalent to what is commonly referred to as cheating or plagiarism. I expect that you will:
be the author of all assignments and activities.
generate new or previously ungraded written work.
report any other student violations of academic integrity.
effectively use citations when required assignments and activities.
Additionally I expect that you will not…
submit any previously written work, even if you were the author, without prior approval.
submit the work of any author other than yourself (including content produced by AI).
allow other students to complete your quizzes.
engage in academic behavior that is dishonest.
There are several strategies that you can use to avoid plagiarism:
To copy the author's exact words.
Should be enclosed in quotation marks
"like this".
Use when the author said it best.
Should only be used if the meaning or impact will be lost if using one of the other strategies.
Requires an in-text citation with the quote.
Explain the meaning of the author's ideas in your own words.
Are generally as long, and sometimes longer, than the original text.
Different from a summary, this includes details from the source.
After the paraphrase, add your own ideas or comments.
Requires an in-text citation with the paraphrase.
Explain only the author's main points, in your own words.
Are usually substantially shorter than the original text because they don’t include supporting material.
Does not include details, just main ideas.
Will be a lot shorter than the original text.
Requires an in-text citation with the summary.
Presenting the last word on the issues raised.
Summarizing your thoughts and conveying the larger significance.
Demonstrating the importance of your ideas.
Introducing possible new or expanded ways of thinking about the research.
Does not require a citation because it is your own thoughts and/or ideas.
Below are some helpful sources to improve your understanding of these tools to avoid plagiarism in your assignments!
Integrating Sources (YouTube Video), University of Jamestown Writing Center
Importance of a Good Conclusion (website), USC Libraries Research Guide
Citation: A (Very) Brief Guide (YouTube Video), North Carolina State University LibGuide
Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing (website), University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center
Although it does rarely happen, if I suspect that you have not met my academic integrity and honesty expectations (on purpose or accident), I will contact you to discuss the situation, and that assignment will not be used toward your grade, unless re-submitted.
You will be required to complete a brief tutorial in Canvas reviewing how to use evidence and cite sources correctly, to avoid future plagiarism issues.
In egregious examples of plagiarism, you may be reported to the BSS Area Dean and campus disciplinary officer.
If I conclude that you have not followed these expectations, the College gives me the right to fail that assignment, but that doesn't help you or me. Again I assume that you are here to learn and will follow my academic integrity expectations; if at any time you are not sure if you are violating my expectations, please reach out to me - it is better to double check!
I take academic integrity and honesty seriously, as do most of the students I’ve worked with, so please make sure that you fully understand these expectations and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask me. In addition, you can find more information about your rights and the College’s expectations of you as a student, please review ARC’s Expectations of Behavior and Conduct.
If you feel like your student rights have been violated, I refer you back to the Home page section, scroll down to the Problem Resolution Process section which explains how to get resolution to your complaint.