Plagiarism Policy  Academic Integrity

PLAGIARISM POLICY AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Plagiarism is the use of and representation of other people's words and ideas, in whole or in part, as the student's own work.  This definition applies to words or ideas taken without proper acknowledgement from any published source, such as a collection of literary essays, Coles Notes et al; from any site on the internet; from any essays written by other students; from any class notes taken by a student of a teacher other than the student's own. Plagiarism may take forms, including the following:

●         Copying word for word from any outside source without proper acknowledgement.  This applies to the use of an entire paper, to the use of entire sections and paragraphs, and to the use of a few words and phrases.

●         Paraphrasing ideas from any outside source without proper acknowledgement.

●         Submitting in whole or in part a paper written by another individual.

●         Submitting in whole or in part an assignment written for another course (duplication work).

●         Submitting other’s experimental data, online foreign language translations, music, computer programs, etc. 

●      Allowing one's essay, assignment, or test answers to be copied by another student (collusion).

Academic Misconduct can also occur in forms other than plagiarism. Misconduct can include the following: 

  ●         Disruptive behavior (including communication) during an exam where other students are affected.

●        Bringing unapproved materials into a testing location. 

●        Communication of content that is on an examination to another student. 

Violations

Violations of academic honesty will be divided into two levels.  These levels are determined by the importance of the assignment and premeditation of the student.

Level one:  Violations will be dealt with by the teacher in the classroom.  Students who are caught cheating or copying will receive a zero on the suspect assignment/test.  The teacher will notify the parent/guardian and administrator for a note in his/her discipline file.  Level one violations include:

●         Copying homework

●         Looking on another's test or quiz

●         Letting another student look on a test or quiz

●         Using other secretive methods (including cell phones) of giving/ getting answers on a test, lab, or quiz

●         Taking information from another source that is not properly attributed

A second level one violation will be considered a level two violation and the appropriate discipline will be administered.

Level two:  Violations are considered severe and will be dealt with by the teacher and assistant principal.  The teacher will notify the parent/guardian and administrator for a note in his/her discipline file.  Level two violations include:

●         Taking papers from the Internet, other publications, or other students.

●         Taking any part of a test to use or to give to others.

●         Blatant use of other’s work presented as one’s own determined to be severe enough by high school administration

These violations can be considered theft; therefore, any student who is guilty of any of the above will receive a zero on the suspect assignment and disciplinary consequences, which may include in-school suspension, detentions, etc.  Notification of any violation of this policy will be given to appropriate staff and activity advisors, including National Honor Society.

For information on how to do proper bibliographic citations see the Library Media Center website at http://lib.ojrsd.com/ and follow the appropriate links.