Academic Honesty

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is a foundational expectation of all college-level work. In this class, you will learn how to think critically, write analytically, and conduct research ethically. All work you submit must be your own, and any use of others’ ideas must be properly cited.

Cheating and plagiarism have serious consequences. This is a writing and research course, so you will regularly be using outside sources to further your arguments. Learning how to cite those sources properly will be a key component of this class. We will spend time learning how to use our sources appropriately and conduct the research necessary for success on source-based writing and research-based essays that require secondary sources.

This policy incorporates the full Cerro Coso English Department AI Policy and outlines how plagiarism, cheating, and misuse of artificial intelligence will be handled.

What Counts as Plagiarism?

According to Appendix 4F8D of the Student Conduct Policy, “plagiarism is defined as the act of using the ideas or work of another person or persons as if they were one's own, without giving credit to the source.”

Plagiarism includes any situation in which you present someone else’s ideas, words, or work—whether a person or a machine—as your own.

Expectations for Student Work

All written and orally presented work in this course—including drafts, homework, journals, discussion posts, final papers, etc.—must be:

• Generated by you,

• Written in your own words,

• Based on your own thinking,

• And properly supported with accurate, cited sources when you use outside material.

Copying, purchasing, recycling, or fabricating work is prohibited.

AI Policy Quick Glance

✔ You MAY use:

• Spell check

• Dictionary

• Human tutors (ie. NetTutor, Writing Center)

✘ You MAY NOT use:

• ANY generative AI (ie. ChatGPT, AI brainstorming tools, Gemini, etc.)

• ANY rewriting tools (ie. Grammarly, Quillbot, Microsoft Editor, Gemini, etc.)

• ANY automated translation tools

AI Policy of the Cerro Coso English and Foreign Languages Department

For the complete AI Policy, please refer to the course syllabus.

Consequences of Plagiarism or AI Misuse

The following penalties apply to any form of plagiarism or academic dishonesty, including misuse of AI:

Instructor Penalties

• Automatic zero on the assignment.

• Assignment cannot be revised or made up.

• Previously submitted work may be rechecked and may receive zeros if plagiarism or AI use is detected.

• Depending on severity, you may fail the course.

College Penalties (Per District Policy 4F8G)

• Instructors have the authority to impose penalties up to a failing grade for the course.

• Cases may be referred to the Office of Student Services for additional disciplinary action.

• A student who knowingly assists another student in cheating is equally responsible.

Additional Information

For additional information on the course AI and Plagiarism policies, please see the complete course syllabus section on Academic Honesty.