To my teacher friends: how to determine plagiarism?

[punkwalrus]

Okay, suppose I have this basic essay due on, let's say kumquats. Now, I know these days teachers are plagued with people who cut and paste from something like Wikipedia (or whatever) on the Internet. But how blurred is this line? Let's take the first two paragraphs from here: http ( Read more... )

Comments

[byronczimmer]

My course last semester was supposed to be a heavy writing course, with two hefty research papers (10+ pages, thesis format, etc). The professor had, I kid you not, 5 pages on how to NOT plagiarize and detailed explanations on what it meant to her.

The following is a quote from that Syllabus (EMSE 319-L8, Fall 08 Syllabus, Dr. Julie Ryan):

There is no such thing as “boilerplate” or “standard language” in academia. Students are expected to write their reports themselves, using their own language and their own formulation. If it is necessary to use material from other sources, it is expected (and mandatory) that the standards of academic style and integrity will be followed. This includes glossaries and appendices.
Every student is encouraged to visit these websites for interesting information regarding this issue (links verified August 25, 2008):
• A true story about plagiarism gone awry
http://www.aweekofkindness.com/blog/archives/the_laura_k_krishna_saga/000023.html
• Another story about plagiarism in science
http://www.geocities.com/physics_plagiarism/
• A Guide to Plagiarism by Dr. C. Barnbaum
http://www.valdosta.edu/~cbarnbau/personal/teaching_MISC/plagiarism.htm
• Goucher College’s “Plagiarism-by-Paraphrase Risk Quiz”
http://faculty.goucher.edu/writingprogram/sgarrett/Default.html
• Copyright law, frequently asked questions, and other good stuff
http://www.copyright.gov/
• The Islam Online.net Fatwa on Plagiarism
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503549102
• The George Washington University Code of Academic Integrity
http://www.gwu.edu/~ntegrity/

She also mentioned 'turn it in', which has already been touched on, which she stated rather clearly that she would use to verify plagarism compliance.

As to the original quote - she would've busted you back to the stone age based on the indicated 57% similarity that aurienne got.