Crossroads School: How the Student 'Takes Moron Pills' Got Her Name
Instead of immediately failing my two seniors who plagiarized their prose essays, I allowed my boss to talk me into giving them a punishment assignment instead. They were to write an eight-page paper that fulfilled the following requirements:
-defined plagiarism,
-explained how it happened,
-explained why it's bad,
-explained how to avoid it,
-delivered a personal declaration involving how the student would never plagiarize again,
-included a bibliography.
One student called today, 46 minutes before it was due, and asked for an extension. She said she couldn't get a ride up to the school. I told her that she'd had four days to get it up to the school and had no excuse. Especially since we have a mail slot.
The other student delivered her paper in person before the deadline. I started looking over it after she left and a stone began to fill in my belly. After staying up an hour past my imposed bedtime, I find that stone has been justified.
She plagiarized her punishment paper.
95% of it is just copied, word for word, from the various websites she listed on her bibliography. Yes, she provided a bibliography. However, she didn't put any of these things into her own words. She also didn't cite any of her uses in the text of her paper.
I am absolutely livid. Honestly, do I look stupid? Did she honestly think I wouldn't check her plagiarism punishment paper for plagiarism? Did she think I really wouldn't fail her this late in the game? Does she think I care whether she has to go to summer school when she's supposed to have graduated?
(And to think I almost just tiredly decided not to check it in the interest of going to bed. At least there was my conscience and Andy to prevent me from just going to sleep.)
I briefly had this very entertaining fantasy because of something Douglas said: I would let her get as far as walking up the aisle at graduation, all resplendent in her cap and gown. Then, I'd step forward, meeting her half-way up the aisle. In my hand, I would grasp the Monopoly card that proclaims "DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT 200 DOLLARS." I would press this into her hand, with a shit-eating grin, then rip off her cap and send her bawling back to her seat.
I'm not that mean-spirited, honestly. I'm just tired and frustrated. EXCEEDINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS PLAGIARISM BUSINESS.
At least she made her paper a study in irony. In and around the plagiarism, she has such golden phrases as:
"I personally think a way to avoid plagiarism is using your own information, sources, and ideas. Also by not using word for word from someone else's information."
and
"In the past, I have found myself hesitating when making a promise, but today without a shadow of a doubt, I can say that I will never consider plagiarizing again. I myself am a Christian and with me giving my life to Christ, I took on the responsibility of not only reading but living what the Bible says. Exodus 20 clearly states from one of the Ten Commandments 'Thou shalt not steal.'"
This chick's nickname has just become Takes Moron Pills. I wonder if I'll see her in summer school. It might be best for her if she went elsewhere considering how hard on her I'll be.
-defined plagiarism,
-explained how it happened,
-explained why it's bad,
-explained how to avoid it,
-delivered a personal declaration involving how the student would never plagiarize again,
-included a bibliography.
One student called today, 46 minutes before it was due, and asked for an extension. She said she couldn't get a ride up to the school. I told her that she'd had four days to get it up to the school and had no excuse. Especially since we have a mail slot.
The other student delivered her paper in person before the deadline. I started looking over it after she left and a stone began to fill in my belly. After staying up an hour past my imposed bedtime, I find that stone has been justified.
She plagiarized her punishment paper.
95% of it is just copied, word for word, from the various websites she listed on her bibliography. Yes, she provided a bibliography. However, she didn't put any of these things into her own words. She also didn't cite any of her uses in the text of her paper.
I am absolutely livid. Honestly, do I look stupid? Did she honestly think I wouldn't check her plagiarism punishment paper for plagiarism? Did she think I really wouldn't fail her this late in the game? Does she think I care whether she has to go to summer school when she's supposed to have graduated?
(And to think I almost just tiredly decided not to check it in the interest of going to bed. At least there was my conscience and Andy to prevent me from just going to sleep.)
I briefly had this very entertaining fantasy because of something Douglas said: I would let her get as far as walking up the aisle at graduation, all resplendent in her cap and gown. Then, I'd step forward, meeting her half-way up the aisle. In my hand, I would grasp the Monopoly card that proclaims "DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT 200 DOLLARS." I would press this into her hand, with a shit-eating grin, then rip off her cap and send her bawling back to her seat.
I'm not that mean-spirited, honestly. I'm just tired and frustrated. EXCEEDINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS PLAGIARISM BUSINESS.
At least she made her paper a study in irony. In and around the plagiarism, she has such golden phrases as:
"I personally think a way to avoid plagiarism is using your own information, sources, and ideas. Also by not using word for word from someone else's information."
and
"In the past, I have found myself hesitating when making a promise, but today without a shadow of a doubt, I can say that I will never consider plagiarizing again. I myself am a Christian and with me giving my life to Christ, I took on the responsibility of not only reading but living what the Bible says. Exodus 20 clearly states from one of the Ten Commandments 'Thou shalt not steal.'"
This chick's nickname has just become Takes Moron Pills. I wonder if I'll see her in summer school. It might be best for her if she went elsewhere considering how hard on her I'll be.