Dealing with a student who submit another's work

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Aug 7, 2004

are you talking about using another STUDENT's work, or plagerism?

Not only is using another student's work plagiarism, but using your own work that you have previously submitted for that class or another, is plagiarism.

I had a student copy material from journal articles once, and was dopey (or arrogant) enough to actually use those articles as the only two references for the term paper! It was easy to "catch" her because she couldn't speak proper English (born here, no excuse), and the paper was at the master's or PhD level.

Years ago, when I was typing term papers and resumes for a living, I had a client bring me his research paper, and he had literally cut and pasted the lines from various journal articles together, rather than writing his own work. The professor's name was on the coversheet. I fretted about it, decided knowledge of the "crime" made me responsible in part if I didn't report it, so I called the prof. He was very grateful, said if I ever decided to go into engineering to look him up. I'll bet the student was surprised that the professor was a regular reader of the Japanese Journal of Electrical Engineering (or whatever obscure thing it was).

Bottom line, we have some responsibility it letting schools, etc. know, if we know about someone cheating. What the school or professor does is their business (and sometimes, sadly, they just don't seem to care).

BTW, my student who cheated? Actually contested the F I gave her and contested failing my class. My decision stuck, but I had to jump through some annoying hoops.... And she stayed an enrolled student!

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2004

... using your own work that you have previously submitted for that class or another, is plagiarism...

Don't believe that's universally true at all.

Now if a particular university assignment prohibits prior use of your own works for a new project, then, by rule, those previous ideas are unusable. (Is that what you mean, Chris?)

But it's not "plagiarism," as that term is generally employed in the law.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2004

Your school should have a policy on cheating, which would apply to the nursing students as well as everyone else, and which you must follow...

Agree that's the way to go.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Aug 7, 2004

Don't believe that's universally true at all.
Now if a particular university assignment prohibits prior use of your own works for a new project, then, by rule, those previous ideas are unusable. (Is that what you mean, Chris?)
But it's not "plagiarism," as that term is generally employed in the law.

I was surprised too, when I learned of that little nuance, who would think that's plagiarism?

I found this, at Cal Poly Pomona's website (http://www.csupomona.edu/~phoikkala/PHH_plagiarism.html):

A. Plagiarism--Plagiarism is intentionally or knowingly presenting words, ideas or work of others as one's own work. Plagiarism includes copying homework, copying lab reports, copying computer programs, using a work or portion of a work written or created by another but not crediting the source, using one's own work completed in a previous class for credit in another class without permission, paraphrasing another's work without giving credit, and borrowing or using ideas without giving credit. (emphasis mine)

Wouldn't know about "the law," but suspect that if it could not be enforced, it wouldn't be in there.

I'm no expert, just know what I've been told and verified in the past. (Things can change.....)

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2004

I found this, at Cal Poly Pomona's website (http://www.csupomona.edu/~phoikkala/PHH_plagiarism.html):

That's what I thought, Chris. This particular university has chosen to define it in the manner you've mentioned.

But that's not typical.

Many colleges readily allow students to further develop subjects addressed in previously submitted projects, papers, reports, etc., in more advanced classes.

hypnotic_nurse · Aug 7, 2004

I find that surprising, that one's own work would be considered plagiarism. Maybe submitting the exact same paper is what they mean? I know several people in Master's programs who have concentrated on one area and used their research for several classes -- each time a different paper, but using the same data and the same specialty area...and then they synthesize the whole shebang for their theses.

And many researchers use the same stuff over and over in slightly different ways until they've exhausted their data.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 9, 2004

When I was in grad school, we had an episode of "academic misconduct" which was a matter of misunderstanding.

I have a BA as well as a BSN. When I was in my BA program, it was commonly understood that instructors who gave back tests found it acceptable for students to share those- they wrote new tests every time they taught the class. In fact, one of my toughest professors made a practice of posting old tests on her office door. We knew that the questions would not be the same, but it gave us a feel for how she tested, what sorts of things she looked for. On the other hand, instructors who reused the same tests had safeguards in place to be sure that all tests were returned, etc, and made it very clear that sharing information about what was on the test was not acceptable.

In my Master's program, I had a physical assessment class. The instructor gave back tests. Before her first test, a student in my class borrowed a copy from a student who'd already had the course. She passed the test around; I got a two-minute glimpse of it myself, just to see how this instructor tested. None of us intended anything dishonest. We were amazed when we got our test and started noticing that the questions seemed awfully familiar. Finally someone worked up the nerve to tell the instructor.

She was very upset, and shocked that the previous student would have shared the test, and that we would've looked at it. We were shocked that she'd return a test and then use the exact same test. We were threatened with academic misconduct, but in the end she gave another test and nothing more was said (she started keeping the tests, though!) I still can't see this her way- anyone else?

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Aug 10, 2004

When I was in grad school, we had an episode of "academic misconduct" which was a matter of misunderstanding.
I have a BA as well as a BSN. When I was in my BA program, it was commonly understood that instructors who gave back tests found it acceptable for students to share those- they wrote new tests every time they taught the class. In fact, one of my toughest professors made a practice of posting old tests on her office door. We knew that the questions would not be the same, but it gave us a feel for how she tested, what sorts of things she looked for. On the other hand, instructors who reused the same tests had safeguards in place to be sure that all tests were returned, etc, and made it very clear that sharing information about what was on the test was not acceptable.
In my Master's program, I had a physical assessment class. The instructor gave back tests. Before her first test, a student in my class borrowed a copy from a student who'd already had the course. She passed the test around; I got a two-minute glimpse of it myself, just to see how this instructor tested. None of us intended anything dishonest. We were amazed when we got our test and started noticing that the questions seemed awfully familiar. Finally someone worked up the nerve to tell the instructor.
She was very upset, and shocked that the previous student would have shared the test, and that we would've looked at it. We were shocked that she'd return a test and then use the exact same test. We were threatened with academic misconduct, but in the end she gave another test and nothing more was said (she started keeping the tests, though!) I still can't see this her way- anyone else?

Very sloppy. Generally if you make an easy way for students to cheat, a few (and only a few) will. It will also create a lot of misunderstandings, and false allegations, such as in your case.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Aug 10, 2004

... still can't see this her way- anyone else?

I can't either.

The prof was outta line there. Let it be.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2004

if an instructor gives back a test I assume it is ok to share, since it is then "mine". Anyway, I attended a school that had old tests in the library for student reference. As educators, we need to make sure people understand the rules, then we need to apply the rules universally and without prejudice. I know, it is easier said than done.

edrantunn · Aug 15, 2004

if an instructor gives back a test I assume it is ok to share, since it is then "mine". Anyway, I attended a school that had old tests in the library for student reference. As educators, we need to make sure people understand the rules, then we need to apply the rules universally and without prejudice. I know, it is easier said than done.

I agree, but I don't think it is acceptable for a student in an advanced Nurse's program to hand in a critique assignment that was written by another person and this student is purporting herself to be the original author of the paper. The objective of attending a place of learning should not be to hoard academic credits.:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

pmchap · Feb 4, 2005

One of the most useful ways that students learn is through revision of past papers (tests or research work). That educators feel the neccesity to rehash tests smacks of lazyness to me. While an educator at highschool I had no issue in letting students have past papers (infact that is recognised as one of the most useful revision tecniques). Should a student see a question that is similar - well you would expect that. If we teach the same content material you would expect that the test we prepare would be similar.... numbers, drug names and scenarios may change - but we are testing the same material. Lets us not forget that testing is not about surprising students - it is about whether they can apply what they have learnt.

In terms of submited work(as opposed to a test) I have been involved in a situation where two individuals submitted the same work - first time mistake - the answer - mark the paper then give have the markes to each student. suddenly a A quality paper resulted in a failing mark for each of the students. (They students where clearly informed that 'collaborative' work was only accepable where stipulated in the assignment.)

In terms of acceptance of previously submitted work for further credit - most places have this rule to ensure that students actually learn- rather than rehash old assignments. I have used passed assignments of my own in support of new assignments (ie referenced and quoted myself) which I first talked with the lecturer about. I was not resubmitting work but I was building on work that I had previously submitted.

Telling student they can't use their own past work is akin to saying - what you learnt last semester - forget it - you arn't allowed to use it anymore.....