Is this cheating?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I have a research article critique due in two separate classes. I get to choose the article. The assignments each have slightly different criteria, and the final product is two different forms (one is a template we fill out, one is a paper).

Is it wrong to do the same article? I honestly can't decide. On one hand, a lot of it is straight up duplication, though it will be presented in a different format, with assignment B requiring more depth than assignment A. On the other hand, I have done projects similar to those done in earlier, in different classes, and not felt bad about it at all. For example, in LPN school I did a project on the economics of breast feeding. It was pretty basic. Six years later, in my RN program, I did another project. The economics of breast feeding vs formula in the WIC program. I discussed my previous research and presentation with my instructor, and she didn't see anything wrong expanding upon my previous topic, particularly since it was an area of great interest to me.

In each class, I would be doing the work required of the assignment. I won't get the one assignment back before the other is due, so I won't be able to use the instructor feedback on assignment A to enhance and improve assignment B in any manner. Assignment B is for a larger grade, has more requirements, and is for an upper level class (a 300 level vs a 600 level).

Any thoughts? All comments are appreciated.

Just because it is in your student hand book doesnt make it legal.....critical thinking, please!

Yes, some critical thinking please.

I have, of my own volition signed up for a course of study. The school I attend has created this course of study. They outline what is required and acceptable for the course of study. If they document, in my student handbook, that I can only write papers in Iambic Pentameter....and I hand in a paper that is written in blank verse, I fail. It doesn't matter that I think that the content of my work, is still apparent. It doesn't matter what I think at all. They created the requirements of my course of study.

If they outline to me in writing that reusing my work from another assignment is unacceptable, and I reuse my work from another assignment, I fail.

There is nothing illegal here. Yes, please enlist some critical thinking.

IMHO as long as it is cited properly, its not cheating. The whole self-plagarism thing is odd but apparently is valid @ most universities and colleges.

Again, whether students are allowed to cite themselves depends on their school's policy. In my school, we are not allowed to use our previous work cited or not.

Specializes in School Nursing.

self-plagiarism- the epitome of oxymoron!

Yes, some critical thinking please.

I have, of my own volition signed up for a course of study. The school I attend has created this course of study. They outline what is required and acceptable for the course of study. If they document, in my student handbook, that I can only write papers in Iambic Pentameter....and I hand in a paper that is written in blank verse, I fail. It doesn't matter that I think that the content of my work, is still apparent. It doesn't matter what I think at all. They created the requirements of my course of study.

If they outline to me in writing that reusing my work from another assignment is unacceptable, and I reuse my work from another assignment, I fail.

There is nothing illegal here. Yes, please enlist some critical thinking.

i think you are over thinking......what is the legal def for plagerism?....it is a legal term after all....TPTB will do anything they want, as long as we allow it, whether legal or not.The part in bold is my point.

i think you are over thinking......what is the legal def for plagerism?....it is a legal term after all....TPTB will do anything they want, as long as we allow it, whether legal or not.The part in bold is my point.

It may be a legal term, but we're not speaking about the law and as such not looking for the legal definition. (Here's a link to an article that speaks about the difference between another legal and popular definition: http://works.bepress.com/paul_valentine/1/ )

APA defines Self-plagiarism as “presenting your own previously published work as new scholarship.” (American Psychological Association, 2010, p. 16)

That is the definition that we are speaking about.

References

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

+ Add a Comment