‘Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine honour, I lose myself’
(William Shakespeare)

Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism, Cheating, Collusion, Falsification

Prywatne Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Melchiora Wańkowicza

Students in LO im. M. Wańkowicza are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic conduct. Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The following information should help you to avoid unintentional misconduct and clarify the consequences of cheating.

Definitions of Academic Honesty

Authentic piece of work

The term is clearly defined in IBO Academic honesty: guidance for school:

An authentic piece of work is one that is based on the candidate’s individual and original ideas with the ideas and work of others fully acknowledged. Therefore, all assignments, written or oral, completed by a candidate for assessment must wholly and authentically use that candidate’s own language and expression. Where sources are used or referred to, whether in form of direct quotation or paraphrases, such sources must be fully and appropriately acknowledged.

Copyright

Includes literary and artistic works such as works of literature, art or music. Copyright must be respected and is protected by law.

Legitimate collaboration

Permitted, constructive, educational and intellectual collaboration with other students that aims to facilitate students learning outcomes. However, the final work must be produced independently although, it is based on similar data.

Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism

Using another person’s words, ideas or data without giving that person proper credit. When students plagiarize, they usually do so in one of the following ways:

• Coping another person’s exact words without the use of quotation marks.
• Paraphrasing another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledge the exact source.
• Distorting in content a source’s information when paraphrasing.
• Using information that is not considered common knowledge without acknowledging the source.
• Summarizing source material without substantial changes to the wording of the original text and without giving a citation.
• Failure to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.

Sometimes plagiarism is intentional: for example, when a student copies an essay (or a part of an essay) from Internet or other sources to deceive a teacher.

Sometimes, however, it is unintentional – a student wants to use someone else’s words or ideas legitimately, but does not know how to do so properly.

In either case, the academic words consider plagiarism to be stealing and/or lying. It should be avoided at all costs.

Cheating

The unauthorized use of materials, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise. For example:

• Coping from another student during classroom tests and examinations or allowing another student to copy your work.
• Using unauthorized notes during tests and examinations.
• Unauthorized collaborating on a take home assignment.
• Submitting a single paper or substantial parts of it for credit in two different classes.
• Asking or allowing another student to take a test or examination for you.
• Taking an examination for another student.
• Getting an advance copy of a test or examination.
• Changing a corrected test and altering it for re-grading.

Collusion

Any form of joint effort, between students, or between students and other persons, intended to deceive an assessor as to who was actually responsible for producing material submitted for assessment. For example:

• Asking or paying someone to write or edit an essay for you.
• Landing assistance or failing to report witnessed acts of academic misconduct.

Falsification of Records and Official Documents

• Forging signatures of teachers or administrative staff.
• Falsifying information on official school record.
• Falsifying information on official school documents

Actions taken by the school for Academic Dishonesty

Admonition

An oral statement to the student that she or he violated school rules.

Disciplinary Warning

Verbal or written notification that the student has not met the school standards of conduct, and that repeated offence will result in more serious disciplinary action. Student’s parents (or guardians) are informed of the allegation.

Reprimand

A written statement censuring a student for violating school regulations, and stating that another offence will result in more serious action. Student’s parents (or guardians) are informed of the reprimand.

Disciplinary Probation

Exclusion from participation in privileges or extracurricular school activities for a specified period of time. Student’s parents (or guardians) are notified about disciplinary probation.

Suspension

A written statement notifying a student that his or her enrollment has been suspended for a specific period of time for violating school policy. The statement includes the terms and length of the suspension, as we as the conditions for re-admittance. Student’s parents (or guardians) are notified about the suspension.

Dismissal

A written statement notifying a student that his or her attendance at school has been terminated for violating school policy. Unlike suspension, dismissal is considered to be a permanent action. Student’s parents (or guardians) are notified about dismissal.

If a teacher or the coordinator has reason to suspect that a student’s work may not be authentic, that assignment must not be submitted for assessment. If time permits a student is allowed one opportunity to revise and resubmit the work. However, if the time is insufficient, a 1 mark is entered against the student’s name on the subject mark sheet or on IBNET in the case of internal assessment. This will result in no grade being awarded for the subject concerned.

Actions taken by the IBO for Academic Dishonesty

The IBO will investigate a case of suspected malpractice when there is clear evidence to justify an allegation of plagiarism or collusion. The detailed procedure for such an investigation in available in IBO Academic honesty: guidance for schools.

In conclusion

Certain patterns in student behaviour increase the temptation to cheat and plagiarize:

• Student’s ignorance about school’s policy
• Falling behind in coursework
• Leaving large projects until last minute
• Working to many hours to keep up with courses
• Emotional and health problems that distract student from studies
• Concentration problems
• Social pressure to ‘succeed at any coast’

All students should be aware of them and remember that the temptation to cheat can be eliminated by developing effective time and stress management skills and practising sound study habits. It can be done by getting in the habit of planning work.

In Prywatne Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Melchiora Wańkowicza students are expected to live up to the school standards of academic honesty no matter what temptation they face.