Plagiarism

“To plagiarize is to present another person’s works or ideas if they were your own. Plagiarism is like stealing. The word plagiarism comes from the Latin word for kidnapper and literary thief. Plagiarism is a serious offense that can be grounds for failure or a course or expulsion from a college. Plagiarism can be intentional, as when you deliberately incorporate the work of other people in your writing without mentioning and documenting the source. [In more current terms, copying/pasting information from the internet would be considered a gross form of plagiarism.] Plagiarism can also be unintentional---but no less serious an offense---if you are unaware of what must be acknowledged and how to go about documenting. You must acknowledge the source of any words you quote. Along with your documentation, you must always use quotation marks. In addition, you must acknowledge your source when you paraphrase or summarize someone else’s ideas. Writing the words of others in your own words does not release you from your obligation to attribute the material to its originator” (Troyka 511).

Troyka, Lynn Quitman, ed. Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1987.

Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Poland Local School District Code of Conduct contains the following provision in the 2022-2023 student handbook:

Cheating/Plagiarism

1. Students have been taught the definition of plagiarism and the consequences of cheating/plagiarism.

2. Parents and student have signed and returned the Plagiarism Pledge.
3. When cheating or plagiarism has been accurately identified, the teacher notify the parent/guardian and an administrator. Incidents of cheating will be considered in the evaluation process for future school awards/honors and/or honors memberships.

CONSEQUENCES

1st Offense: Student receives a zero for the specific test or assignment.
2nd Offense: Student receives an “F” for the grade period.
3rd Offense: Student receives an “F” and is withdrawn from the course.

FALSIFICATION

Falsifying in writing, by email/social media, or verbally by phone or other means the name of another person, times, dates, grades, addresses, or other data on school forms or correspondence is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.