B(log)SOP

Why Do Students Plagiarize?

The student may have decided after long deliberation to copy and paraphrase without attributing the work to its source.

a. On the other hand, the student may instead have become pressed for time and ceased taking notes with care, leaving off the author’s name or quotation marks.

One may well be inclined to feel less antagonistic towards the student in the latter case than in the former. In either case, however, the student has demonstrated untrustworthiness as a scholar; that student’s work cannot be trusted. Under the Vanderbilt honor system, failure to acknowledge a source through carelessness or negligence is an offense. Objectively stated, this means the above student’s work is considered plagiarism, regardless of how it occurred. For example, should the student forget to note on research cards the source of material and then fail to foot?note the source when the paper or report is prepared, the student is still commit?ting a plagiaristic act.

b. In the same way, a plea of not knowing how or when to footnote is not considered a sufficient excuse. To avoid violations all that is required is for the student to have the presence of mind when preparing a paper or report to realize that any ideas, words, or material from an outside source
must be faithfully acknowledged, when?ever and wherever such should appear. Otherwise, the student is liable to an accusation of the offense of plagiarism and to any consequences that this will entail.

c. The student should also be especially careful to realize that one footnote is not sufficient if additional material from that same source is included in the work. The footnote should express the extent of the ideas or expressions of others which are used. It is far better to err on the side of caution than to risk leaving source material not cited. In other words, when in doubt, cite the reference (footnote).

C. Other Related Items

A student wishing to submit papers containing substantially the same contents for credit in more than one class must obtain prior permission from all instructors concerned.
The above standards are given with the understanding that papers and other written assignments are to reflect the student’s personal effort.