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Text and image version

This tutorial will help you understand what is expected of you at the University of Mississippi in terms of academic honesty and plagiarism. You will learn what plagiarism is along with ways to avoid it. You will also learn about the consequences of plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty here at the University.

Text and Image Version:

Scene:
Outside the classroom, as students are leaving class:

• Student: Wow this is going to be a pretty big paper
• Steve: It’s huge man, I don’t know how I am going to get it done.
• Student: Yeah, dude, it's going to be something else.
• Steve: I don’t have time for this.

Scene:
Inside the classroom students talking to the professor after class:

• Student: You mentioned plagiarism. I don’t really think I understand what that is.
• Main Professor: Plagiarism is when you use someone else’s words and you don’t cite it or you try to pass off their ideas as your own. For instance say you have a poem to write for a class and you found this poem that you really liked, you took some words from that poem, a few lines from it and stuck it into your poem. That’s plagiarism. Or you are running behind on your paper and you cut and paste a huge section from Wikipedia and stick it right in your paper. That is plagiarism too. Any time you use someone else’s ideas or intellectual property without citing them, that is plagiarism.
• Student: What is intellectual property?
• Main Professor: Anything that originates from someone’s ideas is their intellectual property. For instance, in academics, it could be something you wrote, or expressed. But it also travels over into the arts, entertainment, theories or ideas. Your ideas are your intellectual property…

Scene:
Music Room, A Music Student is playing a piece of music on the saxophone:

• Music Student: Hi, I’m Charlie Young. Music I compose is my intellectual property.

Scene:
Chemistry Lab, A science student is working on a compound:

• Science Student: Hi, I’m Shanna, in chemistry, if I create a new compound or make a new discovery it becomes my intellectual property.

Scene:
Computer science student sitting at a library computer:

• Computer science student: I’m a computer science student and I just finished my small program. It is my intellectual property.

Scene:
Inside the classroom professor talking to entire class:

• Main Professor: There have been some questions about plagiarism. Make sure you understand it because many times plagiarism is unintentional. But that does not mean you won’t end up in trouble for it. Plagiarism is the theft of intellectual property, and academically is as serious as stealing any other valuable possession. However, you can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and citing your sources properly.
• Student: (whisper to other student) Sounds serious.
• Main Professor: Start by keeping track of your sources, cite them and you won’t get into trouble.
• Citation Narrator: There are many ways to avoid plagiarism and keep track of your citations. Some students use citation software or highlight cited areas until the bibliography is complete. If you’re working in a group, double check to make sure you are all keeping track of your citations, don’t leave it to chance.

Scene:
In the library in the information commons with a librarian in the background:

• Computer Science Student: If I have any doubts about whether or not I should cite something I ask my professor or a Librarian.

Scene:
Art Student in an art studio:

• Art student: I give myself plenty of time to complete a paper or a project. It always takes longer than I think it will. It really makes a difference in my grade.

Scene:
Outside after class
Students standing by a pillar:

• Student: It makes me so mad. I know some students cheated and they are getting better grades.
• Student: I know, sometimes I even hear them talking about it. It’s so dishonest.

Scene:
Stairs in Library:

• Student: So I’ll catch up with you later on yeah?
• Steve: I don’t have any time to write that paper for econ class.  
• Student: Yeah, me neither.
• Steve: Guess I’ll have to visit the old Online Essay bank
• Student: Don’t worry about that. No one’s ever got caught . See you later on
• Steve: Take care.

Scene:
Montage of images and text frames associated with cheating and technology while narrator talks.

• Detection Software Narrator: Whoa!! Let’s back up on that one and check the facts. A few years ago the University implemented plagiarism prevention software tools that allows faculty to check the originality of your work. The software compares your work against essay banks, online paper mills, article databases and previously submitted papers across many institutions. It lets your professor know what percentage of your paper has likely been plagiarized. Since these tools have been implemented at Ole Miss the number of students referred to the University’s Academic Discipline Committee for cheating is up. This does not even count the number of students caught and simply dealt with by their professor in class. Sure, some students don’t get caught, but as the technology continues to improve your chances of getting smacked down for plagiarism or cheating will only increase. All over the country students who are sick of cheaters are voluntarily uploading papers and assignments from essay banks and fighting back.

Scene:
Academic Discipline Committee discussing student plagiarism cases:

• Plagiarizer 1: Well I switched the words around a little. Isn’t that good enough?
• ADC member: not paraphrasing properly or citing is PLAGIARISM!
• ADC Chair: GUILTY!
• ADC Committee as a whole: expresses disapproval
• Plagiarizer 2: I just cut and pasted some stuff off the internet. Isn’t stuff online free anyway?
• ADC member: So, did you know that copying others without quotations and citing is PLAGIARISM?
• ADC Chair: Clear cut. GUILTY!
• ADC Committee as a whole: expresses disapproval

• Plagiarizer 3: Look my roommate asked me for a paper from a class that I took a couple years ago. It was a different teacher so I didn’t think it’d be a problem. Why am I in trouble too?
• ADC member: It’s academically dishonest for anyone to pass off the work of another as their own. By giving your roommate your paper to turn in you knowingly collaborated in the cheating. Bad idea!
• ADC Chair: gavel: GUILTY!
• ADC Committee as a whole: expresses disapproval
• Plagiarizer 4: I really wanted a good grade, but with so much other stuff to do, I ran out of time. So I went online and found a place to buy a paper, and turned it in. It was going to be for the rough draft but I ran out of time.
• ADC member: If time was a problem, you should have talked to a professor. You knew what you were doing was wrong! Turning in a paper bought off the Internet is PLAGAIRISM!
• ADC Chair: gavel: GUILTY!
• ADC Committee as a whole: expresses disapproval
• Plagiarizer 5: What happens to me now?
• ADC Chair: The Sanctions for plagiarism include:

• ADC member: You can be required to take another test or exam
• ADC member: You could have to submit another paper or project
• ADC member: You could receive a zero or a reduced grade on the assignment
• ADC member: You could have your grade for the class taken down or get an “F” in the class
• ADC member: You could be placed on academic disciplinary probation
• ADC member: You could even be suspended
• ADC member: or expelled from the University!
• ADC Chair: If you plagiarize or otherwise cheat, your professor makes the decision about which sanction to impose. Professors can choose to deal with it in class or turn you in to the Academic Discipline Committee.
• ADC member: Which is not fun.

Scene:
Inside the art studio, teacher and student are looking at a student's finished print:

• Art Teacher: Well let’s see how it turned out, ah very nice, very nice. Alright, well, where did you find this image of the bear? There’s not many bears around for you to sketch in real life huh?
• Art Student: Yeah, I did a Google search for a sitting bear. I did several image searches and I printed off a number of bears and used those series of bears to create my whole composition.
• Art Teacher: Great! Well did you print them off and put them in your sketch book?

• Art Student: All fifteen of them.
• Art Teacher: Excellent! And did you do your renderings and sketched from them?
• Art Student: I did. I did several for each.
• Art Teacher: Excellent. Because that is the best way to make sure you that you are not breaking copyright law.

Scene:
Inside the classroom:

• Main Professor: Keep track of your citations. Most classes use citation styles like APA, MLA, or the Chicago Manual of Style. We use MLA but check with your other professors to see which style to use. And read the M-Book policy on plagiarism.
• Student: Where do I get the M-Book? I want to have a copy to know if I’m plagiarizing or not.
• Voice of Chancellor Khayat with a background showing how to get to the M-book online. It is available here: The University of Mississippi’s definition of plagiarism is that “Plagiarism takes place when published material is copied verbatim or paraphrased without citing the source of the material. But plagiarism is not limited to copying published material. A student who copies another’s homework, copies answers to test questions, or allows someone else to do work for him/her on homework or tests also violates the standards of honesty and fairness and is subject to academic discipline.”
• Steve: so how do I know whether I’m plagiarizing or not
• Main Professor: You need to cite anything that is not common knowledge. You all know what common knowledge is, right?
• Student: No, uh-uh, isn’t it, anything that is commonly recognized as a fact or the truth?

• Main Professor: Basically speaking, yes. Common knowledge is information or facts easily available from dictionaries and encyclopedias. It is a foundation of knowledge shared by communities of educated people.
• Student: How do we know what is accepted as common knowledge?
• Main Professor: Well the rule of thumb is that if information is stated in 5 or more sources it is common knowledge. However, specialized information in your major or discipline can also sometimes be considered common knowledge. The audience for a paper has to be carefully considered. If you’re not certain whether to cite specific information, ask me. Paraphrasing is when you take someone else’s work and put it into your own words. It needs to be cited. Make sure you fully understand what you are reading before trying to paraphrase. Don’t try to write about something you don’t understand.

Scene in Donald Cole’s office:

• Don Cole: Hi I’m Donald Cole, I’m the Assistant Provost Academic honesty and personal integrity are part of the Creed of the University of Mississippi.

Scene:
Meek Hall:

• Art Professor: Citing sources is a part of academic honesty. It is about being honest with yourself, honest with your professors, and fair to the person who originally came up with the ideas.

Scene:
Music Hall:

• Music Professor: Citations demonstrate that your ideas are credible, that your opinions can be supported.

Scene:
Chemistry Lab:

• Science Professor: Citations of scientific papers other than just your text book, indicate the quality and depth of your research.

Scene:
Library:

• Librarian: Your research may become important to other scholars so it’s important that you tell them where you got your information from.

Scene:
Inside the classroom:

• Main Professor: now you get the idea that it’s not just about you plagiarizing—academic dishonesty hurts others.
• Students: Nod their heads in understanding.

Scene:
In Male Dorms:

• Steve: Can you believe that professor going on and on about academic honesty? No one cares. Half this stuff is just busy work.
• Student: I don’t know, at first I thought no one cares but now I am starting to think they do.
• Steve: My uncle says “If you're not cheating, not trying hard enough"
• Student: Laughs.

 

Scene:
Studying in the Library:

• Student: Are you going to the party tonight?
• Student: I wish but there’s no way l can go and get the paper done.
• Student: I know, I’m struggling with it too. And after listening to what the professor said about plagiarism, I’m not sure I’m citing anything right. I’m going to make an appointment at the Writing Center. But I’m still going to the party afterwards.
• Student: I mean, I’ll definitely make it for a little while.

Scene:
Various shots of the students in different activities:

(Studying to get the paper done, getting ready for the party, relaxing in dorms, heading out to the party)









Scene:
Inside the classroom:

• Main Professor: OK. These papers were all over the place. Some of them are well-thought out but some of you need help with citations and there was an obvious case of plagiarism.

Scene:
Shot of Papers returned, Steve has made an F:

• Main Professor: IF you are still having problems quoting, paraphrasing, or citing, or anything else see me, or a librarian or go to the Writing Center.

Scene:
Voiceover by Brenda Robertson, head of the Writing Center:

• Writing Center Narrator: Writing Center Consultants advise students about lots of writing concerns and they’re really great at helping to decide whether a resource is common knowledge, or if it needs to be cited in a summary, paraphrase or direct quote. Writing Consultants can point out any number of concerns that could become problematic for student writers. They also help students with documentation styles, such as MLA, APA or Chicago and their services are free

Note: The University abides by FERPA, which prohibits information to third parties, without consent of the student.

The student in the following scene has given his parents' permission to contact the University

Scene:
Student in front of Academic Discipline Committee:

• Steve: I mean I switched some of the words around. Isn’t that good enough?

Scene:
Students Mother on Phone/Office of Professor Martin

• Steve’s Mother: Hi, yes I’m talking to whom please? May I speak with Professor Martin?

Phone rings in Professor Martin’s office

• Dr Martin: Hello, Dr. Martin
• Steve’s Mother: Hi, This is Paula Clayman. I’m calling about my son Steve.
• Dr. Martin: Yes
• Steve’s Mother: He told me that he is in some sort of trouble, that um, his professor got him in trouble for something and I don’t understand so I’m just calling to find out what’s going on.
• Dr. Martin: Yes. It turns out he was involved in a case of academic plagiarism
• Steve’s Mother: Plagiarism? What exactly does that mean?

Cut to Student in front of Academic Discipline Committee:

• Steve: But this is the first time I’ve ever cheated?

Cut back to Students mother on the phone:

• Steve’s Mother: You’re kidding! His father is going to kill him!

Cut to Student in front of Academic Discipline Committee:

• Steve: What happens to me now?

Flashback to Academic Discipline Committee Member:

• ADC member: You could even be suspended!

Scene:
Steve loading up some boxes in his dorm:
Fellow students walk up:

• Student: Hey man, are you taking off or something?
• Steve: Yeah, I have to sit out next semester because of that Econ paper bust.
• Student: Seriously?
• Steve: Yeah, I don’t think I’m coming back either. I’m so sick of this crap man, I’m done with school.

Scene:
Couch in female dorm:

• Student: Can you believe we are graduating? This is so exciting…what time are your parents getting here
• Student: Um 5:00 tonight actually… they are taking me out to dinner!
• Student: Okay, mine are getting here at 8:00 tomorrow morning.
• Student: Well do you want to come out to dinner with us?
• Student:  Yeah that would be fun

Scene:
Parking Lot: Steve's friends are seeing him off, as his case of plagiarism has lead to a suspension from school:

Credits:

Cast:

Mom (Paula Clayman): Dr. Debbie Chessin
Associate Provost: Dr. Donald Cole
Student: Jennifer Cross
Student (Steve): John Darnell
Student: Maggie Day
Detection Software Narrator; Jason Dewland
Academic Discipline Committee Member: Dr. Charlotte Fant
Art Professor: Katherine Rhodes Fields
Student: Greg Flaherty
Academic Discipline Committee Member: Dr. Jacob Kathman
Former Chancellor: Dr. Robert Khayat
Academic Discipline Committee Member (Dr. Martin): Dr. Theresa Levitt
Student (Football Player): Kentrell Lockett Jr.
Student: Alyssa Mahaffey
Librarian: Amy E. Mark
Citation Narrator: Missy Murphy
Academic Discipline Committee Chair; Dr. Dan O’Sullivan
Writing Center Consultant: Jamie Page
Student: Emily Philips
Student: Sarita Pollock
Main Professor: Rene Pulliam
Writing Center Narrator: Brenda Robertson
Student: Carolyn Rucker
Computer Science Student: Safa Salman
Student: Sara Siebert:
Chemistry Student: Shana Stoddard
Student: George Schaff
Art Student: Ross Turner
Chemistry Professor: Dr. Randy Wadkins
Student: Alex Watson
Academic Discipline Committee Member: Dr. Jonathon Winburn
Music Professor: Dr. Michael Worthy
Music Student (Saxophone Player): Charlie Young

Produced By:

University of Mississippi Libraries
University of Mississippi: Information Literacy Committee
University of Mississippi: General Education Committee

Filmed, Directed & Edited by:

Debra A. Riley-Huff

Film Day Production Assistants:

Tina Harry
Judy Greenwood
James Kelleway

Original Script by:

University of Mississippi Information Literacy Committee.

2008-2009 Information Literacy Committee Members:

• Amy E. Mark, University Libraries, Chair
• Yogini Bhavsar, Representative of the Student Council
• Alicia Bouldin, Faculty Member, Sciences
• Rahul Govind, Faculty Member, School of Business Administration
• Judy Greenwood, Faculty Member, University Libraries
• Ross Haenfler, Faculty Member, Social Sciences
• Tina Harry, Faculty Member, University Libraries
• Kate Kellum, Representative of the Office of Institutional Research
• Stephen Monroe, Representative of the Office of the Dean of Liberal Arts
• Sue Mossing, Representative of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
• Kaye Pepper, Faculty Member, Education
• Rene Pulliam, Faculty Member, Humanities
• Debra Riley-Huff, Faculty Member, University Libraries
• Brenda Robertson, Representative of the Writing Center
• Joseph Smith, Student Representative, Graduate
• Alex Watson, Faculty Member, University Libraries
• Sarah Wurgler-Walden, Student Representative, Graduate

Soundtrack

If Only: Steve Riley
Traveling South: Olive Musique
You’re Mine: Full Bird Music

Thank-you to the following for your support:

Dr. Maurice Eftink, Associate Provost
Julia Rholes, Dean of Libraries
Dr. Glenn Hopkins, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts,
Java City in J.D. Williams Library
UM School of Education
UM Writing Center
Faculty Technology Development Center
Student previewers from Oxford High School
Faculty and Staff of UM Libraries

For more information about intellectual property and copyright, see the UM copyright policy.
Copyright © 2009 The University of Mississippi. All rights reserved

Information for Faculty

A "Plagiarism and Academic Honesty Learning Unit" is available for use in your course. Find out more.

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