This paper will define what plagiarism is and highlight the problems regarding the increasing incidents of the practice which is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with especially in the context of the increasing influence of the World Wide Web is enabling the availability of information that can be easily accessed and copied. The issue will be examined in the context of the practices adopted by Franklin University and the tools that it has evolved in dealing with the problems related to plagiarism. The University’s policy of dealing with academic dishonesty will also be examined.
Introduction
Plagiarism is defined as an act by somebody that aims at taking credit for the written work of others by passing it off as one’s piece of writing. Plagiarism means stealing the originality of another writer. It is considered a serious violation of ethics in academics. It also damages the integrity of historical inquiries. It harms the quest for truth and is an offense to the literary entitlements of the original writer as also of the owner of its copyright. Detection of plagiarism results in academic sanctions being imposed on offenders in addition to legal action as applicable in the given institution or by the law of the land. Plagiarism is considered not only an abusive practice but also an act of copying from another writer without acknowledgment from him or her. It also amounts to making use without permission, of another author’s important research results, propositions, theory, strategy, and interpretation, which is seen as highly unethical and an act of taking something without attribution. If knowledge is distributed to the public free in this manner, it will lose its reference. Plagiarism also implies that it becomes difficult to ascertain the owner of the given information. Hence it is not acceptable to have any person borrow and even rephrase the specific findings of scholars.
Franklin University tools to avoid plagiarism
Plagiarism can be avoided in several ways. Franklin University has a policy in place whereby students are given guidance, resources, and assistance to avoid plagiarism. The University provides varied tools in helping students effectively manage their written work so that there is no charge of plagiarism against them. The students have been provided with access to the website turnitin.com that allows them to upload their written works in advance so that they can be assessed and searched for any matching work on the web. If there is any match found in the submitted work the students are notified and asked to rectify the same. The University has also provided students with Refworks which is a program that gives students APA arrangements that are prepared in advance for them to cite references. This way the student is assisted in avoiding plagiarism and is prevented from doing so intentionally or accidentally. The University classes also enable the provision of specific links for conducting research and students are encouraged to paraphrase and summarize in their own words instead of copying from the websites.
Franklin University’s policy on academic dishonesty
As is the practice in most universities, Franklin University also has stringent policies regarding academic dishonesty. The University believes that the very purpose of education is to enhance the intellectual abilities and knowledge levels of students. An integral approach is to ensure that students present their viewpoints that are well supported with acknowledgment of others’ works. A violation of this practice implies academic dishonesty. Franklin University considers that plagiarism, cheating, facilitating academic dishonesty, and fabrication in works submitted by students is major misconduct and they must be given punishment in keeping with the extent of the violation. As and when the offense is found to have been committed, the professors and course managers ascertain the extent of penalty to be imposed. For the first offense, the score can be reverted to a zero on the specific assignment in which plagiarism is found or the student is failed. Violation of the university’s academic policies will also imply that the student loses all rights to be considered for academic awards. Further offense in this regard will result in a total failure grade being given and the student’s records will be so prepared that they depict a clear dismissal from the university owing to academic dishonesty (American Psychological Association, 2001).
Reference List
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.