• The Challenge of Original Work
     During the course of your education, you will be exposed to many ideas, theories, and creative works. Inevitably, your own ideas will be shaped by the words and ideas that you encounter. The intellectual challenge you face in your academic work is to go beyond what you learn in your textbooks, in lectures, and in the library -- to evaluate, rethink, synthesize, and make your own the information, data, and concepts you find in your sources. The greatest satisfaction of academic work comes from making something original, genuine, and new out of the material you have learned in your courses and discovered in your research. Doing original work is the most demanding, but also the most rewarding, part of your education.
     
    Your original work -- whether it is an essay, a solution to a math problem, or a research paper -- is also the basis for your teacher’s evaluation of your performance in a course. For that reason, intellectual honesty is the cornerstone of our academic community. You must always distinguish your own words and ideas from the words and ideas of others -- including the authors of primary, secondary, or electronic sources and faculty members, classmates, or friends. Making those distinctions is not always easy and can be made even more difficult by less-than-careful research habits or the time pressure of submission deadlines.
     
    Take the time now to learn to recognize when it is necessary to cite your sources and how to provide adequate and accurate bibliographic information for your reader.
     

    Source: (modified from)

    “The Challenge of Original Work.”  Academic Integrity at Princeton. 2008. The Trustees of Princeton University.  5 Nov. 2008.  http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/integrity/pages/original.html

     
     
    Forms of Academic Dishonesty

    ·        Copying homework or allowing homework to be copied

    ·        Telling students in later classes test or quiz questions

    ·        Giving or receiving answers during an in-class assessment

    ·        Using any outside aide to improve performance (including but not limited to: writing notes on hand, notes on scrap paper, looking at another’s paper, any technological assistance.)

    ·        Sharing answers on take-home assignments/assessments

    ·        Cutting from another’s work and pasting into yours without citing it

    ·        Using another’s ideas as the structure of your own paper

    ·        Using another’s ideas within your paper without giving credit

    ·        Forging sources

     

    This list is not all-inclusive; ultimately, each situation will be evaluated individually. 

     

    Honor and Integrity:  an every day thing

     

    During the course of this school year, we will engage in various formal writings and projects.  Obviously, no form of plagiarism will be tolerated.  What will perhaps be a larger challenge is the effort it will take to maintain academic integrity on a daily basis.  This course runs on the principle of respect.  One of the most fundamental ways you can demonstrate self-respect is to take pride in your work, submit only original ideas, and complete all assignments to the best of your ability. 
     
     
    News
    This has become a point of major concern at the university level as well.
     
    New York Times (note these are all within the past few months...it"s incredibly relevant and critical.)
    Here is our pledge.
     
    Student:

    I promise to conduct myself with honor and integrity in all actions within this classroom.  I understand that any breach of this code will result in an academic, and potentially other, discipline referral as indicated in the Great Valley Student Handbook. 

      

     

    Parents:

    I (We) promise to work with my/our child in promoting honor and integrity and discourage any dishonest actions.  I (We) understand that should my/ourchild breach this code in any way it will result in an academic, and potentially other, discipline referral as indicated in the Great Valley Student Handbook. 

     
     

     
    Other Information
     
    "Before He Cheats" - Teacher Parody on Carrie Underwood"s "Before He Cheats," chronicling the danger of cheating!
    "The Evils of Plagiarism" - Two youngin"s learn their lesson early!