Prof Rose's Plagiarism Warning

WARNING! DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!

Most of you scholars would never think of committing academic misconduct as serious as plagiarism; however, there might be a few of you who might do it accidentally from not paying attention to the lessons and materials on plagiarism. If you do it accidentally, it is, nonetheless, still plagiarism. There might even be one or two who might consider doing it on purpose. This warning sheet is intended for these two groups of potential plagiarizers to emphasize the seriousness of plagiarism and the trouble you can get yourself into with it. I will present below some issues that I have had to deal with in past plagiarism cases. I will emphasize five things you need to know:

STUDENTS WILL DEFINITELY FAIL THE ENTIRE CLASS IF THEY PLAGIARIZE ONCE. STUDENTS MAY BE EXPELLED IN EXTREME CASES.

IF YOU PLAGIARIZE ACCIDENTALLY BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LECTURES AND MATERIALS ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES PLAGIARISM, YOUR IGNORANCE STILL CANNOT BE USED AS A DEFENSE AGAINST A PLAGIARISM CHARGE.

YOUR OPINION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES PLAGIARISM IS IRRELEVANT.

NOT BELIEVING I WILL BUST YOU FOR PLAGIARISM DOES NOT KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING.

THE FOLLOWING THINGS PEOPLE OFTEN GET USED TO RELYING UPON TO GET THEM OUT OF JAMS WILL NOT HELP YOU IF YOU PLAGIARIZE AT DMAC:

Apologies
Tears
Threats
Good looks
Complaints
Friendliness
Charm

I have dealt with students who expected the previous to get them out of their plagiarism charges, but the strategies did not work. To the administration’s credit, they did not work on them either. The only thing that matters in a plagiarism investigation is whether you did it or not. It is my job to teach you how to avoid plagiarism. Failing that, it is my job to bust you for plagiarizing. To do anything else would jeopardize the accreditation of DMAC, and I take my job seriously. Another thing I take very seriously is your ability to excel on your own merits without having to plagiarize. I’m rooting for you! Really!