ACADEMIC HONESTY[1]

MIDDLE SCHOOL POLICY

 

            You need to be aware of the importance of academic honesty in all of your classes. The following information is intended to help you understand what academic dishonesty is, and the consequences of academic dishonesty in my class.

 

 

PART I: What are the most common forms of academic dishonesty?

 

A.   PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is when an individual uses another person’s ideas, expressions or writing as if they were his/her own.

i.               Copying verbatim – This is the most common form and happens when an individual copies words, expressions or ideas directly from another source (such as a book or article, the internet, or another person) without giving proper credit to the author.

ii.             Paraphrasing – This is when an individual borrows written ideas from a source and rewrites them in his/her own words, without giving proper credit to the author.

iii.           Use of an idea – This is when an individual adapts an idea from another source without giving proper credit to the author or creators. This could happen, for example, when you are asked to write an original piece, such as a short story, and you borrow an idea from a movie, TV program, article or classmate without acknowledging the original source.

 

NOTE:  You can use other people’s ideas. Just give credit where it is due. That is to say, acknowledge your source.

 

 

B.    CHEATING ON TESTS AND QUIZZES

• bringing answers into the test room
• copying from another student
• sharing answers with another student
• using unauthorized notes or technology

 

 

C.   ASKING/TELLING OTHER STUDENTS WHAT IS ON A TEST OR QUIZ

 

D.   COPYING/SHARING HOMEWORK

 

E.    TAKING CREDIT FOR WORK THAT YOU DIDN'T DO (e.g. not acknowledging the assistance of a parent, friend, or tutor)

 

 

 

PART II: What happens when a student is involved in academic dishonesty?

            The teachers and administrators of ASFM expect all students to do their own work and not submit as their own ideas copied or borrowed from another source. This expectation refers to ALL assignments (homework, in-class assignments, essays, tests, projects, presentations, etc.). All cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the administration (team leader, assistant principal, and/or principal) and properly documented in your file.

 

A.    Definite Consequences: parents are informed of the incident; student receives a detention; student loses credit for the assignment or test; the incident is recorded in the student’s file.

 

B.    Possible Consequences: parental conference; short or long-term suspension; failure of the course; expulsion from school