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What is Academic Dishonesty?

Using someone else's words, work and/or ideas and claiming them as your own.

It is important that each teacher discuss what academic dishonesty means within their own classroom. It will vary from teacher to teacher and subject to subject.

If you aren't sure how big a problem it is there are some articles at Plagiarism.org on how students go to Internet to find new ways to cheat.

Why does it happen?

Students are motivated to cheat for numerous reasons:

1. Students are still learning time management skills.
2. They feel pressure to succeed from both home and peers.
3. Cheating has become pervasive so a "who cares" attitude develops.
4. Lack of understanding of everything that constitutes cheating.

How can I detect cheating?

1. Using Search Engines: Enter a questionable phrase or short paragraph into several different search engines and search the web.
2. Web sites that help detect cheating :Compiled by Patti Tjomsland, LMS Longview, WA
3. Comprehensive online guide that provides tips for detecting cheating. From North High School Library in Downer's Grove, IL.

How can I prevent cheating?

1. Educate Parents.
2. Using examples, you should clearly define Academic Dishonesty within your classroom.
3. Practice citing work with your students.
4. Create assignments that involve critical thinking skills and not "find the answer" assignments.
5. Assign work that is age appropriate.
6. Focus on the process of learning.
7. Tie work directly to the curriculum.
8. Provide instruction to develop specific skills to help students avoid plagiarizing. You will find some good ideas at Borrowing? Fraud? Plagiarizing?
9. Methods to discourage cheating from "Seven Antidotes to Prevent Highway Robbery in an Electronic Age" by Jamie Mackenzie.
10. Visit and become familiar with Paper Mills:

• Cheathouse.com
• Gradesaver
• The Paper Store
• SparkNotes
• Paper Mill List
• Specific Content Paper Mills