OSC/Department of Philosophy Ethics Seminar In Academic Integrity

November 25, 2003 in BHC 127

Dr. Nancy Stanlick

Department of Philosophy

(updated November 21, 2003 – may be updated again prior to the seminar meeting on November 25th)

Description and Objective: This is a 2-hour overview of ethical issues involved in instances of academic dishonesty, violations of the UCF Golden Rule, or violations of any university policy consistent with attendance at this course. It includes discussion of the distinction between plagiarism and cheating, the ways in which these occur, and how to avoid them. Specific moral topics include lying, theft of intellectual property, respect for self and others, and academic integrity. The course also includes information about on-line and on-campus academic resources for legitimate assistance with research projects and papers.

Requirements: All those assigned to this course by the Office of Student Conduct or any faculty member or other department in the University are responsible for attending, participating in discussion, and submitting the three assignments listed below. The assignments must be your own original work and are due 3 working days after the meeting of the seminar (December 2) by 5:00 p.m. in the Department of Philosophy office in CNH 411. You may submit these assignments either by e-mail (stanlick@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu) or in person at the Department of Philosophy in CNH 411. Remember that the deadline is December 2nd AT 5:00 P.M.

1. Go to the UCF Library in person (or to its website) and find the bound manuals (or web pages on the use of style manuals and information on citation and research) such as MLA, APA, Chicago, Turabian and others. Write down the relevant URL(s) or the call numbers for the books in the UCF Library.

a. Print the web page on which the information appears or photocopy the title and publication information page of any three these reference works.

b. Also include a list of at least two non-library resources on campus related to appropriate methods of research and/or legitimate assistance that are available to UCF students for graded academic assignments. To do this, search the UCF website for information on assistance with effective study methods, instructions for writing papers, and related resources. These can be web-based resources or actual offices or departments on campus where such assistance may be obtained. Write a brief summary (2-3 sentences) of the service or assistance offered by these 2 sites, departments, academic organizations, or student organizations.

2. Write a 1-page summary of Bernard Gert’s argument concerning education as a competitive activity. Write a 1-page critical analysis of your own of this argument.

3. Read the overview of John Stuart Mill’s ethical theory at http://ethics.acusd.edu/theories/Utilitarianism/index.html and write a 2-page assessment of your own instance of academic dishonesty or violation of the UCF Golden Rule based on Utilitarian ethics.

NOTE: No element of these assignments may be submitted in handwritten form. Word processing or typewritten format (and photocopies of information provided in one of those ways) must be used.

Other Required Readings:

1. Bernard Gert, Morality: Its Nature and Justification at http://www.netlibrary.com. See pp. 191-196.

2. PowerPoint Presentation at http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick/cfccpresstu.ppt on theoretical aspects of cheating and plagiarism.

3. Plagiarism: How to Recognize it and How to Avoid it at http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/plagiarism.html

4. UCF’s Golden Rule – Student Academic Behavior at http://www.ucf.edu/goldenrule/studaca.html

5. Others may be assigned during the course meeting.

Auxiliary Readings and References:

1. Cheating Sites such as http://www.schoolsucks.com

2. Internet Site devoted to combating plagiarism: http://www.turnitin.com

Consider these Questions:

1. What is your reaction to the claim that if you cheat, you are cheating only yourself? What is your reaction to the claim that when you cheat, you are cheating other students?

2. If you buy a term paper over the Internet (or find one in a file cabinet, or borrow or steal one from some source or other), are you plagiarizing when you understand the material and re-write the paper in your own words?

3. Which of these views of the justification of plagiarism or cheating most closely resembles your own? What was your own reason?

· What matters most is good grades.

· I’ll lose my scholarship if I don’t get a good grade in this course.

· The subject is too difficult, and I need the course to graduate.

· This class doesn’t have anything to do with my major, so it isn’t a serious problem if I cheat or plagiarize. What’s the point in knowing anything about English literature or poetry or philosophy or statistics (or whatever) when I want a job in technical writing, engineering, or whatever.

· I had to study for other tests and didn’t have time for this one.

· I have more important things to do.

· I couldn’t get time off from work to do research for the paper (or to study for the test).

Note:

If you have any questions about the content of this seminar, please contact me at stanlick@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu or come by during my office hours for the fall term from 3:00-4:30 on Tuesday or from 3:00-4:30 on Thursday.