Plagiarism is a Crime Essay Sample
Plagiarism is a crime that is so common in almost every field, it may be professional or academic or something else. In an academic environment, such issues are handled by faculty and staff or student bound bodies such as the student council. Some colleges even use a hybrid of both staff and councils to handle cases of plagiarism. Academic integrity is a very serious issue, and it is the very foundation of a student’s educational bonafide.
Personally, I reckon that using a hybrid of faculty as well as student councils would prove to be the best to help handle cheating. Most college faculty have undergone years of vigorous learning and research, and their years of experience in the field would help them better understand the offender’s reasons for cheating. Professional staff are experts at what they do; They are knowledgeable and reliable to make decisions for the same. Some may opine that the professors of a course must have the authority to measure the authenticity of the content since the standards are set by them. Take, for instance, some professors would permit peer discussions on their quizzes, whereas most ‘strictly’ allow only the answers of the examinee.
However, it is always good to have someone from the same level to make decisions as they would better relate to the student’s circumstances. Student councils in colleges and universities that represent the student body as a whole and advocate for student rights are also proved to be a good set of decision-makers. For example, a student in their freshman year would rather have someone from their age group to make a verdict as they would relate better. I think they would be the best spokesperson for a student who is falsely accused of plagiarism. Student councils, in general, were started with the aim of developing young minds to have a sense of responsibility and justice.
It is important to keep in mind what led the student to commit such a crime. Some students panic on the spot due to anxiety; some think that they are supposed to reproduce the exact words of the experts, some may have difficulty in putting their thoughts onto paper, some do not understand the importance of citing sources, and some may not be used to writing on their own (Michelle Navarre Cleary, kappanonline.org). These are a few reasons why students plagiarize their content. Faculty can implement a plan of action to avoid these cases and at the same time, teach good practices (Michelle Navarre Cleary, kappanonline.org).
Today, plagiarism is a crime that is unchallenging. With modern technology, contents from various sources are easily accessible. It is not surprising that plagiarism numbers have escalated in the past decade. In many places, students plagiarize their content without realizing that they are committing a crime because of their lack of awareness. Researchers who spent their time and resources have their work discredited on the student’s paper. Thus, while making a decision on this case, I think that both faculty and student councils must be consulted, as this would produce the best verdict.
