Integrity Matters

I dearly wish that I could say that, in all my years of teaching, I have never encountered plagiarism. Sadly, that is not the case. Rather, I have seen everything from whole cloth submission of published academic articles to more sophisticated efforts to utilize quotes without proper attribution, and on down the line to rather lame, cut and paste from Wikipedia. My sense is that it is usually a matter of desperation, born from stress, work overload, or performance anxiety. Whatever the cause, however strong the temptation… please don’t do it. A good grade is not worth the cost of your soul.

That may sound dramatic, and perhaps even unnecessary to mention, if you yourself have never been thus tempted. As an academic who believes in integrity, I feel compelled to discuss it this once, and to prevail upon you to consider, if you have not done so already, that to present someone else’s work as your own is, at its core, dishonest. The adage that “imitation is the highest form of flattery” loses its relevance within academia. One of the guiding principles in academic discourse is that copying someone else’s words, without giving them proper credit for their ideas, is actually a form of theft. Intellectual property, if you will, is to be respected.

Some people get this basic premise, while falling victim to the siren call of capitalism. These days, one can apparently buy academic papers, written specifically for a given classroom assignment. Perhaps you might think: If I didn’t copy someone else’s published work, and if I paid someone fair and square to write a fresh paper for me, that’s legit, right? Uh… no. That remains a form of misrepresentation, of dishonesty, by submitting work in your name which you did not actually complete. It fails to live up to the standards of academic integrity.

In whatever form, plagiarism seems pretty nonsensical to me. Why pay for an education that you are not actually getting? If one is using someone else’s work, or paying someone else to the homework for them, then they are missing out on the opportunity to learn that material. In crass commercial terms, they are forking over big piles of cash, tuition… for no actual personal return on their educational investment. No real learning. Just a scrap of paper that says they received a degree… which they didn’t actually earn.

And if the appeals to honesty, integrity, ethics, or just plain common sense fail to move you… consider saving your own hide. Plagiarism is a short term strategy that may ruin your entire academic career. Breaching the standards of academic integrity can get you chucked out of college. That’s not a risk worth taking, in my book.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not suggesting “just say ‘no’ to plagiarism” without any acknowledgment of the real pressure students live under during college. Rather, I am encouraging you to acknowledge if and when the pressure is too intense. See it. Be mindful of its impact on you. And if it is starting to get the better of you, own up to that… and reach out for help. If you are so stressed that you find yourself contemplating cutting corners academically… instead, talk to your professors about your situation, exploring creative ways to address your assignments and deadlines. Work with advisors, counselors, mentors, or friends to seek concrete ways to handle stress more productively. Perhaps get a tutor. Maybe lessen your work or course load. Take positive action that will allow to navigate the difficulties you are experiencing… successfully, and with honor.