It’s a crime!!!
On more than one occasions throughout the current academic year, I have had to speak to students about referencing their work. Whether we like it or not, kids may not always understand the implications of their actions, especially if ‘everyone is doing it’. When you can buy fake DVD’s and CD’s in the mall quite openly, it’s not a surprise why such attitudes exist. Perhaps the problems that we experience in schools stem from this. Perhaps students simply need educating in the reasons why it is not acceptable in addition to being shown how to reference material accurately. I’m intrigued about how referencing is taught to students. I only remember being told that it is something that I ‘have to do’, otherwise I would fail the paper. To be honest, to date, I have not spent class time discussing this with students – although it is something that I am intending to devote time to during the first week of the next academic year. I’d be interested to hear how other educators teach this topic to students. Do you focus on why this is done, on how to reference or both?
Came across this and thought of your post. Haven’t looked at it in detail, but it may be useful in teaching our students how not to plagiarise.
https://mail.nvnet.org/~cooper_j/plagiarism/
Nadine
Most useful thing I ever heard anyone say about referencing was when Robert Butcher (ISM English Head) emphasised how it makes student’s work stronger. His point was it adds credibility to their (who are they to say anything anyway) work because they are demonstrating the incorporation of the ideas of respected and credible people into their work.
I really believe that people like to hear positive reasons for doing things rather than to be told scare stories.
Good point – well made! I think that people automatically go on the defensive when considering referencing and plagiarism. I like the idea of giving it a positive feel and perhaps emphasising to students how it could help them in their future studies as well.