PLAGIARISM POLICY

Rationale

The staff at Woodvale Secondary College are committed to teaching students how to become ethical users of information and ideas. It is our responsibility not only to educate students in the research process and the mechanics of writing proper documentation, but also to hold these students accountable for honest work. Whether an assigned project is in a visual, written or spoken format, students are expected to accurately reference all sources of information consulted for the project. Plagiarism is regarded as a serious offence and will not be tolerated by Woodvale Secondary College.

Cheating and/or plagiarism are regarded as very serious offences. Copying or paraphrasing material/text from the work of another student, from published sources (ie: York Notes, Brodie’s Notes, book, magazines, newspapers etc.) and/or from the internet without proper documentation constitutes academic theft.

Definition

“The unauthorised use of someone’s else’s material, which is then presented as being the result of the plagiarist’s own primary research, creative impulse or insight. Plagiarism technically encompasses the borrowing of ideas of others, as well as their exact words…” Laurie Henry, The Fiction Dictionary, p.219.

Plagiarism is defined as:

  • Copying of another person’s ideas and/or works, whether intentional or not, in whole/part, from a print or non-print sources, and using those ideas or works as one’s own.
  • Deliberate and/or consistent lack of proper documentation and citation in the project or paper.
  • In text documentation that is not reflected in the Bibliography or Reference List.

Teacher Responsibilities:

  • Assisting students who are having difficulty in the location and evaluation of information.
  • Assisting students in how to manage time and deadlines throughout the research process.
  • Conferencing with students on formatting and composing the project or paper.

Student Responsibilities:

  • Submit authentic work by the due date.
  • Follow the project instructions and deadlines assigned by the teacher.
  • Ask questions and seek help from appropriate people (teachers, librarians and peers).
  • Cite in-text or in-project sources according to the conventions of referencing. (See the Bibliography Format in this diary; model can also be located in the school library at Woodvale Secondary College).

Level of Plagiarism / Consequence (at the teacher’s discretion)
Low Level Plagiarism:
  • May occur due to ignorance or inexperience on the part of the student. An example of this level may involve a student using a paragraph or a few lines of a text without citing the material properly. Most of the work, however, is the student’s own.
  • Inadvertent or unknowing plagiarism caused by sloppy research or writing technique.
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  • Student is warned about the implications of plagiarism and reminded of WSC plagiarism policy.
  • Student is referred to the HOLA.
  • Letter of concern sent home to parents.

Medium Level Plagiarism:
  • Plagiarising material or using an original idea of someone else without crediting the source of the material or ideas.
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  • Student is warned about the implication of plagiarism and reminded of WSC plagiarism policy.
  • Student is referred to the HOLA.
  • Letter of concern sent home to parents.
  • Student to resubmit task.
  • Student may be penalised as determined by HOLA.

High Level Plagiarism:
  • Blatant plagiarism or the direct copying of another’s material without acknowledging that source.
  • This also applies to students who have been found guilty of plagiarism in a prior instance.
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  • Student is referred to HOLA.
  • Student is penalised.
  • Student may resubmit at the discretion of HOLA.
  • Student in Academic Extension or Accelerated Pathways may have their position reviewed.