[social-bio] Students, when asked what the purpose of referencing is in papers, are likely to respond “to avoid plagiarism.”  Slightly less rule-bound and more educationally enlightened, some might say “to show where the ideas in my paper came from.”  Now, while these interpretations may be accurate, they are incomplete and indicate a rather narrow view that may explain why students often report being perplexed by the notions plagiarism, originality, and authorship. Looking back, it wasn’t until I was a grad student that I started to recognize and value the information that referencing conventions provide.  As an undergraduate student, I recall believing there was a “quota” of references to be filled…

[social-bio] Students know that academic dishonesty is wrong and punishable.  Students clearly understand some of the acts known to be academically dishonest, especially where intention to break known rules for a grade advantage is apparent, such as in exam cheating or purchasing papers on-line. At the U of S it is a requirement that teachers provide information or link to the information about academic misconduct on course syllabi.  And, yet, students are still left wondering is it wrong to study from circulating old exams from the same course or professor?  Is it wrong to, instead of reading Hamlet the play, to watch a movie version and write an analysis on…