Plagiarized paper update III

[Catshrink]

Recap: A student submitted a paper that was copied from the Internet -- 92% according to our school's verification program. (This site searches the web and other sources and checks for matches.) The school's policy is clear -- the student receives an F for the assignment and may face other consequences. The student was aware of the policy. He also has not done much in my class and has been fairly uncooperative in submitting other assignments and a few minor behavioral issues. I met with the student and his parents. He denied it, told me the paper was his work. I told him I was concerned that the quality was far above what a typical hs student would write so I checked it out and found the 92% copy-match. He said no, he wrote it.

Latest: I reported the parent conference results to the vice principal for follow-up. He asked what I wanted to happen at this point. I told him that was a tough one. The kid was not remorseful and did not understand that what he did was wrong. I am not advocating removing him from the class -- the F on the paper is sufficient from my point of view. I would like to see him working more in class, stop playing with his little toys, etc.

He will meet with the student and put him on a contract for the class. He must turn in all homework, pay attention, take notes, etc. This is all for the student's benefit, although we all know he won't see it that way.

He did tell me that I had already done the most important part. Even though the student was unresponsive during the meeting, the fact that he had to sit there as I presented the source of the plagiarism in front of his parents and discuss his lack of academic performance/interest was plenty painful for him. He told me not to underestimate the impact that had on the student, it just isn't apparent.

Thanks DUers for your support. I've seen a couple of other threads about copying work -- don't do it!!! Teachers aren't stupid and at some point, you will be caught. The consequences can -- and should be -- substantial.

[liberalnurse]

1. Now that you have identified all his negatives.....

do you have any clue as to why his behavior is substandard? How were his parents? Are they attentive? Work-a-holics, druggies, separated?

Is the kid just a lazy shit? Is there more to the story?

[Catshrink]

2. Parents seemed concerned

I thought they were realistic and seemed to understand the situation. He is definitely a lazy shit, as you say. He has shown no effort or motivation. Chemistry just isn't as much fun as video games.

[JackSwift]

3. High school is a bit early

for a late bloomer to appreciate just how cool chemistry truly is. It sounds like you may have done some good in the long term by being firm but not vengeful. If he grows up, he will one day appreciate it.

[Maddy McCall]

4. as an educator and a parent, I am apalled that you would refer

to any student as "shit." As I said to you before--and I am a seasoned educator--you shoud respect your students privacy rights, which are guaranteed to him by FEDERAL LAW, more than you do as exhibited by your willingness to broadcast this situation to everyone here. What if his parents were DU members? YOU could be opening yourself up for a substantial lawsuit.

Talk to trusted people in your community, but be careful about divulging confidential situations on the internet. You just may find that someone in your community recognizes this situation and turns you in.

[Clete]

5. I think this teacher has been more than reasonable.

Shit only mean compost anyway. It's just a word outside of the work environment and it displays frustration.

[Catshrink]

11. Bad citation on my part

I should have put the "lazy shit" in quotes as I was quoting the previous poster. Yes, I do respect my kids and their work.

As for the privacy issue, DU is anonymous, is it not? You have no details about where I live or where I teach, the name of the school or the name of the student. I certainly don't talk about this on campus, except to the appropriate administration people and my department chair. The kid is protected from public humiliation.

If he decides to tell other student that I turned him in, that's his right to do so. But it didn't come from me.

[trigz]

16. Jesus christ, fucking relax

What the hell is your problem. She was paraphrasing. Besides, she hasn't made even the vaguest identification of the pupil in question. Finally, it seems bloody obvious that this pupil is indeed a lazy shit. As a DU'er and a coming parent I am apalled that you even bothered posting this. I mean seriously, come on!

[liberalnurse]

8. Is this inorganic chemistry?

I can empathize....I didn't catch on until I got into organic chem. I did really well in bio-organic chem....

I still am simply blah with inorganic chem.....

[Catshrink]

13. Here's a secret: I don't much like inorganic either

and I teach it. I loved organic chemistry and biochemistry. I work those into my presentations as much as possible to help kids see the relevance of what we're doing. It holds their attention.

[ShaneGR]

12. Chemistry????

You were my nightmare in high school. I hated you. Saw no reason to learn Chem. I loved english, language, and history. Perhaps that is the problem? Maybe if you showed the kid why it's important to know Chem. To be honest, I still don't know why it is important. Unless someone wants to be a scientist.

[Catshrink]

14. Maybe so a student won't be another ignorant American?

Maybe so a person can read the ingredients on a cereal box and have a clue about what it means. Maybe so when commercials go on about how wonderful something is, one can recognize the hype and bs.

Science education and science knowledge in the US are appalling. We are working on ways to captivate the kids and make it more interesting. In HS I thought it was boring too. But I do think it's essential.

[speckledgator]

15. i don't think this

has a much to do with the subject, but the fact of honesty. This teacher seems to be the type that would be avaialble for help...and be realistic about this student's capabilities. BTW my history professor told me he could spot such papers a mile away...

[Guaranteed]

10. My lack of enthusiasm for work

has always been the product of my feeling like I never really asked to be born.
And I always caught on to things much faster than my fellow students, too, and that didn't help to cultivate my work ethic.

[corarose]

6. Hey, I am not going to buy my paper off of the Internet

I am halfway finished with my Paper and I am not a cheater or a liar so I would feel real guilty if I handed in someone else's work.

[Catshrink]

9. Great! I'm so happy to hear you're getting through your overwhelming pile

of assignments. Good work! Can you see the end yet? Best of luck to you. Let us know how you survive all this!

To you:

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast::toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[dreissig]

7. Unmotivated Student

Obviously this student didn't have much motivation to do original work. Perhaps he doesn't see what good it will do him to put so much effort into a paper. All that research, too! What a daunting prospect, and to no particular end.