AFR 140 Introduction to Africana Studies: Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity: It is the student’s responsibility to understand what plagiarism and cheating entail, and to refrain from engaging in unethical, dishonest scholarship.

Plagiarism (as defined by the John Jay College Undergraduate Bulletin) is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, words; artistic, scientific or technical work; research or writings as your own.  Using the ideas or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original source. It is the student‘s responsibility to recognize the difference between statements that are common knowledge (which do not require documentation) and restatements of the ideas of others.  Paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation are acceptable forms of restatement, as long as the source is cited.

Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism.

Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors.  The Library has free guides designed to help students with problems of documentation.

The following are some examples of plagiarism, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:

• Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source (even if it is from your own previous work);
• Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source;
• Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the sources;
• Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.
• Putting your name on a paper that you did not write.

Internet Plagiarism includes submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the Internet without citing the source, and “cutting and pasting” from various sources without proper attribution.

Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise.  The following are some examples of cheating, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:

• Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work;
• Unauthorized collaboration on a take home assignment or examination;
• Using notes during a closed book examination;
• Taking an examination for another student, or asking or allowing another student to take an examination for you;
• Changing a graded exam and returning it for more credit;
• Submitting substantial portions of the same paper to more than one course without consulting with each instructor;
• Preparing answers or writing notes in a blue book (exam booklet) before an examination;
• Allowing others to research and write assigned papers or do assigned projects, including use of commercial term paper services;
• Giving assistance to acts of academic misconduct/dishonesty;
• Fabricating data (all or in part);
• Submitting someone else’s work as your own;
•  Unauthorized use during an examination of any electronic devices such as cell phones, palm pilots, computers or other technologies to retrieve or send information.     

For the complete text of the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and the John Jay College Policy on Academic Integrity and other college-wide policies see the John Jay Undergraduate Bulletin, Chapter IV Academic Standards.