All students are expected to do their own work without seeking an unfair advantage over other students. All work must be your own; there are no "joint projects" in this class. You may, of course, study with other students.  But make sure that you do your own work.  Plagiarism is also forbidden on out-of-class assignments.   All work must be your own.   For penalties, see below.

Cheating on in-class assignments (exams, quizzes, etc.) usually involves some manner of copying, either from forbidden notes or from another student.

Cheating on out-of-class assignments presents the opportunity for plagiarism as well as copying from other students.  Plagiarism is using someone else's words or unique ideas while claiming or intimating that they are your own.  This includes material sold or freely given as well as stolen, copied, or downloaded.  What constitutes forbidden activities may vary according to the assignment and the instructor.  I generally make two different types of out-of-class assignments:  research papers and take-home examinations.  

In research papers, all material taken from a source must be cited (that is, references by means of in-line notes, footnotes, or endnotes to the author and the publication).  Actual words copied must be enclosed in quotation marks as well as cited.  Basically, you do not have to cite common knowledge, normally accepted factual material, a phrase or a couple of words. But a key phrase, an author's opinion, an unusual or arguable fact does need to be cited.  

On take-home exams, concepts and ideas, but not the actual words, from texts, other books, class notes, the web, or other sources usually may be used without citing as long as the material has been internalized (that is, put into your own words).  Changing, omitting, or adding a few words here or there, blending two or more sources in the same sentence or paragraph, or other similar techniques is not the same as making the material your own.  If you use actual material from any source (beyond a few words) you must give full citations (author, title, publication data, pages) at the point of use and, of course, enclose the material in quotation marks if quoted.  Merely listing the sources you have used at the end of an essay does not excuse you from quoting and citing      your sources at the point of use.  Material from the Web or Internet must include the URL (the web address) as well as author and title.      

Note that other instructors need to be consulted for any assignment to see just what is acceptable or unacceptable.  Do not rely on what you consider plagiarism or other forms of cheating.  The instructor's definitions are what count!

On all assignments, You are responsible for what you turn in.  The excuses "I am not familiar with my computer," or "I turned in the wrong copy," or "I mistakenly turned in my notes or an early draft" simply are not credible.  Don't even try to do it.  You, and you alone, have the responsibility to turn in the correct assignment.  Make sure you don't hand in the wrong pages: actually read them!  Failure to do so is to leave yourself vulnerable.  For those contemplating claiming a computer file date as evidence of turning in an earlier or incomplete draft of an assignment (such as one without the quotation marks around the copied material), be aware that I know how to change dates on computer files, also!

Examples of forbidden activities:

Copying on exams, in-class assignments, or quizzes (even "bonus" quizzes).

Using notes (cheat-sheets, writing on body parts or clothing) brought into class on quizzes or exams.

Asking or giving help on quizzes or exams.

Taking an exam or quiz for someone else (this usually results in two immediate expulsions from the University).

Having someone else take an exam or quiz for you (same as above, you both are expelled).

Downloading sections of material from the web and incorporating them in your out-of-class assignments either in part or entire without quoting and citing the source (see above).

Close paraphrasing of material taken from the web without giving citations.

Copying and/or close paraphrasing from book sources without giving citations.

Stealing or "borrowing" someone else's work to turn in whether or not he/she knows about it.

Buying a term paper or other out-of-class assignment.

Anything else that may give you an unfair advantage over other students.  Studying is a fair, not unfair, advantage. 

Note that identical or nearly identical exams or papers will be considered as prima facie evidence of cheating by all individuals involved whether or not the actual cheating is observed. 

PENALTIES

ALL Cases of cheating will result in FAILURE IN THE COURSE, whether the offense was worth 1/2 point on a quiz, or a whole paper. Cheating is cheating, whether what is involved is only a word, a sentence or two, or an entire exam does not matter.  The penalty is the same.  Cases of cheating will also be referred to appropriate university officials who may or may not exact further penalties including expulsion from the university.  I do not fail you on just a quiz or an assignment or lower your grade.  Be forewarned, I am serious about this.

Bottom line:  DON'T CHEAT!

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GenEd 110 World Civ	Hist 440  Early Middle Ages
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