Week+Four+-+Synthesis


 * Michael ||
 * Elizabeth - Based on everyone's contribution - the main ideas to be considered for synthesis should be based on the organizational method and answer the questions of what is plagiarism, why does it occur and who perpetuates the problem - instructors or students or both and finally is there a way to prevent or combat plagiarism? ||
 * Jack

Week 4 – Synthesize Resources
==Using the concept approach to synthesizing the resources, it seems that the following resources define it: [] and []. The following resources attempt to expound on ways to combat it: [], [] .==

==What I also noticed looking over the resources is what seems to be a debate on whether or not to combat plagiarism. If the end result is to do something about it, then there are ideas ranging from using online software to check a paper to getting a student to read his/her paper aloud. So, it will be important for us to blend together the use of software to combat the problem with techniques such as requiring the student to read his/her paper out loud.== ||
 * Bill

Week 4 – Synthesize resources. (Creation of new ideas from multiple singular components)

In regards to our topic, I think that the organizational method that makes the most sense is to set up organization by concept or category. In reviewing our resources, I notice that quite a few are an attempt to define what plagiarism is. When looking over the others, I see that there are ideas for combating and listing reasons for why plagiarism occurs. For our task in synthesizing our resources, in regards to the reasons for cheating, we see some common trends between the first two links :

Why does plagiarism occur? From this site to gather reasons for cheating: [] as well as

Why the increase in plagiarism: [|http://www.plagiarism.org/plag_facts.html]

These links both point out that there is a general apathy from professors and adults regarding cheating. Many do not feel it is their duty to report or govern students in cheating or that they don’t have enough time. The last two links which involve ways to combat plagiarism, identify ways from an angle that the lack of defining expectations for student work may assist in exasperating plagiarism.

I suppose that my main synthesis from the various resources may prove that plagiarism could be as much the fault of the institution as the student. If teachers or those in charge do not a) define and set rigid standards against plagiarism, and b) show a definite interest in shutting it down then it will continue to remain a problem. This argument may be a weaker one, but who is to say that complacency in regards to the authors and those providing the assignments and or content aren’t to share some blame regarding cheating. From a technology aspect, perhaps a method for disallowing copying of the material would be in order. || Week 4 – Synthesize resources
 * Mary Ann

For our group project I like the organization method to synthesize our resources, which we already have accomplished:

Main research question: Do the advancements in communications and computing technology increase or decrease the likelihood of plagiarism and cheating in an academic setting?

Focus questions: What is the definition of plagiarism, why does it occur? []

How is technology an enabler to plagiarism? []

Can technology be used to stop or limit plagiarism and how can it be used to prevent accidental plagiarism?

[]

Synthesis of sites:
=== In looking at the resources there seems to be a lackadaisical effort on some students and professors. Students just want to get the work done and some professors don’t think it is their job to be the plagiarism police. ===

=== Several sites describes what plagiarism is, the causes of plagiarism and who is responsible for plagiarism, I especially like the list of what causes students to plagiarize on the wpacouncil.org/node/9 site. ===

By looking at the resources an organizing them clearly, we can come up with a logical and successful paper.
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