More adventures in teaching

Thankfully, I only have a few papers left in this first round. Too many unacceptable ones. Too many cases of plagiarism. But, it's the first paper, so I expect to see some of this...just not this much...

Anyway, today...I get something completely new...two papers from two different students...writing on the same topic--which isn't uncommon, though these two picked something that isn't often taken...

Imagine my surprise when they are the same paper word for word! They even made the same citation mistakes...

Now, here's the kicker...one of the cites was for a website...so, I decided to check it out...and...it took me to...

A paper mill!

This wil be an interesting converstaion come Tuesday. *grin* And...I think that my paper guidelines will be changing soon...

Class dynamics and statistics

I have three sections of Intro to Psyc, each one with 35 students registered. This is my norm for each semester. Each class has a different dynamic, and it makes each one a joy to go to because I never know what to expect!

Well...mostly it's a joy.

I handed back the first test in my MWF class yesterday, and I had the weirdest situation in my 10 years of teaching. Typically, when I look at the class grades, I'll get something that looks like a normal curve where a score of 80% is the midpoint (at the 70% line I have my 80-20 split with approximately 20% of the class getting d's and f's---not that I fix it there...it's just how it happens...there have been classes and tests where the line flexes greatly). I don't curve my tests, but I do make a statistical adjustment that I learned from one of my profs in grad school...it allows for a bit of fairness in that I'll never be a perfect test maker ('cuz I am human, right?)

Yesterday, I scored the exams, entered the grades, and looked at the distrubition of the scores...and I got what's called a camalback curve--and it was a dromedary. I had two peaks...one at about 62% and another at 86%...meaning I had a lot of high B's and A's and almost as many D's and F's. Out of 35 students, 4 got C's. That's typically how many A's I see in that course for that material (it's the toughest set of material--after this, the students have a better idea of how to study, too).

That class also has a group of students that are very dedicated to being in class and freak when they eed to miss a class. I like that. There is also a group of students and get up and leave during lecture--if they come at all. Hey...it's their loss, not mine...

Then, there's class two...I haven't entered their test grades yet--I don't meet with them until Tuesday--but I have read 1/3 of their papers so far. Out of the 10 I've read, I have two cases of possible plagiarism, three papers not read because they didn't meet the basic guidelines of the paper--they didn't put the effort out to follow the guidelines, why should I have to put out an effort to grade them?--two papers that were not satisfactory (one of those was based on a blog entry he made a month ago--what does that have to do with psychology--trust me, I checked the blog, and it has nothing to do with psychology!)--and three papers that were are very rough yet original work!

So...

On Tuesday, I'll hand back the first portfolio to that class. I'll hand back their first test. And we'll have a discussion about expectations. Consequences. And changes in perception. I'll be setting up appointments with the plagiarizers (sp?). I'll be setting up appointments with the ones that turned in papers that weren't read or did not come up to the basic level of expectation. And, I'll be speaking with the students that actually did the work--though its really rough, which is what I expect of their writing this early in the semester.

I just hope that I don't see a camalback distribution again

Academic Dishonesty

Plagerism. I cover what it is in class. I tell people what the consequences are. I ask questions and get the proper responses. Yet...

I just read a paper from a student two other professors at school told me about (English comp and philosophy). Both told me that she has a habit of "borrowing" the work of other authors. Told me is very good at it. After being told this, I immediately forgot the student's name--not so much because I wanted to give her an even chance--but because I suck at remembering names.

This semester, I'm requiring the students to turn in their sources with their portfolios. This way, I can help them with citing and referencing, since this is often the most difficult part for my students.

So...

I start reading the paper, and in my first fast look through, I notice that there are the appropriate APA style in-line citations--check out the references page, and it looks pretty good--some minor problems, but easily solved. Back to the first page of text and reading for a score.

Very well written.

Exceptionally well written.

But--the citations in the text don't match those on the References page. I feel like I'm that kanagroo in the "End of the World" video Genghis Connee...erm...LaJaconde is so fond of..."WTF, mate?"

But, then, it gets even weirder...the paper takes a left turn and goes off into an area that Introduction to Psychology students wouldn't normally go...my writer starts discussing a totally different, but related concept that isn't discussed in my textbook and I don't cover in class...

It could be that she just lucked into it...but...that's why I have them include their sources...

I pull out the articles and it takes about five minutes, but I find every piece of information that I questioned. Every single piece lifted word-for-fucking-word. Including the in-line APA style citations.

Now, I dodn't remember if this is the student the other prof's warned me about...so, I give my bud a call and ask him...is this the chick?

Yup...it is.

Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Now, I have to decide just how I'm going to handle this other than reporting her to the dean. Do I fail her on this assignment...or...fail her for the class? I have the right to do both, and since she has a history of plagerism...I'd be well within my rights to do so...

smiling

I think I'll wait to see what how she reacts when I drop this on the desk on Tuesday.