Hi John
Thanks for that. However, I reread that quote several times but can find
nothing in it that suggests the author thinks plagiarism is 'life
threatening' or done by 'evil' people. Maybe later on he suggests
plagiarists should be skinned alive, in which case, another quote might be
better proof. I am wondering if the problem is with the source, the
Huffington Post as some feel it is right wing.
You might strongly disagree with his position that plagiarism is theft and
should be forcibly dealt with, but your extrapolation seems as extreme as
the position you are attributing to him.
Eveline
> Dear Eveline,
>
> Thank you for your comment that the growth of plagiarism is not in your
> opinion " the end of education as we know it, but [you] do think it
> needs addressing, and that would be worth discussing." This suggests to
> me, within the theoretical framework of my research that you do not see
> plagiarism as a security threat - in other words you see it like any
> other phenomenon in education, as potentially problematic but solvable
> by discussion and reasonable educational means.
>
> Those who I'm interested in in my research, in contrast, see plagiarism
> as a dangerous, life-threatening phenomenon for universities that
> requires urgent resort to harsh sanctions to root it out ruthlessly and
> make the evil perpetrators pay. The quotation below provides an example
> of the second group:
>
> “I have learned just how skilled young students are in the ways of
> mosaic plagiarism. I have learned the importance of attacking mosaic
> plagiarism full force. I believe in the rule of law and the science of
> intellectual property law; one's words are one's own and are not to be
> stolen by others wittingly.”
> Attack Plagiarism but Defend Student Creativity. Neil Seeman,
> Huffington Post Canada, 2 January 2014
> http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/neil-seeman/canada-plagiarism-_b_4704541.html
>
>
> I think most of us on the EATAW list, like you, would put ourselves in
> the first category.
>
> Best,
>
> John
>
>>>> Eveline Powell <[log in to unmask]> 19/3/14 15:49 >>>
> Dear Colleagues
>
> Maybe I am alone in this, but I do think plagiarism is a significant
> and
> growing problem. To ask for discussion within a context of paranoia
> and
> hysteria is not to invite discussion at all, but to pat ourselves on
> the
> back for being above the narrow minded, and to laugh at their folly.
> A
> problem can never be addressed if even identifying that problem is seen
> as
> a bigger problem in itself and a character flaw.
>
> To me, the figure of 70% seems a fairly accurate one, relating not to
> the
> amount of work plagiarised, but to the number of students who have
> tried
> it. I don't think it means the end of education as we know it, but I
> do
> think it needs addressing, and that would be worth discussing.
>
> Yours
>
> Eveline Powell
>
>> Dear EATAW Colleagues,
>>
>> I'm working on an article on the "securitisation" of plagiarism.
>> Securitisation is a concept from security studies where certain
> actors or
>> groups talk us into believing that a particular phenomenon is such a
>> threat to our existence that extraordinary, normally unacceptable,
>> measures have to be taken to combat it.
>>
>> I'm looking for a widely cited article (non-academic, I think) which
> put
>> the number of students who have plagiarised during their studies at
> about
>> 70%. If anyone has heard of this article and can give me a link, I'd
>> really appreciate it. Of course any other links to articles in the
> press
>> suggesting plagiarism is a grave threat to the existence of the
> education
>> system, the more paranoid the better, are also gratefully received.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> John
>> ===
>> John Harbord
>> Center for Academic Writing
>> Central European University
>> Budapest, Hungary
>>
>
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