What I Would Do If There Were No A/R Project?

1. I would not spend endless hours researching plagiarism root causes, etc.

2. I would identify plagiarism solutions, create a list of them and then seek to match them to TTC. Cultural issues here become things like the fact that TTC is not as developed in terms of academic infrastructure as western institutions -- just look at their website as an illustration of this. Library is thinner, academic boots-on-the ground resources are thinner. As well as Less of a commitment to western ways (of thinking and doing).

3. I would seek to implement some of these ideas.  Off the top of my head these ideas would include:

a) beef-up Prospectus to include sufficient statements on academic integrity and plagiarism

b) beef-up syllabi with anti-plagiarism statements and link to Prospectus guidelines

c) beef-up website with same

d) institute an annual "Honor Chapel" that stresses academic integrity, 10X, etc.

e) modify syllabi to include, as appropriate, an early in-class opinion essay to capture student's writing style, level and vocabulary; minimize take-home assignments, e.g., in-class vs. take-home exam, etc.

f) a plagiarism competency quiz

g) How to detect plagiarism handbook for faculty

This would be a "common-sense" approach rather than wrapped in academic theory justifications.

4. I would perhaps survey at the end to see what results if any were obtained.

My main point here is one of academic sufficiency or ???. IOW, the academy has a responsibility to communicate expectations clearly, reinforce these expectations, set the bar clearly whether or not these actions do anything to mitigate actual plagiarism.

"Students have an obligation to be shining lights of moral example, but so does the Christian institution. How does an institution "let its light shine" with regards to the issue of plagiarism? By "getting its house in order" and making sure that it has the infrastructure in place to equip students to avoid plagiarism.

Equipping the saints for the work of ministry / Equipping the students for the work of the academy.

How does one equip students?

1. By communicating expectations clearly.
2. By reinforcing these communications.
3. By forewarning of penalties. And sticking to them.
4. By explaining "why".
5. By measuring student competencies and attitudes.
6. By wrapping plagiarism inside inside institutional and personal honour.