Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Pity for the Plagiarist

The following ethical dilemma appears in Randy Cohen's The Good, the Bad and the Difference. After reading the passage, offer your own advice. You may include in your response what others have said on this blog. Be sure that you justify your response.

A college student called me last week to say that his "friend" had visited my web page, lifted something I wrote, and turned it in as his own work. Now his "friend's" professor is suspicious and plans on searching the web to find the material. If the professor finds that the paper was plagiarized, he will recommend expulsion.

The student begged me to take the paper off my site, fearing that his "friend's" academic career, and possibly his life, will be ruined. What should I do?