WEBQUEST

PLAGIARISM

IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS

By Virginia Di Vito

John F. Kennedy High School

INTRODUCTION:

According to American university professors, cheating is rampant among students at all levels in the United States today. Not only has the Internet made information of all kinds readily available, but there also are many websites that provide ready-made research papers to students looking to get passing grades without doing the work. Students who actually are serious and work for their grades are cheated out of a fair academic experience.

How can we correct this situation? As a high-level investigator to the Chancellor of the New York City school system, it is your responsibility to address this problem. You will first need to become an expert on the problem by researching its dimensions and causes as well as the public policy already in place to correct it. Next, you will prepare your own original public policy solution to this problem. Finally, you will present your findings and recommendations to the Chancellor.

TASK:

Your task in this WebQuest is to prepare a 3-page typewritten (double-spaced) report on the problem of plagiarism in the American classroom, at both the high school and college level. You will use the TIPS Public Policy Analyst as well as the websites provided in the Resources section to help you in your research. You will also make a 5-7-slide PowerPoint presentation to the Chancellor, advising him of your findings and recommendations.

PROCESS:

1. Use the six Public Policy Analyst worksheets below to summarize your findings on the problem of plagiarism, the public policies that exist to combat it, as well as your own original public policy solutions. Use the websites provided in the Resources section to help you in your research.

a. TIPS Worksheet #1 (Define the problem)

b. TIPS Worksheet #2 (Gather evidence for the problem)

c. TIPS Worksheet #3 (Identify causes of the problem)

d. TIPS Worksheet #4 (Evaluate existing public policy solutions)

e. TIPS Worksheet #5 (Develop original public policy solutions)

f. TIPS Worksheet #6 (Choose the best public policy solutions)

2. Prepare a 3-page typewritten (double-spaced) report on the problem of plagiarism in American schools, both on the high school and college levels. Include in your report an analysis of the problem itself (including evidence such as statistics and expert analysis), an explanation of existing public policy designed to combat plagiarism, and your own original public policy designed to do the same.

3. Use the information and conclusions in your report to prepare a 5-7-slide PowerPoint presentation, which you will present orally to the Chancellor in an effort to convince him of the need to adopt your specific policy changes.

RESOURCES:

The following websites regarding plagiarism present a variety of definitions, perspectives, and analyses of the problem:

Plagiarism 1

Plagiarism 2

Plagiarism 3

Plagiarism 4

Plagiarism 5

Plagiarism 6

Plagiarism 7

Plagiarism 8

EVALUATION:

You will be judged according to the following rubric.

Excellent	Satisfactory	Minimal Satisfactory	Unsatisfactory
Organization Student presentation is logical, clear and fully captivates audience interest.	Organization Student presentation is logical, clear and somehow captivates audience interest	Organization Student presentation is logical and somehow clear but not captivating.	Organization Student presentation is illogical and distorted.
Subject Knowledge Student demonstrates full knowledge of subject matter and beyond	Subject Knowledge Student demonstrates knowledge of subject matter	Subject Knowledge Student demonstrates a little knowledge of subject matter subject matter	Subject Knowledge Student does not know subject matter
Accuracy No grammatical errors	Accuracy Very few grammatical errors	Accuracy Some grammatical errors	Accuracy Too many grammatical errors that distorts meaning of words

The following English Language Art Performance Standards are addressed in this WebQuest:

English Language Arts Performance Standards

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

E3b: Participate in-group meetings.

E3c: Prepare and deliver an individual presentation

CONCLUSION:

Having completed this WebQuest, you are now an expert on the problem of plagiarism in the American school system both on the high school and college levels. You have identified and analyzed the problem, as well as critiqued existing public policy. You have also developed your own original public policy designed to combat this growing problem of plagiarism that continues to plague American schools. You have successfully convinced the Chancellor to adopt your recommendations.