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Problem with college graduation

  • 12-10-2011 6:17pm
    #1
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi all, just finished an honours Economics course a little while back.

    Heading for graduation very soon but I have come across something distressing. I copied 1 page of material in a dissertation without reference. The same information appears in well over 5 sources unattributed, but this could be a result of just teaching for a class. It looks like an assignment mantra everywhere it pops up.

    Just found the original author the other day through google, but most places this info appears it's unattributed to her despite being the original work of this lady. Am I ****ed? I don't cheat intentionally, so this is the first time ever. Common knowledge is a hazy concept.

    Should I keep my mouth shut? Want to do the right thing.


Comments

  • #2
    anndub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 517 ✭✭✭anndub


    I'm assuming since you're about to graduate you've already received your results?

    Why would you do anything about it? People plagarise all the time, so reports are normally checked using professional software after they are submitted. They authorities that be usually allow for a certain amount, usually around the 10% mark, before they call a student up on it. You obviously haven't come to their attention so I wouldn't worry about it. Your college days are over!


  • #3
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, got my results and all, it's just that this could bring my grade down if they found out. tbh, it's probably seen as minor so I dunno. The way the rules are written though, you would swear a sway sentance would get you kicked out.

    Maybe I will just let this rest. I am a bit of a worrier, so this is niggling at the back of my head. Still, it's not a big deal when you consider the other stuff people have to put up with. Just for the record, they can't usually take back a degree/fail you for sloppiness?

    The amount probably adds up to around 2-3% tops? Any Academics hear of a case whereby someone failed/dropped a degree class over this amount? They probably didn't even read that section LOL.

    Thanks again enlightened grad student:). Maybe I am just overthinking this. I am not well up on the whole Academia scence I am afriad. I totally understand why they take it seriously though in fairness.


  • #4
    randylonghorn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,509 ✭✭✭✭randylonghorn


    It may have been noticed, but if it appears in a number of sources unattributed, you may have been given the benefit of the doubt, especially if your referencing otherwise was satisfactory. (Though shouldn't you have referenced it as something like "Anon., quoted in ..." at least?)

    If you have got your final result, I don't see much point in stirring things.

    Learn from it to be more careful of your referencing, and maybe to try google for an unattributed quote beforehand (I've often found the original author / article / book in just that way, and indeed often those articles / books proved useful above and beyond that isolated quote).


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