Okay, here's what happened... This week is "Drug Week" at school, and its theme is to teach drug prevention to students. Some people even wrote poems about it for a special project. So this morning in the announcements, it showed the three winners of the contest, and they proceeded to read their own poems. I noticed that the last poem one girl read seemed VERY familiar, and I knew I had read it before somewhere. I told my English teacher what I thought, and she said this was serious, and asked me to bring the book, if I had it. I do have it, and it's the exact poem she read. She will be disqualified if I tell, and I think it serves her right. I'm in doubt because I've asked two people and they've both told me that this isn't worth it.
I have strong opinions regarding this, because I've been accused of forging a poem before. Now that I see actual forgery, it makes me very angry! Thank you for your opinions...!
Either you choose to tell or you choose not to. We are not here to guide and develop your morality, your conscience should now be your own.
deleted user 25.10.2006 16:54
Penetration_Guru wrote: Either you choose to tell or you choose not to. We are not here to guide and develop your morality, your conscience should now be your own.
Ah, plagiarism. Well, it's all of matter of principle and ethics. Is it right for someone to steal someone else's work and make it their own. How would you feel if you were the author of that poem? Would it even matter to you? Is it right for this person to get credit for someone else's work? Have you ever cheated before? If so, would you consider yourself a hypocrite? It's a tough decision to make Fredlilah, but in the end you are the one that has to decide what is right and what is wrong.
I think if she committed plagiarism and is actually getting credit for something that isn't hers, you should definately tell because you will serve her good as well. She will learn her lesson now before it's too late. She's not gonna get massivly punished for this because she is still in school. It will help her from doing something silly like this in college where it does matter and the consequences are SERIOUS and I mean 'getting kicked out and never being able to return' serious which is the case with like 99.9% of colleges. However, do what your heart tells you to because I don't want you feeling guilty even though, to me, there is nothing bad about reporting this.
deleted user 25.10.2006 17:24
I would think about the person in fourth place. The person who (presumably wrote their own poem) didn't win a top-three spot because of someone else's use of a published poem. If you know who this person is, you could perhaps talk to THEM and see what they want to do.
Also, as you have told the teacher already that you thought you had heard the poem before (and you found it), if she asks again and you say "I guess I was wrong" - you would be lying to cover up for someone else cheating.
It's up to you, as others have said - do what you feel is right.
Donna13 wrote: I think your English teacher has already made the decision for you. She has asked you to bring the book to her. This is all you have to do.
No, she hasn't. She didn't know if I had the book or not, I just said I had read it before.
But thanks for all the opinions, I greatly appreciate them! I don't know the girl at all, and I think that's a good thing... makes it a bit easier.
Donna13 wrote: I think your English teacher has already made the decision for you. She has asked you to bring the book to her. This is all you have to do.
No, she hasn't. She didn't know if I had the book or not, I just said I had read it before.
But thanks for all the opinions, I greatly appreciate them! I don't know the girl at all, and I think that's a good thing... makes it a bit easier.
Well, if you hardly know the girl, then I think it's safe to say... You should tell on her. I'd understand if you didn't tell on someone whos quite close to you.
I know you are going to feel bad about this, but trust me, you will be doing this girl a favor by letting her know that she can't get away with this stuff. Plagarism is a very serious charge, something that can not only get you fired from a job, but also get you sued. Here at CMU, if you are caught plagerising you are AUTOMATICALLY kicked out...no questions asked.
You should definately tell, I think. It will bug your conscience if you don't, and you've already said you have strong opinions about this. Plus, we really don't need any more copy cats in the world. We've got plenty already
She cheated, she must be punished.
If you feel guilty for reporting her, keep 2 things in mind:
1st: if she hadn't cheated, maybe you could've been one of the winners - and she probably doesn't feel guilty about that.
2nd: by being punished, she might learn that cheating is wrong, and then, on a more serious situation (where she could get into big shit for cheating), she might think twice.