 #2 (permalink) Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:06 am Contractions and plagiarism |
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I red line these errors and tell them that contractions (with a few exceptions, like 'o'clock') are not to be used in formal writing-- except of course in quotation and dialogue. Contractions are only orthographic representations of the spoken form of the language.
The ethics of plagiarism, as well as its boundaries, need to be explained clearly and fully, and future infractions should be punished with failing grades.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 7428
Location: Yokohama, Japan
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| #3 (permalink) Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:46 pm Contractions and plagiarism |
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| Gromit wrote: |
| What's your view on the use of contractions in essays? At school and at university I learned not to use short forms in formal writing. Is it true that more and more people use contractions these days even in newspapers or other publications? What do you tell your students when they hand in an assignment that contains contractions? |
Contractions exist on a scale ranging from acceptable to unacceptable in formal writing. Certain contractions must be used in any sort of writng, because we have no other way to express the concept. "O'clock", which Mister Micawber mentioned, is one of these. At an extremely high level of formality, such as writing for court, contractions are almost never used. In academic writing, some basic contractions involving a modal verb and a negative particle are acceptable. Those would be contractions like can't, won't, wouldn't, couldn't, etc., along with doesn't, don't and didn't. In all writing, I would avoid using contractions involving a modal verb with "have", such as would've, could've, etc. Gonna and wanna are unacceptable in ALL writing other than comics.
| Gromit wrote: |
| How would you deal with plagiarism? I asked a group of students to hand in a book or film review but some of them copied passages or parts of paragraphs from Wikipedia or other websites. |
I deal with plagiarism differently depending on what country the students are from. American students should know by the end of high school that plagiarism is verboten and is taken very seriously. For the first incidence of plagiarism in my class, an American student gets a failing grade on the assignment, and a warning. I give him no opportunity to redo the assignment, so the failing grade goes into his average. The second time he plagiarizes, I give him a failing grade for the entire semester, and I notify the college administration that I have done this. The administration has the option, then, to expell the student from the college, but they make this decision on a case-by-case basis.
However, I have taught high school in Eastern Europe, so I'm aware that plagiarism is not taken seriously in some countries and that some instructors even encourage it. So in ESL class, with students from outside the US, I do it this way: The first time the student plagiarizes, I give the paper back to him and tell him to do it again without plagiarizing, and I explain again how seriously plagiarism is taken in the US. If he plagiarizes again, I give him a failing grade for the assignment and another warning. If he plagiarizes yet another time, I fail him for the entire course, and I notify the administration.
In both types of classes, I formally announce my plagiarism policy, both orally and in writing, at the beginning of the course.
It's hard for people from some countries to understand how seriously plagiarism is taken at US colleges, so I have to tell them stories that will make them understand it. I let them know that plagiarism can get them kicked out of college, that it goes on their record, and that this can make it very difficult to get into another college. I also bring up a situation I know in which a student plagiarized, lost his student visa, and was deported. |
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Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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