Winning Hearts and Minds in War On Plagiarism by Scott Jaschik

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Recommended: Critical thinking and problem solving to students

All across the nation plagiarism is at the pinnacle of conversations among universities. Without a doubt, plagiarism presents a problem that needs to be addressed in universities even today. In the article “Winning Hearts and Minds in War On Plagiarism”, Scott Jaschik seeks to persuade his audience that students need to be taught how to correctly write a paper to eliminate plagiarism. Jaschik addresses that teachers are adopting new methods of teaching in order to benefit the student`s knowledge on plagiarism. This article, published in Inside Higher Ed. on April 7, 2008, is intended for English professors all around the world. In the article, “Winning Hearts and Minds in War On Plagiarism”, Scott Jaschik effectively uses anecdotes, references to professors’ experiences, and a reference to a teacher’s nontraditional approach to educate students on plagiarism to persuade English professors to educate on plagiarism through unorthodox techniques.
Through the use of an anecdote, Jaschik provides a story of how students are “completely and utterly fried and overloaded” because they are being assigned an excessive amount of work (263). By Jaschik providing student`s perspective, the professors may further understand the deeper reasons why students are plagiarizing. This adds more credibility to the article by showing the root of why plagiarism is occurring. In order to eliminate plagiarism, English professors must realize the reasoning behind students plagiarizing. R. Gerald Nelms, an associate professor at Southern Illinois University, stated, “how plagiarism must be seen as an educational problem that requires an educational response” (264). Professors have to recognize that students are plagiarizing due to lack of education; so edu...

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...e English professors to educate on plagiarism through unorthodox techniques. Plagiarism has made a bothersome nest in classrooms nationwide, yet Jaschik’s article provides English professors everywhere a solution to this problem. Through his solution this nest may be removed or at least substantially decreased in size. With the absence of this problem, English professors will be allowed to return back to the true functions of a classroom, which is to teach. Instead of students constantly worrying about punishment, they will be able to learn and know they are writing plagiarism-free paper. Jaschik’s solution holds the potential to forever change college English classes, benefitting both the professors and the students.

Works Cited

Jaschik, Scott. "Winning Hearts And Minds in War on Plagiarism." insidehighered.com. inside higher ed, 07 april 2008. Web. 29 Oct 2013.

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