INITIAL POST INSTRUCTIONS
INTRODUCTION

Case 1: Claudine Gay
Early in 2024, Claudine Gay, then president of Harvard University, was called out for numerous instances of plagiarism found in her doctoral dissertation and other published papers. The Harvard board, a school subcommittee, and an independent panel charged with investigating the plagiarism allegations against Gay found “a few instances of inadequate citation” but “no violation of Harvard’s standard for research misconduct. While some were critical of her, many academics came to her defense, as did members of the public. A writer in the online newspaper The Guardian went so far as to say, “While Gay more than anyone should have known better, it seems unfair that she should be the one to take the fall when her errors were missed by the institutions that published her”

Case 1 Questions:

Has the reaction from Harvard and other academics tended to minimize the seriousness of plagiarism? If no one at Harvard, where she received her doctorate, found instances of plagiarism, should she not be held responsible? Does this mean if no one detects plagiarism, it’s okay?

Keep in mind that this discussion is not about whether or not Dr. Gay should have resigned from the presidency of Harvard. The discussion is about public and academic reactions to plagiarism and the seriousness of plagiarism.

Case 2: Professor Lang vs. Professor Marks

Is the way that colleges design courses, especially undergraduate general education courses, encouraging cheating?
According to Lang (2013), course design can encourage cheating. These include required courses that students just want to get out of the way so they can take the classes they really want to take. High-stakes assessments put intense pressure on each of those grade-earning opportunities and ratchet up the incentive to cheat on each one. Emphasizing grades—performance over learning in large or online classes can create an impersonal environment.
Students who are driven by extrinsic motivation seek external rewards for their learning: grades, for example. Students driven by intrinsic motivation, by contrast, seek to understand the course material for its own sake. Students driven purely by extrinsic motivation are more likely to cheat. “If they don’t see how the course material is relevant to their lives—or if the instructor cannot help them see it—they never develop the intrinsic motivation that leads to deep learning and makes cheating less likely.”

Or is it a question of character? According to Marks , “Lang shies away from the question of character. Instead, his book is about helping ‘faculty members to respond more effectively to academic dishonesty by modifying the learning environments they [have] constructed” . “If we think of our students as subjects in our laboratory, to be manipulated and nudged toward desirable behaviors, how can we develop in them the qualities of character they will need to govern themselves in environments we do not control?” (para. 6)

Case 2 Questions:

Who’s right, Professor Lang or Professor Marks?
Should colleges make sure students don’t cheat, or should students make sure they don’t cheat?
For your initial post, respond to Case 1 Questions and Case 2 Questions.
As you compose your initial post, think about the issue of plagiarism. Why does it matter? To what extent, if at all, should plagiarism be overlooked? If courses seem irrelevant to you, might it be okay to cheat or plagiarize?
FOLLOW-UP POST INSTRUCTIONS
Respond to one of the peers (given below). Analyze their post to determine their reasons, then evaluate their post according to the quality of their reasoning. Check your reasoning—and the reasoning of your peer—for cognitive bias or fallacies.

Case 1: Claudine Gay

The reaction to the issue seems to downplay its seriousness. By calling instances of plagiarism “inadequate citation” and saying there was “no violation,” Harvard and the academic community risk minimizing the importance of academic integrity. Even if the errors don’t meet their standard for misconduct, this language reduces the perception of accountability in academia.
Responsibility lies with the author, no matter if the institution fails to catch the plagiarism. Academic work requires a commitment to honesty, and not upholding these standards reflects poorly on the individual, even if the institution’s oversight is lacking .
The lack of detection does not make plagiarism acceptable. It’s similar to claiming a crime is okay if the person is not caught. We should uphold academic integrity as a basic principle, no matter how it is enforced.

Case 2: Professor Lang vs. Professor Marks

Both professors make important points. Professor Lang focuses on structural issues that can lead to cheating, like poorly designed courses and high-stakes tests, noting that students with purely extrinsic motivations are more likely to cheat . Meanwhile, Professor Marks stresses the need to develop a strong character, arguing that students must learn to govern themselves ethically in environments beyond institutional control . The best solution combines both views by making courses engaging and relevant while also motivating students to build their character.
Colleges must work to create environments that lessen the temptation to cheat by encouraging relevance, engagement, and fair assessments. At the same time, students have a duty to be honest. Education should help students learn to manage themselves and develop integrity that goes beyond school .
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty matter because they compromise the trust and credibility foundational to education and research. Overlooking plagiarism erodes the integrity of academic work, devalues genuine efforts, and perpetuates mediocrity. Even if courses seem irrelevant, cheating or plagiarizing is unethical. Such behavior reflects a failure to respect the learning process and undermines personal growth. Instead, efforts should be made to find meaning or relevance in the material, or students should seek guidance on managing challenges without resorting to dishonest practices

 

Last Completed Projects