As a teacher, it’s rarely difficult to determine a punishment that’s appropriate when students break the rules. Every situation is different, but cheating should never be handled lightly. You need to let the student know that their actions won’t be tolerated and show them why what they did was wrong.
Every school has their own rules and regulations regarding plagiarism, but there are a few universal consequences. So, let’s take a look at what to do when one of your students plagiarizes.
Do your research.
Plagiarism is a serious accusation, so you’ll want to be completely sure that the student is guilty. Run the suspected paper through a plagiarism checker and see what comes up. If the student is found to have committed the crime, make sure you print out a copy of both their paper and the source that it was taken from.
Familiarize yourself with the school policy.
No matter what school you’re teaching in, cheating will probably be seen as a major offense. This means that there is a specific protocol that must be considered. You’ll probably have to fill out paperwork stating that you believe the student has intentionally copied material from another source. This will probably lead to the student failing your class or even expulsion from school.
Meet with the student.
Without being confrontational, let the student know you’re aware that they have committed the offence, but allow them to speak for themselves. You never want to create an environment where students don’t have the opportunity to clear up any misunderstanding that may have happened. Explain to them why cheating is wrong, as well as the effects it can have on everyone involved.
Consider giving the student an opportunity to make up the assignment.
We all make mistakes, and one shouldn’t necessarily keeping you from continuing your education. Every situation is different. You are in control of your own classroom.
However, if you feel that the student deserves a shot at redemption, then allow them to complete a different assignment for partial credit. This way, they’re working toward the same goal as you, but they don’t have to face expulsion for cheating. Consider the student’s history in your class, as well as their situation outside of school, before going ahead with this option.
Use this as an opportunity to talk about plagiarism with the class.
Without pointing fingers, lead a short lesson on cheating and its consequences. Sometimes students aren’t aware of the different forms that plagiarism can take on. Once you’ve had this talk with them about the rules, they have absolutely no excuse to play ignorant if they break them. As a teacher, you should show the importance of creativity and individuality, as well as how they’re destroyed by cheating.
