h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/3753065.stm

Now, if UKC is anything like Sunderland Uni, then every module and subject guide will explain what plagiarism is and why it's not allowed. Every essay submission cover sheet will say that plagiarism is not allowed and that if you don't understand what plagiarism is, ask a lecturer.

Now, it seems that the UKC does do this as well. So to say "yes, I plagiarised, but it's their fault because I didn't know it was wrong" is stupid. You *DIDN'T KNOW* that downloading someone else's work fro the internet, slapping your name on it and handing it in wasn't allowed? YOu didn't know that you were supposed to do your own ing work?

Now, if this is true and not, as I suspect, a desperate atempt to make back the wasted tuition fees, then how did someone that stupid get into university in the first place?

If everyone thought like this, Ian Huntley's defence in court would have been that he "didn't know" it was illegal to kill children.

I'm no expert so I might be wrong, but I thought ignorance of a law does not excuse you if you were to break said law.

And this might be stretching it, but by copying someone elses work, could it not be deemed that he is infringing copyright laws (of course, if the original piece was copyrighted) as he is, rather indirectly I'll admit, attempting to make financial gain off the backof someone elses work - by getting a good degree that will translate into a higher earning job?

That said, being stupid can be the gateway to riches through the courts. Examples such as, I didn't know the coffee I just bought was hot... etc, etc, etc.

If the original piece was published on the Internet, then it can't be copyrighted.



On the other hand, I fully support the UKC. Plagiarism has suddenly become a major crime (I suspect the Iraqi Arms documents may have had something to do with it), and the Uni has every right to uphold their position on it. I think many other Uni's would have gone for a warning but not expulsion.

B

The defence of "but I've been doing it for three years" was what tickled me.

In that case I think the Universe should get a couple of bonus kicks, smartly aimed at the arse end for preference.

B

I'm intrigued egon. Why the need to start two identical threads: one as a journal and the other in the Forum?

It's known as being a student with too much time on one's hands...

B

Well, I remember once starting the same thread twice, once in the Forum and once in Ask, and they both went off in wildly different directions, and I thought I'd see if the same thing happened if I did that here.

or, more honestly, I started the thread here, then thought "ooh, that would have been a good topic to raise in the foruM"