This week I caught a student teaching. He submitted an outline that was a 100% match to a student paper submitted in the fall of 2009 at a local university. I was clued into the fact that this student's paper was probably not his own the first time I looked at it.
For starters the full-sentence outline was formatted in a very specific fashion that was not consistent with the examples that I ask my students to follow. In fact, it was formatted exactly the way that the textbook that we used to use for our class two years ago recommends.
Secondly, this student is not what I would refer to as an "A" student. They don't over achieve and really go above and beyond the expectations. This student usually is a bit above average, but not the type of intellect that blows you away. In addition to that assertion, this student is certainly not the type of student to research, include in their references, and orally cite in their speeches 10 sources if only 3 are required. There is no way that he would go that far above and beyond the standard unless it was required. He wouldn't just ace something just to ace it.
Subsequently, I decided to submit the outline to www.turnitin.com. The originality report stated that it was a 100% match to a previous speech.
I am contemplating a few options.
Let me preface all of those options by stating that I really like this student. He attends class regularly. He intejects into discussions. He asks self-depricating questions that provide comic relief. This student reminds me a lot of myself at 20. I really don't want to toss the book at him. I don't want to fail him on the assignment and the course. I would prefer to use this opportunity as a teachable moment.
I think that this student cheated because he thought he wouldn't be caught and that it was just easier to take the path of least resistence. I want him to learn that anything worth having requires a great deal of effort. I am going to give him a choice. Fail the assignment and the course or...redux another informative speech for a deduction. I would also require him to admit his cheating to the class and apologize to them.
In Japan, public shaming is a popular punishment. What do you readers think about handling this situation this way.
Secondly, this student is not what I would refer to as an "A" student. They don't over achieve and really go above and beyond the expectations. This student usually is a bit above average, but not the type of intellect that blows you away. In addition to that assertion, this student is certainly not the type of student to research, include in their references, and orally cite in their speeches 10 sources if only 3 are required. There is no way that he would go that far above and beyond the standard unless it was required. He wouldn't just ace something just to ace it.
Subsequently, I decided to submit the outline to www.turnitin.com. The originality report stated that it was a 100% match to a previous speech.
I am contemplating a few options.
Let me preface all of those options by stating that I really like this student. He attends class regularly. He intejects into discussions. He asks self-depricating questions that provide comic relief. This student reminds me a lot of myself at 20. I really don't want to toss the book at him. I don't want to fail him on the assignment and the course. I would prefer to use this opportunity as a teachable moment.
I think that this student cheated because he thought he wouldn't be caught and that it was just easier to take the path of least resistence. I want him to learn that anything worth having requires a great deal of effort. I am going to give him a choice. Fail the assignment and the course or...redux another informative speech for a deduction. I would also require him to admit his cheating to the class and apologize to them.
In Japan, public shaming is a popular punishment. What do you readers think about handling this situation this way.
Your plan sounds completely appropriate. As a student who writes, researches, and earns every grade I get, I want to know that there are consequences when other people cheat. Public shaming is totally acceptable. He should have to admit his failure and submit an original speech. As you said, this is a great opportunity to redirect inappropriate behavior, without making him angry and unapproachable. Kudos to you for being an excellent professor.
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