Re: question re using citations

[ngrimm@mtu.edu (Nancy M. Grimm)]

Sylvia

Here's a sample response to the citation question.  Several of those
contributing to the discussion have questioned whether faculty are making a
clear enough point about this in their classes.  I wonder if the issue
would have come up for this student if his writing had been less polished.

Nancy

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>Mary Nell,
>
>I, too, have experienced the frustrations with the lack of citations.  
>When pressed, students have told me that their professors don't 
>really care if they have citations, that their professors aren't that 
>particular where they get the information as long as the paper says 
>something.  I find this practice appalling.  If we don't emphasize 
>the importance of crediting secondary sources, we are encouraging 
>students to plagiarize.
>
>Also, their idea of "changing it up" usually is to change several 
>words. I teach an advanced writing and research course where I 
>have students paraphrase and summarize passages in class.  Even after 
>I thoroughly explain to them how to correctly do both, they still 
>basically copy, changing only a few words.  Or, they grab the 
>thesaurus and substitute synonyms for key words, not bothering to 
>reread to make sure those words will work within the context they are 
>using them.  I am always amazed with what they come up with.  
>
>More professors should check whether students are accurately 
>presenting the information they use from secondary sources and should 
>require internal citations.  But, I know here that most professors 
>don't think that is their job.  We are supposed to take care of that 
>in the writing course.
>
>I better stop before I really get up on my soapbox.
>
>Chari Norgard
>University of Houston-Victoria

Nancy Grimm, Director, MTU Writing Center       work 906-487-3265
Humanities Department                           fax 906-487-3559
1400 Townsend Drive
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, Michigan 49931