What’s covered
STOP
CAUTION
GO
• Definition of plagiarism and other honesty violations
• Evaluating the honesty of online services and tools
•
S
Purchasing Papers
•
S Hiring a Paper Writer or Editor
•
S
Hiring a Translator
•
S
Online Editing Software
•
C
Citation Generating Software
•
C
Tutoring Websites
•
C
Translation Software
•
C
AI Text Generation Software
• Academically honest feedback
•
G
Writing and Speaking Center services
•
C
Feedback from peers
• Uncertain?
•
G
Check with professor or TA
•
G
Ask the academic integrity liaison (honestyliaison@ur.rochester.edu)
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Definition of
Academic
Honesty
“Academic honesty means acting with truthfulness and
sincerity in carrying out all aspects of our individual and
collaborative work, maintaining ownership over our work and
acknowledging our debt to the work of others” (University of
Rochester, 2022).
Academic honesty rules exist on three levels—all of AS&E, specific
course(s) students take, and specific assignments/projects/exams they
have in those courses.
While instructors across AS&E also bear responsibility for clarifying
their expectations, students will be held responsible for knowing,
following, and asking ahead of time about all three levels.
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Definitions
Plagiarism:
“the representation of another
person’s work as one’s own” includes
• “misrepresentation of sources used
in a work for which the student
claims authorship”
• “use of papers that are purchased
and turned in as one’s own work”
• “submission of written work [. . .]
which [has] been copied from the
work of other students”
(University of Rochester, 2022).
Other Honesty Violations:
When composing, other violations include
“unauthorized materials/aid”, such as
• “Having another make direct changes to your
work, whether by hand or through a medium
such as track changes”
• “Having someone offer more than one or two
sentence-level suggestions”
• “Having someone tell you what to compose”
• “Using a service that edits or revises your work”
• Generating citations using technology without
understanding or validating accuracy of
citations.
(Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program, 2013)
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Additional
Stipulations
“Intent—or lack thereof—should never be taken into account when deciding
whether or not an action or set of actions violated the honesty policy. However,
fairness dictates that intent may be considered when proposing penalties (for
individual instructors) or when applying sanctions (for hearing Boards).
Similarly, neither degrees of (in)experience nor extenuating circumstances should
be taken into account when determining whether or not a student or students’
behavior amounted to policy violation. Once the question of responsibility has
been addressed, either or both may be considered when deliberating on what
outcome(s) are in order. Ignorance of the policy does not excuse actions that
violate its requirements” (University of Rochester, 2022).
For anything on the “caution” list of Slide 2, students are responsible for seeking out
clarification from their course instructor prior to use and before turning in an
assignment. Students who use such resources without clarifying may be suspected of
violating the honesty policy. Please ask ahead of time!
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Evaluating online
services
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
PURCHASING
PAPERS
An “academic help” website violates academic honesty if you
purchase a paper someone else writes for you.
These websites may argue that because the paper is written for you,
and therefore has not been copied from another student, it is not
plagiarism. They often guarantee confidentiality and appeal to the
stresses you face as a busy student.
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
These services require
payment.
They argue that their service
is “plagiarism free” or that
they run a “plagiarism report”
(but the University lists the
act of purchasing a paper as
an example of plagiarism).
Sites frequently label their
service as “collaboration.”
Dishonest
essay
purchasing
sites may
include but are
not limited to:
• A-Writer.com • EssayBox.com • PaperFellows.com
• Academized.com • EssayHave.com • PaperHelp.org
• BestDissertations.com • EssayService.com • PapersOwl.com
• BestEssay.com • Essay-On-Time.com • Proessaywriting.com
• BestEssays.com • ExpertWriting.org • SameDayEssay.com
• BestEssayTips.com • GetEssayDone.com • SpeedyPaper.com
• BoomEssays.com • GrabMyEssay.com • Ultius.com
• BuyEssayOnline.com • GradeMiners.org • WriteMyPaper4Me.org
• ChiefPaper.com • GradeOnFire.com • WriteMyEssayOnline.com
• College-Paper.org • JustDoMyEssay.com • WritersPerHour.com
• CleverWritings.com • MyPaperDone.com • X-Essays.com
• CustomWritings.com • NinjaEssays.com
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
HIRING A
WRITER
OR EDITOR
Hiring a writer or editor for your academic work may be considered a
violation of the academic honesty policy. These editors do not teach you
how to improve your writing skills, but instead directly write or change
your work for you.
TO MAINTAIN HONESTY, THE WRITER NEEDS TO CONTROL WHAT
THEY SAY AND HOW THEY SAY IT.
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
HIRING A
TRANSLATOR
Hiring a translator for your work is considered a general honesty policy
violation (“receiving, using, or having access to unauthorized aid”).
Additionally, it may be considered plagiarism (another person’s writing
being represented as your own).
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Using protranslate to translate an academic assignment submission is an honesty policy violation (“receiving, using, or having
access to unauthorized aid”).
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
TRANSLATION
SOFTWARE
Using translation software may be considered an honesty policy
violation (“receiving, using, or having access to unauthorized aid”).
ASKYOUR INSTRUCTORS IF
• YOU MAY USE TRANSLATION SOFTWARE IN THE WAY YOU
MIGHT USE A DICTIONARY OR THESAURUS (THAT IS, FOR AN
OCCASIONAL WORD OR PHRASE)
• THERE ARE OTHER PERMITTED RESOURCES THAT MIGHT
HELPYOU
To use translations programs without risking an honesty violation, you need
explicit approval from your instructor.
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
AI TEXT
GENERATION
SOFTWARE
Using AI text generators may be considered an honesty policy
violation (“receiving, using, or having access to unauthorized aid”).
This includes, but is not limited to, programs such as GPT-3 and
ChatGPT, and DALL-E.
To use AI text generators without risking an honesty violation, you
need explicit approval from your instructor.
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised 1.5.23
ONLINE
EDITING
SOFTWARE
Students often utilize grammar-checking websites (e.g. Grammarly, Microsoft
Word grammar checker, etc.). Under many circumstances, use of such sites can
be effective and appropriate.
TO USE SITES EFFECTIVELY AND APPROPRIATELY, WRITERS MUST BE ABLE
TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND HAVE MADE INFORMED
DECISIONS ABOUT THE USE OF ANY RECOMMENDED CHANGES.
These websites are generally accepted as honest when used effectively and
appropriately, but they remain unreliable. They may miss errors or make
recommendations that misrepresent a writer’s meaning. Under some
circumstances, they can be considered unauthorized aid. Asking instructors
before using such sites is the most prudent course of action!
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
These sites
may include
but are not
limited to:
• BibMe.org • PolishMyWriting.com
• EasyBib.com • Scribens.com
• GingerSoftware.com • SlickWrite.com
• GradeMiners.com • Typely.com
• GradeProof.com • WhiteSmoke.com
• Grammar.com
• Grammarix.com
• Grammarly.com
• GrammarCheck.net
• HemingwayApp.com
• LanguageTool.org
• OnlineCorrection.com
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Citation
Generating
Software
Citation-Generating software (e.g., Zotero, RefWorks, EndNote, Mendeley and
Zotero) is a tool that is often taught by both librarians and professors.
THE WRITER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CITATION AND
VALIDATING ITS ACCURACY.
These websites are acceptable when used effectively, but they remain unreliable.
The student is responsible for the accuracy of the references generated in
accordance with the citation manual they are using, and they should understand
each citation component (journal name, authors, DOI, etc.)
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
TUTORING
WEBSITES
Some online tutoring services are honest: they help you through the
writing process, but you do the work.
HOWEVER, SOME SERVICES MAY CROSS THE LINE INTO
DISHONESTY: THEY OFTEN DO THE WORK FORYOU.
The tutors at the Writing and Speaking Center have been trained
to maintain academic honesty, support the University of
Rochester community specifically, and their services are free.
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Academically Honest
Feedback
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
FEEDBACK
FROM
OTHERS
If you choose to receive feedback from others (e.g., a peer,
friend, family member), refer to the Writing, Speaking, and
Argument Program’s guidelines for information on how to give and
read feedback while maintaining academic integrity.
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
Go to the
Writing and
Speaking Center
The Writing Fellows and Writing Consultants are trained to be
academically honest, which online services cannot guarantee.
You can schedule a one-on-one meeting with a fellow or consultant
on an as-needed basis, or you can request a weekly meeting with a
consultant (email wsap@ur.rochester.edu).
You can also upload a paper and receive detailed feedback about
your specific questions and concerns with Write-On.
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
References
University of Rochester. (2022). Academic honesty policy.
https://www.rochester.edu/college/honesty/policy/index.html
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program. (2013). Academic
integrity: Understanding how to give and receive help when writing
papers. https://writing.rochester.edu/assets/docs/academic-
integrity-2018.docx
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program | Revised January, 2023
