Honor Code 
University Honor Code

Collaborative Work

 
 
We take the Honor Code, as stated in the George Mason University Undergraduate Catalog, very seriously in the New Century College. It is your responsibility to study it carefully and ask your professors for further explanation of any part you do not understand. University faculty have an obligation to refer the names of students who may have violated the Honor Code to the Student Honor Committee, which treats such cases very seriously. Two issues that are important to understand are: plagiarism and how to avoid it and appropriate collaboration, both of which are explained in more detail below. 

According to the Honor Code, plagiarism includes the following:

  • Presenting as one's own the words, the work, or the opinions of someone else without proper acknowledgment.
  • Borrowing the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of material, or the pattern of thought of someone else without proper acknowledgment.
It is essential to be very careful about crediting work through citations.  In addition to direct quotations, paraphrases and summaries of opinions of factual information not formerly known to the writer must also be cited. The exception to this rule is information termed general knowledge, in other words, information that is widely known and stated in a number of sources. Determining what is general knowledge can be complicated, so it is wise to remember the adage, "When in doubt, cite." 

When using another person's ideas you must either quote the idea verbatim or completely rewrite the ideas in your own words and voice, in addition to clearly stating the source of the information. In written assignments and in class and seminar discussions, it is important to acknowledge information and ideas you have acquired from others. A good rule to remember is to give credit where credit is due. 

In written work, credit should generally be given in an appropriate format, for example, the systems created by the Modern Language Association (MLA) or the American Psychological Association (APA). Both of these systems of documentation are explained in various textbooks, including A Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker, an NCC required text. 

(Some components were adapted from the English Department's definition of plagiarism.) 

Also, we expect you to be familiar with these guidelines for collaborative work. 

In NCLC 140, as in other learning communities and in many other classes, some assignments are designed to be completed by a study group. With collaborative work, each member of the study group who has contributed to the work should be identified on the assignment; all group members who have participated are equally responsible for the results. If a group member does not participate in completing the project, her or his name should not appear on the project. 

Other assignments are designed to be completed independently. For these assignments, you may discuss your ideas informally with others and receive feedback from peers on drafts of papers. However, the final paper is your responsibility; it is not appropriate to turn your paper over to someone else to edit, revise, or complete for you.  If only your name appears on an assignment, your professor has the right to expect that the work you turn in is fully and completely your own, with the exception of information, ideas, and language you have clearly credited to others. As a part of a learning community, you are encouraged to incorporate ideas from your colleagues, but you must give credit in an appropriate manner.

Three fundamental principles to follow at all times are:

  • All work submitted with your name must be your own.
  • When using the work or ideas of others, including your fellow students, you must give appropriate credit.
  • If you are uncertain about the ground rules on a particular assignment, ask for clarification.
No grade is important enough to justify cheating, for which there are serious consequences. If you feel unusual pressure or anxiety about your grade in this or any other course, talk with your professor or a member of the Counseling Center staff. The University provides a range of services to help with test anxiety, writing skills, study skills, and related concerns.