Plagiarism

Hmmm... i think my plan of action would depend on how much I wanted to stay friends after. By making a formal complaint you may as well assume you're not going to be friends anymore, if you can deal with that then do it. Otherwise you might be better leaving it as it is but be careful in future who you show your work too. On the one hand its nice to help people but not if they are just going to blatently copy your hard work. Maybe you can find other ways of helping her that don't include her actually seeing yours.

I'd leave it how it is to be honest. Making a formal complaint is a massive step that you won't be able to take back.

I understand you're annoyed she copied but you could effectively get her kicked off her course for what could be one lapse in judgement on an essay she was struggling with.

This is the one thing that I don't want.

Well then you definitely can't make a complaint?

I think if you don't want her to be kicked off the course you need to just leave it and don't let her see your work in future.

Do you still want to be friends with her?

My tutor just put this plainly to me

One thing I would say is that this student is already having a consequence for the piece of work and that, if you choose to make a formal statement, you are contributing to this but are not the 'cause of it

but I would still feel guilty

I feel uncomfortable around her, and I know I wouldn't trust her again with any of my work, I don't think we will be as close as we were after this

Surely that's enough?

It's not coming back to you, so why do you want to get involved? She's already in trouble as it is.

I know this probably isn't going to be a popular thing to say and I'm sure a lot of people might shoot me down but I think you should feel guilty if you made a formal complaint.

She hasn't done you any actual harm and the fact she's already been pulled up once means she's probably not going to plagiarise again. You making a formal complaint is only going to make matters a lot worse for her and you said she was a close friend.

Personally, I wouldn't have even mentioned it to a tutor if it was a close friend, especially before talking to her properly first. He'll be able to find out which student you're talking about. Again, my opinion.

I suppose its because she has told me she copied from me as well!

I think I will leave it.

Honestly, I think you're getting way too into it. She's in trouble and that's that. It's just kind of point scoring if you want to take it further and get her into more trouble.

I wouldn't report her as you say she in trouble already but by the same token I could not leave it. I would want answers from her as to why when entrusted with your work she had the audacity to copy from it and why she finds that acceptable? Why did she think she could do that and not ask your permission first? You both could have been in serious trouble and friends just don't put their friends in situations like that.

I would seriously consider if the relationship means that much to you to keep her as a friend.

Yeah I suppose, I understand what you're saying, which is not how I want it to be.

I'd leave it be - you aren't in any trouble, she's probably feeling like a d!ck and if you feel you need to let her know how upset you are then tell her she's not getting a peek at any of your future work.

Do you both do the same course and go to the same University? There is this application that is used to test for Plagiarism, and if she had actually properly copied from you to any great degree, it would have shown up when the coursework was put through the application.

There is the potential that she's been caught plagiarising a book and she automatically thought that she'd been caught out copying your work, and instead of you finding out through the university, she went to you first.

If she is being accused of plagarism then does this mean she wont pass her course?

I think just leave it, though let her know you are a bit put out that she copied you. To be honest, even if she hadnt been caught its not going to affect you is it? You passed it already..it wont prevent you passing in the future?

If you make a complaint it will open a whole new can of worms.

If you really want to get it off your chest I would speak to her about it. That might make you feel better once you've cleared the air?

It's HIGHLY unlikely that she'll actually be kicked off the course for one instance of plagiarism, especially if it's a first offence and she 'shows remorse'. I work for a university and since I started working here in October this office has 'referred' about 5 students for plagiarism and the most any of them have received is a rap on the knuckles and mandatory study skills course.

I have to agree with others though that I wouldn't feel right reporting her. I'm not sure I would feel right lying either though, depends on how close a friend I suppose. I don't know what course you are on but I would also take into account whether it is a professional course where integrity is important e.g. doctor, nurse, lawyer.

Does your uni run any 'study skills' sessions? If this was my friend I would tell them I was disappointed they had chosen to copy off me and that they might find it helpful to attend a course and get some help with research and referencing skills, or time management. Usually they are lunchtime sessions or 1-day sessions, or she could get one-to-one help. She wouldn't have to say "yeah it's because I plagiarised this". It could help her out to avoid needing to do the same thing in the future.

I don't think you should make a complaint, if I was to do this at my Uni I would probably get in trouble for giving her my essay.

She will be punished anyway without you adding anything to it.

Maybe a lesson though, it was nice of you to want to help her but maybe if you ever want to help anyone again I would just give a rough plan with a few ideas.

I'd speak to her about it. Not in an overly confrontational way but just to let her know that you were upset to learn she had copied from you. Ultimately it is behaviour that will mean you don't trust her with any future coursework but is it enough to totally lose a close friend over? Right now it is very raw but what those of us looking from the outside in can see is that she is potentially going to be in bigger trouble from the uni than she will ever be from you so if she is a good friend can you not say something along the lines of "that was a really stupid thing copying from me, not impressed" and then move on to supporting her through whatever uni throws at her. You may not be as good friends ever again but if she is a close friend there have obviously been lots of good times shared in the past and it would be horrible to lose a good friend over something that was her stupidity but is IMO forgiveable eventually because it hasn't caused you any harm.

I know I'd feel hurt by her behaviour if I was in your shoes but unless you're pulled into the firing line as well (unlikely as yours had already been assessed and passed so it is clear she copied from you) I would take it as a lesson learned that whilst you may have good intentions giving an essay to somebody else, maybe you should be a bit more cautious in the future.

Good luck x

This is exactly what has happened, but they don't realise she has copied me as well as the book.

I think you're right I need to sit down and talk to her.

We are both Student Nurses

I wouldn't report her tbh. It's such a huge thing and could seriously damage her chances for continuing the rest of her course. You've spoken to your tutor about it, which is a good step but I would leave it at just talking to her about it. Tell her you don't feel comfortable sending her any more of your work in future but that if she needs help keeping up with her workload, you'll help her by proofreading what she has written herself, etc.

That's what I am going to do.

No point making it worse!

In my experience of University, if she has made a mistake now (where are you in your course?) She will probably mess up again later and then get taken off the course. I know of quite a few people who failed exams/assignments over certain things and they nearly all failed the course in the end. The assessment process in nursing is there single out people who are not suitable for the profession. Don't forget Nursing is dual assessed and you need to pass both assignments and clinical placements.

Besides, won't she have to re-sit this module in the next six months as she has failed the same assignment twice (or has the process changed??)

HTH

Yikes.

She has one more chance I think and if she fails that then she has to be put back 6 months.

Ahh, fair enough, they have changed the process. It used to be two chances or your out!

Yikes.

You only get a third attempt at one essay a year.

This is what i was saying about the application that is used to test for Plagiarism. If she has copied you, she's changed the wording enough for them not to notice, and to an extent, it's not plagiarism. It's still not right that she has copied your work of course. I'm definitely with most people here, Speak to her, but i wouldn't go to the uni itself to complain.

Well they fail that essay/assignment obviously! I meant on top of that. If it's their 1st attempt and they plagiarise, then they get another attempt at the work. If it's the second attempt, then they fail the module and they are not allowed to retake it but they are (usually, unless it's a really bad offence) allowed to continue with other modules to make up the credit for their degree. However, failing due to plagiarism isn't any different on that account than failing for just not being good enough. If you failed on your second attempt because the work wasn't up to scratch, it's the same penalty - you fail the module, can't retake it but can take other modules.

In my experience plagiarism is talked up a LOT by universities but you wouldn't get kicked out for a first offence and if you were remorseful. Accidental plagiarism (e.g. citing incorrectly) is treated fairly leniently, intentional plagiarism less so. (This refers to the place I work now.)

Thanks everyone for your comments!

I'm going to chat to her on Thursday and just leave it at that.