James Crants' response is addressing the problem. Many people with
English as a second or third language are trying to write papers in
English. It is very easy to find sentences and paragraphs that have the
grammar structure that says exactly what you want if you just change a
few key words and numbers. When trying to write the methods for PCR,
for example, it is easy to find someone else's methods, copy these
methods, and change the times and temperatures to match the conditions
of your own study. Since most people do not include citations for
things like PCR protocol, the copied methods may not be cited.
When I point out to students and colleagues that it is plagiarism to
write methods (and papers) by cut and pasting sentences (and paragraphs)
from published papers, I often get the response "But my English is so
poor!" True. Their own written English is usually barely readable.
The thing is, when I ask if it is ok to write a paper this way in
Chinese, they'll all quickly say it is not. So, if it's not ok to copy
in Chinese, then should not be ok to copy in English! I had to quit
teaching in one school because I could not get the students or their
advisors to make this connection.
The problem my students have with PCR methods is that they have only
found 4 ways of writing PCR methods. They did not do this survey to
find ways to copy, but because they (and I) could not think of a new way
to describe PCR conditions. So it looks as though even native English
speakers are copying a sentence structure and changing the times and
temperatures to match their experimental conditions.
I was taught and I'm trying to teach, that we have to write things using
our own words (paraphrase) and we have to give citations for the ideas
(including methods and techniques). For me, reading something, putting
it away and then sitting down to write my own version, may result in
similarities with the original and may not. I teach my students to go
back and check to make sure their sentence uses their voice and is
really different from the original published sentence. The thing is,
we've run into a wall when it comes to describing PCR.
And here is the real kicker. I've been failing graduate students for
copying things, including methods like PCR reaction conditions. So, am
I being too harsh as a teacher?
I confirm the plagiarism by checking student phrasing against wording in
papers they cite. My philosophy is that it is better the students make
mistakes and fail now, while in school, than later when they are trying
to build their professional careers. I make it clear that my goal is
not to fail them, but to help make sure they understand the right way to
write. It's when they plagiarize on the final paper that they fail.
This is because plagiarism on the final paper is evidence they've not
learned how to avoid the problem.
But my students and I have a new problem: what about things like PCR?
CL
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Cara Lin Bridgman [email protected]
P.O. Box 013 Shinjhuang http://megaview.com.tw/~caralin
Longjing Township http://www.BugDorm.com
Taichung County 43499
Taiwan Phone: 886-4-2632-5484
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