Plagiarism in Open University module

[StayingZen]

My son (lower sixth) did a single Open University module earlier this year and has just had the results. He was awarded a pass, but was warned that the OU plagiarism software had picked up a high level of correspondence between his assignment and one by another boy at the same school. There is no doubt about this - they sent a printout and whole paragraphs are identical.

Of course, I only have my son's version of this, but he says he did work together with the other boy. He has copies of emails he (my son) sent him (the other boy) with drafts of his own work, one about 10 days before the deadline and one around the time of the deadline. He has to send the OU an explanation in the next 10 days. He will be asking advice from teachers at school today, although he did the module as an individual rather than through the school.

Any advice on elements which will support his case, please, so it isn't just one word against the other? Will a dated email count? And if there is not enough evidence and they are both penalized, is it likely to be 5% off so he might still pass, or a complete fail? When the dust settles, I will have a gentle word with him about not giving other people drafts of your work, but I think the message has got across already. A salutory lesson at an early stage, I keep telling myself. Many thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

I would send them the emails, yes. Your poor son!

I think the emails will be a proof enough that it was the other boy at fault, not your son. I found OU to be generally speaking very understanding and helpful and while they have to be tough on plagiarism, I think in this case your son should be ok.

Hopefully the emails will be categoric proof it wasn't your son's fault, although they MAY think the two of them colluded.

If they (or any other university for that matter) find a student guilty of deliberate (or even unintentional) plagiarism or collusion the mark awarded will be zero.

A salutory lesson...

Your poor ds. Some friend getting him into such a tight spot.

But yes all students must be careful these days. I'm always impressing on my dc to be careful using the internet for homework and helping each other - that it must be their own words and they're only 10.

The OU does not award 'grades' (at least in the modules I did) - just pass or fail. So your son might be at risk of failing, or he might be reduced from 99% to 94%. You need to check his percentage - he should be able to logon to StudentHome and see it.

They also do have rules about not sharing assignments, so they might take a dim view of your son emailing the drafts. He is not completly in the clear, as he has broken their code of conduct or whatever it's called. But obviously not as dim as the view they'd take of the other chap copying and pasting!

What a good lesson to learn in 6th form though, before he does to Uni!

Administering the software that checks for plagiarism is a large part of my job so this is a scenario I am familiar with.

The software isn't perfect and it can't pick up the intent of a student. In my institution we tend to apply the regulations bit more lightly on first year undergraduates than we do on the postgrads, so submitting the emails and explaining the methods and timeline behind the creation of the essay may help.

I don't know the plagiarism officer at the OU, (though I do know the tech people there) but I do know their emphasis is on inclusive education for all. They want people to succeed. A lot of what will happen will depend on the percentage of the match between the two. It's rare to get an assignment that is completely clean. People use common phrases and definitions and sometimes their referencing is less than perfect. All of this can add to the similarity score. Many institutions have a trigger point at which the formal procedures are instigated. In my institution they will be invited to a meeting with the plagiarism officer and asked to explain themselves. It looks like this is what has happened here. All he can do is present his evidence, explain what happened, explain this is his first assignment at the OU and see what happens. Normally, depending on the degree of match, the end result will vary from a stern talking to, to a deduction of points, to being asked to resubmit a new assessment, to a complete fail. I seriously doubt the last scenario will happen though.

However, this is a good lesson to learn while still in the 6th form.

Thank you all so much for your advice and sympathy. Touch wood, I think it is going to be OK. DS spoke to his friend who, to his credit, 'fessed up straight away and said he would write to the OU. We will have to write still as well, but at least it looks as though there isn't going to be a dispute about it. I was very glad to have you all holding my hand this morning!

Of course, I only have my son's version of this, but he says he did work together with the other boy.

That's colousion, which is also academic misconduct.

Update - my son has heard from the OU, and they have maintained his original mark and removed all references to the incident from his academic record. They said the letter should be seen as an informal warning, but the tone was lovely, really friendly, and contained the first useful advice we have had about what constitutes "working together" and what goes beyond that into plagiarism. Phew. Thanks again for all your advice.