We're looking at something that is somehow connected to Blackboard, but I don't know the name of it.  I'll be sure to mention this to the decision makers.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Darrell Newton 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 9:38 AM
  Subject: Re: [SCREEN-L] Cheating and Student Papers


  Has anyone out there used, or witnessed a demo of Respondus? It uses a
  specific kind of search program that compares with student papers with
  sites on the 'net.

  Hypothetically, one would load a student paper into it (preferably from
  WebCT or Blackboard) and let it rout out striking similarities in syntax
  and wording. The results are astounding.

  Our campus is considering buying it...

  Darrell M. Newton, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor,
  The Department of Communication and Theater Arts
  Salisbury University
  290 Holloway Hall
  Salisbury, MD 21801
  (410) 677-5060 Office
  (410) 543-6229 Department

  http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~dmnewton/

  >>> [log in to unmask] 08/29/04 08:23 AM >>>
  As Ph.D. student in film an English Dept., I teach more composition
  sections
  than film classes, but I've found that students have a real problem
  understanding what is public knowledge and what should be cited.  I've
  had few that
  borrow more than what they feel is "public knowledge" but the concept of
  "public"
  gets in the way.

  Many students think that information on the Internet is "public" and I
  have
  had some that thought that copying from IMDB or a book jacket was okay
  because
  it is, of course, public on the net or on a glossy (sell the book)
  jacket.
  All I was asking for was a paper proposal but I had someone plagarize.
  That was
  disconcerting and enlightening.

  The lines between promotion and ideas can get lost in the hype to sell a
  book, or film, or any other commodity.  There's a postmodern moment
  there or at
  least a Sontag pause for reflection.

  The best defense against borrowing from the Internet paper mills is,
  obviously, to customize assignments and simply to ask for copies of the
  sources they
  have consulted. This can help.

  The most enlightening experience for me was to require a look at
  critical
  works and to realize that Siskel was the epitome of a "critical" film
  writer.
  There is much to be taught and we can do well at this task but each
  asignment
  must be our own.

  Ciao, Deb





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