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 ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask] ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu