COMMENTS: DR. R. A.

SCHROTH

Comments: Dr. Raymond A. Schroth on Plagiarism

EDUC 6326 Educational Research and Scholarly Writing Section KS56
Dr. L. C. Spencer
February 14, 2016
Carolyn Elizabeth Barrette

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COMMENTS: DR. R. A. SCHROTH

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Comments: Dr. Raymond A. Schroth on Plagiarism

Plagiarism Wordle (Sarah Bayliss), School Library Journal,

October 1, 2013

I dont mind copying somebody elses homework answers.

I mean, really. Ill eventually learn this stuff; just not todayAnd like, who am I hurting anyway?
Its just a daily gradeits not like Ill ever use it in real life
Observation made to author by B.M.B., high school senior
Class of 2016 (Texas public high school name withheld)
It was just that I thought it was a temporary thingI was always able to rationalize it,
[said Bernie Madoff]Madoff is still keeping his own moral ledger, adding things up
in his own way, telling himself that someday, hell come out ahead.
Quote and analysis noted in profile of Bernard L. (Bernie) Madoff
Convicted perpetrator of the largest known Ponzi scheme in world history
New York Magazine, February 27, 2011

The images and quotes above represent various extremes within the plagiarism and
cheating spectra. The high school seniors dismissive comments bear a striking resemblance to
those made by Bernie Madoff in reflecting upon his innocuous start of the multibillion dollar
financial crimes that ultimately devastated thousands of investors worldwide in 2009. Both B.
and Bernard Madoff felt their seemingly minor indiscretions would create a comparably minor
impact. Both were (and likely remain) blind to the lasting, long-reaching impact of their similar
attitudes. In his article, The Plagiarism Plague, Dr. Raymond A. Schroth offers a fascinating
weigh-in on the short- and long-term ramifications of plagiarizing, concluding that while
plagiarism may not seem to be an offense meriting incarceration, it is more than a mere mistake;

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it is an immoral, sinful crime, one where plagiarists place both themselves and their victims in a
less tangible prison that severely harms both the perpetrator and society as a whole; I concur.
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association states that plagiarism
occurs when Authorspresent the work of another as if it were their own work (American
Psychological Association, 2010, p. 170). I vividly recall the experience of my high school and
University of Texas at Austin classmate, William (Bill) Booth. After a very accomplished
academic career, he joined The Washington Posts journalism staff, progressing through its ranks
to become its Mexican bureau chief. In 2013, Bill was formally sanctioned for plagiarizing a
portion of his review of the environmental and financial impact of the upgraded Panama Canal. I
have always known Bill to be a man of both intelligence and integrity; I believe he remains so.
Still, Bills article contained material copied in whole or in substantial part, without attribution
to an outside experts publication (Paxton, 2013). The expert and her university made the matter
public; Bill and The Post immediately responded responsibly:
The Posts new executive editor, Marty Baron, and Booth [each] apologized.
Booth wrote, I am so sorry for what I did. It was a very serious lapseThis was
not intentional. It was an inadvertent and sloppy mistake. But that is no excuse,
and I apologize for it. [Baron followed with], This represented a serious
violation of our ethics standards,It was a disservice to you [the expert], and it
breaks faith with our readers. You have our deepest apology, and you have our
assurance that we are taking this matter very seriouslyThe Post will be taking
severe and appropriate action with regard to Mr. Booth (Paxton, 2013).

In his article, Schroth notes the prior plagiarism-fueled career downfall of Washington Post
reporter, Janet Cooke; perhaps this alone prompted both Bills and The Posts rapid response to a
second identified plagiarism incident. Yet, I hope it was more than fear that drove Bill and Mr.
Baron to take the moral high road. Bill served a three-month without-pay suspension, a

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punishment, I feel, that fit the crime. Had Bill not been disciplined, it is conceivable he could
easily have slipped into a similar error in future. Moreover (and more significantly), had his
plagiaristic offense gone unaddressed, others1 might take Bills experience as license to commit
plagiarism without fear of reprisal.
Dr. Schroths observations have given me pause for self-reflection. There are times I
believe my writing is more a cobbling process than a stream-of-conscience activity; yet even
then, ultimately I still feel I am submitting my own creation. But have I truly double-checked
that all sources and quotes are thoroughly cited and credit is given where credit is due? Have I
run my writing through the APA manuals Ethical Compliance Checklist (American
Psychological Association, 2010, p. 20)? Especially on the occasions when deadlines loom,
writing hours evaporate, or fatigue becomes overwhelming? I also consider occasions in editing
papers with students where writing time is at a premium, the ringing bell is forthcoming, and
their due moment is upon us. More than once, I have taken the [writing] wheel and pushed
completion of a students finished product, noting, I wonder if you mean to say [my wording
choice] then typed my suggestion for them in a rush. On such occasions, students are
typically eager to agree with my wording option, thankful they have something concrete to
submit. I am newly aware that, though well-intentioned, I have not served students well in such
circumstances. Dr. Schroths comments concerning moral conscience formation occurring
between ages 19-25 particularly supports my concern. Those students permitted to cheat, to
plagiarize, or [to] find someone else to write his research paper today is more likely to become
the driver fleeing the scene of an auto accident tomorrow than is the student who presents his
true self in the classroom (Schroth, 2012). I have drawn much from Schroths article but I
1 particularly those less ethical than I perceive Bill to be

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believe this is one of his most powerful observations. It certainly is inspiring me to re-insure that
I offer opportunities for students to self-edit rather than, in effect, re-write on their behalf.

I also freshly reflect on my 1985 experience of serving as a student representative to the

committee selecting the next University of Texas at Austin president, where I reviewed
voluminous applications and often assumed all documentation a candidate submitted represented
a whole, unvarnished truth. Background checks were very costly then and remain so now. I have
no notion of how extensive such background research was at that time. Yet, given the many
scandals brought to light since then, I now wonder. I appreciate Dr. Schroths conclusion that
Modern professors can be firewalls against plagiarism (Schroth, 2012). Yet this responsibility
begins long before a student embarks upon a university career or enters adulthood. All of us who
mentor one another (and especially those of us mentoring and/or parenting children) must devote
the expense of time and expertise needed to vaccinate against what Dr. Schroth aptly terms a
plague.

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References
B., B. M. (2016, January 18). Help with homework [E-mail to C. E. Barrette].
Bayliss, S. (2013, October 1). Plagiarism wordle [Digital image]. Retrieved from
http://www.slj.com/2013/10/research/easybib-survey-students-wary-of-wikipedia-butstill-use-for-research/#_
Coverly, D. (2015, January 18). Plagiarism [Cartoon]. Retrieved from
http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2015/01/cartoon-of-day-plagiarism.html
Fishman, S. (2011, February 27). The Madoff tapes. Retrieved from
http://nymag.com/news/features/berniemadoff-2011-3/
Paxton, P. B. (2013, January 18). Patrick Pexton: The Post commits plagiarism again. Retrieved
from https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/patrick-pexton-the-post-commitsplagiarism-again/2013/01/18/ad8e279c-60ca-11e2-a389-ee565c81c565_story.html
Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (Sixth ed.). (2010). Washington,
DC: American Psychological Association.
Schroth, R. A., Ph.D. (2012). The plagiarism plague. America, 206(16), 12-16.