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Strange, I never really see this issue addressed in the honor codes of schools that have them, or see anything about it in various Academic Integrity policies. Everybody seems so concerned about plaigarism that the issue never really gets talked about.

If a class requires you to write on the same subject or text as another class you took or are taking, is it okay to turn the same paper twice? Or to revise the first one slightly and submit it to a different teacher? How revised should the original be before you can turn it in with a clean conscience?

Is it really even a question of morality or ethics? It's not dishonest in the same sense as cheating on a test, nor is it theft of someone else's ideas as in plaigarism. It's really just being a half-assed student, and saving yourself a few hours' time at the expense of not participating an analytic/research exercise.

As the semester winds down, I'm fairly tempted to re-work some old crap I wrote (god I'm sick of writing papers), though I probably won't. Usually when you have to ask if something is ethical or not, it's generally a better idea not to do it

 

[tenchir]

I don't see why not. I did it a couple of times.

 

[demon]

I'd say it's no more unethical than keeping a wallet with tons of money you find on the ground.

 

[Chipopo]

Actually, my teacher's lecture on plagerism recently did adress this issue. I'm sure you can guess what the general stance on it is.

He said if you inform the professor it's okay but barring that you're risking the same penalties that plagerism grant you.

edit: Actually let me take that back...I'm looking at the document he gave me now. It says (and I quote);

2.7.1 Reusing a Research Paper

If you must complete a research project to earn a grade in a course, handing in a paper you already earned credit for in another course is deceitful. Moreover, you lose the opportunity to improve your knowledge and skills. If you want to rework a paper that you prepared for another course, ask your current instructor for permission to do so.

No mention of their ability to punish you if they find out about it. Seems like the kind of thing where they try to scare you out of it without having any real methods of persuasion.

 

[kumanoki]

It's not dishonest in the same sense as cheating on a test, nor is it theft of someone else's ideas as in plaigarism. It's really just being a half-assed student, and saving yourself a few hours' time at the expense of not participating an analytic/research exercise.

I believe you have answered your own question here.
The Socratic Method works.

 

[Mejilan]

Is it really even a question of morality or ethics? It's not dishonest in the same sense as cheating on a test, nor is it theft of someone else's ideas as in plaigarism. It's really just being a half-assed student, and saving yourself a few hours' time at the expense of not participating an analytic/research exercise.

I've actually never been in a position to do this, but if you've already DONE the analysis and research, then is it really skimping out? Why retread the same ground?

 

[luxsol]

As long as you modify it or fix any mistakes...
I've basically turned in one paper four times in four different classes. Just changing the thesis statement, adding more things or just fixing it... so far has gotten me an A or B each time. =D

Oh, and it's about my experience as being mistaken for an Asian. Goes from being a narrative to being about racism, and some other things inbetween that i forgot.

 

[xsarien]

I think, one time, a professor I had for two seperate classes addressed this issue. The general stance was "As long as you tell me, and justify that the same paper fits the criteria for both papers, it's cool."

So do that, but give yourself time to write another one if you're told otherwise.

 

[Dilbert]

I think it's ethical from a plagarism point of view, but most professors I've known have instituted a rule against it anyway. The reason probably is that if you think you already know the answer...you aren't likely to think very hard about the question, or if your paper REALLY addresses what is asked for.

 

[border]

I've actually never been in a position to do this, but if you've already DONE the analysis and research, then is it really skimping out? Why retread the same ground?

Well, most classes don't really have highly specific assignments that would require you to retread material. If you turn in a paper from "Japanese Civilization" in to a later class on "Foreign Cultures", then you really are skipping the opportunity to examine a different culture.

Most liberal arts students face similar issues. Over the course of an English major you are bound to read the same book or play twice in two different classes. You can turn in the same paper twice, but it also would have been entirely possible to write a new second paper that didn't have anything to do with the first.

 

[Mejilan]

Well, most classes don't really have highly specific assignments that would require you to retread material. If you turn in a paper from "Japanese Civilization" in to a later class on "Foreign Cultures", then you really are skipping the opportunity to examine a different culture.

Most liberal arts students face similar issues. Over the course of an English major you are bound to read the same book or play twice in two different classes. You can turn in the same paper twice, but it also would have been entirely possible to write a new second paper that didn't have anything to do with the first.

True. I was assuming a rather high level of specificity. But if I had a paper that answered the question asked of me, or otherwise fulfilled the assignment requirements, I'm freakin' lazy enough to want to submit that instead of analyzing the assignment from a similar, though different perspective.

 

[LakeEarth]

I'd use the old one to re-write it. Depending how long it is, I can't imagine it taking more than an hour to make it look completely different.

 

[alejob]

Why do the same thing twice? IMO you should just correct it and try to make it better. I don't see a problem with it.

 

[Socreges]

I've done it before. Get this:

In the Winter semester, I got an 86% on one of my research papers. In the Summer, for one of my research papers (another teacher), one of the topics was very similar. So I decided to just hand the same paper in, but revised. I corrected all the alleged mistakes ("if you do this or that, it would have been an A"), and even deepened some of the information and arguments.

I ended up getting a 78%.

Throughout the term, I thought the teacher hated me. This only affirmed it. It could have been an A+ paper, and was likely an A-, at least, with anyone else.

 

[fart]

only if you offer your body to at least one of the professors

 

[Drensch]

I've done it and I see no problem whatsoever in doing it.

 

[Shompola]

Interesting that you seem to be doing two courses that are very similiar. Waste of money and time.

 

[nitewulf]

if it's applicable, i dont see why not.

 

[teiresias]

Actually, I believe the UVA Honor Code has a specific clause forbidding this, so you risk disciplinary action if you reuse a paper. Better to see if you can find a searchable PDF of your school's honor system and see if you can find anything in it that would get you into a trouble.

 

[BlackMage]

Satan told me that it is a-ok! He also told me to burn my house down while my parents sleep.

 

[cubanb]

back in 4th grade I did a book report on Jurassic Park and then proceeded to use that report again in 5th and 6th grade.
So I give this the Cuban Stamp of approval

 

[GG-Duo]

At my University, it's considered plagiarism.

Yes, it's in the code and everything.

 

[Firest0rm]

Depends on the teacher/professor. Some permit it but you have to tell ask them if they do first.

 

[Craig Majaski]

Heaven forbid you plagiarize yourself!! I say go for it. Make some adjustments, and add some tweaks and you're set. I've done it before as well. It's not like they're going to find out, unless of course they're reading this post.

 

[Ecrofirt]

::shifty eyes::

 

[demi]

It's not like they're going to find out, unless of course they're reading this post.

I say go for it! Just swap the first and last sentence. Easily fooled!

 

[beerbelly]

Why don't you email your professor under a different name and ask this question? In my University, I think you get a zero for doing this.

 

[Mermandala]

if the paper is about Nintendo games it's ok.

 

[cvxfreak]

I feel that as long as it fulfills the assignment perfectly, then why not. It's not your fault two of your teachers decided to assign similar assignments.

 

[firex]

Strange, I never really see this issue addressed in the honor codes of schools that have them, or see anything about it in various Academic Integrity policies. Everybody seems so concerned about plaigarism that the issue never really gets talked about.

If a class requires you to write on the same subject or text as another class you took or are taking, is it okay to turn the same paper twice? Or to revise the first one slightly and submit it to a different teacher? How revised should the original be before you can turn it in with a clean conscience?

Is it really even a question of morality or ethics? It's not dishonest in the same sense as cheating on a test, nor is it theft of someone else's ideas as in plaigarism. It's really just being a half-assed student, and saving yourself a few hours' time at the expense of not participating an analytic/research exercise.

As the semester winds down, I'm fairly tempted to re-work some old crap I wrote (god I'm sick of writing papers), though I probably won't. Usually when you have to ask if something is ethical or not, it's generally a better idea not to do it

Not ethical, but ethics are overrated.

 

[Dilbert]

If it's in the university's code of conduct, it's in the code...but I STILL don't understand what this has to do with ethics. It's your work, and you have the right to reproduce it. Quite frankly, this rule probably exists solely as a crutch for lazy teachers.

Has anyone ever challenged that part of the code in court?

 

[snaildog]

I'm quite confused that there could be anything wrong with it. Plagiarising yourself?!