There Aren't More Cheaters, Just More Getting Caught

Before the Internet, plagiarism was easy to hide
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 5, 2010 1:28 PM CDT
There Aren't More Cheaters, Just More Getting Caught
Cheating isn't newly rampant--it's always been that way.   (Shutter Stock)

Everyone can calm down now: The New York Timesrecent proclamation that we’re raising a generation of cheaters may have been a bit of an exaggeration. The Times article suggested not only that the Internet is making plagiarism easier and more widespread—but that today’s youth don’t see anything wrong with it. In reality, plagiarism has always been around—but these days, “people are just getting caught more,” editor Caroline Eisner tells Salon.

“I don't think there's anyone who hasn't plagiarized,” says Eisner, who's written a book on the subject. “The difference is that now we can type the things we think are plagiarized into Google and see what comes up.” Of course, the Web has changed the rules, because now “anyone can just grab information at any time and repost it somewhere else.” The bottom line is that teachers need to teach students how to deal with Internet sources—just like they did with traditional sources in the past.
(More cheating stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X