ACADEMIC HONESTY: CHEATING AND PLAGARISM GRADE 1-8
All students in the Toronto District School Board are expected to submit their own work for evaluation. Cheating and plagiarism will not be condoned.

Cheating is usually defined as the act of practicing deceit or breaking the rules. In the context of assessment and evaluation, cheating would be defined as the deviation from the behaviour expected in an evaluation situation. Examples include but are not limited to: using another student’s work on a test or any other evaluation: unauthorized use of electronic media to obtain answers during an evaluation or bringing unauthorized notes or notations into an evaluation.

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is defined as the use of close imitation of the language and thoughts of another without attribution, in order to represent them as one’s own original work. (Growing Success, Assessment Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools, Grade 1-12, 2010, p. 151) Examples include: Copying and pasting from the internet or other electronic sites without citing the source: or omitting quotation marks for direct quotations even if the sources have been cited.

To ensure a full understanding of academic honesty students are expected to: 

• Seek clarification from teachers about actions that constitute plagiarism:
• Seek assistance when their research skills need improvement
• Understand the penalties for academic dishonesty and plagiarism: and 
• Ensure that all their work is original and that they cite sources accurately and consistently.

Consequences of Academic Dishonesty

When plagiarism/ cheating is detected, it will be investigated. If plagiarism/ cheating is confirmed by the teacher, he/she will inform the principal/vice principal, the student and the parent/guardian (when the student is under the age of 18) of the specific details regarding the plagiarized assignment or the allegation of cheating and the resulting consequences.

Minimum Consequences for Plagiarism

A consequence for cheating and plagiarism may be a mark of zero for the assignment/exam in question. A repeated pattern of academic dishonesty may result in an escalating severity of consequences. All students who face the consequences of plagiarism or cheating have the right to appeal the teacher’s decision to the principal/vice principal. For a copy of the Procedure on Academic Honesty PR613:

Go to TDSB website at www.tdsb.on.ca, click on Parents tab, select and click on TDSB Policies, select and click on Procedures