lab reports and Turnitin

[robert zellmer]

Just so everyone knows, we run lab reports through Turnitin.
This is a service which checks papers against other papers
from OSU and across the country for possible cases of
plagiarism and academic misconduct.  Your reports are
also added to this database.  We have it set up so only
your TA, the assistant lab supervisor and myself can see
the reports and results of this check.  The lab reports
are not available to the general public or other students
in the class.

Speaking of which, if you've read the COAM (academic
misconduct) page of the syllabus, taken the COAM
quiz and looked at my web pages you should realize
giving your reports to another student to look at or copy
is considered a violation.  Talking about a quiz to someone
who hasn't taken it is a violation.  Looking at someone's
quiz or exam and copying from them is a violation.

What you may not realize is using materials from another
student who took this course is a violation.  Giving your
materials (other than the textbook) to another student who
will take this class in the future is a violation.  Also, uploading
these things to other sites (such as CourseHero) is also
considered a violation since you are technically giving them
(making them available) to others without express written
permission.  This could also be considered a copyright violation.

Your work must be your own and based on the current
semester.  If you're retaking this course, copying things
from your old reports into the current report can be
considered a COAM violation.  Refrain from looking at
your old reports when writing the new report.

Just make sure your work is your own original work for the
current semester and you shouldn't have any need for concern.

Dr. Zellmer