Turnitin: Hypocrisy of Its Own

Over the centuries, teachers and professors all have had a problem with academic dishonesty. The advancement in technology has made plagiarizing so much easier, and because of this, many professors have resorted to using software programs which detects any sort of plagiarism. One popular program many professors are enforcing their students to use is Turnitin.com. When a paper is submitted into Turnitin, the program compares it to previous submitted essays saved in its database and the content available on the internet. However, in recent years, there has been much controversy between the ethics of Turnitin and student’s rights. According to Merriam-Webster, plagiarizing is defined as, “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own, without crediting the source” (1). Whenever a thought comes to mind, it is highly unlikely the first time the person has encountered this “newfound” idea. Books, classes, and conversations with others integrate and become an essential part of the thought process and the fine line between plagiarism and thought becomes slightly unclear. Every class a student takes focus on the concept of when using another’s work, you must always give credit to the owner; otherwise, you have committed plagiarism. The focus on crediting becomes stricter as students take higher level classes as they prepare for and enter the real world. Although students know that cheating has heavy consequences—receiving an F in the course, or worse, expulsion from school—some may take the risk if they believe that the benefit of receiving a higher grade may outweigh the potential consequences.
Plagiarism had been limited by availability of information in newspapers, books, or libraries in the past. Today, with the advancement in technology, students now have access to the internet which contains a wealth of limitless information, making plagiarism ever so easy, one-click-away. Because of this, many professors have felt the need to be

Cited: 1. "Plagiarizing." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarizing?show=0&t=1284692767(14 Sept. 2010). 2. Walsh, Bill. “Expect, but Respect, Original Work by Students.” Elements of Argument: a Text and Reader. Ed. Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2009. 567-569. Print. 3. Rawe, Julie. “Battling Term-Paper Cheats.” Elements of Argument: a Text and Reader. Ed. Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2009. 569-571. Print. 4. McCabe, Donald L. “It Takes a Village: Academic Dishonesty and Educational Opportunity.” Elements of Argument: a Text and Reader. Ed. Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2009. 571-579. Print.