Discussing Discussion: What is the Relationship between Ethical Behavior and Good Grades?

[Ellen]

#2 When we talk about plagiarism, what are we talking about? What about rhetoric?


What is the relationship between the two?

We don't really discuss rhetoric in this way, as connected to everything, but it is. Since it is, it is really important to be able to use the same language as one another, particularly if we are talking about a strand of ethics that is running through the building.

I went to the NJAIS a couple of years ago at Peddie, and the speakers, from several departments at Lawrenceville, were talking about their rhetoric across the curriculum program, and the rhetoric of science, the rhetoric of math, the rhetoric of the arts. Because these teachers used the same language, it worked.

I think that different departments need to use the same language with regard to persuasiveness, or rhetoric, and different departments need to use the same language with regard to ownership of learning in a 1:1 environment.

I don't think we need to use the same technology tools, but I think we need to know when we are breaking the rules and when we aren't, and I think we need to use similar language for plagiarism-type infractions, especially when they are related to technology.

In other words, inappropriate sharing of ideas online needs to look the same, or be called by a similar name, in history and in art.

Sharing ideas can make one effective; rhetoric can be born of collaboration. Citing sources or influences can help one to be more rhetorically effective, as well as morally just. Thus technology can help students to see the relationship between ethical behavior and good writing, or good grades, and then by the distributive property see the relationship between ethical behavior and good grades.