Important Information About Plagiarism
Students are required to produce original research material free from plagiarism. This original material should demonstrate quality academic interaction with a variety of sources, as detailed in the class requirements section of the web site. All sources should be fully cited at all times.
Students who have questions about plagiarism:
Students with questions about how to properly interact with sources should take the following steps before submitting material for grades:
CES supports only the highest standard of academic professionalism, and our faculty mentors enforce this standard. If a mentor suspects that a student's work is not original and contains plagiarism, he/she should inform us immediately. From a mentor's written correspondence with a student through the email, supplemented as necessary with telephone calls or other communication media, he/she will develop a sense of each particular student's style of writing and thought. Should suspicion arise in the mentor's mind that a student is submitting work that is not his or her own, the mentor will inform the seminary. CES will employ further methods of determining the mentor's suspicions. The uncovering of a clear case of student plagiarism will result in immediate dismissal from the program and forfeiture of all fees. The seminary’s Board
of Regents sits as the Ethics Committee to consider such matters.
Five examples of common plagiarism:
Original Quote <from a fictional example>: “The limits set by God are not arbitrary delineations. They are the natural, contextual limits of maximum, sustainable value for finite humanity. God’s limits on humans are not there to punish people. They are there because God knows how each individual will function best and find true fulfillment in life. Adam’s momentary choice to live a life that was not centered on God led to bondage; it was not a self-determining choice for true freedom.” Source: Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
Plagiarism example 1:
Adam’s momentary choice to live a life that was not centered on God led to bondage; it was not a self-determining choice for true freedom.
No citation and the words were copied directly from the source material.
Plagiarism example 2:
“Adam’s momentary choice to live a life that was not centered on God led to bondage; it was not a self-determining choice for true freedom.”
While the words have quotation marks around them, there is no citation.
Acceptable examples for 1 and 2:
“Adam’s momentary choice to live a life that was not centered on God led to bondage; it was not a self-determining choice for true freedom.”1
1 Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
Direct quote with citation.
Plagiarism example 3:
God’s rules for people are not random. God sets limits that he knows will allow people to achieve maximum personal benefit relative to their existential reality. Adam’s decision to disobey God was not an actualization of freedom; it was a decision in the moment to subject himself to a lifetime of diminished freedom.
The quote is paraphrased, but the source is not credited. Paraphrasing does not eliminate the need to cite the source.
Acceptable example for #3:
God’s rules for people are not random. God sets limits that he knows will allow people to achieve maximum personal benefit relative to their existential reality. Adam’s decision to disobey God was not an actualization of freedom; it was a decision in the moment to subject himself to a lifetime of diminished freedom.1
1 Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
Paraphrased with citation
Plagiarism example 4:
God sets limits for people that enhance, not harm, their ability to live full lives. Adam made a choice to limit his life; it was not a choice to free it.
Summarized but without a citation. Even a summary of someone else’s point needs a citation.
Acceptable example for #4:
God sets limits for people that enhance, not harm, their ability to live full lives. Adam made a choice to limit his life; it was not a choice to free it.1
1 Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
Summary that cites the summarized source
Plagiarism example 5:
Many scholars claim that God’s limits enhance personal freedom and personal fulfillment, and they also claim that Adam’s choice in the Garden was a choice to submit to bondage as opposed to live a life full of contextual freedom.
Paraphrase/summary with no citation. “Many scholars” does not absolve a student from the requirement to cite the source.
Acceptable example for #5:
Some scholars claim that God’s limits enhance personal freedom and personal fulfillment, and they also claim that Adam’s choice in the Garden was a choice to submit to bondage as opposed to live a life full of contextual freedom.1, 2
1 Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
2 Georg Ghostwriterinnen, Theologie für Alle (Hochberg, Germany: Seenot Publishing, 2002), p. 327.
Paraphrased/summarized but with citation. Changed “many” to “some.” Cited multiple sources to support the assertion that scholars (plural) hold to a particular view.
Students who have questions about plagiarism:
Students with questions about how to properly interact with sources should take the following steps before submitting material for grades:
- Review the material on this page and in the CES Writing Protocols, and
- Visit academic plagiarism sites such as http://www.plagiarism.org and ensure they are intimately familiar with broadly accepted academic guidelines, and
- Contact their faculty mentor and/or CES if they are still unclear.
CES supports only the highest standard of academic professionalism, and our faculty mentors enforce this standard. If a mentor suspects that a student's work is not original and contains plagiarism, he/she should inform us immediately. From a mentor's written correspondence with a student through the email, supplemented as necessary with telephone calls or other communication media, he/she will develop a sense of each particular student's style of writing and thought. Should suspicion arise in the mentor's mind that a student is submitting work that is not his or her own, the mentor will inform the seminary. CES will employ further methods of determining the mentor's suspicions. The uncovering of a clear case of student plagiarism will result in immediate dismissal from the program and forfeiture of all fees. The seminary’s Board
of Regents sits as the Ethics Committee to consider such matters.
Five examples of common plagiarism:
Original Quote <from a fictional example>: “The limits set by God are not arbitrary delineations. They are the natural, contextual limits of maximum, sustainable value for finite humanity. God’s limits on humans are not there to punish people. They are there because God knows how each individual will function best and find true fulfillment in life. Adam’s momentary choice to live a life that was not centered on God led to bondage; it was not a self-determining choice for true freedom.” Source: Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
Plagiarism example 1:
Adam’s momentary choice to live a life that was not centered on God led to bondage; it was not a self-determining choice for true freedom.
No citation and the words were copied directly from the source material.
Plagiarism example 2:
“Adam’s momentary choice to live a life that was not centered on God led to bondage; it was not a self-determining choice for true freedom.”
While the words have quotation marks around them, there is no citation.
Acceptable examples for 1 and 2:
“Adam’s momentary choice to live a life that was not centered on God led to bondage; it was not a self-determining choice for true freedom.”1
1 Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
Direct quote with citation.
Plagiarism example 3:
God’s rules for people are not random. God sets limits that he knows will allow people to achieve maximum personal benefit relative to their existential reality. Adam’s decision to disobey God was not an actualization of freedom; it was a decision in the moment to subject himself to a lifetime of diminished freedom.
The quote is paraphrased, but the source is not credited. Paraphrasing does not eliminate the need to cite the source.
Acceptable example for #3:
God’s rules for people are not random. God sets limits that he knows will allow people to achieve maximum personal benefit relative to their existential reality. Adam’s decision to disobey God was not an actualization of freedom; it was a decision in the moment to subject himself to a lifetime of diminished freedom.1
1 Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
Paraphrased with citation
Plagiarism example 4:
God sets limits for people that enhance, not harm, their ability to live full lives. Adam made a choice to limit his life; it was not a choice to free it.
Summarized but without a citation. Even a summary of someone else’s point needs a citation.
Acceptable example for #4:
God sets limits for people that enhance, not harm, their ability to live full lives. Adam made a choice to limit his life; it was not a choice to free it.1
1 Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
Summary that cites the summarized source
Plagiarism example 5:
Many scholars claim that God’s limits enhance personal freedom and personal fulfillment, and they also claim that Adam’s choice in the Garden was a choice to submit to bondage as opposed to live a life full of contextual freedom.
Paraphrase/summary with no citation. “Many scholars” does not absolve a student from the requirement to cite the source.
Acceptable example for #5:
Some scholars claim that God’s limits enhance personal freedom and personal fulfillment, and they also claim that Adam’s choice in the Garden was a choice to submit to bondage as opposed to live a life full of contextual freedom.1, 2
1 Eric Odell-Hein, Christocentrism (Enumclaw, WA: CES Press, 2016), p. 148.
2 Georg Ghostwriterinnen, Theologie für Alle (Hochberg, Germany: Seenot Publishing, 2002), p. 327.
Paraphrased/summarized but with citation. Changed “many” to “some.” Cited multiple sources to support the assertion that scholars (plural) hold to a particular view.