EDMONTON – What do you get when you combine the words of Darth Vader, Jay-Z and Dr. Seuss? A rap video to educate university students about plagiarism.
“These videos are a way to start the discussion and to talk about how everyone needs to cite their sources whether they’re using exact words or just ideas, like they are in the rap video,” explained Deborah Eerkes, director of the U of A’s office of student judicial affairs.
The University of Alberta produced the video, called Plagiarism Rap (Cite Your Sources), and posted it on YouTube.
Words from well-known songs, books, movies and TV are part of the video’s message that plagiarism can be unintentional, but that it’s unacceptable and has serious consequences.
“It could be things like failing a paper, failing an exam,” said Eerkes. “It could be things like failing a class. Certainly, it could result – if it gets more serious – in suspension or expulsion. So anything we can do to prevent those serious consequences we’re happy to do.”
The Plagiarism Rap is part of a bigger push by the University’s Office of Student Judicial Affairs to start a conversation about plagiarism and cheating, especially during exam time.
(Above: watch U of A’s Plagiarism Rap video)
“Most of the time, when you talk about something like plagiarism or cheating, students don’t necessarily think you’re talking to them. They don’t come in planning to cheat or planning to plagiarize. It’s one of those things that typically happens in a last minute decision.”
“We went with a sort of comedic approach, which again, is one of those things about trying to get attention and have people notice it,” Eerkes added. “It really has gotten people talking, which is what we wanted.”
The rap is one of three videos by the University of Alberta.
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