Language Arts Academic Integrity Contract 

Cheating can be defined as achieving or conspiring to achieve class credit or advantage, for 
yourself or another student, by dishonest or unfair means. This includes the following: 

. Using notes or an electronic device on a closed-note test. 
. Gaining access to test questions ahead of time. 
. Providing test questions and/or answer to another student. 
. Communicating with classmates during test. 
. Giving yourself an unfair advantage when re-taking a test (giving yourself extra time, for 
example). 
. Any other unfair or dishonest achievement of credit or advantage including copying 
homework or allowing someone else to copy your homework, working with others on an 
assignment that was meant to be done individually, or using summaries or Cliff’s Notes 
instead of reading assigned material. 


 

Plagiarism can be defined as claiming the words and/or ideas of another person as your own. It 
includes the following: 

. Incorporating the ideas of another writer (usually a classmate or a published author) into 
your own writing without giving the original writer credit. 
. Turning in work that was copied word for word from another source. 
. Downloading something from the internet and turning it in with your own name on it. 
. Using a paper you wrote previously to substitute for a current assignment without asking 
your teacher first (self-plagiarism.) 
. Telling your ideas for a paper to another individual and having them write your paper for 
you in their own words. 
. Helping someone achieve any of the above. 


 

Consequences: 

. The first time a student is caught in an act of plagiarism or cheating, s/he will receive a zero 
for the entire assignment. This includes any rough drafts, note cards, etc. which might be 
associated with the assignment. The student will not be allowed to make up the missed 
points. 
. On the second occurrence, the student will receive a failing grade for the entire quarter 
during which the plagiarism or cheating occurred. 
. A student who knowingly allows another to plagiarize her/his own work will receive a 
maximum of fifty percent of the points available for the assignment in question. 
. A student who cheats or plagiarizes will not be eligible for any sort of extra credit during 
that semester. Extra credit which was earned before the incident (during the same semester) 
will be taken away. 
. Parents and administrators will be notified. 
. At the discretion of the teacher, a student who cheats or plagiarizes may not receive a 
recommendation for placement in advanced classes. 


 

I, _________________________________________, have read the above carefully and 
thoroughly. I hereby pledge that I will not be involved in cheating or plagiarism while I am 
enrolled in __________________________. 

 

Signature _________________________________ Date __________