CODE OF ETHICS IN THE CLASS OF M. M. YUSIF

CODE OF ETHICS IN THE CLASS OF M. M. YUSIF

In the last two academic sessions there is a page in all my teaching programmes, for all the levels I have handled titled “On Being Against Plagiarism”. In this note I have tried to bring the attention of all categories of my students on what is the meaning of plagiarism, what involved plagiarism in academic work and how to avoid it.

However, my observation, in the first Semester of this academic session (2006/2007) is that there are still some academic practices which must be restrained by ethical and other considerations. Styles of writing which constitutes academic abuses are many. Some can be cited:

1. Some students reported their seminar semester small research projects in 40 pages without a single acknowledgment of the tests used. But with references at the end of the report.
2. Others are identified copying directly (of course photocopying) including whatever reference the original writer was making to pages in his book or article.
3. Again there are students who think that only quotations are acknowledged. Therefore, they paraphrase statements or ideas of another person and claim it as their own.
4. Students use lecture notes taken in class discussions and claim it as theirs.
5. Many students lack precision and accuracy in expressing their ideas, therefore there is a tendency of copying long statements of which would become difficult to acknowledge.
6. There have negative consequences for individuals, my course programmes (because I care) and the institution, therefore, there is need for enhancing ethical principles for learning in all my classes. Subsequently, I hereby propose code of ethics and study behaviour which all students in my classes will discuss and adopt to guide our class work. The code is intended to sensitise all my students to the ethical issues that may arise in their work, and to encourage them to educate themselves and their colleagues in and out side Bayero University, Kano to behave ethically, so that they could learn to be people of integrity even after graduation.
Thus, I hereby proposed the following code of ethics for our class work:
1. Strictly adhere and maintain the culture of pattern note making which I introduced in all my classes four years ago.
2. Do not paraphrase some ones work and present it as your own
3. All those found on plagiarism would be made to form plagiarism club with elected chairman and secretary, as we did with students of Pol 4301 2005/2006 session.
4. Computarised search for literature is a great development for teaching, learning and research. But there are abuses of it. One who masters the use of the modern information system could access it and get ready made answer of whatever wanted. This must be stopped. You are to use the system only to access the information needed and use it as usual by acknowledging the sources.
5. One must acknowledge all the materials used-texts as books; articles from journal; documents etc. There are two methods commonly used in acknowledging texts used in writing any essay including research report. See below
- Faced with the mutilation of human lives by capitalism, the starting point of theoretical reflection is opposition and struggle (John Holloway, 2005: 1)
- Civilization and order rests on the control of violence. The first one is called the Harvard system. This is most commonly used today. The second one is called the Chicago method and is almost dead in the knowledge industry.
6. Then at the end of the report you list as “References” all the materials used. Where the report has many chapters, at the end of each chapter the texts, used can be listed as ‘References’ and then again at the end of the report.
7. Also one must acknowledge the professional contributions or assistance of all persons who collaborated in the research. Henceforth, from the second semester of this academic session even your small research project which is a requirement in my teaching must carry a page of “Acknowledgement”.
8. When you are writing a “response Paper” of the work of another seminar you must present without distortion the essay you are reviewing. In other words there should not be anything, either addition or omission which might significantly modify the paper under review.
9. As part of my own responsibility, in my first meeting with students in every course I handle, I will provide students with an honest statement of the scope, perspective and requirements of the course while in the last meeting in every course, I will tell students my observation about themselves and their class work and they would also bring out their classroom experience including observation about content of the course, the teaching and the relevant of the knowledge acquired.
10. Again, before the end of semester examination students would receive the details of their performances and evaluations of their work.
11. Your study is strongly recommended to be based on my paper titled “Study guidelines for effective performance by my students”. This will go along way to curtail plagiarist practices.
12. As I divide my student into seminars you must learn to work in teams even beyond my class. However, the seminar leaders are your colleagues who are chosen for their abilities. Try as much as possible to have reciprocal respects between you and your seminar leaders.
13. Any seminar leader who is identified or reported to show any favour for a member of his/her seminar will be removed immediately. Likewise any seminar leader whose group is called upon and he/she is not present without genuine excuse.
14. As we are working together to learn and to learn from each other, feel free to say your opinion whenever you are called upon.
15. You should always know your limitations and what you know you do not know and when appropriate seek for assistance from your teacher/s and or colleagues.
16. All Small Research Projects would henceforth become reading materials of students. They will be catalogued in the library at appropriate time. But they must be duly acknowledge whenever used.




M. M. Yusif
May, 2007