Petition Letter
To whom it may concern,
I am appealing the finding of Academic Departure that was found in relation to my PSYC 100 Winter final exam. I am appealing this finding as I do not believe that I have departed from Academic Integrity. It was concluded that there was a departure from academic integrity under the regulations of plagiarism, use of unauthorized materials, unauthorized collaboration, failure to abide by academic rules, and departure from the core values of academic integrity.
The first email I received regarding notice of a departure from academic integrity only mentioned plagiarism and the use of unauthorized materials. As I explained in my written response to this allegation, it is evident that I did not plagiarize or use unauthorized materials during the exam. The few phrases that were highlighted by Turnitin, to indicate they came from outside sources such as the internet, were common phrases and common knowledge known by everyone and used in daily life. There is no evidence regarding plagiarism or the use of unauthorized materials as less than 4% of my exam is similar to sites found online.
To continue, the first email I received regarding notice of a departure from academic integrity did not mention unauthorized collaboration. The allegation went from plagiarism to then adding unauthorized collaboration in the final decision. This did not allow me to defend myself regarding this allegation.
Prior to the PSYC 100 final exam, there were 7 practice long answer questions that were recommended to be done prior to doing the exam in order to help us prepare for the types of questions that would appear on the exam. As I took this suggestion, I completed the 7 long answer questions with another student as we usually study together as we find it more effective to study with each other and bounce ideas off each other. Since we studied together and discussed the practice long answer questions, it is likely that we had similar thoughts and discussed similar points as we answered our long answer questions during the exam.
One of the two long answer questions on the PSYC 100 exam, was the same as one of the seven practice long answer questions. Due to the familiarity with the question and its similarity to the practice long answer question, I answered the question on the exam in a very similar way that I answered the practice long answer question. My answer was structured in a very similar way to my practice long answer as I referenced back to my answer to the practice question as I answered the one on my exam since this was an open book exam. There is no valid evidence regarding unauthorized collaboration as there was no collaboration done during the exam and only prior to the exam. I should not be punished for studying with a friend and answering practice long answer questions together prior to the exam and then using these notes during the exam as it was an open book exam with a question that was the same as a practice question.
To conclude, there is no evidence to demonstrate either of these allegations. More specifically I was not provided with any proof or documentation regarding unauthorized collaboration. I was provided with an outcome on an allegation that which there was no original allegation.
I am appealing the finding of Academic Departure that was found in relation to my PSYC 100 Winter final exam. I am appealing this finding as I do not believe that I have departed from Academic Integrity. It was concluded that there was a departure from academic integrity under the regulations of plagiarism, use of unauthorized materials, unauthorized collaboration, failure to abide by academic rules, and departure from the core values of academic integrity.
The first email I received regarding notice of a departure from academic integrity only mentioned plagiarism and the use of unauthorized materials. As I explained in my written response to this allegation, it is evident that I did not plagiarize or use unauthorized materials during the exam. The few phrases that were highlighted by Turnitin, to indicate they came from outside sources such as the internet, were common phrases and common knowledge known by everyone and used in daily life. There is no evidence regarding plagiarism or the use of unauthorized materials as less than 4% of my exam is similar to sites found online.
To continue, the first email I received regarding notice of a departure from academic integrity did not mention unauthorized collaboration. The allegation went from plagiarism to then adding unauthorized collaboration in the final decision. This did not allow me to defend myself regarding this allegation.
Prior to the PSYC 100 final exam, there were 7 practice long answer questions that were recommended to be done prior to doing the exam in order to help us prepare for the types of questions that would appear on the exam. As I took this suggestion, I completed the 7 long answer questions with another student as we usually study together as we find it more effective to study with each other and bounce ideas off each other. Since we studied together and discussed the practice long answer questions, it is likely that we had similar thoughts and discussed similar points as we answered our long answer questions during the exam.
One of the two long answer questions on the PSYC 100 exam, was the same as one of the seven practice long answer questions. Due to the familiarity with the question and its similarity to the practice long answer question, I answered the question on the exam in a very similar way that I answered the practice long answer question. My answer was structured in a very similar way to my practice long answer as I referenced back to my answer to the practice question as I answered the one on my exam since this was an open book exam. There is no valid evidence regarding unauthorized collaboration as there was no collaboration done during the exam and only prior to the exam. I should not be punished for studying with a friend and answering practice long answer questions together prior to the exam and then using these notes during the exam as it was an open book exam with a question that was the same as a practice question.
To conclude, there is no evidence to demonstrate either of these allegations. More specifically I was not provided with any proof or documentation regarding unauthorized collaboration. I was provided with an outcome on an allegation that which there was no original allegation.