Writing a thesis is a daunting process, whether you are an undergraduate facing a five-page paper or a graduate student staring down the barrel of a 150-page these. Some students may find they cannot rise to such high standards and crumble under pressure. You might be wondering what will happen next if you have been caught or accused of plagiarizing your thesis. This might be especially true if you are caught or accused years after receiving your degree. Most colleges and universities have specific procedures for handling plagiarism accusations, which are filled with nuances and deadlines.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team have years of experience helping students nationwide accused of plagiarizing their theses. Call today to schedule a consultation.
What is Plagiarism?
While the exact definition changes from school to school, most schools in the United States consider plagiarism to mean taking or using someone else's ideas or works and pretending they are your own. Some examples of plagiarism include copying entire paragraphs from books when writing a term paper and not citing the source, copying another student's work on a lab report, or not paraphrasing a source correctly on an assignment.
Consequences for Plagiarism
The consequences of plagiarism will vary, but for the most part, the severity of the plagiarism will outline the severity of the consequences. For instance, if you are found to have cited a source in the dissertation but not put it on the reference list, you may get an F on the dissertation or a lower grade. But you may be put on probation or expelled if you copied chunks of text and tried to pass it off as your original thought.
Most universities have disciplinary proceedings for academic misconduct such as plagiarism. These proceedings tend to include a preliminary investigation to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed, a formal investigation where you will be allowed to tell your side of the story, and a hearing to determine the outcome. If you have already graduated with your degree and are accused of plagiarizing years later, the disciplinary committee may still call you to determine the next steps. If you are found to have plagiarized your dissertation, depending on the degree of the plagiarism, the university might revoke your degree.
How an Attorney-Advisor Can Help
Attorney-advisors work incredibly hard to help students navigate the nuances of an academic misconduct disciplinary hearing. They will ensure your school does not only uphold your due process rights but that you do not fall through the cracks in the hearing process. Attorney Joseph D. Lento will bring witnesses, present evidence, and ensure the school hears your side of the story.
If you are ready to fight for your degree, call 888-535-3686 today for a consultation or schedule one online.
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