What if the faculty member did not notice the text was plagiarized, but one night when you, Mimi, and some other people from your program are out socializing, Mimi told you what she had done. How would you react?
Response 1: I would be angry that Mimi had put me in such an awkward position and risked my academic standing by plagiarizing my paper. I would encourage her to go to the professor and confess. If she refused to do so, I would have to in order to stay out of trouble myself.
Response 2: If I found out after the fact, I might not turn Mimi in, but I probably would not trust her in the same way again.
Response 3: I would let Mimi know that this behavior not only compromises her own reputation and integrity but also whoever might be the original creator of the work (in this case, Shawn). In some cases much more serious consequences can result, such as expulsion from the university. Out in the workforce the consequences can cost the individual or the corporation the individual works for thousands of dollars in fines and royalty fees and many setbacks, as well as status in the marketplace, and the integrity of their reputation. In some cases, an individual can even be arrested and jailed.
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