You are working on a group assignment and have each completed a section of the report. You strongly suspect that one of the other students has copied their section off the internet. It is close to the deadline. Which TWO options are the best things to do in this situation?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Context: You’re under a tight deadline and suspect a group member’s section may be plagiarised. The goal is to address potential plagiarism ethically while safeguarding your project and maintaining fairness to all students.

Option a: Delete that section of the report and submit the rest. This approach is problematic because it conceals potential plagiarism rather than addressing it, which can violate academic integrity policies and unfairly impact the student who copied and those who contributed honestly. It also risks weakening the overall quality and coherence of the report, as the removed content may be a substantial portion.

Option b: Speak to the student about their section and see if there is a way forward. This is a constructive first step. It gives the student a chance to explain, disclose mistakes, or provide proper attribution or revised content. It aligns with ethical guidelines, encourages accountability, and can preserve the group’s working relationship. It also allows you to document concerns and plan next steps if the issue persists.

Option c: Discuss the situation with your lecturer. Involving the lecturer is appropriate when there is a potential integrity breach or when a resolution isn’t achievable within the group. This ensures the matter is handled according to institutional policies and helps protect all students from unfair consequences. It also signals that you’re seeking formal guidance on how to proceed given the time pressure.

Option d: Hand in the report with a note that that section is plagiarised. This is generally discouraged and could be unethical, as it acknowledges potential plagiarism without attempting to rectify it or warn the instructor appropriately. It may transfer responsibility away from the group while still presenting an imperfect submission, potentially leading to disciplinary action.

In summary, option b is a direct, collaborative step to address the concern with the student and seek a constructive remedy, while option c ensures proper policy-based oversight and accountability when a group-level resolution isn’t possible. Options a and d fail to address integrity appropriately and could have negative consequences for fairness and compliance.

You are working on a group assignment and have each completed a section of the report. You strongly suspect that one of the other students has copied their section off the internet. It is close to the deadline. Which TWO options are the best things to do in this situation?

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