the paper was not properly documented, but the information was too accurate to have come from the boy's experience.
Patrick declared with vehemence his innocence. "It's Aunt Larkin's house," he said to his father.
Raif read the paper and the charges before he addressed the board:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to request another English professor read and score this paper. I would also request to provide expert testimony Patrick could, indeed, have known much of this information without actually researching. I admit the documentation has errors, but it is documented. Before you expel a student for knowing something his professor might not know"—He leveled a cold, hard stare at the woman who had accused his son—"you must give him every opportunity to prove himself."
The board discussed the matter and, because Patrick was a legacy and Raif a distinguished alumnus, agreed. Therefore, the next day, Dr. Larkin Sloan Reynolds joined her brother-in-law and nephew. The board questioned Larkin's impartiality on the grounds she was Patrick's aunt.
"Yes, I'm Patrick's aunt," admitted Larkin. "But I'm also a published author, an English professor at the Eau Boueuse branch of LSU, and the owner of the antebellum home Patrick wrote about in his paper." She held the document aloft. "Perhaps, Patrick should've documented his knowledge as a possible interview, but it is his knowledge. I've frequently shared the historical significance of my home with both my own children and my nieces and nephews. I don't believe Patrick deliberately plagiarized anything. I've read his paper. It's good. There are a few mistakes in the technical aspects of documentation for which I would probably deduct ten points. I also found a couple of minor grammatical errors—another five points. I would give this paper an eighty-five. I would also strongly scold Patrick for not allowing me to read it before he submitted it. Part of the writing process is editing and revising. Letting someone else read your paper is extremely advisable." Larkin gave Patrick a withering look. The young man slid down in his chair as his aunt went on. "No, ladies and gentlemen, this paper is not plagiarized—lacking in certain technical aspects, yes, but hardly deserving expulsion. In addition, I believe Patrick has learned a great lesson from this experience. He's Raiford Gautier's son; therefore, he will not need to be told twice."
A white-haired regent with a goatee scratched his chin. "Patrick, tell us a little about your personal experience in this home."
Patrick stood. Hands shaking, he said, "I played in the hayloft that has been turned into a game room. My uncle has cars in the stalls that once housed horses. The area where the gallows was built is sort of off limits, but we often sneaked down there. I got grounded for that twice." He looked at his father. "I grew up exploring the house and the acreage. I should have gotten Aunt Larkin's exact words and maybe even some of the written survey data, but I just wrote what I remembered. I didn't cheat. The words are my own."
The regent gave a curt nod and Patrick retook his seat.
The board deliberated for an hour before they called Patrick back in and delivered their ruling with the same old man making the oral proclamation:
"Patrick Gautier, we have concluded that you did not intentionally plagiarize your work. You did neglect to properly document your sources. We're requiring you to rewrite the paper, and you will receive a grade no higher than eighty-five. We strongly suggest you follow your aunt's advice from now on.” The regent leaned forward, elbows on the table and softened his tone to one that seem grandfatherly. “Son, you have a resource most students don't have. Take advantage of it. You won't be expelled, but next semester, you won't have Professor Moran for composition. As a matter of fact, you'll be in Professor Dixon's class beginning tomorrow. This case is resolved as so stated. Dismissed."
On the
Patrick declared with vehemence his innocence. "It's Aunt Larkin's house," he said to his father.
Raif read the paper and the charges before he addressed the board:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to request another English professor read and score this paper. I would also request to provide expert testimony Patrick could, indeed, have known much of this information without actually researching. I admit the documentation has errors, but it is documented. Before you expel a student for knowing something his professor might not know"—He leveled a cold, hard stare at the woman who had accused his son—"you must give him every opportunity to prove himself."
The board discussed the matter and, because Patrick was a legacy and Raif a distinguished alumnus, agreed. Therefore, the next day, Dr. Larkin Sloan Reynolds joined her brother-in-law and nephew. The board questioned Larkin's impartiality on the grounds she was Patrick's aunt.
"Yes, I'm Patrick's aunt," admitted Larkin. "But I'm also a published author, an English professor at the Eau Boueuse branch of LSU, and the owner of the antebellum home Patrick wrote about in his paper." She held the document aloft. "Perhaps, Patrick should've documented his knowledge as a possible interview, but it is his knowledge. I've frequently shared the historical significance of my home with both my own children and my nieces and nephews. I don't believe Patrick deliberately plagiarized anything. I've read his paper. It's good. There are a few mistakes in the technical aspects of documentation for which I would probably deduct ten points. I also found a couple of minor grammatical errors—another five points. I would give this paper an eighty-five. I would also strongly scold Patrick for not allowing me to read it before he submitted it. Part of the writing process is editing and revising. Letting someone else read your paper is extremely advisable." Larkin gave Patrick a withering look. The young man slid down in his chair as his aunt went on. "No, ladies and gentlemen, this paper is not plagiarized—lacking in certain technical aspects, yes, but hardly deserving expulsion. In addition, I believe Patrick has learned a great lesson from this experience. He's Raiford Gautier's son; therefore, he will not need to be told twice."
A white-haired regent with a goatee scratched his chin. "Patrick, tell us a little about your personal experience in this home."
Patrick stood. Hands shaking, he said, "I played in the hayloft that has been turned into a game room. My uncle has cars in the stalls that once housed horses. The area where the gallows was built is sort of off limits, but we often sneaked down there. I got grounded for that twice." He looked at his father. "I grew up exploring the house and the acreage. I should have gotten Aunt Larkin's exact words and maybe even some of the written survey data, but I just wrote what I remembered. I didn't cheat. The words are my own."
The regent gave a curt nod and Patrick retook his seat.
The board deliberated for an hour before they called Patrick back in and delivered their ruling with the same old man making the oral proclamation:
"Patrick Gautier, we have concluded that you did not intentionally plagiarize your work. You did neglect to properly document your sources. We're requiring you to rewrite the paper, and you will receive a grade no higher than eighty-five. We strongly suggest you follow your aunt's advice from now on.” The regent leaned forward, elbows on the table and softened his tone to one that seem grandfatherly. “Son, you have a resource most students don't have. Take advantage of it. You won't be expelled, but next semester, you won't have Professor Moran for composition. As a matter of fact, you'll be in Professor Dixon's class beginning tomorrow. This case is resolved as so stated. Dismissed."
On the
Similar Books
