However, anecdotal evidence from educators does suggests that Web-aided plagiarism is becoming the method of choice for the lazy and dishonest writer. Accurately estimating any form of academic dishonesty has always been difficult, but some schools do try. Virginia Tech tracks cases of honor code violations, including computer-related incidents. Worcester Polytechnic Institute administers an anonymous survey every few years to gauge students' perception of, and participation in, instances of cheating. They do legitimate research and write their own papers.
Students have a right to expect fairness in the classroom.
When teachers turn a blind eye to plagiarism, it undermines that right and denigrates grades, degrees, and even institutions. Plagiarism is alive and well on campuses and in cyberspace. But educators should take some solace in the fact that while the Internet is a useful resource for plagiarists, it is also an excellent tool to use against them. Julie J.C.H. Ryan is a graduate teaching assistant at George Washington University and an information security consultant.