A Caution about the Number of Students Who Don’t Know This

In data collected since 2011, over 50% of students did not know the 5 Good Habits for Evidence until they were graded using this method with a required source. With this method for grading, not only must you use required sources and cite, but also your professor places side by side:

· Your paper (and then one by one all other papers on the same question)

· The pages of the textbook that are for this question and the pages of any primary source that you are citing.

How the Method for Grading Makes a Professor Efficient and Shifts the Responsibility to You

Think about this for a moment:

1. If students may use any source, professors cannot efficiently prove that the student’s statements are:

o based on an unreliable source

o factually incorrect for the question asked

o misread and factually incorrect

o plagiarized, “half-copy” plagiarism, or “patchwriting”

o misquoted and perhaps even changed the author’s meaning.

2. If students must use required, reliable sources, students must prove they are following Good Habits for Evidence by their work.
A professor can efficiently prove the accuracy of grading. On the other hand, if the professor didn’t see something that you saw, you also can prove that. Evidence-based grading of evidence is better for both professor and student.

Why This Model for Responsibility Is in Your Interests

This model for responsibility is closer to the one you will face on the job.

Bosses will:

· Either instantly recognize if you act contrary to the basic Good Habits for Evidence in a way that has consequences for their business
Examples: Factual inaccuracy is likely to have negative consequences for any business. With some businesses, an employee who plagiarizes could put the company at risk of lawsuits.
For more examples, click here.

· Or—if they do not notice and your action later has negative consequences on their business—you will face the consequences.

This model for responsibility is also closer to the one you will face with personal decisions. If you do not develop Good Habits for Evidence, you increase your odds that you will not notice your own error. If your actions have a negative consequence, you—and perhaps your family—will face the consequences.

If you do not already have the Good Habits for Evidence, develop them now. Good habits for evidence can protect you:

· in classes

· on the job

· and in life

WCJC Department:	History – Dr. Bibus
Contact Information:	281.239.1577 or bibusc@wcjc.edu
Last Updated:	2018
WCJC Home:	http://www.wcjc.edu/