Dr. Roger: Copying someone else’s work without acknowledgment is unethical, dishonorable, and speaks to luck of character.
By
Mahdi Abdulla

Kurdistan- Sulaimani; March 31, 2009__Dr. Roger has taught undergraduate, graduate MBA, and executive development courses to business professionals for the last ten years. He is now the assistant professor of C.S and Business Administration of the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani. Here are some questions that he answered me about the studying, copying, and plagiarism.

What do you think of studying – What is studying?
Studying is NOT merely doing homework. To get the most out of the process of studying you are trying for a deeper understanding of the subject or topic by synthesizing a range of different resources into your own thinking. Some of these resources include lecture notes, discussions with teachers, your own peers, and perhaps others on the Internet, as well as doing practice problems and simulations. Thinking critically, creatively, and reflectively about the information gathered and learned, while always having a questioning attitude, will often lead to a richer understanding of a topic or subject.

What do you think of modern education? – This is a hard question. In many ways, the basics of teaching and learning have remained the same through the millennia. Education has always included a process of transferring knowledge from one individual to another; from one group to another. Today, however, education not only includes the acquisition of knowledge but is also concerned with how this knowledge is wielded within a larger, global context. Modern education, I believe, must also acknowledge the acceleration and creation of new information and knowledge as it flows seamlessly and transparently across the Internet. The transformations taking place in our world will require new ways of thinking and acquisition of new skill sets. It will be up to ‘modern education to help students meet these new challenges successfully.

Your opinion about Copying material /Plagiarism – Copying someone else’s work without acknowledgement is unethical, dishonorable, and speaks to a lack of character. It should be avoided at all costs. If you wish to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’[i], whoever they may be, you must also be prepared to acknowledge them.
I really do not have a good ‘feel’ whether or not we have a significant problem here at the University.
No one likes a cheater. Plagiarism is cheating. The act is dishonorable and a discredit to one’s self. Personally, if I have a friend who is wonderful in every respect, but I discover they are a cheat, they are soon not my friend. I think it is important for students to understand that the process of cheating robs them of the opportunity to learn and more importantly retards the process of building one’s character, confidence, and self-respect.

Have you ever cheated? At my University – The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA – students abided by an honor code which was reinforced every time we took a test or turned in an assignment. Through the integrity of our signature, we attested to the fact that ‘we neither gave or received assistance’ in completing our work. Anyone caught violating this honor pledge ran the risk of being kicked out of the University. I am sure there were some violations of the University’s honor code but during my three years of study, the honor code loomed large for me. You pretty much did your own work and so did everyone else.

Suicide is Forbidden in the Religion of Islam

Nowadays, people are use to be less religiuos. They do many sins without care about the rules of their religion. Although killing himself is not allowed, and it is the biggest felony according to the islamic religion, today, commiting suicide is common among the people. If someone killied himself, it is like one who is calling for help from the scorching heat of fire. God is the only one who has a right to bring out soul in our bodies.

I disagree with the idea that everyone could be free to kill himself if he decided because it is against my religion. In actual fact, whoever ((intentionally)) killed himself, then he certainly he will be punished by the fire of Hell will remain him in it forever. According to the Prophet Muhammad's friends, "There was a man who had a wound. He was in such anguish that he took a knife and made with it a cut in his hand, and the blood did not cease to flow till he died. Allah said: My servant has himself forestalled me; i have forbedden him Paradise."

None of us Have the right to kill ourselves. God is the only one who has the right to decide about our life and death. According to Qur'an, "do not kill yourselves ((nor kill one another)). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. Therefore; none of us should ask for death because of the trouble in which he is in volvid, but if there is no other help to it. Then say: O Allah, keep me alive as long as there is goodness in life for me and bring death to me when there is goodness in death for me. Also according to the Prophet Muhammad's speech, "none amongst you should make a request for death, and do not call it before it comes, for when any of you dies, he ceases(to do well) deeds, and the life of a believer is not delyed but forgoodness."

In conclusion, There is not any excuse for anyone to kill himself. Suerly, they should dweel in the Hell forever. Finally, whoever kills himself intentionally, his recompense is Hell to a bide therein, and the Course of Allah is upon him and agraet punishment is prepared for him.

mahdi

Right now, I am a student at the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani. It is really interesting for me because it has a modern system of education. Also I could see one of the biggest dreams in my life which is learning to speak English.