GEN103: Academic Identify two key elements of the catalog’s Academic Integrity (Links to an external site.) and Academic Dishonesty (Links to an external site.) sections and describe how you feel these elements are important to you as a scholar and professional. Explain how the online writing or graphic you chose uses information unethically. In your explanation, be sure to refer to the two key elements you identified in the previous step. Develop a strategy for how you, as a scholar, could avoid making this same ethical mistake?

• Read the Ashford University Catalog Academic Integrity (Links to an external site.) and Academic Dishonesty (Links to an external site.)
• Read Module 5 in your course textbook.
• Find a piece of online writing that uses information unethically. For example, it might be a source that fabricates information, a photo or graphic that is altered in misleading way, an example of deceptive Internet advertising, or some other type of unethical use of information.

• Reflect on all the concepts from the catalog and course textbook and how they might help you to become a better scholar and professional.
• Consider how you can apply your understanding of ethical use of information to the materials you see and read daily.
• Think about how the online writing or graphic you selected uses information unethically.

• Identify two key elements of the catalog’s Academic Integrity (Links to an external site.) and Academic Dishonesty (Links to an external site.) sections and describe how you feel these elements are important to you as a scholar and professional.
• Explain how the online writing or graphic you chose uses information unethically. In your explanation, be sure to refer to the two key elements you identified in the previous step.
• Develop a strategy for how you, as a scholar, could avoid making this same ethical mistake?

Your initial post must be at least 350 words and address all of the prompt’s elements.

You must cite and reference any sources that you use in your posts, including your textbook or any other sources of information that you use. Please refer to the Writing Center’s Citing Within Your Paper (Links to an external site.) and Formatting Your References List (Links to an external site.) for help with citing and referencing your sources.

PART 2 ON SEPARATE SHEET

	Prepare:Take a few minutes to think about this course and the material covered in the course so far.
	Reflect: Reflect on what you found interesting, surprising, or confusing in this past week. What did you learn that caused you to understand an issue differently? What habits, tips, or resources did you discover that helped you to complete your course work more effectively or efficiently? Cite clear examples and details to support your post.
	Write:This discussion forum is an opportunity for you to explore topics that interest you, share critical insights and questions that you are working with, share your struggles and triumphs, and discuss difficulties that may have arisen this week, hopefully finding solutions. Your posts should describe your experiences in the course this past week, prompting further discussion. You should address at least one of the following questions: What struck you in particular as you explored the course materials this week? How might you apply this information to your life in the future? What insights have you had? What have you been struggling with? What questions have come up for you at this point? What helpful tips have you picked up in this course or in a past course? What questions do you about the assignment that your classmates might be able to help with? (If you have a question for the instructor, be sure to contact your instructor through email or Canvas messaging.). You are required to post at least 100 total words in this forum this week. You can post one time or ten times; the only requirements are you post at least 100 words total and you engage in conversation related to course. Ask questions, answer questions, provide extra resources you found that are interesting, or engage in a debate about something you learned this week. Provide a full explanation of the issues you discuss in your posts. For example, if you write that you had difficulty finding sources for your annotated bibliography, explain where in the process you had difficulty. Was it thinking of search terms? Did your search locate too many sources that were not relevant to your topic? Did your search return too few results? Did you have difficulty finding credible sources? Students who post early in the week, using this forum to engage their classmates on a regular basis, tend to do well and learn more from the course.

please be sure to cite the textbook as well, II attached the overview so you know the name and author.

ANSWER

Academic Integrity and Application in Daily Life

Introduction

Academic integrity is a fundamental aspect of scholarly and professional development, emphasizing ethical conduct and responsible use of information. This reflection explores the key elements of Ashford University’s Academic Integrity and Academic Dishonesty sections, discusses an example of unethical use of information found online, and proposes strategies for avoiding similar ethical mistakes.

Key Elements of Academic Integrity Catalog

 Honest Representation of Work

 The catalog emphasizes the importance of honest representation, stating that academic work must accurately reflect an individual’s efforts, ideas, and skills. This element is crucial as it promotes personal growth, fosters a culture of trust, and ensures fair evaluation based on genuine abilities  (Hampton et al.,2004).

Proper Citation and Acknowledgment

 The catalog highlights the necessity of appropriately citing and acknowledging sources used in academic work. This aspect is vital to give credit to the original authors, avoid plagiarism, and demonstrate respect for intellectual property rights. It also enables readers to access the referenced material for further examination.

Importance to Scholar and Professional Development

As a scholar, these elements are essential for cultivating integrity and ethical practices. Honest representation of work enhances personal growth, ensuring that one’s skills and knowledge are accurately reflected. Additionally, proper citation and acknowledgment foster credibility and trustworthiness, enabling others to evaluate the validity and reliability of one’s work (Kapoor et al.,2021). As a professional, these elements build a foundation of ethical conduct, reinforcing honesty, trust, and respect for intellectual property rights in all professional endeavors.

Example of Unethical Use of Information

The online writing example I found uses information unethically by fabricating information and misrepresenting facts. The piece exaggerates statistics and presents false claims without providing any credible sources or evidence. This unethical approach undermines the integrity of the information presented, deceiving readers and potentially leading to misguided conclusions.

Relation to Key Elements

The dishonest representation of work violates the first key element of honest representation emphasized in the catalog. By fabricating information, the author misrepresents their efforts, ideas, and skills. Furthermore, the absence of proper citation and acknowledgment disregards the second key element. The lack of credible sources and evidence prevents readers from verifying the information and undermines the author’s credibility.

Avoiding Ethical Mistakes

As a scholar, one can avoid making similar ethical mistakes by following a strategy that emphasizes integrity and responsible information use:

Thoroughly research and verify the credibility of sources before using them in academic or professional work.

Always cite and acknowledge sources properly, adhering to the appropriate citation style guidelines provided by the institution or professional field  (LaFollette 1992).

Develop critical thinking skills to evaluate the validity and reliability of information, ensuring that it is accurate, up-to-date, and from reputable sources.

Seek guidance from professors, mentors, or colleagues when in doubt about proper citation practices or the reliability of information.

Conclusion

Understanding the key elements of academic integrity empowers scholars and professionals to navigate the ethical challenges associated with information use. By prioritizing honest representation and proper citation, individuals can uphold their integrity, promote trustworthiness, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge and professionalism. Maintaining ethical practices in both academic and professional endeavors fosters a culture of integrity, ensuring responsible engagement with information and ideas.

References

Hampton, G., Rhodes, C., & Stokes, M. (2004). A practical guide to mentoring, coaching and peer-networking: Teacher professional development in schools and colleges. Routledge.https://bo.linkedin.com/posts/mantramarketing_delegation-is-a-vital-part-of-growth-activity-7068106309933408257-TX-B

Kapoor, P. S., Balaji, M. S., Maity, M., & Jain, N. K. (2021). Why consumers exaggerate in online reviews? Moral disengagement and dark personality traits. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 60, 102496.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096969892100062X 

LaFollette, M. C. (1992). Stealing into print: fraud, plagiarism, and misconduct in scientific publishing. Univ of California Press.https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=n8uTNkXrLwUC&oi=fnd&pg=PP11&dq=The+dishonest+representation+of+work+violates+the+first+key+element+of+honest+representation+emphasized+in+the+catalog.+By+fabricating+information,+the+author+misrepresents+their+efforts,+ideas,+and+skills.+Furthermore,+the+absence+of+proper+citation+and+a&ots=gGC0G5pY7p&sig=72yP632G__iZxOvFNTq4I_ATFco