University scholars and scientists spend a good part of their professional lives reading the research of others, sharing drafts and getting feedback from peer-reviewed journals and book editors. They also revise, rethink and discuss their ideas at conferences, over coffee with colleagues, in cyberspace and in collaborative learning communities.

Needing help when you read and write is not a sign of intellectual weakness. In fact, getting help -- a lot of help -- is what great scholars usually do to be creative at all.

Acknowledging that help is a major part of the knowledge-making process. Scholars cannot evaluate the quality and accuracy of their research or that of their colleagues unless everyone uses standard, consistent ways of documenting the books, articles, manuscripts, databases, Internet sources and conversations that contribute to their works.

And since at Quinnipiac you will be required to work as scholars do, it is very important that you are honest about the help you receive, so that it is possible for your readers to understand what original work you have created.

Your training in English 101 and English 102 will introduce you to that culture of trust and integrity.

More info: Quinnipiac University Academic Integrity Policy.

Note: This discussion of the basic principle of academic honesty, of acknowledgments and of inviting students to submit acknowledgments pages is adapted from similar statements appearing in the syllabi and curriculum materials of William E. Coles Jr. and David Bartholomae at the University of Pittsburgh.