Mindy and Karla are roommates; both are taking public speaking, but from different instructors. In preparation for an upcoming class speech, they select the same topic, work together in the library to gatherthe research, and draft an outline. They then each deliver the speech in their respective speech classes. Which of the following statements BEST pertains in this situation?
A) This is not the most ethical behavior, but it's not a serious ethical violation either because they are in separate classes with different instructors.
B) This is an ethical violation known as plagiarism, because the two roommates did not do their own original work in preparing the speech.
C) This is not an ethical violation as long as each speaker makes the speech a little bit different in the actual delivery.
D) It is not an ethical violation to use the same outline, but they shouldn't use exactly the same sources in the speech.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mindy and Karla committed an ethical violation known as plagiarism by working together on the same speech topic, gathering research together, and drafting an outline together. Even though they delivered the speech in separate classes with different instructors, the act of presenting another person's work as their own is still considered plagiarism.

Mindy and Karla Are Roommates; Both Are Taking Public Speaking