What is plagairism?

From the following web site, where more information is available, http://www.iastate.edu/~catalog/2001-03/acad-dishonest.html

 “'Unacknowledged use of the information, ideas, or phrasing of other writers is an offense comparable with        theft and fraud, and it is so recognized by the copyright and patent laws. Literary offenses of this kind are known as plagiarism.” One is responsible for plagiarism when: the exact words of another writer are used without using quotation marks and indicating the source of the words; the words of another are summarized or paraphrased without giving the credit that is due; the ideas from another writer are borrowed without properly documenting their source. Acknowledging the sources of borrowed material is a simple, straightforward procedure that will strengthen the paper and assure the integrity of the writer. The English 104-105 Student Manual, provides guidelines to aid students in documenting material borrowed from other sources, as does almost every handbook on writing style."

From my experience, the most common problem involves  using "the exact words of another writer are used without using quotation marks and indicating the source of the words (and/or) the words of another are summarized or paraphrased without giving the credit that is due" . In this class, this could happen with the final paper. Note that simply changing a few minor word choices from the original source does not avoid plagiarism. BE SURE  you understand how to avoid plagiarism -- and don't do it. 

What happens if I plagiarize or otherwise engage in academic dishonesty in this class?

Obviously, you will not get any credit for completing the assignment (a zero score).  Furthermore, purposeful and flagrant violations of the principles of academic dishonesty will be handled according to strictest policies of the university.  The following is excerpted from the student handbook "...cheating and plagiarism are issues which can affect a student's status at the University in more serious ways. As an educational institution, the University maintains standards of ethical academic behavior, and recognizes its responsibility to enforce these standards....If a student is determined by an instructor to have committed a violation of academic ethics, the instructor may take additional disciplinary action including, but not limited to,  grade reduction for the course in which the infraction occurs, even if the reduction is over and above the normal consequences resulting from the grade merited by the unacceptable work. ... (the instructor may)  recommend suspension from the University of Northern Iowa for a period ranging from the term in which the infraction occurs (with a loss of all credit earned during that term) to permanent suspension from the University. "