I'm pretty sure at my university it qualifies as a violation of academic integrity. But, is there any way to really enforce it? I would guess only if one or both copies of the paper were submitted to an online CMS or a third party like TurnItIn. Is it unethical?

Quick example: a required English course asks for a short paper geared to an unprofessional audience. The paper must be written on a topic within your academic discipline. A semester earlier you wrote a paper that fills the criteria and received an A grade (friend of a friend).

Anyone have an idea about the possible consequences or do you all just do this whenever possible?

This is pretty much against every university's academic integrity statement. If found out, you would probably be sent to the Dean of Students and likely fail the class and possibly be expelled. Also, keep in mind that if the paper required is similar to that required by another class, then the two classes are close enough in subject matter that the two different profs probably know each other. Depending on how close they are and how often they talk, you may get discovered. It would seem unlikely, but not implausible.

I've approached professors about expanding papers (I wrote a 10 page paper for high school AP history and my freshman history prof let me expand it to a 20 page paper). I wouldn't risk turning in a paper twice. Sure, the odds are small, but being in law school now I'm glad I never did anything like that. Grad school admissions, bar exam, etc. all ask about academic probation/etc. type stuff.

It's against my schools policy. Its highly doubtful you would get caught imo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism#Self-plagiarism

Why exactly are you taking a class that you're too lazy to write a short paper for?

In undergrad I turned in the same paper 3 times with only minor changes. I don't find the ethical argument compelling, you wanted a paper written by me on an appropriate subject. I delivered that.

yeah i can only see this as being an ethical issue. i cant really seeing you getting in trouble for it. its your paper, your thoughts. i wouldnt be opposed to it. if a teacher brings it up i find a hard time seeing you could get in serious trouble as long as you just play dumb. maybe she will make you write another paper, maybe she will give you an F on the paper, but expelled or F in the class? haha no way.

basically there is probably a 5% chance you get caught. i would just paraphrase your already written one making a new paper. if anyone draws connections then you can say, well yeah thats how i write or something.

There's not necessarily anything wrong with it as long as you are honest about it being previous work. The deception is the real problem.

Every university is different, but I assure you most universities take their academic integrity very seriously. Plagiarism is normally pretty high on the list. People think of self-plagiarism as less serious than a second source, but it's still serious. I've known of two journalists who had their careers ended for turning in columns that had been published previously. You can't just submit something as original when it's not. You have to identify it.

One of my friend's did this and they withheld credit points. The plagiarism check automatically stores essays submitted into it. I guess this is more to prevent people using work from previous year's students more than this. He is basically screwed for getting a Training Contract at a Law firm at the moment as he can't currently be predicted an honours degree.

Just write the essay with everyone else.

Yeah I would agree with this, but preparing all my stuff for the bar application and character & fitness has me scared.

That has nothing to do with anything. He isnt submitting something that was published.

He could say he wrote the same paper. How are they gonna prove anything?

Anyone telling you go for it, they won't expel you etc. has no idea what he is talking about. This is a terrible idea and absolutely not worth the risk. If caught you may be expelled. I have university administrators in my family and I know what I'm talking about.

Level?

Whether or not it was published is not the key distinction. A friend's paper probably wasn't published either. You still can't submit it as original work.

Again, they probably would not know, unless there's a copy of the original somewhere (electronic, never returned to OP, photocopy in prof's file, etc.) and somehow worlds collide.

Either way, it's still a huge risk to avoid a few hours of work.

a friends paper wasnt written by you? what does that have anything to do with it. why is it assumed to be an original work? unless the paper directions explicitly say original, i cant see the harm in using your own thoughts again.

if "original" is the key, then im pretty sure every paper ive written was plagiarized off of myself. they all use the same format, phrases and wording, the only thing that changes is the content.

There’s nothing wrong with turning in the same paper as long as you identify it as such. As for the originality issue, it is implied that when you present something to someone in a formal setting that it is original unless otherwise stated. If your professor, for example, goes to a professional conference to present a paper. Everyone in that room assumes that paper is original unless otherwise noted. That’s just the way it works. Same thing with your class paper. If you are formally turning it in, then it is assumed that it is original. To turn in an unoriginal paper without acknowledging it as such constitutes academic dishonesty. If you disagree with that, then fine, but that’s not the way the world works.

This is just silly talk.

back when I posted more I think I would have created a [citation needed] gimmick and gotten a lot of mileage out of it.

Not worth the risk.

While this type of self-plagiarism is usually against the rules in most universities, you'll find that it is not treated the same way as plagiarizing others' work by most professors. They might mark you down, but i haven't heard of anyone that will auto-fail you for the course like they will if you plagiarize someone else's work. Of course, my limited experience should not be generalized too far. Your professors might take a different perspective. The best thing to do is ask him what needs to be done to justifiably reuse some of the same paper.

I've auto-failed students several times for this.

I had a student do this. She forgot to take the last professor's name off the paper before she handed it to me. Sigh.

OP I always think it kind of silly that undergrads don't get many chances to continue work they have done in previous semesters. But that is under the condition that it is cleared with the prof. At any rate, your professor probably created a poor assignment if you even have the opportunity to do this.

And even though we live in remix culture, the university's conception of authorship comes mostly from the 19th century. You're stuck.

Perhaps you should just practice learning how to write short papers under a deadline? All this worry for five hours of work.

update from OP?

For the course?