Hi! Today my teacher falsely accused me of plagiarism after I asked her why I got a 0% on my semester exam. The assignment was to take notes using the Cornell method from a course comprised of lectures from the Open Yale Course Online Catalogue (http://oyc.yale.edu/). We had to take notes on a minimum of twelve lectures. I chose the Introduction to Psychology course with Paul Bloom. The course included access to an html transcription of everything the professor had said during the course, the powerpoint slides presented during the lecture, and the audio and video associated with each lecture. Obviously, I drew notes and key concepts from the text, audio, and video files and wrote them down because that’s how I learned to take notes. By definition, the note-taking is the practice of recording information from another source to utilize at a later date. You’re recording what you read and hear. Is that plagiarism. I know that in many classes (particularly history) I have to listen to the teacher give lectures and present powerpoints and were supposed to copy down what is on the presentation and important concepts that the teacher states. Theoretically, all note-taking is plagiarism, yet I never got called on it until now. Is that really plagiarism?
Sounds pretty similar to something that happened to me.
Everyone can have a different definition of note-taking. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you really can’t go through school thinking you’re always right. By a random online dictionary definition, note taking is “The practice of writing down or otherwise recording key points of information.” That’s essentially what it was meant for. Of course, you can directly record information from sources for your own personal notes, but it sounds like plagiarism to turn that in for a grade.
Did you write down things word-for-word? The assignment was to take notes, and by that, teachers want you to take the information given and write your OWN notes in your own words, not listen and copy. You’re not truly getting a comprehensive understanding of the material if you’re copying down what’s given to you. Try stepping into your teacher’s shoes. Would you prefer your students mindlessly copy down the bullets from the powerpoint, or would you prefer that they write the notes in words they’ll understand?
Note-taking isn’t plagiarism when it’s done right. Take a textbook for example. To take notes, you would read it and jot down significant points and summarize the information in your own language. The source is the textbook, and you’d probably give credit to the textbook somewhere on your paper. For all future assignments, you should never copy verbatim, especially not for a semester exam. By copying, it doesn’t show any connection and analysis on your part.
Take this as a learning experience. Could you ask your teacher for a redo assignment, maybe?
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but in college, professors won’t take it. It’s ridiculously easy to accidentally plagiarize, and a slip-up could cost you suspension. Good luck! 
First and foremost @SippinCoffee, my teacher gave us vague instructions that made it seem like this manner of note-taking was acceptable. Secondly, we had an assignment before this over another pre-determined lecture on music and I took notes in the same fashion and I got a 100%. Thirdly, I practiced a style that I was familiar with. In my AP Econ class, we have to sit there and copy guided notes exactly the same way he has on the board. In AP Psychology, when we discuss a new topic, my teacher lectures us while playing a powerpoint that he expects us to obtain information from. We are supposed to copy every word from the powerpoint. In AP Chemistry, when we go over definitions, we are expected to copy all the definitions word for word from our textbook. In AP Literature, if we are going over new terminology, we are expected to copy down the definition our teacher spouts at us word for word. My point is, in the twenty first century, teachers all across the country teach students by speaking and going over notes that they expect us to copy word for word whether it be a definition or a fact. I believe that it’s wrong for me or any other student to be penalized for taking notes in the same manner that all of my teachers have taught me currently as well as in the past. As for drawing key concepts from the lectures and powerpoint slides, I did my notes using the Cornell Method, so in one section of the page, I wrote down important facts and key concepts (not every single thing word for word unless there was no way to elaborate); in the second section, I scanned over my notes and looked for trigger words and cue words (for instance, if one of the concepts the professor talking about was social emotions, I would some up the section with the keyword emotion); in the third section, I summarized all the notes into one brief line. Often times, I self study the subject so I can obtain a better understanding of the material (especially in a course like psychology, which I find fascinating). You’re write about improving my method, but I most certainly didn’t deserve a 0 on a final exam. This was a semester exam, plus I don’t want an unintentional case of plagiarism marring my transcript.
@Zairia13 I’m not saying that you deserved a 0. You have the right to defend yourself, and there are systems in your school to argue a grade. Take what you just said to me, turn that into a formal letter, and give it to your school administration. Get your parents involved if necessary.
@SippinCoffee So you think that’s enough of a defense to object to the allegations?
@Zairia13 Well write it in the most professional and persuasive manner you can. If you fight it correctly, I think it could work, but I don’t know your school or background so I wouldn’t be sure. If you’re absolutely 100% positive that you are correct and the teacher made an error, then there should be no hesitation to defend yourself. Remember that the counselors, admins, teachers, etc. are all just people too. Don’t be scared of bringing it up to the administration because nothing will change unless you try. If you want more support, perhaps you can ask the other students to join your petition.
Also, be assertive, but don’t be arrogant. They will listen to you best if you are respectful with your argument.