This weeks readings included: Social and Cultural Issues: Copyright, Plagiarism, and Fair Use of Others’ Writing, Gender in the Workplace and Ethics Editing Checklist. Copyright, Plagiarism, and Fair Use of Others' Writing is an important article that provides very useful information when it comes to any form of writing. The following line basically sums up the entire article: "Give credit where credit is due." If the information provided isn't your own then you need to make sure and cite the correct source. The article also gives a list of rules that might help: 1. Always credit others’ contributions to your work. Don’t claim, as your own, work that you have not done. 2.Be willing to share your work with others to promote the development of knowledge and the good of society. 3. You can use others’ work, in appropriate ways, to inform your own work. I find myself over-citing sometimes because I want to make sure and give credit where credit is due and I often think that I would whether over-cite then not cite something and get in trouble for it. I don't want to get in trouble for plagiarism or academic dishonesty and citing your sources is the only way to avoid it. The next article I found interesting and at the same time disturbing was "Gender in the Workplace." The article gave a little list of reasons as to why there are gender differences in the workplace which included the following: First, women earn less than men do for their labors. Second, women hold few leadership roles in business. Third, women are thought to manage differently than men do. Fourth, men and women are thought to communicate differently. I for one have issues with gender differences in the workplace, is it because I am a female? Probably, but I believe actions speak louder than words and unless you (regardless of gender) give a reason as to why you aren't capable of completing a job or working in a higher position within a company, then you should be given the chance. Using gender as a crutch or reason as to why you are put in the position you are, is an unacceptable excuse. Equality in the workplace is becoming more of an issue and something needs to be done about it. The Ethics Editing Checklist is a great list of things a writer should consider when producing a professional document.