I'm evaluating a final project submission from a student. Student had an A going into this. Papers are to follow APA style. Student answered a question by copy/pasting an entire section of an internet article, pretty much word for word. They then cited this once at the very end (but did not follow APA requirements for long-form content or direct quoting). There were no other original thoughts on some of the answers.

Example excerpt (not real, just an example):

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But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure? (Cited Author, Author Year).

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They did this numerous times throughout his paper.

In effect I believe this student was lazy and did not want to answer the questions, so instead researched sources, then copy/pasted from one that best fit, with some minor word massaging here and there.

I've reported this to them as an academic honesty violation on the grounds that they were passing off other's work as their own, but they are appealing it and saying they didn't understand they couldn't cite like this (this student has two semesters left before graduation, and said that they are doing well in their other courses as evidence that he is not cheating).

My question: am I wrong that this is as an academic honesty violation? Appreciate any guidance. This hasn't gone to official channels (yet).

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EDIT: Thanks for the input! I'm moving forward with the violation report. Thanks again!