txengteacher, I once wrote a Halloween poem in the fourth grade that was absolutely my OWN. Didn't steal it from anybody (at least not consciously).

I was accused of plagarizing it. I was nine effing years old. Didn't even know what that MEANT. But I knew it wasn't a compliment.

Maybe your student made a sincere effort to be creative, within the context of his sources. At least CONSIDER that possibility, would you?