When taking formal disciplinary action, a student's behavior should be:

Documenting a student's behavior is crucial when taking formal disciplinary action, as it provides a clear and objective record of the events leading to the decision. Documentation serves multiple purposes: it offers transparency, supports the rationale for the disciplinary action, and helps ensure that the process is fair and consistent. With thorough documentation, instructors can refer back to specific incidents, outline the behaviors that necessitated the intervention, and demonstrate that the action taken is in accordance with established policies and procedures.

In formal disciplinary processes, having documented evidence of the behavior not only safeguards the instructor but also protects the rights of the student by ensuring they have a clear understanding of why the action has been taken. This can also be useful if there are appeals or further discussions required regarding the disciplinary action. In contrast, options such as justification, balance, and generalization do not provide the same level of clarity and accountability as documentation does.