Mar 20 2009
A Cheat by Any Other Name . . .
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” – Attributed to Abraham Lincoln
As the end of a semester approaches, pressures to submit assignments and prepare for final examinations are intensified. Under these conditions some students erroneously believe they are entitled to bypass standard rules of academic integrity via unashamedly blatant cheating, plagiarism, and other unethical attempts at grade (and instructor) manipulation. Yet when ultimately caught, such students do not hesitate to plead their cases to the academic gods and goddesses for mercy.
Some memorable incidents in which I have been involved, as either the instructor or as a witness to hearings for other instructors, have included the following:
Scenario 1: Student was taking a closed-book, proctored online examination. Student opened additional windows to obtain notes and other data, thereby compromising the integrity of the exam and the college’s academic codes. Student challenged the “zero” grade earned for the exam. Details of the entire online activities of the student had been recorded on course management system. Student’s defense: “I was curious about whether it would work when I tried to open other windows, but I didn’t cheat because I minimized the windows even though I didn’t close them.” Verdict: Guilty, grade of “zero” assigned to exam.
Scenario 2: Student submitted term assignment (literature review), with 80% of the assignment derived verbatim from one identified source. Software was used to help detect originality of student submissions and to document original sources used by student. Instructor offered student the opportunity to rewrite assignment in order to avoid both “zero” grade and disciplinary action. Student’s defense: “That isn’t plagiarism. I have a lot of other work to do now, and don’t know if I’ll have time to re-write it.” Additional student comment: “I don’t want to take that instructor again next semester.” Verdict: To be determined (Take a guess!).
Scenario 3: Student asked classmates for a chance to view their written, completed assignments because she “didn’t understand” the instructor’s requests. Classmates obliged, and student proceeded to submit two papers identical to those of her classmates. Uproar and hysteria ensued when classmates discovered student’s actual intentions and actions. Student’s defense: “I didn’t understand what the teacher was talking about, so I asked my friends for help.” Verdict: Guilty, failed course.
Scenario 4: Student doesn’t submit required course work; claims he is “too experienced on the subject matter and should be given credit” but is nevertheless “blocked.” Student advised that because he did not test out of the course, he is required to complete all exams and assignments or he will earn a failing grade. Student requests opportunity to complete ubiquitous “Extra Credit Assignment;” request is promptly denied as student needs to complete required work before “Extra Credit” will be considered. Student does not take final examination. Verdict: Guilty, failed course.
And we’re still a couple of weeks away from Spring Break!
