Cheating Question

[Kitana85]

I'm doing well in English class this year, but it can never hurt to get a better grade...right?

I was online one day and I came across a few papers my English teacher recently wrote for her masters degree. Do you think it's ethical to read these papers so I can see how my teacher writes (and in such see what she considers good writing) or should I not look at it.

It's not really cheating since I'm not taking anyone elses work, just seeing what style she likes. But on the otherhand, otherhand, it is an advantage the other girls in my class might not have (but they could if they looked).

So, do you think it's ethical (and why/why not)?

[GameMaster]

I don't think it's cheating. Like you said, you're not taking her work or anything. I think it's a smart move. If you know you're teachers style of writing then you could use it in your own compositions and you're teacher would be able to connect with what you're trying to say (to the reader) more easily allowing for her to grade your paper better. It sounds like something an A student would do. :)

[BreakABone]

Hmm fair is fair..

The only problem I have with that is when you try to adopt to someone's else writing style you sometimes end of screwing yourself. So you might as well stick to your style of writing

[Ginkasa]

I don't know if its really cheating but I personally consider it wrong. You should write in your style, that's what you're being graded on.

[Joeiss]

Well, if you are allready getting a good mark, do not look at the essays. This is because you allready have a great style of writing.

If you are getting a poor mark, look at the essays. It is basically free-tutoring on how to right a good and effective essay.

[Neo]

That's not cheating, it's called playing the grades game. Give your teacher what she wants. unless the teacher wants sex from a minor

[Joeiss]

Originally posted by Neo
That's not cheating, it's called playing the grades game. Give your teacher what she wants. unless the teacher wants sex from a minor

What's wrong with that? I mean, you'll probably get a huge cash settlement because it is the teachers fault, even if you come on to her.

But that is disturbing though, unless it was with my french teacher... MMMMMMMMMMMMMM....

Oh, I mean, umm... yeah, sex with teachers is bad!

[Yugi Starwind]

Well, In a way its cheating,and in another its getting to "know" your teacher better. So, it has 2 sides you could choose :
#1-the " light " side where you continue your own writing.
or..#2: the " dark " side where you keep looking at the papers.
So......I say follow your instincts.

[Ric]

Heck, it's not called cheating, its called being smart. If you see an oportunity to perhaps improve your grades then sieze it, because if it does improve your grades thus it has made you more intelligent, also the only way to improve and develope your own writing style is to read others.

On top of this it may also make an interesting point of conversation with your teacher. GO FOR IT, you are lucky to have this opportunity. Do not worry about doing something wrong because you are not, she put them online for people (like you) to read. Grasp the opportunity my friend.

[Xantar]

Originally posted by GameMaster
It sounds like something an A student would do. :)

Unless you're an A student, shouldn't say what A students would do. Not to toot my horn, but I was an A student in high school, and reading my teacher's papers in order to adopt his or her style is definitely something I would not have done.

I have no problem with reading those papers in order to see the kinds of insights my teacher would want me to make. After all, you don't have to read papers to do that. You can just ask the teacher, and if he or she is a good teacher truly interested in the progress of students, he or she will give you some honest and helpful advice.

However, I don't think reading your teacher's Master's Thesis for the express purpose of adopting her style is a good idea. The fact of the matter is college and graduate papers are very different from high school papers (this is why the posting styles of college students or graduates is so different from the styles of high school students). And it's not just because college students use big words and nice sentence structure. The underlying thinking in the papers is just different. Unless you are some kind of high school prodigy who thinks like a college student (in which case you should be getting an A in the class already), you won't be able to recreate the writing style of a college student and especially not the writing style of a college graduate (such as somebody who has written a Master's Thesis). You would only be able to make some kind of imitation, and any discerning teacher will be able to see that.

College is as much a step up from high school as high school is a step up from elementary school. Elementary students won't gain much by trying to imitate the style of high school students, and in the same way, high school students won't gain much trying to imitate college students. If you want to do well in your English class, ask your teacher for pointers and read papers written by other high school students who are doing well. It will prove to be far more helpful. Listen to the people who are telling you to keep your own style. They have the right idea.

[Gamer]

hmm, well sounds like fair game to me, go for it, find out how she writes! It may help you out and its not cheating, so go fo it!

[Perfect Stu]

I don't think Kitana's writing can get any better, so I consider it both fine yet pointless...

[newname]

kitana, id think she would want u and ur peers to no what she expects of u in ur writings. there has to be specific aspects that she grades ur work on and if she hasnt told u thats foolish.

[Cyrax9]

OK, there's a fine line here between cheating and not cheating, and I think we all know what it is.

If you read the papers, and I meanREAD them to improve your writing style, then that's NOT Cheating

However, if you read the papers, then COPY, paraphrase (plagorize for those who try to squeck past the law), than it is cheating.

There are consequences for cheating, if Joe Shmoe copies John Smith's paper, Joe Shmoe will probably fail. However If Joe Shmoe reads John Smith's paper, uses it to learn better writing skills, refines his paper to look better, but not plagurize John Smith's paper, then it's NOT Cheating.

That's my view on it at least.

[Bizzyman]

Originally posted by Kitana85
I'm doing well in English class this year, but it can never hurt to get a better grade...right?

I was online one day and I came across a few papers my English teacher recently wrote for her masters degree. Do you think it's ethical to read these papers so I can see how my teacher writes (and in such see what she considers good writing) or should I not look at it.

It's not really cheating since I'm not taking anyone elses work, just seeing what style she likes. But on the otherhand, otherhand, it is an advantage the other girls in my class might not have (but they could if they looked).

So, do you think it's ethical (and why/why not)?


YES YOU SHOULD LOOK, CUZ YOURE SO SEXAY!! FRICK FRICK FRICK FRICK FRICK FRICK FRICK THAT.

DID YOU SEE OCEANS ELEVEN? ITS A GOOD MOVIE.

VERY GOOD. EVERY FRICKIN BODY IS IN IT.

BERNIE MAC!!! IS IN IT
AND THAT GUY FROM THAT 70s SHOW!! (ERIC)
AND THAT GUY FROM DAWSONS CREEK


nope, i shouldnt be writing in caps lock.

u know sleeping in the day and living in the night really fricks u up after a while.. i can tell u from self experience...... whoooooooop

[DimHalo]

In my opinion it is not cheating to look at your teachers papers. They write them so people can read them. It is also not an ufair advantage because the others in your class can just as easily find them and read them. Although you should use your own writing style, often looking at what your teacher expects of you helps you refine your style. The teacher is there to TEACH you...it is easy to learn from example. Therefor you should look at the papers to get ideas.

[gekko]

If your teachers paper was on the same subject, avoid it at all costs. If you do read it, you will copy parts whether you like it or not. If it's on another subject, go for it, it can only teach you good writing practices.

You have the right to use anything you can find. If the other students choose not to, it's their loss. It's like reading a book. Look at Star Wars, it's a very religious story, but honestly, how many people can watch it and associate it with Christianity? The dumb students might write a paper talking about Anakin and how he became a Jedi, then turned to the Sith. The teacher will realize he understood the plot, but didn't go much further. The smart student heads online and finds tons of studies associating Star Wars with religion, and write a paper about the meaning behind the story. The teacher will be much more impressed.

It is not unfair if someone else doesn't use the resources given to them. Looking at the essay is not something immoral. Just keep in mind the papers would be written for two different purposes. If you're reading it to understand how papers are supposed to be written, go ahead. But it's not really going to help you any. The only way you can learn how to write well is to practice.