Academic Cheating

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=darkviolet]Hey look, another post by Chibi Horsewoman. *gasp*

I'm watching Primetime Investigates on Academic Cheating so that's how I came up with this topic. (Yes, I'm not creative)

So now I have three questions:
1.) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper?
2.)Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it?
3.)What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity?

As for me it's confession time:
1.)Back in fifth grade I stuck an answer sheet under a folder and used that to find the answers to a final exam. I got a 95%, I probably would have gotten a 75% if I didn't do what I did. So yeah, it wasn't much of a difference, but I cared. My defense; I was ten.

2.)I'm going to go with human nature in an inclination to succeed at no matter what the cost-reguardless of their conscious. A person would cheat if they believed they could get away with it. That's why I cheated in fifth grade, because I knew I could get away with it. That's probably why I didn't do it later on. Strangely enough I don't believe this extends into relationships since a need to succeed doesn't really exist in a relationship.

3.)In the long run I think it's more important to keep your integrity than to get a high GPA that you didn't earn by yourself. Yes, when you're trying to get into a college and then get a good job State schools and private schools will look at your GPA and then your employer may do the same. But when you get into the real world you can't go and cheat off your co-workers to learn how to do your job. In the long run you'll find that if you didn't get somewhere by your own hard work you'll eventualy fall a long way down.[/color]

[Ryu_Sakura]

1.) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper? Nope. Plain and simple, i don't need to.

2.)Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it? Duh, humans are greedy selfish stupid morons! What do you think? NOTE: I am not human, the little green men told me so. :P (Sorry, too much cafffine daos that to me.)

3.)What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity? Hm... coffee? Well really.... my integrity. Why should I cheat and whatnot? It'll just make me fail stuff in the future.


On a side note, I only get bad grades becasue I ignore the teachers, if I actually pay attention I talk back, and I don't do homework. I ace tests, projects, and any thing involving Technology class (That's the only class I do homework for!).

[BlueGender]

[COLOR=Navy][SIZE=1]
I saw the special as well and though it was really funny that 2 of the people who were most opposed to cheating copied 80%+ of there term papers from the internet.

1.) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper: Yes on tests all the time if it's a class I despise (Chemistry) I know its wrong but I really dont care if I hate the class. But if I like the class I am willing to study (English, History, Geometry) cause i find the classes fufilling. I have never cheated on a paper, I actually have fun doing papers I dont know maybe im a little bit crazy. The research is the funnest part I enjoy sitting in the library with a good CD for a few hours then sitting down and wriitng a paper.

2.)Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it: Not everyone but most people yes, I think getting caught it what deters most people.

3.)What do you think is more important in the long run: In the long run I think that my integrity is most importanat but as for right now I need to get into a good college and GPA's are important to them and in the workplace.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Guest ScirosDarkblade]

Although I've always been a good student and I've never resorted to cheating, I don't hold it against anyone as long as it doesn't adversely affect anyone else (at least all that much--and what "all that much" [i]is[/i] is empirical and I can't give you any great definition). But that's why I don't care if people cheat in school. I'd care if they "cheated" at work, though, because it will always be at someone else's expense.

In Russia, people cheated in school (and college) all the time. But it's not like they all became dishonest workers or even people. And it's not like they betrayed their education, because they're not dumber than the "honorable" American students. There, though, there was no such thing as an "honor code," and if there was people didn't give a **** about it. (People there were generally more cynical when it came to schooling, I'd say; but also the consequences for cheating weren't as harsh as "academic misconduct" charges are here).

Anyway, what was the point of all that? Well, I don't think that cheating on a test (even when you're NOT 10, but say 20.. or even 22 ;) ) makes you a dishonest [i]person[/i]. It means you don't take whatever you're cheating on too seriously as far as its educational purpose goes. It also means that you're not that afraid of being caught (yeah, really, often "integrity" and "fear of being caught" are hard to distinguish!). So if you or anyone else has cheated on a test (yeah, even the SAT or the friggin GRE), I don't mind and I'm not gonna tell you to stop. I'm not going to promote cheating, but I don't judge people for it because its implications are really not that serious.

Now, there could be a case where through all this cheating someone were hired to do an important task when in reality he was absolutely unqualified. In that case I'd say that the person was indeed a dishonest one and I wouldn't condone his behavior. But there's quite a gap between that and cheating in school, really. Also this would be a case when the "all that much" limit would be exceeded, of course.

I knew people in high school that cheated on tests all the time, and I'm pretty sure that they'll still end up productive, (and honest enough) citizens just like any of those that didn't cheat. Although I can't guarantee that they'll be the most highly educated....

[Panda]

[QUOTE=ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet]
So now I have three questions:
1.) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper?
2.)Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it?
3.)What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity?[/color][/QUOTE]

1.) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper?
I would have to yes to this. When I was in the 2nd grade I cheated on a spelling test. I had completely forgotten that there was a test that day and I hadn't studied the words. I was so worried about disappointing my parents with a failing grade that I wrote the answers on my desk with my pencil very lightly. I did try to spell the word on my own first then would check my answer. I at least tried to do the test on my own first. I know, it is rationalizing and there isn't a good reason for cheating. I was young and made a decision I regret.

So when I finished with the word I just used my finger to erase it. I never tried to cheat off my neighbors, but I did do that. It made me so sick I never did it again and english became my favorite subject in school. I never wanted to feel that low ever again.

2.)Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it?
I don't think someone would cheat if they didn't feel like they had too. I had many times where it would have been easy to cheat, but never did. I remember in one of my college classes the instructor left during a test and a bunch of people started to share answers on the exam. I didn't need to so I didn't. If given the chance and if they felt the need to cheat to pass, I think someone would cheat.

3.)What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity?
Your integrity. In the end you are the one who has to live with your life decisions. I know people who had great GPA's but were terrible, backstabbing people. Who cares if they had a great GPA in school, when you are in the real world nobody cares. It comes down to what you know and how you use it, not some numbers in a file somewhere from the past.

[Charles]

[b][b]1) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper?[/b]

Most likely. :shrugs:

What can I say? I'm human. I've probably experimented with cheating in the past, in a class I didn't hold a strong interest in. I can't remember specific examples of cheating because I've never done it much. I'm very paranoid about these sort of things. If I cheated, I would either have a guilty conscience or an overpowering feeling that I would be caught in the process.

I've always been a good test-taker, so fortunately, the temptation wasn't there enough for my cowardice or oppressing integrity to interfere anyway.

When it comes to writing papers, I especially don't need to cheat. I've always found them incredibly easy. In college, it's especially important to abstain from underhanded tactics because the consequences attached to being found out aren't pretty. Expulsion is a common punishment.

[b]2) Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it?[/b]
Not necessarily. It all depends on one's morals. Cheating has never been a desirable avenue of "success" for me because of my aforementioned guilty conscience. I'm a wuss that way.

[b][b]3) What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity?[/b][/b]

This is really just a fluff question. Of course we know how most will reply. I'll be surprised if a notable number of individuals concede that they value their GPAs over their personal integrity. That is, unless we have any business majors lurking about....

Seriously enough, there are many people who will compromise their personal values for their GPA. Sometimes they face such an intense pressure to secure spots in the best schools that numbers and averages become overbearingly important facets of their lives. Stressful indeed.

When that's the case, it's probably a lot easier to lose oneself in the madness of academic achievement than many of you would care to admit. Especially when there's intense parental pressure involved.

Edit: I wonder why my post is all bolded. Strange.[/b]

[Guest ScirosDarkblade]

Heh. I only now actually read the first post properly. I guess I'll answer the three questions.

1. No, I've never cheated. I've never had to. Sure, it would have been easier to cheat on a test than prepare for it, but then I'd have not known the material and since material gets built upon in school/college I figured I'd only be making things more difficult for myself by cheating.

2. A person will cheat if he can get away with it as long as he wants to (which might be because he thinks he has to). So not all people will cheat if they think they can get away with it. I'm pretty sure I can get away with cheating if I give it a try, but I don't. Everyone has a different reason for not cheating (although fear of getting caught is a frequent one).

3. GPA or integrity? In the long run? Well... let's see... thanks in part to my GPA I don't have to pay for college, which is a pretty big deal and who knows how much it might matter in the long run. And my college GPA is a pretty big deal, too, also possibly in the long run if it helps me get a good job somehow. Whether it's more important than my integrity? Well, no, I guess it's not. But the thing is, even if you cheat you don't necessarily compromise your integrity, because some people cheat because they don't care enough. That has little to nothing to do with integrity, because those people don't place "not cheating" no some higher moral ground in that case.

[Semjaza]

1.) I've cheated. I really think that everyone has, whether it was intentional or not. I haven't for a very long time. I honestly can't remember when it was last, but I definitely have. Probably in gradeschool.

I went through a phase where I didn't care about school work whatsoever. I was apathetic and didn't really concern myself with it. A lot of things were going on back then. My father died, my mom remarried, we were thrown into a Catholic school... I guess it was my way of "lashing out", for lack of better words. It's not really an excuse as I made my own decisions through it all, it's just how it was.

2.) This isn't answerable on any simple level. It's totally subjective. I do think people are more likely to cheat if they knew they wouldn't get caught... really, isn't the point of cheating to generally get away with it? Seems like a pointless question honestly lol.

3.) GPA now, integrity later.

I don't cheat, but that's simply because I don't feel I need to. I do very well on tests and any actual homework I get is nearly completely creative design based. You just can't cheat on it. You're either good or you're not. Plus, I've not really come across anyone that would be worth copying off of in the first place.

GPA is incredibly important. I'm not so sure that I'd sacrifice my core values for GPA, though. If I was in dire straits and I needed a better grade than I knew I could achieve, then I'd do what I have to to get that grade. This is hypothetical. It hasn't happened, but I'm sure I'd have no real qualms in doing it.

When I'm out of school and not sacrificing my own money for this education, it will be another story. I'm not a cheat and I am willing to work for what I have. I don't like to use people and I don't like to be used either.

I figure that I'll have plenty of time to make up for such things in the future. I have my own principles and there are things I won't give into... but I think most people will do what they can to overcome the systems in place if they have little other choice. Of course, if they did what they were supposed to, they'd most likely not be in that position in the first place.

[~*Lilith*~]

1.) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper? In highschool I did once or well a few times... Mostly writing formulas down for a math class things like that.
2.)Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it? Depends on the morality of that person.
3.)What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity?GPA most defiently then again your integrity as well.

[Luna322]

1.) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper?
I've cheated once on a vocabulary test in 5th grade. Other than that one time I don't cheat on tests or papers.
2.)Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it?
Unless they have high morals, I think they would do it in a heartbeat. I'm not sure if I would though. I'd probably have to be put in that position.
3.)What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity?
I think integrity is more important. If you cheat, you won't learn and you'll eventually get caught, and when you get caught, you won't be trusted.

Would anyone tell if they saw people cheat? I saw two students switch test papers so one could do a certain section because the other didn't know how. I'm thinking about telling because it was really obvious and I don't think they should get away with that.

[Godelsensei]

[COLOR=Gray][FONT=Courier New]1) Test or paper? You mean paper as in written? Well, I enjoy writing papers, so I don't cheat on those. If I was smart enough to cheat during tests, would I fail every single one the teachers throw at me?! >:^O (I cheat all the time with other homework, though...wont go into that...>_>)

2) Of course.

3) Hmm...my GPA. I tend to take in lessons as well as any one else, but I don't do the follow-up work, and I always freeze during tests. I remember everything as soon as I hand the paper in. So, if I can get good marks, and get into a decent University...*shrug*
It's not like the grade I'm in now matters, as far as University goes. At all. >_>[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Defcon5]

1. Yup, but then again most people do.

2. For most humans. I know I could get away with cheating somtimes but I don't do it.

3.Integrity, if you cheat you won't remember anything and then you lose the entire purpose of school.

Funny note about the biggest cheaters...there always the ones in honors classes...(Note: I know not all in honoros classes are cheaters but, alot are.)

P.S. It's good to be back after that whole AOL problem.

[Fall]

I've cheated quite a few times to tell the truth, mostly in my early years of highschool. The teacher answer sheets were kept in a corner cupboard hidden away in the staffroom, and I used to come around at night when the cleaners were still there and sneak into the staffroom and take a sheet for each test. The only reason I cheated was mainly because I thought I'd get away with it. I did too. I was happy.

It affects your integrity alot, if you ask me. Knowing I cheated gave me a kick out of thinking I was "mad" and all that, but in the end you know you didn't earn it if you get to a high level with it.

[HetepKa]

[I][FONT=Century Gothic][SIZE=3][COLOR=Green]Ok...
1.)[B]Have I cheated on a test, ANY test?[/B] Yes, I must confess, I have, but not recently, it was in 1st grade XD, I remember it clearly, it was a Spelling Test, and I forgot how to spell "hearing", I remember, looking over at my friends papaer, and then, not being able to sleep for a week, since then, I can't cheat any more, I just can't do it, and, I need my sleep...And basically, I don't need to cheat, since I'm always studying, and I always know the answers in theexams, because, unlike some people in my school, my life is centered around studying, and anime.... :D

2.)[B]Do I think that a person would cheat if he/she thought they could get a away with it?[/B] Of course, it depends on the person's morality; they don't have high morality, they'd do it faster than you could catch them, like in my school, they pass the test to check the answers, adn write whole 5 page reporst in a little tiny napkin they "blow their nose" in...But, it really depends on the person's morality. If people don't have morality, they'll take the first oportunity to cheat, if they have some morality, they'll think it twice.

3.)[B]Now, the eternal question, integrity or GPA?? [/B] Integrety all the way, I've lost count of people who have the best GPA, and their integrity is, well, on a permanent vacation in Hawaii. I'm not saying that GPA isn't important, on the contrary, it's one of the most important things in life!! But, what's the point of having an excellent GPA, that's not yours?? None whatsoever, unless you don't care about you're integrity and you morality...And, in the real life, if you have a high GPA that's not yours, it's never gonna help you; you can't cheat of your employes,or co-workers...And, soo, like the phrase goes "All that goes up, must go down". That's why I say, integrity all the way!!!

I still can't believe I cheatted in 1st grade....
HetepKa :angel:[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

[DeadSeraphim]

[COLOR=Indigo][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial Narrow][B]Have you ever cheated on a test?[/B]
Yes. Many times. The most recent being in my advanced computing class and we had to sketch the Von Neumann diagram. o_0 Our textbook, which I just HAPPENED to bring into the class, had the diagram on the front. The rest is pretty obvious.

[B]Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it?[/B]
Definitely. Its human nature. Of course, it depends on your intelligence and definition of 'getting away with it' but generally people, if given the oppurtunity, will take the easy way out.

[B]What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity?[/B]
GPA? Is that like... high marks? If so, then my integrity. School doesn't interest me enough to warrant striving for high marks, unless its an accelerated learning subject like advanced computing.

~CrH~[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[eleanor]

[color=firebrick]

[b]1.) Have you ever cheated in anyway on a test or paper?[/b]

--Let's see....In seventh grade I plagarized a paragraph, then as it went on I knew I could get away with it and did it a couple more times. Unfortunately, I didn't get caught. The same year I would write down Spanish definitions on my desk and use them on your vocab quizzes. The same time that year, I missed a math test and I was sent to the library to make it up. I had my agenda with me and I sneaked to find out volume formulas. Yes, seventh grade was a bad year for me. :/ Although I'm proud to say I have not commited any sort of cheating after that. I loathe seventh grade so badly...*twitches*

[b]2.)Do you think that a person would cheat if he or she thought they could get a away with it?[/b]

-I honestly think everyone has cheated at least once in their lifetime. If they haven't, I want their signature. Once a person cheats one time and gets away with it, and they do it again, there's no stopping it until something drastic happens.

[b]3.)What do you think is more important in the long run: your GPA or your integrity?[/b]

-My GPA, but I'm not going to cheat for it. I'm smart enough to get a high GPA, and so is everyone else if they try. I agree whole-heartedly with Semjaza on this one. I don't think anyone can achieve a high GPA by cheating, that would take cheating every second of your life without getting caught...nearly impossible. WIthout a good GPA, you can't get into any decent colleges.[/color]

[Kinetic]

1. On tests, of course. Who hasn't? On papers however, I don't plagiarize. For one, it's unfair to the original authors, and secondly, it's not that hard to write papers anyway. But yes, I cheat on tests, and most people I know do. I don't cheat if I don't have to, because I'm usually the smartest one at my table (I'm not complimenting myself, I'm insulting the others). However, on the standardized testing last week, I sat next to a very smart person and copied some of his answers on the state Algebra test.

2. Of course, I don't think I know anyone who hasn't at least glanced at someone else's paper.

3. My GPA, definately. I usually don't have to cheat, like I said, but if I'm struggling on a test and I'm sitting next to someone reliable, I'll peek a couple of times, but I don't just copy. Whenever I do cheat, it's usually only to check my own answer, and not completely copying there's. Like proofing my test, lol.