Essay/Term paper: Cheating

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Essays

Cheating used to be considered an unmentionable sin. However, in this day and age, it has become more common and somewhat of a daily occurrence. Cheating is more widespread today than in the past. According to the article titled Education: The New Morality, cheating has not been an issue of values, but simply one of practicality. This shows that many view cheating as a mere occurrence and something that can often be skipped over. The reason cheating has become such a pervasive movement is because many students tend to rationalize their cheating behavior. A common rationalization that many students use is, " That"s the only way I"ll get anywhere in life." Many students also tend to incorporate reasons, such as parental pressures, the aim to be the best, and the lack of time, with their dishonest behavior.

Since cheating has been a problem in our society, there have been many attempts to rid the world of this problem. Such attempts include creating an honor code, forms of punishment, and possibly a computer-integrated classroom. The terms by which an honor code are defined as are (taken from the article titled A Question of Honor), " something that defines ethical academic conduct with the expectation that students will monitor their peers, report violations, and mete out penalties." An honor code needs to be created by the student body in order to be carried out successfully. By enforcing an honor code, there is a creation of trust within the atmosphere. Not only do teachers trust them more when it comes to their studies, but they are also trust others in daily activities. They can leave their valuables and belongings out and not worry as much about theft and dishonesty. By reinforcing academic integrity, many students tend to weave personal integrity into their daily actions. The other attempt was the way of punishment. Many professors have offered all sorts of punishments ranging from receiving a zero on an assignment/test to possible expulsion. The benefit of this type of settlement is the possibility for reform. The last attempt I mentioned was a possible integration of computers into the everyday classroom. By including this, students are graded based on their work in front of a computer (monitored, of course) leaving less room for cheating to occur.



There are many great ideas and ways to curb cheating, however, many times, they work best together. Both ideas, issuing an honor code and possible punishments, are both successful ways to limit the amount of cheating. However, they also work best side by side. For example, by issuing an honor code involves student participation. It turns from "administration vs. students" to "students helping each other". With this sort of involvement, there is a greater likelihood that cheating can be curbed. On the other hand, those who were adamant about cheating in the first place may stick to their dishonest ways. In this case, after the honor code has been issued, consequences for offenses should be issued so that offenders are aware of the possible punishments that may come their way when they are caught.

Like I mentioned previously, Regina Dominican could carry out an honor code with possible consequences for discovered offenses. The honor code should consist of a student created statement that includes the sealed agreement that there shall be no cheating and that integrity shall be carried out to its fullest. After each student has signed such an agreement, they are liable for any forms of academic dishonesty that they commit and will have to face the consequences. By enforcing this plan, students take part in the creation of a trustworthy atmosphere and are more likely to participate sincerely to uphold the conditions. And if for some reason they go against the signed agreement they will be fairly punished in hope that they will learn from their mistake.

According to the chapter on Honesty, there are both costs and gains for being an honest person. The losses include, facing blame in a tight squeeze, having to accept the fact that there will be a possibility that you may fail, and that by being honest, you are losing, to an extent, power and control. Out of those three drawbacks, the one that most people find the most challenging is the second one, realizing that there is a chance that you may fail. It is a tough decision to give up a possible A (in which you would earn by means of cheating) to be and honest person and in turn receive a failing grade. Although all of these reasons are strong reasons that may sway someone to cheat, there is a much greater reason to be an honest person. By being an honest person, you creates an atmosphere of truth and trust that allows human beings and society to grow and flourish.

Although it may be tempting to cheat, display dishonest behavior, it is more daring and courageous to be an honest person. Although, at the time, the benefits may not be clear to you, being honest can build great character in one"s life. By committing honest actions, one builds integrity (stated in the article titled A Question of Honor, academic integrity leads to personal integrity). Not only does being honest bring benefit to you, but also it brings benefit to the others around you. By being honest, you are creating a trustworthy, truthful environment that is in reality a safer place to live.



WORK CITED

Many ideas are taken from:

- Special Millennium Issue/Education: The New Morality: Welcome to the Evil House of Cheat: Large-Scale Testing and the Growing Impersonalization of College Culture Have Opened the Door to a New Breed

Ashley Dunn (2-7-1999)

- A Question of Honor

Michael R. Haskins

- The Cheating Game

Carolyn Kleiner and Mary Lord

- Adults Cheat Too: What started in elementary school…

Margaret Loftus and Anne Kates Smith