"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Monday, November 15, 2010
Confessions of an academic mercenary
A fascinating inside look at the shadowy world of the professional term-paper and thesis writer (or, why you should seriously consider taking those college savings and buying yourself some bling and a Mustang or two).
He says Dickens is a personal model for him, which indicates he perhaps has a capacity for self-delusion as well as a capacity for deluding others. That's a fascinating article, even if the guy comes out of it looking very dodgy.
But hey, maybe now he can concentrate on more socially acceptable forms of lying-through-writing: he could become a speechwriter for a politician, or a gossip columnist, etc...
Cheating was pretty rampant when I was in college; sounds like it is much, MUCH worse now. I always figured that someday somebody somewhere would expect me to actually demonstrate that I could perform in my chosen major and that I could spell it correctly, too.
I'm a little suspicious. I typically have 4 undergrad classes with a total of 90 or so students and 2 grad classes with 45 or so students every semester.
Trust me, it's generally not that hard to catch the writing cheaters. I have them write on unusual topics, and I can spot bullshit at 50 paces. Those papers get the supposed writer called in for a 'discussion' of their topic. And I've been known to make them write a page or so by hand in my presence on what they've already written.
If this guy is really getting major work past professors either: a) the profs are incompetent; b) the profs are don't care and are mailing it in; c) the profs aren't really reading the papers, or; d) some combination of the above.
One of my students over the past five years is a grad assistant in the Student Judicial Office. He says I have as many students referred for cheating as any other dozen profs. That's mostly because I push it.
Anyway, I assume a bit gets by me, but not entire works of more than 5 pages. It's not that hard.
That is just depressing. Our educational system is bolluxed to the point of collapse.
ReplyDeleteHe says Dickens is a personal model for him, which indicates he perhaps has a capacity for self-delusion as well as a capacity for deluding others. That's a fascinating article, even if the guy comes out of it looking very dodgy.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, maybe now he can concentrate on more socially acceptable forms of lying-through-writing: he could become a speechwriter for a politician, or a gossip columnist, etc...
Cheating was pretty rampant when I was in college; sounds like it is much, MUCH worse now. I always figured that someday somebody somewhere would expect me to actually demonstrate that I could perform in my chosen major and that I could spell it correctly, too.
ReplyDeleteBefore I went to college I couldn't even spell engineer, now I are one.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little suspicious. I typically have 4 undergrad classes with a total of 90 or so students and 2 grad classes with 45 or so students every semester.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, it's generally not that hard to catch the writing cheaters. I have them write on unusual topics, and I can spot bullshit at 50 paces. Those papers get the supposed writer called in for a 'discussion' of their topic. And I've been known to make them write a page or so by hand in my presence on what they've already written.
If this guy is really getting major work past professors either: a) the profs are incompetent; b) the profs are don't care and are mailing it in; c) the profs aren't really reading the papers, or; d) some combination of the above.
One of my students over the past five years is a grad assistant in the Student Judicial Office. He says I have as many students referred for cheating as any other dozen profs. That's mostly because I push it.
Anyway, I assume a bit gets by me, but not entire works of more than 5 pages. It's not that hard.