Should I report another correspondence course student for cheating?
May 16, 2013 8:36 AM Subscribe
While researching for a course assignment, I discovered posts made on two seperate forums by another student on the same course as me, who attempted to cheat on the assignment by flat-out asking people for the answer. Should I report the other student to the course provider?
I am taking a correspondence course in proofreading. Whilst working on the first examined assignment, I encountered a question regarding whether the difference between using a a colon or a semicolon in a particular sentence would be a matter of correctness or preferred style. A Google search looking for punctuation rules and example sentences that would help me answer the question* led me to two grammar-related forums where I found two people with almost identical usernames asking people for the answer to the exact sentence in my assignment. The posts on both forums were dated February this year. The liklihood that someone could spontaneously pick this exact multi-clause sentence as a random example is miniscule. From this, I concluded that there is a student currently taking the same course** who is attempting to cheat on this assignment***. There are five assignments in the course, and this first assignment is the only one that does not count towards the final grade.
Given this, should I take any action? Should I do nothing because it's none of my business? Should I contact the course provider to notify them? Should I contact this student and tell them I know what they're doing and they should knock it off?
* The rules of the course say that we are permitted to look up anything we choose, but we are not permitted to discuss the specific assignment sentences with anyone.
** Once registered on the course, you have a year to complete all the assignments, but there are no specific deadlines. Most people take six months to finish. So it's unlikely that anyone who was working on assignment 1 three months ago could have completed the course already.
*** Whilst the student's question was answered on both forums, the answers contradicted each other, so the cheating attempt was unsuccessful.
I am taking a correspondence course in proofreading. Whilst working on the first examined assignment, I encountered a question regarding whether the difference between using a a colon or a semicolon in a particular sentence would be a matter of correctness or preferred style. A Google search looking for punctuation rules and example sentences that would help me answer the question* led me to two grammar-related forums where I found two people with almost identical usernames asking people for the answer to the exact sentence in my assignment. The posts on both forums were dated February this year. The liklihood that someone could spontaneously pick this exact multi-clause sentence as a random example is miniscule. From this, I concluded that there is a student currently taking the same course** who is attempting to cheat on this assignment***. There are five assignments in the course, and this first assignment is the only one that does not count towards the final grade.
Given this, should I take any action? Should I do nothing because it's none of my business? Should I contact the course provider to notify them? Should I contact this student and tell them I know what they're doing and they should knock it off?
* The rules of the course say that we are permitted to look up anything we choose, but we are not permitted to discuss the specific assignment sentences with anyone.
** Once registered on the course, you have a year to complete all the assignments, but there are no specific deadlines. Most people take six months to finish. So it's unlikely that anyone who was working on assignment 1 three months ago could have completed the course already.
*** Whilst the student's question was answered on both forums, the answers contradicted each other, so the cheating attempt was unsuccessful.
Yes. Please report it.
posted by bq at 8:46 AM on May 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by bq at 8:46 AM on May 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
My experience is that people who ask for help with assignments wouldn't understand the answer anyway. If this other person's 'success' would compromise your own score in some way then it might be appropriate to notify the college anonymously. Otherwise have some fun and provide some misleading responses to their questions.
posted by epo at 8:47 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by epo at 8:47 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would probably do nothing. If you feel compelled to act, though, perhaps you could send a note to the instructor along the lines of "I was looking for examples of this grammatical rule, and I noticed that this sentence has been explicitly posted online -- just wanted to let you know so you could alter it in the future if you choose".
posted by cranberry_nut at 8:47 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by cranberry_nut at 8:47 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yes, please report it.
I would send the course provider an email with the link and say, "I found this while doing research for my own project and thought I would pass it along in the interests of others in this course."
posted by phunniemee at 8:47 AM on May 16, 2013 [11 favorites]
I would send the course provider an email with the link and say, "I found this while doing research for my own project and thought I would pass it along in the interests of others in this course."
posted by phunniemee at 8:47 AM on May 16, 2013 [11 favorites]
This is the one assignment not counting toward grades AND it wasn't successful? That person probably learned the lesson - that there is no gain in trying to cheat. Maybe keep an eye on the forums and if you notice more posts from this person, with specific sentences, reply in a way that identifies you as a fellow student ("Oh, I am currently researching this exact thing for a course", not so much "I know who you are and what you are doing".)
As it is, there seems to be no advantage for the wannabe-cheater and there is a chance they realized this isn't helping. If it comes to grades and successful cheating, I would inform the teacher privately, but not make it a big scene in front of everyone. I'd guess a teacher would want to know the loopholes to prevent such behavior in the future, if only to ensure the quality of their graduates.
posted by MinusCelsius at 8:52 AM on May 16, 2013
As it is, there seems to be no advantage for the wannabe-cheater and there is a chance they realized this isn't helping. If it comes to grades and successful cheating, I would inform the teacher privately, but not make it a big scene in front of everyone. I'd guess a teacher would want to know the loopholes to prevent such behavior in the future, if only to ensure the quality of their graduates.
posted by MinusCelsius at 8:52 AM on May 16, 2013
I would not report it because it sounds like this person sucks at cheating anyway and it really isn't your business. I find worrying about what other people are doing is a good way to not be accountable for what you're doing. In other words, you can should only worry about yourself.
But if you did, I'd do it anonymously from a dummy email or something so you can stay out of it. Especially since asking for help on a forum is a pretty weak way to cheat. I don't know what the course rules are, but don't you think professors expect that when students are given take-home assignments, they use the internet? The professor might think it's a stupid thing to tattle about and you may be the one who ends up looking bad.
posted by AppleTurnover at 8:53 AM on May 16, 2013
But if you did, I'd do it anonymously from a dummy email or something so you can stay out of it. Especially since asking for help on a forum is a pretty weak way to cheat. I don't know what the course rules are, but don't you think professors expect that when students are given take-home assignments, they use the internet? The professor might think it's a stupid thing to tattle about and you may be the one who ends up looking bad.
posted by AppleTurnover at 8:53 AM on May 16, 2013
Yes, there is no reason not to report it*, and only potential good things can come of it:
1.) The professor knows to alter the problem for future assignments
2.) Maybe a cheater gets caught. (I wouldn't hold my breath on this one... and even if the cheater is caught, the chances of actual disciplinary action being taken are of course slim).
*with the caveat that you aren't going to CC: the entire class on your email to the professor.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:53 AM on May 16, 2013
1.) The professor knows to alter the problem for future assignments
2.) Maybe a cheater gets caught. (I wouldn't hold my breath on this one... and even if the cheater is caught, the chances of actual disciplinary action being taken are of course slim).
*with the caveat that you aren't going to CC: the entire class on your email to the professor.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:53 AM on May 16, 2013
You could search on the other assignments and see if this person has also asked for help with those. If not, let it go. The first assignment doesn't count for a grade, you said, and unless the username has a nexus to the person's real name or there are multiple inquiries that match only one student's submission dates, it'll be hard for the professor to figure out who the cheater is.
As you're studying proofreading I hope I'll be forgiven for pointing out that it's minuscule. This one tripped me up for a long time because it looks like it should share the same root as miniature, minimum, etc., but it's related to the word minus.
posted by payoto at 8:55 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
As you're studying proofreading I hope I'll be forgiven for pointing out that it's minuscule. This one tripped me up for a long time because it looks like it should share the same root as miniature, minimum, etc., but it's related to the word minus.
posted by payoto at 8:55 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I disagree only good things can come of butting your nose into something like this. Let's add to that list above:
3.) The professor thinks your a troublemaker, brown-noser and overreacting. He doesn't do anything about the "cheater" or his assignments, but instead just has a predispostion to not liking you.
You don't know.
posted by AppleTurnover at 8:56 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
3.) The professor thinks your a troublemaker, brown-noser and overreacting. He doesn't do anything about the "cheater" or his assignments, but instead just has a predispostion to not liking you.
You don't know.
posted by AppleTurnover at 8:56 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
What does the code of conduct for the school say? If it says something about you having an obligation to report any cheating by other students if you become aware of it, there's your answer.
Another way to do it is to let the instructor know that you may have found evidence of someone (without saying who) cheating, and let the instructor decide what to do.
posted by Doohickie at 9:01 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Another way to do it is to let the instructor know that you may have found evidence of someone (without saying who) cheating, and let the instructor decide what to do.
posted by Doohickie at 9:01 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
The OED says the following about miniscule:
Variant of MINUSCULE adj., probably arising partly from shift of stress from the second to the first syllable, and partly from association with MINIATURE adj., MINIMUM adj., etc. via
"Not permitted to discuss the specific assignment sentences with anyone" is pretty flaky -- taken literally, that would make hiring a tutor off-limits -- this isn't clear-cut "cheating," and I would definitely report it anonymously if I felt the need to report. Which I would not feel.
posted by kmennie at 9:03 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Variant of MINUSCULE adj., probably arising partly from shift of stress from the second to the first syllable, and partly from association with MINIATURE adj., MINIMUM adj., etc. via
"Not permitted to discuss the specific assignment sentences with anyone" is pretty flaky -- taken literally, that would make hiring a tutor off-limits -- this isn't clear-cut "cheating," and I would definitely report it anonymously if I felt the need to report. Which I would not feel.
posted by kmennie at 9:03 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
In my experience Professors tend to randomly search the nets for this sort of thing-and has already noticed it. I wouldn't say anything.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 9:07 AM on May 16, 2013
posted by QueerAngel28 at 9:07 AM on May 16, 2013
Look, I often have that feeling that I'd like to turn someone in for cheating. But I end up minding my own business because I don't know what's going on in someone else's life that makes them unable to learn/do things right/ act right.
And this seems like such a little and useless thing. A correspondence course in proofreading? Do they give you a cash prize at the end? Os there a job promised at the end? If not, who cares?
Cheaters cheat because they're lazy or unable to do things right. It inevitably catches up with them.
posted by discopolo at 9:23 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
And this seems like such a little and useless thing. A correspondence course in proofreading? Do they give you a cash prize at the end? Os there a job promised at the end? If not, who cares?
Cheaters cheat because they're lazy or unable to do things right. It inevitably catches up with them.
posted by discopolo at 9:23 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
I teach mathematics, and while my experiences may not sync up entirely with the workflow/student profile on correspondence courses, generally speaking, there are two kinds of cheaters: unethical but clever and just plain dumb.
The first group is usually quite subtle: they know the material well enough to make decent headway but are perfectly willing to, for instance, compare to other people's work on takehome non-collaborative exams, and they'll eye other students' work during inclass assessments just enough to get them through places where they get stuck. They're near-impossible to catch, since they're rarely obtrusive in their inclass peeking, tend not to have word-for-word reproductions of other people's answers, and rarely duplicate work which has idiosyncratic errors.
The second, on the other hand, usually manages to hang themselves just fine without a heads-up from class members. They search online, they duplicate answers verbatim, and can pretty much always be caught by unusual phrasings of things or peculiar errors which appeared elsewhere and which they're unlikely to stumble into by chance. Just to top it all off, cheaters are often pretty indisciminate in their choices of collaborator/victim, and tend to be cheating off of people no smarter than they are.
Your cheaters are almost certainly from the second group. The professor will probably catch these things (or not actually give a damn, because, again, cheating at this level generally manages to screw itself up just fine without intervention), but might not take your heads-up amiss.
posted by jackbishop at 9:44 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
The first group is usually quite subtle: they know the material well enough to make decent headway but are perfectly willing to, for instance, compare to other people's work on takehome non-collaborative exams, and they'll eye other students' work during inclass assessments just enough to get them through places where they get stuck. They're near-impossible to catch, since they're rarely obtrusive in their inclass peeking, tend not to have word-for-word reproductions of other people's answers, and rarely duplicate work which has idiosyncratic errors.
The second, on the other hand, usually manages to hang themselves just fine without a heads-up from class members. They search online, they duplicate answers verbatim, and can pretty much always be caught by unusual phrasings of things or peculiar errors which appeared elsewhere and which they're unlikely to stumble into by chance. Just to top it all off, cheaters are often pretty indisciminate in their choices of collaborator/victim, and tend to be cheating off of people no smarter than they are.
Your cheaters are almost certainly from the second group. The professor will probably catch these things (or not actually give a damn, because, again, cheating at this level generally manages to screw itself up just fine without intervention), but might not take your heads-up amiss.
posted by jackbishop at 9:44 AM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: And this seems like such a little and useless thing. A correspondence course in proofreading? Do they give you a cash prize at the end? Os there a job promised at the end? If not, who cares
It's a course recognised and recommended by the SfEP for training in the field, and is the one most frequently cited by UK freelance professionals as comprising a major component of their credentials, even down to whether they achieved a pass, merit or distinction. It's a fair assumption that someone taking this course is intending to use it to further their career. It may not be a fancy PhD thesis, but it still matters.
Thank you to everyone for your input and advice, which has helped me to consider the options and to put things into context. My inclination would be to follow MinusCelsius' approach for now and do nothing unless I notice the same thing happening again.
posted by talitha_kumi at 9:44 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's a course recognised and recommended by the SfEP for training in the field, and is the one most frequently cited by UK freelance professionals as comprising a major component of their credentials, even down to whether they achieved a pass, merit or distinction. It's a fair assumption that someone taking this course is intending to use it to further their career. It may not be a fancy PhD thesis, but it still matters.
Thank you to everyone for your input and advice, which has helped me to consider the options and to put things into context. My inclination would be to follow MinusCelsius' approach for now and do nothing unless I notice the same thing happening again.
posted by talitha_kumi at 9:44 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Does the institution that offers the course (or, for that matter, the SfEP) have an honor code, or something along those lines?
If it does, that might be something which might help you decide how you want to handle the situation.
posted by box at 1:40 PM on May 16, 2013
If it does, that might be something which might help you decide how you want to handle the situation.
posted by box at 1:40 PM on May 16, 2013
Could you maybe report that the particular sentence has ended up on the internets since thath seems to be the real wrong here? You're allowed to look up anything, so it doesn't sound exactly like cheating, but it is divulging course material and the instructor should know so they can opt to change it.
posted by WeekendJen at 2:14 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by WeekendJen at 2:14 PM on May 16, 2013
No only is it ethical to report it to the instructor, but there is a chance that your school's honor code specifically requires you to.
posted by ktkt at 4:45 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by ktkt at 4:45 PM on May 16, 2013
I would report it, because cheating ultimately means that people graduate, without understanding the course material or being able to put it in to practice. These people get hired, are totally shit at their jobs, and then people think, "why is so-and-so so shit? They have a qualification from X. Oh, I guess X is a mickey mouse institution, and that they have a mickey mouse qualification."
Cheaters devalue the certification for all others, and additionally, if marks are being given on a bell curve or anything like it, their cheating pass could well come at the expense of people who actually did the work.
posted by smoke at 4:55 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Cheaters devalue the certification for all others, and additionally, if marks are being given on a bell curve or anything like it, their cheating pass could well come at the expense of people who actually did the work.
posted by smoke at 4:55 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Is there any downside here for you? Why do you care about what someone else does? Take the same time and energy that you're using up and focus on the things that make your own life better.
posted by gt2 at 8:56 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by gt2 at 8:56 PM on May 16, 2013
I'd report it anonymously.
Get a throwaway email address, send an email to the professor. And then let it go.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:21 AM on May 17, 2013
Get a throwaway email address, send an email to the professor. And then let it go.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:21 AM on May 17, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ish__ at 8:40 AM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]