Joined: Aug 20, 09
Threads: 1
Posts: 1
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I'm a professional published writer, and have been for 35 years. I have written 14 books, and over 5,000 nationally-published articles/short stories.
Very late in my life, I decided to do a self-funded PhD, as I have 2 first First Class degrees.
I am now very short of money to finish my thesis, so I thought I'd sign up to a well-advertised and apparently well-respected academic website, to write model papers for them.
I have changed my mind, not only because of their ineptitude (they couldn't deal with the complexity of my CV and are still struggling with it), but because of what I've not only seen here, but in the MA students I teach in my very special field.
Some of them are using bought essays and dissertations to get their MA. It's clear. These students, often from overseas, don't have the conceptual or linguistic ability to cope with the course. They are lovely people, very ambitious, but just can't hack it.
Today was the last straw, and what finally decided me that writing for others is unethical was that a really insecure but well-intentioned student whose MA I am supervising has submitted a dissertation draft which is actually copied and pasted from 3 sources. She has written none of it. I spotted that immediately, Googled phrases from it, and found the three papers in a heartbeat. She is now in the difficult position of having to rewrite her entire dissertation in 3 weeks, and I'm in the difficult position of having to report her for plagiarism. I believe she 'bought' this rubbish.
I can't understand how any academic tutor can fail to recognise that the students you know are who they are. We know these students. They can't suddenly write something amazing when they're just average or below in class. For those with language problems, they can't suddenly acquire skills they've never shown.
When they buy essays and dissertations, and use them, with all the plagiarism and faults of the quick cash essay writers (yes, these are supposed to be Turnedin but they rarely are), don't they think we notice?
Or am I unusual, in academia, in spotting the 'bought in' pieces?
In 18 MA students, it's happened, on my course, for two of them in the last two years. Both were failed.
Please, students, don't do this. By all means, if you have some money, buy guidance and proofreading and editing. But don't think you can get away with submitting someone else's work as your own. It doesn't work like that.
I will not write 'model essays'. They are being misused.
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