Plagiarism: Academic Dishonesty and Students

Plagiarism is happening everywhere, especially in university academic writing. Whether the student plagiarizes consciously or unconsciously, both are forms of academic dishonesty. While people after discuss whose fault it is, when a student plagiarized it becomes a controversial issue. In “The Shadow Scholar” Ed Dante argues that the cause of plagiarism is the college’s academic system. However, some people would argue that the problem should be focused on students. In my opinion, Dante’s argument has some good points, colleges might have things they need to improve, but the things a college can do are limited, since students are the ones plagiarizing. Therefore, in order to make students avoid the temptation of plagiarism, colleges should try their best to help students understand what plagiarism is, how serious the consequences are and help students become more aware that plagiarize might make them pay for it.
The main problem is with the students themselves, the attitude of how they are treating themselves, the instructors, the expectation of their parents, and even the job they are applying in the future. In the article, Dante writes “I do a lot of work for seminary students. I like seminary students.” This is really ironic. I know seminary students are supposed to learn everything about ethics and morals, but the quotation here shows that even seminary students are cheating intentionally and massively. Most of the schools and instructors have mentioned that buying papers to submit is a form of plagiarism. If this kind of plagiarism is caught then the paper definitely is a zero and a permanent mark in the student’s record. Furthermore, this is really disrespectful for the instructors; it shows that students are not learning anything from them. Dante also writes “Nursing students account for one of my company’s biggest customer bases.” Nurses are the people we are trusting to take care of us when we are sick. If they have to cheat to pass the courses, then our lives are in danger, since they probably don’t even know what to do when something happening to the patients. They are also not respecting their jobs because this job is meant for taking care of patients, but they are not learning how to take care of patients.
In “The Shadow Scholar” Dante alleges that “[Desperate students] need help learning and, separately, they need help passing their courses. But they aren’t getting it.” I believe most of the schools have their own way of helping students learn. Take Alexander College as an example, there is writing center in both of the campus and the writing center not only has English instructors help students building their essay but also has instructors to help students deal with other subjects. The school even added a writing center online booking system, online writing center, and online ask away (it links to a librarian). Instructors also provide their office hours and e-mail. Thus, students have an easier and convenient way to get help from someone than before. Despite these efforts, it remains true that many students are offered help, but they are not taking it. In the essay Dante also alleges that “Students who come to American universities from other countries find that their efforts to learn a new language are confounded not only by cultural difficulties but also by the pressures of grading.” Although, international students have to put more efforts on their works, and the grade sometimes just won’t be as much as the efforts they have put in; it isn’t an excuse of plagiarize and cheat. Schools have already provided countless ways of helping students to resolve difficulties. Students should use the resources as an advantage to pass the courses. Schools should make sure students clearly understand what plagiarism is in order to help them avoid from unwitting plagiarize, and let students know what the serious problems and consequences are, to help them resist the temptation of plagiarism.

Works cited
Dante, Ed. “The Shadow Scholar.” The chronicle of Higher Education 12 Nov. 2010. Print.