Cheating on the College Campus

Adam Norman

Instructor Brentar        

ENG 102

7 April 2015

Cheating on the College Campus

        There is a reoccurring cheating problem among schools that has been going on for years and years. We can most likely all admit to committing this “school crime” sometime in our lives. The problem is that children start out cheating in elementary school and never learn to stop. However, cheating is not just found in the classroom. Cheating can also be found in the workplace, relationships, sports games, and even taxes. Odds are in any activity there are bound to be some who will disobey the rules. Although cheating is never good in any situation, cheating in the college classroom is arguably the most prominent form of cheating. Cheating on college campuses needs to stop immediately. The question that this poses is “how do we stop cheating on the college campus?”

        Education experts claim that cheating is caused by two things: too high of standards for students and cheating can be reduced if reported. I shall argue that schools should more vigorously teach students the consequences and effects of cheating. If students had these ideas melted into their brain, they would cease to cheat and be more honest in the classroom. I shall also argue that there needs to be less pressure imposed on students to excel in the classroom. Nowadays, students must obtain a certain GPA throughout their high school career. Students must also achieve a certain score on the standardized tests. Professors know that students cheat, yet they take no action to figure out why students cheat. Students cannot live up to the academic expectations set by the school system, so students resort to cheating. Schools are leaving students with few options but to cheat if they struggle. School systems often turn their heads the other way when it comes to cheating. I will argue that cheating is partially the school systems’ fault due to lack of enforcement. If schools embodied the idea of how truly detrimental cheating can be into a student’s mind, then fewer and fewer students would cheat. Often, students cheat because they know they can get away with it, even if they get caught. This raises questions when it comes to the integrity, honesty, and values of schools nowadays. If school systems taught children at a young age the consequences of cheating and enforced the rules better, then most students would be more intimidated and scared to cheat.

        Some people argue that it is not the schools’ responsibility to teach students morals and ethics, but rather the students’ parents. It is not the place of the school or teacher to say what is right or wrong. The school’s job is to teach children, not parent them. This is true in some cases, but there are little to no instances where cheating can be seen as right by parents or teachers respectively

Another thing that people argue is that cheating is not the same in all scenarios. This is in fact true; cheating on your third grade spelling contest and cheating on your college exam are two completely different degrees of cheating. They are both still wrong, but one is “the lesser of two evils.” However, cheating is still wrong. Whether it’s cheating on your spouse, cheating on an exam, or cheating the system on your taxes, cheating is morally wrong and there are no instances where it is acceptable.

        Cheating can be reduced, possibly even eliminated if education systems “practice what they preach” when it comes to values, ethics, and morals. Lowering expectations and standards when it comes to exams and standardized testing will also reduce the amount of students that cheat. Students are not the only ones to blame when it comes to cheating and integrity.

Annotated Works Consulted

Bland, Helen, et al. "Quantifying the Impact of Physical Activity on Stress Tolerance in College Students." College Student Journal 48.4(2014): 559-568. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. Brand discusses the factors that go into effect when students cheat. I will use Bland’s findings as support for my argument for less standardized testing.

Chace, William M.  “A Question of Honor: Cheating on Campus Undermines the Reputation of Our Universities and the Value of Their Degrees. Now Is the Time for Students Themselves to Stop It.” The Engaged Reader. Ed, William Breeze et al. Cincinnati: Van-Griner, 2015. 165-77. Print. Chace offers the notion that it is the responsibility of the student to stop cheating. I will use this argument to show agreement that it is partially the students’ responsibility.

"College Highlights The Penalties For Cheating." Optician May 8, 2011: Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. This article shows the risk vs. reward factor when it comes to cheating. I will use this article to show how in most cases, the reward outweighs the risk.