Cheating only has consequences if you get caught!'
Refute the above statement, refe
ing to existing and credible research on the topic to provide a strong basis for your argument position.
When answering this style of essay, you are to consider the above topic statement from more than one point of view and provide supported, credibly referenced arguments for and against the main ideas and draw a conclusion.
Suggested (but not limited to) areas for your research and argument;
· Consequences of cheating:
· Ethics and integrity – moral implications
· Trust & Credibility issues –
each of trust, damage to reputation - fellow students, teachers, employees, employers, customers, community, family
· Academic issues – academic capability/learning, idea/knowledge development
· Societal issues – cultural issues, advancement / continuing development of knowledge & country
· Career Issues – lack of skills / knowledge to complete employment tasks, stealing from employers – financial, data, ideas etc.
Your response should show evidence of having consulted a wide range of credible reference sources (minimum of six) including textbooks, peer reviewed journals, business periodicals and reputable websites to assist you in your discussion.
This assessment task is to be presented in a co
ectly structured Argumentative Essay format.
All information sources used in your essay must be acknowledged by referencing (in-text and references list). William Angliss Institute uses the APA referencing system.
The word limit of 1200 words (+/- 20%) for the final essay should be adhered to; any variation of more than 20% will result in penalties being applied.
Once again, your discussion/argument should focus on the consequences of cheating and its impacts on the person cheating and the others this action of cheating could/will/does affect.
Introduction
· General Opening Statement
· Does not introduce the position / thesis of the pape
· Does provide the reader with an understanding of the overarching theme and context (setting) of the paper such as behaviou
attitudes towards cheating amongst students, in society, in families
elationships, in cultures, under the law etc.
· Lay out the introduction stating exactly the key terms and issues in the sequence they will be discussed in the essay body
· The thesis statement / position statement comes last in the introduction and makes it clear to the reader the essays argument position
Body of Essay
· Must follow exactly the sequence laid out in the introduction
· Must include counter or opposing views to provide balance
· Must contain both referenced information and relevant idea discussion / argument development
· Must be written in third person NOT first
Example of Essay Body Paragraphs:
· P1 – Defining ethics, morals, integrity and cheating
· P2 – Discussion of justification of cheating behaviour:
· Time poor, pressure to achieve, poor scholarship skills, everyone does it (Goh article / Olafson article) opposing argument
· P3 – Discussion of cultural views of cheating behaviou
· Western societal views (Heyneman, 2008; Hayes & Introna article)
· Eastern societal views (Hayes & Introna article) opposing argument
· P4 – Consequence 1 - The educational implications – institution
· Damage to institution reputation / value of qualification (Heyneman, 2008)
· P5 – Consequence 2 - The educational implications - student
· Initial gain through better marks (Goh article / Olafson article) opposing argument
· Level / value of ‘actual’ student learning – professional knowledge and skills development not occu
ing (Heyneman, 2008)
· P6 – Consequence 3 - Moral and ethical implications of cheating
· Does lack of academic integrity and propensity to justify cheating make it easier to justify all other unethical actions even if immoral or illegal including career-based ‘cheating actions’ (Heyneman, 2008)
· Judgement – action gap – justification (Olafson article)
· P7 – Consequence 4 - Societal implications of cheating
· Reducing idea / knowledge development of society (Heyneman, 2008)
· Economic implications (Heyneman, 2008)
· P8 – Consequence 5 - Societal implications of cheating
· Potential for harm to come to others from unqualified/low knowledge graduates e.g. doctor / patient wrong diagnoses or medicine given
Conclusion
· Begins by restating ‘exactly’ the thesis or position of the paper as per the introduction & summarises the main points of the argument.
Example of Repeating thesis statement such as:
· As the above discussion proves, the consequences of cheating are far more serious and damaging to an individual, an organisation and a societies reputation and development and as such, the consequences far outweigh any initial benefits that might be gained from cheating.
· Brief combined summary:
The main points to substantiate and re-enforce the thesis statement including an acknowledgement of opposing evidence
· Closing general statement such as:
Therefore, reducing the occu
ence of cheating amongst individuals in society at all stages of their development will contribute positively to the ethical, moral and knowledge growth of a society.