In order to prevent students from stealing another student’s work, some professors are beginning to sell handwritten notes to students for a small fee. While this may seem like a way to help students pay for their education, it’s important to understand that the practice of selling handwritten notes is similar to stealing. Just because the notes are handwritten doesn’t mean that they aren’t the student’s work. While handwritten notes allow for a more personal connection between the student and professor, it also gives the student an opportunity to cheat.
Selling notes has become a way for many people to make money on their college and university education.
While selling notes is not technically academic dishonesty, it can have the same effect on your grade as cheating. For one, you’re essentially passing off someone else’s work as your own. And if your instructor notices that you’ve just copied off of someone else’s exam or book, they’re not likely to look any further than that. You could easily end up with a C in the class or even an F.
These companies have popped up all over college campuses and online, offering to buy old graded papers and essays.
This industry has drawn the ire of many college officials for years. Some argue that these services are simply a way for students to cheat their way through school. Others argue that these websites provide an outlet for underachievers to earn some quick money, and perhaps that’s true for some. However, what’s more likely is that these websites are providing a service that allows honest but struggling students a chance to earn some extra money while still completing their educational requirements.
Students, especially those working part-time to pay off student loans, may find this to be an appealing way to earn some extra cash.
When it comes to selling notes, the answer is it depends. If someone sells a note that is already in the book, then it is not academic dishonesty. However, if someone sells a note that was not submitted to the school or if they sell a note that was submitted but never graded, then it is academic dishonesty. The consequences for selling a note vary. Some schools may have a zero-tolerance policy in place while others may allow the student to retake the course with a failing grade.
Some companies will even grade your paper for you and provide you with a fair price for it.
The short answer is no. Academic dishonesty is an intentional attempt to cheat during an academic activity. It does not apply to situations where a student sells notes as part of a business. If a student is just passing notes around in class, that does not constitute academic dishonesty.
However, selling your work is not only unethical, it’s also illegal.
If you sell handwritten notes, whether to classmates or other students, that’s academic dishonesty. However, if you sell your handwritten notes to professors or teachers for scholarly purposes, that’s a different story. Your professor may even require you to hand in a copy of your handwritten notes for future reference.
It’s illegal to sell your work because it’s your intellectual property.
It depends on your school and what type of work you did. If the work was part of your coursework or a required lab, it’s academic dishonesty. If it was for an independent project, it’s not. Many people sell notes on the internet, and it’s not against the law. However, if you are planning to sell a finished product, it’s a different story.
You own the paper, and no one else should have it.
If you’re going to sell your notes, you can’t claim the information is your own. You need to be honest about where you got the information. If you fail to disclose that it’s a school assignment or book, you can be charged with academic dishonesty. In some states, selling notes can result in criminal prosecution. If you learn that any of the information on your notes is circulating within your school, you could be charged with academic fraud. A professor’s notes should be treated as they would any other published work—that is, they should be the intellectual property of the professor.
Conclusion
It’s not a stretch to say that there is potential for a loss of trust if a student sells notes. In the worst case, notes could be lost or stolen and a student could receive a failing grade based on the work of a different student who purchased the notes. There is no way to know how many times this has happened and how many students have unknowingly suffered the consequences. However, it is no less than a violation of the school’s code of conduct and academic honesty policy when students sell or trade their notes.