Ch 4. Progymnasmata Cheating

Prologue: Because college is a higher level of education paid for by the student, it is supposed to be challenging and even stressful. College is supposed to prepare the student for the real world. Because it is challenging, sometimes students are tempted to cheat in order to do well. Although there are policies against this, some students still feel that cheating is the best way to handle the stress and rigors of college.
Contrary: Because university administrators understand that the work load for students can be challenging and because university administrators have been students and observed students, they are well aware that the temptation to cheat is present, and they know that students often give into that temptation. This is why the academic dishonesty policy exists. This policy clearly outlines that any student caught cheating will be punished. Punishment can be a failing grade in the course or having the dean of student life contacted which is severe. The policy is required to be included in every syllabus to ensure that students are made aware of the policy. Any student who cheats will be punished.
Exposition: This being said, any student who cheats has no regard for the rules set in place, their fellow classmates, professors or their own character. Such students only care about earning a better grade off of someone else's work. They are not concerned about how their fellow classmates work to do well and that they are undermining their efforts. They have no respect toward their professor who teaches them the information they need to be successful in the class. Most importantly, they are not concerned with their own character and integrity. Even if they don't get caught, they know what they did. If they can live with themselves receiving a better grade than they deserve because they deceived others to earn it, obviously their morals are very questionable.
Comparison: Accepting that you didn't study the material like you should have and taking the lower grade that you deserve is far better than stealing a higher grade and ignoring your lack of preparation. The student who accepts the lower grade shows accountability for his or her own actions or lack thereof. The student who cheats his or her way to a higher grade shows laziness, deception, and poor character.
Intention: When a student cheats in school, they intend to deceive their professors. They want to appear responsible, prepared and smart. They believe that they will succeed by cheating. In reality, they are setting themselves up for failure in their future.
Digression: If a student was not made aware of the policy against cheating, or if the student never learned right from wrong, then maybe the act of cheating could be excused. Since all students are made aware of the policy, and since most human beings know right from wrong, cheating is not acceptable under any circumstances.
Rejection of Pity: It may be tempting to have pity for students who cheat because they are struggling with the material or fell behind. However, there are free services available to help struggling students. There are even free services to teach students to manage their time better. Excusing cheating only reinforces it. Not only will students not learn the information being taught to them, but also students will never learn to be responsible if they are not made accountable for their actions. The purpose of college is to educate students and teach them skills to help them in the real world. Responsibility is one of those skills.
Legality: Because students who work hard to earn good grades are rewarded by being included on the Dean’s List, being eligible for more financial aid, and granted other privileges, students who lie to steal a good grade need to be punished.
Justice: This punishment can be determined by the professor, the department chair, or the dean of student life.
Advantage: Punishment for cheating will affect all students. Responsible students will be recognized for their hard work. Cheating students will not be rewarded for stealing a good grade which will teach them to be more responsible if they want to pass their classes.
Possibility: It will be easy to punish students who cheat. The policy for handling academic dishonesty can be easily enforced via the professor, department chairperson, and even the dean of student life.