- Given the factors in this situation, what, if any, ethical issues exist?
The case presents two tempting solutions: plagiarizing and ghost writing. The former entails copying someone else’s work and presenting it as your own without acknowledging the author. The latter entails having someone else do the work for you entirely and presenting it as your own. Both are classic cases of cheating with the hope of not getting caught. The above instances are curbed with two primary ethical issues: ethics of plagiarism and integrity. To begin with, ethics of plagiarism exist when a student or writer copies work from the internet and presents it as their own creativity without acknowledging the original writer. Per Fusch, Ness, Booker & Fusch (2017), plagiarism is a basic form of literary theft that causes damage to self, insults the intelligence of others, and injures the integrity of all. Secondly, integrity is concerned with academic honesty. A student who plagiarizes has violated the principle of academic honesty and is liable for the academic discipline that can include suspension or even expulsion.
- Would you adopt either of the two “possible solutions” listed above? Why or Why not?
I would not adopt any of the two options listed above in totality. However, I would adopt some parts of the two solutions. I would research the assignment projects and use the online sources to bolster my research. I would also take not of key issues discussed so as to get a general direction of what to do in my paper. With this in mind, I would then do my own work and incorporate my own independent thinking. Instead of plagiarizing the online work, one can use it to guide their research. Secondly, instead of hiring a ghostwriter to do the assignment projects for me, I would use the money to hire an independent tutor to assist me in understanding the topic from where the assignment projects emerged. Doing a recap of the whole topic will definitely help in deciphering any difficult hard concepts and make it easier for me to write the assignment projects.
- If a friend was confronted with this same situation and asked your opinion, what advice would you offer?
Dealing with this situation can often be very tempting especially if one has the money easily at their disposal. However, it is better to attempt your own work and fail than to be caught cheating and hence punished with discontinuation. As such, the first advice I would give this friend is that the assignment is intended to help the teacher gauge how much they have understood and whether he/she should repeat the teaching or not. As such, cheating through plagiarism and ghost writing may not provide them with the appropriate response that they require. Instead this will give a false sense of confidence that they had taught well and that as a student you understood the topic. It is, therefore, essential to do your own work so that you can paint the true picture to the lecturer.
Secondly, in addition to academic punishments, copying work from the internet can be prosecuted lawfully especially if the literature has a copyright attached to it. This is applicable if the copyright has not yet expired (Green, 2002). The plagiarizer can be sued for the infringement and punished with regards to the charges raised and the jurisdiction. This act can result in the plagiarized being fined to repay for the damages caused to the owner of the copyright and the content. Per Creutz (2010), plagiarism is a misdemeanor than can warrant a fine of between $100 and $50,000. Furthermore, some states consider it a felony and in the case that the plagiarizer benefits from it and earns more than $2,500 he/she can be fined upwards of $250,000 or a jail term of approximately 10 years.
References
Creutz, R. (2010, June 23). Plagiarism punishment. iThenticate. Retrieved from: https://www.ithenticate.com/plagiarism-detection-blog/bid/52974/Plagiarism-Punishment#.XustPmgzbIU
Fusch, P. I., Ness, L. R., Booker, J. M., & Fusch, G. E. (2017). The ethical implications of plagiarism and ghostwriting in an open society. Journal of Social Change, 9(1), 4.
Green, S. P. (2002). Plagiarism, norms, and the limits of theft law: Some observations on the use of criminal sanctions in enforcing intellectual property rights. Hastings LJ, 54, 167.