I’m not being confrontational, just trying to state my case. I am going to admit to memorizing a keyword from each question to 1. potentially help me study better if I got a similar exam and 2. Tell my friends that that department doesnt change questions on exams. I got lucky because the professor gave me the exact questions, despite knowing that I had the unfair advantage of seeing the questions before. Its up to the assistant dean to determine if that falls within the schools cheating policy. I’m very remorseful about what i did, trust me, but I have to advocate for myself. I’m a pretty good student in my last year and this was an into level GPA booster with a class average of over 80%, I only needed to get a 78% to score an A, my major motivation for my actions was bragging rights- telling everyone that I was able to match ALL the questions on the old test to the new test and basically encouraging my deceitful behaviour - which I know is very wrong.
I would go with honesty and remorse, this is not a behavior you should try to defend.
OP: I point out the tissue paper & your unusual use of it as a concern/accusation that is likely to be made against you.
You are looking for answers to help you fashion a defense. In order to prepare a reasonable defense, you need to identify the key issues first. And the issues need to be detailed to your specific case. Not something broadly worded such as a general accusation of cheating. The particulars matter.
As far as the advice given to you by an “education lawyer”, it is good advice but does not amount to an effective defense of your actions. Also, it is important how you interpret that advice. This is one reason why it can be unwise to act as one’s own attorney. Your mindset is "I didn’t cheat " or “that doesn’t amount to cheating” or “it may be unethical, but it is not an honor code violation”. I don’t know all of the particulars, but I do know that you need to identify specific issues before you can formulate a meaningful defense or plea bargain strategy.
You state in a defensive manner: They gave me the scratch paper.
Did you leave the room with the scratch paper upon which you had written notes ?
Was it made clear to you that you were not to leave the testing room with the scratch paper ?
I did not leave the room with the scratch paper ever. Matching the versions was the first thing i completed because i did not want to forget what I had crammed. I wrote down the keywords I crammed on another scrap which they are not adding into the evidence against me - I dont know why and i have not been able to see that one. I went to the bathroom and when I was leaving came out with to sheets of paper towel. The proctor saw me with them - they usually give me a box of tissues if i ask but i dont know if they didnt have any that day. On the one paper i wrote down ECON and then 1. monopoly 2. mc>mr those two things have absolutely no correlation to question 1 or 2 of either version of the exam and he saw me writing them.
Also my scrap sheet and the paper towels have no creases in them whatsoever, so they know i didnt fold them and try to smuggle them out/in.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. The conversation is simply going in circles.