<p>As you can guess, I'm bored and figured this would be an interesting topic to discuss (sorry if this has already been brought up). Do you think morality has a certain limit? Pretend a homework assignment is worth maybe 10 points (when tests are worth 100 points), and you just couldn't get it done. Would you rather take a zero out of 10 points or just copy someone's answers, get a 10 out of 10, and forget about it? Would this be as bad as cheating on a test, project, etc. (something much bigger)? Again, this is only your opinion, so don't hesitate to state what you feel.</p>
<p>Really, would you rather be moral at the expensive of practicality? For example, completing a "small" assignment (one that is worth maybe 20 or 30 points) might take 12 hours, and on top of all this, you also have other things to do. You know that after you're done with this assignment, you'd just forget about it and move on with life. So, what would YOU do? Complete the assignment honestly or cheat yourself?</p>
<p>I have a feeling that many might just bring up the argument of "you'd risk getting caught/in trouble". In my opinion, this shouldn't be the question at hand. It should really be a question of one's character and morality, and not about "getting a zero out of 10". Thoughts? Opinions?</p>
<p>I feel copying the assignment would be okay as long as you promise yourself that you'll learn the material afterwards--and do actually learn it! This is the ultimate point, right? The end always justifies the means.</p>
<p>I refuse to believe that CC'ers are goody-goodies to the point that they would absolutely be against copying a small assignment every now and then. Personally, I only think it's wrong when it becomes a perpetual habit or a means of manipulating others, etc.</p>
<p>However, for larger assignments, like papers, tests, that sort of thing, copying is definitely not right.</p>
<p>I can see both sides of the argument: one saying that ANY copying would be morally wrong, while the other says that copying (in small terms) would be morally questionable but academically okay if he/she learns it eventually.</p>
<p>What about the twist in which one COPIES a large assignment that is worth few points (not weighty)?</p>
<p>Copying someone else's assignments cheats more than yourself or your teacher, it cheats your entire school. Your "free" grade is a slap in the face to those who took the time to do it. Rarely, VERY rarely, will there be an assignment you couldn't do if you budgeted your time better. That sounds snobby, but when you allow yourself to cheat at little things, even if it never gets to bigger things, you slip into the mode where you can save it for later because "if all else fails" and time runs out, you can always copy it.</p>
<p>id copy the hell out of it. oh, but wait, id be eternally doomed right? headed straight for gehenna. pppppsssssshhhhhh. you guys crack me up. youre some of the most academically brilliant h.s. students in the U.S. while also being some of the most tactless and illogical people as well. ok, theres no denying you should always try to get you hw done. but if u dont/cant, i dont think its a big deal to copy it. on second thought, now that its second semester, i just wouldnt do it period. i cant wait to see the flaming responses to this post.</p>
<p>"Copying someone else's assignments cheats more than yourself or your teacher, it cheats your entire school."</p>
<p>If others are cheating, you would merely be leveling the playing field.</p>
<p>You can call me one of the "most tactless and illogical people," but I do not believe copying someone else's work is justified in any scenario. If you claim that something is your work when you know that it is not, you are knowingly deceiving the grader and/or the reader. That is never an acceptable practice, in my opinion. In ethical terms, I believe the question simplifies to the following: would the instructor (or whoever dictates policy) approve of the action?</p>
<p>^ya OF COURSE it's never justified. IT"S REALITY. not copying something that could lead to a bad grade in a class seems like more of a risky move than copying it and getting the grade, to me anyway. yes, it's deceitful blah blah blah, and i guess there's really no denying it's unethical, but, to me, it's just flat out stupid to risk a classe's grade just to avoid something that really ISN"T THAT BIG OF A DEAL (copying). now, i suppose if the assignment is small enough that it will not have an effect on your grade then copying it is a dumb idea, then again, why do it at all? if youre just looking for the knowledge chances are you could get it without doing the assignment. as you can see, im a realist, not an idealist. that's why aristotle is the s h i t and plato sucks. heh heh</p>
<p>i guess it depends on the situation whether copying is okay or not. if you don't do your homework at home with the intention of copying someone's homework, you can go to you-know-where. however, if you completely forgot about it and you are a friend, i might let you do it.</p>
<p>observation: i think that those who are against it are those that do their work and those that are not against it copy ocassionally.</p>
<p>"it's just flat out stupid to risk a classe's grade just to avoid something that really ISN"T THAT BIG OF A DEAL (copying)."</p>
<p>To me, it seems flat out stupid to compromise your integrity just to avoid something that really ISN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL (getting a good grade in one class).</p>
<p>mathgeek: of course it is wrong to copy, but getting a good grade is important.
observation: i think that in reality, morals come second to wealth and status, or in CC terms, college admissions and high grades</p>
<p>dont lie, if your posting on this website you care about your grades. dont deny it (maybe i could agrue that you are compromising YOU'RE morals and integrity by lying). also, integrity inst a universal constant or something; not everyone's integrity is compromised when they copy. it's the same for morals. and trust me, i am not interested in wealth or monetary success or anything of the likes, however, i am interested in getting into a good college (and so are all of you!). and this whole thing about going to hell if you copy is the funniest thing i've ever heard.</p>
<p>Ask the teacher for help before the assignment is due. "I didn't understand concept X; could you clarify?" Failing that, ask a friend who understands. Then do the work to the best of your ability.</p>
<p>"if your posting on this website you care about your grades. dont deny it"</p>
<p>I do care about my grades, and I have not denied it. In fact, I am interested in worldly success. However, I do not believe one's integrity must be compromised to allow this sort of success.</p>
<p>In any case, I agree with thisyearsgirl. Ask for help before cheating.</p>
<p>First of all, I don't think that morally, cheating on small homework assignments is such a big deal.</p>
<p>But, it CAN NOT be justified by the fact that "OMG I had 12 hours of hw last night so I had no other option!!" If you can't get your homework done than either take easier courses or get worse grades. If you get grades that you don't deserve you'll end up at a college where you will be unable to succeed because you will not be able to do the work necessary in the time allotted.</p>
<p>averagemathgeek - "I do care about my grades, and I have not denied it." ummmm, yes, yes you did. you said: "something that really ISN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL (getting a good grade in one class)." maybe you forgot you said this...? im not sure. have fun chasing the dollar as well. </p>
<p>choclateluvr - ya i agree, mostly. however, i have seen many people take challenging classes in high school, do A LOT of copying to get good grades in them, get into a great college, and, in fact, do very very well there. sure it won't work for everyone, but it is quite possible and it does happen.</p>
<p>I care about my grades in the sense that I prefer them to be A's. However, if I get a B or C (or a D), I doubt it will have a long term effect on my life. Thus, it "isn't that big of a deal." It is a problem, certainly; but, it can be rectified.</p>
<p>I do agree that copying works for many people. Perhaps, the education system is the problem, as you alluded to in "if youre just looking for the knowledge chances are you could get it without doing the assignment."</p>
<p>"I don't think that morally, cheating on small homework assignments is such a big deal."</p>
<p>I don't know if this makes me an incredibly honest person, or just anal-retentive... but I wouldn't copy any assignment, no matter how small. I just find the idea so repulsive.</p>
<p>I have no trouble with being dishonest in other areas of my life, but my work is really something I take pride in... to the extent that even a minor infraction would make me feel like an intellectual</a> impostor.</p>