Reply With QuoteFrom even back when I was in school (shortly after the dinosaurs died out), I could have paid to get A-level papers done for me. It's not new, but it's fascinating to hear how big of a business it is.
http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/
I'm half tempted to start googling and see if there are any companies in India that would complete a full University of Phoenix online degree for me, but I'm not sure I actually want to know.The request came in by e-mail around 2 in the afternoon. It was from a previous customer, and she had urgent business. I quote her message here verbatim (if I had to put up with it, so should you): "You did me business ethics propsal for me I need propsal got approved pls can you will write me paper?"
I've gotten pretty good at interpreting this kind of correspondence. The client had attached a document from her professor with details about the paper. She needed the first section in a week. Seventy-five pages.
I told her no problem.
It truly was no problem. In the past year, I've written roughly 5,000 pages of scholarly literature, most on very tight deadlines. But you won't find my name on a single paper.
I've written toward a master's degree in cognitive psychology, a Ph.D. in sociology, and a handful of postgraduate credits in international diplomacy. I've worked on bachelor's degrees in hospitality, business administration, and accounting. I've written for courses in history, cinema, labor relations, pharmacology, theology, sports management, maritime security, airline services, sustainability, municipal budgeting, marketing, philosophy, ethics, Eastern religion, postmodern architecture, anthropology, literature, and public administration. I've attended three dozen online universities. I've completed 12 graduate theses of 50 pages or more. All for someone else.
From even back when I was in school (shortly after the dinosaurs died out), I could have paid to get A-level papers done for me. It's not new, but it's fascinating to hear how big of a business it is.
Interesting. I think he's taken license with his supposed customer and her lack of spelling. But if I were a high school or college teacher today, the first class I'd have is in the computer labs. I'd let students pick one of three generic topics (like "what I did over the summer" or "my favorite sport") and write about those topics. They'd have to turn in a full page at the end of class. If you don't turn it in, you're out.
I'd keep those simply to compare writing samples against their future work. It's easier to spot a cheat when you have a sample of their writing style to compare against a real paper supposedly written by them.
Actually, it's probably not a good idea to post that, even as a joke.
Last edited by tiohn; 11-18-2010 at 11:37 AM. Reason: learnin'
I don't know about that. "You did me business ethics propsal for me I need propsal got approved pls can you will write me paper?" I've seen less coherent emails from all levels of management before.Originally Posted by Blackadar
Every few years this topic gets brought to the surface. It's not exactly a new practice. As long as there have been reviews based on written understanding of study, there have been people willing to perform that work as a service to students.
What sets this guy apart is the apparent customization of the writing, and while scary, he's absolutely right. It's the product of our push for grading and evaluation over actually teaching knowledge.
I frequently work with people who make me wonder how they were ever able to earn a degree. I guess this article might explain some of them.
Thanks for the link, this was an interesting read.
My first Austin neighbor used to write papers for UT students. Fellow had a masters and spoke 7 languages, but was socially awkward enough to not be able to land a regular job. He supplemented his paper writing income by dumpster diving and selling the salvaged bicycles and so on that he repaired. The man had some serious mechanical skills; he rebuilt the engine of his VW bus in his living room.
He used to have a flock of ducks that were imprinted on him, and he'd take them down to town lake for a swim. They'd hop out of his VW and follow him around, quack quack quack. On at least one occasion, someone called the police on him because they thought he was stealing ducks from the lake. After that, he switched to guinea pigs. True story.
I didn't know guinea pigs could swim...
I want to be that guy, but with a career.
Of course, universities are hard at work putting guys like this out of business.
How are they doing that? Simple. Lowering their grading standards so that even the most indescribably "deficient" students can pass without resorting to paying someone to do their work for them. It may mean the total devaluation of the education system, but at least it does something about the cheating.
I want to hear more stories about this guy. Wow :)
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