We had pizza today. I think i'm such a pig, I always eat so much. Although, they were those small Paspi ones. I haven't had pizza in a while. I miss Mexican food, too. I guess it's not real Mexican food, cuz everything I had was americanized, so the proper term should be Texmex. I wonder if they have a Taco Bell in Taiwan. I would totally go if there was one. Maybe I should make an event. Maybe like a potluck and everyone brings some homemade Mexican food. That would be really wonderful.
Oh no, I can't sign onto MSN. Something's wrong. Oh yeah. it went on again.
I have to go study....many tests this week and next week. I'll fill you in on the good news after Midterms, then.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Cheating in Class
How does cheating in this class work? Copying what your friend posts and using it as your own opinion? Or copying from websites and not giving credit to where they found the information? I think it might be because some students might not have written papers involving MLA conventions. Also, the culture in Taiwan might have different attitudes towards cheating.
If someone cheats, maybe they should do more work in order to achieve the grade they want or discuss the cheating with the teacher privately, since the student(s) might not want other people to know. I am not sure, how can you change a person's idea of what is cheating if they have thought the same way for their whole lives? Punishment can't really change permanently what has been taught or practiced since childhood. Although, it can make cheating again seem less like something they will do again.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the form of punishment for cheaters in this class depends on the amount of cheating occurring. I think students try to work hard in this class, but their time is limited so maybe second chances should be given.
If someone cheats, maybe they should do more work in order to achieve the grade they want or discuss the cheating with the teacher privately, since the student(s) might not want other people to know. I am not sure, how can you change a person's idea of what is cheating if they have thought the same way for their whole lives? Punishment can't really change permanently what has been taught or practiced since childhood. Although, it can make cheating again seem less like something they will do again.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the form of punishment for cheaters in this class depends on the amount of cheating occurring. I think students try to work hard in this class, but their time is limited so maybe second chances should be given.
Survey about Cheating
1. Copying a few pages from Wikipedia and turning it in as your assignment. Cheating
2. Asking someone else to write a few paragraphs of your paper for you—but you still do most of it. Cheating
3. Asking someone to proofread your assignment and fix the grammar mistakes for you. Not cheating
4. Having someone read what you wrote and tell you if they can understand it or not. You take their ideas and fix what you wrote. Not Cheating
5. Using an article from an English language learning website by copying it and turning it in. Cheating
6. Finding an article online that says exactly what you were thinking, so you just turn that in. Cheating
7. Reading an article that you found online, thinking about it, and then writing a response in your own words. Not cheating
8. Doing a writing assignment for one class and then turning it in for two, three, or even more classes because you are too busy to do another writing assignment. Cheating
9. Finding some writing online, but changing some of the verbs and nouns before you turn it in. Cheating
10. Finding a paper online, but changing all of the verbs before you turn it in. Cheating
11. Copying an article that you found, but you don’t get caught so no one ever knows about it. Cheating
2. Asking someone else to write a few paragraphs of your paper for you—but you still do most of it. Cheating
3. Asking someone to proofread your assignment and fix the grammar mistakes for you. Not cheating
4. Having someone read what you wrote and tell you if they can understand it or not. You take their ideas and fix what you wrote. Not Cheating
5. Using an article from an English language learning website by copying it and turning it in. Cheating
6. Finding an article online that says exactly what you were thinking, so you just turn that in. Cheating
7. Reading an article that you found online, thinking about it, and then writing a response in your own words. Not cheating
8. Doing a writing assignment for one class and then turning it in for two, three, or even more classes because you are too busy to do another writing assignment. Cheating
9. Finding some writing online, but changing some of the verbs and nouns before you turn it in. Cheating
10. Finding a paper online, but changing all of the verbs before you turn it in. Cheating
11. Copying an article that you found, but you don’t get caught so no one ever knows about it. Cheating
One Heck of a Day
Yesterday was very stressful for my family. My mom was scheduled for a business trip to Japan in the afternoon, but she couldn't find her passport the whole weekend. SHe called me during class to find it, but I treated her very badly, saying things like "Why would I know wher eyou put your things? You always lose them!" I was extremely frustrated because it seemed unfair that I had to remember things for her all the time. I realized later I was wrong and acted very immaturely and selfishly. After apologizing when I got home, I went to help find the passport again. When it still didn't turn up, my mom left to go to wrok. Everyone was in a bad mood and depressed. Well, except my brother because he had no school and played computer all day. Finally, after looking through all the folders in my room, I found her passport in an envelope we used to apply for my Taiwanese citizenship during the summer. I feel so horrible and guilty for delaying her and making everyone involved feel bad. I'm such a loser sometimes.
For this whole week, then, I have to take care of my brother. This means I have to send and sometimes pick him up from school, along with getting dinner. My dad will also be at home at night, maybe he can help, too.
For this whole week, then, I have to take care of my brother. This means I have to send and sometimes pick him up from school, along with getting dinner. My dad will also be at home at night, maybe he can help, too.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Unit 2: Academic Honesty Challenge Questions
1. I think students cheat because they want better grades, but do not want to spend the time or effort in attaining them. In other cases, the classes are simply too hard and some students will rely on cheating to pass the class so they can move up into even harder classes in the area of study they want to pursue. This type of thinking inadvertently leads to a cycle of cheating that doesn't end because it becomes second nature to cheat.
In some sense, all students cheat at least once. This includes homework, tests, quizzes, etc. Most cheating that doesn't get caught is probably homework, especially in classes that aren't math related and don't need you to show your thinking or work. I remember many students in high school would find the smartest people in class and copy chemistry and physics homework, sometimes math. These were mainly because it was last minute and the work loads were heavy because our curriculum was based on the US models for high schools. And because lots of parents wanted their children to attend good universities. The pressures that parents have on their children to attend prestigious universities is probably a big reason students cheat in high school. Of course, this completely negates the purpose of attending school.
As for university, I haven't met many students who would willingly cheat. It is a more serious offense, I think, because it will affect your acceptance to graduate schools and job opportunities. Colleges expect their students to behave like young adults and understand that cheating is not an alternative to individual work and learning.
3. To deter cheating, I think teachers should make students do something that is dull and not beneficial, like peeling potatoes for five hours or cleaning all the bathrooms in the school. This way, students will learn that cheating is a waste of time and the only jobs people will be willing to give you if you get caught cheating are related to manual labor. The old methods of punishing students don't work sometimes because after suspension or a zero on an assignment, things go on the way they used to be. Schools don't imprint onto the student's mind that they did something wrong. Plus, many schools are too scared to hurt students' feelings for fear of law suits from unhappy parents saying their kid was psychologically damaged. Maybe students should be required to attend counseling after they are caught cheating. This way, students will definitely know there is something wrong with what they did. Also, maybe schools can use some psychological tricks on students, such as cameras monitoring what every student does in the test room, etc. Although, this would be expensive. Another thing to try is to make all tests on computers that only have the test paper stored on it, with each student in a soundproof cubicle that lets no light in. This, of course is really expensive to try. Real solutions to prevent cheating could involve making students separate their chairs further apart (3-4 feet) from the other person, with body searches to make sure students don't have any means of cheating before they walk into the test room. If it becomes standard, then no one will complain it violates their privacy. It would just be like airport body searches. Or, just make cheating illegal and consider a criminal offense. This means, they'll have to do community service, or go to jail, etc.
In some sense, all students cheat at least once. This includes homework, tests, quizzes, etc. Most cheating that doesn't get caught is probably homework, especially in classes that aren't math related and don't need you to show your thinking or work. I remember many students in high school would find the smartest people in class and copy chemistry and physics homework, sometimes math. These were mainly because it was last minute and the work loads were heavy because our curriculum was based on the US models for high schools. And because lots of parents wanted their children to attend good universities. The pressures that parents have on their children to attend prestigious universities is probably a big reason students cheat in high school. Of course, this completely negates the purpose of attending school.
As for university, I haven't met many students who would willingly cheat. It is a more serious offense, I think, because it will affect your acceptance to graduate schools and job opportunities. Colleges expect their students to behave like young adults and understand that cheating is not an alternative to individual work and learning.
3. To deter cheating, I think teachers should make students do something that is dull and not beneficial, like peeling potatoes for five hours or cleaning all the bathrooms in the school. This way, students will learn that cheating is a waste of time and the only jobs people will be willing to give you if you get caught cheating are related to manual labor. The old methods of punishing students don't work sometimes because after suspension or a zero on an assignment, things go on the way they used to be. Schools don't imprint onto the student's mind that they did something wrong. Plus, many schools are too scared to hurt students' feelings for fear of law suits from unhappy parents saying their kid was psychologically damaged. Maybe students should be required to attend counseling after they are caught cheating. This way, students will definitely know there is something wrong with what they did. Also, maybe schools can use some psychological tricks on students, such as cameras monitoring what every student does in the test room, etc. Although, this would be expensive. Another thing to try is to make all tests on computers that only have the test paper stored on it, with each student in a soundproof cubicle that lets no light in. This, of course is really expensive to try. Real solutions to prevent cheating could involve making students separate their chairs further apart (3-4 feet) from the other person, with body searches to make sure students don't have any means of cheating before they walk into the test room. If it becomes standard, then no one will complain it violates their privacy. It would just be like airport body searches. Or, just make cheating illegal and consider a criminal offense. This means, they'll have to do community service, or go to jail, etc.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)