Web site defends online essay service

LAS VEGAS – While the majority of students know that copying someone else’s essay word-for-word may result in a failing grade, a new online essay writing service is calling into question what exactly constitutes plagiarism. \nIn the University of Nevada-Las Vegas’ “Student Academic Misconduct Policy,” plagiarism is described as “acting or attempting to act as a substitute for another, or using or attempting to use a substitute, in any academic evaluation or assignment.” \nStudents caught breaking these academic policies face punishments ranging from a failing grade for the assignment to revoking a student’s degree. Despite these potentially harsh consequences, English professor David Barto said he has “too often found violations.” \nBarto, who has taught at the high school and college level for 35 years, said he finds at least one significant case each semester, even after warning students. \n“One semester, I failed two students and reduced another’s grade two levels in a single English 101 class, then had a fourth student plagiarize a final exam from four sources in a computer lab on the final exam,” Barto said. \nCustom-writing.org is an academic writing service that provides custom papers for students. Usually, students submit notes, guidelines, or examples of their writing style, and a staff member from the Web site writes an entirely new paper using these resources. \nAndrew Schwartz, a representative for the business, defends the Web site as legitimate.\n“Is it unethical to order resume writing services?” he asked. \nSchwartz argues that the definition of plagiarism adopted by universities should not be applied to the Web site’s practices, claiming what they provide is more similar to people who help write resumes or speeches. \n“What we do is ghost writing – not plagiarism,” Schwartz said. “We are paid for the writing.” \nSchwartz says customers request shorter assignments, between six and seven pages, more frequently than longer assignments and dissertations. Most of the students using the Web site are third-or fourth-year college students, and science majors make up approximately 50 percent of their clientele. Business majors comprise 30 percent, social sciences make up 15 percent, and only 5 percent are other majors. \n“We almost never get orders from students majoring in literature, (or) creative writing,” Schwartz said. \nMost clients request papers for classes not associated with their major, mostly for sociology, literature or history courses. Because of this, Schwartz feels custom written essays help students rather than hinder them. \n“Our point is that essays are an ineffective assessment tool and when it comes to students majoring in IT, they are pointless,” he said. “Can you objectively assess student knowledge on accounting by an essay? I doubt that. For now, students are simply seeking the way out. The existence of custom writing industry simply shows the failure of (the) academic system.” \nBarto argues the opposite. He believes the failure of the academic system is due to Web sites such as Custom-writing.org. He warns against the effects of essay writing companies on academics. \n“If the work is not a student’s own, it is plagiarism whether it was paid for or not,” Barto said. “Who is stupid enough to believe that these people are writing one-of-a-kind essays for each order? People involved in deceitful enterprises operate under deceitful motivation and live deceitful lives.” \nBarto stresses the need to write is not contingent on major or future profession. Regardless of these factors, he says beginning English classes are mandated because the tools taught in those courses are universal. \n“Everyone must write. I don’t care what their field is,” Barto said. “An accountant will have to file reports, especially if they have conducted an investigation of a company’s business practices.” \nBarto continued, “Scientists write research reports, journal articles, books and lectures to be delivered to audiences, and many of them become teachers who will read student research reports and answers to completion and essay questions.” \nEven with these concerns, Web sites such as Custom-writing.org are growing. \nWhen the Web site first started nearly a year ago, they barely received any traffic. \n“During the first months of our operations, we hardly received an order per day,” Schwartz said. However since its inception, the site has gained momentum. In just the summer months before school starts, they have received about 30 requests per day for a total of more than 1,500 custom written essays ordered since the company took root. \nAlthough the popularity of the Web site is growing, Barto insists it is not worth the trouble. \n“By the time a student orders a custom essay, has taken the time to submit a sample of style and taken the time to explain all of the requirements and topic of the paper, the student might as well have written it him - or herself,” he said.