I have looked into some of these companies (and have been contacted by still others) - thinking that they might be offering writing/editing jobs to help students with editing, proofreading, and/or formatting papers ALREADY WRITTEN BY THE STUDENTS who just need help with producing polished copies, in the proper format (APA, MLA, etc.).
BUT ... much to my consternation, they are truly just "paper mills" for lazy students (even doctoral candidates!) who don't want to write their own MANDATORY essays, research papers, and even dissertations!
Not only is this unethical - promoting academic dishonesty (it's called CHEATING) - it mocks and corrupts the entire system of scholarly integrity - AND can get students expelled from school, as it is expressly stated (in every set of guidelines that I have ever seen) that papers must be the students' OWN work!
As a lifelong learner, master's degree holder, and prospective doctoral candidate (and one who has always written my OWN papers) - this subject REALLY bothers me, obviously!
I addressed this whole issue with more than one of these "paper mills" - and they even admitted that what they do is "less than honest," but that they try to fly "under the radar" by using the lame rationalization/excuse that they only sell "sample papers" for students to use for "templates" for their OWN papers and that it's not the company's "fault" if students misconstrue the intention and use the papers as their own ... yeah right - that's why students place ORDERS for the exact content they need!
From experience at peeking in on the essay mills, it usually is not worth your time. Remember, these are cheating college students, and college students do not always have a lot of money. The pay may be $10 a page, but that means research and editing and a works cited page, too.
ReplyDeleteOn a moral note: Maybe no one will know but yourself, but will it make you happy? Will it move you forward in your own career? Will you feel any better after writing a paper for someone else?
Maybe those talents you are putting forward could be put to better use.