“Universities need to get tougher on students whose work is found plagiarised or ghost written. If strong action is initiated, it would automatically throttle their money-making business as students would stop using their services.”
Rinni of ‘Red Ink’ echoed this view. “I was frequently approached by students with requests to write their assignments. I refused, and eventually I decided to stop proofreading/editing service altogether as I believe assignment writing on behalf was morally wrong.”
Interestingly, very few assignment service providers actually reveal their own qualifications/ experience or that of their team of writers to prove their ability to perform this type of specialised work,viz proofreading,etc.
There appear to be no protection also available to students if there was a deficiency in the service provided, or students are penalised for plagiarism due to their checking / editing.
Actually, some of these pitfalls are avoidable if students first ask probing questions before parting with their parents’ hard-earned money, and take recourse to other free support channels available.
Students are perhaps unaware that most polytechnics and universities provide free help to students with academic writings, including assignments.
Student Learning of Waikato University is an excellent example of support available to students for their academic service needs. Students can make a weekly 50-minute face-to-face consultation with senior tutors to discuss a range of learning matters, including help with strategies for editing your own writings. However, these tutors do not proofread assignments but may guide you about the structure, referencing, and if the requirements of the task are met.
Student learning also provides written comments on an assignment draft, and organises regular workshops, drop-in sessions to support students. For distance learning students, there is a facility for video consultation. For more information, you may access their website: https://www.waikato.ac.nz/teaching-and-learning/student-learning
Wintec,too,has a similar set up in their campus to support students.
It is, therefore, up to the students themselves to avail available services at their respective tertiary institutes and ensure they do not become victims like ‘Balakrishnan’, in the hands of some unscrupulous providers, or penalised by their university for submitting a plagiarised work.
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This article was earlier published by this journalist in June 2018 in: http://indianzherald.co.nz/ and www.pressreader.com
