Academic dishonesty is becoming a serious problem at school. What
causes students to resort to that?
Cause/Effect essay
Academic dishonesty can be defined as information falsification, plagiarism, copying, and
examination dishonesty. According to a Scottish university’s survey, teachers reported a 50%
increase in plagiarism since the rise of AI and the results indicate a grave problem. In this
essay I am going to tackle the causes of this problem and also the effects it has on the
younger generations, namely, immense academic pressure and lack of academic interest.
One of the main causes why pupils resort to academic dishonesty is immense academic
pressure. The relentless pursuit of high grades and the fear of failure, creates an environment
where the urge to cheat becomes irresistible. Teenagers are attacked with a barrage of
assignments, exams and parent expectations. For example, after a hard day’s work in school,
imagine finding yourself being screamed at by your parents because an excellent mark was
not achieved, and, for sure, the temptation to fabricate information next time will arise.
Interestingly, in the adolescent’s mind getting a good grade is a means to survive, so when in
a pinch the only option to survive is cheating. Therefore, this academic strain can lead to being
expelled from school or even developing a habit of cheating.
Another key factor that pushes disciples to plagiarism is lack of academic interest. While the
school’s curriculum is aimed to foster personal growth, it is not in everyone’s interest to learn
about a topic that has no relevance in their lives. To illustrate, soon-to-be graduates may find
themselves disenchanted with certain time-consuming subjects that are disconnected from
their career path or personal passions. But in an attempt to achieve a passing grade on the
test, learners find themselves forced to use shady shortcuts. This disconnection between
scholastic content and personal goals not only diminishes the value in learning, but also
fosters youngster’s temptation to engage in cheating and other dishonest practices.
Consequently, the absence of enthusiasm for learning leads to awful learning experience,
diminished passion for learning and hating the education system.
To conclude, the problem of academic dishonesty is fueled by immense academic pressure
and lack of academic interest. Additionally, as new technologies are arising, a problem is being
posed by AI, enabling learners to more easily make the wrong decision of indulging in
plagiarism. Perhaps there will soon arise new technologies that will help teachers in need.
360 words
CEFR: C1.0
Augustas Vaivada