Cheating

Mini Debates
Cheating and Plagiarism
Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

Cheating and Plagiarism in Schools 1. What was the punishment for cheating in your high
school?
2. What happens to students who cheat in university in
There is growing evidence that cheating is becoming more common
your country?
and more accepted among North American high school students.
3. Do you know anyone who has ever been caught
A recent national survey conducted by Rutgers’ Management cheating?
Education Center found that 75% of the 4,500 students questioned 4. Have you ever cheated on any tests?
had participated in serious cheating. In addition, more that 50% 5. What does plagiarism mean?
admitted they had plagiarized work from the Internet.
Perhaps the most disturbing finding of the study is that many

respondents don’t see anything wrong with cheating. In fact, for
many students, cheating has become a survival technique in high
school. There is increasing pressure on students to achieve high
marks and it is becoming more difficult to get accepted into good
colleges and universities.
According to some students, cheating is an efficient way to cut

corners and more and more students are using this shortcut. Others
do not think that copying questions and answers from a test is even
cheating.
Many students believe that getting good grades is more important

than being honest. They think that better grades lead to better
colleges and universities and better universities lead to better careers
and better lives.
As one student stated, “What’s important is getting ahead. It’s not

how moral you were in getting there.”
COMPREHENSION ✍
1. Who conducted a recent survey about cheating in high schools?
2. How many students participated in the survey?
3. What percentage of students admitted to cheating?
4. What was a disturbing finding of the study?
5. Why do many students say they cheat?
1
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Mini Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
_____ 1. evidence a. staying alive

_____ 2. survey b. grade, score, evaluation of a student’s work
_____ 3. plagiarize c. questioning a large number of people
_____ 4. disturbing d. honest, truthful, having good values
_____ 5. survival e. proof
_____ 6. technique f. confess, say you did something wrong
_____ 7. mark g. do something in a faster, easier or cheaper way
_____ 8. efficient h. copy or steal someone else’s ideas or words
_____ 9. cut corners i. upsetting, bothersome
_____ 10. moral j. person answering questions
_____ 11. respondent k. able to do something well without wasting time
_____ 12. admit l. way, method
DISCUSS IT
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the
following sentences. Work with a partner or in small groups.
Discuss the following questions.
1. When you write an essay, you must not ____________________ or you will
fail. 1. Do you think cheating is always wrong?
2. He studied very hard for his math test and got an excellent _______________.
2. Do you think that cheating can hurt a
3. She is a very _________________ worker. She always gets her work done
student’s chance of succeeding in life?
quickly.
4. If a company tries to ___________________ when they manufacture a prod- 3. What should the punishment be for students
uct, the quality of the product may not be as good. who cheat?
5. If you are the one who broke the window, you should _______________ it.
4. Why do you think so many students cheat?
DEBATE IT
5. If your son or daughter were caught
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will cheating, what would you want the school
tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten punishment to be?
minutes to prepare your arguments.
6. If you were taking a test and saw another
Topic #1: person cheating , would you tell the
All students caught cheating in high school should automatically fail the teacher? Why or why not?
course and be required to repeat the entire course the following year.
WRITE IT ✍
Topic #2:
The only punishment for cheating will be as follows: The name of a cheater
Choose one of the questions above and write
will be announced to the entire school over the PA and the name and picture of
a paragraph stating your own opinion.
the cheater will be on display in all classrooms with the caption: I am a
cheater.
2
Mini Debates
ANSWER KEY
Please note:
The reading for this topic is also available in full-page format at the end of the lesson (page 4).
Comprehension:
1. The survey was conducted by Rutgers’ Management Education Center.

2. 4,500 students participated in the survey.
3. 75% of the 4,500 students questioned had participated in serious cheating.
4. Many respondents don’t see anything wrong with cheating.
5. There is increasing pressure on students to achieve high marks and it is becoming more difficult to get ac-
cepted into good colleges and universities. According to some students, cheating is an efficient way to cut
corners and more and more students are using this shortcut.
Vocabulary:
A. Match the words

1. e 2. c 3. h 4. i 5. a 6. l 7. b 8. k 9. g
10. d 11. j 12. f
B. Choose the correct word

1. plagiarize 2. mark 3. efficient 4. cut corners 5. admit
3
Mini Debates
Cheating and Plagiarism in School
There is growing evidence that cheating is becoming more common and more accepted among North
American high school students.
A recent national survey conducted by Rutgers’ Management Education Center found that 75% of the
4,500 students questioned had participated in serious cheating. In addition, more that 50% admitted they
had plagiarized work from the Internet.
Perhaps the most disturbing finding of the study is that many respondents don’t see anything wrong with
cheating. In fact, for many students, cheating has become a survival technique in high school. There is
increasing pressure on students to achieve high marks and it is becoming more difficult to get accepted
into good colleges and universities.
According to some students, cheating is an efficient way to cut corners and more and more students are
using this shortcut. Others do not think that copying questions and answers from a test is even cheating.
Many students believe that getting good grades is more important than being honest. They think that better
grades lead to better colleges and universities and better universities lead to better careers and better lives.
As one student stated, “What’s important is getting ahead. It’s not how moral you were in getting there.”
4

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Mini Debates

Cheating and Plagiarism

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

Perhaps the most disturbing finding of the study is that many

According to some students, cheating is an efficient way to cut

Many students believe that getting good grades is more important

As one student stated, “What’s important is getting ahead. It’s not

2. How many students participated in the survey?

3. What percentage of students admitted to cheating?

4. What was a disturbing finding of the study?

5. Why do many students say they cheat?

_____ 1. evidence a. staying alive

1. The survey was conducted by Rutgers’ Management Education Center.

A. Match the words

B. Choose the correct word

Cheating and Plagiarism in School

had plagiarized work from the Internet.

into good colleges and universities.

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