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Subject:Ethics - Helping with a Thesis From:Ellen Fenwick <ellefenw -at- MAILSTN -dot- SARMC -dot- ORG> Date:Thu, 30 Nov 1995 15:50:47 -0700
In a recent thread about avenues for finding work, it was suggested that
one might approach graduate students about assisting with a thesis (with
appropriate cautions about limiting the degree of assistance and perhaps
getting approval from the thesis advisor beforehand).
This was great! I'm doing a research paper on this very topic. Is the
practice really unethical? On what ethical grounds? For example, are
there any rights that are being violated? Who does it really hurt
(utilitarian argument)? Is it unethical for just the student, just the
assisting writer, both? Is there a line between what is ethical and what
is not? Does the line change, for instance, for ESL (English as a second
language) students? Etc.
I'd be interested in your experiences and viewpoints, privately or on the
list. I'd be happy to summarize the responses (anonymously, of course).
Ellen Fenwick
ellefenw -at- mailstn -dot- sarmc -dot- org