WHY WE CHEAT

“Scientists are unraveling the causes of fraud and dishonesty and devising new strategies for rooting them out”

By: Ferric C. Fang and Arturo Casadevall

Published: Scientific American Mind; May- June 2013; http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-we-cheat
Alternatively, access a free copy by copy pasting the following: http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1038/scientificamericanmind0513-30

Level of Difficulty: ****

Note to the student: This text comes out of Scientific American Mind and you will need to pay for access or subscribe to the magazine unless your institution subscribes to it.

BEFORE YOU READ

·         Have you ever cheated? Do you know anyone who has cheated?

·         Under what circumstances do people cheat? Provide some examples.

·         How widespread is cheating? Do animals cheat too or is it a human characteristic?

·         How would you go about preventing cheating in life?

QUESTIONS

1.       What conclusion can be drawn from the examples in the first paragraph?

2.       For cheating to occur, there has /have to be …………………………………………………………………………

3.       Read the whole of paragraph 3. The points made in this paragraph justify……………………………..

4.       What does “These triggers” in paragraph 4 refer to?

5.       The case of the Pseudomonas bacteria and the saccharomyces yeast cells both prove that…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6.       Read the example of the cleaner fish to the end. This example is proof that cheating or the prevention of it can be linked to ……………………………………………………………………………………………

7.       The case of the juvenile baboons is an example of…………………………………………………………………

8.       We can safely assume that there is a great deal more cheating in primates and complex mammals because ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

9.       In the experiment at Duke University, What does the increase in cheating depend on? What did the new results depend on?

10.   Ariely made a surprising discovery in his experiment with students when he increased the reward. What were the two  possible reasons for this?

11.   The positive correlation between increased creativity and the propensity to cheat are down to the facts that: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

12.   What surprising revelation does the writer make concerning the relationship between gender and cheating?

13.   What appears to trigger the increased cheating observed in scientific research?

14.   In Donald Kornfeld’s study, it was observed that the major reason for cheating was a desire…………………….So strong was this desire that all…………………………………..seemed to fade away.

15.   Why does the “What the hell” response kick in?

16.   In the University of Lublin Experiment, why did copy cat behavior occur?

17.   If one gets away with cheating on a small scale, one ………………………………(tweak the text)

18.   It is stated in the text that the modern antivaccine movement is based on………………………..(use your own words)

19.   The fact that people try hard to rationalize cheating indicates that………………………………………

20.   In some swimming pools, a chemical is added to the water that makes urine turn red.Why is this measure effective?

21.   Why would recognizing successful teams be a better way to observe academic excellence? Use your own words.

22.   What does “Such instruction” in the phrase “Such instruction might reduce…” refer to? There are two answers; find both.

23.   Read the words of Justice Louis Brandeis. What do his words imply?

24.   Read the writer’s conjecture concerning Van Parjis. What is this view based on?

25.   The concluding paragraph of the text consists of ………………………………………………………………….

WRITING TASK: THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE

Discuss the disadvantages of cheating.

In your introduction, state how common cheating is and discuss what motivates it

·         Creativity

·         Dread and fear of loss

·         The observation of dishonest behavior (cheating can be contagious)

·         Potential gain

End your introduction with a thesis statement indicating you will be discussing the disadvantages.

In your development, discuss the disadvantages:

·         Cheaters stigmatized and lose their jobs

·         Resources squandered on fraudulent work

·         Collateral damage: honest people bullied into going along with the cheating

·         Dishonest scientific research can misdirect ( the antivaccine movement)

·         Individuals who play by the rules are deprived of the rewards they deserve

In your conclusion, suggest a few solutions

WRITING TASK: THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE

Discuss the solutions to the problem of widespread cheating in all walks of life.

In your introduction, introduce cheating and mention its negative effects on innocent third parties, the individual himself and society. See the first writing task.

In your development, discuss the solutions:

·         Education to reinforce and instill personal barriers

·         Emphasizing self image by focusing on the honor code

·         A reward system to improve on the individuals sense of security

·         Ethics instruction

·          Surveillance and enforcement of penalties

In your conclusion, write a restatement.

WHY WE CHEAT KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This is another fascinating text out of my new favorite magazine Scientific American Mind. The information in the reading passage will come as a surprise to some extent and the text is therefore bound to fly. It has a wow factor in other words. Like all texts out of this magazine, it lends itself to some super questions and not one but two writing tasks both closely linked to the text.

1. Cheating is actually astoundingly common
2. Limited resources
3. Effective constraints on cheating
4. Creativity, fear of loss and the observation of dishonest behavior
5. Cheating has evolved as a way for organisms to gain advantage over others without incurring the cost of effort
6. Balancing costs and benefits
7. Tactical Cheating
8. They have a bigger neocortex,
9. A change in the experimental conditions; many students cheating a little
10. A person’s conscience; the likelihood of attracting attention
11. They are both products of the neocortex; creative individuals are better at deception OR they are both anatomically and causally connected
12. Men are overrepresented among the culprits; OR, just as they commit more crimes in society at large, males appear more likely to become charlatans in academia
13. Pressure and competition for research grants and academic jobs
14. To advance in their career; ethical constraints
15. Because once one has overcome the initial barrier to cheating, subsequent hurdles to dishonest behavior may seem smaller and trivial to surmount
16. Because unchecked dishonesty can promote the perception that one must cheat to…
17. One may go on to more egregious misconduct
18. Possible answers: erroneous, wrong, fraudulent information, misinformation
19. Self image is a powerful constraint
20. Because it shames people into observing the rule
21. Possible answer: It’s much harder to cheat; you have to get everyone on board to cheat
22. Ethics courses or ethics instruction
23. The problem of misconduct must be openly acknowledged and discussed.
24. The broken windows theory of crime
25. A summary of the solutions

WRITING EXERCISE: THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN

The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

Family life is always pictured as a bed of roses with marital bliss and happy well adjusted children leading satisfying and useful lives. The fact that this isn’t always true is no secret; there are rifts, bust ups and sadly violence in many families all over the world for reasons ranging from psychological problems to economic concerns, drink and tradition. The women on the receiving end of the violence are not by any means the only victims though: the children suffer too; both in the short term and the long term as they carry the legacy of their fathers on to future generations.

First developmental paragraph: there are numerous short term impacts of domestic violence on children

·         Physical: broken bones, bruises and similar injuries

·         They witness violence so: fear, lack of confidence, feelings of unworthiness, anger and resentment towards the father, the desire to protect the mother, the desire for revenge, the desire to run away, bedwetting, nightmares, bullying at school, discipline problems.

Second developmental paragraph: there are some unexpected and serious long term effects of domestic violence on children as well

·         The abusive father the role model: the cycle of violence continues; Abuse victims = prospective abusers

·         Problems in relationships: marriage, friendships, the work place, society

·         Crime and violence in life

In conclusion, the damaging physical and psychological impact of being witness to domestic violence affects not only the child but also the adult he grows into and the people he comes into contact with as an adult. The family he forms is likely to suffer in the same way and the psychological scars formed in the victim’s childhood continue to do harm down the generations. The poison is spread in the social circle of the victim and also in society, which means that the state needs to have measures and institutions  such as social services in place to tackle such problems before they get out of hand.

 

WRITING EXERCISE: THE REASONS FOR INCREASING DIVORCE RATES IN THE MODERN WORLD

The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

The family has always been considered the basic unit of societies and as such been protected and preserved. All traditions and religions have always upheld the family as sacred and divorce, the breaking of the bond connecting the spouses was considered a most definite no- no and frowned on. But as Heraclitus so aptly put it, there is nothing permanent except for change and this applies to divorce as well with the breaking up of the once hallowed institution becoming ever more common. There are various reasons for increasing divorce rates in the modern world.

First developmental paragraph: Changing conditions and perceptions

·         The increasing emphasis on the individual regardless of gender in the modern world

·         The growing awareness and concern for women’s rights

·         Access to higher education for women

·         Women participating actively in social and business life

·         Women gaining economic independence

Second developmental paragraph: Changing personal choices

·         The unwillingness to continue a bad marriage and condemn oneself to a life time of misery

·         The knowledge that each individual can stand on his/her own feet

·         The observation of successful single parent households

In conclusion, although it is true that divorce rates have increased in the modern world, this measure should still be considered a last resort after all other options have been exhausted. Naturally abusive relationships and similar impossible situations should not be allowed to continue but counseling should be widely available for couples going through a rocky patch to discourage them from taking the easy way out. In short, divorce is not evil or a sin but it should most definitely be a last resort.

WRITING EXERCISE: THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BEING AN ONLY CHILD

 The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

In the past, due to lack of birth control, the existence of large rural communities where manpower was an advantage and custom, large families with a dozen or so children were quite common. Infant mortality was high and some would pass away but others survived to till fields and plough the land. In the modern world, over population, the widely publicized disadvantages of a large young population, changing life styles and the existence birth control have shrunk families with only children becoming ever more common. In China, it is forbidden by law to have more than one child. Although this is the current trend, it doesn’t mean being an only child has only advantages; there are disadvantages as well.

First developmental paragraph: advantages

·         Material benefits ( good schools, more possessions, holidays, opportunities to study abroad, being the parents only heir and the like)

·         The focus of parents love and attention

Second developmental paragraph: disadvantages

·         The need to carry parents responsibility alone in old age

·         No uncles, aunts, cousins and the like

Note to the student: not learning to share and being spoilt have not been included for the reason that most modern kids go to kindergarten very early on and siblings are replaced by peers.

In conclusion, smaller families with only children are becoming more and more common in the modern world as people marry later after completing their higher education and gaining the wherewithal to make a home.  Once married, couples both continue with their active careers making large families impractical.  Whether for good or bad, extended families have now been replaced by friends and a social circle though many will often think back on the good old days of larger families.

WRITING EXERCISE:THE REASONS FOR THE USE OF COSMETICS AND OTHER BODY PAINT

The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

The adornment of primarily the face but also the rest of the body with paint of one sort or another is, contrary to opinion, a very old tradition. While indigenous tribes will resort to natural products available in nature for the purpose, 16^th and 17^th century Europeans used lead based paints on their faces, which were highly toxic. Body paint or facial paint is still very widely used in many areas of public life sometimes for ceremonial purposes, sometimes during war, but sometimes for health and beauty.

First developmental paragraph: ceremonial purposes

·         Religious ceremonies: Eastern religions, African and Aboriginal religions, Indian rituals and by shamans

·         In coming of age and sports ceremonies in Africa, East Asia and among indigenous peoples

·         The theater, the movie industry and regularly on television

Second developmental paragraph: during war

·         By indigenous tribes all over the globe to elicit fear ( Indians, South American Indians, The Maori, The Zulu and the like)

·         By commandos for camouflage

Third developmental paragraph: health and beauty

·         To delay aging ( a lot of modern day creams)

·         To enhance beauty in accordance with the norms of society and conceal blemishes ( specific types of makeup were the custom in different societies during different periods; Black eyeliner in ancient Egypt and the Middle East, moles or patches in 18^th century Europe, the makeup of geishas and the like)

·         For health reasons (creams, foundations and the like)

In conclusion, as can be seen it would be very simplistic to label all body and facial paint as women’s business and completely frivolous. Facial adornment has had, and still has, an important place in the social lives of communities and being major components of rituals, help bring society together as a more cohesive whole. As such, the use of cosmetics will continue in private and public life.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES ESSAY: DATA MINING

Data mining is a powerful, and according to some, a wonderful new technology that enables corporate businesses to trawl through the enormous amounts of data they harvest off the internet to weed out what is essential to their particular business. From the business perspective, this sounds completely innocuous yet is this in fact the case? Do your research and find out; then write an essay discussing the pros and cons of this now well established practice the extent of which you were perhaps unaware of.
Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/  

Reading material to annotate

1.       “Data Mining” by Doug Alexander http://www.laits.utexas.edu/~anorman/BUS.FOR/course.mat/Alex/

2.       “Data Mining: What is Data Mining?” http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/faculty/jason.frand/teacher/technologies/palace/datamining.htm

3.       “The Danger to Privacy isn’t Corporate Data Mining or Governmental – It’s Both Combined” http://falkvinge.net/2012/10/11/the-danger-isnt-corporate-data-mining-or-governmental-surveillance-its-both-combined/#

4.       “The Real Danger of Data Mining”  http://voices.yahoo.com/the-real-danger-data-mining-426467.html

5.       “Big Data Mining, Fairness and Privacy” http://www.privacyobservatory.org/issues/14-issue-1/40-big-data-mining-fairness-and-privacy

Videos to watch and take notes on

1.       “What is Data Mining?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcud5Pn9PdU

2.       “Data Mining” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPtvFO0dfAQ

CAUSE EFFECT ESSAY: THE MENTALITY OF MOBS AND OTHER UNRULY CROWDS

People are known to do things in a mob that they would never dream of doing on their own and would probably feel awful about afterwards. A typical example is a lynch mob named after the first man to fire up such a mob to carry out a public execution.  What motivates mobs to act as they do? Are mobs dangerous or not? Do they serve a purpose or do they disrupt daily life and cause social upheaval? Do your research and write about the causes of this phenomenon.  In your conclusion you may suggest some solutions and ways to address the issue.

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/  

Pictures to view

1. http://www.google.com.tr/search?q=Mob+Mentality&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=C3_SUdDoJujl4QTpzICADw&ved=0CGYQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=762

Reading material to annotate

1. What is mob mentality? http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-mob-mentality.htm
2. Examining the mob mentality http://source.southuniversity.edu/examining-the-mob-mentality-31395.aspx
3. How riots work http://people.howstuffworks.com/riot3.htm
4. Mob mentality can take over protests or even clearance sales http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=205860

Videos to watch and make notes on

1. Dealing with flashmobs http://www.policeone.com/Crowd-Control/videos/6198122-Dealing-with-Flash-Mobs/