How would you react if you caught someone cheating off you?

[Ashley1989]

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Hi everyone,
The reason why I ask is because today in one of my biology labs my partner asked to see my lab report to compare some data. After I handed her the report the TA started to explain the procedure and so I turned my attention away from my partner. Throughout the lab I noticed that my partner kept looking at her phone and when I saw what she was looking at I noticed that she had taken a picture of my lab report and was copying it! I was in such a huge shock I didn't know what to do or how to respond so I just started the procedure and didn't say much the rest of the lab, an my partner turned in "her" report at the end of class. Our TA is really relaxed so he was ok with her turning it in at the end of class.

I want to know what to do next time in case this happens again. I'm not handing over my reports anymore, but if a variation of this happens again what do I do?

 

[Jarudy]

Talk to the person who did it. At the end of the day it's a biology lab report and if it's an isolated incident, there's no point to gun them down. If they're a complete dick talk to someone in charge but just talk the partner first.

 

[Ashley1989]

So do I just say "I noticed you took a picture of my report and don't think it was right" or do I approach it differently? I just am worried that it was word for word because they had all the data they were copying the introduction, discussion, and conclusion

 

[deleted357625]

Steps in order to succeed.

1.) 1 in margins, 6 font, single spaced.
2.) Cut around notes
3.) Place scotch tape over the notes, it should be the length of a pencil
4.) Soak in water for 15 min
5.) Take out, scrape off paper
6.) Tape onto pencil.
7.) BAM!

 

[willen101383]

Just be honest with them. Say "Hey I saw you take a pic of my lab report....thats not okay with me."

You dont want to ruin someones future career over something like this by turning them in (if they were planning on applying to med school.)

Chances are, if they are going to be a perpetual cheater they will get caught sooner or later. Its virtually impossible to cheat on something like the MCAT or anything administered in a testing center so its not like they are going to cheat all the way to med school.

If you are worried, deal with that after the fact. I doubt they were stupid enough to copy your report word for word. Probably just used the same data, and being that you were lab partners, youd be expected to have the same data anyway.

 

[Ashley1989]

That's why I didn't respond to it and make a scene because I dont want to ruin her future but it's annoying because she then was talking loudly to her friends about how she went out last night and "Omg I totally didn't prepare or anything!" where do you draw the line? I've caught her many times looking at my quizzes but to take a picture of my report I'm pretty annoyed. I will probably let her know I know what she did and that it's not ok and you're right it will catch up sooner or later

 

[bigloley]

The one thing that kind of sucks about catching someone cheating is that there is really no positives for you. The best thing is a neutral situation (catch someone cheating, tell them, they stop). Otherwise you will probably draw the ire of that person if you talk to them and especially if you turn them in. You don't get a gold star for turning them in and it actually might potentially hurt you (TA might not like tattletales, you might get a bad reputation etc.) If it really bothers you, then talk to the person and tell them that its not okay with you. Otherwise, it really isn't worth it for you to make a big stink over 1 lab report.

 

[Ashley1989]

Thanks for the advice, it's just really frustrating because I worked on my report for several hours, she copied mine and had hers done in about twenty minutes; and as I was slaving away last night she was hitting up the town and we are probably going to get to same grade.

I'm sorry if I sound childish, maybe it's the stress of finals or something. I don't want to be petty and am not going to turn her in, but I just don't know where I draw the line on this stuff. Now she's copied a lab report and I've caught her on some quizzes. For next time I guess I'm going to have to just address it early on and right away in a neutral way.

 

[MedPR]

Just wait until the next time they ask you for "data" and tell them that you saw them take a picture the last time and you aren't cool with it. It's better than approaching them because that way they can't say it was a one time only thing.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Steps in order to succeed.

1.) 1 in margins, 6 font, single spaced.
2.) Cut around notes
3.) Place scotch tape over the notes, it should be the length of a pencil
4.) Soak in water for 15 min
5.) Take out, scrape off paper
6.) Tape onto pencil.
7.) BAM!

lolwut

 

[deleted357625]

lolwut

Try it to see what it looks like, You will never get caught 👍

The ink from the paper gets copied onto the tape after being soaked in water, then you put the clear scotch tape on your pencil. Nearly invisible

 

[235788]

its a 1 credit hour class that is an automatic "A"... If she needs to cheat in it, let her. She'll get weeded out in no-time.

 

[235788]

Try it to see what it looks like, You will never get caught 👍

The ink from the paper gets copied onto the tape after being soaked in water, then you put the clear scotch tape on your pencil. Nearly invisible

 

[MedPR]

its a 1 credit hour class that is an automatic "A"... If she needs to cheat in it, let her. She'll get weeded out in no-time.

Not sure what kind of bio lab you had, but it wasn't an auto A at my undergrad.

 

[Neurosis]

its a 1 credit hour class that is an automatic "A"... If she needs to cheat in it, let her. She'll get weeded out in no-time.

not neccesarily, she could just be incredibly lazy, but brilliant. I used to know someone who always copied my lab reports in AP Bio, he mostly did it because he couldn't be bothered to think when he didn't have to. On the tests he would always score highest. Go figure.

 

[deleted357625]

Not sure what kind of bio lab you had, but it wasn't an auto A at my undergrad.

I'm sure he means it's an easy A. Unless your saying your labs weren't easy then I understand.

 

[235788]

Not sure what kind of bio lab you had, but it wasn't an auto A at my undergrad.

for general bio it was an easy A... Upper divisional labs were a whole different story.

 

[deleted357625]

not neccesarily, she could just be incredibly lazy, but brilliant. I used to know someone who always copied my lab reports in AP Bio, he mostly did it because he couldn't be bothered to think when he didn't have to. On the tests he would always score highest. Go figure.

Lol this honestly explains me...in lab mainly
I dread lab, and I am the worse lab partner ever, I do absolutely nothing, but in my chem and physics lab I had a friend, and we were lab partners for each lab. Needless to say he was like me and it didn't end too well.

Well actually it did, i had to kick myself in the azz which I'm not use to in labs

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

That's why I didn't respond to it and make a scene because I dont want to ruin her future but it's annoying because she then was talking loudly to her friends about how she went out last night and "Omg I totally didn't prepare or anything!" where do you draw the line? I've caught her many times looking at my quizzes but to take a picture of my report I'm pretty annoyed. I will probably let her know I know what she did and that it's not ok and you're right it will catch up sooner or later

Lay down your strong pimp hand.

 

[Barcu]

Thanks for the advice, it's just really frustrating because I worked on my report for several hours, she copied mine and had hers done in about twenty minutes; and as I was slaving away last night she was hitting up the town and we are probably going to get to same grade.

I'm sorry if I sound childish, maybe it's the stress of finals or something. I don't want to be petty and am not going to turn her in, but I just don't know where I draw the line on this stuff. Now she's copied a lab report and I've caught her on some quizzes. For next time I guess I'm going to have to just address it early on and right away in a neutral way.

Sounds good. Don't report her but certainly address it.

You don't want this coming back on you. If she did copy your lab report word for word, you both may be suspected of cheating. While you may end up ok in the end, it's not something you really want to go through. It's rarely just a small thing.

 

[Ansar]

This stuff bites back eventually.
Not because of someone else ratting them out, but because they'll be out of luck to find someone to cheat on during an actual exam --> bad grade.

 

[deleted357625]

Sounds good. Don't report her but certainly address it.

You don't want this coming back on you. If she did copy your lab report word for word, you both may be suspected of cheating. While you may end up ok in the end, it's not something you really want to go through. It's rarely just a small thing.

I mean everyone should know not to copy word for word when cheating. That's sad.
I don't mind ppl cheating off of me, but at least put some effort into it so i won't get the blame as well

 

[ccrone]

Just remember, by not turning her in, you run the risk of getting pulled into this yourself if your TA/professor decides to make an issue of it. If it were me, I'd send a straightforward email to your lab instructor (copy the professor) telling them that she photographed your lab report without permission and proceeded to copy from her photograph over the course of the lab and turn it in. Tell them you want it on the record/to have a paper trail if they notice that her report is the same as yours, and want to go after someone for plagiarizing.

I wouldn't mess around with this one. More and more universities are taking zero tolerance stands against plagiarism. You don't want to get caught up/stuck on the wrong end of that.

It's one thing to look the other way when someone else is cheating, but when their cheating doesn't directly affect you. This cheating DIRECTLY affects you, and has the potential to jeopardize your academic career. The fact that she did it in the open with a cell phone camera doesn't make it less offensive. Using hi-tech tools doesn't mean it isn't cheating. You're not being a snitch, a rat, a stool pigeon, or anything else by taking steps to protect yourself.

She cheated. She is putting you at risk in a major way. There is nothing wrong with looking out for yourself first. She's obviously looking out for herself just fine. Throw her ass to the wolves, and let the chips fall where they may. At the very least, I can promise you no one else will photograph your work and submit it as their own in the future. 🙂

 

[235788]

Just remember, by not turning her in, you run the risk of getting pulled into this yourself if your TA/professor decides to make an issue of it. If it were me, I'd send a straightforward email to your lab instructor (copy the professor) telling them that she photographed your lab report without permission and proceeded to copy from her photograph over the course of the lab and turn it in. Tell them you want it on the record/to have a paper trail if they notice that her report is the same as yours, and want to go after someone for plagiarizing.

I wouldn't mess around with this one. More and more universities are taking zero tolerance stands against plagiarism. You don't want to get caught up/stuck on the wrong end of that.

It's one thing to look the other way when someone else is cheating, but when their cheating doesn't directly affect you. This cheating DIRECTLY affects you, and has the potential to jeopardize your academic career. The fact that she did it in the open with a cell phone camera doesn't make it less offensive. Using hi-tech tools doesn't mean it isn't cheating. You're not being a snitch, a rat, a stool pigeon, or anything else by taking steps to protect yourself.

She cheated. She is putting you at risk in a major way. There is nothing wrong with looking out for yourself first. She's obviously looking out for herself just fine. Throw her ass to the wolves, and let the chips fall where they may. At the very least, I can promise you no one else will photograph your work and submit it as their own in the future. 🙂

I think you'd be stirring up trouble by doing that. Get ready for the hassle that comes with reporting academic dishonesty... Its a lot more than you probably think. It will suck up more time and probably cause more stress then it is worth for a small peanuts assignment.

Save the heroic acts for things that matter (exams....)

 

[Neurosis]

Lol this honestly explains me...in lab mainly
I dread lab, and I am the worse lab partner ever, I do absolutely nothing, but in my chem and physics lab I had a friend, and we were lab partners for each lab. Needless to say he was like me and it didn't end too well.

Well actually it did, i had to kick myself in the azz which I'm not use to in labs

I completely understand what your saying. I personally dislike the lab portion of science classes, unless we're doing a cool experiment, and even then I have issues. I don't know why but I'm really challenged when it comes to following directions, making labs incredibly difficult. It's easier to just study for quizzes/exams than to do labs. And don't even get me started on lab practicals...ugh.

 

[Ashley1989]

Thanks for all the replies.. She's graduating this year so I know I wont be seeing her again but this is still a tough one because while I usually don't mind if someone peeks at my quiz every now and then, to take a picture of my work, copy it, and THEN brag about going out and not being prepared while thinking I'm oblivious to the situation or not caring about how I feel about it is honestly really offensive. Does she think I'm stupid or something? Ughhhh!

 

[Ashley1989]

I think you'd be stirring up trouble by doing that. Get ready for the hassle that comes with reporting academic dishonesty... Its a lot more than you probably think. It will suck up more time and probably cause more stress then it is worth for a small peanuts assignment.

Save the heroic acts for things that matter (exams....)

So if someone was cheating off you on an exam would you call it during the exam or after?

 

[TheVillain]

I would slap her.

 

[Tatiana3325]

Oh don't get silly and turn her in or talk to her about it! Here's what you do:

Make a second lab report for the next lab that contains incorrect answers that are not too noticeably incorrect. You offer her that casualandover your own and say "ugh this was such a pain to do.... Is yours done? Here look at mine it will save you so much time"

Done. Once should be enough but I'd go with twice so she really gets the message.

I frequently leave scratch paper in a visible spot on my desk during exams that has incorrectly done stuff on it. It's a dog eat dog world out there....

 

[deleted357625]

I couldn't tell you how many people cheated in my physics class...

Everyone whispering, flagging each other down, passing notes. Professor is in the front of the class not giving a flying F.

 

[Tatiana3325]

So if someone was cheating off you on an exam would you call it during the exam or after?

Man! You guys are so wholesome. Never do that. Always feed the wrong answers or do something confusing so that the person cheating gets confused. A failed exam or C or whatever is way better than tattling guys.

 

[Aerus]

Oh don't get silly and turn her in or talk to her about it! Here's what you do:

Make a second lab report for the next lab that contains incorrect answers that are not too noticeably incorrect. You offer her that casualandover your own and say "ugh this was such a pain to do.... Is yours done? Here look at mine it will save you so much time"

Done. Once should be enough but I'd go with twice so she really gets the message.

I frequently leave scratch paper in a visible spot on my desk during exams that has incorrectly done stuff on it. It's a dog eat dog world out there....

This is a bit unnecessarily harsh and gives off a huge gunner vibe, but I'm not going to argue against its results.

My sister did that to a classmate who was cheating off of her, intentionally leaving wrong answers out in the open. Once he got his big fat 0 back, he never tried to cheat again.

OP: My suggestion is like many of the others' here. Just tell that person you don't want them copying your lab report. Trying to compare data is okay, but copying is just risky. You are just as much at risk as the other person. You have a good reason for not wanting to let that person copy your report.

 

[ccrone]

I think you'd be stirring up trouble by doing that. Get ready for the hassle that comes with reporting academic dishonesty... Its a lot more than you probably think. It will suck up more time and probably cause more stress then it is worth for a small peanuts assignment.

Save the heroic acts for things that matter (exams....)

Point well taken.

Oh don't get silly and turn her in or talk to her about it! Here's what you do:

Make a second lab report for the next lab that contains incorrect answers that are not too noticeably incorrect. You offer her that casualandover your own and say "ugh this was such a pain to do.... Is yours done? Here look at mine it will save you so much time"

Done. Once should be enough but I'd go with twice so she really gets the message.

I frequently leave scratch paper in a visible spot on my desk during exams that has incorrectly done stuff on it. It's a dog eat dog world out there....

Seriously? It's silly to turn her in, but brilliant to spend boo-scads of time making a fake lab report to avoid confrontation? For all of the griping about horribly busy schedules, you guys sure do have a lot of time on your hands.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Oh don't get silly and turn her in or talk to her about it! Here's what you do:

Make a second lab report for the next lab that contains incorrect answers that are not too noticeably incorrect. You offer her that casualandover your own and say "ugh this was such a pain to do.... Is yours done? Here look at mine it will save you so much time"

Done. Once should be enough but I'd go with twice so she really gets the message.

I frequently leave scratch paper in a visible spot on my desk during exams that has incorrectly done stuff on it. It's a dog eat dog world out there....

Gunners gonna gun

 

[Ashley1989]

Point well taken.



Seriously? It's silly to turn her in, but brilliant to spend boo-scads of time making a fake lab report to avoid confrontation? For all of the griping about horribly busy schedules, you guys sure do have a lot of time on your hands.

I LOLed at "boo-scads" and now people are looking at me funny. I'm going to be using that word tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I wanted to make sure I wasn't being unreasonable, and i appreciate the views on it.

I don't get why she would do this to herself anyways, she must've gotten totally reamed on the quiz... Oh right, she thinks she can just copy off me. I'm starting to just lean way over the paper and write in cursive all that stuff

 

[Neurosis]

I frequently leave scratch paper in a visible spot on my desk during exams that has incorrectly done stuff on it. It's a dog eat dog world out there....

...😱 This is perhaps the most blatant act of gunnerism I have seen on SDN thus far. Brilliant!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I'd be expecting her to return the favor.... and I mean that as in a let you see her lab report if you ever need it. Furthermore it's lab, not something serious like a test or something.

 

[sotto voce]

Sorry but I would have turned her in. And you still have an opportunity to. Just send the prof an email or visit during office hours. Cheating is cheating is wrong. You don't have to be the one to decide if this incident is a big deal; let the prof know, and s/he can decide if cheating is a big deal.

 

[Tatiana3325]

Just remember, by not turning her in, you run the risk of getting pulled into this yourself if your TA/professor decides to make an issue of it. If it were me, I'd send a straightforward email to your lab instructor (copy the professor) telling them that she photographed your lab report without permission and proceeded to copy from her photograph over the course of the lab and turn it in. Tell them you want it on the record/to have a paper trail if they notice that her report is the same as yours, and want to go after someone for plagiarizing.

I wouldn't mess around with this one. More and more universities are taking zero tolerance stands against plagiarism. You don't want to get caught up/stuck on the wrong end of that.

It's one thing to look the other way when someone else is cheating, but when their cheating doesn't directly affect you. This cheating DIRECTLY affects you, and has the potential to jeopardize your academic career. The fact that she did it in the open with a cell phone camera doesn't make it less offensive. Using hi-tech tools doesn't mean it isn't cheating. You're not being a snitch, a rat, a stool pigeon, or anything else by taking steps to protect yourself.

She cheated. She is putting you at risk in a major way. There is nothing wrong with looking out for yourself first. She's obviously looking out for herself just fine. Throw her ass to the wolves, and let the chips fall where they may. At the very least, I can promise you no one else will photograph your work and submit it as their own in the future. 🙂

Chips fall where they may..... Jeopardizing academic career... Wha??

Tattling is never the answer (for most things). Do not do this. it's none of your beeswax.

 

[deleted357625]

Sorry but I would have turned her in. And you still have an opportunity to. Just send the prof an email or visit during office hours. Cheating is cheating is wrong. You don't have to be the one to decide if this incident is a big deal; let the prof know, and s/he can decide if cheating is a big deal.

back in the day this is how students survived. everyone helped each other. Teamwork!................................. Putting it on my app.

 

[Aerus]

Chips fall where they may..... Jeopardizing academic career... Wha??

Tattling is never the answer (for most things). Do not do this. it's none of your beeswax.

It does jeopardize OP's academic career. If two papers are found to be the same wording and such, then one of them has cheated and the other has let them cheat. Neither case is acceptable, with the latter being in a tiny bit better situation.

You do not want to be caught letting someone cheat off of you, though.

 

[lobo.solo]

wow.... gunners. I have let people copy from my lab reports though I don't let it be a pattern. People go through difficulties in college, so sometimes is not a matter of being lazy or dumb is about people having to deal with other things in life; work, kids, etc. I would not borrow anything to a kid that does not do anything but ECs and be lazy.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Because I'm a guy, I wouldn't give a damn. I notice women are too touchy about "cheating."

 

[Tatiana3325]

This is a bit unnecessarily harsh and gives off a huge gunner vibe, but I'm not going to argue against its results.

My sister did that to a classmate who was cheating off of her, intentionally leaving wrong answers out in the open. Once he got his big fat 0 back, he never tried to cheat again.

OP: My suggestion is like many of the others' here. Just tell that person you don't want them copying your lab report. Trying to compare data is okay, but copying is just risky. You are just as much at risk as the other person. You have a good reason for not wanting to let that person copy your report.

Gunner vibe? What IS that anyway?

Listen up SON. You should be listening in these situations to learn a thing or two....

If your at work and a coworker snatches an idea and mentions it in a meeting in front of your boss thus taking credit for your idea..... Do go to your boss and and explain that it was your idea? NO. You'd look like a complete tool. Do you go to your coworker and say "that really upset me today, how about in the future we collaborate over our ideas?" NO. You'd look like an even bigger tool.

You never, ever, mention any of your ideas in front of your coworker again AND, when the opportunity presents itself you plant a bad idea or one that you know you're boss wont like. There are just so many things you can do but you NEVER tattle to your boss. No one likes a snitch.

 

[sotto voce]

It does jeopardize OP's academic career. If two papers are found to be the same wording and such, then one of them has cheated and the other has let them cheat. Neither case is acceptable, with the latter being in a tiny bit better situation.

You do not want to be caught letting someone cheat off of you, though.

This is exactly true, and I would be very concerned about this. Teachers aren't dumb, they will recognize similar lab reports (or essays, etc.). Usually the policy is to assume they collaborated (cheated together). Cheating ==> expelled ==> XF on transcript forever. It's best to be proactive, not necessarily to screw this person over, but to cover your own arse.

 

[Ashley1989]

Because I'm a guy, I wouldn't give a damn. I notice women are too touchy about "cheating."

Haha umm I'm not too sure what you're implying here Triage

 

[235788]

...😱 This is perhaps the most blatant act of gunnerism I have seen on SDN thus far. Brilliant!

wow.... gunners. I have let people copy from my lab reports though I don't let it be a pattern. People go through difficulties in college, so sometimes is not a matter of being lazy or dumb is about people having to deal with other things in life; work, kids, etc. I would not borrow anything to a kid that does not do anything but ECs and be lazy.

No shame in being a gunner; they make it in more times than not. Its easy to be a gunner without also being a turd.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

wow.... gunners. I have let people copy from my lab reports though I don't let it be a pattern. People go through difficulties in college, so sometimes is not a matter of being lazy or dumb is about people having to deal with other things in life; work, kids, etc. I would not borrow anything to a kid that does not do anything but ECs and be lazy.

Honestly to avoid sounding unscrupulous, I think that there is something wrong when people are so caught up in trying to protect their asses that they stop realizing that life is a lot easier with collaboration.

 

[tenndoc]

i personally dgaf.

 

[sotto voce]

Oh don't get silly and turn her in or talk to her about it! Here's what you do:

Make a second lab report for the next lab that contains incorrect answers that are not too noticeably incorrect. You offer her that casualandover your own and say "ugh this was such a pain to do.... Is yours done? Here look at mine it will save you so much time"

Done. Once should be enough but I'd go with twice so she really gets the message.

I frequently leave scratch paper in a visible spot on my desk during exams that has incorrectly done stuff on it. It's a dog eat dog world out there....

You're allowed to have stuff on your desk during exams? I prefer to go through the test and mark the wrong answers (then other people mark the wrong answers, too) but also write, in very small font, the right answers. Then right before I turn in the test, I go back and change all the answers.

Also, I have noticed that the cheaters aren't usually pre-meds. E.g. in physics the ones cheating were generally the construction science and food science majors, not pre-meds, pre-dents, or pre-vets. That's just been my experence.

Oh, and I saw one of my friends cheating during an O-Chem test and I will never trust him again. I don't want to be anywhere around him, go to the same medical school as him, or practice medicine one day with him, ever.