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las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 945
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 12:21 pm: | 
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I am working on a semester long project with a classmate who I have not been able to connect with for a short paper due tomorrow. Normally, I don't mind writing a few pages on my own, or sharing research, because we are all in this together. However, the professor just emailed to say the paper must be submitted electronically today and since I have not had any response to my emails for almost a week (two previously valid email addresses), I'm not sure if I should put my classmate's name on the paper, or turn it in on my own, since it is all my work.
I've never faced this before. What would you do?
Thanks for your advices. - Lynn |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 48
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 12:26 pm: |
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Put one name on it: yours.
Possible problem, paper gets submitted with both names and gets a low grade. Are you also responsible for partner's grade? |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2354
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 12:30 pm: |
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I agree. In the mba program, with much group work, there was always a slacker. Usually we had time to address with the prof first. If not, just put your own name on it. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 5736
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 12:35 pm: |
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You should put your name on it only, and if the professor has any questions just tell the truth. Best of luck. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6738
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 12:38 pm: |
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Did this person do any work on it? Have you had any discussions about it at any point, even at the beginning of the semester?
Unfortunately, this is the nature of joint projects; someone always does more of the work. I'd put the name on, but send an e-mail letting the person know that since you haven't heard from him/her, you are submitting at the deadline unless you hear from them by 5p (or whatever time) tonight.
If the person hasn't done their share, they will benefit/suffer the grade you earned. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4856
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 1:13 pm: |
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las it is a tough one. How much work did your partner put into the paper? Maybe email them with one last ditch effort telling them you are submitting the paper with your name only. Perhaps your partner dropped the class and didn't tell you? |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8615
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 1:16 pm: |
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Put my name on it.  |
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1088
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 1:27 pm: |
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Las, it's that free-rider problem I was pontificating about.
This happened to me in graduate school, as well. However, in one of my group projects, the prof had each of us submit an evaluation of how the team performed, and should everyone get equal credit, and did everyone pull his weight, etc. Unless the prof specifically asks for that, you wind up looking like a squealer.
If you did the work, and this other person has not even been in contact with you, why on earth should that person's name be on the paper? |
CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1907
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 1:32 pm: |
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I teach a class using group projects every semester. As the instructor, I definitely want to know if somebody did not contribute. That person will get a zero.
I also require interim reports from the groups, to find out early if anybody is slacking off. I insist that the groups demonstrate to me what they have done to contact the missing person - but not all profs do this of course. I've done this because sometimes a group will have a "pariah" and the group won't make any attempt to reach that person. And/or some people prefer to work alone and just go off and do the "lone ranger" thing, and I don't want them to. So there has to be some proof that you tried. Not all instructors care about this obviously, but I do, so I follow up. And you have no way of knowing how much your instructor cares about whether you do it on your own or with the group, as assigned.
So I would advise submitting the report, together with a note to the prof explaining what (if anything) the other person did, and also outlining your attempts to reach him/her. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 946
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:13 pm: |
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My partner did zero work. Yet, I feel so juvenile 'telling the teacher.'
We are adults and I think I will put her name on it (as well as Dave's), and maybe she'll help out someone (possibly me) in the future. It's a short paper, that despsite days of procrastination didn't take much time to write. For all I know this could have been the week a loved one died, she lost her job, pinched a nerve. To fail a class on top of that would really suck.
The research for this assignment is the basis for everything moving forward, which means I'll be doing okay, she'll have a struggle. I won't be losing anything, just sharing a (likely) decent grade.
It's 2 pm. Let's see how long this altruistic mood lasts. I won't submit the paper until the end of the day. |
Gordon Agress
Citizen
Username: Odd
Post Number: 342
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:18 pm: |
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You should put both names on the paper. It's too late for your "partner" to do their own work, and they were expecting you to put their name forward, so I think you have an obligation to meet.
It isn't fair, but at the end of the day it's the people who do the work who learn the material and get their peers' respect. And it doesn't hurt your standing much to share your grade with someone else. Hassling about relative contributions takes your focus off the big picture.
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redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4858
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:28 pm: |
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las, I wouldn't put her name on the paper. Maybe something did happen she can't get in touch with you, but the teacher should worry about that, not you. Suppose you put her name on the paper, and she has dropped the class and failed to tell you? Then it would look strange turning in a paper with your classmate's name on it. |
CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1908
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:30 pm: |
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From the other side of the classroom, I think this is a mistake. Ethical misconduct proliferates because people feel safe - the social stigma attached to squealing is very strong, but very mistaken unless you are personally at risk.
You're not being altruistic. You are enabling an act of academic dishonesty. If this happened in my class and I found out, you'd both be up for disciplinary action according to the school's guidelines.
If your partner had some sort of crisis, then s/he can negotiate with the instructor. It is not your business, and does not involve you.
Sorry to be harsh - but that's how I see it, and that's how your instructor is likely to see it. I've spent a lot of time thinking about and trying to find solutions to academic dishonesty, which is way, way too widespread on college campuses today.
Do as you see fit - but be conscious of the reality that if you put the ohter student's name on the paper, it is an instance of academic dishonesty. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 947
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:31 pm: |
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One of my attorneys just told me that by putting her name on the paper that's not being academically honest.
I believe I am having an ethical dilemma!
I need a drink. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 948
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:32 pm: |
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Dr. CLK, our post paths crossed. I am seeing it your way.
I would still like a drink. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4859
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:33 pm: |
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Okay, look in your bosses right hand drawer under the secret files, there should be a bottle of tequila hidden. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2991
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:38 pm: |
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Personally, I wouldn't put the other persons name on the paper. You've made every effort to contact her--above and beyond what is reasonable, IMHO--and she has, apparently, made no effort whatsoever to contact you back. You've given her every opportunity. She didn't do any of the work. I imagine she'd have to be in a coma somewhere to have an excuse not to just give you a call or send a quick e-mail. And even then, it wouldn't be that big a deal for a friend or family member to call you and say "Just wanted to let you know so&so is in a coma in the hospital and won't be able to do that paper with you." And if you let her take advantage at this point, who's to say she won't do it again in the future.
You also don't have to "tell" on her. Just put your name alone on the paper and let the instructor question why hers is not there.
But, then again, I'm not nearly as nice as you and it's been a very long time since I've been in school! |
CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1909
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:39 pm: |
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Good. I knew I could trust you. :-)
It's only an ethical dilemma if there is some compelling ethical argument to suggest the alternative, and in this case, there is none.
The dilemma is between this strong social force not to tell tales out of school, and what you know to be right. Be strong, and do the ADULT thing. The childish thing is to let your actions be guided by bogus social norms that you know to be wrong. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2992
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:42 pm: |
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Whew, that was quite the crossposting frenzy, wasn't it? |
Gordon Agress
Citizen
Username: Odd
Post Number: 343
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:45 pm: |
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This could be anything from an accident, miscommunication, poor planning, or a determined effort to take advantage. Calling it "academic dishonesty" is premature.
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LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1274
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:46 pm: |
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I would send her one final email now to say that since you didn't hear back from her on your previous emails that you assumed she decided to do her own individual work and that prompted you to do the same, which you'll be handing in at the end of the day.
I don't think that it's reasonable to think that I would not put any effort into a team project and expect to get any credit for it. If I had an extenuating circumstance like a family crisis, then I would still not expect to get my name on the work, and would tell the professor myself that I was unable to participate at this time because of the crisis and ask for an extension or an opportunity for extra credit to make up for it.
It's unreasonable to not do any work and expect credit. I can think of all sorts of reasons (legitimate and not) on why someone would be unresponsive to doing the work, but I cannot think of any reason why someone would still expect to get credit for something when they did nothing. |
CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1910
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:51 pm: |
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Gordon, claiming another's work as your own is always academic dishonesty, regardless of the reasons for it. If you attribute authorship to somebody who did not contribute to the work, you are enabling that person to claim somebody else's work as their own. Very cut and dried, no wiggle room here.
If there is a legitimate reason to have been AWOL, the person can work that out with the instructor. Most instructors I know are fairly reasonable about this sort of thing. It's not las's problem though. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1012
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 3:21 pm: |
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What LilB said! |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3987
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 3:26 pm: |
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Las-
Are you by any chance taking an Ethics Class? Is there any chance the prof knows the other student dropped the class and might be testing to see how you handle the situation? Have you ever seen the other student in class? Maybe they don't even exist? |
Gordon Agress
Citizen
Username: Odd
Post Number: 344
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 3:39 pm: |
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Speaking very strictly, you're right. But I think the common understanding of group projects is that relative contributions can vary a lot, for reasons ranging from incompetence to laziness. Students are generally expected to police group efforts for themselves, and my experience was that we did so for ourselves pretty well. My MBA program was part-time, and reasons for zero contribution on weekly assignments included "work is crazy this week", "what, me worry?" and "my wife is in labor." Involving a professor in all that was hardly a good use of anyone's time, and some professors felt that managing those things was part of the exercise. Different people brought different things, too -- I'd work with some slackers just because their issue spotting was so good. But in general the slackers soon had trouble getting anyone to work with them, the workers never did, and that was that. Class discussions and tests made it very clear who was doing what.
So I see where you're coming from, but I think a lot of people are coming from a different place and for good reasons. If a professor made it clear they took your line, I'd handle it as you suggest -- but otherwise, I think most people would take a looser view of it.
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shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 1178
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 3:53 pm: |
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Do you have her phone number? Cell phone? You've made it clear that you've emailed her several times, but what about phoning? Just to be complete . . .
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las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 949
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 4:37 pm: |
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This most certainly was an ethical dilemma and I am simply drained. I came so close to doing something I don't believe in - the lines were so blurred.
For three and a half years I have never had a problem collaborating with my classmates, via email, phone, face-to-face. CLK is 100% correct: You can't differentiate between forms of cheating.
I did email my professor earlier to inquire about my partner, stating I didn't want to turn in the paper until I heard from her and got her input, yet the professor said turn it in, she'll talk to my partner tomorrow if she doesn't turn in a paper of her own.
Wow, wow, wow.
If anyone wants to visit me, my flat is the one behind that large blow up rat the unions use for scabs. |
CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1911
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 5:15 pm: |
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las, you're looking at this all wrong. Not a scab by the longest stretch. You did your work, you turned in your work, you did your best to fulfill the instructor's goals by trying your best to contact your partner.
Your partner has been AWOL. Why? Who knows. It is simply not your concern. Indeed, by informing the instructor, you may have started a chain of events that will get this student some needed help.
E.g., if the student is quite ill or facing a personal crisis, the instructor can take steps to have the student removed from the class and a (partial) refund issued, rather than having the student pay tuition for a class that will ultimately result in an F. Too many students in this kind of situation do not drop the class, and end up forking out a lot of money for nothing - for worse than nothing, really. All instructors in every university I've taught in have to file a "no-show" report a few weeks into the term - did you know that? These students are automatically dropped and I believe get some form of refund.
And if the student is not ill or in crisis, but simply too wrapped up in his/her own stuff to bother with assignments - well then, there's no need to feel guilty about anything.
I suppose I'd see your point if "Mary" had come to you saying, "help me, las, I strained my pinky and can't do anything for the paper ...". In that case, you'd have to decide for yourself whether "Mary" really has said pinky injury and whether this injury is sufficient reason not to work on the paper. But it's still not your call - it's the instructor's call. S/he probably has faced every sick and/or crisis excuse in the book (I sure have) and will know how to deal with it.
It's harder because you'd have to have a face-off with Mary - "Honey I hear you about the pinky. However, this is supposed to be a group assignment and I'm shouldering it on my own, which isn't really fair ... hope you don't mind if I contact the prof and ask for another partner. I'm sure she'll understand about your pinky injury and everything ..."
Requires a bit of assertiveness on your part, but you can do it. It is hard to do the right thing, but worth it in the end. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4864
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 5:31 pm: |
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las don't beat yourself up about it. You absolutely did the right thing. Your partner has no one to blame but herself. You did everything in your power to contact her; she did nothing. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6742
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 6:04 pm: |
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I'm torn - I see all sides of the argument. I think that what you did was perfectly fine. The least she could have done was e-mail you a stupid excuse. How hard is "my dog ate my laptop"? |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 951
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 8:30 pm: |
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Red, thanks for letting me know where to find that hidden bottle of tequilla at the office.
Earlier I stated this has never happened to me in the three and a half years I've been in graduate school. Correction: I have been in grad school for FOUR and a half years. And in all that time I have not even heard an utterance of the rules of academic honesty and integrity - and I believe the implications of that omission in my education are huge. |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 558
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:41 am: |
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Well, you have to consider 3 things - 1. Will you be penalized if there is only your name on the paper? 2. Is there a sympathetic reason to help out this person? 3. Was the person who didn't help excluded from the group?
It sounds like 3 is a non-issue, but I once had a group project where I kept calling and e-mailing the people that were grouped up with me... They were 3 close friends, and just went ahead and did the project without me, never responding. I was very upset, as I wanted to be part of it - but my grade was at steak, so instead of reporting them, I just let them put my name in the project.
2 is an issue if this person has maybe had a crisis during the semester. You never know what people are going through - not just in this situation, but as a general rule.
and obviously, if it will ruin your grade to have worked by yourself, you must consider that.
Hope you all get good grades. |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 559
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:45 am: |
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Ah, seems like I was a day late and a dollar short. I don't know how you came to your final resolution, but I do see you at least thought of the sympathetic reasons. I failed 2 classes the semester my grandfather died - it was hard 'cause I lost my financial aid for that semester, and had to wait. People don't always think of these ramifications. My 2 professors that failed me liked me, and knew I was a good student - but I just could not get all of the work done... I was physically elsewhere (hospital, sitting shiva, etc), or just too disturbed (maybe not the right choice of word). |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1277
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 9:32 am: |
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Las - you did the right thing. I bet your classmate probably procrastinated and just ended up doing her own paper. If she did have a life crisis, than that's something she will work out with the professor.
If she did, in fact, expect that you were just going to do her work for her, then she's attempting to take advantage of you and you showed her that's not acceptable. Better she learn that lesson sooner rather than later.
No matter what her reasons were, it was not your responsibility to do her work for her and you wouldn't have been doing her any favors by lying for her either. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 958
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 12:26 pm: |
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Just heard from my partner who apologized for not checking her emails sooner. She says already wrote the paper and had been trying to send it to me 'but it didn't work.'
Thanks, all, yet again.
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NFK
Citizen
Username: Nfk
Post Number: 79
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 5:30 pm: |
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LAS - read your last post. What did you end up doing - including her or not?
And that sounds like a lame excuse from your partner. How did it all end?
It's funny how this seems to happen to everyone so anxious to see how it all played out. It's such an internal conflict.
HOpe it all turned out for the best. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 977
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:25 pm: |
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Thanks for asking, NFK. I put only my name on the paper, and feel good about the decision. And last night something really connected for me in class, so I emailed my professor this morning and asked if I could rework part of it. She said yes. (Dumb, dumb, dumb thing to do! Now I lose my weekend!)
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