Cheating Is No No

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Cheating is a No No “A little giving or taking of information on an examination, or the use of a few crib notes, is not such a bad thing as some prudish minds would have us think.” That is the thesis of “A Letter to the Editor.” The examples given for why, the author of the letter, thinks cheating is acceptable are not reasonable at all. One of the reasons given is, “If you were going into an unknown wilderness, you would take along the things you knew were needed for survival, wouldn’t you? Taking crib notes into the unknown territory of an examination shows the same foresight.” This is not reasonable because, first of all, going into an unknown wilderness is just plain stupid. Why would anyone in their right mind ever think of doing that? If anyone is stupid enough to go into the unknown wilderness then hopefully they would take some friends and all the equipment that is needed for survival. But, going into an unknown wilderness is nothing like taking an exam without studying for it. An exam is for making sure the students are paying attention in class and remembering important things that could be used for the future. In the real world it is not likely that someone is able to get crib notes from workers on what is needed to do. Although talking about the unknown in the wilderness and in an exam may seem like a good argument to some people, it isn’t because they are not similar in any way besides the word unknown before wilderness and examination. The example given about cheating is just plain bad. The least they could have done is said something that is similar to taking an exam. “Now suppose also that one of your companions on this expedition desperately needed water or food or help of some sort. You’d do what you could for him, wouldn’t you? Helping someone on an examination isn’t any different.” Well hopefully nobody needs to think twice and they go help
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