Question

You've learned that decisions and actions have consequences. Now it's time to evaluate what you would do in certain situations. Consider the five scenarios that are presented. These are real situations that other students have encountered before. Put yourself in their shoes and respond in essay format to each scenario. Take time to think and consider each situation. Read through it and even ask your parents or trusted friend for their opinions if you wish. Then write one paragraph for each of three scenarios you select.

Scenario 1. It's the middle of class, and you've been excused to use the restroom. Along the way you find a $10 bill lying in the hallway. Nobody is around to claim it, nor do you know to whom it belongs. Do you pocket the money, or do you take it to the lost-and-found?

Scenario 2. You are taking a test, and the teacher leaves the room. You can see the test answers on your neighbor's paper, and you are tempted to check your answers. You actually studied for the test and know you probably did pretty well, but it wouldn't hurt to compare answers, just to make sure you got the right answers. You won't get caught. Do you consider it cheating? Would you do it?

Scenario 3. You are a teacher's assistant, and your job is to record grades. It just so happens you know a few of the students in the class, and they approach you one day to ask for higher grades on their papers. All you have to do is change the letter grades on the score sheet, and the teacher will probably never find out what happened. Knowing that you would never get caught for changing a grade, would you do it?

Scenario 4. You overhear a couple of students talking about plans to come back to school in the evening to play some pranks. You know these students have a reputation for getting into trouble a lot, so you wonder if their "pranks" are more serious than just a little fun. Would you report the students to your teacher, or would you just let it slide? Nobody will know that you did or didn't overhear these students. Is it your responsibility to notify your teacher?

Scenario 5. You have a short essay to write for your English class, and you found some reviews on the Internet. You're running short on time, and you don't like the assignment about Hamlet anyway, so you'd rather get it done quickly. You can easily take the Internet review and doctor it up a bit and turn it in for your homework. Is this plagiarizing, or have you really done your own homework assignment? Would you turn in that fixed-up review?

Answer 1

Scenario 1: In this situation, I would take the $10 bill to the lost-and-found. While it may be tempting to keep the money for myself, I believe it is important to act ethically and do what is right, even if it means potentially losing out on something. Additionally, if the money does belong to someone, it is important to return it to them, as it may be a significant amount for them.

Scenario 2: I would not consider it cheating to compare my answers to my neighbor's, as long as I am not copying their answers directly or using them to improve my own score. However, if I did decide to compare answers, I would make sure to do so discreetly, so as not to disrupt the class or cause any issues.

Scenario 3: I would not change the grades on the score sheet, even if I know I will not get caught. As a teacher's assistant, it is my responsibility to accurately record the grades that are given, and altering them would be a breach of that responsibility. In addition, changing grades would not be fair to the students who worked hard to earn their grades, and could potentially have serious consequences if discovered.

Scenario 4: I would report the students to my teacher, as it is my responsibility to notify a trusted authority if I suspect that something harmful or illegal may be occurring. Even if the students' plans are just for harmless pranks, it is important to let the teacher know so that they can address the situation and ensure the safety of all students.

Scenario 5: I would not turn in the fixed-up review as my own homework assignment, as this would be considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's work as your own, and it is not only unethical, but it can also have serious consequences in academic settings. Instead, I would spend the time to write my own essay on the assigned topic, even if it means staying up late or working harder to complete the assignment.