Today, many educators initiate the use of recommended strategies to equip students in the field of creative writing to avoid plagiarism. This is because plagiarism is viewed to be among the emerging problems in education. There is evidence that various learners are victims of plagiarism. To win this war, essays, and various academic works have been generated to influence students to realize the need to avoid plagiarism in their academic works. Scott Jaschik is among those people to have emphasized a creative way in writing for learners and students in post secondary level of education.
Scott makes the use of several rhetorical perspectives in the article entitled "winning hearts and minds on war on plagiarism." Rhetorical perspectives/strategies refer to the efforts that authors make to persuade and inform readers. Ultimately, Scott's objectives are to help learners realize in their own perspectives the benefit of an original work. In the presentation of the articles, it is clearly that the specific strategies used are effective enough to bring the needed attention and deliver the message. Before mentioning the specific strategies that Scott has used in the article, it is good to note that the general idea of rhetorical strategies is drawn in response to some factors. Other authors and educators refer these factors as questions or guidelines of purpose. They determine what strategy best suit the audience. These factors include the relationship between the author and the audience, the need to simplifying and interpret issues and whether or not the author wants to prove an argument.
The relationship between Scott and the audience in the article is that of a teacher-to-student. Therefore, Scott utilizes the following rhetorical strategies to persuade and the same time pass information. The first strategy is argumentation. Argumentation strategy involves counterattacks techniques between two or more parties. Scott utilized argumentation in different ways. For instance, the use of direct quotes from university professors to show their view on plagiarism compares well with views of other stakeholders such as students, term paper companies among others. The involvement of such people is a good intention to show how important the issue of plagiarism. It shows that it is the better of all people to take the initiative to deal with plagiarism as the issue has grown to be a big concern in education.
In the article, Scott gives every involved part an equal and fair chance to raise and present their ideas. For example, Scott argues that professors see plagiarism as a lack of efficiency and quality that has hit the education system. Professors' ideas on the issue are that plagiarists must not be tolerated. There is no chance for any student exercising plagiarism that will complete all the academic requirements for graduation. This idea is geared to eradicate plagiarism to a complete zero mark in institutions of higher learning. However, learners have a different argument on this issue. Scott identifies student dialogue forums about plagiarism to bring an issue to a better understanding. For example, students feel neglected by professors with the use of the seemingly a harsh punishment on plagiarism. Students argue that they could be plagiarists without consent. And even if they make such mistakes, they are at school to learn, and people learn effectively from their mistakes.
On the other hand, the concentration has shifted to other third parties in education. These are the term paper companies. The argument about the benefits of such companies is viewed differently by professors and learners. In the article, Scott takes the professors view that term paper companies are of no benefit to education. As a matter of fact, they destroy the education system by giving learners the chance to present other people's ideas to professors for academic evaluation. Instead of the student doing research by their own, they visit paper companies to get fully generated material for marking. This withdraws the intended creativity that is supposed to be installed to all higher education learners. However, students argue in a different dimension. For example, Scott quotes one student saying that he receives help from Term Paper Company. This is because he does not want to be caught by plagiarism and instead, he edits every work from the companies to present original work for academic evaluation.
Throughout the article, Scott uses evidence from other sources instead of a personal experience. Cause and effect is another rhetorical strategy used by Scott in the article. In this strategy, Scott choice of words suggests that it is not a burden to students but also teachers that plagiarism has come to affects the quality of education. The ‘cause' may be explained as a lack of creativity among students that they get direct material from other people's work. The effect is that learners face the danger of being completely uncreative.
Another rhetoric strategy used in the article is the use of compare and contrast technique. Scott initiates a step by step discussion of similarities and differences between the ideas of students and teachers/professors. In a much bigger effect, there exist more differences about the two parties' ideas. As discussed above, students argue that they are at school to learn hence plagiarism should not be a scaring thing. In the event that one is a plagiarist, he/she should be treated in a rational way but not to expose them on a harsh punishment. Professors are completely against this idea as they aim to eliminate plagiarism out of the school environment. Although there are many differences to talk about, the article further suggests that both parties agree on the way forward; the need for students to be taught and informed about plagiarism and its effects in education.
The effective use of direct quotes sentence structures with soothing word choice enables Scott communicate to the audience well enough. The general content gives the author an effective formula to contribute his ideas and purpose about the subject. Communicating to the audience through the use of different dialogues from third parties is an engaging technique. The readers seem themselves involved in one way, or another to the conversation. This technique allows an effective communication between parties. Scott utilizes this technique in addition to the rhetorical strategies discussed above to efficiently and effectively engage the audience in the communication process.
The overall tone of the article is soothing and engaging. The rhetorical perspectives used are carefully chosen by the author to effectively work out in the presentation of the information about plagiarism. It allows the reader to be rational enough and not to judge out either of the stands presented by the parties involved in the article. This skill could also be effectively used to pass information in another situation. This is because it is the most comprehensive, engaging and effective way to pass information that creates an in-built understanding and interpretation. It enables reader's comprehend and see the intended message in their perspective.
Winning Hearts And Minds In War On Plagiarism Literature Reviews Example
Type of paper: Literature Review
Topic: Rhetoric, Plagiarism, Literature, Audience, Strategy, Students, Teaching, Education
Pages: 4
Words: 1200
Published: 04/01/2020
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