Write Somebody Else's "Writing Sample"?

[DrFaustus666]

Hi

Has anyone else been offered money to write a writing sample for someone else?

This happened to me two days ago. My gut reaction was to refuse. In the end I agreed to critque this person's paper, but not write it, and then only as a favor, not for compensation. The person is a non-native speaker of English who's lived in the USA for ten years. I am a native speaker, and have worked as a technical writer.

Thoughts, anyone?

Should I refuse her altogether? I can't ethically write her paper for her, either for money or gratis. But I wonder if I should help at all? She swears to me that "all of her friends (fellow foreign grad students studying in the USA) paid Americans" to write their SOPs and writing samples for them.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

John

[Strangefox]

Hm. I am not from the US and I will definetly write everything myself. But people do ask their friends or professors to look through their SOPs and writing samples and to tell their opinion on them. I see nothing criminal in that. But not for money, of course! I mean a friendly advice. I would not ask a person to review my SOP for money, I find it a bit strange...

Edited July 6, 2010 by Strangefox

[dant.gwyrdd]

I'm also not from the States and I wrote everything myself. I would agree with you that it would be very unethical to write anything for her. However, I do think going over her material would be perfectly fine, especially since you're a native speaker and she's not.

Personally, I regularly proofread some of my friends' papers and even comment on content and how comprehensible they are. (I never correct anything myself--even my technical corrections come in the form of comments.)

Edited July 6, 2010 by dant.gwyrdd

[aginath]

I have reviewed classmate's papers as a favor, regardless of whether or not English is their first language. There's nothing wrong with that. Now, outright writing it...well, the truth will come out one way or another. I'd rather not be part of that hornet's nest.

[PastHistory]

Writing someone else's SOP and writing sample seems unethical at best. They should be an accurate reflection of the individual student's work, not the work of their friends. I see nothing wrong in helping proof or edit the SOP or writing sample, though. I had my family proof my papers to ensure I was being clear because, honestly, I wrote and rewrote so much that I wasn't even sure it made sense when I was through with it!

If it requires substantial editing and proofing, charging a nominal fee wouldn't be out of the question, but I wouldn't charge my friends just to read it and provide feedback.

[fuzzylogician]

I have classmates comment on my papers both for style and for content, and I do the same for them. There is nothing wrong with that - getting comments from peers and reviewers is part of the academic writing process, regardless of whether or not you're writing in your native language or in a second language. No one should work in a vacuum. Bouncing ideas off other people and getting feedback is what all good researchers do. Passing someone else's work as one's own, however, is clearly cheating, and is unacceptable. I wonder how anyone can obtain a graduate degree and publish without having an original thought of their own.

If the person who asked for your help is a friend, offering to proofread her work is a nice gesture and is entirely acceptable. I wouldn't ask for compensation.

[Jae B.]

I definitely understand the need for a non-native English speaker to get help editing their work; to help with grammar, word choice, etc. I have spent a lot of time editing such papers, and I've actually had a lot of fun doing so.

However, I would probably resist helping this particular person, if I were you, because it sounds like they might pressure you to do more than your fair share of the work. It sounds like they'd be happy to have too much help!

Helping someone who is actively learning better English is one task, but assisting a potential moocher is another. They have to work through creating their writing sample the hard way! Sure, it's going to be more difficult for them, but they need to be behaving as if they are prepared for the challenge, not as if they're hoping for an easy way out.

[DrFaustus666]

Thanks to all who replied !

I've decided I'll take a very conservative approach: I will proofread, comment, etc., even offer suggestions re: structure and content if indicated.

I will not write a single word of text that she could incorporate as her own, I will not accept money, and I won't provide so many ideas that she essentially becomes a secretary.

Yes, she made it clear she's perfectly happy to pay me to write the entire thing, including statement of purpose and writing sample, top to bottom----and then submit it as her own work.

BTW---As a student of German, I've asked native Germans to proofread MY work too, and the most helpful input to me has been "look at this sentence and tell me what's wrong" ... and if I can't see it immediately, then I go back to the Duden series of grammar and style books ... and I LEARN something.

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

Proofread? yes. Comment? yes.

Write? absolutely not. If there was one thing that was drilled into my brain during college was the honor code, no plagiarism, and presenting your own work. Anyone who pays to have their SOP and Writing Sample written for them aren't serious grad school contenders, as far as I'm concerned. I advise loads of non-native speakers about college applications, and their main concern is always the essays - I tell them flat out that I'll help them polish, proofread grammar, advise about structure and content - but the heart and soul of the essay has to be theirs. Otherwise, what's the point?

YES, learn something (I love the comments that make me think rather than those that tell me how to correct).