Page 243 - Keys To Community College Success

The risk of cheating may bring a starkly different reward than the risk of stay-
ing honest even in the face of a lack of preparation. The next time you are tempted
to break the rules of academic integrity, remember: The choice is yours, and so are
the consequences. Your decisions will have lasting impacts on your future and your
life. Key 8.5 shows you some choices and potential consequences of cheating on
a final exam.

KEY 8.5 Think through the consequences of cheating.

Choice 1
Use every way I can think of
to cheat on the exam to get
the highest possible grade.
Potential Potential
Positive Negative
Effects Effects

I will get the grade I Cheating will save me If I get caught, I will get in I won’t learn the material, and
need to move ahead. a lot of time that I can academic trouble. The incident I need to know this stuff for
use to earn money. will go on my transcript, and I the higher-level course I take
will fail the course. next semester.

Choice 2

Cheat in small ways—
nothing major. Do only what
is absolutely necessary to
Potential raise my grade without Potential
Positive getting in trouble. Negative
Effects Effects

I will be “perfecting” Even “minor” cheating Cheating is cheating. My
Test Taking
the cheating skills I undermines learning and instructor may throw the book
need in the workforce. reflects poorly on my character. at me if I’m caught.

Choice 3
Play it straight—no
cheating allowed.
Potential Potential
Positive Negative
Effects Effects

I hunker down and I will have the I risk getting a lower I will be spending a lot more
actually learn the material knowledge I need for grade than I would if I time studying and won’t be
so that I come into the test courses and for the cheated. able to work as many hours on
fully prepared. workplace. my job.

205