2018-01-24 Writing: opinion brainstorming

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - Notes from all my classes
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What is cheating?
How should schools respond to students who cheat?
Are there good reasons to cheat? What?
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Read the blog post about cheating.
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Plagiarism: When you copy someone else’s words and present them as your own.
- In some universities, you can be kicked out if you are caught plagiarizing writing.
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Do you think the student’s punishment in the blog article is too harsh, or is it appropriate?
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http://learnersdictionary.com/ - This is a good place to look up unfamiliar English words.
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Why do you think it’s too harsh? What are some reasons or supporting points for your opinion?
Brainstorm as many reasons as you can think of with your partner.
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- This is the first time he cheated (he deserves a second chance).
- If he’s removed from the class, he can’t learn any more (and this doesn’t help anyone).
- He already feels guilty, so the teacher should give a second chance.
- If he’s removed from the class, he has no chance of getting into a top university.
- Punishment should help him learn something. It doesn’t help if it doesn’t change the situation.
Which three reasons are the best? (You can combine them.)
1 - This is his first time and he already feels guilty, so the teacher should give him a second chance.
2 - He won’t learn anything if he’s removed from the class, and punishment should help him learn something.
3 - This will make it hard to get into a good university.
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What are some details and examples that could support each of these reasons?
	Reason: This will make it hard to get into a good university.
- Details and examples need to convince the reader that your reason is true.
	If cheating is on his record and he doesn’t take honors math, fewer universities will want him.
- Details and examples also need to make a clear connection between your reason and your opinion.
	Keeping him out of a good university is a very serious consequence for one single mistake.
	One homework assignment doesn’t prove he’s “a cheater”. He could change his attitude.
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Homework: Try to think of one or two supporting details for each of the other reasons. (You can write them in the outline on p. 167.)