Straight A Student-Close to Plagiarising

[lifeasiknowit]

Okay, here's my situation:

 

I'm almost done my last year at college, but I've been super depressed, not motivated all semester, all I want to do is sleep, I feel like even if I graduate, my meaningless history degree will be useless, and I don't know what I'd do with my life anyway after school is done.

 

Because of my depression, I've done not much, barely scraped by this semester, and now I have a 25 pg paper due, with only one day to write it, and only half of the research done.

 

I know there are such things as online papers available, but I don't want to risk getting caught. I've always been an A student, but I go through ups and downs. For instance, it's taken me 10 years! to finish because I kept taking time off after having nervous breakdowns, and now I'm experiencing a down period again.

 

I can't think straight, my brain is all cloudy, I feel so tired like I've been drugged, and only want to stay in bed. I have all these books and notes around, and all I can do is stare at the computer.

 

If I don't hand in this paper, I fail the course, a class that I NEED to graduate. I could turn in a really ****ty paper and fail anyways, but I could pass with a bought paper, if I don't get caught that is. I'm so depressed right now, I kind of don't care. Normally, I'm not like this, I've always been proud of my academic achievements, but now I just don't care, and want this over with.

 

What the hell should I do?

[fortyninethousand322]

What's the paper on? I'm not going to write it for you, but I will give you some pointers on how to BS it very effectively (by that I mean in a way that doesn't seem like it's BS).

[Thedude22]

Okay, here's my situation:

 

I'm almost done my last year at college, but I've been super depressed, not motivated all semester, all I want to do is sleep, I feel like even if I graduate, my meaningless history degree will be useless, and I don't know what I'd do with my life anyway after school is done.

 

Because of my depression, I've done not much, barely scraped by this semester, and now I have a 25 pg paper due, with only one day to write it, and only half of the research done.

 

I know there are such things as online papers available, but I don't want to risk getting caught. I've always been an A student, but I go through ups and downs. For instance, it's taken me 10 years! to finish because I kept taking time off after having nervous breakdowns, and now I'm experiencing a down period again.

 

I can't think straight, my brain is all cloudy, I feel so tired like I've been drugged, and only want to stay in bed. I have all these books and notes around, and all I can do is stare at the computer.

 

If I don't hand in this paper, I fail the course, a class that I NEED to graduate. I could turn in a really ****ty paper and fail anyways, but I could pass with a bought paper, if I don't get caught that is. I'm so depressed right now, I kind of don't care. Normally, I'm not like this, I've always been proud of my academic achievements, but now I just don't care, and want this over with.

 

What the hell should I do?

 

Hey I'm a history major...I've totally been through this but in the end the paper always shaped up.

 

Do NOT plagiarize, you could be kicked out of your department and that will be it. You're panicking, your paper is not living up to your expectations yet, but it will get there.

 

My advice is find sections of the paper that you think are good and work on those first. You'll build up more confidence and enthusiasm, then the ideas come and then you work on the other sections. I wrote 19 page paper I slacked off on for 2 months in one night, you can do it.

[cerridwen]

Talk to your professor.

Depression can be an illness for some.

From what you're describing, it sounds biochemical.

That it hit during this critical time shouldn't be held against you.

 

If you've been under a doctor's care in the past, fish out his/her contact info.

If you've never seen a doctor for depression, consider it.

 

Do NOT plagiarize.

You have ZERO chance to recover if you're found out.

If you have a MUCH better chance if you approach your professor with honesty and integrity about your predicament.

[TaraMaiden]

My partner just finished his law degree and achieved a 1st Class honours in Law.

It's been the hardest four years of our life. Hard graft doesn't cover it, and there have been incredible highs, and chasm-deep lows.

 

He did it all through research, study, reference and originality.

 

If you plagiarise, you're cheating other students who have worked hard, long, soul-wrenching hours.

But chiefly - you're cheating yourself.

 

Get help. Talk to someone.

 

But don't cheat.

You will never be able to look at yourself in the face, again.

[lifeasiknowit]

I've already been given an extension on the paper, so it would be ridiculous to ask for another one. I'm too embarrassed to go to my professor about it, and college/university staff are usually indifferent to our problems. I've seen two different therapists and counsellors about my cycles of depression and they've been unhelpful.

 

However, I was able to get some of the paper done. I have tomorrow to finish it and that's it, and what I have so far (60 percent done) is total crap. Basically I've thrown together quotes from other sources with some of my own ideas, but it's totally unoriginal and my papers are usually a million times better than this. It's so humiliating because my last paper for the same prof. I received an A- if I hand this garbage in he'll think there's something wrong. Wouldn't it be ironic if he thinks my last paper was plagiarized even though it wasn't just because this one will be so bad in comparison!

 

Anyways, what if I fail the essay? How bad does a paper have to be to receive lower than a C? In my program, I need a C minimum in courses in my major field to graduate. If I can finish this paper, I hope I get a C or I'm fcked.

[fortyninethousand322]

I've already been given an extension on the paper, so it would be ridiculous to ask for another one. I'm too embarrassed to go to my professor about it, and college/university staff are usually indifferent to our problems. I've seen two different therapists and counsellors about my cycles of depression and they've been unhelpful.

 

However, I was able to get some of the paper done. I have tomorrow to finish it and that's it, and what I have so far (60 percent done) is total crap. Basically I've thrown together quotes from other sources with some of my own ideas, but it's totally unoriginal and my papers are usually a million times better than this. It's so humiliating because my last paper for the same prof. I received an A- if I hand this garbage in he'll think there's something wrong. Wouldn't it be ironic if he thinks my last paper was plagiarized even though it wasn't just because this one will be so bad in comparison!

 

Anyways, what if I fail the essay? How bad does a paper have to be to receive lower than a C? In my program, I need a C minimum in courses in my major field to graduate. If I can finish this paper, I hope I get a C or I'm fcked.

 

How good is your relationship with this professor? If he knows you well he'll grade more leniently. I've had it happen to me several times (10 page papers where I wrote 6 and still got an A, stuff like that).

 

In most cases as long as its formatted well, is long enough, has enough good sources and isn't plagiarized you should get at least a B.