Comments on: The Truth about Academic Writing Online

By: badwriter

badwriter — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:31:14 +0000

Something more… there is a site oboulo.com that works on a different concept. You write a scientific publication, and hope that someone will buy it. I was really surprised, how anyone can buy articles just for referencing, when you can cite publications from journals and conferences that your university has access to. They ensured me people really do reference oboulo articles. That would seem like a clean academic writing. Have you heard anyone that managed earning some money with them? Are they clean? Since the titles, abstracts, references etc. are online, it is hard to present papers as your own work…

By: badwriter

badwriter — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:15:12 +0000

Thumbs up!! Now, I must stay, I AM one of those bad writers. I can say many excuses, like no job, no money, but I know you are right and you are stepping on my conscious. I never cheated when at uni myself, but I did help my friends with their assignments, not for money, just for fun. I was the good one. Now I finished PhD and for half a year cannot get a job… any job. It is just so much more pleasant to write an article that requires some brain work, and get a little more than a dollar for a page, as someone said. It’s almost addictive, it’s a pity I can’t put it on my CV, but it gives me satisfaction that I can write good essays on almost any subject. Judge me, and you will be right. I hope I will stop very soon, my next plan is to start my own software project.

By: John Soares

John Soares — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:19:40 +0000

It would be great if there was an online database that profs could use to see if a paper came from one of those sites you describe. I taught college for several years, and I had to deal with my share of cheaters. Back then the Internet was new and it wasn’t so easy to get papers online.

That said, if you’ve taught college you’ll find that college textbook publishers usually hire freelancers to write test questions, lecture outlines, student study guides and the like for most of the freshman- and sophomore level courses. I’ve been doing this for 15 years.

By: Academic Writing Online « Daily Freelance Writing Tips

Academic Writing Online « Daily Freelance Writing Tips — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:19:59 +0000

[...] would like to thank Allison Boyer for her post The Truth About Academic Writing Online because every serious writer should stand up for the ethics of the business. Don’t compromise [...]

By: Elaine

Elaine — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:20:18 +0000

BRAVO!
I couldn’t agree more.
I see these ads from time-to-time on supposedly legitimate freelance work source site… which makes me trust those sites even less.
Ethics ought to count for something.
Now let’s talk about the sites that pay $1 for a 500-word article. Who are the writers taking those assignments? Do they realize what scabs they are, undermining the freelance world for clips… sheesh.
Be well.
Elaine

By: Jennifer L

Jennifer L — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:53:07 +0000

Ack! I knew exactly where you were going when you first wrote “writing academic papers.” I’m sorry you got sucked into that, but you’ve made a good point that we, as freelance writers, need to be vigilant about what kinds of projects we take on.