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Nick Mamatas is a published author. He has two novels in print, and a good bit of other stuff out there as well. So it’s something of a shock when he admits, “for several years I made much of my freelance income writing term papers.” Last week Mamatas published a fascinating article on his time in the term paper-writing industry. He explains what goes on in such an operation, breaks down the types of clients he worked with, and comments on the apparent legality of the practice (though it’s, uh, more than frowned upon by pretty much everyone). Here’s a sample:
The term paper biz is managed by brokers who take financial risks by accepting credit card payments and psychological risks by actually talking to the clients. Most of the customers just aren’t very bright. One of my brokers would even mark assignments with the code words DUMB CLIENT. That meant to use simple English; nothing’s worse than a client calling back to ask a broker — most of whom had no particular academic training — what certain words in the paper meant. One time a client actually asked to talk to me personally and lamented that he just didn’t “know a lot about Plah-toe.” Distance learning meant that he’d never heard anyone say the name.
… DUMB CLIENTS predominate. They should not be in college. They must buy model papers simply because they do not understand what a term paper is, much less anything going on in their assignments. I don’t believe that most of them even handed the papers in as their own, as it would have been obvious that they didn’t write them. Frequently I was asked to underline the thesis statement because locating it otherwise would have been too difficult. But that sort of thing was just average for the bottom of the barrel student-client.
Wow. The article goes on to describe the other types of clients Mamatas encountered, and even goes into detail on how much he was paid. Frankly this whole subject was news to me — I’ve never bought a term paper, nor has anyone offered to sell me one. But then again, I went to college back in the dark ages (the 90’s), when the World Wide Web was new-fangled and almost no one had cell phones. (We called them “car phones.”)
Jason Kottke wrote about this story on Kottke.org and put up a poll asking readers if they had ever purchased a term paper. At the moment, the overwhelming majority have not (or at least won’t admit it). So I’m curious: what’s your experience with this issue? How prevalent is term paper buying in colleges today? Have you ever bought or sold a term paper?
(Via Kottke.org.) See also: a New York Times piece on a term paper mill which charges about $10 a page.
Comments (30)
Comment
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I sold a good many papers in middle school and high school. $10 for a B, $15 for and A.
posted by Patrick on 10-16-2008 at 12:41 pm
I was an english major and as such had a lot of overlap in classes. I remember one girl trying to hand in the same paper for Shakespeare one semester and Renaissance Lit the next.
…to the same professor.
To get across how stupid she was, he called her to his office and threatened to kick her out for plagiarizing herself.
posted by Caitlin on 10-16-2008 at 12:50 pm
Well, I’d like to think that the type of people who spend time on mental floss would be the same type of people who could identify a thesis statement and wouldn’t need to purchase a shoddily-written essay.
posted by Joe on 10-16-2008 at 12:53 pm
Joe, my thoughts exactly.
I could imagine that we’d be the writers in this case.
posted by Michael on 10-16-2008 at 1:18 pm
Precisely. I read the article to see if there was a good freelance income in it, since I already write for a living. We would be the writers, not the buyers. Aren’t brains fun?
posted by Southern Buddhist on 10-16-2008 at 1:21 pm
fascinating is right :)
posted by Clotho on 10-16-2008 at 1:25 pm
my mom paid me $50 to write a paper for my older brother. on top of that one, my 10th grade term paper that I got a B on got him an A in college. So did my 8th grade debate.
posted by erin on 10-16-2008 at 1:35 pm
I was one of the few (only?) in my college Physical Chemistry class to *not* use a purchased set of lab write-ups. I also got some of the lowest grades in the class — the equipment was so shoddy that most experiments could not be completed successfully, yet everyone else was able to submit a finished report.
I held on to my honor but resented the entire experience.
posted by Jeff on 10-16-2008 at 1:44 pm
I’ve never even thought about purchasing a term paper, but I have given thought to selling term papers. I don’t mind writing papers, sometimes I actually enjoy it, but I think I’d feel guilty for helping a “dumb client” earn an undeserved grade.
posted by Patty on 10-16-2008 at 1:56 pm
Jeff, I feel your pain. I am taking physical chemistry right now. It sucks big time. But, such is almost always the case with lab courses in college. You generally have to deal with a limited time frame, idiot lab partners, an apathetic intructor, and/or shoddy equipment while doing an experiment, and unless the TA grading your lab report is very generous, you can get mega points off for not having good data to make your calculations. I work in a chemistry teaching lab at my university and see it all the time.
So, people fake their data or get it from a smart friend who has already taken the class. Although I do think that most of the mistakes students make on their labs are their own fault (did not read lab manual prior to class, careless when measuring, etc.), some of the blame definitely lies on those in charge for bad general planning. It seems like that’s what happened in your case. I can see where you would be very bitter over that experience.
posted by Chloe on 10-16-2008 at 2:03 pm
I never bought a paper during college but we also had to turn in all our papers and lab reports to turnitin.com, a supposed deterent of plagiarism. I never heard of anyone getting caught and find it hard to believe no one ever got “extra” help.
posted by maggie on 10-16-2008 at 2:30 pm
I will be honest because I have since changed my ways. When I was in High School (in the dark ages) I would write poems in exchange for lunch. Oddly enough no one ever got caught as I have a pretty distinctive style. When I was a Sophomore I wrote a paper for my boyfriend who was a freshman in college. He (we) earned a B+ for that one.
I never sold a paper when I was in college but I did help a few friends with their papers by editing for them.
posted by JaneM on 10-16-2008 at 2:50 pm
I could neveer buy a term paper. I’d never be able to live with myself! I had an experience with the English class I’m taking online right now. After the first assignment was turned in, my instructor basically told that class that he wasn’t an idiot and knew a lot of people had gone online to find their story analysis. I was glad I wasn’t one of those people. I wouldn’t sell my work either. I think technology makes cheating too easy and kids are getting lazy.
reCaptcha: Gutzon Tierney’s. Sounds like a pub or quirky restaurant name. :O)
posted by Tricia on 10-16-2008 at 3:17 pm
No buying or selling for me. Everyone in high school knew I was too much of a goody two-shoes to sell anything. And in college all my friends were smart, so they could all write just as well or better than I could.
I did work in our tutoring writing center where I helped people learn to write papers. Through that I can see why so many people do buy papers–even Masters students often cannot write. I actually had one Masters student come in for help on her thesis paper. I remember one particular paragraph that was one sentence and an entire page long!
posted by nutmeag on 10-16-2008 at 3:24 pm
Well, I’d heard that it happens but I’ve never known anyone who was involved. Funny thing is, I always enjoyed it, in a sort of ‘after the fact’ way- deep down, I love learning and digging up stuff, sifting through it, sorting, condensing and writing… and Yes, re-writing. But it was always major stress at the time- and that I can live without. But maybe I’ll hire myself out… I always did pretty well on mine. lol
posted by ann on 10-16-2008 at 3:55 pm
I would never have bought a paper (or needed to, for that matter). It’s just abhorent to me, the idea that someone would get a grade/diploma/degree that they didn’t earn or deserve. It cheapens that grade/degree for everyone else.
That said, the idea does sound really tempting in that “hey, sounds like a good way to make quick extra money” sort of way. I bet if I put myself out there, I could make a killing, ’cause I was always good at throwing together A papers without much effort.
Oh, and re: Caitlin’s comment, you can only re-use a paper if you’re honest about it, I think. I did it in high school once, ’cause I’d already written something in history class that fit the topic for an English report. I asked my English teacher if I could just use what I had, and she said sure. I got A’s from both teachers.
(Ironic note: My recaptcha is “honest Peter”.)
posted by M on 10-16-2008 at 4:50 pm
As an English major, I often proofread (and subsequently ended up heavily editing and occasionally rewriting)my friend’s papers. I’d never “sell” my services, per se, but if a friend offered to buy me a drink I never turned it down ;)
It really is appalling how many of today’s students absolutely cannot write. Not just grammar or spelling mistakes, but flat out unable to identify a thesis or even create a basic outline. I had to council sooo many friend’s whose conclusion would contradict their thesis, or whose essay would never once refer to or support their thesis.
*sigh*
I work for a publisher now, and I can sit all day with my red pen on my throne of judgment, passing out life advice to the sinners below, to paraphrase it’s always sunny in philadelphia ;)
posted by Brooke on 10-16-2008 at 4:55 pm
oops. There were some apostrophe errors up there. It’s late :)
Of course I meant “friends’” the first time and “friends” the second.
*sigh*
posted by Brooke on 10-16-2008 at 4:58 pm
I sold several papers using an online service called AcaDemon. I had to write up an abstract and upload my paper to their website. In return, any time my paper was sold, I was given 50% of the cost of the paper. AcaDemon customers can rest easy, because the site clearly states that all papers are used for reference purposes only. ;-)
So, if you are torn about selling a paper, rest easy: if someone plagiarizes your work, they are doing so without your “consent.”
Most of my papers ended up bringing in about 50-75$ per sale and were sold on average of about 3 times. One was sold 7 times, one was sold no times. It’s a crapshoot, so make sure, if you do it, you can write a good abstract and a good first paragraph.
-CC
posted by Cory on 10-16-2008 at 5:07 pm
I knew that you COULD buy papers online, but I don’t know why (unless you had the intelligence of a rock) you’d actually do it. I would never trust someone else to do my assignment, no matter how much I don’t understand it or don’t want to do it. I did a have a friend who just sold a paper for $10 the other day though.
What surprises me not just about how kids in college (my peers) can’t write, but they don’t know that they aren’t allowed to plagiarize. I took a class with mostly juniors my first semester of freshman year and only TWO of us knew we had to do a bibliography. How did you pass through two years of college without ever writing a bibliography?! I also had a friend who partnered with me on a project in that class and a simple half page zine thing about how to donate to an organization was nearly WORD FOR WORD. We’re talking about not being able to not plagiarize one paragraph. I made her redo it and she didn’t see anything wrong with the original.
posted by Megan on 10-16-2008 at 5:25 pm
In college, my buddy and I had to take some ridiculous art class to fulfill a gen-ed credit. We were given a list of artists to write a paper about, and we both conveniently chose Woody Allen. He paid me $15, a cheesesteak, and a Zippo lighter (which I still have) to write his. I was very proud of myself with the job I did writing in two different styles, unfortunately his paper got a slightly higher grade than mine.
posted by Pete on 10-16-2008 at 6:22 pm
Hmm. After reading his article about it, I don’t feel so guilty about considering this. I’m disabled, in online school, and can’t work even a part time job because of my disability (in case you were wondering, I’m going to try and telecommute or freelance when I graduate), so something like this sounds very tempting. I’m in some dire financial straits right now, and it really would help.
I’ve heard of this before. In high school, I was talking about getting a job, so a friend of mine directed me to one of these sites. At the time I was disgusted, but now it doesn’t seem so bad at all. The dumb and lazy kids I’d hate to sell essays to, but the foreign former-professionals are something I can relate to (my father was a doctor in his home country before he emigrated here – he had to redo part of med school before they’d let him practice in the US, even though he had already had fifteen years experience).
posted by NicoNico on 10-16-2008 at 6:36 pm
My aunt, a teacher, offered me $350 MANY years ago to write “a C paper” for my cousin so he could graduate. I did it, and really had no guilt then or now. I mean, if he’s dumb enough to need it, she’s dumb and desperate enough to ask me for it, and his school is dumb enough to believe he wrote it, they all deserve each other. My mother was mad at me for quite a while, though.
posted by TC on 10-16-2008 at 6:54 pm
I never sold a paper (much less bought one), but I did write my sister’s high school valedictorian speech for her. That was a high point of my sophomore year.
Also, with all the software like TurnItIn that’s out there now, anyone who buys term papers on the web is just asking to be caught. This brings great joy to my sadistic English major’s heart.
posted by erm on 10-16-2008 at 7:13 pm
I never sold them, I just did them for fun. I started in high school doing my brother’s college work, and writing essays for my friends in high school. After graduation many of the football players kept in touch — and I kept their grades up.
posted by Lorelei on 10-16-2008 at 8:23 pm
I always wrote my own papers. However, in law school it was nice that most profs would permit you to use the same paper for more than one class. That would work only if the subject of the papers overlapped and you wrote it in the same semester.
posted by Shan on 10-16-2008 at 9:27 pm
My freshman roommate was very, very nice, but not especially bright. After she got a D on her 1st English paper, I agreed to help her. (After reading her work, I was pretty sure her admission was based on her alumi Dad, not her SAT scores).
She’d make an honest effort on the paper during the week. Her papers were always due on Fri. On Thurs, she would give me what she had for the paper. Her boyfriend, who was 21, would buy a decent bottle (or 2!) of red wine for us. I’d rework (rewrite) the paper while we got tipsy. She got a B and I missed a lot of 9 am Fri math classes!
ReCaptcha: $82,608,500 Judge
posted by Ashley on 10-16-2008 at 11:06 pm
I wrote two papers on Voltaire’s Candide. I never actually read the entire thing and this was in the days before the intrawebz. I turned in one and my friend turned in the other. She got an A. I got a B. I didn’t get paid for it, either.
posted by Shelly on 10-17-2008 at 9:16 am
My boss is currently completing his MBA. I have no idea why he needs it as he is already an MD. Whatever. I currently HEAVILY proofread all of his papers. It’s not exactly doing it for him, but it’s as close as you can get. I would have been kicked out of college for the level of help I give him. What makes it worse is the fact that he always gives them to me the day they are due, so I have to do it on company time. But now his new secretary can do it for him. I hope she sucks at it.
posted by StephW on 10-17-2008 at 9:19 am
Ugh..I think the entire issue is so completely immoral and unethical. I, too, went to college in the ’90s, so it wasn’t even an issue (that I’m aware of, anyway). So – no – didn’t buy or sell any papers. In my opinion, if someone can’t write a paper, they shouldn’t be in college. Anyone who helps them through by completely writing their papers is only dumbing down our schools (and country).
posted by Logan on 11-14-2008 at 4:40 am