Homework

[acw]

Hey Ed,

 

Me again!  :-)  On the report question options, please could we have an option labelled "homework".  It's fair enough when people want views or opinions, and one word/number answers that form part of homework can not be detected.  But the blatant copying out of essay questions,  or more blatantly  business studies and economics questions, should not be permitted.  As a business AB has a corporate social responsiblity to encourage learning (after all this is the purpose of this site).  This should surely be interpreted as encouraging people to learn FOR THEMSELVES.  Fact and opinion providing is one thing, doing kids' homework is too much!!!  We should not encourage children to expect to be spoonfed. 

 

Alternatively, we could have a "homework" topic section so then people could ignore/help as they please! :-)

 

Thanks

[woofgang]

acw, I agree with your sentiments entirely and have often had a grumpy old woman rant about it on here. The problem with having a section marked homework is not establishing it its getting the little er um darlings, yes darlings, that't the word I meant, to use it!!!

[IndieSinger]

I'm not sure I agree. This is a 'question and answer' site, not a 'question-as-long-as-it's-not-homework' and Answer site.

[acw]

How true woofgang!  I did tihnk that the use of this website asking for tips on HWK from the USA (see blatant use of $s instead of �s) to be even more cheeky!  There are dedicated HWK sites out there - why don't people USE them!  And I thought all kids knew how to use the internet.....

 

If anyone DOES love helping with homework, I have a 16,000 thesis to write on the UK reaction to Sarbanes-Oxley.  Should I post this up in the "news" section!?! :-p

[acw]

How true woofgang!  I did tihnk that the use of this website asking for tips on HWK from the USA (see blatant use of $s instead of �s) to be even more cheeky!  There are dedicated HWK sites out there - why don't people USE them!  And I thought all kids knew how to use the internet.....

 

If anyone DOES love helping with homework, I have a 16,000 thesis to write on the UK reaction to Sarbanes-Oxley.  Should I post this up in the "news" section!?! :-p

[woofgang]

alternatively I send them here (evil laughter)

[acw]

Fair point indie-singer.  But asking us to write their essays for them just seems daft.  How are these kids expecting to LEARN?  My parents never DID my homework for me - only helped me with finding the right answers.  We should take the same attitude with the kids on this site - IMHO. 

[acw]

Thanks Woofgang!!!!!!  I had been hardly sleeping at night, worrying that i was a badger.  I'm so glad you pointed me to that website to conclude that I'm not! :-)

[ludwig]

Surely by asking a question here they are conducting legitimate research. Why is it worthier to trudge down to the library and find a book to paraphrase the answer out of? They're never going to receive a 5,000 word answer that they can cut and paste and hand in as their essay - it's just a way of getting ideas or links to more information.

Having said that, what does annoy me is when they can't be bothered to ask properly, but just type in the question exactly as it appears on the paper.

[IndieSinger]

In addition to ludwig's post above, it's also worth bearing in mind that if people don't mind helping with a homework question, let them. If you don't want to help with homework questions, then don't answer. I think it's very much an individual issue and I personally don't see anything wrong with it. At least they've taken the initiative to search the web for a 'question and answer' site to get some ideas.

[acw]

I was more referring to the question, i believe posted in money & finance, where the AB user just copied and pasted the question.  Including (a) (b) (c) etc.  If they asked: Where can I find information to help me with my finance homework?  People may be more willing to help.  Of course it's not worthier to copy out of the book from the library and i agree that gathering opinions IS legitimate research.  What I am complaining about is the students who are clearly just asking us to do their homework for them.  Entirely.  No suggestion or hint that our answers will merely be used as supporting evidence or leads for individual research!

[acw]

Lord Bagshot - we're being encouraged not to retort, but to report!  :-) Goodness how witty of me!  I personally was convined that "ponce" was an insult that could only be directed towards men - but ho hum!

[Clanad]

I usually refrain from opinion types of questions and answers, but I disagree with acw's basic premise the AB has "a corporate social responsibility, etc." The AB, for whatever reason(s) has posted this site.  People are free to use it or not, answer or not, without placing a responsibility on AB. Frankly, most of the obvious students who post questions are usually chastised enough to make them aware of their own responsibilities.  In any event, many of the answers given to such inquiries are not sufficient to satisfy the instructors of their classes and if the responses provided here are the only source on which the student relies, they will soon have their educational horizons expanded; perhaps not in the way they had anticipated...

[acw]

Good point.  I was being tongue-in-cheek thought with the "corporate social responsibility" bit!

[Bangkok]

acw, in your Sarbannes essay don't forget that not only has UK legislation been tightened, but UK audit firms have to follow US rules on independence when dealing with subs of US SEC registrants, which severely restricts the scope and potentially value of non-audit services

[Didwot]

I typed out a similar question yesterday, and then decided not to post it, because there was a similar thread from last year. My thoughts were that there is a fine line between setting out the question verbatim, and expecting someone else to do all the thinking, and canvassing for facts and opinions by way of legitimate research. I do find the former a waste of space, but am prepared to give the latter my threepennyworth.

[acw]

Thanks Bangkok!  I'm also focussing on the effects the act has on UK firms who have a secondary listing on the NYSE or NASDAQ.  Thanks for your input though.  Needless to say - and questions related to that topic that i may post will only be canvassing for facts and opinions.  As Didwot points out - that's a far more acceptable way of doing "homework" - or a master thesis in my case! :-)

[jno]

Sarbanes Oxley here but you'll need to register and pay through the nose (or visit your library)

[acw]

Hey, thanks JNO - I'm registered at the University of Manchester.  I paid through the nose for that but luckily they then pay through the nose for all those subscriptions for me!  Thanks for the help guys - I'll get back to you if I need any more advice! :-)