Overview of LS932 on PostgraduateForum.com

Overview of LS932

Signup date: 28 Oct 2018 at 7:20pm

Last login: 19 Apr 2020 at 7:23pm

Post count: 10

Recent Posts

Who can I use as a reference?

LS932 10 posts
4 years ago

Hello!

I am applying for a PhD which requires two references. I have secured one but am unsure of who to use as the other. Can I use someone from my undergraduate degree, even though that's where my PhD would be based? Also does it matter than its been 3 years since I graduated?

Thank you

Contacting references for PhD application

LS932 10 posts
4 years ago

Hi everyone

I have just started my application for a PhD studentship and was wondering about the best time to contact potential references? The application is due in at the beginning of May with reference deadline one week after. Should I email them ASAP? And if they agree, when should they send them off?

Thank you

Messed up masters big time - options?

LS932 10 posts
6 years ago

The penalty was rescinded and I have been allowed another uncapped attempt.

Messed up masters big time - options?

LS932 10 posts
6 years ago

Thanks to the people who have offered advice and support. I know what I am going to do and it's up to the university to make that call.

I understand why some people have been quite aggressive in their attitude, but I think it's unfair to take such a strong stance when you don't know the situation, or the piece of work in question. I asked for advice, not to be told off.

Messed up masters big time - options?

LS932 10 posts
6 years ago

I have made an appointment with my GP and I am going to present my case in an appeal. I am doubtful this will be successful but it will at least show I tried and that I am not seeking help to rectify the situation.

I can understand how this may look to other people but I know how I felt and what happened and that's what's important to me at the moment. It's nice to hear that some of you would be sympathetic towards me but I understand why others wouldn't.

I can only hope that my other work will demonstrate that this is a blip in my life and hopefully look past it.

Messed up masters big time - options?

LS932 10 posts
6 years ago

Quote From bewildered:
What concerns me most is that you claim not to have intentionally plagiarised. If this is really the truth, then you must be in the habit of cutting and pasting chunks of other people's work into your essays and changing a few words, thinking that's ok and this time you forgot to change anything. That is the only possible way your claim could be true. If I'm right, you need to stop. Everything you produce from now on will be scrutinised carefully and a second offence will probably mean you lose the degree. If you've got away with massive paraphrasing before, you probably won't going forward. So please be honest with yourself about any bad habits you've picked up and abandon them before you really do yourself damage.

This is the thing, people are assuming I just copied and pasted. A second offence will not be happening.

And what do you mean 'do myself damage?' This is the first time in my entire academic career and I have reasons supported by the student union. If I lose the appeal they can't punish me further.

Messed up masters big time - options?

LS932 10 posts
6 years ago

Quote From rewt:
That sounds brutal for one mistake. Life sometimes kicks you when you are already low. The secret is to always get back up and never let it keep you down.

Can you make any friends in the department like supervisors who will support you? Also might be worthy talking with the students union on the rules of this. I don't the exact details so can't help any further but humanizing the issue may be your best bet. Make it so that you are a person no just another cheater that they might feel empathy for.

Also about a PhD in future; if you get some years real world experience it will help in any application. Also your transcript will still show high achievement outside the 0, which you can sell as I did well except one mistake. I wish you all the best.

I feel like it is a suitable punishment for someone who has done this deliberately but it was entirely unintentional and I have had personal issues which led me to be lazy and sloppy. I have a GP appointment today to get onto the road to recovery.

I am a distance learner so forming bonds is a bit more tricky for me and yes I have sought advice from the SU. They are urging me to gather evidence and appeal although I do think my claim is weak. I cannot give a reason as to why I didn't get help in good time, other than the depression itself has made me lethargic and careless.

Is this something I should explain on applications? Or what until I am asked?

Messed up masters big time - options?

LS932 10 posts
6 years ago

Quote From eng77:
Hi LS932,
I am sorry for what you have been through. I am not an expert in academia but I would like to show my support to you. We all make mistakes. You are not the only sinner in academia. There should be a rehab time also in academia.

Thank you, it means a lot. I feel a bit 'dirty' at the moment but it was unintentional.

Messed up masters big time - options?

LS932 10 posts
6 years ago

Quote From pm133:
If you have deliberately plagiarised another person's work then I think a score of 0 is perfectly fair. To give you anything higher than that would be grossly unfair to other students who have not cheated and would send out a terrible message. Personally, if I was a member of academic staff I would press to have any student found guilty of cheating removed from the course altogether and TBH I think you are extremely fortunate not to suffer this. Yes, we all make mistakes and yes we all deserve a second chance but you need to be punished first, learn from it, and show remorse.
Playing the depression card in an appeal when that clearly didn't affect your decision would be bad form but it's your choice.

You will need to take the punishment on the chin and find a way to rebuild your career. A transcript of your grades is going to quite rightly raise questions with future employers. After all, if you are prepared to cheat to get a grade, what will you be prepared to do if you reach industry and face a situation where your career is at risk?

It's not clear to me that the consequences of what you have done have truly sunk in yet. I think you sound more disappointed about being caught.

I agree with you that I should be punished but I feel that my other work demonstrates that this is a blip. I have been in contact with the student union who say I should appeal. I have listed all the issues I have been facing this year and they think I have a case.

I am a bit offended that you think I am 'playing the depression card' as this is a serious issue for me and has impacted my life significantly. I do hope you never have to suffer from mental illness.

Messed up masters big time - options?

LS932 10 posts
6 years ago

Hi everyone

I am currently halfway through a part-time masters degree and I've effed up big time. Long story short I'll be getting a 0 for my latest assignment as they found chunks to be plagiarised. My fault entirely, I know how serious it is and how stupid I've been but it's happened and I need advice.

I am currently seeking advice about appealing the decision to give me 0 instead of a capped mark but I am not holding out much hope. I have been depressed this past year but did not seek help and therefore it would just be my word which is obviously not good enough.

Anyways this means that if I continue getting the same standard of grades prior to this assignment, the highest grading I can hope to achieve is a pass (with the capped mark I have a chance of getting a merit). I was sailing through the degree up until this point. I had hopes of going on to do a PhD in a few years time after working but I'm assuming this is virtually impossible now? Who is going to want to take on a student who has plagiarised?

What advice can you give me? Is this more or less an academic career killer? or do I have options? Can I explain the situation to the supervisor?