Essay Writing Service Advertisements Banned from Google

I am reluctant to admit it, but I prostituted myself. The advertisement on the Internet freelance writing site sought, of all things, an essay on ethics. The requirement documents meticulously spelled out the parameters and subject of the essay, which piqued my curiosity. It was for an engineering student attending a well known university in Canada. It required a bit of research about engineering ethics' laws in Canadian provinces and was clearly for a student of middle eastern descent. I started to disregard it, but the question the students were asked to write about was really interesting and it did look like fun. Frankly, I hadn't had a writing assignment in several days and was "horny" to put pen to paper. Like a common street walker, I submitted a bid at a ridiculously high price and received a response in less than a minute. The student must have been sitting at his computer prowling the Internet in a state of anticipation, hoping that he would get a quick response. I recall him stating that my price was high and I responded by stating that if he wanted it now, it would cost. Our Internet street negotiations ended quickly with him deciding to accept my proposition and so my foray into writing prostitution began.

I felt confident as I began to write. I knew I would be paid quickly. After all, I knew the school, the course name and had the requirements from the professor's own assignment sheet. The transaction was consummated in less than 24 hours and I was pleased with the product. Surely he would be satisfied. The payment was made quickly and my customer drifted into the obscurity of the Internet streets. I was sure I nailed it, but after reflecting on my work, I felt dirty. I wondered if this individual would later construct a building that would collapse on innocent people. It was then that I began wondering about the professor that would assess and grade the paper. It was absolutely evident in my conversation with my "john" that his command of the English written word was limited. Could the professor really believe that a polished essay with a vocabulary that certainly would betray one with a limited English vocabulary really not be identified as the plagiarized work that it was? I will never know. Actually, I believe my work was really a "three way" with the professor intimately involved in this plagiarist act. I have only done this once and "I did inhale." I choked on the thought of what I had done and have since reclaimed my virginity, even turning down a lucrative writing assignment from a web site that promoted gambling. I have tried to extinguish my immoral behavior from my conscience, but the recent Google ban on essay writing services caused me to have an unwelcome flashback.

Google, responding to pressure from colleges and universities has decided to prohibit writing services that provide dissertations, compositions and essays to students. Plagiarism by college students seems to have exploded over the last decade with many academics suggesting that as many as 25% of all papers and academic writing is the result of this seedy practice. Of course the writing service agencies are complaining vociferously that their services are legitimate. However, their claims sound much like that which emanates from those in the escort service business. Prostitution does indeed take many forms.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that this effort will prove any more fruitful than the efforts that have been dedicated to stamping out the "world's oldest profession." In all probability it will drive more business to freelance writers that engage in this type of work and one can expect to see an increase in the demand for academic writing on the many Internet sites where work is advertised for writers. The monetary rewards for engaging in this unethical behavior are significantly more than most writers receive for their work and they will be challenged not to engage in this endeavor.

The real answer lies in teachers and professors knowing their students and requiring them to submit notes and drafts as well as completing short in class writing assignments where the teacher can establish the talents of a student. The style, tone, vocabulary and capabilities of a writer can be assessed in relatively short writing assignments that could simply be filed away and examined only if an essay or dissertation appears as if it was from other than the hand of the student. This process will accomplish two objectives. First, in the case of providing notes and drafts, it will drive the cost of procuring an essay higher and convince some students that perhaps their own efforts are necessary and second, by having a sample of the students writing on hand one possesses a valid sample for possible later comparison.

Colleges and universities that feel that they have a problem with student plagiarism need to examine their own policies and procedures to stop this practice. Like "neighborhood watch" programs that reduce crime, colleges and universities can control plagiarism if they demonstrate a will. In effect, students that engage a writing prostitute are involving not only themselves and the writer, but the teacher or professor that accepts the work is often a active participant due to laziness, lack of attention or the unwillingness to challenge the writing.