Introduction
This session follows on from the 'Original thinking' Live Learning session.
In the documentary "Exploring the essay mill industry," an essay mill is described as "a business that allows
customers to commission an original piece of writing on a particular topic so that they may commit academic
fraud''. In this session you will hear how different people involved in higher education feel about this.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson you will be better able to:
- understand various opinions on students' academic responsibilities as members of a university community.
* Key tasks: 6, 7, 8, 9, 11
Each task with a star * indicates that this is a key task and must be completed.
Consolidation: Discussion board
Working by yourself
* Task 6
Initial listening
There are 6 speakers in the documentary giving different opinions on the use of essay mills in
higher education. Listen to the documentary and write down which of the phrases (a - l) below
are used by the various speakers. Write the letters next to their names.
* Task 7
Before listening
Before you listen again use the macro strategy of prediction to help you understand better.
- How you think each speaker feels about the issue of using essay mills in higher education and why?
- What clues will help you decide their attitude?
* Task 8
While listening
While you listen, think about the following macro strategies to help you understand better:
- monitor your understanding of the information
- respond to what you hear from what you already know about the topic
- clarify anything that is not clear by thinking of questions you would like to ask
- infer by making reasonable guesses using background knowledge of the topic
- evaluate by asking yourself if you have understood the main points and people's opinions
Now listen to the documentary carefully again and make notes on how each speaker feels about essay mills and their reasons why.
| a. Lord Michael Storey (Liberal Democrat Politician) |
| b. Doctor Thomas Lancaster (Academic Expert) |
| c. Daniel Dennehy (Chief Operating Officer for essay mill company) |
| d. Josephine Spanswick (senior student advisor) |
| e. Miles Lockwood (Advertising Standards Authority officer) |
| f. Doctor Mark Sergeant (senior psychology lecturer) |
* Task 9
After listening
Now check your notes using the macro strategies you studied before:
Predict, monitor, respond, clarify, infer, evaluate
Task 10
After listening
Listen again, check your notes and add any additional information.
* Task 11
After listening
Write how you feel about essay mills as this will be the basis of a group discussion.
Go to >> My Group Discussions
