Persuasive Essay On The Honor Code

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The Honor Code A quote spoken by once famous philosopher Aristotle states as such: “Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them,” (Motivational & Inspirational Corner). This quote very reasonably explains what it means to possess either an honor code or an academic honor code. Simply put, the self-dignity that comes along with properly following an honor code does not come by possessing such honors, but by deserving what is given to you by taking the code seriously. An individual who follows such a code honestly would be someone who deserves the honor; however, someone who does not follow the code in complete honesty would be someone who possesses the honor with no meaning or pride behind it. An honor code is a very
Notre Dame being a highly known and well established school incorporated an honor code into their system in 1989 (University of Notre Dame). Their honor code very thoroughly explains the rules the students are trusted and expected to follow, and failure to comply with these rules can result in punishment. Looking at the specific cheating aspect of the code, students who fail to comply with the code can have punishment ranging anywhere from receiving an overall failing grade for the class to expulsion from the school (University of Notre Dame). Generally, most students who are aware of such rules will not abide against them. In fact, it was found in a study by the Center for Academic Integrity that only 23% of students who went to schools that instituted honor codes cheated, while that number was much higher compared to schools that did not enforce any type of honor code, the number being almost half of the students that went there (Character.org). With the knowledge that their peers can report them for cheating and put their higher education at risk, few to none students will go against these rules. Also, most students will not abide against them due to the fact of self-guilt that comes along with cheating, knowing fully well that they are given the privilege to work and test take as they please. Students who know what is at risk by cheating
As stated in an article on the success of honor codes, “…with honor codes , expectations determine reality” (Dirmeyer and Cartwright, The Chronicle of Higher Education). This statement perfectly introduces the concept that honor codes have an enormous effect on one’s character. Students who choose to follow the honor code are students who will generally be more honorable, honest, and trustworthy in their lives afterwards. While undergoing an honor code throughout their academic career, they will be able to take serious matters in life seriously, as they should be rightfully doing. Students who learn what it means to be honorable early on will understand that going about things “the easy way” is not how work should be done, whether it be for school or their career. Doing honest and hard work is the way in which you earn respect from others and are able to properly partake in self-pride and dignity. This creates a student with a profound character, and the more people we see like this in life, the more successful society

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