Dbq Honor Code

Every school, no matter its ranking, faces the possibility of plagiarism. As a result, honor codes have been implemented as a solution. By definition, these codes are established to ensure that each and every student develops and executes a sense of integrity. These codes could alter the environment of a school, whether it has more severe punishments than another. The integrity of these codes solely depends upon the actions and influences of the students. Schools, including my own, should maintain their honor code if it presents fair expectations and illustrates a positive way of developing stronger morality.

Schools should maintain their honor codes if the rules do not make the students uncomfortable. The concept of having more rules to follow

will most likely destroy the students’ interest and willingness to participate. It not likely that a student enjoys the idea of having another rule to adhere to. Additionally, students may agree and support the honor code, unless the act of following of the code goes against his or her peers or status. For example, Vangelli in Document B states, “Students opposed this obligation to take action against another student… They feared that a mandate to confront peers would create frictions.” These words prove that students will more likely follow the honor code if it is not a burden; it is less appealing to carry an excessive responsibility. Us, as students, have enough pressure riding on our backs to do well academically, so it’s important to see that schools, like my own, promote an honor code that grants students enough freedom but also enforces punishments; it is a balanced deal.
The honor code at my school ensures that students feel trusted in their environment.

When walking into school, students, more often than not, would like to know that their teachers entrust them to complete an assignment faithfully. However, if a student does cheat or plagiarize, it is up to the teacher to take action. In order for the honor code to work, students should know their teachers trust them to complete an assignment faithfully. For instance, Bacall’s cartoon in Document A demonstrates actions of stronger honor codes to stop plagiarism and cheating with the use of cameras. Meanwhile, this action of inserting cameras in classrooms would only make students tense, feel pressured and intimidated, which ruins their education and comfort in their school environment. This is the opposite of what students expect when coming to school. On the contrary, when entering a class on the first day of my high school, students read the honor code, which entitles each student the right to speak up but does not only bestow the responsibility on them; students are expected not to cheat but also to speak up if you feel uncomfortable doing so. Therefore, students feel comfortable in the school environment and the honor code works

efficiently.
Although some may argue the honor at my school is excessive, it provides structure and efficiency to the school.

Honor codes differ amongst schools; however, each one provides a sense of how the school is run. The retributions listed in the honor code shows the freedoms the staff provides the students. Document C states that the success of honor codes “depends on ‘culture of academic integrity’ that leads students to take enforcement of the rules seriously.” In other words, the fairness and expectations of the school match with the students’ capabilities and interests, then the code will work. With some experience, I am able to see that it is important for both students and faculty to reach a consensus and find suitable terms; as a result, each goal is achieved and future confrontation can be

avoided.
The use of honor codes, specifically the one in my high school, should be kept because it is fair and reliable to develop integrity within the student body. Students look to have reciprocated trust and respect from their teachers, which greatly impacts the success of the honor code. If not for the stable and efficient honor code at my high school, students- including myself- would likely either be under the constant, unpleasant vigilance or found in an environment of cheating. Either way, systems will collapse without an agreement.