Need Advice...At a cross roads, to lie or not to lie?

Question

Recently in one of my classes, I did an assignment in class but never turned it. I don't remember being asked to turn it in either, and this is most likely because I came to class(1st hour) a couple minutes late about 4 times during that month because of bad weather and traffic so I must have missed out on being able to turn it in. I would remember if I was asked, my memory is excellent, I can recall things vividly that most people barely remember. 

Now, I have a zero and 90% overall between both quarters, and have to get an A on my mid term to get an A, which is incredibly difficult...

My options are:

1. Explain my situation and hope for credit.
2. Forge the points onto the paper and simply tell her she made a mistake.

On many many occasions I have been offered the answers to a test or quiz, and I have declined because I would rather fail truthfully than do well knowing I cheated. I have been offered copies of stolen exams(mid terms and finals), and declined. I have been asked to lie to my parents many many times before while with my friends for the opportunity to do something that I know they would say no to. I have had the chance at a birthday party with 15 other people to do things that are considered... "bad" if you know what I mean, my parents would not have found out, I declined. 

You get the point, I don't cheat and have been truthful throughout life and school, but I always end up getting screwed while cheaters get away with cheating. Now, I am contemplating just forging the signature because I am 99% sure that my teacher will simply refuse to give me credit for the assignment, and If that happens and I end up with say...an 88 on the exam, I may as well have gotten an 80 in that semester, because it is the same as 89 GPA wise.

My parents tell me to just trust in god and study, but I did that last year in a different class and ended up 4 points shy and lost my A.

What would you do?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Some items of your question don't exactly equate.  If this is a "mid-term", it wouldn't be time to be concerned about your final grade.  If you have a "zero" and a "90% overall between both quarters" an A on a single test would not promote your final grade to an A unless it carried at least a 90% weight of your overall grade.  -  990/1100 = .90 = 90%

That being questioned, assuming this is a college you are referencing, receiving a B instead of an A in this one class would only reduce your overall GPA by .025.  For instance if you had a 4.0 grade point average at the end of your college career, it would only be reduced to a 3.975.  Still better than 99.5% of all your classmates.  It seems you have already received a B in another course, so a "perfect" record is unattainable at this point no matter what you decide.

Those are the hard facts of the case.  Now ask yourself if you want to be a cheater and liar or not.  Whether you did or didn't hear the professor ask for the assignment is elementary.  You did not turn it in at the appropriate time.  Talk to the professor and explain the situation and move on with your life.  Future employers will be unconcerned with a .025 difference in GPA and that is the only concern you should have.

The First Dragon · Answer

Make your case to your teacher the same way you have made it to us on Y!A.  
I don't know you, but your argument is pretty convincing.  
If you can't get to talk to the teacher in a satisfactory way, write a letter.  That will likely be more impressive than just talking, anyway.
It is not worth lying to get an A, even if it wasn't your fault.
Grades are somewhat important, but somewhat over-rated.  Character is more important.
We need more good people in the world, not more people with high grades.

credo quia est absurdum · Answer

You tell us that you already have a record of truthfulness so why would you consider soiling that record? 
Just talk to your instructor and ASK to not "hope" for credit on that paper.  A reasonable explanation will go a long way with a good teacher.

Anonymous · Answer

Well show ur teacher the asighnment it should be dated anyways so that way when you explain it to ur teacher u got ur proof plus ur teacher will probally Give u another excitment worth the same points

Macgyver · Answer

If you forge it it may come back to haunt you. You could get in a lot of trouble. Possibly suspension.

Trending News

Need Advice...At a cross roads, to lie or not to lie?

5 Answers