To get help writing an essay

[Crazyuksystem]

Do people get help with essays?Do you pay someone to do it with you? Or do it for you?

It is secondary school but quite important part of the qualification

Well, you get training and work for a period of time as a tutor. You go to more training every year to get CEUs—-continuing education units. You participate in conferences with tutors from other Universities. Your boss recommends you. That sort of thing. You demonstrate effective tutoring with students from a variety of backgrounds and various levels of mastery. You are aware of, sensitive to, and able to adapt to students with special needs, such as Autism, ADHD, English as a Second Language, dyslexia, or auditory processing issues. It helps to like people and be interested in them.

Who issues the certification?

The College Reading and Learning Association, I think. It’s been a while. Why? Do you find anything I’ve said unacceptable?

What subject requires you to write an essay of 10,000 words?

No- I agree with practically everything you say. But I am always curious about people’s qualifications.

Okay. I respect that. I love tutoring, by the way. I love when people who think they’re stupid discover that they’re really not. It’s like watching kids tie their shoe laces for the first time. They’re so surprised and delighted and proud. And I know that they will continue to learn how good they can be. Maybe not the best, but GOOD. Sometimes, that new confidence inspires them to try harder in other areas. Sometimes, they think, “Well, if a writing tutor helped me, maybe a maths tutor could too.” And I am happy.

If you ask chat GPT ton write the whole thing it will be spotted, but do give it the title and ask for a structure. Then cut and paste a full draft in and ask it if you’ve missed any major points. If you’ve written too much or too little ask it where to cut/ where needs more. If you have a mark scheme cut and paste that in and it will tell you where you are losing marks. Might be worth paying for the main version for a month. This is not a suggestion to get it to write it for you but to help it improve your own writing.
We were told by a lecturer to consider it a junior research assistant, you don’t hand in their work but can get them to do some leg work for you

Is this the qualification? Are you sure 10000 is not a typo? And really is 1000 words? ‘For Level 2 drama qualifications (equivalent to 4 GCSEs), the required written coursework assignments are highly condensed, with the longest single piece of writing capped between 1,000 and 2,000 word’

My exam board for GCSE does not permit any use of AI. This person is NOT at uni.

I have no doubts at all that a) the tecaher has explained a structure and helped and guided students and b) the OP wasn't listening.

Having supported my DD through performing arts 6th form and degree, there were always options. Her degree dissertation she handed in her 2,000 word research document and recorded a 15 minute performance piece to go with it - so about another 2,000 words there. She had to hand in her script as well.
She had term essays for contextual studies again they were 2,000 words max.
At 6th form she says had options so could vlog instead of writing. There were no large essays and this was 3 A-levels. Have you asked if there is an alternative to a written piece?

They can’t tell and can’t disqualify even if they suspect it as a result. I’m an academic and am sick of colleagues who even attempt to fight it. Most students now use it, it’s just a fact. I’m not arsed about them using it whatsoever but I always tell them a bad essay is a bad essay so if they just paste something from GPT and don’t even look at the contents, it will be a shit essay. There still has to be an element of your own mind pouring into it I.e you have to prompt the AI with your own critical thinking, you can’t just say “write this essay”.

Additionally, it still hallucinates sources so you need to find your sources independently and can’t rely on it for that. It obvs only has access to open sources too so a lot would get lost if you just purely relied on it. Rather than act like a stupid AI hunter as some colleagues do, I just fail a bad essay if it merits it.

I think you don't understand GCSE work. It is largely done in school. Teachers will help with the planning. There is no use of sources.

It doesn't matter whether they can 'tell' or not - it says in the spec that it is not permitted and students sign a cover sheet stating it wasn't used.

This isn't a university dissertation. It will be a simple piece of (probably) reflective writing. Almost certainly 1000 words.

There is something that is utterly wrong with OP's story.

Good to see cheating is alive and well. Here's a clue, if you can't write the essay yourself you don't reach the required standard to achieve the qualification.

English is not my first language and I wish I could help them more with writing but It is beyond me.

It is a performing arts school, her strand is worth 4 GCSEs. It is 10,000 words, probably had to be done throughout the year. Specific questions and I am sure the teacher gave them guidance. Still we are not great with writing, not even DH whose English is his native language.

I think it is a bit late and probably better DC focus on the other subjects.

Unfortunately the UK is all about exams and results and the pressure they put on such a young kids is crazy in my opinion. Basically if you fail you will fail in life, that’s the message they get. An exam and results factory which kills all creativity and imagination; but that is for another thread.

I wrote that much for my BA dissertation. I’m not sure why a GCSE would need 10k words. Took em about a week.

MA thesis was 25,000. Now that was tough 😂

OP, most kids don’t do the qualification your child is doing so it’s certainly not a UK issue. She surely chose the subject knowing the requirements?

If your daughter was meant to do this work throughout the year and is just doing it now that is down to her. She has simply not done her work. She should ask her teacher and school for help and guidance on where to start.

Something that is "worth 4 GCSEs" is not the same as a GCSE.

The information you are giving is deliberately vague, and one can only assume it's so you get the answer you are looking for.

However, to be clear, it's never okay to cheat in academic work, regardless of the circumstances.

No, you actually biologically can’t write more than 9996

Can you confirm that this is the UAL diploma at least OP?

If so, all the written work - which is reflective- is done continuously and can be done in the form of journals, blogs , notes - it isn't prescribed and is continual work rather than a sudden essay.

This 10000 words will be across multiple modules and done through out the year.

It is extremely different from the demands of a GCSE.

I don't disagree that the English system is assessment obsessed but this is a very different issue.

ETA you say creativity is stifled but this qualification is extremely creative and assessed in a way that many teachers and students would kill for.

OK-I’ve just reread this thread and I have more questions. I’m wondering if this is a misunderstanding about BTecs. A BTec Level 2 is equivalent to 4 GCSEs and BTec Performing Arts is well regarded. However it is, as far as I know, almost, if not completely, course work and practical based. There is NO WAY it requires 10,000 words. OP-you really need to talk to your DD’s tutor as a matter of urgency. I’m pretty sure of my facts, but I could be wrong of course. You need to talk to the source.

For us to help please answer the following questions.

What is the full name of the qualification your child is taking?

Eg is it BTEC Level 2 Theatre Studies or is it a Cambridge National or OCR or something else?

When did your child start this course?

Are they at school or a college?

I've taught a lot of BTEC and they allow a lot of leniency in assessment and it is done over the year or 2 years of the course.

A a teacher I would never expect a long essay as the only assessment.

I suspect your child has not been doing the coursework and is now in a panic.

Ds had to do something similar for his BTEC at college. Essentially a dissertation type piece of work which needed to be done alongside a more practical element (in his case coding and creating an animation) The college will have information available as to the length, structure and marks scheme, so makes sure your dc has made sure they have found all of that guidance.

find the syllabus online and also check what is in there.

do an outline structure as a pp has suggested and break it down into chunks. Referencing was an important part of the task, so again make sure they know what kind of referencing is required and how to do it.

it was a project that took place over several months so there should be time (unless they have left it to the last minute and the deadline is now due?)

I suspect the DC has just not done the continuous work required for this assessment and now her mother wants to cheat for her. If it’s such a mess @Crazyuksystem needs to see the college tutor.

As PPs have said, this is a very creatively involved assessment which is continuous and self-reflective. It models the way a lot of artists (in all genres and media) work. It can’t be done at the last minute.

It’s not a “crazy UK system” it’s highly regarded training for young people in the creative arts. You don’t see these creative ways of being assessed in many others countries, actually.

This would get your assessment failed at the uni I work at. You would be called to a meeting and asked about your work. It is very obvious when this method has been used. It is also good way to write an essay which fails because it doesn't meet the assessment brief.

That sounds more understandable OP. Essentially 2500 words per equivalent gcse subject. But this will have been something your DC ought to have been cracking on with much earlier.

I do understand your words about the seemingly overwhelming emphasis on exams, results and pressure, and I do think that as a society we perhaps need better systems to signal and provide alternative pathways.

Unfortunately, though, this seems to have been something your dc committed to and, pressure aside, they have to fulfil the demands of a course if they want to move through it.