5 Ways To Avoid Freelance Writing For Academic Deceit
We don’t have to compromise education for the sake of money.
Freelance writing is one of the best ways to make money online.
With the ease comes the risk.
In June of 2021, someone asked me for help in writing their dissertation.
Sadly, I was incredibly sick with the flu. It was that time of the year.
I dropped all my work and listened to my body.
Luckily, I had a completely valid excuse to dodge that opportunity.
What is academic deceit?
Academic deceit is when someone does something dishonest to give themselves or someone else an unfair advantage or disadvantage in an academic setting.
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty in all its shapes and forms is now an issue in freelance writing.
For freelance writers who are okay with this: you are compromising your integrity.
More than that, you are part of the larger problem that destroys the value of education.
My words can either sway you or make an enemy out of me.
“Francesca, why are you so affected by this?”
Simple answer: I got through college and graduate school without hiring someone else to write for me. I graduated with integrity.
Also because: These little things shape who you are and who you become.
Here’s a sneak peek of what my Fiverr profile says:
I specifically include that I’m a market researcher, qualitative to be exact.
Naturally, I attract clients who need help with research reports.
Some want a SWOT analysis of their brand, a competitive analysis of the US convenience store industry, or a revitalization plan to help them overhaul their dying reputation.
The client market also includes students.
Some want extra help with their essay on dolphins, fresh eyes to proofread their internship application resume, or someone else to write their thesis & graduate for them & hand-hold them into the working world (I’m kidding).
Platforms like Fiverr can’t gatekeep as much as we’d love them to. Otherwise, they’d probably lose half of their buyers and, ultimately, a large portion of their money.
As a freelance writer, we can be proactive and avoid the pitfalls.
Here are 5 ways to avoid freelance writing for academic deceit:
1) Include a disclaimer on your freelance profile.
Including a disclaimer on your freelance profile is important to avoid academic deceit.
Make it clear that you do not support academic dishonesty.
By including this disclaimer, you are setting expectations with your potential clients and making it clear that you hold yourself to a high ethical standard.
Yes, they pay you to write and research. No, they cannot use your work for evil.
Additionally, incorporating a disclaimer can protect you legally if a client tries to blame you for their academic dishonesty.
Here’s an example of my disclaimer:
2) Do a little background research on your client.
Doing this is another way to avoid academic deceit in freelance writing.
Before accepting a job, do some digging on your client and their organization. Look up their website and social media profiles, read any reviews or testimonials, and check their credentials.
For example, if they are a known provider of essay-writing services, it may be best to decline the job offer. You already know they’re gonna exploit you.
3) Investigate by asking questions.
Trust me, playing detective is quite fun.
Ask questions that will help you understand the nature of the work you are being asked to do, including the intended audience, the level of detail required, and the originality expected. Some clients will even suggest tools for you to use.
Asking questions helps you:
- Learn about client’s background
- Know the final output of their request
- Find out any potential ethical concerns
If something seems off, don’t be afraid to decline the job.
4) Make it clear that you have no legal obligations.
This is for when everything’s found out and you feel like your world is crumbling.
You’re sitting on your desk, reading your client’s message, saying they were caught by their professor because they couldn’t explain what’s in their essay.
Step 1: Take deep breaths
Step 2: Let them know you have no legal obligations
When your client succeeds in making you ghostwrite their school essay, you should have some legal grounding.
Remind them that about this. Make it clear that you have no legal obligations once the student is caught in the process. Plot twist! You were also deceived!
5) Recognize if you’re writing school-level articles.
Clients working on a SaaS project won’t make you write about dolphins.
If the requirements for the paper seem like the same requirements your high school teacher gave you years back, see it as a red flag.
Most clients won’t make you write about topics that you learn in school books. Instead, they usually request for technical writing to be published on their website and research reports for their products or service, among others.
Even the formatting requirements would tell you if it’s a paper that will be handed over to an academic educator.
Freelance writing is a great way to make money online, but it comes with ethical responsibilities.
As writers, let’s be true to ourselves and our craft.
There are thousands of clients out there. You can say no to academic deceit.
By including disclaimers, doing background research on clients, asking the right questions, and recognizing the level of writing required, we can avoid being a part of this problem.
Remember: the value of education should not be compromised for the sake of financial gain.
As freelance writers, we have the power to make a positive impact on the world, so let’s use it wisely.
If you enjoyed this, you’ll love the 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Freelancing where I share some truths that could have helped me a few years back.
