Conclusion

Rather than ending in the scary no-go zone, let’s get back to talking about something positive at the end of this chapter: most professors are aware that students work together and need help sometimes, and are almost always willing to accommodate that need, whether that means professors or TAs answering questions by email or during office hours (we’re usually more than happy to help out!), pointing students to free on-campus services, clarifying policies about collaboration and a whole host of other things. The nice thing about studying at a university is that we’re all in this together, and that most people want to create an environment in which students can succeed academically. Getting some types of help with your academic work is totally normal, and not against the rules. While learning the ropes of academic writing and other types of work can be difficult, there are plenty of people here to help.

I’ve been teaching at universities for fifteen years, and I rarely run into students who clearly spend most of their time in the no-go zone. I know it happens, and I wish it didn’t, but what I encounter most often is students who genuinely want to complete their work the right way, but are sometimes confused about what the rules are and where the lines are drawn. Every university and every course is different, but I hope this chapter has given you a helpful framework you can use for thinking about what kind of help you might want to seek when you need it.