Edubirdie is an online essay writing service that has been met with much controversy since its inception in 2014. While the company markets itself as a way for students to get academic assistance, critics argue that it enables and even encourages academic dishonesty. Let’s take a deeper look into edubirdie quote and the implications of using essay writing services.
How Edubirdie Works
Edubirdie connects customers, usually students, with freelance writers who will complete essays and other academic assignments for a fee. Customers provide specifics about the paper such as the topic, word count or page length, any sources/citations required, and deadline. They then choose a writer based on ratings, qualifications, and price.
Once the order is placed, the writer gets to work. They conduct research, analyze any provided information, develop and support an argument or thesis, and produce a final draft for the customer. Customers can request revisions if not fully satisfied. Payment is processed through the site upon approval.
The Range of Services
Edubirdie offers a wide variety of academic writing assistance beyond just essays. This includes research papers, lab reports, case studies, PowerPoint presentations, article reviews, coursework, admission essays, dissertation chapters, and more. Subjects span all college majors from English and history to sciences and business.
Customers can also purchase pre-written sample essays or have a writer research and outline a paper for them. Edubirdie states all works are written from scratch rather than repurposed. There is no resale of previously submitted papers either.
Quotations from Students
Edubirdie showcases testimonials on its site from purported satisfied customers, boasting things like:
“Edubirdie helped me secure an A on my economics paper when I was swamped with assignments. The writer really understood the prompt and provided detailed analysis. I’d definitely use them again.”
“This service saved me. I had no time to finish an 8-page article review and the deadline was that night. The writer sent me a well-written piece matching my professor’s guidelines. I’m so thankful platforms like this exist for students in a pinch.”
“When I started college, I struggled with writing at the university level. Edubirdie writers coached me on improving my own skills through feedback on drafts. Now I’m a much stronger writer thanks to their guidance.”
The authenticity of these quotes has been challenged by critics who argue the company has financial incentive to portray only positive experiences.
Controversy and Criticisms of Edubirdie
While essay writing services allow students access to expert help, many argue they cross serious ethical lines and should be avoided. Here are some of the major criticisms leveled against edubirdie:
Enables academic dishonesty. By completing essays and taking online classes for students, edubirdie directly facilitates passing another’s work as one’s own, which is considered plagiarism. Even when citations are added, it does not reflect the student’s own abilities and understanding.
Misleads and harms schools/instructors. Professors believe assignments represent students’ own genuine efforts and learning. companies like edubirdie deceive them into assessing fraudulent work product. This wastes instructor time and hinders educational rigor.
Shortcircuits learning process. Doing assignments for pay rather than as a means toward comprehension circumvents the inherent challenges and problem-solving that propels learning forward. It also deprives students of the satisfaction of independent accomplishments.
Risks students’ academic standing. While edubirdie insists on ethical practices, papers written by others will likely not perfectly represent assignment guidelines or catch subtle aspects. This could result in failed/plagiarized grades that damage transcripts.
Raises equity issues. Not all students can afford to outsource large portions of their studies. This gives paid users an unfair advantage over those learning the intended way. It also reinforces gaps between socioeconomic classes.
Promotes dishonest culture. As the use of essay writing services grows, it normalizes deception and lack of integrity as acceptable tactics to ease academic burdens. This influences a larger number of students to engage in behavior damaging to themselves and their institutions.
May still violate school policies. Despite claims of “assistance,” many Colleges/Universities strictly prohibit using third parties to complete course requirements in the student’s place. Edubirdie could enable violations of academic ethics codes.
Quality/reliability questions. While edubirdie asserts credential and native-speaker checks on writers, quality cannot be fully verified or guaranteed. Papers may contain factual errors, weak arguments, inconsistent voice, or other issues. There are also risks of missed deadlines or plagiarized restatements of existing works.
Raises legal questions. Edubirdie operates in a legal gray area, and schools have disputed its business model’s compatibility with their own rules and educational philosophies, with some threatening disciplinary action against students or prohibiting their promotion on campus.
Alternative Perspectives
Supporters argue edubirdie and similar services actually provide a legitimate academic resource for those with special needs or circumstances beyond their control inhibiting independent work. Examples include students with documented learning/health disabilities, single parents balancing school with family responsibilities, or those coping with overwhelming course loads or job/internship commitments.
Some also see it as a way for pupils to access high-caliber subject matter experts when their own instructors may fall short or campus resources feel limited. Papers written in consultation could theoretically still foster learning through feedback exchanges.
If regulations mandated full transparency around use of third parties and banned outright substitution of one’s own efforts, some degree of “coaching” might be viewed as ethically preferable to dropping out of difficult programs. Critics argue the risks still outweigh any benefits, and alternative accommodations could achieve support without dishonesty.
Should Students Use Edubirdie?
After considering these perspectives on edubirdie quote and the nature of essay writing services, the consensus of academic advisory bodies is that students should avoid direct outsourcing of their coursework whenever possible, for both ethical and practical reasons:
It does not align with educational standards of independent work and assessment of a student’s own capabilities.
The deception inevitably harms the integrity of one’s academic record and program.
Quality and fulfillment of guidelines cannot be guaranteed; assignments may still result in failed grades if not a true reflection of the student’s own learning.
Even with full disclosure to instructors, many schools prohibit third-party assistance beyond basic proofreading or tutoring help to avoid equity issues.
Alternative accommodations exist like reduced course loads, extensions, or training/resources rather than total substitution to still earn one’s own degree.
While edubirdie and its defenders emphasize their role helping time-strapped or struggling learners, academics argue the proper recourse is negotiating honest support through official channels, not deception. Students are generally best served developing self-sufficiency through diligent practice versus outsourcing.
In the end, each student must weigh these considerations for themselves, but integrity, full disclosure to their institution, and prioritizing independent comprehension over expediency would mitigate the major ethical issues with essay writing services. An edubirdie quote alone does not capture complex realities involving their use in academia.
Andrew Stroud