Is EssayShark Legitimate? An In-Depth Review
EssayShark is an essay writing service that claims to provide quality, original essays written by professional writers to students in need. Some critics argue that essay writing services enable plagiarism and cheating. In this in-depth review, we will take an objective look at EssayShark to determine whether it is a legitimate service or not.
About EssayShark
EssayShark is an online essay writing service that has been operating since 2009. Based in the United States, EssayShark connects students who need help with their assignments to professional essay writers who can complete the work from scratch.
Students can place an order for any type of academic paper, including essays, research papers, case studies, coursework, and more. EssayShark writers come from a variety of educational backgrounds and claim to hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in their field.
Once an order is placed, the customer is connected with a writer who can complete the paper. The writers have a deadline of 10-15 days to submit a plagiarism-checked final draft. Students can provide specific instructions and requirements and communicate directly with the writer during the writing process.
EssayShark reviews its writers regularly to ensure high quality. It promises original, customized papers that are properly cited and formatted according to academic guidelines. The service also offers revisions and a refund policy if customers are unsatisfied.
Is Plagiarism an Issue?
One of the major concerns about using essay writing services is plagiarism. Since the papers are written by third parties rather than the students themselves, there is a risk the work may not be original or unique.
EssayShark claims to have robust plagiarism detection software and educated writers who are trained to avoid copied content. All papers are submitted through Turnitin or other programs to check for plagiarism before being delivered to clients.
The site also says its Terms of Use clearly prohibit writers from reusing old papers or selling the same content to multiple students. Since the work is customized for each order, writers would find it difficult to plagiarize themselves.
The potential for recycled or duplicated work still exists on some level with these types of services. Students also run the risk of having their assignment flagged by Turnitin later on if it is determined to not be fully original after all.
Client Reviews and Satisfaction Rates
One way to gauge the legitimacy of EssayShark is by checking reviews from past customers. Major review sites like Trustpilot give EssayShark an average rating of 3.8/5 stars based on thousands of reviews.
Positive reviews praise the service for high quality papers written by professional US-based writers. Satisfied customers say EssayShark delivered papers on time that earned them good grades. The customer support team is also highlighted for being responsive.
Some one-star reviews criticize EssayShark for plagiarized or low-quality work that missed important requirements. A few complain of delays in receiving completed orders. Some also question the authenticity of five-star reviews on the site.
EssayShark itself reports an average 89% satisfaction rate based on internal surveys. The company states it offers revisions and refunds for any orders that do not meet expectations. This allows for recourse if subpar work slips through quality checks.
The mixed reviews indicate EssayShark may deliver high quality for most orders but inconsistent results are still possible in some cases. As with any third-party service, there are no guarantees of satisfaction.
Is it Actually Legal?
The ethics and legality of using essay writing services is still debated in academia. On one hand, they are a business providing a service students choose to purchase. Some argue it enables dishonesty and undermines the purpose of learning assessments.
Technically, companies like EssayShark are operating legally as long as original content is produced for each order. Individual schools and colleges have their own policies prohibiting purchased academic work as plagiarism or cheating.
Students risk facing plagiarism accusations or even expulsion depending on how strict a given institution’s honor code is. Essay writing services cannot protect users from policy violations or consequences at their school.
It is also worth noting the papers themselves may be of varying quality and depth of understanding since written by third parties, not students. Simply purchasing and submitting assignments risks shortchanging one’s education.
The Bottom Line
Based on the evidence, EssayShark appears to be operating as a legitimate business providing original custom essays. But there are still inherent risks students must consider for academic honesty and learning:
Papers may be inconsistent in quality control and some plagiarism could slip through.
Schools may consider outsourced papers as academic dishonesty depending on honor codes.
Relying solely on purchased work risks shortchanging one’s education versus doing assignments independently.
Not all writers can perfectly capture a student’s individual instructions and needs.
While reviews indicate most EssayShark orders satisfy customers, students must weight academic integrity standards at their own institutions as the highest priority. Outsourcing all work is not recommended, but EssayShark seems reasonably trustworthy if used judiciously and for minor assistance only. Ultimately the choice falls to each student’s discretion.
EssayShark operates a real business model providing custom papers to paying clients. But legitimate does not necessarily mean without risk – students must consider academic honesty and learning outcomes above all else when deciding whether services align with their educational needs and goals. Due diligence is advised for any outsourced academic work.
Andrew Stroud