How to Use Chegg Correctly

How to Use Chegg Correctly Summary List

Introduction to Chegg:

• Chegg is widely used for academic services, especially homework solutions.

• Many students misuse it by copying answers instead of learning the material.

Chegg's Reliability:

• Chegg is reliable for certain courses like General Chemistry, Math, and early core subjects.

• Accuracy declines in advanced major-specific courses.

Risks of Misuse:

• Copying answers without understanding leads to poor learning.

• Incorrect Chegg solutions are common in higher-level courses, making it risky to rely on.

Plagiarism Concerns:

• Chegg misuse can lead to plagiarism, with professors easily spotting copied solutions.

Proper Use of Chegg:

• Chegg should be used as a study guide, not for copying.

• It helps clarify problems but must be cross-referenced with textbooks or other resources.

Best Practices:

• Use Google Search instead of Chegg's built-in search for better results.

• Verify solutions by comparing them with textbook answers.

• Collaborate with classmates to understand the material.

Using Chegg for Study:

• Chegg can be useful for exam preparation and problem-solving when used alongside textbooks.

• It's a time-saver but should complement, not replace, learning from class.

Professors' Awareness:

• Many professors know about Chegg and may set traps by posting incorrect solutions.

Exams vs. Homework:

• Relying too much on Chegg for homework can backfire during exams, where genuine understanding is tested.

Consequences of Misuse:

• Overuse of Chegg early in college hampers learning skills and long-term success.

How to Use Chegg Correctly

If you have been to college in recent years, you've probably heard of Chegg. Chegg is a full-study tool used in college to provide study services like homework solutions, homework help, and many other academic services. This article focuses on more of their homework solution services since this is what tends to be abused when you are in college and when you're studying. It's so easy to just copy down the answer on Chegg after looking up the problem solution for your homework.

This can be a problem in that you are not learning the material. You are just copying down the answers. Chegg is usually right at the beginning of your college career with the core courses but as you move further into your major the content is not as accurate and can be more and more risky to use. Examples of Chegg courses that usually have the correct answers are listed below. 

• General Chemistry 

• Math up to Calculus Two

• General Physicals 

• Some of Statics 

• Statistics

• Some of Mechanics of Materials

• Some of Dynamics  

From personal experience, I have graded homework for classes while in college and there was a specific assignment that Chegg had a solution for that was incorrect. With that being the case, you could tell what kids were using Chegg and what kids weren't. This can be a very bad thing because it can lead to plagiarism and you can get in huge trouble for this.

Another unfortunate thing about your Chegg’s solution database is that as you progress further in your major there are less and less solution problems to look at to check and make sure the answers are correct. So, it becomes less and less dependable and less and less useful. If you do copy down the problems, you will get the incorrect answers and you risk getting caught. Because the answers and the solution that you have are likely so incorrect that it's blatantly obvious. Like I said before from my grading standpoint it's not that difficult to put two and two together especially when much of the class has the same incorrect answer. Yes, the case can be made that you are just working with other friends but still, you shouldn't be getting the same thing. Each problem should be worked out slightly differently or have a slightly different personal aspect to it instead of having the same steps laid out in the same way by multiple students.

Another thing that happens is with many math courses and other problem-based courses there may be the same problem but with different coefficients or variables and you can use Chegg to check homework as a template. You can use Chegg as a reference and help guide your learning in that sense but again you don't want to just straight up copy the solutions and you should try to learn it on your own. I'm not fully against Chegg. I do think it's a good study tool and if used correctly can help you in your studying and learning as you progress through college. It helps fill the gaps of what you have not learned in your classes or what you should have learned in your classes. But if you are not copying the answers from Chegg and using it as a guide. Then there shouldn’t be a problem. However, understanding the coursework is important so you know that the solutions on Chegg are correct and not leading you in the wrong direction.

How do you go about making sure that the answers are correct and then if they are incorrect what do you do after the fact? So, first of all, if you have a Chegg account the Chegg search is not as good as the Google search when you type your question into the search bar. The Google search bar is so much better than the Chegg website search bar. Additionally, it is good practice if you have textbook problems you can generally look at the back of the book for the solutions to those textbook problems and then Chegg many times will have a workout solution for those textbook problems and if the answers match it's probably correct. This is one of the surefire ways to know that the answers given on Chegg are correct and you can trust the source of the answers.

However, when you progress farther into your major you may not have this luxury, and the only way to confirm that the answers are correct is you'll have to look at multiple Chegg posts as well as compare with other students in your class with the homework. Working together with others is needed to make it through college. At this point, Chegg is just a guide for you as you work through the classes to give you an idea of where you should go because, by the time you vet between your friends and Chegg and yourself, you should have a better understanding of what the homework entails. You can also use other resources like YouTube to learn the topic fully and you should never just straight-up copy a Chegg post. Working out the problem yourself is always the correct answer and simply using Chegg as a reference is the way to go. 

Chegg is also nice to use as a study tool when you're working out problems and trying to learn problems for an exam. Chegg and be used as a back reference if you keep getting the problem wrong compared to the textbook. Since a lot of textbook problems don’t give you worked-out solutions and some don’t even give you the answers to the problems. Chegg like I said before, has worked out homework problems and they may explain things a little bit better with the workout solution than the professors in your classes do. Since the solutions will cut to the point of the problems. This will help streamline your studying and ultimately make you take less time to study. Because it gets rid of the hurdle of actually trying to piece together everything you've learned in your class and then rummaging through YouTube. Chegg just gets you to the point of how to approach each type of problem if you know how to check solutions with the textbook. I can't stress enough that you need to make sure that the textbook solution and the Chegg solutions match otherwise it's probably not correct if it's the same question.

Another thing to warn you about is professors know about Chegg it's whether or not they care enough to do something about it. So, I'd be very careful about how you use Chegg to keep your academic integrity. I have even heard cases where professors may have posted the incorrect solution to some of the homework problems that they have provided. They do this intentionally to catch you using Chegg. I have not experienced this myself but I have heard of it happening.

It is also unfortunate that professors make exams such a high part of your grade and then homework a low part of your grade but you still want to maximize your homework grade. So, then a lot of people will just try to get the right answers for the homework and not learn or care about anything else. This is where Chegg turns into a crutch. I am sure Chegg was not made to be used this way. Students will do this out of necessity to keep their grades up in college as a lifeline and try to get an A in their class or a buffer for points lost on their exams.

This is not the correct thought process to have and I believe the creators of Chegg probably didn't have this in mind when they created it. But just like any tool in the world it can be used incorrectly and abused. But the tool can also be used correctly and help you in your learning or your work. I suggest you use Chegg with caution and use it correctly. Otherwise, there can be major consequences for you while you're in college, and look at everything you can lose because of being essentially lazy. 

Another problem that arises if you use Chegg all the time at the beginning of college is that you don't learn how to learn. Then you fail your exams but do good on your homework and then once Chegg stops being helpful you do not know how to approach any of your classes or how to learn any of the content in your classes. It ultimately will take you twice as long because you're doing catch up in both aspects of your coursework. 

In conclusion, I do think Chegg can be a good resource for your studying and you’re learning while in college but I would be very careful how you use Chegg. It is important to remember that a lot of professors know about Chegg and it's up to them if they care or not but it's also up to you to use Chegg correctly if you do end up getting a subscription.

Liability Disclaimer

The content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and reflects the opinions of the author. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties or representations regarding the completeness or reliability of the information. Any actions you take based on the content of this blog are at your own risk. We are not liable for any errors or omissions, or for any consequences that may arise from the use of this information. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

© 2024 Universityshortcuts