[cutemonster]

I was going to write sth similar -- that if a writing assignment seems pointless from a student's point of view, and s/he thinks the study time is better spent in other ways, maybe coding a software program instead,

Then to some extent I could sympathize with those who plagiarize. ... If it's to save time for something more on topic they think.

But if it's a writing class, then, no! Or writing about history or society etc