Comment by HarHarVeryFunny

> So indeed I would claim that a lot of sensible reasons why things are this way actually are post-hoc rationalizations.

Perhaps, but still I think that responses to questioning about an essay that the student did actually write will come a lot more quickly and naturally, even if they indicate that not much thought was put into it, than if they realize they are being called out for cheating and and have to make something up on the spot, since they didn't at least read it carefully!