Be aware, though, that principals are generally going to side with the teacher, no matter what. Is there a guidance counselor at your school? Maybe that is the person to whom you can talk.

Further, and again, if you TRULY are innocent, you probably should get your parents involved NOW. You wouldn’t want to appear to be hiding something from them, especially if, as you say, you have nothing to hide. Their support will be important to you when you go to someone other than your teacher about this problem. If you do get your parents involved, however, they should go FIRST to the teacher, with you, for a private discussion of the problem.

Finally, if your teacher is right, and you are guilty on some account, you had best admit it now to your parents, ask them to come with you to talk to the teacher to see how you can make up for whatever infraction you have committed, and take your medicine. Lying about anything only makes things worse.

If you bought a term paper written in perfect English and turned it in, you are *never* going to convince the teacher that you wrote it. So may as well confess. Best wishes to you.