Sentry Page Protection

Role Play Scenario 27


​Your best friend, Marie, has given you a hard drive containing their revision notes, which they have spent a long time on and are proud of. When leaving the library one evening, you pick up a different hard drive by mistake, and go home without realising. You realise the next day. As far as you are aware, this is the only copy of the notes.

In this role play, you may speak to Marie.


​Excellent Student Approach
1.         Introduction
2.         Open Questions
3.         Develop Rapport
4.         Address the issues known
5.         Identify any additional issues
6.         Summary and plan going forward

1 - Call Marie and let them know what has happened.
2 - Be straightforward and honest. Signpost first, to let them know the direction of the conversation - ‘I appreciate you lending me your hard-drive however I have some bad news unfortunately.’ Ensure you apologise quickly and sincerely.
3 - Be patient if they are initially angry, or if they have many questions.
4 - Carefully explain the situation, and how you lost the hard drive. The situation can quite possibly be rescued. You have taken the correct first step - letting them know about the problem as soon as it arose. The next is to try to find it. You may wish to call the library, or go in person. Explain what has happened, and provide them with the hard drive you took by mistake. Give them a mobile number to contact you on. Hopefully, the owner of the other hard drive will bring your one back.
5 - As a fallback, it may be possible to find the owner of the hard drive you have taken by accessing it - they will likely have named essays on it. However, consult the university staff on this; it may contravene university policy.
6 - After returning the hard drive, wait to be contacted by the university. Assure your friend that you are aware of how important it is, and that you will do everything you can to get it back.