Plagiarisms, Authorship, and the Plagiarisms, Authorship, and the Academic Death PenaltyAcademic Death Penalty

Rebecca Moore HowardRebecca Moore Howard

Katherine SanfordKatherine Sanford

What is plagiarism?What is plagiarism?

According to Merman-Webster Online According to Merman-Webster Online Dictionary:Dictionary: To steal or pass off (the ideas or words of To steal or pass off (the ideas or words of

another) as one’s ownanother) as one’s own To use (another’s production) without To use (another’s production) without

crediting the sourcecrediting the source To commit literary theftTo commit literary theft To present as new and original an idea or To present as new and original an idea or

product derived from an existing sourceproduct derived from an existing source

How widespread is How widespread is plagiarism?plagiarism?

Is it merely a case of people not Is it merely a case of people not understanding the definition of understanding the definition of plagiarism?plagiarism?

Who plagiarizes and why?Who plagiarizes and why? Here are a few examples:Here are a few examples:

Case 1: William RaftiCase 1: William Rafti

William Rafti is a self-proclaimed expert in body William Rafti is a self-proclaimed expert in body piercings who published an ebook entitled piercings who published an ebook entitled The Body The Body Piercing EncyclopediaPiercing Encyclopedia, , which he claimed was a which he claimed was a replacement for the published APP manual. However, replacement for the published APP manual. However, much of the information in the ebook was taken nearly much of the information in the ebook was taken nearly verbatim from the online glossary of BME, the most verbatim from the online glossary of BME, the most extensive web site and information source on body extensive web site and information source on body modification.modification.

Shannon Larratt, the founder of BME, went through the Shannon Larratt, the founder of BME, went through the ebook and made note of the places where Rafti had ebook and made note of the places where Rafti had plagiarized.plagiarized.

An example of plagiarismAn example of plagiarism

BME’s entryBME’s entry EMLA Cream: it should be EMLA Cream: it should be

noted that while EMLA noted that while EMLA cream is over-the-counter cream is over-the-counter in Canada, it is a in Canada, it is a prescription-only prescription-only substance in most substance in most countries, including the countries, including the US. In addition, its US. In addition, its application may be illegal application may be illegal for piercers or tattooists to for piercers or tattooists to do.do.

Rafti’s entryRafti’s entry EMLA Cream: EMLA Cream: EMLA EMLA

cream is over-the-counter cream is over-the-counter in Canadain Canada, but , but it is a it is a prescription-only prescription-only substance in mostsubstance in most other other countries, countries, including the including the US.US. Its application may Its application may be illegal for piercers or be illegal for piercers or tattooists to do.tattooists to do.

Case 2: Cassie EdwardsCase 2: Cassie Edwards

Cassie Edwards is a romance novelist who has Cassie Edwards is a romance novelist who has recently come under fire when two women who run a recently come under fire when two women who run a romance novel blog, romance novel blog, Smart B*tches Who Love Trashy Smart B*tches Who Love Trashy BooksBooks, came to the conclusion that Edwards lifted long , came to the conclusion that Edwards lifted long passages from other sources without crediting them in passages from other sources without crediting them in her books. They published a centralized document of her books. They published a centralized document of the plagiarism. When confronted, Edwards responded the plagiarism. When confronted, Edwards responded that “she didn’t know she was supposed to cite her that “she didn’t know she was supposed to cite her sources.” Signet, Edwards’ publisher, initially sources.” Signet, Edwards’ publisher, initially supported her claim that “she has done nothing wrong” supported her claim that “she has done nothing wrong” but is now investigating the situation. but is now investigating the situation.

An example of plagiarismAn example of plagiarism

Source materialSource material So the sunflower and the buffalo So the sunflower and the buffalo

were two beloved symbols of the were two beloved symbols of the Lakota. So first, last, and Lakota. So first, last, and throughout existence, the Lakota throughout existence, the Lakota knew that the sun was essential knew that the sun was essential to health and to all life. In spring, to health and to all life. In spring, summer, and winter its rays were summer, and winter its rays were welcome. In the spring its welcome. In the spring its warmth brought forth new grass; warmth brought forth new grass; in the summer its head cured the in the summer its head cured the suns, dried the meat, and suns, dried the meat, and preserved food for storage…preserved food for storage…

Standing Bear, Luther. Standing Bear, Luther. Land of Land of the Spotted Eagle.the Spotted Eagle. University of University of Nebraska Press, 2006. ISBN: Nebraska Press, 2006. ISBN: 080329333X p. 49080329333X p. 49

Edwards’ bookEdwards’ book She paused, swallowed hard, She paused, swallowed hard,

then said, “then said, “The sunflower and The sunflower and buffalobuffalo are are two beloved symbolstwo beloved symbols of our Lakota people. of our Lakota people. The sunThe sun is is essential essential toto all all health and life. In health and life. In spring, summer, and winter, rays spring, summer, and winter, rays are welcome.are welcome. In the spring, its In the spring, its warmthwarmth brings brings forth new grassforth new grass; ; in in summer its heatsummer its heat cures cures the skins,the skins, dries dries the meat, andthe meat, and preserves preserves food for storage.food for storage.””

Edwards, Cassie. Edwards, Cassie. Shadow BearShadow Bear. . Signet, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-451- Signet, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-451-22174-222174-2

Case 3: Jessica SeinfeldCase 3: Jessica Seinfeld

According to Missy Chase Lapine, author of According to Missy Chase Lapine, author of The The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite MealsFoods in Kids’ Favorite Meals, comedian Jerry , comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s wife Jessica Seinfeld plagiarized extensively Seinfeld’s wife Jessica Seinfeld plagiarized extensively from Lapine’s book in Mrs. Seinfeld’s own cookbook, from Lapine’s book in Mrs. Seinfeld’s own cookbook, Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Getting Your Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Getting Your Kids Eating Good FoodKids Eating Good Food. While the investigation is . While the investigation is ongoing, Lapine has accused the Seinfelds of lifting ongoing, Lapine has accused the Seinfelds of lifting “concept, cover art […] style and structure” from her “concept, cover art […] style and structure” from her bookbook

Reporting by Christine Kearney, editing by Michelle Reporting by Christine Kearney, editing by Michelle Nichols and Todd Eastham, note provided by Kevin Nichols and Todd Eastham, note provided by Kevin WalshWalsh

Case 4: Timothy S. Case 4: Timothy S. GoegleinGoeglein

A White House aide, Goeglein resigned A White House aide, Goeglein resigned his position in early March following the his position in early March following the discovery that Goeglein plagiarized discovery that Goeglein plagiarized several articles (unsanctioned by the several articles (unsanctioned by the White House) from the White House) from the Dartmouth Dartmouth ReviewReview..

Story from the Los Angeles Times, note Story from the Los Angeles Times, note provided by Rachel Doughertyprovided by Rachel Dougherty

How should plagiarism be How should plagiarism be treated?treated?

At UR, as at many colleges and universities, At UR, as at many colleges and universities, plagiarism is not tolerated and often leads to a plagiarism is not tolerated and often leads to a case before the Honor Council, if the school case before the Honor Council, if the school has one.has one.

However, when “patchwriting” (lifting passages However, when “patchwriting” (lifting passages with only minimal changes made) is used by with only minimal changes made) is used by struggling writers it may be a sign of growthstruggling writers it may be a sign of growth

How do we find a balance?How do we find a balance?

The changing definition The changing definition of authorshipof authorship

In the past, authorship was relatively easy to In the past, authorship was relatively easy to define: it referred to whoever had done the define: it referred to whoever had done the physical act of research and writingphysical act of research and writing

With the advent of the internet and hypertext, With the advent of the internet and hypertext, when articles may be written by several when articles may be written by several authors with little way to trace who did the authors with little way to trace who did the writing, the idea of authorship is shiftingwriting, the idea of authorship is shifting

With the internet, it has also become much With the internet, it has also become much easier to plagiarizeeasier to plagiarize

Should plagiarism be Should plagiarism be “punished?”“punished?”

There is often a feeling of moral There is often a feeling of moral obligation to punish plagiarism, going obligation to punish plagiarism, going back to when, as children, we are told not back to when, as children, we are told not to be “copycats”to be “copycats”

Does “punishment,” including what Does “punishment,” including what Howard calls the “academic death Howard calls the “academic death penalty”—expulsion from penalty”—expulsion from college/university—really change the college/university—really change the plagiarism statistics for the better?plagiarism statistics for the better?

Patchwriting as a sign of Patchwriting as a sign of growthgrowth

Patchwriting is most often employed when a Patchwriting is most often employed when a writer knows little about a subject, and must by writer knows little about a subject, and must by necessity take what he/she knows from a necessity take what he/she knows from a source. It is often difficult to find original words source. It is often difficult to find original words when knowledge about a subject is only when knowledge about a subject is only cursory.cursory.

Howard suggests that patchwriting should not Howard suggests that patchwriting should not be punished as such, but rather seen as a sign be punished as such, but rather seen as a sign of growth—a sign that a writer wants to learn, of growth—a sign that a writer wants to learn, and is using imitation as a way to learn.and is using imitation as a way to learn.

The response to The response to patchwritingpatchwriting

Patchwriting can be useful as a means to Patchwriting can be useful as a means to learn about a subject, but ultimately it learn about a subject, but ultimately it cannot be used in lieu of original words cannot be used in lieu of original words and phrases.and phrases.

Whatever the case, citations, quotations, Whatever the case, citations, quotations, and paraphrasing are easy ways to avoid and paraphrasing are easy ways to avoid plagiarizing unintentionally.plagiarizing unintentionally.