Plagarist caught

[evesdream]

'Opal Mehta' vs. 'Sloppy Firsts'
April 24, 2006

Harvard undergraduate Kaavya Viswanathan faces an accusation that numerous passages in her first novel, ''How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life" closely resemble a 2001 novel, ''Sloppy Firsts," by Megan F. McCafferty. Here are a few of the passages in dispute:

Best Friend

Bridget is my age and lives across the street. For the first twelve years of my life, these qualifications were all I needed in a best friend. But that was before Bridget's braces came off and her boyfriend, Burke, got on, and before Hope and I met in our seventh-grade honors class.

''Sloppy Firsts," page. 7

Priscilla was my age and lived two blocks away. For the first fifteen years of my life, those were the only qualifications I needed in a best friend. We had first bonded over our mutual fascination with the abacus in a playgroup for gifted kids. But that was before freshman year, when Priscilla's glasses came off, and the first in a long string of boyfriends got on.

''Opal Mehta," page 14

The Bad Boy

The other thing about Marcus is that crackheaded girls who don't know any better think he's sexy. I don't see it. He's got dusty reddish dreads that a girl could never run her hands through. His eyes are always half-shut. His lips are usually curled into a semi-smile, like he's in on a big joke that's being played on you but you don't know it yet.

''Sloppy Firsts," page 23

Just about every girl, from the A list HBz to the stoner hoochies, thought he was sexy. The weird thing was, I didn't see it. He had too-long shaggy brown hair that fell into his eyes, which were always half-shut. His mouth was always curled into a half smile, like he knew about some big joke that was about to be played on you.

''Opal Mehta," page 48

Personal Space

Marcus then leaned across me to open the passenger-side door. He was invading my personal space, as I had learned in Psych class, and I instinctively sank back into the seat. That just made him move in closer. I was practically one with the leather at this point, and unless I hopped into the backseat, there was nowhere else for me to go.

''Sloppy Firsts," page 213

Sean stood up and stepped toward me, ostensibly to show me the book. He was definitely invading my personal space, as I had learned in a Human Evolution class last summer, and I instinctively backed up till my legs hit the chair I had been sitting in. That just made him move in closer, until the grommets in the leather embossed the backs of my knees, and he finally tilted the book toward me.

''Opal Mehta," page 175

Shopping

Finally, four major department stores and 170 specialty shops later, we were done.

''Sloppy Firsts," page 237

Five department stores, and 170 specialty shops later, I was sick of listening to her hum along to Alicia Keyes, and worn out from resisting her efforts to buy me a pink tube top emblazoned with a glittery Playboy bunny.

''Opal Mehta," page 51

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2006/04/24/opal_mehta_vs_sloppy_firsts/

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

You'd think an Ivy Leaguer would have been a bit less obvious.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[evesdream]

You'd think an Ivy Leaguer would have been a bit less obvious.

Rumple Foreskin

Oh for sure.
She responded that she "accidentally borrowed sections". She's still an undergraduate after all, I guess.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Oh for sure.
She responded that she "accidentally borrowed sections". She's still an undergraduate after all, I guess.

Oops??

 

[Stella_Omega]

WHen a publisher makes a half-million-dollar deal with an eighteen-year-old first time writer, you're think they would know the category better than that.

As I said on another thread, I am sick to death of reading material that has had no editing.

 

[scheherazade_79]

You know, I hate to be cynical, but I'm not entirely convinced that was 'accidental'. It's almost as though she had the other book open in front of her and just changed bits slightly.

I hate people who cheat in order to succeed, and I hope she's feeling thoroughly ashamed of herself.

 

[TheEarl]

Is it just me, or is it blatantly obvious that it takes more work to do that kind of plagiarism than to write it yourself?

The Earl

 

[Lady Reiha]

Props to the dumbarse girl who made it that far
goes to show that society dosen't care until someone complains enough times.

 

[Stella_Omega]

You know, I hate to be cynical, but I'm not entirely convinced that was 'accidental'. It's almost as though she had the other book open in front of her and just changed bits slightly.

I hate people who cheat in order to succeed, and I hope she's feeling thoroughly ashamed of herself.

Nonsense. It reads as if she loved those books so much she internalised them and quoted them unconciously.

I am sure it was accendental. Teenagers read voraciously- if they are readers- and regurgitate everything. It used to be called "Learning by example" The big difference, of course, is that it also used to be well-known that teen writers were inclined to copy while they learned, and publishers, for crissake, did NOT expect quality work from a youngster. And youngsters did not expect to be published.

 

[FallingToFly]

Seriously, I do not see a definite PLAGIARISM there. She did not copy, word for word, the other person's work (which is the actual definition of plagiarism). What she did do is write a similar story, with some very close parellels to the other author. I second Stella's opinion about teenagers (some of my high school stuff shows a definitive Poppy Z Brite tone) regurgitating what they read the most of.

And as to the other author trying to sue... please. Copyright an idea? There's a reason why there's a well-known phrase "Nothing NEW under the sun." Someone else always got there first. Always.

 

[Typo Fu Master]

I have a hard time believing it was 'accidentally borrowed'. If I were in the same situation and loved the book in question that much, I think I'd be aware that what I was writing bore an uncanny resemblance to the previous work.

I think this is just an attempt to cover her ass, and a poor one at that.

 

[BlackSnake]

I'm glad I don't have an opinion. Otherwise, I'd have to say that the plaintive would win in a jury of my peers. Let's vote.

 

[SlickTony]

When my daughter was middle school age, she started to become interested in writing. Since she was reading a lot of Mercedes Lackey, Jane Yolen, Jennifer Roberson and writers of that type, the stuff she wrote was very, very much in the style of these authors, and borrowed a lot from their plots. I praised what I could, and didn't say how derivative I thought it was--I'd had some terrible experiences with my mother reading things I'd written which I had not meant to show to anybody. I figured my daughter would look back over her work, and as she matured, she would improve. Sure enough, she did. (She's fixing to get her PhD in art history--I'm going up to Pittsburgh this weekend to see her get her degree. Unfortunately, she's been so hard at work doing this she's let her fiction writing fall by the wayside.).

I would not go so far as to say this young woman's book is plagiarism. I would say that it's derivative. Bear in mind, most young people's writing is that way--they are bound by their inexperience and they really can't help it. And she is very young, even though 18 is old enough to bear (some) adult responsibility, sign a contract, marry, buy lottery tickets and drop into this site.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

(She's fixing to get her PhD in art history--I'm going up to Pittsburgh this weekend to see her get her degree. Unfortunately, she's been so hard at work doing this she's let her fiction writing fall by the wayside.).

I would not go so far as to say this young woman's book is plagiarism. I would say that it's derivative. Bear in mind, most young people's writing is that way--they are bound by their inexperience and they really can't help it. And she is very young, even though 18 is old enough to bear (some) adult responsibility, sign a contract, marry, buy lottery tickets and drop into this site.

Congratulations, Tony. Just think, your daughter, a doctor.

Seriously, I do not see a definite PLAGIARISM there. She did not copy, word for word, the other person's work (which is the actual definition of plagiarism). What she did do is write a similar story, with some very close parellels to the other author.

As for that young writer, this doesn't sound derivative or the product of an impressionable mind. It reads like word-for-word copying with a few minor tweaks.

Finally, four major department stores and 170 specialty shops later,
''Sloppy Firsts," page 237

Five department stores, and 170 specialty shops later,
''Opal Mehta,"

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

(She's fixing to get her PhD in art history--I'm going up to Pittsburgh this weekend to see her get her degree. Unfortunately, she's been so hard at work doing this she's let her fiction writing fall by the wayside.).

I would not go so far as to say this young woman's book is plagiarism. I would say that it's derivative. Bear in mind, most young people's writing is that way--they are bound by their inexperience and they really can't help it. And she is very young, even though 18 is old enough to bear (some) adult responsibility, sign a contract, marry, buy lottery tickets and drop into this site.

Congratulations, Tony. Just think, your daughter, a doctor.

Originally Posted by FallingToFly
Seriously, I do not see a definite PLAGIARISM there. She did not copy, word for word, the other person's work (which is the actual definition of plagiarism). What she did do is write a similar story, with some very close parellels to the other author.

IMHO, the following doesn't sound derivative or the product of an impressionable mind. It reads like word-for-word copying with a few minor tweaks.

Finally, four major department stores and 170 specialty shops later,
''Sloppy Firsts," page 237

Five department stores, and 170 specialty shops later,
''Opal Mehta,"

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Pure]

I agree, Rumple

These are standard 'tweaks' that highschoolers do so they don't have to directly quote something. [[Also, as the Crimson pointed out, these tweaks are the sort of thing that help evade google searches, e.g., the substitution of Human Evolution class, for Psychology class.]]

What gives it away is that NO MENTION is made of the 'tweaked passage' or its author. Clumsy paraphrasing that was honest, but simply too ineptly close, would acknowledge the source.

Barring photographic memory, I'd say she had the passages right there beside her in her writing.

Also, I find it boggling that--well after the fact-- she says, 'McCafferty was one of my favorites in high school, and I adored her Sloppy Firsts.'
[[But look at her first response, below: flat denial]]

that's a weird ass tribute. why not say, in the preface, "here are the ones who influenced me; thanks Ms McCafferty! "

 

[Pure]

from the Harvard Crimson article:

When The Crimson reached Viswanathan on her cell phone Saturday night and informed her of the similarities between “Opal Mehta” and “Sloppy Firsts,” the sophomore said, “No comment. I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Here are some passages. Two novels of McCafferty are involved:

Viswanathan
His mouth was always curled into a half smile, like he knew about some big joke that was about to be played on you.

McCaff 1
His mouth was always curled into a half smile, like he knew about some big joke that was about to be played on you.


---------
Vis
“Moneypenny was the brainy female character. Yet another example of how every girl had to be one or the other: smart or pretty. I had long resigned myself to category one, and as long as it got me to Harvard, I was happy. Except, it hadn’t gotten me to Harvard. Clearly, it was time to switch to category two.”


McCaff 1
“Sabrina was the brainy Angel. Yet another example of how every girl had to be one or the other: Pretty or smart. Guess which one I got. You’ll see where it’s gotten me.”



-------
Vis: “In a truly masochistic gesture, they had decided to buy Diet Cokes from Mrs. Fields...”

McCaff 2 “...but in a truly sadomasochistic dieting gesture, they chose to buy their Diet Cokes at Cinnabon.”
-------

From page 142 of Viswanathan’s novel: “...he tapped me on the shoulder and said something so random I worried that he needed more expert counseling than I could provide.”


From page 217 of McCafferty’s first novel: “But then he tapped me on the shoulder, and said something so random that I was afraid he was back on the junk.”



--------
COME ON, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU’


From page 172 of Viswanathan’s novel:
“‘Sit down.’
“‘Uh, actually...I was just dropping off some books. I’m supposed to be home by nine. And it’s already eight-forty.’
“Pause.
“‘So I can’t really stay...’
“Another pause.
“‘But you want to?’ he asked.
“Did I? Yes...
“He knew it, too. He patted the chair again. ‘Come on, I want to talk to you,’ he said.”


From page 209 of McCafferty’s first novel:
“‘Uhhhh...I live less than half a mile from here. Twelve Forest Drive.’
“Pause.
“‘So I don’t need a ride...’
“Another pause.
“‘But do you want one?’ he asked.
“God, did I want one.
“He knew it, too. He leaned over the front seat and popped open the passenger-side door. ‘Come on, I want to talk to you,’ he said.”

 

[SlickTony]

Ok, ok, the evidence does look pretty damning. I still think it's possible she remembered the stuff, if she really liked the book and read it ragged when she was younger. I feel the same way about the collected letters and essays of George Orwell. I have read all four volumes of those letters so often that there are parts of them that I can quote verbatim with even looking at them.

Thanks, Rumple. I think it's pretty neat. I think she's the first person on my side of the family to get a PhD. We take off sometime tomorrow. I'm getting excited!

 

[Pure]

Hi Slick,

Congratulations to your daughter and I'm sure you helped support this enterprise. I suspect it was a long haul.

J.

 

[togitc]

I'm reminded of something I heard once:

Good writers write, the best writers steal.

I think it should be more like:

Good writers write, the best writers don't get caught.

I agree these works are way to close to be accidental, but also agree that if there is an author out there that you love it will sound like them. I know there are some books that I cannot read if i plan to write for fear of channeling that author.

Granted some people make a living at it. Look at George Lucas, all he did was take some old sub-titles movie and shove them into a blender with flash gordon.

 

[SlickTony]

Congratulations to your daughter and I'm sure you helped support this enterprise. I suspect it was a long haul.

J.

Thanks, Pure. It was. And really, all I was able to give her was moral support. She earned the honors scholarship to LSU where she got her BA and MA, she hustled up the loans and grants and scouted out the place to get her PhD and all, all by herself. Unfortunately, we could no more have afforded to do that for her than we could have sent her to the Space Station.

The best of it is, she's already got a job lined up, which she starts in August.

 

[Vincent E]

Her lame excuse that she was a big fan of Ms. McCafferty's work and unintentionally "internalized" her work is so much psycho-babble. Put enough four syllable words together and you can come up with an excuse for just about anything. What that means is that she remembered something pithy that someone else once wrote, and then decided to use it herself without giving credit to the original author. Theft.

I read a lot when I was young, and I remember my favorite lines from several authors. When you read something that makes you laugh or scares you or hits you in some other emotional way you remember the source, quote it to others, and make reference to it in the future. Moreover, by the time you write, revise, re-revise, and submit for publication anything that you have written - especially something that is intended for a commercial audience - you are well aware of what is yours and what is someone else's.

This was not an essay submitted for a writing class. It was a novel submitted to be commercially successful. No matter how old the author is, the same standards of professionalism apply to her as they do to anyone else.

The latest news in this story is that the publisher has asked retailers to stop selling the novel, and that Miss Viswanathan is going to "revise" future editions of the book. No word on wether her $500,000 contract is still intact. If I were the publisher I would drop this woman like a bad habit.

The amusing part of this whole story is that most college professors are now using a software tool to root out plagiarism among their students, but that a publishing firm did not use the same tool to find plagiarism by a writer under contract.

I am not giving Viswanathan the benefit of any doubt. Plagiarisers are scum and should be treated as such.

 

[sophia jane]

I've got to agree with the cynics. This was no accident. Imitating style and plot is one thing; taking many phrases word for word is beyond ridiculous. I have no patience for plagarism. I work my ass off at school to write good papers, and I'm fully aware that plenty of others take short cuts. There's no good excuse for that kind of thing; it's stealing someone else's work, pure and simple.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Agreed. I've certainly been heavily influenced in tone and style by such writers as Ray Bradbury and Shakespeare. I've even taken basic plots. My first play was heavily influenced plot-wise by Dante's Inferno which in turn was influenced in the same way by Virgil's Aeneid. Some great pieces of work have been created by author's who have taken another's plot and some of their style and added their own twists and ideas or simply placed components in another world. And everyone has slyly referenced a work they've admired in a book, perhaps with a phrase or if one is a geek a number. There's nothing wrong with all that and it's likely quite flattering for the original author if he catches it.

But that's intensely different from taking whole paragraphs and plot progression and barely changing the wording around like in Plagarism for Dummies. It's one thing to go "Well let's hope they know the three laws of robotics" or "42" in a book and another entirely to just rip huge sections in a haphazard cut and paste. It's even worse to steal the plot and style as well and claim it as one's own. At a level like this it's like looking at a paper that the kid is smiling about as he hands it to you not knowing that you've got the site he bought it on on your screen. The reaction to being caught out is pathetic too.

Sure, it's possible to accidentally quote someone, but not like this, not unless you got really unlucky with the winds of fate.

 

[sophia jane]

Doing a little extra reading on this cuz I was interested in the whole story. Evidently she used a ghostwriting company to "help" her. Kinda makes me wonder who actually did the plagarism- her or the ghostwriters. But then again, maybe all of the plagarism was her and everything else was the ghostwriters. Either way, it sucks.