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Exploring the Issue of Plagiarism through Kaavya Viswanathan’s Novel Opal Mehta by Joanna Johnson ClassroomActivities The issue of plagiarism in Kaavya Viswanathan's Novel Opal Mehta provides the opportunity for a number of classroom activities for students at the middle school and secondary level. Included below are three activities that can be adapted and used by teachers. Activity #1: Classroom Debate: Is it Plagiarism, or Not? Lesson Plan #1 Give the following supposedly plagiarized passages from Viswanathan's Opal Mehta and the passages from Megan McCafferty's books Sloppy First and Second Helpings to students for comparison. Divide the students into two groups. Have one group argue that it is plagiarism, and the other that it is not, and why. (M=McCafferty's novels; V=Viswanathan's novel): Each side will need time to review the passages and formulate their argument. Go through each passage in class, possibly reading them aloud, and then ask each side of the question to present their position for that particular passage. "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, before Hope and I met in our seventh grade Honors classes." (M 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 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." (V 17) "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." (M 6) "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." (V 39) "Though I used to see him sometimes at Hope's house, Marcus and I had never, ever acknowledged each other's existence before. So I froze, not knowing whether I should (a) laugh (b) say something (c) ignore him and keep on walking." (M 23) "Though I had been to school with him for the last three years, Sean Whalen and I had never acknowledged each other's existence before. I froze, unsure of (a) what he was talking about and (b) what I was supposed to do about it." (V 49) "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 in a semi-smile, like he's in on a big joke that's being played on you but you don't know it yet" (M 23). "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." (V 48) "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 sunk 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." (M 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 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." (V 175) "Finally, four major department stores and 170 specialty shops later, we were done." (M 237) "Five department stores, and 170 specialty shops later, I was sick of listening to her hum along to Alicia Keys..." (V 51) "'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." (M 209) "'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." (V 172) "But then he tapped me on the shoulder, and said something so random that I was afraid he was back on the junk." (M 217) "...he tapped me on the shoulder and said something so random I worried that he needed more expert counseling than I could provide." (V 142) "...but in a truly sadomasochistic dieting gesture, they chose to buy their Diet Cokes at Cinnabon." (M 67) "In a truly masochistic gesture, they had decided to buy Diet Cokes from Mrs. Fields..." (V 46) (Excerpts from McCafferty's and Viswanathan's work taken from http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512968) Summarize the student positions on whether or not the above passages constitute plagiarism in their understanding. Did either side "win" the debate? Or, is the issue still undecided in the minds of your students? You can suggest that the students check out the following entries in Wikipedia that use other passages (which seem less clear cut than those above) in Viswanathan's work that have been suggested are plagiarized. This will demonstrate how people such as Viswanathan become particularly suspect after their integrity has been challenged: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaavya_Viswanathan&oldid=61883160 Activity #2: Can Plagiarism be Unintentional? Lesson Plan #2 The statements from Kaavya Viswanathan's and Megan McCafferty's publishers highlight two different perspectives on plagiarism: "When I was in high school, I read and loved two wonderful novels by Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings, which spoke to me in a way few other books did. Recently, I was very surprised and upset to learn that there are similarities between some passages in my novel ... and passages in these books. While the central stories of my book and hers are completely different, I wasn't aware of how much I may have internalized Ms. McCafferty's words. I am a huge fan of her work and can honestly say that any phrasing similarities between her works and mine were completely unintentional and unconscious. My publisher and I plan to revise my novel for future printings to eliminate any inappropriate similarities. I sincerely apologize to Megan McCafferty and to any who feel they have been misled by these unintentional errors on my part." (Viswanathan via Little Brown Publishing) Random House's response to Viswanathan's apology was as follows: "We find both the responses of Little Brown and their author Kaayva [sic] Viswanathan deeply troubling and disingenuous. Ms. Viswanathan's claim that similarities in her phrasing were 'unconscious' or 'unintentional' is suspect. We have documented more than forty passages from Kaavya Viswanathan's recent publication 'How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life' that contain identical language and/or common scene or dialogue structure from Megan McCafferty's first two books, 'Sloppy Firsts' and 'Second Helpings.' This extensive taking from Ms. McCafferty's books is nothing less than an act of literary identity theft. Based on the scope and character of the similarities, it is inconceivable that this was a display of youthful innocence or an unconscious or unintentional act."(Random House Publishing) Ask students to write a short position paper on whether or not it is possible to "unintentionally" plagiarize. They may want to research this case online and quote some of the opinions expressed in the national press to support their position. Activity #3: Case Study: How does it Feel to be Plagiarized? Lesson Plan #3 Marks Chabedi and Kimberly Lanegran. Although not in the same financial league as the Viswanathan high-profile case, this case of academic plagiarism is nevertheless an egregious one, where one "academic" (who has since been discredited) was caught stealing work from another. Lanegran, an assistant professor of political science at a US university has written about the case, and the effect it has had on her and her students at: "Fending Off a Plagiarist" Ask each student to view the case study online. Then, ask them to write an essay, based on a hypothetical situation that they create, describing how they would personally feel if they were plagiarized or copied. Have them pick and describe something that they have created: a science project, a paper written for a class, a piece of art, or even an outfit they have put together. It should be something they have worked on and are proud of. Next, they should describe how it is stolen. Finally, they need to describe how plagiarism makes them feel.

Exploring the Issue of Plagiarism through Kaavya Viswanathan’s Novel Opal Mehta

by Joanna Johnson

ClassroomActivities

The issue of plagiarism in Kaavya Viswanathan's Novel Opal Mehta provides the opportunity for a number of classroom activities for students at the middle school and secondary level. Included below are three activities that can be adapted and used by teachers.

Activity #1: Classroom Debate: Is it Plagiarism, or Not? Lesson Plan #1

Give the following supposedly plagiarized passages from Viswanathan's Opal Mehta and the passages from Megan McCafferty's books Sloppy First and Second Helpings to students for comparison.

Divide the students into two groups. Have one group argue that it is plagiarism, and the other that it is not, and why. (M=McCafferty's novels; V=Viswanathan's novel):

Each side will need time to review the passages and formulate their argument.

Go through each passage in class, possibly reading them aloud, and then ask each side of the question to present their position for that particular passage.

"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, before Hope and I met in our seventh grade Honors classes." (M 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 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." (V 17)

"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." (M 6)

"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." (V 39)

"Though I used to see him sometimes at Hope's house, Marcus and I had never, ever acknowledged each other's existence before. So I froze, not knowing whether I should (a) laugh (b) say something (c) ignore him and keep on walking." (M 23)

"Though I had been to school with him for the last three years, Sean Whalen and I had never acknowledged each other's existence before. I froze, unsure of (a) what he was talking about and (b) what I was supposed to do about it." (V 49)

"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 in a semi-smile, like he's in on a big joke that's being played on you but you don't know it yet" (M 23).

"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." (V 48)

"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 sunk 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." (M 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 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." (V 175)

"Finally, four major department stores and 170 specialty shops later, we were done." (M 237)

"Five department stores, and 170 specialty shops later, I was sick of listening to her hum along to Alicia Keys..." (V 51)

"'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." (M 209)

"'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." (V 172)
"But then he tapped me on the shoulder, and said something so random that I was afraid he was back on the junk." (M 217)

"...he tapped me on the shoulder and said something so random I worried that he needed more expert counseling than I could provide." (V 142)

"...but in a truly sadomasochistic dieting gesture, they chose to buy their Diet Cokes at Cinnabon." (M 67)

"In a truly masochistic gesture, they had decided to buy Diet Cokes from Mrs. Fields..." (V 46)

(Excerpts from McCafferty's and Viswanathan's work taken from http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512968)

Summarize the student positions on whether or not the above passages constitute plagiarism in their understanding. Did either side "win" the debate? Or, is the issue still undecided in the minds of your students?

You can suggest that the students check out the following entries in Wikipedia that use other passages (which seem less clear cut than those above) in Viswanathan's work that have been suggested are plagiarized. This will demonstrate how people such as Viswanathan become particularly suspect after their integrity has been challenged:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaavya_Viswanathan&oldid=61883160

Activity #2: Can Plagiarism be Unintentional? Lesson Plan #2

The statements from Kaavya Viswanathan's and Megan McCafferty's publishers highlight two different perspectives on plagiarism:

"When I was in high school, I read and loved two wonderful novels by Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings, which spoke to me in a way few other books did. Recently, I was very surprised and upset to learn that there are similarities between some passages in my novel ... and passages in these books.
While the central stories of my book and hers are completely different, I wasn't aware of how much I may have internalized Ms. McCafferty's words. I am a huge fan of her work and can honestly say that any phrasing similarities between her works and mine were completely unintentional and unconscious. My publisher and I plan to revise my novel for future printings to eliminate any inappropriate similarities.
I sincerely apologize to Megan McCafferty and to any who feel they have been misled by these unintentional errors on my part." (Viswanathan via Little Brown Publishing)

Random House's response to Viswanathan's apology was as follows:
"We find both the responses of Little Brown and their author Kaayva [sic] Viswanathan deeply troubling and disingenuous. Ms. Viswanathan's claim that similarities in her phrasing were 'unconscious' or 'unintentional' is suspect. We have documented more than forty passages from Kaavya Viswanathan's recent publication 'How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life' that contain identical language and/or common scene or dialogue structure from Megan McCafferty's first two books, 'Sloppy Firsts' and 'Second Helpings.' This extensive taking from Ms. McCafferty's books is nothing less than an act of literary identity theft.
Based on the scope and character of the similarities, it is inconceivable that this was a display of youthful innocence or an unconscious or unintentional act."(Random House Publishing)

Ask students to write a short position paper on whether or not it is possible to "unintentionally" plagiarize. They may want to research this case online and quote some of the opinions expressed in the national press to support their position.

Activity #3: Case Study: How does it Feel to be Plagiarized?

Lesson Plan #3

Marks Chabedi and Kimberly Lanegran.

Although not in the same financial league as the Viswanathan high-profile case, this case of academic plagiarism is nevertheless an egregious one, where one "academic" (who has since been discredited) was caught stealing work from another. Lanegran, an assistant professor of political science at a US university has written about the case, and the effect it has had on her and her students at: "Fending Off a Plagiarist"

Ask each student to view the case study online. Then, ask them to write an essay, based on a hypothetical situation that they create, describing how they would personally feel if they were plagiarized or copied. Have them pick and describe something that they have created: a science project, a paper written for a class, a piece of art, or even an outfit they have put together. It should be something they have worked on and are proud of. Next, they should describe how it is stolen. Finally, they need to describe how plagiarism makes them feel.