argumentative essay-rough draft

7/22/2019 Argumentative Essay-Rough Draft

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Melissa Meza

Professor Ludlow-Mattson

ENG 114

14 November 2013

When is Plagiarism Acceptable?

In Viswanathan-gate, Malcolm Gladwell argues that it is only acceptable to borrow

ideas and plots within certain categories of the genre fiction. He states that such actions of

certain genre writers are acceptable because the readers conform to the repetition of ideas and

plots. Gladwell provides an example in which he states that when he purchases spy novels, he

expects the novels to have similar plots or themes as other spy novels that he has previously read.

However, Gladwell clearly states that even though it is acceptable for writers within certain

genres to borrow ideas, it is not acceptable to borrow identical phrases and sentences. In contrast,

it is not tolerable for other writers, such as scholarly writers, to borrow ideas, themes, plots, and

indistinguishable sentences and phrases. Gladwell makes a clear argument in which he states that

writers within certain genres are expected to have original thought and as a result, they are also

expected to have original works.

Personally, I agree with Gladwells argument. Even though I do not agree with the fact

that writers borrow the ideas of other writers without properly acknowledging them, or citing

their sources; I do agree that readers conform to the repetition of ideas within certain genres. In

many situations within certain genres, writers conform to the interests and expectations of

readers, which is what leads them and makes it tolerable to plagiarize. It could be the case that

certain genre writers fail to gain profit because they fail to fulfill the expectations of readers. It is


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acceptable for writers within certain genres to borrow ideas because readers possess previous

expectations with regards to the themes and plots of certain genres novels. It is not acceptable,

however, for other writers to borrow, or plagiarize ideas because readers have higher

expectations of the writers and expect them to portray original thought.

It is acceptable for writers within certain genres to borrow ideas because readers possess

previous expectations with regards to the themes and plots of certain genres. Readers expect that

the plots and themes in certain genres will play about a certain way. In the article Viswanathan-

gate, Gladwell provides an example in which such expectation applies when he states that, I

buy lots of novels, not because they diverge from the spy novel model, but because they conform

to it (Page 1). Gladwell indicates that he enjoyspurchasing and reading new spy novels because

they fulfill his expectations with regards to how a certain character is and how a plot is played

about. I can relate to Gladwells example because I have similar expectations when I purchase a

romance novel. When I purchase a romance novel, I expect that the main characters are a couple

who will have to struggle in order to live happily-ever-after. I do not want to read a romance

novel in which my expectations do not apply. I am certain that if I read a romance novel in which

the plot played about in a different way, then I would become disappointed and not want to read

the book ever again. It is acceptable to plagiarize in certain genres because if writers failed to do

so, then they would also fail to capture the interests of readers and fail to make any profit.

In contrast, it not is acceptable for other writers to plagiarize because as readers, we

expect certain writers to be able to create a work that is based on original thought. Particularly,

we expect scholars to create original works that do not mimic any other previous works.

Gladwell makes this argument in his article when he states that, And we have an expectation of

scholarship that it is supposed to reflect original thought(Page 1). As readers, we have stricter


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expectations with regards to scholarly writing because we have greater expectations of scholars.

We expect scholars to be more creative and to portray their knowledge into their works as

something original and unique. For example, when I read scholarly writing, such as a scientific

journal, I expect that it will contain information that will allow me to gain new knowledge,

introduce me to a new idea, or to reassure previous knowledge based on new facts. When I read a

scholarly writing, I do not expect to read repetitious ideas used by other writers. Scholars are

more susceptible to being punished for plagiarism because readers hold greater expectations for

them, such as creating their own and original works.

Opponents of plagiarism may argue that my argument is weak because all writers, no

matter what type of genre they write for, should be subject to punishment for plagiarism.

However, there it is more likely that if you ask any person about his/her expectations about a

romance novel, they will respond by saying that they expect for there to be a couple who must

endure many struggles in order to live happily-ever-after by the end of the novel. I put such

situation to practice by asking six of my friends whether they believed any writer should be

punished for plagiarizing. All of my friends stated that they firmly believe that all writers should

be punished for plagiarism, but when I questioned them about their expectations with regards to

romance novels, they all had the same answers as previously explained. Even though many

people might not want to accept such fact, it is acceptable for certain writers to plagiarize ideas,

but it is not acceptable for other specific writers to do so. This is the case because writers must

follow the expectations of readers. It is acceptable for certain genre writers to plagiarize because

readers expect their works to consist of repetitious ideas or plots, such as in romance novels. It is

not acceptable for other writers to plagiarize, such as scholars, because readers expect them to be

more creative and to portray original ideas and thoughts into their works.


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Bibliography:

Gladwell, Malcolm. "Gladwell.com: Viswanathan-gate." (2006): Web..

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