English 338

Example from an actual student paper.

On-line source:

Thoreau defines what he sees as the major problem of his time, how work and the acquisition of material goods can consume your life.

Student paper:

In Henry David Thoreau′s Walden, the author defines what he sees as the major problem of his time, how work and the acquisition of material goods can consume your life.

On-line source:

There is also a seasonal structure to Walden, from Henry′s arrival at the pond in March to the following spring; this seasonal symbolism suggests a spiritual rebirth.

Student paper:

Thoreau′s connection with nature and with himself is a spiritual rebirth over the course of time spent at Walden pond, suggested by the seasonal symbolism which is constant throughout the work.

On-line source:

This is not a book about Henry Thoreau, nor is it about survival in the wilderness. It is about personal discovery by a man who took the time to look carefully at the world he lived in, and who was fascinated by what he found.

Student paper:

This is not a book about Henry Thoreau, nor is it about self-sufficiency.  Walden describes an experiment in living well; it is about a personal discovery by a man who took the time to look carefully at the world he lived in, and who was fascinated by what he found.

'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