Famous Cases of Plagiarism: More Than a Tradition, Practically an Institution

With many new online writers currently facing the ugly realities of plagiarism for the first time, a misconception is mounting that plagiarism is a relatively new phenomenon; one only perpetrated by the untalented, inept, or simply unscrupulous.  In a very real sense, however, although it is always frowned upon and often leads to lawsuits, plagiarism is a facet of writing that has co-existed with legitimate writing for all recorded history, a fact that itself, owes much to the practice of plagiarism.  And while all legitimate writers certainly have the right to be incensed by the flagrant pilfering of their hard-researched material, it’s important to keep in perspective that plagiarism is practically an institution unto itself, possessing a rich history all its own.  Read more . . .

Yellow Journalism: Are You Guilty?

Yellow journalism is defined as a type of writing that presents little or no legitimate well-researched information and instead uses eye-catching headlines or catch-phrases to make articles appear more enticing to potential readers.  Today, "yellow journalism" is used to describe unscrupulous styles of writing that convey news or information in an unprofessional or unethical fashion including the use of unsubstantiated sources, exaggeration or fabrication of facts, opinion disguised as fact, self-promotion, and overt sensationalism. Techniques include:
> scary or misleading headlines
> over-use of pictures or imaginary drawings
> use of faked interviews
> pseudo-science disguised as scientific fact
> unqualified “expert” supportive arguments
> "underdog against the system” baiting
Read more . . .

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman

This wondrous and spooky tale is set in the late 18th century in the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town, in a secluded glen aptly named Sleepy Hollow.  Like many remote towns in this place and time, the country folk of this land are given to fantastic beliefs in ghosts and evil spirits, and most every fireside gathering invariably becomes the stage for blood-curdling stories of the weird and ghoulish, many invoking the famous legend of the Headless Horseman.  Central to this tale is one Ichabod Crane, a tall and long-limbed, highly superstitious traveling schoolmaster from Connecticut, who despite his numerous shortcomings, nonetheless seems quite taken with himself.  Read more . . .

Frankenstein

One of the most popular and recognizable monsters of all time, the creature known only as “Frankenstein’s monster” was the invention of a bored young woman of eighteen named Mary Shelly who is said to have set out to write a ghost story one rainy day while visiting Switzerland.  Frankenstein, often subtitled, “The Modern Prometheus,” was first published anonymously in 1818, becoming an immediate success, with Shelly’s name appearing on the second edition. Today it is regarded as a genuine masterpiece of Gothic Horror and one of the first ventures into science fiction.  Read more . . .

The Invention of Writing

Most historians agree that more than any other human achievement, it was the invention of writing that untimately brought the seeds of “civilization” to fruition.  The taking of this unprecedented step some 5000 years ago made it possible to preserve thoughts and experiences that had previously been entrusted to the realm of oral tradition, wisdom passed generation to generation with hopes that key elements wouldn’t be lost.  Essentially, the invention of writing provided a maintenance of social ideas that allowed complex societies to develop and empires to be built.  Read more . . .