A little background: I am currently taking an intro level creative writing class, and we’ve recently begun workshopping our stories and plays. Since there’s a limited amount of time we alternate between actual workshopping and just getting copies of our stuff back with written comments from the other students. So my last play was not openly discussed in class (although everyone received and read a copy of it), but my next one will be.
Today I received my copies of the other stories and plays that will be workshopped next time. As I looked over a script by my classmate “Svetlana” (not her real name), I thought it seemed oddly familiar. That may be because it has THE EXACT SAME SETTING, PREMISE, AND CHARACTERS AS THE PLAY I HANDED OUT LAST WEEK! One of the characters even has the same name.
I don’t know what to make of this at all. I feel like I should be angry, but I’m not. I’m just very confused. What on earth could Svetlana have been thinking? I don’t think this could be a coincidence, the plays are just too similar. Was this intended as an “I really loved your play!” compliment, or an “I could do a much better job with that!” insult? Or could Svetlana have perhaps penned this rip-off of my work unwittingly? I know lots of people write their assignments at the last minute, and if she was sleep-deprived or something she might honestly not have remembered where she got the idea.
The most awkward thing is, I’m going to have to discuss this play in class on Monday. What on earth can I say? “I liked it better a week ago, when I wrote it?” My mother suggested that I talk to the professor, but she’s at a writing conference for the rest of the week. So I thought I’d turn to my fellow Dopers for advice. What should I do? Confront Svetlana? Pretend the whole thing never happened? Eat a whole bag of mini-Oreos? Any words of wisdom are welcome.
Don’t comment on it and talk to you Professor before class Monday. Explain your concerns and that you didn’t feel you could comment on it fairly, given your concerns.
Arden’s advice is good. I’d go a step farther. Check the student code of conduct for procedures on reporting plagiarism. You might be bound to report this under an honor code.
Bring a copy of your own work, including the completion date, and a copy of “Svetlana’s” work. Don’t accuse her directly. Let the texts speak for themselves. Explain your dilemma–your professor being out of town–and ask for the appropriate advice and direction.
Try to remain open to the possibility that this could be a genuine coincidence. If she goes in a truly different creative direction, then you may need to accept this gracefully.
If your pieces are as similar as you indicate, the other students will probably notice as well. Maybe you could gently broach the topic with someone in the class that you’re friends with and see whether they’ve noticed the similarities?
Discussing it with the professor is always a good idea.
There is a possibility, strange as it may seem, that she doesn’t understand the idea of the class. She may feel that part of the class is taking the other stories and revising them the way you would. This is a legitimate writing exercise, although obviously this was not what was assigned. Still, she may simply have been confused about the nature of the class (I’ve seen this sort of thing happen, in a way, in a writing class I was in.)
Well, did the professor already get a copy of your previous work? If so, he will probably recognize your peer’s play. If you talk to him he will take the appropriate action. The profs deal with plagerism more then they should, and they know how to handle it.
I have sent my professor the following awkward e-mail. With luck I will get a response before class on Monday.
Dr. (X),
I am feeling concerned about workshopping (Svetlana)'s play on Monday, as it seems substantially similar to the assignment I handed out last week. They share the same premise, setting, and characters. One of the characters even has the same name. Perhaps I am being overly sensitive, but I cannot think of a thing I could say about her piece except “I liked it better when I wrote it.”
I have not spoken to (Svetlana) about this, partially because I honestly don’t know what I could say, and partially because I thought it would be best to speak with you first. This is an awkward situation, and I don’t know what is the best thing for me to do.
-(Lamia)
Thanks to everyone who has offered their advice and support. I’ll let you know what happens.
Am I the only rational one here? Me, Bdgr the voice of reason in this situation? The solution is obvious, The oreos…Yes, the whole bag. Get to it. I hope the email hasnt screwed this up…
If this had been a case where she wrote it for anything or anyone but your own creative writing workshop, I’d have no problems bringing this up to whatever honor code committee you have on charges of plagurism. But…as it stands right now, hmm…I have no clue what she was thinking.
Honestly, this is just something to laugh at. But I would NOT go to any committee over this. This was a random act of stupidity, but it is not worth expelling the girl from school over.
I think e-mailing the prof was a good idea. But my guess is that other students are going to be able to tell what you’ve already discovered anyway.