While reading Porter's arguments, I could help but to personally disagree. With his points it's easy to question what is originality and if everything is just a copy of a copy. But there is such thing as personal thought and opinions. It can be easy to group things as black or white, but when it comes to plagiarism, it doesn't really touch that subject. There is more to just black and white, which is what Porter is saying. His rigorous definitions of what is plagiarism comes to a bit of an extreme, which is something I don't believe in.
Question Discussion
4. My views of how writing is evaluated is completely different from Porters. The idea of a 'community' and having no chance is a bit astounding. To me writing should be evaluated in a non-bias way. Even though sometimes there will be some personal views clashing, there shouldn't be such a huge gap that it would be specifically so harsh. Sometimes I do feel the pressure to side with my teacher for some papers i've written, but most of the time I end up writing in what I believed in because of passion. If you're truly passionate in what you write about, then you can easily erase any doubt in your work. Many times, even though teachers have disagreed with my points of view, they still acknowledge my solid points and evidence. Obviously there are always going to be closed minded people that won't accept your writing, but it's key to remember there are educated open minded people around you, willing to accept your ideas as well.
5. His work cleverly proves his point in a way. He understands that even his own work is based on other's and so on. The principal that all work is not original and has some origin to it. In my opinion he's doing this for the sole purpose to use himself as an example. Even if he's in a textbook, he's still using other information to back his opinions. As you read his writing you recognize his ideas then realize the number of citations he has. In a way he's proven with his own writing that nothing is in fact "original".
Applying and Exploring Ideas:
In porter's idea of 'plagiarism', it's the idea that every single idea that you put down must be your very own. Nothing can have a 'past' to it, it has to be brand new and fresh without any detection or link to anything before it. Anything after that 'fresh' work is considered imitation therefore in Porter's mind, Plagiarism.
In my idea of plagiarism, it's copying word for word. Showing little or no effort to put forth anything new. You are not allowed to claim ownership/workmanship of anything that is not yours as your own hard work. Everything should be completely cited and noted.
Basically both are different as I allow that ideas are allowed to be used, and not considered 'imitation'.
Meta Moment:
Porter's study hasn't truly changed anything in my mind. He makes very valid points and arguments, however I believe he doesn't count any slack to work. Even though there are forms of imitation everywhere in the world, there is still originality out there and to completely banish it is nonsense. I still imagine writers as hardworking people who have a talent in putting their voice into words. Which is not a simple task and can be overlooked completely. Porter shows little or no sense of division on the idea of borrowing and plagiarism. Personally I wouldn't adopt his notion of writers and writing to my writing because I still believe in originality in the world. There are still new fresh ideas and technology out there that can be original.
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