OMFG -Teachers and academics are thanking Melania Trump for perfect material

[malaise]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-36836599
<snip>
Teachers and academics in the UK and the US have taken to Twitter to thank Donald Trump's wife for providing the perfect material to teach their students what plagiarism is and why it is wrong.

Melania Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention has notable similarities with a speech given by current first lady Michelle Obama in 2008.

Brad Francis, an English teacher at Davis Middle School in Evanston, Wyoming tweeted that he was "'jazzed" to have a "perfect video to teach my 8th graders students about plagiarism".

"Melania's speech is probably the most blatant example that I have ever seen. Eighth grade students need very literal examples, and her speech is basically verbatim to Michelle Obama's. It will help them learn absolutely what not to do in their writing," he told BBC News.

"I have students who try to copy and paste material from the internet all the time to pass it off as their own. That speech was Michelle Obama's intellectual property."

[tallahasseedem]

1. It truly is a teaching moment...

Of course, a lot of us parents have actually done this with our children already. Apparently that wasn't a value Melania's family thought to teach her.

[malaise]

4. My take is that either they knew and thought they could get away with it

or someone deliberately included it


-------------------
I've reported several students for plagiarism over the years.

It's why ReTHUGs hate regulations - lift paragraphs from speeches, use songs with no authorization - they can do what they want.

[tallahasseedem]

8. Pure entitlement.

They felt that not only could they use it and get away with it, but that the media and the people have no right to speak out about it.

Disgusting on every level.

[SunSeeker]

26. Indeed. Trump thinks he's untouchable. He said he could shoot someone in middle of Times Square.

Hopefulling he will finally be held to account.

[Siwsan]

2. I suspect that screen writers are hastily scribbling away for a future HBO presentation

The sequel to "Game Change" could be named "Game Over!"

[LiberalLoner]

5. +1

Awesome!

[3catwoman3]

39. I most fervently...

...hope so!

[DrDan]

46. hopefully the Coen brothers

[malaise]

54. Now that I will watch

Did Don the Con et al believe they could do this and get away with it?

I mean they stole parts of Michelle Obama's speech - how funny that not one of the hacks picked it up while she was plagiarizing Michelle Obama.

[flor-de-jasmim]

3. Ouch!

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[ChisolmTrailDem]

7. Can't...resist...

[malaise]

10. The world is laughing

That was on the news in Jamaica

[SunSeeker]

32. Was the headline "Crazy Baldhead"?

[malaise]

37. ROFL

Good one

[Initech]

9. 8 years of hearing them scream about teleprompters is backfiring on them big time.

[malaise]

11. They should have used Turnitin.com

They knew what the were doing -fugging thieves.

[Initech]

12. It would have cross referenced Rick Astley's essay about never going to give you up.

Never going to let you down. Going to run around and desert you. I hear that gets referenced a lot.

[malaise]

13. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Well they're digging a bigger hole. Wait until the 'she does not have a degree' story gets coverage.
These fuggers lie non-stop.

[Gabi Hayes]

29. don't count on it.....what about all the nudies? not that I've looked.....

seriously. she's only a 6

her hat size

[madinmaryland]

19. Does that mean she Rick Rolled herself??

[Delmette]

24. Speaking of teleprompters.

Why did she need a teleprompter of she wrote the speech? If she really wrote it there would have been seveal times when she could have looked away and addressed the cameras directly.

This alone makes me think that she didn't write one word of it.

[awoke_in_2003]

64. While she stole the speech

even if she did deliver one she wrote, she may have still looked at the prompters the whole time. For those not used to public speaking (like me), addressing a large crowd can make you nervous enough to forget your name.

[Delmette]

66. That's true.

I guess most political spouses learn about public speaking in much smaller groups. That's something she never got a chance to do.

[awoke_in_2003]

67. True...

it is not often that a party's nominee has zero political experience.

[sofa king]

14. See? We do get something out of this.

A meaningful lesson in plagiarism, and a fully documented case-study in Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Everyone wins, as long as they lose.

[malaise]

15. We are getting some great laughter as well

and that's always good

[FighttheFuture]

16. A brilliant move, IMO. Great speech. Good strategy from the Trumpeteers.

Michelle's speech was a great speech, and that part was top notch. So Melania steals it as her own. WHO THE FUCK CARES??? Oh yeah, anyone who would not vote for Mein Trump. So what? The R base will not care. Half of them will somehow make it Michelle ripping off Melania and... and... Benghazi. The rest will think its a great speech of people "raised right" with "good upbringing" and the themes are common and not plagiarizing. So, the only people upset will be the those that would never vote for that Cheeto reject and the those who will are further cleaved to this family of grifters and con-artists. Those undecided have a chance to hear a great speech, a very moving part that resonates and possibly be suckered into supporting these demons.

Simply brilliant.

Hillary may well be in the fight for her life on this election. I hope not, but people should not think it's in the bag, because it isn't.

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. ROFL

Let's count them:

1) Only academics care and they weren't going to vote for Trump anyway
2) It was a great speech
3) Ordinary people will get to hear it and love it
4) "from the heart"



Good job, buddy! You nearly hit them all! You missed only

5) They're common words
6) Joe Biden Deval Patrick warblegarble
7) They're banal platitudes anyway (I'll admit that it's hard to hold on to this one if you're going with 2, 3, and 4.

Here's a clue. Most people find this at the least ridiculous: it's a comical pratfall at the very least. People from all walks of life are shaking their heads and mocking it, including working class people who do any kind of artistic practice on the side (music, painting, welding, whatever). Despite the desperate spin of the Trump supporters, people still believe in and care about originality and quality. The speech is at the very least ridiculous because it is so obviously and blatantly copied. It's not only academics who raise their eyebrows at that. It's most people who aren't dishonest political hacks.

[malaise]

20. +1,000

Well said

[NewJeffCT]

23. I agree

this is what people are talking about at the office at the water cooler, too. In this day of the internet, it's really a head scratching turn that they couldn't be bothered to run it through Grammarly.

Of course, Melania's plagiarism stole the spotlight from Steve King plagiarizing from Mein Kampf earlier in the day.

[FighttheFuture]

96. Trumps are experts at shoveling shit annd making others pay for it. So laugh all you want, but

we shall see. Many will ridicule them for this, but those that will vote for them still will and those that won't still won't. Then you have the "undecided" people, those who are smart enough to know they are ignorant of what's happening, but have a semblance on conscience in them so are not comfortable with what little they do know. So, they keep on waiting before casting their lot. If enough ridicule can get out that may help sway them away from Trump; if not, ... who knows?

[Tess49]

18. I doubt that either Trump or Melania are happy being laughingstocks right now. I seriously doubt

that was a planned event. It is not in a narcissist's nature to enjoy ridicule, much less agree to it.

[jtuck004]

27. It is not in a narcissist's nature to think they will be ridiculed for anything they do, so their

judgement is extremely suspect.

Quite literally they will not give such a thing any attention until someone laughs. Then it's drop that, on to the next thing, screw what is left behind.

Forced to confront the subject, it is always someone else's fault. They will never believe the laughter is about them, up to the point where they commit suicide in the bunker so they don't have to hear it.

[Midnight Writer]

79. Narcissism is absolutely correct. Like when Trump bragged on 60 minutes how humble he is

But that he didn't think someone like Lesley Stahl is capable of comprehending how humble he is.

Absolutely zero self awareness.

A true narcissist believes he is always right, always justified and that nobody really understands him because they are so inferior.

[scscholar]

62. This. They did it for publicity...

and people here are happily giving them what they want.

[LanternWaste]

92. Or an incompetent and dull-witted campaign simply bungled once again

Or an incompetent and dull-witted campaign simply bungled once again and people here are happily mocking them for it.

But sure... you maintain the faith they know precisely what they're doing. It can be comforting in troubled times.

[FighttheFuture]

95. It could be either, but regardless they will make pearls form swine on this one. They (Trumps)

are experts at polishing turds and making other buy them. Just watch and see. Many will ridicule them for this, but those that will vote for them still will and those tat won't still won't. Then you have the "undecideds", people who are smart enough to know they are pretty stupid and have a semblance on conscience in them so are not sure how to proceed. If enough ridicule can get out that may help sway them away from Trump; if not, ...

[Gabi Hayes]

33. real clear rolling average has her up by 2.7%....nothing

if they start getting violence again, I'm very worried. I've made a sealed prediction of the results

somebody here knows what it is

[Wednesdays]

75. Your concern is noted.

nt

[LanternWaste]

90. Contorting simple idiocy and incompetence into "simply brilliant" is the most creative justification

Contorting simple idiocy and incompetence into "simply brilliant" is the most creative justification I've seen this morning.

"because it isn't." Part II

[hunter]

21. Every teacher has encountered students who simply don't get it, even after you explain it to them.

This world seems crowded with people who have never had an original thought and have never entertained any curiosity about anything beyond their most venal desires.

I think the saddest I've seen are creationist "science fair" projects, cut and paste from fundamentalist Christian websites. Some of the parents of these kids are aggressive religious grifters, but most of the proud parents are simply ignorant and incurious and raising their children to be the same.

[malaise]

28. So true

Sometimes the parents help them cut and paste

[niyad]

73. was it christie who said one has to copy the whole thing before it is plagiarism? I know

one of the idiots did.

[SheilaT]

22. My take on this is that whoever wrote it simply does not understand what plagiarism is.

Teachers have had a huge problem for decades with plagiarism, and the internet has only made things worse.

[Chemisse]

65. I picture some young staffer, Googling around to see what wives usually say in this situation.

(Or, why break a sweat, just google the last one). He then proceeds to copy it, alter a (very!) few words - and it's done! Why not? After all, this is how he got through college.

It's just an example of how inept the campaign is.

[LeftishBrit]

25. Indeed!

I had already made a note of it as a Negative Role Model for my students.

But apart from anything else - why should she want to plagiarize from an Obama, when she, or at least her husband, hates them so much!

[malaise]

34. That is what makes this so fascinating

Why would they steal this from Michelle Obama - they must have known they would get caught. So was it sabotage????

The cover-up makes it worse.

[Scarsdale]

81. Exactly.

I have a picture in my head of Ivanka tRump, giggling into her hand. Finally, she will Daddy all to herself, once Maleria is pushed out.

[chillfactor]

30. as a teacher...

I concur....teaching students about plagiarism and accurate documentation are priorities in my classroom.

[liberal N proud]

31. It woul

It would get you expelled at any college.

[malaise]

36. Which is why the cover-up cannot help ReTHUGs

Plagiarism is a serious matter

[drray23]

42. probably not at trump university.nt.

[liberal N proud]

70. That would be the only place

[PufPuf23]

35. Zombies' take on Melania Trump

[3catwoman3]

40. I was 14 the year this song came out.

One of the first rock-n-roll songs I remember noticing.

[PufPuf23]

45. Regular song at junior high and early high school dances for me.

I was born January 1953.

If one listens careful, Melania does a rickroll exerpt too.

[yuiyoshida]

47. Yup!

[ffr]

61. Never thought I'd be laughing this much today.

Holy crap that was funny! My stomach muscles are beginning to hurt...but it feels so good.

Gotta watch that again.

[nikto]

78. I also think when the "Time Of The Season" comes, we should "TELL DON, NO"

[Raster]

38. "If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Aird

[greiner3]

41. Brad might want to be careful what he teaches

He lives in Wyoming and some superintendent might take it personally

[not fooled]

43. Setup?

How could anyone be so stupid as to think they could get away with this?

Maybe Herr Drumpf's staff set him up? Revenge (he can't be pleasant to work for) and save the country, all in one brilliant masterstroke!

[obamanut2012]

58. I actually think so, especially becaise of the literal rick roll

In the speech.

[Demobrat]

44. Is she actually claiming to have written the speech?

Or will this get publicly blamed on the true culprit, the lazy ghostwriter? That person is toast either way, but who will take the credit in public?

[calimary]

48. Well, if you choose to believe what she told Matt Lauer yesterday.

She flat-out told him "I wrote it. With as little help as possible."

It was during an interview slated for this morning's "Today" show - done on the Trump plane. They hadn't made their entrance to the convention arena yet. He asked her if she'd been rehearsing her speech. She said no, that she looked over it. And then, claimed authorship. What I loved was Paul Manafort blaming Hillary for it.

So we do have a new meme, I guess - "Thanks, Hillary" replaces "Thanks, Obama."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

49. She volunteered the claim on Matt Lauer without him asking, I am told. Then

Then the Trump camp backed her up.

Then the Trump camp said whoever wrote it should be fired.

Then they began blaming Rick Gates, who is Paul Manafort's right hand man on the convention floor.

Then it was revealed that Trump skipped a meeting with donor companies and flew to New York. Then it was claimed the flight was planned before the speech.

To sum up:

1) Either Melania plagiarized or lied. No other option.

2) Somebody got thrown under the bus. The body has not been identified yet.

3) The Trumpster dumpster fire still burns brightly.

[malaise]

85. Looks like they found the family friend -

the ballet dancer/English major to throw under the bus.
Was she working from Don the Con or his children

[NastyRiffraff]

50. Apparently, according to Melania herself

she wrote the speech "with a little help." Whatever that means.

[malaise]

52. Yes

she said it was mostly hers

[stonecutter357]

82. "I wrote it. With as little help as possible."

[ffr]

51. PRICELESS!

Republicans shamed for what they are, the dumbest drones on this Earth!

Hope they put this in textbooks as well, as part of Common Core.

[obamanut2012]

53. I have taught English Comp at community colleges

To make a little extra money, and I have given a ZERO on a paper for lack of cite not even as egregious as the Melanie Trump speech.

[malaise]

55. Those are the rules

I sent more than one to the violations committee. One was expelled and others paid heavy fines. All received FEI (Failed Exam Irregularity) for the course. Coursework is part of the total grade.

[obamanut2012]

59. Yup

[malaise]

87. This is not going away

https://www.yahoo.com/news/melania-trumps-speech-run-plagiarism-230730092.html
<snip>
According to The Washingtonian, citing the plagiarism checker TurnItIn.com, "the likelihood that a 16-word match is ‘just a coincidence’ is less than 1 in a trillion. Melania Trump’s longest match? 23 words."

This particular type of plagiarism is known as "clone plagiarism," in which the copier lifts words and phrases verbatim from another source. College professors agree that this kind of copying is not acceptable.

Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies and co-chairwoman of the Presidential Oral History Program at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia, told USA Today, "if I were reading a student paper and two paragraphs were lifted almost verbatim, I would turn the student into the dean and then he or she would decide the student's fate in terms of the college."

Still, Team Trump is denying all accusations about the speech, citing everything from My Little Pony to directly blaming Hillary Clinton for the backlash.

[pansypoo53219]

56. in ever wanted to COPY for my high school papers. i at least re-worded stuff.

also. i wanted to be more original. cannibalism new? yeah! but maybe wrong for a lutheran teacher.

[L. Coyote]

57. A resounding endorsement of Obama values that will never go away!

[HockeyMom]

60. Copyright Laws also

You cannot take another's song without permission and use it for your benefit. Queen's "We are the Champions".

Students certainly would understand that one going on You Tube.

[malaise]

63. What's worse is that they were warned

by Queen last month (after violating said Copyright Laws).

[citizen blues]

68. I teach English to international college students . . . .

Last edited Tue Jul 19, 2016, 09:23 PM - Edit history (1)

This is a perfect example of plagiarism, which I've been talking about lately. Plan to use it by the end of the week.

[malaise]

69. You should run a class for the media hacks

They're not sure -it's alleged plagiarism!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

71. Meanwhile the Trump campaign is claiming it's all Hillary's fault.

[niyad]

72. the gift that will keep on giving!!

[Ligyron]

74. The simple reason nobody in the Trump campaign caught this is

They've never listened to Michelle's speeches. Not one of them.

Period.

They've never heard any of her material and are totally clueless in that direction.

[Wednesdays]

76. But they do know how to do basic research,

don't they?

Then again...

[lunatica]

91. Yeah, but they all LOVED IT!!!

Even the ones who did listen to Michelle give the speech the first time definitely think Melania's version was MUCH BETTER AND FAR MORE SUPERIOR!!

[nikto]

77. I've got the OPENING LINE for Melania's next speech ...

"Four score and 7 pairs of designer-Italian shoes ago ..."

[stonecutter357]

83. I've got the closing.

I say the fish don't fry in the kitchen
Beans don't burn on the grill (that's right)
It took a whole lot of trying
Just to get up that hill
I said but now we're up in the big leagues
My dirty it's our turn at bat
And just as long as we living, it's Lunatics player
It ain't nothing wrong with that, batter up
.

[malaise]

94. Heheheheh

Check out Colbert from last night

[mdbl]

80. maybe they are all teachers at Trump University

[Shoonra]

84. This is a bit much -- three sentences

Beating Melania, whose grasp of English is probably limited, because someone else imitated three sentences from Michelle Obama's speech (probably thinking that, somehow, these affirmations were required of a First Lady candidate) is a bit much. Shakespeare lifted more than three sentences from stuff. So did a whole lot of other highly esteemed people. JFK's most famous quote was cribbed from a paragraph by Edith Hamilton in a 1957 Saturday Evening Post.

But, yes, it's an example. And sort of ironic because the three sentences tell how Melania was taught honesty and candor .... by a father who was a member of the Slovenian Communist Party!

[stonecutter357]

86. "I wrote it. With as little help as possible." Melania.

[lunatica]

89. Well then let's give Donald Trump another pass then

It's not like anyone has given him a pass for the last 13 months. Poor Guy

[lunatica]

88. There are sooo many teachable moments with Trump and his peoples!

Where to start?!

[lunatica]

93. Donald Trump had to look up what plagiarism means.

Another teachable moment which I'm sure will be missed by the Donald.

Fact is - he doesn't give a shit that the speech was plagiarized. To him it's just not a big deal. His family lives in his universe of complete non accountability - the 1%. This buzz is no more important to him than a cloud of fruit flies.