Early on in “Something Borrowed,”  Malcolm Gladwell writes:

Words belong to the person who wrote them. There are few simpler ethical notions than this one . . .

And yet things quickly turn out to be not quite so simple, at least Gladwell sees them. I’d like you to write a brief  (about 750 words or so) comment on his essay in which you do two things:

1. Point to two or three reasons why Gladwell comes to see plagiarism as something more complicated and ambiguous (and interesting) than a “simple” theft of someone else’s words. (You’ll want to refer to specific moments in his essay as you do so.)
2. Respond to what he has to say. Are you persuaded? skeptical? a mix? why?

Think of a good title for your response. But name your document according to the following strict formula.

YourLastName x1.docx

Post your x1 to your Dropbox folder by 9:00 am, Thurs, 1/19. Look for a response from me in the next day or two.

Good luck! I’m eager to get to know you as a reader, writer, and thinker!