Student failed for ‘Piracy’ essay
p2pnet.net News:- Hands up anyone who thinks the entertainment industry’s brainwashing ‘educational’ propaganda isn’t tainting US schools?
Steve Geluso, a student at Washington’s Richland High School, had to do a Language Arts exam. He chose to kick off with a statement on Big Music’s idea of what ‘piracy’ means, to wit:
“Today’s music industry is spiraling out of control and the people who run it are blaming piracy. They say that piracy is no different than stealing and that the people who obtain music through piracy will ruin the economics of their industry. However, I, and thousands of other people, know that piracy is totally different from stealing.”
Reasonable, you might say.
But his Language Arts teacher, Debbie Crass, didn’t think so. She failed Geluso.
That would have been the end of it, were it not for the net. Because Geluso highlighted the incident on his web site. As Jocalo’s Blog points out, “All of this has developed on Saturday, December 11, so the teachers and principal won’t be able to deal with the brouhaha until Monday.
“By then, it may have spread all over the blog world.”
Read on, and don’t miss the italicized ‘comments’ at the end, or I Fought the Law… but the Law Won on Geluso’s home page. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL
ENGLISH 3 WRITING EXAM
COMPARE/CONSTRAST ESSAY
Student ID Number: 20720104
Date: 11/30/04
Teacher: Ms. Crass
Period: 3
Directions:
You have three class periods to complete this exam.
Plan your time wisely so that a finished product will be turned in for evaluation.
Write a three-part compare/contrast essay that explores the similarities and/or differences between two items
Be sure to turn in all papers (they should all be stamped).
You may use a dictionary and thesaurus if needed
Choose your own topic; do not write on any topic previously used this semester
Write your final copy in ink, front side of the paper only
Evaluation Assessment:
| ORGANIZATION | ACCEPTABLE | Not Acceptable | ||||
| clear focus local organization | ||||||
| CONTENT | Acceptable | NOT ACCEPTABLE | ||||
| supporting details whole, complete piece of writing effectively communicates ideas achieves purpose |
Def — Piracy —
“robbery or unauthorized use of patented material!” Really splitting hairs if it is offered to you
| |||||
| STYLE | Strong | AVERAGE | Weak | |||
| word choice audience awareness fluent sentences expressive, interesting writing | ||||||
| MECHANICS | Strong | AVERAGE | Weak | |||
| spelling grammar punctuation | ||||||
| ESSAY IS ACCEPTABLE | ESSAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE | |||||
Evaluator: B. Deatheradge
And here’s Steve’s essay >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Today’s music industry is spiraling out of control and the people who run it are blaming piracy. They say that piracy is no different than stealing and that the people who obtain music through piracy will ruin the economics of their industry. However, I, and thousands of other people, know that piracy is totally different from stealing. (Not only are pirates intentions radically different than that of theives, but piracy itself is just a better way to distribute music that can also have a positive effect on the music industry. Stealing is wrong, piracy can be justified.) Theives only take advantage of the system that is already in place and have no intention of ever helping the industry. Piracy has its own distribution system that opens up a whole new world of the musical industry.
What sets theives apart from pirates first of all is their intentions. Theives steal music that is provided in the mainstream and never intend to help the artists out. On the other hand pirates obtain (music that is) a wide variety of music that is not always provided in ways that they can legally get it. When a pirate gets music he is usually getting the work of a smaller artist that isn’t sold very much. Pirates don’t want to hurt artists, they just want to be able to find (new things) and try new things that may have been overshadowed by the mainstream music industry. All points considered, theives only want what they get and don’t care who it hruts while pirates really do respect and care about artists.
(The) Another radical difference between theives and (p) pirates is how they get (what they get) their music. Theives walk into records stores and take physical copies off the shelves. When a thieve takes it from the shelf they are taking something that cost money to produce and stripping the store of its ability to sell it for a profit. Pirates don’t take advantage of the already established distribution system. Instead pirates have their own. A pirate will usually go out and buy an album (that) and then discover that he likes it. When he decides that he likes it, he will share a digital copy of it online. If another person finds this copy they can share it with other people. (that they,) This method of distribution has gotten to the point where some people just like it better. It provides a fast, easy and personal way to hear new things. Theives could only wish to have something like this.
Finally, stealing and piracy effects the music industry totally differently. (To show) A simple math equation can show the radical differences between the two effects very clearly. Stealing is represented by the equation 0 – 1 = -1. The zero represents the status quo of the industry without stealing. (When) If there was no stealing there would be no effect on the industry. However, when someone steals an album off the shelf of a music store the industry loses the ability to sell the album and loses profit. That was represented by the subtraction of one from the status qou and the overall negative result. Piracy is represented by (2) two equations, (0+) 0-0=0 and 0+1=1. Pirates would not (buy an album in the first place/ get an album in the first. place if it had not been available through piracy; this is represented by the zero. When a pirate obtains (an album) a pirated digital copy of the album it is only a copy of an album sold so it has no effect on the industry. This is represented by the first equation and the result has no effect on the industry whatsoever. Now sometimes a pirate downloads something that they like and will go out and purchase it. This leads to another sale of the album and the industry gains profit as shown in the second equation. (This proves that sl) Fo) Some) The music industry doesn’t believe this, but some artists like Wilco do. Wilco is pro-choice when it comes to copyrighted material. They put up their album a single for download and to be pirated by their own free will. (Wh) Their sales shot through the roof and that single became their highest hit ever. The band, Wilco, received lots of money from fans that downloaded their album and wanted to support them, but they told them to send the money to a charity instead. The charity (Doctors) “Doctors Without Borders” received over $15,000 from Wilco fans. These facts clearly show that stealing hurts the music industry and that piracy can help artists majorly.
Amazed? With all the propoganda that the music industry puts out (most people never (see) get the chance to) comparing (m) piracy to stealing, most people can’t tell the difference. (People need) Everyone needs to) The music industry needs to recognize the differences between theives and pirates intentions, distrobution and how they effect the (industry and) industry and embrace pirates piracy. If they took advantage of the benefits of piracy instead of (fighting) wasting thousands of dollars on frivolous lawsuits they could see themselves launched into a new era of prosperity.
- Writer is capable of writing an essay – C/C
- The issue is in regard to the logic or fallacy
-
- The initial question for this reader is: if piracy helps the artists/music industry, why is the overwhelming majority against the piracy? If it’s economically advantageous to allow piracy, why sell the music in the normal way? Yes, some listeners “might” go out and purchase a CD after listening to a pirated song, but what is the ratio of these listeners to those who download songs and entire CDs without ever going to the store? Isn’t that money lost to the artist/industry?
- The stance that pirates and thieves differ in regard to their ‘reason” for their actions is hard to imagine.
- The statement, “It (piracy) provides a fast, easy and personal way to hear new things.” fails to mention without the expense of having to buy the CD. Perhaps an error of omission … ?
==================
See:-
out of control – I Fought the Law… but the Law Won, December 12, 2004
Jocalo’s Blog - THE NEW ACCOUNTABILITY, December 12, 2004
December 12th, 2004 at 8:03 pm
and?
piracy is stealing. he deserved the F.
December 12th, 2004 at 8:21 pm
hmmmm, it gets a little unsettling when you can apparently get an F for an opinion rather than for structure or writing style now.
TT
December 12th, 2004 at 9:59 pm
I think she gave this student an F because she’s narrowminded and ignorant when it comes to copyright infringement. I doubt that she was influenced by the entertainment industries.
The essay wasn’t that great, but he only had 3 hours to write it and sometimes when you get writers block, it’s hard to write a good essay on the spot.
This teacher obviously doesn’t know the difference between piracy and theft and she had no right to fail him just because she doesn’t agree with his stance on file sharing and piracy. I think she should do some research and grade essays fairly in the future. What’s really disturbing is that he couldn’t get this grade overturned.
Drake
December 12th, 2004 at 11:56 pm
“piracy is stealing. he deserved the F.”
according to the legal definition of piracy, yes, it is “murder and pillaging on the high seas”. Yep, if you interpret the definition in the literal sense it IS stealing and he does deserve the F.
However, interpreting it in the modern vernacular, ergo copyright infringement, no, it is not stealing.
I hope they choose to overturn his grade, because it’s particularly egregious that a language professor does not understand the nuanced difference between theft (removing a useful object from someone elses posession) and copyright infringement (removing “potential revenue” from a copyright holder… wait.. isnt that called CAPITALISTIC COMPEITION?)
December 13th, 2004 at 12:27 am
okay, piracy may not be stealing–but copyright infringement is illegal.
also, he didn’t support his opinion very well…i probably would have given him a low grade too.
December 13th, 2004 at 8:31 am
makes a change to have someone with a brain who actually understands the issues,piracy is NOT stealing it is a totally different thing, piracy means unauthorised copying i.e. without the creators consent and quite frankly the prices they try and screw people for of cd with a mear 10-14 songs on is outrageous screw them – pirate on dudes
December 13th, 2004 at 9:09 am
Mmmmm….interesting how ‘Steve’ can’t spell the word ‘thieves’, amongst others. I thought he was allowed to use a dictionary?
Also of note is the grammar…how old is this guy ’supposed’ to be? My 11 year-old son can write a lot better than this guy!
Also….why all the ‘crossed off’ words?? Did ‘he’ submit it that way? And why would ‘he’ keep the mistakes intact, even the stupid ones?
I think this is a scam.
Just a dumb kid that has problems with his teacher.
December 13th, 2004 at 10:07 am
First off, it is very hard to restrain from calling the students teacher a total moron!
So, I will NOT restrain myself – this teacher IS a TOTAL MORON!
The syntax, structure and verbage of the students essay, DID have many good points that differentiated the ‘modern’ WAYS of both piracy and out right theft.
It IS forever true that the english language, writing styles, definitions are DYNAMIC – NOT static!
Example – use and definition of the word gay. In the 1920’s, in society there would have been NO doubt what anyone using this word ment. Today? Unless further followed with some other word, phrase or term, there is little most can do to gleen the intent of the user in use of this word.
The same is also with ‘theft’ and ‘piracy’. Both terms are under going a ‘redefining process’ – yet to be completed, in both a legal and social use sense.
Lastly, let’s NOT forget this was a STUDENT! What did this teacher expect, another Hemmingway?
To cite a further example in support of the above ‘opinion’ (though some might label it ‘arguement’) – take the recently filed case over the song “The Wall”.
It was OK THEN for the band to hire a chorus of school children to sing background on their recording, pay them mere pennies, press the record, cd, video and make millions off mere children.
So, these ‘once children’, now adults, have filed a lawsuit, claiming ‘theft’ and asking for compensation from the royalities made off the record by the band, the managers, the agents, the attorney’s, the record companies and others.
So, is THAT a NEW definition of ‘theft’ or to ‘pirate’ and profit from the use of children? This is yet to be decided and along with it, new foundation in law and social impact.
In this case, in conclusion, I support the right of this student to have picked the subject of his choice (there were no stated restrictions by the teacher) and voice his opinion in words on his ‘dynamic’ preception of the meaning of both.
December 13th, 2004 at 11:38 am
IMO, the teacher has a point. The task was: “Write a three-part compare/contrast essay that explores the similarities and/or differences between two items”
And the student tried to explore the differences between “piracy” and “theft”, his points are that thieves and pirates have different intentions (which is just a baseless assumption), that pirates actually buy music after downloading it (I know for a fact that at least some don’t) and last that pirates don’t steal the physical item, this indeed is just splitting hairs because it is commonly accepted that you can “steal” ideas or information.
You might be able to make a point that “copyright infringement” (and not just “piracy”, because piracy has a variety of other meanings, some of which involve stealing) is not the same as “stealing music” but this essay was just dumb.
I would most certainly have failed this student, too.
December 13th, 2004 at 6:34 pm
“Also of note is the grammar…how old is this guy ’supposed’ to be? My 11 year-old son can write a lot better than this guy! ”
Sorry, but I just don’t believe that an 11 year-old could write better than this guy.
The ideas and expressions used are clearly from someone beyond an 11 year-old’s abilities.
Secondly, my grammar has never been good and never will be, yet I have a PhD. So please don’t go around demonstrating your own ignorance by judging people based on their lack of grammatical aptitude.
December 14th, 2004 at 1:47 am
The student made an effort and althought the essay wasnt all that good, I think a c or a d would have sufficed. The teacher is just an ass
December 14th, 2004 at 6:43 am
“What’s really disturbing is that he couldn’t get this grade overturned.”
I am a friend of Steve’s. This was an exit exam, meaning that he didn’t have to pass it the first time and it doesn’t affect his grade. He does have to retake the test and if he doesn’t pass it this time then he will fail the entire course. It’s not fair, but then life isn’t either.
December 14th, 2004 at 6:49 am
First of all, Steve wasn’t failed for grammar, but on content.
Second, if you would have visited his site, steve.mathcaddy.com, you would see that he left the mistakes in so that the reader could see all of his “scratched out thought processes.”
December 14th, 2004 at 9:02 am
Hear Hear!
The essay sucks, to be sure.
He has arbitrarily created definitions for piracy/pirates to mean one thing, then doesn’t effectively compare/contrast to thievery/thieves.
Perhaps if he had contrasted “Music Downloaders” or “P2P Users” vs. “Bootleggers” or “Pirates”, he might have had an argument.
The teacher’s comments were not judgemental of his opinions, just that he didn’t effectively make his point, or any point at all.
It is an ENGLISH class after all.
January 2nd, 2005 at 8:06 pm
“Write a three-part compare/contrast essay that explores the similarities and/or differences between two items”
Therefore, it is quite clear that there are several necessities to get a good mark.
1) You must compare and contrast two different items. Why choose something tht is going to be difficult to compare from the outset? Why not football and soccer? Shakespear and Hemmingway?
2) “similarities and/or differences” Surely to get a high mark it would be helpful and a lot easier if you had both, it gives you more to write about and allows a more advanced and developed style of writing to be used. For e.g.
“Initially many people thing X and Y are similar because of….”
“However, arguably they are very different because of…”
“Finally, it is clear that there are both similarities and differences, the common ground between the two can be best illustrated by…”
Presto, you’ve chosen your two clearly seperate items, and in three clear parts, you analysed a stark similarity, a stark difference, and then you’ve provided another similarity, and given a clear example from it.
Does he do this. Nope. It is a poor essay. He got a poor grade. Deal with it.