Strikingly Similar is a recent book by Roger Kreuz about plagiarism and intellectual appropriation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a detailed 2026 book by Roger Kreuz titled Strikingly Similar: Plagiarism and Appropriation from Chaucer to Chatbots. An article by Anthony Lane in The New Yorker on March 22, 2026 that reviews it is titled How Bad Is Plagiarism, Really?

 

Chapter 2 of the book is titled The Plagiarism Hunters and it begins with a section on page 29 titled Copyright Traps. I blogged about traps on November 30, 2025 in a post titled What the heck is a mountweazel?

  

On June 9, 2025 I blogged about Plagiarism and speechwriting. A section in Chapter 6 of the book starting on page 159 titled Dear Graduates discusses commencement speeches. One example on Page 160 starting at the second paragraph says:

 

“In 2005, for example, the principal of Springstead High School in Florida gave an inspiring address to her graduating class. However, her remarks consisted of a word-for-word recitation of the well-known ‘wear sunscreen’ essay written by Mary Schmich. Her advice was originally published in the Chicago Tribune in 1997 and has become widely available online. However, the principal chose to preface her remarks by stating that what followed were her personal thoughts. And at other points during her speech she used the phrase ‘my advice’ to reinforce the perception that the ideas were her own.

 

To make things worse, the principal wasn’t a first-time offender. In a commencement speech delivered the previous year, she appropriated from a collection of inspirational thoughts titled ‘All I need to Know I Learned from Noah’s Ark.’ Although the provenance of these sayings is murky, she left her audience under the impression that the ideas were her own.

 

In an apology for both episodes, the principal admitted to ‘unintentional errors.’ The school district put a letter of reprimand in her personnel file and gave her a one-day suspension, although it was with pay. A state inquiry in 2007 resulted in a $1,500 fine, although she was allowed to retain her state certifications as an educator.”

 

My image was modified from this Airwheel suitcase at Wikimedia Commons.