THE DIVINE NINE

[pink99]

First, I would like to say hello to all of my
sorors. I have to get this topic out. I am new to this site, so I don't know if this topic has been discussed. Yesterday I purchased the book, The Divine Nine, because I had been emailed about this book. I flipped through it last night, and when I got
to the AKA section it included everything from our website, WORD FOR WORD. Is it plagerism to copy from a website word for word? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that a brother, an Alpha, took the time to write about our black greek institutions, but I felt that he could have gone beyond just taking information from our website. I did like the interviews with different chapters and highlights of famous sorors. I guess everyone's a critic! What do you think?

[AKAtude]

There was a news story a while ago about a Citadel cadet who was expelled for taking information from the internet without documentation for a paper he wrote. I think any time you incorporate information from another source it should be noted. Using the words or ideas of someone else without proper credit or permission is just like stealing.
We have had a topic posted regarding the book before, but not on this specific topic. I haven't read the book, so I don't want to critisize the author. However, I would hope he got permission to insert that word for word information in his book.

[LikeASista]

Well, since he did have interviews with some of the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one can only assume that he HAD some kind of permission. I was a little disappointed when I viewed the book, but not because of plagiarism. It was more because of his lack of effort in making Alpha Kappa Alpha look good, as opposed to other sororities. He grazed across some and glossed over others, and I was a little annoyed by that. It seemed somewhat biased, in my opinion. I'm one who likes to flip through a book before I decide to buy it, especially when I've heard so much about it. That's what happened when I came across Lawrence Otis Graham's "Our Kind of People." I was so intrigued with all the NEW information, I bought the book even after having read half of it. But the only NEW information I came across in "The Devine Nine" dealt only with OTHER sororities, and I was no longer impressed. This isn't to say the book is not worth reading, however.

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No weapon formed against me shall prosper, for I am a child of the Most High God, Who sits upon the Throne of Grace, and rules all Heaven and Earth.

[pink99]

Thanks for the info soror. Lawrence Graham's book was my original choice when I walked into the bookstore, but the guy there talked me out of it. I saw Lawrence on CSPAN discussing his book, and I thought it was very interesting. The only reason I agreed to buy The Divine Nine was because of all of the emails from friends and sorors. I guess the next time I will go on my first impulse.