Final answer:
The subject matter revolves around avoiding plagiarism in an academic setting, specifically within an English composition class at the college level. It emphasizes the proper attribution of sources to maintain academic integrity and the importance of original expression in writing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The information provided indicates the primary concern surrounding the concept of plagiarism within academic writing, particularly as it occurs in an English composition class. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's words, ideas, or intellectual property without proper attribution, and it can be intentional or accidental.
In the context of a writing class, students must be vigilant to avoid plagiarism by conducting careful research and employing diligent note-taking practices. The examples given illustrate scenarios where students may inadvertently commit plagiarism, such as writing about a calligraphy pen without knowing what it looks like, copying a passage without using quotation marks or proper citation, and the act of letting carelessness during the note-taking or drafting process lead to unattributed paraphrasing.
It's crucial for students to understand the importance of citing sources correctly, as seen in the example of Lily Tran's annotated log entry. Proper documentation not only enhances the credibility of the paper but also respects the intellectual labor of original authors.
Drawing from the examples given, we can see that even direct personal experiences, such as writing about one's own struggles, need to be expressed in an original manner to avoid self-plagiarism or repetitive writing across different works. The excerpt discussing the feeling of trepidancy in a character and the reference to a doomed man's thoughts in a narrative are emblematic of the need for coherent and original expression in one's writing assignments.