-
The Course that Lived
Blame it on my Shakespeare students.
I was in the middle of teaching my Shakespeare class--Twelfth Night, to be precise. I was in full-blown teaching mode, half-lecture, half-discussion. I had sailed through the preliminaries of dates and texts and sources, and had landed in the first scene of the play that I wanted to look at in detail: the ( Read more... ) -
My Favorite Female Authors
While searching desperately for a blog topic for today, a former student of mine suggested on Facebook that I write about a woman author in honor of International Women's History Day. He suggested "The Yellow Wallpaper." Yes, just what I need to do: think about a story where a woman is driven from depression to outright insanity by the ( Read more... ) -
What do you want me to post?
What topic would you like to see me write about ( Read more... ) -
My pick for best Internet April Fools Joke
Yes, Google Motion was good, but I like this one better: http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/04/01/harry-potter-the-aurors-tv-show-trailer .
Too bad it isn't real. It looks so much cooler than the run-of-the-mill cop drama and the continual ( Read more... ) -
The Most Fun I Ever Have in Freshman Comp
I have an exercise that I use every semester to teach thesis and organization techniques. It's called "Organization by Murder," and it asks the class as a whole to construct closing arguments in a murder trial. They must decide whether the defendant is guilty or not; if guilty, how to defend him / her; what arguments we can use to get the client ( Read more... ) -
Student Comment of the Day
[discussing Richard III in Shakespeare class]
Student D: Wait--you said that the princes' sisters were older than they were.
Me: Yes.
Student D: Well, why wouldn't they inherit the throne? Is there a reason, or is it just a patriarchy thing?
Me: No, it's just the patriarchy thing. -
Today's Most Amusing Spelling Error
Actually, there are two spelling errors.
"Furthermore, if nothing else, come to the writing seminars to give you teachers useful feedback about how to better asses you!" -
I Am the Answer
Today, I am 42.
And if you don't understand why this makes me the Answer, you are not a hoopy frood.
Happy birthday to
( Read more... ) -
Writer's Block: Music for Thought
Jazz for grading, but not swing; it makes me want to dance. Sometimes medieval or classical for reading and writing.