Category: writing

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The Search for Nothing Amidst Everything

Esperaba que alguna vez. Nada puede durar tanto, no existe ningún recuerdo por intenso que sea que no se apague. I woke up alone in Puerto Vallarta. My mouth dry. My body sore. My senses numb. I heard the waves crashing against the rocks and receding back into the depths, and I desired nothing more than to become part of the backwash, letting it … Read More The Search for Nothing Amidst Everything

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The Role of the Artist in Interesting Times: A Look at Albert Camus’s “Creating Dangerously”

Almost two years ago to the day, I finally read Albert Camus’ The Stranger. I had come across, somewhere, a discussion of the novel’s ending, which I won’t spoil here, and I became intrigued, especially since I was reading texts about the Algerian War and about France’s protectorate control of Morocco. Since then, I have been wanting to read more Camus, especially his 1947 novel The Plague which … Read More The Role of the Artist in Interesting Times: A Look at Albert Camus’s “Creating Dangerously”

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“Is it a racist story?”: Nate Powell’s “Cakewalk”

When I teach first year composition, I usually frame the course around personal narratives, allowing students to write about themselves. I find that this helps them get comfortable with writing and allows them to express themselves through their essays. As such, I try to choose at least one text that contains personal stories. This semester, I decided to add Nate Powell’s You Don’t Say, a collection … Read More “Is it a racist story?”: Nate Powell’s “Cakewalk”

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“I’ve always done what is right”

If you’ve been reading me for a while, you know that while I typically write essays, I occasionally write short stories. I’ve published “Paper,” “Adieu,” and “This Story is Continuing to Develop” here over the past few years. Today, I want to share another story that I wrote back in 2020. I’m not, really, a huge horror fan, but someone asked me to write … Read More “I’ve always done what is right”

“Give credit where it’s due”: How to Approach Plagiarism in the Classroom

The following are some thoughts for a presentation I and a colleague did about plagiarism for our university’s professional development. We wanted, through this presentation, to highlight our experiences as composition teachers with over 30 years of combined experience and how we need to, across disciplines, think about plagiarism. This is not exhaustive, and we do not deal with AI. However, we do think … Read More “Give credit where it’s due”: How to Approach Plagiarism in the Classroom