Draft

As posted earlier (NYT Reads 3/20 Post), Draft is a new online feature in the Opinionator blog section of The New York Times. In Draft, writers contribute easy-to-learn lessons on writing. While all the lessons are highly useful and informative, I particularly encourage you to read the series by Constance Hale. Continue reading →

It does not happen often that three of the world’s best known authors write essays for The New York Times. But when it does we should take notice. And it also gives us an opportunity to juxtapose different writing styles and techniques.

Each author was asked “to consider the question of America and its role in global political culture.” The following are links to their respective responses with a short introduction to each writer.  Continue reading →

There has been a lot of interesting news coming of out China lately — much of it resembling something one would read in a spy novel or Jason Bourne movie. First, the rapid political descent of Bo Xilai, the equally rapid growing scandals surrounding Bo Xilai. Second, the implication that Bo and his wife, Gu Kailai, may be involved in the mysterious death of British businessman Neil Heywood. And finally, the escape of human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng from house arrest in the Chinese countryside and into political asylum in (what the world assumes is) the U.S. Embassy. What makes the escape even more extraordinary is that Chen is physically blind. Continue reading →

Stop doing things you don’t like doing — it’s not high school anymore. If you don’t know what you like doing, don’t be afraid to explore. Don’t commit to things you know you will only do half-heartedly. Continue reading →

Who’s Afraid of Lindsay Lohan

Though this is a short post on the often overlooked Arts Beat blog of the online New York Times, I wanted you to read it because it presents a good example of the “humorous opener” — something that is not easy to pull off. In an earlier post (“How to Write Sarcasm…“), I gave an example (albeit, a sharper one) of another humorous opener. Continue reading →

- Get acquainted with the campus and know where all your classes are held prior to the first day of class.

- Do NOT buy junk food for your dorm/apartment — be aware of Freshman 15!

- Eat a nutritious, filling breakfast — it helps you get through your busy day. Sometimes students don’t have time or forget to eat meals during the day and end up overeating at night…avoid this! Continue reading →

1. Go to office hours. Faculty is always there to talk with you and listen to what you have to say, but students don’t take advantage of the opportunities that are available on campus (at least, as much as they could). Overdoing it is not good as well, but checking in with a professor every other week is a great way to cultivate relationships. The best way to overcome awkwardness is to have a set of questions or comments prepared beforehand. After that, just let the conversation flow. Continue reading →

• Take an easier course load the first semester and get used to the speed and rhythm of college life

• Check out as many student groups as you are interested in, you need only attend one or two meetings to figure out if you like what they’re doing and whether you like the people there

• Stay open to opportunities throughout your college career — many interesting things come up (like talks, trips, conferences, events)
Continue reading →

Warren E. Buffett

According to the latest Forbes’ List of the World’s Billionaires, Warren E. Buffett (net worth: $44 billion) ranks number three on the list. But that isn’t the reason for this post. Buffett’s name has appeared in the news a great deal lately. The “Buffett Rule” has played prominently in president Obama’s campaign speeches, the Senate Republicans blocked a debate on the “Buffett Rule” last Monday (4/16), and on the following day it was announced that Warren Buffett has Stage 1 (non life-threatening) prostrate cancer. Continue reading →

And the Winner Isn’t…

For the first time in 35 years (and the tenth time in Pulitzer history), a prize was not awarded in the category of Fiction. For writers and readers (as Op-Ed Contributor Ann Patchett points out), this is a severe disappointment. Patchett’s argument is straightforward and easy to follow. Along the way to her conclusion, you will notice how the writer slips in her suggestions of noteworthy candidates for this year’s prize. I especially recommend that you carefully peruse the second to last paragraph. Those of you who have been in my class recently may feel that it sounds very familiar. It is a concise paragraph, but pithy in that it states the value of fiction and the consequence of not reading it.

Words and phrases to notice: deliberation, privy, consensus, deadlock, galling, indignation, brick-and-mortar, inception, posthumous, underscore, and empathetic