I’ve had to punish plagiarists. It isn’t a fun job, but when I taught freshman English courses at a university during my Master’s program, I had to deal with it. As you all know, universities don’t take kindly to academic theft, and it is a serious issue that writing instructors must address. My first experience... Continue Reading →
I saw Michael Kimmel speak at my university a few nights ago. He's a sociologist who has focused his research on gender. He told us about his book Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men (2008). He uses the term "Guyland" to describe a new period of development, particularly among males, ages 16 to... Continue Reading →
I was afraid to become an English major. They all seemed so . . . smart. Arrogant. Self-assured. These were traits I did not possess, aside from smartness, but they seemed smarter. They had probably scored at least two points higher on the ACT than I had, and the ones I knew used big words,... Continue Reading →
I recently watched the adorable movie Julie and Julia with the incomparable Meryl Streep and the impossibly cute Amy Adams. Yes, the movie is about blogging (and cooking), but that’s not my point. There is a scene in which Julia Child is writing to a friend, and she describes herself leaping out of bed every... Continue Reading →
The Bookshelf of Emily J. 