Author Archives: Dr. Ayers

I read this awful piece from the Wall Street Journal by Andy Kessler the other day, and I’ll probably make all you students read it too. It begins thusly: It will perhaps not shock you that this former hedge fund … Continue reading →

Certain members of my family have been of this opinion for some time, but after seeing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever this weekend, I’m having to face up to it as well: The MCU has lost its way. About a year … Continue reading →

Two years ago today, I sent away my AP Lang class with a flippant, “If we never come back from spring break, it’s been a pleasure being your teacher.” Hilarious. Of course, we didn’t come back from spring break in … Continue reading →

Have you heard of joro spiders? Do you like sleep? If you said no to both, learn about this enormous new* species here. Photo Credit: “Joro Spider” by jdnx is marked with CC BY 2.0 I am very excited for the new Obi Wan … Continue reading →

I haven’t used this blog in years and years, but I decided it was time to use it again. (Feel free to go back through and see what I said to my Kennedy AP Lang students in the distant past!) … Continue reading →

If you need a prompt for one of your posts this week, here are three options:  1. Marcus Aurelius wrote: “Choose not to be harmed — and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed — and you haven’t been.” To … Continue reading →

Folks, I’m going to continue to push you toward using your blog for the preparation work before you begin drafting your Book Review Essay (the requirements for which can now be found on Canvas here and here). So, for your … Continue reading →

I hope you’ve been making good headway on your nonfiction books in the past several days. So far, I’ve asked you to analyze an existing book review essay, and to think about how the author gives the reader context early … Continue reading →

At this point, you should have your nonfiction book that you’re going to review. Is there an author’s note? If so, what important information (perhaps about her/his process) does the author tell you there? In the introduction or first chapter, … Continue reading →