Writing What You Know and Whom You’ve Known

Keywords

essay, college students, teaching

Abstract

When I teach the essay to new college students, I usually put the kibosh on three subjects right away—the Big Disease, the Big Game, and the Big Break-Up. One reason for this blanket prohibition is as simple as it is selfish: I don’t want to read bad writing about tired subjects; and there are few subjects more exercised in the essays of new college students than dying family members, fleeting athletic glory, and the pains of first love.

Original Publication Citation

“Writing What You Know and Whom You’ve Known,” New Ohio Review 22 (Fall 2017). 145-149.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2017

Publisher

New Ohio Review

Language

English

College

Humanities

Department

English

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

Share

COinS