In ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’, speech is as powerful a persuader as physical force, a lesson learned from Gorgias’s ‘Encomium of Helen’.
Visit Your Writing Center, They Miss You
Stephen North says “The Idea of a Writing Center” is misunderstood, and I agree. It’s the most useful resource your college offers. Don’t underestimate it.
8 Words Commonly Confused
A helpful guide for distinguishing “octopus” and other related words.
Etymology of ‘Factoid’
The Internet’s filled with interesting factoids, but not the ones you think. For example, did you know Norman Mailer coined the word to mean ‘bullshit’?
Harry Potter & Rhetoric: Remember Cedric Diggory
In ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’, Dumbledore chooses rhetoric as his weapon against evil when he delivers his deliberative eulogy of Cedric Diggory.
Etymology of ‘Scuttlebutt’
No, ‘scuttlebutt’ is not that thing your dog keeps doing on the nice carpet. It’s actually an old sailor’s term for ‘gossip’ with a fascinating history.
How to Write Better Technical Documents
There’s no reason for bad emails, instructions or copy. Better technical documents are easy: Just make your writing simple, consistent, usable and modular.
Who’s Afraid of Community College?
Community college doesn’t get a lot of respect, but if you’re preparing for graduation or hesitant to go back to school, let me ease your fears.
Harry Potter & Rhetoric: Neither Can Live While the Other Survives
In ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’, Harry, like Lloyd Bitzer, thinks fate dictates his future actions, but Dumbledore and Richard Vatz disagree.
Harry Potter & Rhetoric: There Is So Much Bullshit
In ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’, Gilderoy Lockhart lies and bullshits, but with Harry Frankfurt’s ‘On Bullshit’ we’ll learn the difference.