Category Archives: Ideas and Opinions

An Interview with John McWhorter, author of Talking Back, Talking Black

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Ed Battistella

John McWhorter teaches linguistics, Western civilization, music history, and American studies at Columbia University. A New York Times best-selling author and TED speaker, he is a columnist for Time and regular contributor to the Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, and Washington … Continue reading →

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My Dinner with Harlan

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Ed Battistella

When I was in high school two of my favorite books were Harlan Ellison’s The Glass Teat: Essays of Opinion on Television and The Other Glass Teat. They were feisty books of cultural criticism based on Ellison’s weekly column for … Continue reading →

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What People Are Reading This Summer

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Ed Battistella

It’s almost summer and graduating students get a little time to finally read what they want, professors have an opportunity to read things they do not have to grade, and even professional writers get some summer reading in the extra … Continue reading →

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An Interview with Sandra Scofield

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Ed Battistella

Sandra Scofield is the author of seven novels, including Beyond Deserving, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Chance to See Egypt, winner of a Best Fiction Prize from the Texas Institute of Letters. She has written a … Continue reading →

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An Interview with Michael Copperman, author of Teacher: Two Years in the Mississippi Delta

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Allie Sipe

From 2002 to 2004, Michael Copperman taught fourth grade in the Mississippi Delta through Teach For America. Today, he teaches writing to students from diverse backgrounds—primarily low-income and first-generation college students—at the University of Oregon. Michael also frontlines The Oregon … Continue reading →

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An Interview with Allison Brennan, a guest post by Kelly Brennan

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Ed Battistella

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes life’s too short to be bored, so she had five kids and writes three books a year. She’s currently writing two series–the Lucy Kincaid thriller series about an FBI … Continue reading →

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In Defense of Valley Girl English, a guest post by Reilly Nycum

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Ed Battistella

Reilly Nycum is an English and History double major in the Honors College at SOU. In Defense of Valley Girl English: I’m, like, so totally gonna ace this paper. When one hears Valley girl English, the eyerolls almost become audible. … Continue reading →

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It’s All about Class, a guest post by Laura Payne

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Ed Battistella

Laura Payne is a senior at Southern Oregon University, majoring in English Education, minoring in creative writing, and studying Japanese independently. It’s All about Class: The Americanization Movement’s English Education The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries cultivated a boom … Continue reading →

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Diversity in Young Adult Literature, a guest post by Zoë Dean

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Ed Battistella

Zoë Dean is a senior at Southern Oregon University, majoring in business and minoring in English What is Young Adult literature? The general assumption between the book industry and readers is that young adult books are suited for ages twelve … Continue reading →

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An Interview with Peter Mitham, editor of Amphora

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Ed Battistella

Peter Mitham’s writing has appeared in more than 80 publications worldwide. Based in Vancouver, Canada, he chronicles news and trends in real estate, agriculture and food for such publications as Wines and Vines, Good Fruit Grower and Business in Vancouver. … Continue reading →

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