Bad Dissertation Girl!

Well, it didn't take too long for my life to get complicated with keeping up with my regular classes, taking care of the Honors Program (another hat I wear!), and researching my two ENG 101 classes. It is official -- I am overwhelmed!

Since we didn't have class on Friday (gotta love getting Lincoln's birthday off when you work in Illinois!), I do want to mention at least one thing that happened in the Wednesday class -- it was simply fabulous! Two students had volunteered earlier in the week to bring copies of their drafts in progress and it turned out that both students had strong drafts to even start with. (I have students bring enough copies of their draft for everyone in the entire class and then we read on our own and come back and talk through the papers as a class/ larger discussion). Both essays were written from different angles and both essays generated a lot of discussion in terms of basic organization (focus/ support) but also ideas. For students still struggling with their racial autobiographies, I think these folks provided two good models of what you "can" do. And I am positive that both essays opened up interesting "doors" for individual members of the class.

So the essays are due tomorrow in both classes. And right now it's snowing like crazy. As much as I would love to have a snow day, I would rather not have one tomorrow. This would completely screw up our schedule! At the least, this darn snow is going to make my Metrolink/ Bus commute a pain at 6:30 AM (Jim needs our car on Mondays).

On a fun note -- I was recently chosen to receive an advance copy of the prequel to the fabulous Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I loved PP&Z -- and I consider myself a HUGE Jane Austen fan! I think she would love the zombie angle! Anyway, I was just sent the prequel on Friday afternoon and I am almost done! Love it so far! In return for getting an advance copy, I am required to write a review on this very blog. So if you are already bored by my classroom exploits, now you have a review of the prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies coming at you soon! (For the record, I wouldn't consider myself a zombie fan -- though I did love that British zombie film Shaun of the Dead with Simon Pegg-- but Elizabeth Bennett as a zombie slayer is just too good to pass up!).