September 2, 2025: Fall Semester Previews: First-Year Writing

[Thisweek, I start my 21st year at Fitchburg State! So as usual, I’lloffer some previews of the semester ahead, this time focusing on individualmoments I’m looking forward to in each class. Leading up to a weekend update onmy plans for season 2 of my podcast!]

At a lotof colleges/universities, the more senior faculty members don’t tend to teachintroductory-level courses like First-Year Writing. But while this class doesbring with it a ton more papers and thus grading than upper-level lit courses orthe like, I am being 100% genuine when I tell you that I’m so, so glad I get toteach at least one first-year writing section every semester (and will have twothis Fall). For lots of reasons, including the chance to meet and work withsome of our new students every year (and, yes, possibly recruit some to beEnglish Majors and/or Minors!). But also because these classes bring with themsome of my favorite units and assignments—such as the third Unit and fourthPaper in my FYW I class, where students practice the skills of close reading byanalyzing a song of their choice. Every time I learnabout at least a couple artists I didn’t know previously, and as anancillary but not unimportant benefit I also get to help students realize thatthey do enjoy poetry, just in the form that the vast majority of us experiencein our lives.

Nextsemester preview tomorrow,

Ben

PS. Whatdo y’all have coming up?