Year: 2025
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Is true privacy still possible in the digital age?
As AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, its ability to mimic human intelligence, conversation, and even creativity grows exponentially. This raises a fascinating, and somewhat unsettling, question: could we be fooled by a highly advanced AI, believing it to be human? Beyond the Turing test, imagine an AI capable of crafting compelling…
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The Art of the Rewrite: Why the First Draft is Never the Best Draft
The first draft is where you tell yourself the story. The second draft is where you tell the reader the story. And the third draft is where you make it pretty. Students often see a first draft as a finished product. We need to teach them that the magic is…
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The future of work in an AI-dominated economy.
The concept of “predictive justice” or “pre-crime,” where individuals are identified and potentially acted upon before they commit an offence, is a potent theme in dystopian narratives and a growing ethical concern in real-world discussions. Leveraging vast datasets and advanced algorithms, law enforcement agencies are exploring tools that forecast where…
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Don’t Be a Noun-Napper: The Power of Verbs
Verbs are the engine of a sentence. They do the work. They create the action. And yet, so many young writers rely on weak, flabby verbs. ‘Was,’ ‘went,’ ‘said.’ We need to show them the power of a strong verb. Instead of “He went to the shop,” why not “He…
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The psychology of resistance in a totalitarian regime.
In our hyper-connected world, digital addiction and the compulsion for constant connectivity have become pervasive concerns. The immediate gratification of likes, notifications, and endless content taps into our brain’s reward systems, creating a powerful loop that can be difficult to break. This constant need to check devices, coupled with the…
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The Magic of Metaphor and Simile: Spicing Up Your Sentences
A good metaphor is like a tiny, perfect story in a single sentence. It can convey a complex idea with incredible economy. But we need to teach our students how to use them effectively. Instead of a dreary worksheet, get them to play a game. “The sky was as blue…
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What if societal control started with seemingly harmless apps?
As artificial intelligence permeates more aspects of our infrastructure, economy, and even personal lives, there’s a growing concern about the “illusion of control.” We might believe we are still in charge, making the ultimate decisions, but what if AI systems are subtly guiding our choices, optimising processes, or even setting…
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Punctuation Panic: The Unsung Heroes of a Good Sentence
Punctuation. The little dots, dashes, and squiggles that hold our sentences together. They’re not just an afterthought; they’re essential. A misplaced comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence. And while it might seem boring, we need to teach punctuation with purpose. Don’t just lecture on semicolons; show how…
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Setting the Scene: More Than Just a Place to Put Your Characters
A setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character in itself. It can influence mood, create conflict, and reveal something about the story’s inhabitants. We need to go beyond ‘the dark forest’ and get our students to use all their senses. What does the forest smell like after the rain?…
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The philosophical concept of “determinism” versus “free will.”
For much of modern history, technological progress has been synonymous with advancement, a relentless march towards a better, more convenient, and healthier future. Yet, as we face pressing global challenges like climate change, digital addiction, and ethical dilemmas posed by AI, a crucial question emerges: Is technological progress always good?…
Antony West (Author) 