Year: 2025
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What are the limits of human adaptation to technology?
Personalised medicine, tailored to an individual’s unique genetic makeup, promises revolutionary advancements in treating diseases and preventing illness. This includes the potential for genetic “correction” – altering genes to eliminate predispositions to illness or even enhance certain traits. While the prospect of eradicating debilitating diseases is incredibly compelling, the ethical…
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The Writer’s Notebook: Your Secret Weapon for Inspiration
A writer’s notebook is a personal playground. It’s a place to jot down ideas, overheard snippets of conversation, strange dreams, and interesting facts. It’s the ultimate tool for combating writer’s block. We should encourage our students to have one. It’s not for formal writing; it’s for messy, half-formed thoughts. As…
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The balance between security and civil liberties.
While digital platforms promise connection, some argue they inadvertently contribute to an erosion of empathy. Online interactions, often devoid of non-verbal cues, can make it easier to dehumanize others, leading to more aggressive or insensitive communication. The curated nature of social media can also foster a sense of detachment from…
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The Art of Description: Painting a Picture With Words
Description is the paint we use to create our world. And like any artist, a writer needs to know how to use their colours effectively. Alex Quigley’s work on vocabulary is a game-changer here. Let’s move beyond the obvious. Instead of ‘The sky was blue,’ let’s give them more precise…
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The societal implications of widespread automation.
In the digital age, the spread of propaganda and misinformation has been amplified, often finding fertile ground within online “echo chambers.” These insulated communities, reinforced by algorithms and self-selection, create environments where individuals are primarily exposed to information that confirms their existing beliefs, making them highly susceptible to biased or…
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The Narrative Hook: Grabbing Your Reader by the Scruff of Their Neck
The first sentence. It’s arguably the most important one in the entire story. It has to hook the reader, reel them in, and make them want more. Doug Lemov’s ‘Show Call’ can be brilliant for this. Share some of the best opening lines from classic books and get the students…
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Can technology truly solve all human problems?
As technology increasingly automates tasks, provides endless distractions, and shapes our realities, a fundamental question emerges: where do we find meaning in a technologically advanced world? If machines can perform complex labor and algorithms can curate our experiences, what is humanity’s unique purpose? Some argue that technology frees us to…
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The Rule of Three: Your New Best Friend in Storytelling
Why is it that so many things come in threes? The Three Little Pigs, the three wishes of a genie, the three-act structure. It’s because the ‘rule of three’ is a powerful tool for rhythm and emphasis. It’s psychologically pleasing. When teaching students about structure and emphasis, we can use…
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The ethical use of biometric data.
The modern world has seen the unprecedented rise of multinational corporations, many of which wield economic, technological, and even political influence that rivals or even surpasses that of nation-states. With vast resources, global reach, and control over critical infrastructure and information flows, these entities can shape policies, influence public opinion,…
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The Character Conundrum: Making Your People Believable
A great story is nothing without great characters. They need to be more than just names on a page. They need to be flawed, complex, and relatable. Doug Lemov’s ‘Wait Time’ can be used to great effect here. Ask a question like, “What is one thing your character is afraid…
Antony West (Author) 