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Stuff
Documents & Downloads
#Whiteboardgraffiti
Test
Analysis
Arbitrary List of Things Anathema to Good Essays
Class
9
11
AP
Creative Writing
Podcasting
Podcasts
CoralCast
Quite Excellent
Blog
Library
Library
Student Recommendations
Me
About Me
Prose
Poetry
Good Humans
My Digest
August 24, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
Wes Lydon
"Being a Teenager Is Easy!"

Adults have a tendency to marginalize the difficulties of childhood. That is, to suggest that the challenges faced in high school (and before) are insignificant compared with the challenges of adult life. I've done it. My friends have done it. My parents have done it (and probably yours too). 

"Being a Teenager Is Easy!"
August 19, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
Wes Lydon
Video Game Monotony as Metaphor

Games are repetitive, and I believe this is an excellent opportunity for storytelling.

Video Game Monotony as Metaphor
August 17, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking, How I Would Do It, You Do This Wrong
Wes Lydon
How To Name a Document (You Do This Wrong)

If you have more than one documents titled "English Paper," this one is for you.

How To Name a Document (You Do This Wrong)
August 14, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
Wes Lydon
"Why Do You Teach?" Is an Exigent Question

I have had a few students ask me "Why do you teach?" recently...

"Why Do You Teach?" Is an Exigent Question
August 12, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking, Related Items
Wes Lydon
A Change in Tone Makes Little Mermaid Creepy

With just a bit of a tonal change, things get weird.

A Change in Tone Makes Little Mermaid Creepy
Wes Lydon
February 5, 2018
What Lydon is Thinking, You Do This Wrong

How to Search Google (You Do This Wrong)

Wes Lydon
February 5, 2018
What Lydon is Thinking, You Do This Wrong
How to Search Google (You Do This Wrong)

You can search better. Promise.

Tagged: Research, News

Comment
Wes Lydon
February 5, 2018
Related Items

Film: The Virtue of Editing

Wes Lydon
February 5, 2018
Related Items
Film: The Virtue of Editing

Another excellent video essay, this one about the value of cuts.

Tagged: Film

Comment
Wes Lydon
February 5, 2018
How I Would Do It

9th: Comparing the Neighborhood (How I...)

Wes Lydon
February 5, 2018
How I Would Do It
9th: Comparing the Neighborhood (How I...)

If I were going to compare how Burton introduces Edward Scissorhands' neighborhood, this is how I would approach it.

Tagged: Film, Mood, Tone, 9th

Comment
Wes Lydon
January 31, 2018
Related Items

Film: Coen Brother's Shot Reverse Shot

Wes Lydon
January 31, 2018
Related Items
Film: Coen Brother's Shot Reverse Shot

This video essay thoughtfully breaks down how the Coen Brothers use Shot Reverse Shot to craft a scene.

Tagged: Film

Comment
Wes Lydon
January 29, 2018
What Lydon is Thinking

Film: Let's Talk About Deadpool

Wes Lydon
January 29, 2018
What Lydon is Thinking
Film: Let's Talk About Deadpool

Many of my students went to see Deadpool, so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about a heavily R-rated movie for the benefit of my teenage students. 

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Tagged: Film

1 Comment
Wes Lydon
January 24, 2018
Related Items

Film: Angle, Sound, Composition, Meaning

Wes Lydon
January 24, 2018
Related Items
Film: Angle, Sound, Composition, Meaning

While we in the 9th grade class discuss Tim Burton's use of cinematic techniques, I thought a brief look at the use other techniques might provide some valuable context.

Tagged: Film

Comment
Wes Lydon
January 22, 2018
Related Items

Film: Examples of All The Things!

Wes Lydon
January 22, 2018
Related Items
Film: Examples of All The Things!

Here are examples for basically all of our techniques!

Tagged: Film

Comment
Wes Lydon
January 19, 2018
Related Items

Film: How Film Scores Play With Our Brains

Wes Lydon
January 19, 2018
Related Items
Film: How Film Scores Play With Our Brains

Now You See It does a pretty great analysis on how film scores influence the experience of the audience.

Tagged: film

Comment
Wes Lydon
January 15, 2018
What Lydon is Thinking

A story in a frame: Last of Us

Wes Lydon
January 15, 2018
What Lydon is Thinking
A story in a frame: Last of Us

This window opens and concludes The Last of Us, and I wish I hadn't seen it again.

Tagged: Gaming, Random

1 Comment
Wes Lydon
November 27, 2017
What Lydon is Thinking

Science News Should Make you Happy

Wes Lydon
November 27, 2017
What Lydon is Thinking
Science News Should Make you Happy

I saw some science news, and it made me happy. And it should make you happy. Let's talk about science and be happy together.

Tagged: News, Random

1 Comment
Wes Lydon
November 20, 2017
Reading

The Garden Path Sentence

Wes Lydon
November 20, 2017
Reading
The Garden Path Sentence

Sometimes a sentence leads you to a dead end. You are confused, and that's ok. This time you can blame the sentence.

Tagged: Random

1 Comment
Wes Lydon
November 15, 2017
Writing

The Death of Juan Reyoaso

Wes Lydon
November 15, 2017
Writing
The Death of Juan Reyoaso

A short story written by me about a decade ago. 

Tagged: Englishy, Random

Comment
Wes Lydon
November 15, 2017
How I Would Do It

9th: Short Story Final Draft (How I...)

Wes Lydon
November 15, 2017
How I Would Do It
9th: Short Story Final Draft (How I...)

I break down the four steps I would take in creating a final draft of a short story, which are: 

  1. Be sure I'm not copying story ideas or characters from another source (a film, tv show, book, etc).
  2. Check my work against the rubric.
  3. Consider if I am satisfied by the story.
  4. Edit for punctuation, spelling, grammar, and repetition.

Tagged: Guidance, 9th

4 Comments
Wes Lydon
November 13, 2017
Reading, What Lydon is Thinking

Having a Library Makes Me Nervous

Wes Lydon
November 13, 2017
Reading, What Lydon is Thinking
Having a Library Makes Me Nervous

There are books in my library that you or your parents might find offensive. I'm learning to be ok with this.

Tagged: Real Talk

Comment
Wes Lydon
October 30, 2017
What Lydon is Thinking, Related Items

Punctuation as Style

Wes Lydon
October 30, 2017
What Lydon is Thinking, Related Items
Punctuation as Style

I read an excellent post on Medium comparing the punctuation use of multiple authors. It's cool! (no, seriously)

Tagged: Punctuation, Englishy

Comment
Wes Lydon
October 23, 2017
What Lydon is Thinking

Video Game Monotony as Metaphor

Wes Lydon
October 23, 2017
What Lydon is Thinking
Video Game Monotony as Metaphor

Games are repetitive, and I believe this is an excellent opportunity for storytelling.

Tagged: Gaming

2 Comments
Wes Lydon
October 17, 2017
What Lydon is Thinking, How I Would Do It, You Do This Wrong

How To Name a Document (You Do This Wrong)

Wes Lydon
October 17, 2017
What Lydon is Thinking, How I Would Do It, You Do This Wrong
How To Name a Document (You Do This Wrong)

If you have more than one documents titled "English Paper," this one is for you.

Tagged: Guidance, Random

Comment
Wes Lydon
October 2, 2017
Reading

4D Video Games & a 130 Year Old Lydon Library Book

Wes Lydon
October 2, 2017
Reading
4D Video Games & a 130 Year Old Lydon Library Book

We exist in a three dimensional space. We have height, width, and length. Could you even imagine what a fourth would look like?

Tagged: Random

14 Comments
Wes Lydon
September 25, 2017
Writing

A Note About Quotations

Wes Lydon
September 25, 2017
Writing
A Note About Quotations

Notes about using quotes to make them work for you.

Tagged: Punctuation, Englishy

2 Comments
Wes Lydon
September 11, 2017
Writing, What Lydon is Thinking

The Radical Use of a Comma by Phillis Wheatley

Wes Lydon
September 11, 2017
Writing, What Lydon is Thinking
The Radical Use of a Comma by Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was the first published African American woman, and in the poem "On Being Brought from African to America" she engages in a quiet, cultural rebellion with the use of a single comma.

Tagged: Punctuation, Englishy

3 Comments
Newer Posts
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Featured
"Being a Teenager Is Easy!"
August 24, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
"Being a Teenager Is Easy!"
August 24, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking

Adults have a tendency to marginalize the difficulties of childhood. That is, to suggest that the challenges faced in high school (and before) are insignificant compared with the challenges of adult life. I've done it. My friends have done it. My parents have done it (and probably yours too). 

Read more →
August 24, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
Video Game Monotony as Metaphor
August 19, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
Video Game Monotony as Metaphor
August 19, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking

Games are repetitive, and I believe this is an excellent opportunity for storytelling.

Read more →
August 19, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
How To Name a Document (You Do This Wrong)
August 17, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking, How I Would Do It, You Do This Wrong
How To Name a Document (You Do This Wrong)
August 17, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking, How I Would Do It, You Do This Wrong

If you have more than one documents titled "English Paper," this one is for you.

Read more →
August 17, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking, How I Would Do It, You Do This Wrong
"Why Do You Teach?" Is an Exigent Question
August 14, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
"Why Do You Teach?" Is an Exigent Question
August 14, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking

I have had a few students ask me "Why do you teach?" recently...

Read more →
August 14, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking
A Change in Tone Makes Little Mermaid Creepy
August 12, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking, Related Items
A Change in Tone Makes Little Mermaid Creepy
August 12, 2026
What Lydon is Thinking, Related Items

With just a bit of a tonal change, things get weird.

Read more →
August 12, 2026
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"no story is so unseemly as to prevent anyone from telling it, provided it is told in seemly language" 

- Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron