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Mr. Lydon - A Teacher

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
September 29, 2025
Reading
Wes Lydon
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.

The Garden Path Sentence
September 22, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
Wes Lydon
Semicolon (or, The Period with a Goatee)

I've had a few students ask me about semicolons in the past week. I am sure they are not alone in wondering how to use them, and why we use them the way we do.

Semicolon (or, The Period with a Goatee)
September 15, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
Wes Lydon
Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, You Know?

Students are talking about Buffalo. Word is they buffalo Buffalo buffalo, which is weird for Buffalo buffalo to do, when you consider that Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, You Know?
September 9, 2025
Quite Excellent
Wes Lydon
New Quite Excellent - "Small Kindnesses"
New Quite Excellent - "Small Kindnesses"
September 8, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
Wes Lydon
The Day My Beard Died

My Beard Died. This is his story.

The Day My Beard Died
Wes Lydon
March 5, 2018
Related Items

How Donald Trump Uses Language (video)

Wes Lydon
March 5, 2018
Related Items
How Donald Trump Uses Language (video)

Donald Trump has a particular way of speaking. It is hard to miss once you realize it.

Tagged: Englishy

Comment
Wes Lydon
March 1, 2018
Related Items

Why the Director of Batman v. Superman Ruins Comic Movies

Wes Lydon
March 1, 2018
Related Items
Why the Director of Batman v. Superman Ruins Comic Movies

I found a pretty excellent analysis of director Zach Snyder, ruiner of comic book movies.

Tagged: Film

Comment
Wes Lydon
February 20, 2018
How I Would Do It

9th: Stylistic Analysis of a Director (How I...)

Wes Lydon
February 20, 2018
How I Would Do It
9th: Stylistic Analysis of a Director (How I...)

I take arguably too much time explaining in painful detail every step I would take in completing this week's rough draft. 

Tagged: 9th, Guidance

Comment
Wes Lydon
February 7, 2018
Related Items

Film: Analysis of a Director: David Fincher

Wes Lydon
February 7, 2018
Related Items
Film: Analysis of a Director: David Fincher

This video essay provides an analysis of a director's style, in this case David Fincher. 

Tagged: Film

Comment
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
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Featured
The Garden Path Sentence
Sep 29, 2025
Reading
The Garden Path Sentence
Sep 29, 2025
Reading

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

Sep 29, 2025
Reading
Semicolon (or, The Period with a Goatee)
Sep 22, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
Semicolon (or, The Period with a Goatee)
Sep 22, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking

I've had a few students ask me about semicolons in the past week. I am sure they are not alone in wondering how to use them, and why we use them the way we do.

Sep 22, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, You Know?
Sep 15, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, You Know?
Sep 15, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking

Students are talking about Buffalo. Word is they buffalo Buffalo buffalo, which is weird for Buffalo buffalo to do, when you consider that Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

Sep 15, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
New Quite Excellent - "Small Kindnesses"
Sep 9, 2025
Quite Excellent
New Quite Excellent - "Small Kindnesses"
Sep 9, 2025
Quite Excellent
Sep 9, 2025
Quite Excellent
The Day My Beard Died
Sep 8, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
The Day My Beard Died
Sep 8, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking

My Beard Died. This is his story.

Sep 8, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
How to Be a 7
Sep 1, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking
How to Be a 7
Sep 1, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking

You are your own worst critic.

Sep 1, 2025
What Lydon is Thinking

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  • Ana Segura-Gradilla
  • Wes Lydon
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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