I came across this brilliant review essay, Anna Shechtman, Life in the Algorithm: It has reshaped culture—but how? Two new books reckon with our digital predicament, The Yale Review, and thought I’d share it. Shechtman reviews Filter World and Extremely Online with a great deal of insight and wit. 

I’ve had a couple conversations recently with people who want to be creative for a living. I’ve always been that way myself and would have starved to death years ago if I had to live on the money I’ve made from writing. I grew up with a couple of musicians who made generational wealth writing and playing music, guys in the top 1% of all musicians, and you’ve never heard of them (Unless you’re Canadian and have a dad my age). Just because you aren’t going to make a living making what you love to make doesn’t mean you need to stop making it. I came across a TikTok slide show this morning that handily captures what I’m trying to share:

Get a day job you love and keep creating.

In Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation, Sally Hogshead tells us that  the following triggers lead to reader-engagement:

1. LUST creates craving for sensory pleasure.
2. MYSTIQUE lures with unanswered questions.
3. ALARM threatens with negative consequences.
4. PRESTIGE earns respect through symbols of achievement.
5. POWER commands and controls.
6. VICE tempts with “forbidden fruit,” causing us to rebel against norms.
7. TRUST comforts us with certainty and reliability.

I’m not sure how you might use these in your portfolio, well building trust through demonstrating consistent competence matters. Perhaps you might use some kind of mystique hook on your first screen. Anyway, some ideas worth thinking about. The link above takes you to excerpts from the book.  

10 Best Rules for Creating a Clear, Brief Writing Style (From ChatGPT)

1. Be Concise: Use as few words as possible to convey your message. Avoid unnecessary verbosity or complex sentence structures.
2. Choose Simple Words: Prefer simple, straightforward language over complex or jargon-filled terms. This makes your writing more accessible to a broader audience.
3. Use Active Voice: Active voice makes your writing more direct and dynamic. For example, “John will lead the meeting” is preferable to “The meeting will be led by John.”
4. Be Specific: Avoid vague terms and generalizations. Specific details and examples make your writing clearer and more engaging.
5. Organize Your Thoughts: Structure your writing logically. Start with an introduction, follow with the body where you present your main points, and conclude with a summary or conclusion.
6. Edit Ruthlessly: After writing your first draft, edit to remove redundant phrases, correct errors, and improve flow. Often, less is more.
7. Use Bullet Points and Headings: When appropriate, use bullet points and headings to break up text and make it easier to scan and understand.
8. Avoid Jargon and Acronyms: Unless you’re writing for a specific audience that understands them, avoid using jargon and acronyms. They can be confusing and alienate readers who are not familiar with them.
9. Use Analogies and Metaphors Sparingly: While analogies and metaphors can clarify complex ideas, using them too frequently or inappropriately can make your writing more difficult to follow.
10. Read Aloud: Reading your work aloud can help you catch awkward phrasing and overly complex sentences. If it’s hard to read aloud, it’s likely hard to read in general.

Hey ChatGPT 

Can a teacher send text messages through icollege at gsu?

[Before humanizing] ChatGPT: 

As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, iCollege is the online learning management system used by Georgia State University (GSU). Whether a teacher can send text messages through iCollege may depend on the specific features and settings of the iCollege platform at GSU.

Typically, teachers can communicate with their students through various means within an LMS like iCollege, such as announcements, discussion forums, and email. However, sending text messages directly through iCollege may require additional features or integrations that GSU has implemented.

To get the most accurate and up-to-date information on this matter, I recommend visiting the official GSU website or contacting the university’s IT department or support services. They will be able to provide you with information on the current capabilities and features of iCollege for teachers.

[After humanizing]

Sorry, I don’t know. Check with iCollege administrators.