By Rebecca Chopp. I prefer the term “thrive” because I feel “success” is too easily interpreted in the context of grades, honors, awards, and other forms of external recognition. The word “thrive” draws attention to how each individual flourishes within a community context and lets us pay attention to the development of social and moral character as well as knowledge and wisdom. More...

By Linda Hall. Students clearly tend to like “like.” But can they be weaned? First, though, let’s check in with a few grown-ups.
John McWhorter, in a New York Times article (“Like, Degrading the Language? No Way”), argues that the word “often functions to acknowledge objection while underlining one’s own point. … What’s actually happening is that casual American speech is, in its ‘like’ fetish, more polite than it was before.” More...

By Paul Hanstedt. I’m just going to come right out and say it: I like teaching gen ed. I like it a lot. In fact, I like it more than my major classes. OK, so if my dean calls, I’m going to say I didn’t really mean that. But honestly—just between me and you, Chronicle readers—I do. More...