John N
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of California Irvine (UCI)
Expertise
Contemporary public policy, Op-ed writing, long-form fiction, short-form fiction, memoir, autoethnography, 18th Century British Literature, Literary Criticism, poetry, writing contests, journal submissions, etc.
Bio
I love writing in any and every genre. My background in rhetoric and literature has allowed me to explore a variety of research directions throughout my academic career including the historical analysis of primary texts, psychoanalytic frameworks, comic perception, political theory, and literary criticism. I enjoy research driven work as well as forays into fiction and nonfiction such as op-ed writing, memoir, and public policy projects. As someone who lectures at the University level, I have seen undergrads open incredible doors through their facility with language; fellowships, scholarships, and cover letters for the perfect job are all dependent on your rhetorical agility which is like a muscle that needs to be built over time. When I'm not writing or thinking about teaching, I enjoy playing guitar, cooking, and reading every film review I can find on the latest movie I've seen. I've found over the years that even though skill sets like writing or cooking might seem unique, the learning process is always the same, and learning itself might be the most therapeutic activity there is.Project ideas
Film Review
Watching movies is one thing, but writing the perfect film review that passionately captures why you love or despise a particular movie can be a profoundly useful exercise in analysis and argumentation. In the current media landscape, film reviews in many formats, both written and visual, can be a great way for a writer to build an online following and community- an essential step for modern writers looking to live a public writing life. Writing a film review might just help you unravel something true about life and your own experience along the way to crafting a compelling argument that makes all of your readers want to see the movie just to continue the conversation you helped spark.
Op-Ed
Writing an op-ed is a powerful research exercise that is not sealed off in the confines of the classroom, but plugged into the world. Great op-eds contribute meaningfully to critical conversations about some of the most pressing problems we face as a civil society trying to tame political incompetence, corporate greed, and corruption in countless forms. Op-eds have the potential to shape the way others think, transform how people feel, and even offer a platform for public policy advocacy that can change someone's life. We all have a unique perspective on certain social issues that have impacted our lives in unforgettable ways. What is the one op-ed only you can write?
Academic Article
When you study literature in a formal academic way, you are a student not just of stories, but of culture, human nature, politics, power, and intimate human wishes crawling their way into fictional narratives that are real artifacts of actual lived experience. Academic research in the humanities is a rich and satisfying way to grow as a critical thinker, and the rigor it takes to manage and blend historical texts with theoretical and fictional texts is a great way to hone your research skills and expand your writing skills. Academic research is designed for an audience of experts, and it is important to challenge yourself and step into that role of learning how to rhetorically perform expertise in a persuasive and effective way.