
A Labyrinth of Good Intentions
From The English 101 Experiment by Monica Mankin
May 3, 2025 · 48 min · Season 2 · Episode 5
About this episode
The episode explores the complexities of defining 'good writing' through various academic and cultural lenses.
In episode five, colleagues Sarah Inman and Jennifer Kooken join Mason and Monica as they wander through the maze of "good writing"--from academic conventions to cross-cultural ideals--asking whether the rules meant to guide us sometimes get us lost. We explore "The Five-Paragraph Essay" by Will D. Desmond, "Should Writers Use They Own English?" by Vershawn Ashanti Young, and "Defining 'Good Writing' A Cross-Cultural Perspective" by Melinda Reichelt.
People in this episode
Hosts: Mason, Monica Mankin
Guests: Sarah Inman, Jennifer Kooken
Topics covered
- good writing
- academic conventions
- cross-cultural ideals
- writing rules
- essay structure
- cultural perspectives
Keywords
- good writing
- academic writing
- cultural perspectives
- writing conventions
- five-paragraph essay
- cross-cultural writing
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Five-Paragraph Essay, Should Writers Use They Own English?, Defining 'Good Writing' A Cross-Cultural Perspective
More episodes of The English 101 Experiment
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- Problems on the Path: Generative A.I. and Writing Assessment · December 8, 2025 · 55 min
- Walk the Way · September 27, 2025 · 46 min
- Aretē vs. Technē in the GenAI Gym · August 15, 2025 · 50 min
- Voices in the Maze · July 9, 2025 · 56 min
- (L)imitations in Play · March 25, 2025 · 46 min
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