Columns

The Study Dude—Five More Signs of an Amateurish Essay

In my last article, we talked about four signs of an amateurish essay, noting that many grad students write poorly.  So how do we break this trend of writing below our ability?  Well, I’m no Edgar Allan Poe or Doctor Seuss, but I’ve studied the craft of writing and came across some helpful tricks. With… Read more »

Homemade is Better—Greek Salad

It’s been sweltering here in Edmonton these last few days.  This week, it is going to hit almost 40C.  I’m writing this just before Canada Day, and I did not feel like using the oven or the grill.  I have wanted to make Greek salad, and today felt like the perfect day for it; it… Read more »

Dear Barb—Camping Conundrum

Dear Barb: My family has been anxiously waiting to go camping.  Twice our reservations were cancelled, but we finally got to go last weekend.  We always go to provincial parks; we like the natural settings and the peacefulness of nature.  Unfortunately, we didn’t experience any of that last weekend.  For one thing the gypsy moths… Read more »

Women of Interest—Emilie Augusta Louise “Lizzy” Lind af Hageby

Definition of anti-vivisection : opposed to experimentation on living animals especially when considered to cause pain or distress to the subject: opposed to vivisection Emilie Augusta Louise “Lizzy” Lind af Hageby was a staunch supporter of the anti-vivisection movement and, in 1906, was co-founder of the Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society. Lind af Hageby was born on September 20,… Read more »

The Study Dude—Four Signs of an Amateurish Essay

Most grad students don’t know how to write.  At least, I’ve read this claim in books and heard it from a professor.  My thesis was written worse than any undergrad paper I ever wrote.  The further I climbed the Tower of Babel, the less I knew. Universities don’t commonly teach students the basic skills of… Read more »

Course Exam—CMIS 214 (Custom Applications with C#)

If you have a course that you would like to see a Course Exam article written for or you recently took a course that you would like to recommend to other AU students, please feel free to reach out with the course name and number, and any questions or feedback you may have.  We’ll be happy to… Read more »

Dear Barb—Post-Pandemic Diet

Dear Barb: I don’t know if you can help me, but here goes. I have a friend that I’ve known for many years. We have kept in touch throughout the pandemic and have recently begun seeing each other again. She keeps talking about when the borders are open she wants me to go to her… Read more »

Fly on the Wall—Hoi Polloi

Being a bit contrarian is in the nature of studying at AU—we’re unique attendees at a unique university.  Off-campus, as it were, oxymorons such as adult student pervade our cultural atmosphere.  We’ve aged out of youth but aren’t quite willing to be normal, hoi polloi, mass culture consumers of life as labouring for wages and… Read more »