7. Tyson E. Lewis — DesigningThePluriversity

Provocation 7:

Tyson E. Lewis

Provocation 7

1. Choose a professional form of writing (the cover letter, the resume/CV, the
biographical statement, syllabus, lesson plan, and so forth).

2. Reflect on what value these forms have, what expectations we attach to them,
and what norms/conventions they operate by.

3. Write something in the chosen form but suspend and render inoperative all
the typical values, expectations, and norms/conventions that govern the
form.

4. Share what has been produced.

BIO:

Dr. Tyson E. Lewis is a humanoid lifeform that inhabits the academic biosphere, feeding off of ideological dross that falls to the bottom of the canopy floor. He spends most of his time manipulating specially modified flagella to produce words and symbols that he then trades with other humanoids in a draconian barter system known as “publish or perish.” You can see a Lewis on display at the University of North Texas where the specimen is exhibited in the newly renovated “classroom” habitat that includes students for him to teach and studious infrastructure for behavioral stimulation and intellectual enrichment.

Responses:

Hong-An (Ann) Wu 吳鴻安

Charlotte Bowens

Soledad R.

Anonymous

Joy Travis

Amalie S.

Beekeeping Textbook Proposal

Dearest Publishers:

I have yet again devised a brilliant textbook. I am literally brilliant (1). So. This time I am proposing a textbook about beekeeping. Do I have any experience with bees? No. But I’m sure this is easy enough to pick up and write about.

Fig. 1 What, like it’s hard? (2)

So anyway, what I’m proposing is less of a textbook and more of an immersive experience. I think the best way for people to really know the bees is to overcome that initial shock and fear that they carry (3). What better way to acquaint them with bees than through my book! And I do mean that literally!
My book will not have any writing and will instead just be a holding cell for a handful of live bees. See figure:

I think this will be a very successful book and will tap into a previously ignored demographic of people who want thrills AND education from their textbooks. I can see no way in which this could possibly go wrong. Please give me money so I can make this come to fruition.
Sincerely,
B. Keyper
Knower of things, B.S.

Sources:
(1) My close friends and family
(2) Legally Blonde, 2001, dir. Robert Luketic
(3) Intuition

Jeffrey B. R.

Natalie W.

Tamara S.

Jocelyn O.

Anonymous

Andrea B.

Syllabus are designed as a contract between professors and students. It typically outlines the expectations the professor has for the students, contact information, course schedules, required textbook info and additional resources for students. Tying this provocation into the Pluriversity content made me wonder, what would teachers write for a syllabus when they don’t like to feel restricted and don’t agree with societal norms? Then I took it a step further and created a myth for the worst professor imaginable for my syllabus. This professor is truly completely imaginary but doesn’t provide a name, contact information or office hours. They tell students right away on the syllabus that they don’t care if students learn or pay attention because it ultimately has no effect on them whatsoever. In the syllabus, they reserve the right to change everything and even keep the option open to not provide links for learning material. The required textbook is Eric Carle’s, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the professor calls the students needy little brats. They also equate fill in the blank tests to mad libs for a little extra comedic effect.

Laila

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Sophie E.

Nina D.

Anonymous

The Resume serves as the ultimate introduction for any candidate looking for a job. In the quickest fashion possible, it summarizes one’s accomplishments and qualifications. One page of paper to describe a human being, AKA the most complex living organism on the planet. The Resume is not for the job-seeker’s benefit, it is for the employer’s. It makes the time consuming job of reviewing dozens of people a little more bearable. But is it a fair format? People are so much more than their direct accolades, what ever happened to “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Your future rides on a single piece of paper just to get even an interview. Qualifications are an important factor, but could we be putting too much value on them over other desirable employee traits?

Alex D.

Tyler W.

Anonymous

I had to dig pretty deep for this one. I wanted to exemplify my struggle with finding myself away from home. I recently was the first and only one in my family to ever move away. It has been a struggle finding a good job and getting settled. In this resume, I talk about my ongoing struggle with handling my intense emotions and imposter syndrome, with a few mentions of mental health in there. I wanted to put in the resume everything that a normal employer wouldn’t see while meeting me but everything that is still a strong part of my identity that I am in constant battle with every day.

Anonymous

The professional form of writing that I chose was a resume. Resumes are my absolute least favorite thing in the world to write. For one, it makes me sad to write them because I know that I am not as far along in my career path as other people who are my age. It is also difficult to try and write about myself in a way that is meant to make the hiring manager interested in me. It doesn’t feel genuine. It is also disappointing to think about the fact that hiring managers often only look at someone’s resume for about 10 seconds before tossing it off to the side, but applicants often spend hours perfecting them. This resume includes some of what I wish I could really say, as well as the thoughts that come to mind while I am trying to create a resume. I enjoyed this activity, as it helped put into perspective how meaningless all of this is. Sure, it’s important to have a job and to provide for yourself, but why do we make ourselves do this? It just seems so unnecessary. This activity felt a bit like a stress reliever, as it allowed me to express feelings of mine that would otherwise be unacceptable to share on a professional document.

Nihit G.

Miriam B.

Drake C.