1: Hello Humans

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ANTI-TEXTBOOK LAYOUT

What went into this anti-textbook? What are the roots? What did Sybil start with? What’s anti* about this textbook?

*Why anti? This goes against what textbooks of writing have done to students - told them there are rules, that their writing is “poor” when really their backgrounds have brought a different language to them. Their socioeconomic status doesn’t make their writing or other communication skills “poor,” just different. Their race or ethnic background doesn’t make their skills “poor,” just different. Same for their abilities, mental and physical. Same for their gender.

Is it possible to create a textbook that is TRULY INCLUSIVE TO ALL? A book that rips apart colonialism?$^6$ Maybe not, but this book is sure as hell going to try. This textbook aims to be PRO-student, not against students in its language and explanations. It will not assume that students will plagiarize, it will not assume that students need to be ranked and sorted, and it will not assume students are white and rich.

Yes, textbook FOR students needs to be AGAINST the textbooks of the past.

The anti-textbook contents could be brief since textbooks of the past have been wordy and boring. The anti-textbook could be visual. It might break grammar, punctuation, and spelling rules. The textbook is still a book, sure, but it’s aim is to be VERY DIFFERENT. It’ll include different chapters like ones about ungrading or self-assessment, how there are no rules, “white people’s language,” and optional writing process tips. The practice bits get upgraded, too, because this book includes all kinds of genres – even the ones that aren’t considered “academic” to some, like memes and tweets.

Questions, Exercises, and Activities Oh My

This may not be a “blasphemous element” of this book, but it’s FULL of questions and exercises and activities that one might not find in other textbooks. Students might be required to just read and respond to the questions, they might have to complete all exercises, and/or some of the activities could be conducted in both face-to-face and online sections of a writing class. There’s a lot of variety and decisions to be made!

Accessibility and Inclusivity

ACCESS

This book is accessible in both paper and digital formats. The digital is free; the paper format is available through Amazon and students only pay for the paper since the book is under a $0 royalty.
The digital formats come in Google Doc, Microsoft Word, PDF for print, and PDF for screen-readers. These formats are all available at: <insert URL>
The book may be printed in Large Print eventually.
Audio chapters will be offered via the LMS or a Google folder.

INCLUSIVITY

Most of the he/she pronouns have been flipped for they/them pronouns.
“White-sounding” names have been replaced by more diverse ones.
“Husband” or “wife” have been replaced by “partner.”
The majority of examples in this book, by students or otherwise, are not written by white, heterosexual, cisgender men.

1.1: Love Letter

$^6$From Wikipedia: “Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonization, colonizers may impose their religion, language, economics, and other cultural practices. The foreign administrators rule the territory in pursuit of their interests, seeking to benefit from the colonized region's people and resources.”

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