If you have a clever anecdote, an interesting memory, a new way to explain how something works, or an opinion on a social or political issue, then you have an essay in you. Unlike a novel, history book, or scientific publication, essays provide you with the versatility to express all the various facets that make you you. The concise and direct nature of an essay means that you may tap into your sense of wit, share your individual point of view, persuade...

Penn & Teller teach the French drop, one of the most fundamental sleight of hand methods. With students watching, they break down the steps of the trick and explain how it's a building block for hundreds of other tricks.

Focus on this second aspect of the storytelling triangle - your relationship with your audience - by looking at the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual contexts of this relationship and how stories work to bring audiences together. End with an exercise that helps you identify stories that connect with a variety of audiences.

What qualifies as a story? Learn the significance of storytelling in various cultures; the ways this art is distinct from other forms of performance or literary thought; and how the craft of professional storytelling can help you improve your own storytelling abilities. Listen to tales from the professor's life and get an introduction to the "storytelling triangle."

What kinds of stories appeal to you most? Look at the variety of stories that are available for you to tell and some practical resources for finding them. Assess the intellectual, social, and cultural connections we develop with stories and identify how you can add depth and context to the stories you tell.

Start working on the outside of the bag as you attach hardware and the components that make up your handle and top strap. Once they're securely in place, turn to the inside of the bag as you start adding your mesh, vinyl and quilted pockets. Annie shares helpful tips for securing, placing and sewing each component to help the construction process go by quickly and efficiently.

Use ancient myths from East Africa and ancient Sumeria to break down this structure and investigate why the archetypal figures and pattern of separation, initiation, and return found in the hero's journey resonate so deeply. Pause to consider how you can apply these ideas to craft stories that reach your audience on a meaningful level.

Engage in "stretching" exercises to learn to let go of things that may hold you back from telling your story, and give yourself permission to play with the story, make mistakes, and really immerse yourself in the narrative. Listen to the story Mama's Wings to identify its tensive pulls and unifying themes and images.

In this episode, Ashley shows you how to make a traditional log cabin block, giving tips along the way on how to lay out pieces, accurately sew them together, and nest seams when assembling the blocks. Once the quilt top is done, she hands it off to Penny who shares two different ways to quilt this design- custom quilting and all-over quilting.

Meet your instructor, Jenny McCoy, and dive right in as Jenny shows you how to make a decadent, moist chocolate cake and five flavor variations.