![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
idk snippet maybe
There are a lot of different suggestions about how to form a beginning. Academic articles should begin with an attention-grabbing quote or a controversial statement. Academic talks should begin with an apology (in some cultures) or a joke (in others).
Will Graham begins his first lecture as an adjunct at Quantico in the same way he began his Master's thesis, and the same way he began his talks at conferences, and the same way he'll begin all his future lectures and papers and talks--with a threat.
"People are going to die," he tells his students, "and they're going to die because of you. They're going to die because you weren't fast enough, or strong enough, or smart enough. This is the reality, and it's one you're going to have to accept if you want to become an agent."
He stops, lets it sink in.
"But because of your class, fewer people are going to die because we aren't fast or strong or smart enough?" asks one of the students, bored.
Will smiles. It is not a nice smile. "No," he says. "I'm teaching this class so people don't die because you weren't observant enough."
Will Graham begins his first lecture as an adjunct at Quantico in the same way he began his Master's thesis, and the same way he began his talks at conferences, and the same way he'll begin all his future lectures and papers and talks--with a threat.
"People are going to die," he tells his students, "and they're going to die because of you. They're going to die because you weren't fast enough, or strong enough, or smart enough. This is the reality, and it's one you're going to have to accept if you want to become an agent."
He stops, lets it sink in.
"But because of your class, fewer people are going to die because we aren't fast or strong or smart enough?" asks one of the students, bored.
Will smiles. It is not a nice smile. "No," he says. "I'm teaching this class so people don't die because you weren't observant enough."