Paul Graham’s essays offer pleasure, insight, and great models for student writers to emulate. Here are some titles I would recommend to students:
Taste for Makers
Why Nerds Are Unpopular
What You Can’t Say
Mind the Gap
The Age of the Essay
Writing, Briefly
Good and Bad Procrastination
How to Do What You Love
Copy What You Like
How Art Can Be Good
Is It Worth Being Wise?
Two Kinds of Judgement
Stuff
How to Do Philosophy
How to Disagree
Some Heroes
Lies We Tell Kids
Disconnecting Distraction
Keep Your Identity Small
The Top Idea in Your Mind
Writing and Speaking
What Doesn’t Seem Like Work?