1. An essay written by Paul McHenry Roberts (1917-1967) PowerPoint created by G. Zermeño

2.  List 7 reasons why the football program should be abolished  List 7 reasons why the football program should be preserved  Share with class to omit any ideas that you had in common with anyone else in the class

3.  What topics can you write about regarding the subject of “dogs”?  List at least 10  What topics can you write about regarding your favorite restaurant in El Paso?  List up to 10  Share with the whole class and cross out any that you have in common with someone else.  Discussion: How can you come up with a topic that nobody else will?

4.  Show me don’t tell me

5.  State your thesis or theme  Prove your point  Move on

6.  Avoid phrases such as:  In my opinion,  I think that  It seems to me  From my point of view

7.  What is a nicer way of saying:  Crazy  How do you break the news to someone if:  You want to break up  Someone has died

8.  Cliché  Definition:  They are old and overused…DO NOT USE THEM!!!

9.  A rainbow has a variety of colors, so should your words.  Give your audience a 3D experience with your text.  In your notes, find a word that describes someone walking into a room when he/she is:  Angry  Happy  In love  Scared  Tired

10.  List 5 associations you make when you hear the word:  Mother  Mother-in-law  Home  House  Campfire  Stove  Childish  Childlike  Share your ideas with your class. Cross out any that are the same or similar to someone else’s answers.

11.  There is nothing worse that drinking flat soda or eating a cake with no sugar. This is analogous to colorless words, or as we like to call them DEAD words. These words have no substance to them.  Nice  Really  Well  Very  Refer to colorful words to help cure this