Somebody Teach Me How to Grammar

Now that you've done some writing, let's talk about it a little bit. It's not too difficult a process, it just takes sitting down and actually doing it. When we write, we like to think of our writing in our own internal voices. Oftentimes our inner voices correct the mistakes that we've made on paper. Why? Because we know what we mean by our written words. This might not be the case when other people read your work. Let's talk about things we notice and things we wonder.

Here are some things I've noticed in your writing that are awesome:

1) You've actually written words on paper. Even better, the creativity is flowing and the ideas are diverse.
2) There are well-developed, relate-able characters within intriguing story lines.
3) I can hear your voices in your writing. That is cool. 

Here are some things y'all should keep an eye on in your writing:

1) The little stuff matters. Proofread, proofread, proofread. If it looks perfect to you, read it out loud. If it sounds perfect, have someone else read it out loud. The little things slip through the cracks. You have to look for them. 
2) Semi-colons, apostrophes, and commas. We'll get to this stuff in a bit.
3) Simple words.
4) Really any of this stuff can be fixed by proofreading carefully. Remember that we're here to help with these little rules and specifics.

Ever heard of George Orwell? 

Say hello.

He's got some good ideas when it comes to writing. Simple stuff, really. I considered having you read the essay these ideas come from, but it's like 90 pages. So, I've linked the important points here and paraphrased it below. You're welcome.

A scrupulous writer, in every sentence to be written, will consider at least four questions:

1) What am I trying to say?

2) What words will express it?

3) What image or idiom will make it clearer?

4) Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

Possibly two more questions:

1) Could I put it more shortly?

2) Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?

No matter how adept we are at writing, there will always come a time when we doubt the effect of word or phrase. There are a few rules to rely on in this case:

1) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. 

2) Never use a long word when a short one will do.

3) If it is possible to cut a word out, cut it out.

4) Never use the passive voice when you can use the active.

5) Never use a foreign phrase, scientific word, or jargon if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

6) Break any of these rules sooner than saying anything outright barbarous. 

8th Period:

I'm most definitely done talking. You've taken time to write lengthier shot stories, so today we're going to change things up a bit. In your discussion groups you're going to look at the following topics.

1) Simple words to understand and never forget. Ever.

2) An entertaining comic on how to use apostrophes.

3) Semicolons. The scariest of them all.

4) An animation on commas. 

5) Using simple words is a good thing!