Transcript How to Say Nothing in 500 Words

An essay written by
Paul McHenry Roberts (1917-1967)
PowerPoint created by G. Zermeño
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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
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What topics can you write about regarding the
subject of “dogs”?
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List at least 10
What topics can you write about regarding
your favorite restaurant in El Paso?
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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?
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Show me don’t tell me
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State your thesis or theme
Prove your point
Move on
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Avoid phrases such as:
In my opinion,
 I think that
 It seems to me
 From my point of view
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What is a nicer way of saying:
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Crazy
How do you break the news to someone if:
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You want to break up
Someone has died
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Cliché
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Definition:
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They are old and overused…DO NOT USE THEM!!!
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A rainbow has a variety of colors, so should
your words.
Give your audience a 3D experience with your
text.
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In your notes, find a word that describes someone
walking into a room when he/she is:
 Angry
 Happy
 In love
 Scared
 Tired
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List 5 associations you make when you hear the
word:
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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.
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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
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Refer to colorful words to help cure this