Teaching idea

Though I'm not teaching this semester (I'll be dissertating full-time), my mind is still churning with teaching ideas. I'm probably inspired by all of the "back-to-school" status messages on Facebook.

This idea came to my as I was drying my hair this morning:

Cliches in writing

(Goal: Increase student awareness of cliches in writing so that they can employ cliches in thought-out ways. Discuss the terms cliche and idiom.)

Homework:

Step 1: Go online and print off at least 3 definitions of the term cliche. Use these, along with your own understanding of the term, to write a definition in your own words (as though you were explaining it to a roommate or sibling).

Step 2: Reread the writing you've already done for this class. Find an instance when you used a cliche. Write a paragraph or two in which you explain what the cliche is and whether or not you feel you used it effectively. If you would make changes, explain what and why.

Bring to class. Be prepared to discuss.

(In class: Students share their work in small groups. Transition to large group discussion. Facilitate discussion so that students are responding to one another's ideas.)