"A REAL KID IS..." WRITING CONTEST
 Sponsored by

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

COMING NEXT: The "Search for Adventure" Fiction Contest!
Watch this page for details to be posted after August 1st

The Last Writing Assignment:

Tips from Author Deborah Morris

Although students often think of essays as rather useless assignments to write about things like "Why Sediment Is Important In Modern Society", the truth is, essays can be some of the most fun writing you'll ever do!

The dictionary says an essay is "a short literary composition on a single subject, generally presenting the personal views of the author." It's that last part that makes it fun-- presenting your personal views.

This is your chance to step up to the microphone and give YOUR personal opinion about yourself and your fellow kids without being interrupted. There are no "right" or "wrong" answers. Submissions will be judged on creativity, organization of thoughts, and persuasive writing skills.

Here are some tips to help you include the elements which are part of this assignment:

  • First-Person POV. This is an "I" story, written in your own words. (Who else's words would you want to use??) After all, it's all about presenting your personal views! A word of caution, though: it's easy to get carried away with "I-I-I" when writing in the first-person, so try to vary your sentences a bit. It might help to write your first draft, then go back and circle every "I" with a red pencil. If it looks like your paper's got the measles, see if you can lose a few "I"s. One last piece of advice-- do NOT use the phrases "In my opinion", "I think", "I feel", or "I believe". Why? because those phrases weaken whatever comes after them. Which is stronger: "Cheating is wrong", or "In my opinion, cheating is wrong"? Everything in this essay will be your opinion, your thoughts, your feelings and your beliefs.

  • Creativity and passion in your approach to the subject. This writing assignment is easy in one way (no matter what you say, it can't be "wrong!"), but hard in another. You can't research this subject by going online or reading an encyclopedia, although you might pick up some thought-starters that way. You have to think. What IS a 'real kid', anyway? Is it any kid? Only some kids? Are 'real kids' exceptional in any way? What do people mean when they call somebody a "real man"? How would that be like (or unlike) a "real kid"? Form some strong opinions, then write about them boldly.

  • Organized presentation of your opinion. Organizing your thoughts can be very hard sometimes. When you're writing an essay, though, it's very important to have it all make sense. You know how you plan exactly what you're going to say, and how you're going to say it, when you want to talk your mom or dad into something? You know you'll only have a minute before they say "No!", so you can't waste time rambling. Take that same approach to your essay. You're trying to convince your reader that you know what you're talking about. If your first draft rambles, move whole paragraphs around until it all makes sense.

  • Persuasive summary at the end. I won't say much here except to point out that good summaries NEVER begin with the phrases: "In conclusion" or "To summarize". The best summaries also don't simply repeat earlier sentences. (Sorry, teachers... I know a lot of textbooks say to do those things, but they're wrong!) Your final paragraph gives you a chance to drive in the nail, hit the homerun, score the goal, or whatever gives you that "Yes!!" feeling. It should be a powerful little group of words that pulls together all your thoughts and leaves your reader nodding in agreement with you.