English Composition

Hyperbole (HIGH-purr-buh-lee) are groups of words that exaggerate to make a point. If you say I have a ton of work, you don’t really have 2,000 pounds of work. You overstate to make the point that you have lots of work to do. See if you can guess the meaning of these hyperbole before you listen for possible answers. There can be many other possible answers for them that are not stated.

Writing prompts are a superb way of getting the imagination working. A child is able to listen to the prompt and then conjure up a story that comes to mind from that prompt, although it's not as simple as it sounds. The challenge to the child is to find a story no one else will find, using that prompt to give them their initial ideas. This book teaches children to be able to use prompts to produce stories and is split into different categories, so that the child can choose the category that suits the mood.

When cousins Mellie and Dennis decide to get a cat, they consider carefully what breed would be best for each family. For example, Mellie wants a cat that pounces, but Dennis wants a lazy cat, like his lazy dog, Clark Kent. Mellie wants a lap cat, but Dennis just wants a warm body beside him. They consider different cat personalities, family situations, and personal preferences.

When cousins Dennis and Mellie decide to get a dog, they consider carefully what breed would be best for each family. For example, Dennis wants a big dog, but Mellie wants tiny. He has no other pets, but she has other pets that a dog must get along with. They consider different dog personalities, family situations, and personal preferences. Dennis writes an opinion essay for his teacher, Mrs. Shirky. But will his essay convince his parents to get the dog of his dreams?

What do you do if you don’t like writing? First, try to find out why you don’t like writing. This can help you find ways to enjoy writing. If your hand hurts when you write, there are many ways to write without hurting your hand.