Programs and Areas
First Year Writing Program
Teaching Resources: Another Activity for Slang, Cliches, and Informal Language
Tried & True Home
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Transitions | Transition Derby | Commonly Used Transitions |
Balderdash | Sentence Structure Activity | Slang, Cliches, and Informal Language |
Another Informal Language Activity | Style Tightening Your Writing | Tailor It to the Class Needs |
All Purpose Writing Activity | Throat Clearing Phrases | Cutting the Fat | Word Choice
Another Activity for Slang, Cliches, and Informal Language
[GTAs: This is an activity I always do when I inevitably see students using slang/clichés/informal language. In the case below I actually selected sentences from their papers (anonymously) and asked them to workshop the sentences during class. This Group Activity takes about 20-30 minutes depending on how long you want it to last.]
Class Activity:
- Have a whole class discussion to define slang, clichés, and informal language. Where is this language appropriate/ inappropriate? Where is it effective/ ineffective?
- Break the class into groups of 3 or 4 and ask them to identify the informal language in the sentences. Then, have the students rephrase the sentence in more formal or academic language.
Slang/Clichés/Informal Language—Sample Sentences
Daisy may come across to the rest of society as a “coquette” but she knows very well that she is not and she has only one man on her mind.
Mrs. Walker approaches her one day in an attempt to get her off the streets.
As we all know, the four pillars of womanhood was the law of the ladies in this time.
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Mrs. Walker approaches her one day in an attempt to get her off the streets.
As we all know, the four pillars of womanhood was the law of the ladies in this time.
Have an idea for Tried and True? Send it to fywp@osu.edu!
