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The case against “good” and “bad” - Marlee Neel

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Don’t take the easy route! Instead, use this little trick to improve your writing -- let go of the words “good” and “bad,” and push yourself to illustrate, elucidate and illuminate your world with language.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Writers and speakers have given into the allure of the ease of using terms like good and bad in their works. Find five examples from different works (plays, speeches, television commercials, etc.), in which good and/or bad have been used. Create a Prezi presentation that illustrates the examples you have found along with how you would revise these sentences to create greater clarity.
Select a term that you feel should also be stricken from the English language. Write an argumentative essay that delineates the reasons that this term should be eliminated. You may use the theme of a trial (as this essay did), or create your own theme for your essay. Present the argument to your class. Then have the class vote on whether or not to keep the term in the English language or to eradicate it.
Online Thesaurus http://thesaurus.com
Other Ways to Improve Your Writing http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/600/01/

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Animator Brian Young, Spyros Dahlias
  • Educator Marlee Neel
  • Producer The STUDIO
  • Narrator Marlee Neel

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