Benighted- overtaken by night or existing in a state of intellectual, moral, or social darkness
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benighted
meretricious- attractive in a cheap or false way
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meretricious
Activity:
What were the main points that you have gathered from your weekend reading? How can you become a better writer based on the tips that you have read?
The boy felt benighted after a long day of social isolation at school.
ReplyDeleteThe beautiful model was meretricious covered in layers of make-up and expensive clothing.
After reading the homework passage the most useful ways for me to improve my writing is to write down the main ideas that come to mind when presented an essay topic and to avoid those. I have a hard time thinking outside the box and this will help me. I have always tried to find unused words and creative ones that better suit my statements, so i will continue that; but i also recognize i often try to "humble myself" making myself sound in-credible.
Many believed Edgar Allan Poe was benighted due to his dark and foreboding writings.
ReplyDeleteHamburgers are meretricious treats because of their hidden carcinogens and saturated fats.
The main points from the homework advised writers to: take interesting stances while writing prompts, to avoid padded writing, and to use words that interest readers but do not sound "fluffy." The largest piece of advice from the piece that applies to me is the flaw of padded writing. A majority of the time that I write I find myself disinterested in the topic so I use extra, non-essential writing to help myself reach the word count before I die of boredom. To help myself, I must dig deeper to bring more substance into my writing (which will probably help with the boredom).
The cars at the used car lot were meretricious because the manager made them look newer than what they actually were.
ReplyDeleteThe girl felt benighted because she was being cyber bullied and believed that she had no friends.
The main points Robert made was to get your point across without being boring. Teachers have to read hundreds of essays and if yours is just like the rest, chances are he or she will get bored very quickly. Another point was to choose a side that isn't as typical, students think that choosing the obvious side is easier, but this will be boring once again for the teacher. He also made the point of choosing words that have a meaning, to not just use words that will help get to the word requirement.
People who often commit suicide feel benighted and unhappy.
ReplyDeleteSneakers are meretricious because they are attractive yet cheap to produce.
What I got from the readings was that students should try to dig deeper into a topic. To get to your point without having a bunch of "fluff" words to fill the word limit on your essay. I really enjoyed reading this because I am an awful writer that always tries to do everything easy without ever putting much effort into it. I need to be more creative and improve my vocabulary so that my essays aren't filled with "colorless" words.
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ReplyDeleteThe depression the man felt everyday since his daughter's death, often left him in a benighted state.
ReplyDeleteMy meretricious mother used inexpensive make-up and clothes to make her look younger than she was.
After reading the essay this weekend, I was able to understand that I need to work on adding more colorful words to my writings and not adding useless information. Sometimes I am assigned prompts that I think I will not enjoy or find to be boring, and instead of thinking of it as an opportunity to learn something new, I instead try to get done with it as fast as possible. I also need to take time thinking of better descriptive words in my writings. If I increase my vocabulary by reading more advanced literature and looking up words I don't know the meaning to, I think this would benefit me greatly.
While the others considered themselves to be hip and with it, Steve knew that they were all benighted to the truth.
ReplyDeleteSeemingly expensive to the untrained eye, Steve was able to discern the meretricious rubies among the other gems.
The main points I gathered from the reading were students too often use basic words and have a lack of opinion. They place filler words all over the paper just to make the word count, and show no real depth in their arguments. Their opinions never hit with any weight, and people need to start avoiding the obvious. I often use colorful words when it is not really necessary, just for my own personal enjoyment, which may not be the best course. I also need to analyze more with regards to meaning and stop dancing around the answer. I also need to hit home with my opinions and stop worrying about being inadequate.
The hermit was benighted to everything that was going on in the technology world since he isolated himself from it.
ReplyDeleteThe dresses on display at the thrift store were meretricious compared to the ones at the high end store I shopped at last month.
The reading that we were assigned over the weekend had to do a lot with the way that we, as young writers, write. Roberts mentioned a lot about how if we are given a fixed amount of words to write than our writing shows through that. For example, if a student had to write a 500 word essay, they might make a short sentence have more words in able to reach the word count. Roberts also mentioned that students tend to use more colorful words in their writing. This is not always a bad thing, but for certain essays it is just not necessary. I can become a better writer by getting straight to the point when I write and not just filling it in with words that don't add any depth to what I am saying. I can also be more careful when using colorful words, as not to overwhelm the reader.
The constant fear of discovery benighted the assassin long after he had retired.
ReplyDeleteThe explosive was meretricious but brutally effective in killing thousands.
Benighted - The student, dealing with depression, was often BENIGHTED with frustration and a feeling of emptiness inside.
ReplyDeleteMeretricious - The nacho grande bar was meretricious, due to the fact that none of the ingredients were natural.
Activity: The weekend reading opened my eyes to all of the negative habits that I use in my own writing. Based on the reading, I learned that I need to work on avoiding colorless words and "pat expressions," while instead forcefully asserting my points and taking the side of an argument that is less popular. Often times when I am writing, I resort to using the same words and elongated sentences, which can often make my essays longer, but simultaneously dull. Therefore, while it may seem attractive to focus on length more than content, this idea is meretricious, due to the fact that a lengthy paper without interesting content is not well written. From now on, I need to focus on expounding on content, and not on the number of sentences, in my writing.
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ReplyDeleteThe evil villain's plans to take over the world were benighted.
DeleteJoan Rivers is an extremely meretricious person.
The main points of the reading was to give good and bad habits that will help to make your writing actually mean something. I can become a better writer through implementing the tips given by Roberts in the reading into my normal style. These new habits will help to give clarification and meaning to my works of writing.
The fact that he didn't ace the test benighted him for days.
ReplyDeleteThe book titled "How to Read Minds" was meretricious because all it said in its content was minds hence you are reading minds.
Some of the main points in the reading were use colorful words (descriptive words), choose the topic that seems the hardest, don't be repetitive, use examples, avoid colorless words (words that are broad in definition like nice or cool), be direct about your position, and if it's in your mind don't write it.
I need to choose topics that seem the hardest to me and choose more complex vocabulary that will strengthen my writing.
I would like to work on being more clear with my areas of focus. Many times I try to add in extra things just to meet criteria but I should use the essay to make a more interesting and well written essay.
ReplyDeleteBenighted - The missionaries that traveled to the new world saw themselves as bringing the benighted people into the faith.
ReplyDeleteMeretricious - With all the frosting the cupcake seemed meretricious.
What I gathered from this weekends reading was that the way I am writing isn't going to get me a good grade. The purpose of the text was to show the reader how to become a good writer. He laid out points such as having an interesting topic, stay away from the obvious topic, don't use unnecessary padding in your sentences, and try to use colorful words. Using these techniques I can become a better writer.
Benighted- After losing the race to the tortoise, the hare felt benighted.
ReplyDeleteMeretricious- Despite the low price, the laptop was not meretricious in any way.
Some of the main points include eliminate padding, use colorful words, don't "hedge" away from certain points. To improve my writing, I will try to add more colorful language to my essay in place of the short, non-descriptive words I have been using.
The freshman felt benighted after all his older friends left for college.
ReplyDeleteThe boxes of chocolate were meretriciously displayed despite their awful taste.
After he broke up with her, the breakup left her benighted.
ReplyDeleteThe clothing store was displayed in a meretricious way.
Helen Keller was benighted by a crippling illness as an infant.
ReplyDeleteWhen young girls are just learning to do makeup they often unintentionally look quite meretricious.
After a long day of rejection and isolation, the boy became benighted and was never quiet the same.
ReplyDeleteEven with all the make-up and beautiful clothes the women was only meretricious because of her cheap way of life.
One of the biggest things I learned from the writing was getting rid of obvious padding because that is something I do tons of.
She felt benighted as she entered the new school without her old friends.
ReplyDeleteThe candy store on the corner was full of meretricious treats.
After the reading this weekend, I will look to reveal the less obvious side of the argument and get rid of fillers in my writing.
Benighted) After the accident the boy's thoughts were be benighted and depressing.
ReplyDeleteMeretricious) The meretricious clothing caught the eye of many women that at were looking for a cheap and fancy looking buy.
The essay reflected my writing in describing my use of obvious content. I tend to not think deeper into the topic and write the obvious, what everyone else is thinking. Taking the unusual side of an argument is something I need to work on. I sway to the side that has more proven information about the topic, less work I have to exert on the writing.
After such a tragic and sudden change in his home life, Ginseng Hitler Beepollen found himself morally benighted.
ReplyDeleteShe wore her bright red lipstick like a meretricious Honda wears a racing stripe.
The area that Roberts' pointed out that I find the necessity to work on the most are the use of "pat statements" and the tendency to write overly wordy sentences.
The boy felt benighted by his parents who weren't accepting of his sexuality.
ReplyDeleteThe shirt i bought over the weekend proved to be meretricious; upon actually trying it on it was not nearly as cute as i initially thought it to be.
In general, one of the main ideas i took from the weekend reading is to go against your initial instincts. Being different will make you stand out from everyone else as well as showing you are up for a challenge.
Meretricious - Tourists in Gettysburg are prone to buying meretricious souvenirs.
ReplyDeleteBenighted - He began to feel benighted the longer he stayed in his cabin away from society.
Activity - I believe reading this essay was a huge enlightenment towards my writing habits. The author made numerous important points such as the use of colorful words and the elimination of improper padding. He also reminds the reader how a teacher may feel while grading a written paper, so its important to pick less common arguments and discussion topics. This way an essay is less vulnerable towards a low grade because it introduces new concepts among the essays of the other students and the teacher is automatically more intrigued. My favorite point was the method of supporting an abstract idea with concrete arguments, I will definitely remember that.
The child became benighted as his parents neglected him.
ReplyDeleteThe pawn shop was full of meretricious antiquities.
From Roberts passage, I learned to not be repetitive and to use an extended vocabulary. One piece of advice I’ll take into consideration is writing down the main ideas that first pop into my mind and throw them away to think outside the box.
Benighted- The wolf was benighted and started to howl at the full moon.
ReplyDeleteMeretricious- The necklace was meretricious with its fake diamonds.
Activity: The main points from the reading was to write in an original way, than most would not have thought too. I can become a better writer by avoiding pat expression and choosing the less usual side
Meredith Grey was benighted after Derek Sheppard died.
ReplyDeleteThough the store lured people in with good sales, the clothing was meretricious.
After Jonas had over taken the roads and pathways, Micheal felt benighted from being snowed in all day.
ReplyDeleteThe cars looked shiny and new, but were meretricious under the engine.
The main points I gathered from my weekend reading was that I shouldn't wait to the last minute to do an assignment and that I should think ahead on what to write about, also I learned that I don't need to put a lot of things in my writing piece that are just thrown in there or don't make sense.
Lindsay felt benighted during the two weeks that her mother took away her phone.
ReplyDeleteThe fruit at the store was meretricious, because a multitude of pesticides were used to keep it looking fresh.
When it comes to my personal writing, I need to specifically work on being less timid. In some of the best writing I have read, the author states his or her opinions as the unquestionable truth – a skill that one day I would like to have. In accordance with this inclination, I tend to struggle with being confident in my convictions. This is a serious handicap when it comes to argumentative essays, as it is easy to attempt to align your views with those of your teacher instead of going out on a limb and saying what you really think. From now on, I will pay attention to these tendencies and remedy them in order to improve my writing.
Meredith Grey was benighted after Derek Sheppard died.
ReplyDeleteThough the store lured people in with good sales, the clothing was meretricious.
Benighted- After running out of the house, the squirrel was benighted and I could no longer see where it went.
ReplyDeleteMeretricious- The ring my cheap boyfriend got me was meretricious.
Activity- From this weekends reading learned a lot of beneficial tips on how to improve my writing. The main points I learned were that I should be assertive and call things as they are and that I should avoid using padding when writing. To become a better writer I will try to take the path less traveled and watch my word choice.
The students often found themselves benighted in chemistry class.
ReplyDeleteThe store appeared meretricious due to its gaudy color scheme.
Roberts made many interesting points on how to improve one's writing, although one in particular stood out to me as a way to better my own. Roberts said that when composing an essay on a popular topic, make a list of everything that you immediately think of to support your view. From there, he states that the writer should proceed to avoid using any of the points on that list, as they are worn out from overuse. By using more unique points in my essays I can provide further insight on my topic.