| Introduction |
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1 | (4) |
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Exercise 1 Write a short essay on a word you hate |
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5 | (2) |
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Exercise 2 Write a poem about jargon |
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7 | (5) |
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Exercise 3 Word play: Have fun with words |
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12 | (3) |
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Exercise 4 If you must use cliches -- be original |
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15 | (4) |
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Exercise 5 Make fun of "texting language" |
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19 | (3) |
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Exercise 6 Write a poem using alliteration |
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22 | (2) |
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Exercise 7 Write a short poem using a pun |
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24 | (2) |
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Exercise 8 Write the shortest best writing advice ever. Use a haiku |
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26 | (1) |
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Exercise 9 Write a brainstorming exercise |
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27 | (2) |
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Exercise 10 Make a list of speed bump words |
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29 | (5) |
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Exercise 11 Write a comparison poem |
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34 | (1) |
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Exercise 12 Find ten writing facts you should know |
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35 | (2) |
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Exercise 13 The editor's checklist |
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37 | (3) |
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Exercise 14 Analyze your approach to writing |
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40 | (2) |
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Exercise 15 Write a direct mail piece |
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42 | (3) |
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Exercise 16 Childhood memory poem |
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45 | (1) |
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46 | (3) |
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Exercise 18 One-line comedy haiku |
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49 | (1) |
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Exercise 19 Write a poem about a physical experience |
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50 | (2) |
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Exercise 20 Write a furniture poem |
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52 | (1) |
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Exercise 21 What will they say? |
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53 | (1) |
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Exercise 22 Write a poem revolving around a fallacy |
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54 | (8) |
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Exercise 23 Write an editorial packed with facts |
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62 | (3) |
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Exercise 24 Write a thesis statement covering your main ideas |
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65 | (1) |
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Exercise 25 Write an essay condemning people who do not explain things in simple terms |
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66 | (4) |
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Exercise 26 Punch line poem |
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70 | (1) |
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Exercise 27 Write a short story with an ironic ending |
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71 | (3) |
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Exercise 28 Write a nonsense poem |
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74 | (3) |
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Exercise 29 Write a poem using a car analogy |
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77 | (3) |
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Exercise 30 Write a poem using language from another period |
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80 | (1) |
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Exercise 31 Psychological terms poem |
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81 | (1) |
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Exercise 32 Write a poem about parts |
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82 | (1) |
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Exercise 33 Write a habit poem |
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83 | (1) |
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Exercise 34 Write an article going against common sense |
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84 | (3) |
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Exercise 35 One-word poem |
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87 | (3) |
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Exercise 36 Write a poem using famous names |
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90 | (2) |
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Exercise 37 Use the "five question" approach |
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92 | (1) |
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Exercise 38 Write a tongue-twister poem |
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93 | (1) |
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Exercise 39 Write an opinion poem |
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94 | (3) |
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Exercise 40 Using similes |
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97 | (3) |
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Exercise 41 What about political correctness? |
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100 | (1) |
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Exercise 42 Make fun of the spell checker |
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101 | (3) |
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Exercise 43 Write an essay examining a study |
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104 | (2) |
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Exercise 44 Have fun with euphemisms |
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106 | (3) |
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Exercise 45 Explain a process |
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109 | (2) |
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Exercise 46 Write a short essay on using a thesaurus |
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111 | (2) |
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Exercise 47 Write a poem on pleonasms (saying the same thing twice) |
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113 | (5) |
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Exercise 48 Analyze a writing process |
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118 | (2) |
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Exercise 49 Write an essay making fun of writing advice |
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120 | (4) |
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Exercise 50 Write a riddle poem |
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124 | (1) |
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Exercise 51 Write a compare-and-contrast essay |
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125 | (3) |
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Exercise 52 Write a genre poem |
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128 | (2) |
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Exercise 53 Write a story telling about childhood friends |
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130 | (4) |
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Exercise 54 Write an essay or poem making fun of yourself |
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134 | (5) |
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Exercise 55 Play with fast and slow |
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139 | (1) |
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Exercise 56 Write an ingredient poem |
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140 | (2) |
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Exercise 57 Write in plain English |
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142 | (1) |
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Exercise 58 Use classification |
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143 | (6) |
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Exercise 59 Write a narrative |
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149 | (4) |
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Exercise 60 Don't tell, show me -- use description |
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153 | (3) |
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Exercise 61 Write a poem on grammar |
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156 | (2) |
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Exercise 62 Get personal -- put a piece of yourself into your writing |
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158 | (2) |
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Exercise 63 Learn by imitating others |
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160 | (1) |
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Exercise 64 Write a tongue-in-cheek poem complaining about writing advice |
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161 | (2) |
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Exercise 65 Take a current news story and write a silly haiku about it |
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163 | (1) |
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Exercise 66 Give two meanings to one word; practice surprise endings |
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164 | (2) |
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Exercise 67 Complete the sentence / thought process |
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166 | (6) |
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Exercise 68 Twisted logic |
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172 | (2) |
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Exercise 69 Be a professional writing to a mythical figure |
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174 | (2) |
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Exercise 70 Make up some funny rules for an activity |
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176 | (2) |
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Exercise 71 New uses for an old product |
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178 | (2) |
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Exercise 72 The anachronism game |
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180 | (2) |
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182 | (2) |
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Exercise 74 Develop a list of questions for your character |
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184 | (3) |
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Exercise 75 Write an extended analogy |
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187 | (3) |
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190 | (3) |
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Exercise 77 Write a pulp fiction, period piece |
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193 | (8) |
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201 | (1) |
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Exercise 79 Skew the truth |
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202 | (2) |
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Exercise 80 Be an advice columnist recommending a cheap vacation |
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204 | (2) |
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Exercise 81 Aphorism poems |
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206 | (5) |
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Exercise 82 Aphorism haiku |
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211 | (1) |
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Exercise 83 Cut, cut, cut |
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212 | (3) |
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215 | (1) |
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Exercise 85 A character study poem |
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216 | (2) |
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Exercise 86 Haiku historical question |
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218 | (1) |
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Exercise 87 Transplant poem |
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219 | (1) |
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Exercise 88 Redo a Christmas carol |
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220 | (2) |
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Exercise 89 Write a thank-you note |
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222 | (2) |
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Exercise 90 How would a child think? |
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224 | (2) |
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Exercise 91 What if a historical figure had a bad cell-phone plan? |
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226 | (2) |
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Exercise 92 Stringing words together |
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228 | (2) |
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Exercise 93 Write a short zombie story |
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230 | (4) |
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Exercise 94 Write a short science fiction story |
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234 | (4) |
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Exercise 95 Write a western |
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238 | (4) |
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Exercise 96 Revolve a very short story around a pun |
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242 | (1) |
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Exercise 97 Funny press release |
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243 | (1) |
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244 | (2) |
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Exercise 99 Write a satire |
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246 | (4) |
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Exercise 100 Write a poem about the vanity of man |
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250 | (1) |
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Exercise 101 Write a poem using repetition |
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251 | (3) |
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Exercise 102 Write a poem about an inanimate object |
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254 | (1) |
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Exercise 103 Put yourself in the mind of a pet |
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255 | (3) |
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Exercise 104 Make up a funny test |
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258 | (3) |
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Exercise 105 Create a story out of a boring legal description |
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261 | (2) |
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Exercise 106 Baby boomer advice |
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263 | (2) |
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Exercise 107 Write a poem about our modern lifestyles |
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265 | (2) |
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Exercise 108 A snapshot poem |
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267 | (1) |
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Exercise 109 Play with type styles |
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268 | (1) |
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Exercise 110 Brand name poem |
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269 | (2) |
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Exercise 111 News item poem |
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271 | (1) |
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272 | (1) |
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Exercise 113 A "Joys of..." poem |
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273 | (1) |
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274 | (2) |
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Exercise 115 Write a poem about moving |
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276 | (1) |
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Exercise 116 Back to school poem |
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277 | (1) |
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Exercise 117 Write a break-up poem |
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278 | (3) |
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Exercise 118 Write about a child leaving |
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281 | (1) |
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Exercise 119 Write an unfinished poem |
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282 | (1) |
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Exercise 120 A cell phone poem or essay |
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283 | (4) |
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Exercise 121 Compare a relationship to a kid's game |
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287 | (1) |
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Exercise 122 A found poem |
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288 | (2) |
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Exercise 123 An instruction haiku |
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290 | (1) |
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Exercise 124 Write a poem about an item of clothing |
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291 | (2) |
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Exercise 125 Write a poem about attitude |
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293 | (1) |
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Exercise 126 Write a numbers poem |
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294 | (1) |
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Exercise 127 Poem about teenagers |
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295 | (2) |
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Exercise 128 Pregnancy experience |
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297 | (1) |
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Exercise 129 A weather poem |
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298 | (2) |
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Exercise 130 Mock the media |
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300 | (2) |
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Exercise 131 Use a common Internet expression |
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302 | (3) |
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Exercise 132 Write a piece about politicians |
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305 | (1) |
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Exercise 133 Write a left-turn poem |
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306 | (1) |
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Exercise 134 Disaster questions |
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307 | (2) |
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Exercise 135 Describe a job |
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309 | (5) |
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Exercise 136 A Valentine's Day poem |
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314 | (2) |
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316 | (2) |
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Exercise 138 A one-paragraph rant |
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318 | (1) |
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Exercise 139 Dealing with a pet |
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319 | (2) |
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Exercise 140 Play with a name |
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321 | (2) |
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Exercise 141 A poem about being sick |
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323 | (2) |
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Exercise 142 Verbs beginning with the same letter |
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325 | (2) |
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Exercise 143 Shattered dreams |
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327 | (2) |
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Exercise 144 Beating old age |
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329 | (1) |
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Exercise 145 Traffic frustrations |
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330 | (1) |
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Exercise 146 How does it feel to be... |
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331 | (1) |
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Exercise 147 Procrastination |
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332 | (1) |
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Exercise 148 Dealing with anger |
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333 | (2) |
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Exercise 149 Describe an ideal date |
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335 | (2) |
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Exercise 150 Single parent |
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337 | (2) |
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Exercise 151 An item poem |
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339 | (2) |
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Exercise 152 Holiday blues |
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341 | (2) |
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Exercise 153 An exercise about exercise |
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343 | (2) |
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Exercise 154 Pick a time of day |
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345 | (1) |
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Exercise 155 A dialogue piece |
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346 | (7) |
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Exercise 156 A greeting card sentiment |
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353 | (1) |
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Exercise 157 A lonely poem |
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354 | (1) |
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Exercise 158 That strange relative |
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355 | (1) |
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356 | (2) |
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Exercise 160 Play with upper case and lower case letters |
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358 | (1) |
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Exercise 161 Write a seasonal poem |
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359 | (1) |
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Exercise 162 Achilles' heel |
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360 | (1) |
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Exercise 163 Let one phrase carry the poem |
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361 | (1) |
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362 | (1) |
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Exercise 165 A paragraph poem |
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363 | (1) |
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Exercise 166 Ask the alien |
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364 | (3) |
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Exercise 167 Use different forms of the same word |
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367 | (1) |
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Exercise 168 Time is running out |
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368 | (2) |
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Exercise 169 A basic truth of life |
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370 | (2) |
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Exercise 170 Make fun of ads |
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372 | (3) |
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Exercise 171 Bank withdrawals |
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375 | (1) |
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Exercise 172 A nostalgia poem |
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376 | (1) |
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Exercise 173 Twist some rules |
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377 | (2) |
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Exercise 174 Play with homophones |
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379 | (1) |
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Exercise 175 Be a Luddite |
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380 | (2) |
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Exercise 176 Kids and a painful situation |
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382 | (1) |
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Exercise 177 The differences between men and women |
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383 | (2) |
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385 | (1) |
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Exercise 179 A checklist poem |
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386 | (3) |
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Exercise 180 An outrageous question haiku |
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389 | (1) |
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Exercise 181 Write an odds story |
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390 | (2) |
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Exercise 182 An idiom poem |
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392 | (1) |
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Exercise 183 Keyboard fun |
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393 | (2) |
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Exercise 184 Bad parent or How to play with your kid's emotions |
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395 | (1) |
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Exercise 185 Write a scientific-sounding poem |
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396 | (2) |
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Exercise 186 Off to war piece |
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398 | (2) |
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Exercise 187 Pick a letter and write a poem about it |
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400 | (2) |
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Exercise 188 Write a Mother's Day or Father's Day poem |
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402 | (2) |
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404 | (1) |
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Exercise 190 Write about a silly hobby |
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405 | (2) |
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Exercise 191 Tell them what you really want |
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407 | (2) |
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Exercise 192 Write an ode to yourself |
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409 | (1) |
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Exercise 193 An unfinished haiku |
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410 | (1) |
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Exercise 194 Write a sock poem |
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411 | (2) |
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Exercise 195 Write a complete short story in one paragraph |
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413 | (1) |
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Exercise 196 Write about a car you have loved and hated |
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414 | (3) |
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Exercise 197 Write a haiku offering some mental health advice |
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417 | (1) |
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Exercise 198 Disprove evolution |
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418 | (2) |
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Exercise 199 Make fun of a research story |
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420 | (6) |
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Exercise 200 Make fun of warning labels |
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426 | (2) |
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Exercise 201 War between the sexes |
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428 | (1) |
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Exercise 202 The informative essay |
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429 | (3) |
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Exercise 203 Garage sale piece |
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432 | (1) |
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Exercise 204 Pretend to misunderstand something |
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433 | (3) |
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Exercise 205 Write a "How to" article |
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436 | (4) |
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Exercise 206 Share a tongue-in-cheek money-saving idea |
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440 | (2) |
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Exercise 207 Help desk frustration |
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442 | (2) |
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Exercise 208 Make up a conspiracy theory |
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444 | (2) |
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Exercise 209 Write a dating site poem |
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446 | (2) |
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Exercise 210 Destroy a myth |
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448 | (2) |
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Exercise 211 Judge someone's action |
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450 | (2) |
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Exercise 212 Working with verbs |
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452 | (3) |
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Exercise 213 Make a story out of nothing |
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455 | (2) |
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Exercise 214 Remember a quote |
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457 | (1) |
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Exercise 215 Destroy a stereotype |
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458 | (2) |
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Exercise 216 Truth in a graduation speech |
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460 | (2) |
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Exercise 217 Cartoon convention |
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462 | (3) |
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Exercise 218 You are the president of a club |
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465 | (2) |
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Exercise 219 Make fun of senior citizens |
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467 | (4) |
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Exercise 220 Flout the rules |
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471 | (2) |
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Exercise 221 An exercise poem |
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473 | (2) |
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Exercise 222 Find humor in pain |
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475 | (2) |
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Exercise 223 Write a book lover poem |
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477 | (1) |
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Exercise 224 Interview a dead person |
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478 | (3) |
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Exercise 225 Write a parody |
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481 | (2) |
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Exercise 226 Argue for a new law |
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483 | (3) |
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486 | (2) |
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Exercise 228 Show a hypocrite at work |
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488 | (2) |
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Exercise 229 Share your pain |
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490 | (2) |
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Exercise 230 Write about a historic event from a 21st-century perspective |
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492 | (3) |
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Exercise 231 Make up a false research report |
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495 | (2) |
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Exercise 232 The survey says... |
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497 | (2) |
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499 | (2) |
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Exercise 234 Pick a syndrome |
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501 | (2) |
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Exercise 235 Create a math poem |
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503 | (1) |
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Exercise 236 A child's plea |
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504 | (1) |
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Exercise 237 A chance encounter |
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505 | (1) |
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Exercise 238 Superstitions |
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506 | (1) |
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Exercise 239 A simple image poem |
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507 | (1) |
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Exercise 240 Short haiku on unhappy endings |
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508 | (1) |
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Exercise 241 Silly advice |
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509 | (1) |
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510 | (1) |
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Exercise 243 How to live your life |
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511 | (1) |
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Exercise 244 Scare tactics |
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512 | (1) |
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513 | |
