O'Malley the Alley Cat

This clip shows different discourses between two cats. Language, social status, and values between the two   differ greatly. The alley cat is a care-free nomad who travels alone, but keeps a high status among his circle of friends. When he approaches the affluent lady cat, his body language and accent immediately show her that he does not share the same discourses. She, on the other hand, has a family (is worried that they are not at home), and values a stable life of money, comfort, and education.

In the middle of the story, the cat and her kittens are emerged into the social circle of the alley cat. They enjoy the experience, but miss their home. In the end, the alley cat decides to dedicate himself to life in their world instead, learning and acquiring new discourses.

What Not to Do as a Writer

In my elementary years of writing, I was told, "Don't splice your sentences." In my high school years, my teacher scolded, "Being vague is never a good thing in writing. You use too many adjectives; give me specific verbs!"

These are both very true in the world of writing:

Comma usage is tricky because there are so many technicalities to using them. The placement of a comma in a sentence depends on what the writer is trying to get across to the audience; if that comma is moved to a different place, the meaning, direction, or tone of the sentence could change completely. The rules of commas should always be taken under consideration.

An adjective overdose can be quite the cheesy read. I tend to think of adjectives as flowery, but solid verb choices really add spice, emotion, and otherwise overlooked detail. Of course, for children's books, more adjective usage and common verbs are a necessity in the development of a child's language.