The week you’ve been waiting for/dreading/hoping to finish is finally here. You’ve reviewed, studied and basically ruminated on AP Style and grammar for weeks now, so you should be ready. Be brave and courageous. You can own this stuff.

You made it. Now you should have a better idea of what’s expected in your classes. The best way to avoid stress is to stay ahead of your classes. When you have an assigned reading, do it. And, don’t wait until the last minute or you’ll hate everybody. But … you already know this. You’ve got it. You should rock this semester!

It’s the first day of school! I love the smell of new notebooks and highlighters. So excited to meet everyone and get started on the first day of your career. Geaux Manship!

Good stories have a main character who faces a challenge and works to overcome it. Even the driest news stories can follow this format. If you do, you’ll find your writing is more lively and the story is more engaging. The Disney cartoon “Lava” is a great storytelling tool with all of these elements. Notice that the narrator (the singer) tells us what’s happening. The emotion — with words like lava (love), hope, thanks, and dream — come from the characters themselves. Think of this the next time you write.

“If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” This is a journalistic cliche meaning “don’t assume anything.” @ManshipSchool #manship2010. The more you work in the field, the more you may find that things aren’t always what they seem.