Writing Skills Practice: Avoiding Redundancy
Short Story: "The Overstuffed Backpack"
Once upon a time in a small town, there lived a young student named Tim. Tim was known for his enormous backpack, which he carried everywhere. It was so big that it towered over him, and people often wondered what he could possibly be carrying inside.
One day, Tim's teacher, Mrs. Wilson, noticed that his backpack seemed especially heavy. Concerned, she asked, "Tim, why is your backpack so full? Do you really need everything that's in there?"
Tim replied, "I think so, Mrs. Wilson. I have my books, my notebooks, extra pens, pencils, three water bottles, two lunch boxes, and some extra clothes, just in case."
Mrs. Wilson, with a smile, decided to help Tim understand the concept of redundancy. She asked him to empty his backpack and lay everything out. As Tim started removing item after item, it became clear that he had multiple copies of the same things. He had three math textbooks, four English notebooks, five sets of pens and pencils, and several other duplicate items.
Mrs. Wilson explained, "Tim, carrying multiple copies of the same thing is an example of redundancy. It’s like saying the same thing in different ways when one way is enough. It makes your backpack heavier without any real benefit. Just like in writing, we need to avoid unnecessary repetition to make our message clear and concise."
Tim understood and thanked Mrs. Wilson. From that day on, he carried only what he needed, making his backpack lighter and his life much simpler.
