help me with story writing research

[AngieBelle]

I just got back a story I sent in to my writing for children corespondence course. My instructor commented that she wasn't sure if "jerk" was a word that the 4th graders in my story would use. I don't know any 4th graders, so would anyone out there care to ask your children or children you know if they are familiar with that word and if not what word they would use?

My story is about a girl dealing with a longtime classroom bully, based on similar events from my own childhood. You know something funny? In my story, I make a reference to the movie Pretty Woman with the kids teasing the girl by singing "Cootie Woman." My instructor questioned the appropriateness of that movie for 4th graders. I had to laugh because not only was that incident absolutely true, but it happened to me in *3rd* grade! Truth really is stranger than fiction!

 

[mudnuri]

I have a problem with my 3rd and 4th grader's using the word Jerk, so I probably would not be impressed if a book was written for their age with that word in it. like Stupid and idiot, I prefer they dont use them

and pretty woman- I'd never let my 8 & 9 year old DD's watch that at this age

Brandy

 

[AngieBelle]

hehe- I didn't say the kids in my story were setting a good example by saying jerk, but it was the best word I could come up with for the situation. What else would you have my character call the kid who bullies her all the time?

 

[DukeStreetKing]

You could use the obvious word, bully, or you could create a scenario where the female character goes out of her way to avoid the bully and let the readers make their own conclusion as to what they would call such a person.

 

[Karel]

I would use the word jerk. I just had a sixth grader use that word the other day to describe someone.