Over the past two years, the boys have written essays on the importance of pedestrian safety as it relates to crossing major roads at the lights rather than in the middle of the block, why honesty is a critical component of one's reputation, and -- most recently -- one of my boys had to write a paragraph about appropriate dinner table conversation after he continued to talk about farting and make rude farting noises despite several warnings.
His sample below is perhaps not the most exemplary writing ever to grace the screen of an 11-year-old's computer, however, it should be noted that there have been no farting noises at the table since the writing of said paragraph. :)
It is inappropriate to say fart at the table during meal times because it destroys the people's appetite. It does this because when you say something disgusting at meal times including other words other than fart, it makes people think about disgusting things. If people are thinking about disgusting wile they eat their food, they may make some connection between the food and some disgusting thing they were thinking about. This is what they would say "I don't feel like eating my meal".