I remember seeing something in high school that was a list of grammar
rules and writing tips, while at the same time being a list of
examples of the mistakes that the rules were telling you to avoid.

The best I've seen is from the New York Times:

Great Rules for writing from William Safire in the New York Times:

1.  Do not put statements in the negative form.

2.  And don't start sentences with a conjunction.

3.  It is incumbent on one to avoid archaisms.

4.  If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal
     of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

5.  Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

6.  Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.

7.  De-accession euphemisms.

8.  If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

9.  Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

10.  Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

11.  Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.

12.  Last, but not least, avoid cliche's like the plague.

Enjoy,

Bob Barnes
rbarnes@moscow.com
Moscow, Idaho

When opportunity comes, the trick is to CATCH the red hat.