Welcome back! Have fun reading all the fun essays below!
So Wednesday is our last meeting. So make sure to bring your completed journals, and one rough draft copy of your entire portfolio for in-class workshopping. Final Portfolios are DUE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8 BY 3:00 (there was a date error in my handout).
Journal #24: Advice to a Young Writer (this was from Wednesday, November 17)
Now that you’ve read Stephen King’s essay from On Writing, I want you to imagine what kind of reading/writing advice you would give to a young writer, or maybe even a younger version of yourself.
Journal #25: Write an Intro/Conclusion to your Portfolio
Try your hand at either introducing your collection or concluding your portfolio written to your potential reader. Think about your process, themes that emerged, etc.
Journal #26: Revisiting your Creative Monster
Go back and reread your initial Creative Monster story--it was the first thing we wrote in this class. You can reread the initial prompt on the blog. I want you to revisit that story--has it changed? Does it have a different ending? Beginning? Is the monster totally different? Is it a dragon you have now slain? Have you sold your soul to it and now have to retrieve it? Whatever it is, write your Creative Monster story again...but better.
Monday, November 29, 2010
"Lucky to be Unlucky" by Jenny Le
News Eve 2009. Like ever new years my mother and I went to the temple to pray for another safe year. When you enter the temple there's a place where you go to find out your fortune for the upcoming year. I picked up the cup full of fortune sticks and shook it until a fortune fell out. I took it to the monk so he can translate for me because the fortunes are always so confusing. The monk looked at me and he told me to sit down. He said,” My child. You're born the year of the monkey and this year the stars are not on your side. You must be very careful and be prepare for anything that comes your way. This year will be hard, this year will be a very unlucky year for you.”
At that moment I didn't really care for this Buddhist talk, after all I am half Catholic. Boy was I wrong. A week after, my boyfriend of the time cheated on me. And that relationship got worst and worst as the year progress.( I still think back to that relationship today and wonder why I was so foolish to stay and be with someone that treated me like that, maybe it was bad luck that I was so blind or maybe it was my stupidity.) Heartbroken, I went to my best friend of 6 years for help. Instead of helping she told me lies and made the situation I was in bigger than it really was. It soon became an episode of Jerry Springer. Tired of the drama I cut them out of my life.
My mom, the Buddhist in the family, always reminded me that this wasn't my year and that I must be careful when I go out and prepare for any accident. I just laughed at her for being so worry over nothing. But I should have listened. Two days after I got my license my car broke down, a week after I got my car fixed someone hit the back of my car, homecoming weekend I got a ticket for an expired parking meter, and then the day of my birthday it died again. I thought,” No way this is not because I'm born the year of the monkey. No one else has this bad luck except me.”
The week before my birthday, my friend Nhan Ngyuen past away. Two weeks after I got together with a group of friends to mourn for our lost, that's when I realized I'm not the only one to have this bad luck. My friend Peter, who is only 3 months older than me, was arrested because some one threw a rock at his sister's car and he threaten those people with a bat trying to protect her. Then my friend Linnhy got into an accident and had to go to the hospital. But it wasn't until the day my parents kicked me out that I accepted unlucky fate. My parents and I got in a fight about me staying out so late one night. My mom was screaming about how I'm a horrible daughter and that I don't work as hard as other Asian kids she knows. Then in that moment of anger she told me to get out and never come back. She screamed,” Get out! You can't live with out me. I want to see how will you live without me. When you step out that door tell me and I'll go order a grave stone that said you're dead so everyone knows I don't have a daughter like you any more.”
I was frighten and lost. I didn't know who I could count on. I sat on the corner of the park, crying in fear of not knowing where I could go and in anger for my unlucky fate god/ Buddha gave me. Just then Hung called.
“Hello” I answered.
“Jenny?”
“Yeah.”
“What's wrong? Why are you crying?”
“I'm not.”
“Don't lie. What's wrong?”
“I got kicked out.”
“What? Why?”
“Cause I came home late last night.”
“That's retarded. I'm sorry I shouldn't have kept you out so late last night.”
“It's cool. It's already done with.”
“Where are you? I'll come get you OK? It'll be fine I'll take care of you Jen.”
I told him where I was and he speed to the park in minutes. The first thing Hung did was hugged me tight and told me that thing will be fine. Hung was the best thing that happen to me this whole year I thought. Four days after I got kicked out my dad called and told me to come home. When I got home my parents acted as nothing had happen. And they even gave me a bit of freedom to go here and there with out blowing up.
Now it's November and looking back to the unlucky fates and I found that there are luck laying with in them. Linnhy, my friend who got in the accident, went to the hospital and when she went to get herself test they found out that she has a breast caner cell and they killed it just in time. Our friend Nhan, who passed away, was in pain when he was alive so it was right for us to let him go (even though it was hard for all of us). Finally, me... Within my unlucky fate I lost many friendships but I found out who my real friends are. I found the people who will walk in when the rest of the world walks out on me, without me calling. And I found the person, who I know that if the the sky falls he will always be there to hold it up for me. Like in Pandora's box they found hope, in my unlucky fate I found Hung Pham.
At that moment I didn't really care for this Buddhist talk, after all I am half Catholic. Boy was I wrong. A week after, my boyfriend of the time cheated on me. And that relationship got worst and worst as the year progress.( I still think back to that relationship today and wonder why I was so foolish to stay and be with someone that treated me like that, maybe it was bad luck that I was so blind or maybe it was my stupidity.) Heartbroken, I went to my best friend of 6 years for help. Instead of helping she told me lies and made the situation I was in bigger than it really was. It soon became an episode of Jerry Springer. Tired of the drama I cut them out of my life.
My mom, the Buddhist in the family, always reminded me that this wasn't my year and that I must be careful when I go out and prepare for any accident. I just laughed at her for being so worry over nothing. But I should have listened. Two days after I got my license my car broke down, a week after I got my car fixed someone hit the back of my car, homecoming weekend I got a ticket for an expired parking meter, and then the day of my birthday it died again. I thought,” No way this is not because I'm born the year of the monkey. No one else has this bad luck except me.”
The week before my birthday, my friend Nhan Ngyuen past away. Two weeks after I got together with a group of friends to mourn for our lost, that's when I realized I'm not the only one to have this bad luck. My friend Peter, who is only 3 months older than me, was arrested because some one threw a rock at his sister's car and he threaten those people with a bat trying to protect her. Then my friend Linnhy got into an accident and had to go to the hospital. But it wasn't until the day my parents kicked me out that I accepted unlucky fate. My parents and I got in a fight about me staying out so late one night. My mom was screaming about how I'm a horrible daughter and that I don't work as hard as other Asian kids she knows. Then in that moment of anger she told me to get out and never come back. She screamed,” Get out! You can't live with out me. I want to see how will you live without me. When you step out that door tell me and I'll go order a grave stone that said you're dead so everyone knows I don't have a daughter like you any more.”
I was frighten and lost. I didn't know who I could count on. I sat on the corner of the park, crying in fear of not knowing where I could go and in anger for my unlucky fate god/ Buddha gave me. Just then Hung called.
“Hello” I answered.
“Jenny?”
“Yeah.”
“What's wrong? Why are you crying?”
“I'm not.”
“Don't lie. What's wrong?”
“I got kicked out.”
“What? Why?”
“Cause I came home late last night.”
“That's retarded. I'm sorry I shouldn't have kept you out so late last night.”
“It's cool. It's already done with.”
“Where are you? I'll come get you OK? It'll be fine I'll take care of you Jen.”
I told him where I was and he speed to the park in minutes. The first thing Hung did was hugged me tight and told me that thing will be fine. Hung was the best thing that happen to me this whole year I thought. Four days after I got kicked out my dad called and told me to come home. When I got home my parents acted as nothing had happen. And they even gave me a bit of freedom to go here and there with out blowing up.
Now it's November and looking back to the unlucky fates and I found that there are luck laying with in them. Linnhy, my friend who got in the accident, went to the hospital and when she went to get herself test they found out that she has a breast caner cell and they killed it just in time. Our friend Nhan, who passed away, was in pain when he was alive so it was right for us to let him go (even though it was hard for all of us). Finally, me... Within my unlucky fate I lost many friendships but I found out who my real friends are. I found the people who will walk in when the rest of the world walks out on me, without me calling. And I found the person, who I know that if the the sky falls he will always be there to hold it up for me. Like in Pandora's box they found hope, in my unlucky fate I found Hung Pham.
"Obesity in the United States" by Loic Manga
Obesity is one of the biggest issues in the United States society. Mostly people think that it is related to the lack and cheapness of fattening food. However, fattening food is one of the reasons, but there are others different reasons such as free time, parent’s education and other reasons that people do not talk about. Low-income-parents do not have time for themselves and they cannot afford to buy expensive healthy food. Some questions can be asked here such as: ‘’ is the United States the only place where people eat fattening food and why its population is so different from the rest of the world?” The only way we can avoid to be obese is to change our life style and behavior.
We all need free time to be able to take care of ourselves, and free time is missing in the United States society. A big portion of the United States population has two to three jobs; some of them are working and going to school. People like parents usually do not go to school but they spend their time off with their families or they go out for a dinner, eating fattening food again. Imagine how a parent, who wake up early in the morning to rush to work and come back only at night when children are sleeping, is going to spend his days off. They sometime stay two to three days without having a free time with their children. They do not even think about exercising on their days off all they care about is spending some time with their children. College students spend weekends doing their homework, partying and hanging out with friends. Everybody wants just to enjoy himself but social groups like low income families do not have time for their own. Most of them are always working and doing their best to improve their families’ way of living.
Low-income families do not really have the chance to choose their food. They just eat whatever they can afford to buy. They do not really care about the quality of the food but quantity. Somebody who makes $7.28 to $10 an hour with a family of five members will not be able to have access to healthy food, as he would like to. The United States is different from the rest of the world when it has come to talk about nutrition. In America, fatten and junk food are for low-income families and healthy food for wealthy families, while in others countries it is completely the opposite. In places like Africa, people think that if you are obese it is because you are feeding yourself well and that you are from a wealthy family. I have to say also that technology have an issue in this issue because most people in the United States walk less than a half mile a day. People use their cars to go anywhere they want to go, even if it is a couple blocks from their homes.
In some cases, we can say that children obesity is linking to parents’ behavior. Usually people are obese since they were little. I feel sometimes, as parents do not really care about their children health. A children is someone who does not care about his health, he will never get up one day and decide to jog around the neighborhood to burn some calories. Therefore, parents should help their children with it. I am talking about exercising but it is not something that you going to initiate in your life at an adult age. Parents should put it into their children life, sport is something that you practice since a young age. They need to get their children use to working out. They need to bring exercising in their families live, take it as a family hobby. Children spend hours and hours playing videos game and it cost a lot of money. Why not get your child a bike or a soccer ball. It is cheaper since you will not have to buy a new one every month or two months. Just get him something that he is going to work out and have fun with it.
The problem about parents’ reckless behavior remains principal. Many obese parents have obese children, and I ask myself, why give your children the same kind of food that has wrongly affected your life? Obesity is not only an American issue. If we look deeper, it is also a worldwide issue. However, why Asians are the skinniest and most fit people, is it because they eat less or because they are more athletic than the rest of the world? In fact it is because they meals are mostly constituted of vegetables. They practice a bunch of different martial arts, and it is transferred from parents to children. This is good way to keep your family healthy.
We all need free time to be able to take care of ourselves, and free time is missing in the United States society. A big portion of the United States population has two to three jobs; some of them are working and going to school. People like parents usually do not go to school but they spend their time off with their families or they go out for a dinner, eating fattening food again. Imagine how a parent, who wake up early in the morning to rush to work and come back only at night when children are sleeping, is going to spend his days off. They sometime stay two to three days without having a free time with their children. They do not even think about exercising on their days off all they care about is spending some time with their children. College students spend weekends doing their homework, partying and hanging out with friends. Everybody wants just to enjoy himself but social groups like low income families do not have time for their own. Most of them are always working and doing their best to improve their families’ way of living.
Low-income families do not really have the chance to choose their food. They just eat whatever they can afford to buy. They do not really care about the quality of the food but quantity. Somebody who makes $7.28 to $10 an hour with a family of five members will not be able to have access to healthy food, as he would like to. The United States is different from the rest of the world when it has come to talk about nutrition. In America, fatten and junk food are for low-income families and healthy food for wealthy families, while in others countries it is completely the opposite. In places like Africa, people think that if you are obese it is because you are feeding yourself well and that you are from a wealthy family. I have to say also that technology have an issue in this issue because most people in the United States walk less than a half mile a day. People use their cars to go anywhere they want to go, even if it is a couple blocks from their homes.
In some cases, we can say that children obesity is linking to parents’ behavior. Usually people are obese since they were little. I feel sometimes, as parents do not really care about their children health. A children is someone who does not care about his health, he will never get up one day and decide to jog around the neighborhood to burn some calories. Therefore, parents should help their children with it. I am talking about exercising but it is not something that you going to initiate in your life at an adult age. Parents should put it into their children life, sport is something that you practice since a young age. They need to get their children use to working out. They need to bring exercising in their families live, take it as a family hobby. Children spend hours and hours playing videos game and it cost a lot of money. Why not get your child a bike or a soccer ball. It is cheaper since you will not have to buy a new one every month or two months. Just get him something that he is going to work out and have fun with it.
The problem about parents’ reckless behavior remains principal. Many obese parents have obese children, and I ask myself, why give your children the same kind of food that has wrongly affected your life? Obesity is not only an American issue. If we look deeper, it is also a worldwide issue. However, why Asians are the skinniest and most fit people, is it because they eat less or because they are more athletic than the rest of the world? In fact it is because they meals are mostly constituted of vegetables. They practice a bunch of different martial arts, and it is transferred from parents to children. This is good way to keep your family healthy.
"A Friendly Companion" by Marcos Garsia
On the bed of my room lays a happy dog, a gift that was given to me on my birthday from a close friend. A big furry dog, wearing multiple colors on his magnificent coat, with a big white spot on his chest that makes him look very elegant. The feel of his furry coat feels like a stuff animal, soft, warm, and makes you want to hug it. The smell of his breath lingering around my room, a musty smell, a fishy smell that you despise and never want to be around it. The smell is so bad but yet so good. The fact that every day you come home you know he’s there waiting for you and it makes it all worth it just to see him there wagging his tail to greet you. The happy cries of joy whenever his friend comes home as if he hasn’t seen you for years and greets you with a lick and a occasional trick that involves him lifting his paw and trying to give me a high five, as if to say finally your home. Then the sad cries of sadness whenever I leave, as if I was going to leave him and never come back, the low pitch cries I would hear as far away as a block from where I take the light rail to school. The sad sound of a dog pouring out his heart out for his friend, the protective companion that will always be by your side and never turn against you. The angry, scary dog that gives out warning growls to alert the person, follow by an angry to the unfortunate person that gets close to my room. The carnivore dog that eats like a lion. Every bowl of food that lays there would be demolished by him. The way he eats with a passion as if he’s eating his last meal. The way he licks his nose and lips to get all that yummy taste in his mouth. The taste of ground beef makes him happy and gives him energy for the rest of the day. A cherished gift from a good friend. This amazing companion that always greets me whenever I get home. No matter what mood I come in he will make me smile. He’s the best friend that you cannot replace, and a friend that you could always trust and never worry about him talking back or hurt you. I will always treasure him.
"Why to Take the Bus" by Mason Vidick
While on the bus the bus there are two people trying to figure which is better driving to school or taking the bus. For many of us driving is the choice that we find to be the fastest but is it the best way to get to school. Many would argue no and that the bus is the best way.
Driving to school does have its benefits such as it being faster and allows you to not be restricted to cretin times of arrival and departure. Along with this you’re able to leave from anywhere and not have to wait at the bus stop. But there is a down side, taking your care means someone has to pay for gas and that someone is you. Along with this you actually have to have a car and insurance which then leads to having a job that allows you to make payments on the car, gas, and insurance. While on the other hand your Metro or CCD id is a free bus pass that is already paid off from your tuition bill. The bus also is cheap saves the environment and saves you the pain of driving every day. Although many see the bus as a pain to wait for it at a stop or area for it to arrive, simple planning a head could make it easy to finish all of your tasks downtown or where ever and still make it to the bus on time.
Taking the bus is more than just cheap and painless way of transportation it’s also a type of study hall. The bus is slower that can’t be denied but instead of sitting there doing nothing you could work on homework from today’s classes. Many times when I take the bus people rarely talk to you and it’s fairly quiet, allowing for some good one on one time with your homework. So the bus is more than just a cheap ticket home but it allows you to work on school and hopefully get you that A in class.
Though many see the bus as a slow means of transportation I see it as a way to work hard in my studies and keep my cost for school down so I can focuses it to that loan or bill coming up for the new semester.
Driving to school does have its benefits such as it being faster and allows you to not be restricted to cretin times of arrival and departure. Along with this you’re able to leave from anywhere and not have to wait at the bus stop. But there is a down side, taking your care means someone has to pay for gas and that someone is you. Along with this you actually have to have a car and insurance which then leads to having a job that allows you to make payments on the car, gas, and insurance. While on the other hand your Metro or CCD id is a free bus pass that is already paid off from your tuition bill. The bus also is cheap saves the environment and saves you the pain of driving every day. Although many see the bus as a pain to wait for it at a stop or area for it to arrive, simple planning a head could make it easy to finish all of your tasks downtown or where ever and still make it to the bus on time.
Taking the bus is more than just cheap and painless way of transportation it’s also a type of study hall. The bus is slower that can’t be denied but instead of sitting there doing nothing you could work on homework from today’s classes. Many times when I take the bus people rarely talk to you and it’s fairly quiet, allowing for some good one on one time with your homework. So the bus is more than just a cheap ticket home but it allows you to work on school and hopefully get you that A in class.
Though many see the bus as a slow means of transportation I see it as a way to work hard in my studies and keep my cost for school down so I can focuses it to that loan or bill coming up for the new semester.
"Who is Isaura" by Giovanna Giner
Isaura was a beautiful twenty- year old woman with an hourglass figure, average height, brunette long hair, pretty brown eyes, and caramel skin color. She was an active person that from a young age started working with her mom on the field. It was important for her to work on the field because according to her parents she needed to become an adult by being responsible and take of her of her smaller brothers and sisters. Even though she enjoyed school her parents forced her to dropout to help out with the bills. For Isaura, she thought this was an acceptable situation because her parents were in need and she wanted to help out financially and to physically be there for her younger brothers and sisters.
At the age of twenty-five she got married to an older man who was thirty-five. Her parents weren’t happy with the idea because he was older than her. Isaura convinced her parents to be able to marry the guy since she had been with him for three years. His name was Ruben; he was tall, had black short hair, brown eyes, dark skin and, little chubby and, had a decent job as a taxi man. He lived far from her, but in his breaks he would go visit her and communicate with her parents so they would get to know him more. He did this to gain the trust of her parents, and for them to realize that he was a good guy for her. He loved her very much and would take good take care of her. Ruben decided to one Saturday night to go talk to Isaura’s parents so he could marry her and have their final say and their full permission. The parents agreed to let her marry with the guy who they knew as the “taxi guy,” but to Isaura it was not just any taxi guy, he was the love of her life.
Isaura and Ruben married and had six children but unfortunately their first baby died; it was going to be a girl that Isaura was so excited to name Isaura. After their unexpected loss they tried having more kids. Finally, they had five other kids: four boys and one girl. The four kids had their different attitude, the first boy was named Ruben he was a troublemaker and was always out with his friends and cousins he didn’t like school. Cruz was also the troublemaker but the difference with Ruben was that he was more into girls and more rude to his parents. Sergio was a good boy, and was really quite, and shy, and he would do what his parents told him to he was really respectful. Jorge was the outgoing and flirty, was into sports and really liked girls just like Cruz. Their girl was named Janette she was the nerd and the girly girl she was the baby of the house and had more attention from the parents. Her brothers would not pay much attention just because they knew she was into girl things and wouldn’t play with them, but they still loved her very much. Isaura’s and Ruben’s family were a loving close family and trust on each others. Their kids grew up and went to school, but none of them decided to go college they all decided to work right away and liked the idea of starting to earn their own money and not depend on their parents. Ruben became a taxi man just like his father and Janette moved out of town where one of her brother’s was living to work as a waitress.
A few years after that, shocking news was revealed to the family that their dad was very sick .He was diagnosed with a heart problem they hoped he would get better, and he did but it was not long before he passed away. Isaura’s family and the father’s family were there to support each other and get past his death. They were all very sad and couldn’t get past his death for a few months.
Now Isaura was a widow and she would still remember her husband’s death. When he was sick she became really close to him because she was the one there to treat him with good care and gave him all the love he needed. Since her husband was the person that she would be there for, she couldn’t be there for any one else because Janette and all her sons were all grown up, so she asked to move in with her because her mother was blind. She now wanted to be there for her mother and take care of her because she lived at Isaura’s sister house, and wouldn’t give her the attention she needed. Isaura has always been a strong. Kind loving, and hard working woman, and that is why I am so proud to call her my grandmother.
At the age of twenty-five she got married to an older man who was thirty-five. Her parents weren’t happy with the idea because he was older than her. Isaura convinced her parents to be able to marry the guy since she had been with him for three years. His name was Ruben; he was tall, had black short hair, brown eyes, dark skin and, little chubby and, had a decent job as a taxi man. He lived far from her, but in his breaks he would go visit her and communicate with her parents so they would get to know him more. He did this to gain the trust of her parents, and for them to realize that he was a good guy for her. He loved her very much and would take good take care of her. Ruben decided to one Saturday night to go talk to Isaura’s parents so he could marry her and have their final say and their full permission. The parents agreed to let her marry with the guy who they knew as the “taxi guy,” but to Isaura it was not just any taxi guy, he was the love of her life.
Isaura and Ruben married and had six children but unfortunately their first baby died; it was going to be a girl that Isaura was so excited to name Isaura. After their unexpected loss they tried having more kids. Finally, they had five other kids: four boys and one girl. The four kids had their different attitude, the first boy was named Ruben he was a troublemaker and was always out with his friends and cousins he didn’t like school. Cruz was also the troublemaker but the difference with Ruben was that he was more into girls and more rude to his parents. Sergio was a good boy, and was really quite, and shy, and he would do what his parents told him to he was really respectful. Jorge was the outgoing and flirty, was into sports and really liked girls just like Cruz. Their girl was named Janette she was the nerd and the girly girl she was the baby of the house and had more attention from the parents. Her brothers would not pay much attention just because they knew she was into girl things and wouldn’t play with them, but they still loved her very much. Isaura’s and Ruben’s family were a loving close family and trust on each others. Their kids grew up and went to school, but none of them decided to go college they all decided to work right away and liked the idea of starting to earn their own money and not depend on their parents. Ruben became a taxi man just like his father and Janette moved out of town where one of her brother’s was living to work as a waitress.
A few years after that, shocking news was revealed to the family that their dad was very sick .He was diagnosed with a heart problem they hoped he would get better, and he did but it was not long before he passed away. Isaura’s family and the father’s family were there to support each other and get past his death. They were all very sad and couldn’t get past his death for a few months.
Now Isaura was a widow and she would still remember her husband’s death. When he was sick she became really close to him because she was the one there to treat him with good care and gave him all the love he needed. Since her husband was the person that she would be there for, she couldn’t be there for any one else because Janette and all her sons were all grown up, so she asked to move in with her because her mother was blind. She now wanted to be there for her mother and take care of her because she lived at Isaura’s sister house, and wouldn’t give her the attention she needed. Isaura has always been a strong. Kind loving, and hard working woman, and that is why I am so proud to call her my grandmother.
"Chinggis Khan" by Nominlkham Oyunbaatar
Every country has their heroes and heroines. They can be political, religious, military leaders, and actors. They serve as decent leaders by whose examples we can follow in our quest to live lives of excellence. My country’s hero is definitely the great Chinggis Khan, but foreigners call him Genghis Khan, don’t know why.
He was born in 1162 in Khentii aimag. His real name was Temujin, Genghis Khan was his title of honor and respect. His father, the great warrior, Esuhei was assassinated by Tatars. His death left Temujin’s family in a vulnerable condition, but his mother was a savior, and she is considered as heroine. She kept her family together, even most of her slaves left, after her husband died. She was the one, who taught Chinggis the basic skills of survival in desert. After all those years, he became a powerful tribal chief.
After rising to power in 1185, Chinggis experienced many victories and also some setbacks. He was successful because of the alliance with his father’s brother. He was the king of the Keraits, which were another powerful tribe. With his help, Temujin became so powerful. By 1206, Temujin dominated Mongolia, and taken the title Chinggis Khan, which means a “universal ruler”. The years between 1185-1206 were the toughest years of our king. Even he had vast areas of lands, he didn’t stop there. After that, he conquered and founded an empire, which concluded in itself parts of China, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. He was known as the one conqueror, invaded more territory than any other conquerors during his lifetime. He was strong-willed, brave and fully motivated to reach his goals.
Chinggis Khan also had a reputation as a brutal monster. I think it is one of the false thoughts about him. He always fought without any fear. His military was strong and organized. In his lifetime he killed thousands of men, but it was all for his desire to build a great empire. Even he had this reputation, he was a kind man. Once, he loved the beautiful princess, named Burte. Due to countless wars, he made a lot of enemies. The enemies from Tatar tribe took away his loved wife. At that moment, he didn’t have enough strength to stand against the enemy, but he fought with them for his queen, and won.
In 1227 after his battle with some tribe, he was returning home. He was quite old, he was in bad condition. Despite this, he went to fight. After returning home his body couldn’t move. Chinggis Khan was exhausted and ill. Eventually, he died in front of his children and wives.
Even today, after all those years, he still remains impressive for us, Mongolians. As an organized genius, he created the most highly organized effective armies in history. Also, he introduced writing system based on the Uighur script. He had many victories, but the priceless gift he gave to us was a presence of Mongol nation and our culture. We, Mongolians are proud of him and always will be. He is like our father, who founded our beautiful country, Mongolia.
He was born in 1162 in Khentii aimag. His real name was Temujin, Genghis Khan was his title of honor and respect. His father, the great warrior, Esuhei was assassinated by Tatars. His death left Temujin’s family in a vulnerable condition, but his mother was a savior, and she is considered as heroine. She kept her family together, even most of her slaves left, after her husband died. She was the one, who taught Chinggis the basic skills of survival in desert. After all those years, he became a powerful tribal chief.
After rising to power in 1185, Chinggis experienced many victories and also some setbacks. He was successful because of the alliance with his father’s brother. He was the king of the Keraits, which were another powerful tribe. With his help, Temujin became so powerful. By 1206, Temujin dominated Mongolia, and taken the title Chinggis Khan, which means a “universal ruler”. The years between 1185-1206 were the toughest years of our king. Even he had vast areas of lands, he didn’t stop there. After that, he conquered and founded an empire, which concluded in itself parts of China, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. He was known as the one conqueror, invaded more territory than any other conquerors during his lifetime. He was strong-willed, brave and fully motivated to reach his goals.
Chinggis Khan also had a reputation as a brutal monster. I think it is one of the false thoughts about him. He always fought without any fear. His military was strong and organized. In his lifetime he killed thousands of men, but it was all for his desire to build a great empire. Even he had this reputation, he was a kind man. Once, he loved the beautiful princess, named Burte. Due to countless wars, he made a lot of enemies. The enemies from Tatar tribe took away his loved wife. At that moment, he didn’t have enough strength to stand against the enemy, but he fought with them for his queen, and won.
In 1227 after his battle with some tribe, he was returning home. He was quite old, he was in bad condition. Despite this, he went to fight. After returning home his body couldn’t move. Chinggis Khan was exhausted and ill. Eventually, he died in front of his children and wives.
Even today, after all those years, he still remains impressive for us, Mongolians. As an organized genius, he created the most highly organized effective armies in history. Also, he introduced writing system based on the Uighur script. He had many victories, but the priceless gift he gave to us was a presence of Mongol nation and our culture. We, Mongolians are proud of him and always will be. He is like our father, who founded our beautiful country, Mongolia.
"Love" by Carla Vital
Love is defined in the dictionary as an intense emotion or affection, warmth, fondness, and regard towards a person or a thing, but it does not explain why we love. Love is a complicated feeling that is hard to describe. Many people experience different emotions, some people feel depression, joy, and others frustration. It is always different for everyone. How do we love? What do we love? When do we love and why? We all ask these questions.
We show love in many forms. For a mother maybe it could be when she prepares lunch for the kids or when she goes to work every morning. For a husband it could be how he stops a bad habit or when he watches “The Notebook” and comforts you afterwards. For a kid it could simply be giving you his favorite toy or sharing an apple juice. We all show and express love in many different ways. Even in many different cultures, they have their own way of showing love. For example in the Irish culture, when a man went away for awhile to go to war or to another place, he gave a women a ring called Claddagh Ring, which was a sign of faith and love. In the Japanese culture, there is a special origami, which creates the lover’s knot. This origami seals a message tightly within, by writing or making a brush mark on the outside so it could be told if anyone else tried to read it because it could never be folded to exactly match afterwards.
In high school, our class had a project about love. The teacher asked many questions about the topic, one of them was if we could love a thing, immediately we answered no. A girl raised her hand and said:
“It is impossible to love a thing, maybe you like it but you can’t love it”
Then a person said,
“Yeah, you can love a thing. Like Oh I love my iPod!”
Then the entire class started arguing about the topic, some said you could only love people because they are living things and have feelings but an object is just something material without any meaning. Others had different opinions, they said maybe you could love something because it belonged to someone special. So, what do we love? Do we love people? Things? Places? Or do we just simply love the feeling each thing gives us?
Often you hear adults say, “You don’t know what love is, you are too young”, but who says what is the right age to know what love is? People fall in love at all ages. When you fall in love at a young age, people say it is not real love because the majority of relationships at a young age do not last long, but there are also many cases in which high school couples have lasted many years together. Therefore, there is not a right age to fall in love.
Why do we fall in love? Scientifically explained, it is because when you fall in love, parts of the brain, which are linked to the reward system that can cause a drug addiction, light up, but there are still many questions about it, which can’t be easily answered. If you ask people, some will say because we need to find somebody to relate to, others because we need the feeling of having security or stability, and others as a way of escaping in to a different world. People are in love with love. An example of this, is how you see on T.V. many dramas based on this controversial topic. Also many songs are inspire by this feeling like, “Nature Boy” By songwriter Eden Abhez, that includes the famous quote “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be love in return”. This complicated feeling is what inspires some of the most amazing creations like songs, paintings, sculptures, etc.
In conclusion love is indefinable. It is a different experience for everyone. People are so intrigue with this feeling because it is something we all feel. Love does not discriminate against race, religion, culture or beliefs. It is something we all experience in many different ways. It can’t be defined by the dictionary, science or religion, because love is complex.
We show love in many forms. For a mother maybe it could be when she prepares lunch for the kids or when she goes to work every morning. For a husband it could be how he stops a bad habit or when he watches “The Notebook” and comforts you afterwards. For a kid it could simply be giving you his favorite toy or sharing an apple juice. We all show and express love in many different ways. Even in many different cultures, they have their own way of showing love. For example in the Irish culture, when a man went away for awhile to go to war or to another place, he gave a women a ring called Claddagh Ring, which was a sign of faith and love. In the Japanese culture, there is a special origami, which creates the lover’s knot. This origami seals a message tightly within, by writing or making a brush mark on the outside so it could be told if anyone else tried to read it because it could never be folded to exactly match afterwards.
In high school, our class had a project about love. The teacher asked many questions about the topic, one of them was if we could love a thing, immediately we answered no. A girl raised her hand and said:
“It is impossible to love a thing, maybe you like it but you can’t love it”
Then a person said,
“Yeah, you can love a thing. Like Oh I love my iPod!”
Then the entire class started arguing about the topic, some said you could only love people because they are living things and have feelings but an object is just something material without any meaning. Others had different opinions, they said maybe you could love something because it belonged to someone special. So, what do we love? Do we love people? Things? Places? Or do we just simply love the feeling each thing gives us?
Often you hear adults say, “You don’t know what love is, you are too young”, but who says what is the right age to know what love is? People fall in love at all ages. When you fall in love at a young age, people say it is not real love because the majority of relationships at a young age do not last long, but there are also many cases in which high school couples have lasted many years together. Therefore, there is not a right age to fall in love.
Why do we fall in love? Scientifically explained, it is because when you fall in love, parts of the brain, which are linked to the reward system that can cause a drug addiction, light up, but there are still many questions about it, which can’t be easily answered. If you ask people, some will say because we need to find somebody to relate to, others because we need the feeling of having security or stability, and others as a way of escaping in to a different world. People are in love with love. An example of this, is how you see on T.V. many dramas based on this controversial topic. Also many songs are inspire by this feeling like, “Nature Boy” By songwriter Eden Abhez, that includes the famous quote “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be love in return”. This complicated feeling is what inspires some of the most amazing creations like songs, paintings, sculptures, etc.
In conclusion love is indefinable. It is a different experience for everyone. People are so intrigue with this feeling because it is something we all feel. Love does not discriminate against race, religion, culture or beliefs. It is something we all experience in many different ways. It can’t be defined by the dictionary, science or religion, because love is complex.
"God's Grace" by Jerria Williams
It was the night of March 5, 2008, my sister and I had a few friends over to celebrate me passing my finals. We were all having a good time laughing and dancing with one another until we heard some arguing coming from the courtyard of our apartment complex, we all went onto the porch to see what was going on. Directly across from our apartment on the other side of the pond was a group of men who seemed to be engaged in a dispute, “I heard one of the men say “c’mon bro this nigga aint even worth it!” We didn’t think anything of it and went back inside to continue the celebration. All of a sudden we heard a loud bang! We all looked at each other in question as to what the mysterious sound was, we heard another bang! This time along with it came the sound of glass shattering, we all quickly realized that the sound we were hearing was the sound of a gun being fired, as the gunshots continued we all scattered trying to get to safety, I ran forward toward my nephew who was standing in front of the TV., I yelled “get trillyin!” as I felt someone’s hand grab me by the shoulder and yank me to the ground. Ducked down behind the couch I heard “O GOD!” the words were louder than anything I’ve ever heard before, immediately panic filled my body I remember thinking o no! Someone is hurt! As the sound of the gunshots ended I heard my sister screaming “call someone! Call 911!” and at that moment I just knew my nephew had been shot. Scared and shaking I fumbled with the phone to call 911, as I put the phone up to my ear I looked over and saw my sister lying on the ground with blood all around her holding a towel to her head, that’s when I realized, it wasn’t my nephew who was hurt, it was my sister!, she had been shot in the head.
Froze in shock I hear one of my friends say “fuck that...the ambulance won’t make it here in time!”...I watch as they picked my sister up and ran out of the house with her, a few minutes passed and the next thing I heard was someone yell “come out slowly with your hands up!”, I knew it was the police and did as they asked, once they realized I was the victim in the situation they sat me on the couch and one officer asked, “ma’am can u please tell us exactly what happened?” I replied “my sister was shot in the head, a friend drove her to the hospital I need to know she’s ok, please find my sister and then I’ll tell you what happened.” The officer radioed to another officer I wasn’t real sure of what he was saying because he walked away as he began to talk, as I sat on the couch the events from moments ago played over and over again in my head, I remember thinking “god how could you let this happen?” I began to pray as I sat and waited for the news on my sister “god if you’re really up there and you can hear me, please let my sister be ok...please god!” a few minutes passed and the officer returned he said “your sister is fine, she is at university hospital, the doctors say she has been telling jokes since she got there.” The officer turned and walked away but before he was completely out of sight he turned and looked back at me with a grin on his face and a look in his eye as if to say everything would be ok. At that moment a feeling of relief swept over me and the only thing on my mind was getting to the hospital to see my sister. A few hours had passed and the sun was starting to appear, I finished answering all the questions the policed asked and a friend had come to take me to the hospital.
I could see my entire family sitting in the waiting room as I pulled up to the emergency room doors, as I got out of the car my dad walked up to me and wrapped his arms around and said “don’t worry Jerry, everything is ok.” He walked me back to the room that my sister was in, I walked through the door and as I saw my sister hooked to machines with bandages around her head, I began to cry, I walked over to her and she grabbed me and hugged me tighter than she ever had before, she said “don’t cry J, we’re ok.” And in that moment I knew god was real, and he had heard my prayer, for it was his grace that kept my sister alive.
Froze in shock I hear one of my friends say “fuck that...the ambulance won’t make it here in time!”...I watch as they picked my sister up and ran out of the house with her, a few minutes passed and the next thing I heard was someone yell “come out slowly with your hands up!”, I knew it was the police and did as they asked, once they realized I was the victim in the situation they sat me on the couch and one officer asked, “ma’am can u please tell us exactly what happened?” I replied “my sister was shot in the head, a friend drove her to the hospital I need to know she’s ok, please find my sister and then I’ll tell you what happened.” The officer radioed to another officer I wasn’t real sure of what he was saying because he walked away as he began to talk, as I sat on the couch the events from moments ago played over and over again in my head, I remember thinking “god how could you let this happen?” I began to pray as I sat and waited for the news on my sister “god if you’re really up there and you can hear me, please let my sister be ok...please god!” a few minutes passed and the officer returned he said “your sister is fine, she is at university hospital, the doctors say she has been telling jokes since she got there.” The officer turned and walked away but before he was completely out of sight he turned and looked back at me with a grin on his face and a look in his eye as if to say everything would be ok. At that moment a feeling of relief swept over me and the only thing on my mind was getting to the hospital to see my sister. A few hours had passed and the sun was starting to appear, I finished answering all the questions the policed asked and a friend had come to take me to the hospital.
I could see my entire family sitting in the waiting room as I pulled up to the emergency room doors, as I got out of the car my dad walked up to me and wrapped his arms around and said “don’t worry Jerry, everything is ok.” He walked me back to the room that my sister was in, I walked through the door and as I saw my sister hooked to machines with bandages around her head, I began to cry, I walked over to her and she grabbed me and hugged me tighter than she ever had before, she said “don’t cry J, we’re ok.” And in that moment I knew god was real, and he had heard my prayer, for it was his grace that kept my sister alive.
"Nickname" by Oahn Nguyen
When I am done all my works, I often open my Yahoo! Messenger and always status available to everyone with a status. And then I check with who is available and with the hope that I can see the light on of someone’s nickname…
I knew him from Yahoo! Messenger. At first we were just friends. However, after we talked so long time, we loved each others. We loved with long distance because he lives in San Jose and I live in Denver.
He often told me that he really liked to read my status. He said he felt warm and how tired from his works were lost. Furthermore, he felt that I always beside him like I am whisper in his ear. But, I always told him:
“Someone is crazy if they like my status because when I am sad or happy, angry or hate someone, I will bring up my status. My friends always complained that I was so weird when they read my status.”
“Maybe I am crazy, but I like to read your status”- He smiled.
Our love was normal. That was nothing called a "dramatic" as the emotional drama on the television or novels. We just talked, or sometimes he came to Denver or I came to San Jose that we took trip to go somewhere. That’s all we had.
Everything had passed away in peaceful as it should be so. Not a bit worried or bothered ripple of anger.
One day, Linh – my best friend told me
“You should create something that makes your love more interested”
“Why should I do it? Everything is ok right now”
“I know being quiet is good, but you should create dramatic situations to create the flavor of love instead!”
“How can I do it”- I asked her.
“You should create a situation to challenge him”
“I think I should not to do it because we absolute trust each other” - I shook my head
“No, this is not affected with trust or suspect. Simply determine the exact percentage rate that you own in his heart”- Linh shrugged her shoulders.
“How should I do?”
Linh whispered adjacent my ear. My face stretched in every word Linh said...
I started to create a sweet nickname and download software that I can use two different nicknames in Yahoo! Messenger to avoid his suspect. I added him with my new nickname and also wrote two verses that he liked in the status, and I was a bit nervous to waiting his acceptance. After two minute I received acceptance from him. I felt my heart is very tie. I did not believe my eyes. He told me that he just added people who he knows. And now, he added just because two verses in status.
I decided to stop, but I did know why I could not do that, and I kept talking to him with my new nickname. May be because I was so curious how is going.
Through the new nickname, I was so surprised about him. He usually used sweet words when he chatted to my new nickname.
“I was almost online whole night last night, I wished you be there.”
…
“I miss you”
…
“I miss you like crazy. Please give me a chance to meet you in real life”
…
“I was always thinking about you. I miss you”
…
I was crying when I read these. Clearly, he sent it to me, but I know it was not for me.
I told Linh about him. She said:
“Do not be sad. Most of men like that; it is not only your man”
“How should I do?”- I asked her with tear
“You should talk to him seriously”
I planned to talk to him when he came to Denver. However, when I was not talking to him yet, he saw the conversation about my new nickname and he when I chatted to him. I always saved the conversation with hope that will be evidence that he cheated me.
So now, I was very resumed my face when he read it. I stammered:
“I…I just wonder...”
He just walked away and said nothing to me. I tried to contact to him too many times, but everything was hopeless. I was online every night with the hope that he will be online and I will have a chance to talk and explain to him.
Day after day, I received nothing from him…
Four years ago, I have never seen his nickname on although just one time…
I am online everyday and have written the status with the hope that he can read it.
I still remembered last time he told me “When in love, they must trust your partner. Never ever use test people in love at all.”
I do not know who is in fault. He lied or I was stupid to challenge him. Right now I do not want to find out the answer.
I know too late apologize, but I still hope I can meet him and say sorry to him.
I knew him from Yahoo! Messenger. At first we were just friends. However, after we talked so long time, we loved each others. We loved with long distance because he lives in San Jose and I live in Denver.
He often told me that he really liked to read my status. He said he felt warm and how tired from his works were lost. Furthermore, he felt that I always beside him like I am whisper in his ear. But, I always told him:
“Someone is crazy if they like my status because when I am sad or happy, angry or hate someone, I will bring up my status. My friends always complained that I was so weird when they read my status.”
“Maybe I am crazy, but I like to read your status”- He smiled.
Our love was normal. That was nothing called a "dramatic" as the emotional drama on the television or novels. We just talked, or sometimes he came to Denver or I came to San Jose that we took trip to go somewhere. That’s all we had.
Everything had passed away in peaceful as it should be so. Not a bit worried or bothered ripple of anger.
One day, Linh – my best friend told me
“You should create something that makes your love more interested”
“Why should I do it? Everything is ok right now”
“I know being quiet is good, but you should create dramatic situations to create the flavor of love instead!”
“How can I do it”- I asked her.
“You should create a situation to challenge him”
“I think I should not to do it because we absolute trust each other” - I shook my head
“No, this is not affected with trust or suspect. Simply determine the exact percentage rate that you own in his heart”- Linh shrugged her shoulders.
“How should I do?”
Linh whispered adjacent my ear. My face stretched in every word Linh said...
I started to create a sweet nickname and download software that I can use two different nicknames in Yahoo! Messenger to avoid his suspect. I added him with my new nickname and also wrote two verses that he liked in the status, and I was a bit nervous to waiting his acceptance. After two minute I received acceptance from him. I felt my heart is very tie. I did not believe my eyes. He told me that he just added people who he knows. And now, he added just because two verses in status.
I decided to stop, but I did know why I could not do that, and I kept talking to him with my new nickname. May be because I was so curious how is going.
Through the new nickname, I was so surprised about him. He usually used sweet words when he chatted to my new nickname.
“I was almost online whole night last night, I wished you be there.”
…
“I miss you”
…
“I miss you like crazy. Please give me a chance to meet you in real life”
…
“I was always thinking about you. I miss you”
…
I was crying when I read these. Clearly, he sent it to me, but I know it was not for me.
I told Linh about him. She said:
“Do not be sad. Most of men like that; it is not only your man”
“How should I do?”- I asked her with tear
“You should talk to him seriously”
I planned to talk to him when he came to Denver. However, when I was not talking to him yet, he saw the conversation about my new nickname and he when I chatted to him. I always saved the conversation with hope that will be evidence that he cheated me.
So now, I was very resumed my face when he read it. I stammered:
“I…I just wonder...”
He just walked away and said nothing to me. I tried to contact to him too many times, but everything was hopeless. I was online every night with the hope that he will be online and I will have a chance to talk and explain to him.
Day after day, I received nothing from him…
Four years ago, I have never seen his nickname on although just one time…
I am online everyday and have written the status with the hope that he can read it.
I still remembered last time he told me “When in love, they must trust your partner. Never ever use test people in love at all.”
I do not know who is in fault. He lied or I was stupid to challenge him. Right now I do not want to find out the answer.
I know too late apologize, but I still hope I can meet him and say sorry to him.
"Promises" by Racheal Seifert
What is a promise? How many times have you heard that in your life time? All I have to say is that word can go far with people and I’m one of them that take that word to heart.
I have had many promises broken. Thankfully I have had only two heart break associate with them. Because honestly someone you don’t know can come up to you and promise you anything in the world. And all you think is “yeah… right dumb ass like am going to believe you.” But if it’s from someone you truly care about and you have given your heart to, it hurts. It can feel like the whole world is coming down on you when it really isn’t. This can go for friends and family as well. Take my best friend in the whole world. Natilie, if she ever had a problem I would be right by her side in a moment just like she would be if it was me. As a best friend or a girlfriend or a daughter or a sister I gave my oath to be there even if I didn’t agree in the situation. There are times that I could totally be mad at one of my siblings but lord knows if something ever went wrong, I would be by their side in a heartbeat. The reasoning for that is because that’s my job as a sister and a true sister has to promise to always be there.
You also can bring new hopes to people’s life when you say a word like promise. You can say “I promise to make it up to you.” And you never do, this can stick with people especially parents that do it to kids. I have seen it done several times and all I can think is, that kid will never forget when his dad isn’t there for his baseball game because he is too busy with his new girlfriend. Or how about when people say “I will be there forever I promise.” Boys are the king of that especially when their just looking for what’s in your pants. I think you can say many things and put promise in it for nothing but only good people actually stay true to the promises they make.
So when people ask me why I have a tattoo of Promise on my rib cage, you know what I say. I say “well why do you think I got promise on my rib cage” what does that word mean to you? Because it could mean several things like love, hope, friendship, family. Whatever you choose it to be basically. I have the word promise on my rib cage to remind me never to forget. Forget the ones who hurt me, the ones who actually cared and the ones that are still here by my side. Ask yourself what does promise mean to you.
I have had many promises broken. Thankfully I have had only two heart break associate with them. Because honestly someone you don’t know can come up to you and promise you anything in the world. And all you think is “yeah… right dumb ass like am going to believe you.” But if it’s from someone you truly care about and you have given your heart to, it hurts. It can feel like the whole world is coming down on you when it really isn’t. This can go for friends and family as well. Take my best friend in the whole world. Natilie, if she ever had a problem I would be right by her side in a moment just like she would be if it was me. As a best friend or a girlfriend or a daughter or a sister I gave my oath to be there even if I didn’t agree in the situation. There are times that I could totally be mad at one of my siblings but lord knows if something ever went wrong, I would be by their side in a heartbeat. The reasoning for that is because that’s my job as a sister and a true sister has to promise to always be there.
You also can bring new hopes to people’s life when you say a word like promise. You can say “I promise to make it up to you.” And you never do, this can stick with people especially parents that do it to kids. I have seen it done several times and all I can think is, that kid will never forget when his dad isn’t there for his baseball game because he is too busy with his new girlfriend. Or how about when people say “I will be there forever I promise.” Boys are the king of that especially when their just looking for what’s in your pants. I think you can say many things and put promise in it for nothing but only good people actually stay true to the promises they make.
So when people ask me why I have a tattoo of Promise on my rib cage, you know what I say. I say “well why do you think I got promise on my rib cage” what does that word mean to you? Because it could mean several things like love, hope, friendship, family. Whatever you choose it to be basically. I have the word promise on my rib cage to remind me never to forget. Forget the ones who hurt me, the ones who actually cared and the ones that are still here by my side. Ask yourself what does promise mean to you.
"Le Central" by Carla Vital
I usually get nervous when I’m driving to a place I am not familiar with and even more at night. My family and I were heading to a French Restaurant called Le Central; it was our first time going there. A friend of my mom worked there and so he invited us to go but he had to cancel at the last minute. My family and I decided to go anyway, just to experience something new. We were really excited about going to this restaurant. My mom told me it was in downtown so that made me even more excited because I thought all the restaurants in downtown must be fancy and serve gourmet food. When we got there, I realized it was very different from what I imagined. It was this little place; it sort of looked like a house. It looked nice not really fancy more like a very traditional little French restaurant. In my opinion, it was a very nice place to have a Friday night out with your family but it didn’t meet my expectations. I am sure it is not going to be my favorite place to go from now on because of certain reasons.
The restaurant is located in 112 E 8th Ave. It wasn’t hard finding the place, the hard part was being able to park. One of the things I did not like about the restaurant is that they have a very reduce parking lot. When we entered the parking lot, after going around the block two times because it was a one-way street, it was difficult to go in because there was a dumpster on the side, which was blocking our view to see if any cars were going out. It also made it difficult because it was taking too much space of the already small parking lot. On top of that, it said you couldn’t park there before a certain time. The good thing was that we got there thirty minutes past that hour. I understand it is a small place but at least they should move the dumpster to another place or figure out a way to make the parking lot bigger.
Another thing that I did not like was the service. Even though our waiter was really nice and even made a suggestion of a dish for my brother because he doesn’t eat vegetables, it seemed he was a little bit off. After he took our orders, when he came back with the dishes, he gave us the wrong plate. It was our first time there so we did not know what our plate looked like. After a second, he figured it out. Also, when my brother finished his soda and asked for a refill, the waiter seemed to have forgotten or was busy because he came back after a long time. We were only three people on our table and the place it is not really big. I know sometimes there are days when you are not feeling good or you have a problem. Maybe that is what happened to him, but when you are trying to give a good first impression you should be careful about those little details.
The last thing I did not like about the restaurant is the food. One of the most important things about a restaurant is the food. If the food isn’t good the restaurant won’t succeed based only on appearance. I took French in high school so I could identify some words on the menu. I ordered the Escargots Bourguignons, which is a dish of six escargots baked on a slice of brioche with garlic butter flavored with pernod. I ordered that because there were many seafood dishes and I hate seafood and also I didn’t have many other choices, so that sounded pretty delicious. Of course, I didn’t know what an escargot was so I was not completely sure. When I first took a bite out of it, I recognized the bittersweet taste, which I’m not a fan of. Also the smell was too strong and I didn’t like it. I was eating the little bun with vegetables on it but I was scared of touching the little dark balls. My mom ate one of them and told me “Don’t even think about taking a bite out of those, I know you are not gonna like them”. I trust my mom so I decided not to eat them when I was through with everything except the little dark balls I was excited about dessert. I ordered the Crème Brulee. The only thing I liked about the food was the dessert, which wasn’t that great, but it wasn’t bad. On top of all, it was a really expensive dinner, which gave it a nice little touch for a great night.
In conclusion, Le central French restaurant was in my opinion not my favorite restaurant so I wouldn’t recommend people to go because of a few reasons. The parking lot was small, the service wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either and finally and most importantly, I didn’t like the food. Of course, it had good things like decoration, dessert, vibe etc, but in general it didn’t leave me with a good first impression. People may experience something different from me maybe if they go on another day or if they order something different. Maybe next time I go I will have a better experience or maybe I’m just a person without a refined palette for gourmet food. If I had to rate it, I would give it a two out of five stars.
The restaurant is located in 112 E 8th Ave. It wasn’t hard finding the place, the hard part was being able to park. One of the things I did not like about the restaurant is that they have a very reduce parking lot. When we entered the parking lot, after going around the block two times because it was a one-way street, it was difficult to go in because there was a dumpster on the side, which was blocking our view to see if any cars were going out. It also made it difficult because it was taking too much space of the already small parking lot. On top of that, it said you couldn’t park there before a certain time. The good thing was that we got there thirty minutes past that hour. I understand it is a small place but at least they should move the dumpster to another place or figure out a way to make the parking lot bigger.
Another thing that I did not like was the service. Even though our waiter was really nice and even made a suggestion of a dish for my brother because he doesn’t eat vegetables, it seemed he was a little bit off. After he took our orders, when he came back with the dishes, he gave us the wrong plate. It was our first time there so we did not know what our plate looked like. After a second, he figured it out. Also, when my brother finished his soda and asked for a refill, the waiter seemed to have forgotten or was busy because he came back after a long time. We were only three people on our table and the place it is not really big. I know sometimes there are days when you are not feeling good or you have a problem. Maybe that is what happened to him, but when you are trying to give a good first impression you should be careful about those little details.
The last thing I did not like about the restaurant is the food. One of the most important things about a restaurant is the food. If the food isn’t good the restaurant won’t succeed based only on appearance. I took French in high school so I could identify some words on the menu. I ordered the Escargots Bourguignons, which is a dish of six escargots baked on a slice of brioche with garlic butter flavored with pernod. I ordered that because there were many seafood dishes and I hate seafood and also I didn’t have many other choices, so that sounded pretty delicious. Of course, I didn’t know what an escargot was so I was not completely sure. When I first took a bite out of it, I recognized the bittersweet taste, which I’m not a fan of. Also the smell was too strong and I didn’t like it. I was eating the little bun with vegetables on it but I was scared of touching the little dark balls. My mom ate one of them and told me “Don’t even think about taking a bite out of those, I know you are not gonna like them”. I trust my mom so I decided not to eat them when I was through with everything except the little dark balls I was excited about dessert. I ordered the Crème Brulee. The only thing I liked about the food was the dessert, which wasn’t that great, but it wasn’t bad. On top of all, it was a really expensive dinner, which gave it a nice little touch for a great night.
In conclusion, Le central French restaurant was in my opinion not my favorite restaurant so I wouldn’t recommend people to go because of a few reasons. The parking lot was small, the service wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either and finally and most importantly, I didn’t like the food. Of course, it had good things like decoration, dessert, vibe etc, but in general it didn’t leave me with a good first impression. People may experience something different from me maybe if they go on another day or if they order something different. Maybe next time I go I will have a better experience or maybe I’m just a person without a refined palette for gourmet food. If I had to rate it, I would give it a two out of five stars.
"Snowboarding" by Jing (Stephanie) Huo
Today is Wednesday; I am going to play the snowboarding with my friends. I am into snowboarding in a big way. In addition, I don’t like the ski, because use snowboard is more thrills. The weather in the morning is not too cold. So we think is not too cold today in the mountain. Last year we went to the key stone. But this year we want to try another mountain, so we go to the copper mountain.
When we get to the mountain, it is already 11:00. Therefore, we unable to hold our self back, then we run to the cableway and take the cable car to the top of the mountain. But I don’t know the car is different to the key stone. The cable car it doesn’t has windscreen, and from begin to the end needs almost 10 minutes. Oh My God!!
10 minutes later..
Finally, we are at the top of the mountain. Then we begin our snowboarding trip. But today is very cold at the mountain. And the snow is very soft, when I walk on the snow, my leg will fall into the snow. I don’t like this mountain. I will not come to this mountain anymore. I just play the couple times then go to the restaurant have a sit and wait my friends.
At last, we leave at four. I feel so tire today. So see u next week guys~~ Have a nice holiday!!
When we get to the mountain, it is already 11:00. Therefore, we unable to hold our self back, then we run to the cableway and take the cable car to the top of the mountain. But I don’t know the car is different to the key stone. The cable car it doesn’t has windscreen, and from begin to the end needs almost 10 minutes. Oh My God!!
10 minutes later..
Finally, we are at the top of the mountain. Then we begin our snowboarding trip. But today is very cold at the mountain. And the snow is very soft, when I walk on the snow, my leg will fall into the snow. I don’t like this mountain. I will not come to this mountain anymore. I just play the couple times then go to the restaurant have a sit and wait my friends.
At last, we leave at four. I feel so tire today. So see u next week guys~~ Have a nice holiday!!
"Dad" by Ben Bressler
Dad! When I was growing up as a child you were everything to me. Yet, I was so scared of you! I always wondered if my loving father was going to come in and be the happy amazing father or the crazy raging beast that threw us around like rag dolls yet moments later would treat us like gold. You would have this look of rage yet the next minute would Throw the ball around with max and I on those hot summer nights till we couldn’t play any more or you would take us to Home Depot and buy us hand tools to start are own manly collections of tools. From my first hammer and tool belt to my firstst yellow and black Philips head screw driver that I treated as if it was the hope diamond. Even taking randi and Jamie to the mall and buy them that pair of lady bug earings they thought they couldn’t live without so you payed top dollar. Better yet chasing away the boy that were annoying them, of course with the help of max and i. Dad! I know you loved Randi, Jamie, Max and I, there is no doubt in any of our minds.
Its crazy how thing work out I mean the fact is I hadn’t seen you since my eyes were level with your chest, around 7 years ago. That’s when I thought I would have a beter life living with mom and bill so around late june of 2003 I decided it would be in my best interst for me to leave santa Fe. And that really was around the last time we smoke consistently. But it wasn’t till early 2009 when you and I stopped talking right after jasmine and I got married. Things Happen I knew that! But I knew we would talk again soon in fact I told myself just three months ago don’t bother calling him in two months you will be in Denver just go to Santa Fe and see him in perso, it will mean so much more.
When I got the call on July 27 2010 my heart sunk like a rock in a pond. I was stunned I couldn’t think I was unable to function. I kept driving to my bartending class got there it was around six pm I sat down and waited almost 20 minutes for class to start. I wasn’t sure what to do I wasn’t sure how to react. I have had this happen before, but not so someone like this not without closer not with these doors leading to nowhere swinging with no end in sight. Finally the girl next to me asked what was wrong you seem so out of it. I stopped and looked up right in to her blue eyes and said yes something is wrong my, my, my father he um… well he passed away. And before I could say anything else this hefty woman had me in a bear hug that I just could not nor wanted to stop. That was when it hit me like a bag of bricks going forty miles an hour right at my heart. I would never see you again.
Never in my life, even though I have done some seriously high quality idiotic things have I had regret until now! Yet there is nothing that I can do to change this one. there is nothing that I can do to take it back, but what I can do is learn from it and realize that I should always speak my mind, always tell people how I feel and show my loved ones that undeniable affection! For that is what I should have done for that is what we would have done for each other. Everyone asks me how I am ok and why am I not mad it is because I know that you were stubborn yet now you’re looking down and simply asking for a fold. Well dad, I except, we both messed up let’s start again I will always love you till end.
March ninth 2009 was the last time that you and I spoke. At the time it didn’t see so long but now that I can’t make it up it seems never ending. I feel that every breath I take is one you are helping me with and every step I take you making sure it’s the right one. I feel that ever since you have been gone I’ve had an extra eye watching me. I don’t know how else to say it but I miss you and I will keep living with you thank you dad rest in peace.
Its crazy how thing work out I mean the fact is I hadn’t seen you since my eyes were level with your chest, around 7 years ago. That’s when I thought I would have a beter life living with mom and bill so around late june of 2003 I decided it would be in my best interst for me to leave santa Fe. And that really was around the last time we smoke consistently. But it wasn’t till early 2009 when you and I stopped talking right after jasmine and I got married. Things Happen I knew that! But I knew we would talk again soon in fact I told myself just three months ago don’t bother calling him in two months you will be in Denver just go to Santa Fe and see him in perso, it will mean so much more.
When I got the call on July 27 2010 my heart sunk like a rock in a pond. I was stunned I couldn’t think I was unable to function. I kept driving to my bartending class got there it was around six pm I sat down and waited almost 20 minutes for class to start. I wasn’t sure what to do I wasn’t sure how to react. I have had this happen before, but not so someone like this not without closer not with these doors leading to nowhere swinging with no end in sight. Finally the girl next to me asked what was wrong you seem so out of it. I stopped and looked up right in to her blue eyes and said yes something is wrong my, my, my father he um… well he passed away. And before I could say anything else this hefty woman had me in a bear hug that I just could not nor wanted to stop. That was when it hit me like a bag of bricks going forty miles an hour right at my heart. I would never see you again.
Never in my life, even though I have done some seriously high quality idiotic things have I had regret until now! Yet there is nothing that I can do to change this one. there is nothing that I can do to take it back, but what I can do is learn from it and realize that I should always speak my mind, always tell people how I feel and show my loved ones that undeniable affection! For that is what I should have done for that is what we would have done for each other. Everyone asks me how I am ok and why am I not mad it is because I know that you were stubborn yet now you’re looking down and simply asking for a fold. Well dad, I except, we both messed up let’s start again I will always love you till end.
March ninth 2009 was the last time that you and I spoke. At the time it didn’t see so long but now that I can’t make it up it seems never ending. I feel that every breath I take is one you are helping me with and every step I take you making sure it’s the right one. I feel that ever since you have been gone I’ve had an extra eye watching me. I don’t know how else to say it but I miss you and I will keep living with you thank you dad rest in peace.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
"October 11" by Mohammad Faruque
It was almost dark. I can still remember the date. It was the 11th of October, 1959. I was out of ammo. On the other hand, I had lost all my teammates in the war. I alone escaped. I ran into a jungle. If anyone came upon me I couldn’t do anything except die. I could hear the blasts and the shootings. It increased my fear to the utmost. I had only a shovel to dig a hole and hide in it. I was waiting for midnight. Then I would go back to my camp.
I was not a professional military person; I was an undertaker. I had dug almost 50 graves. Every time when I bury a dead man, I always try to imagine the death scene of that person. It was not necessarily the right one but I imagine the interesting one. It was one of my hobbies. It was not bounded only in my imagination. I also wrote a book about that. I gave a name to it, that is “death of the dead.”
One day some army men came and they forced me to join the war. I had no other option. I could remember whom I killed first in the war. His face was pale. I saw his eyes. They were full of innocence. He held his gun as if he held a flower to give. I did not want to kill him. I just target him; I am not sure when I pulled the trigger. I observe his death until he died. For the first time it was a true story of a death that I wrote in my book. That day I did not shoot another bullet.
It was midnight when my sleep broke. I could hear a sound. Something was moving towards me. I put my hand on the knife and observed every movement. Suddenly it started to run toward me. I took my knife. that sound came very close. All on a sudden, I slaughtered the person who was making the sound. I could not see him. I could go, but I was waiting to see his face. When I woke up for second time, It was approximately 6 o’clock in the morning. I was stunned to see that a sweet little boy was lying on the ground holding my knife in his chest. I could not say anymore about the guilt that I felt.
After some moment, our army had arrived to rescue me. I when I left with them, I took the binocular from the boy. On the binocular there were a sticker with writing on it, saying “happy birthday, your mother; 11th of October”
I was not a professional military person; I was an undertaker. I had dug almost 50 graves. Every time when I bury a dead man, I always try to imagine the death scene of that person. It was not necessarily the right one but I imagine the interesting one. It was one of my hobbies. It was not bounded only in my imagination. I also wrote a book about that. I gave a name to it, that is “death of the dead.”
One day some army men came and they forced me to join the war. I had no other option. I could remember whom I killed first in the war. His face was pale. I saw his eyes. They were full of innocence. He held his gun as if he held a flower to give. I did not want to kill him. I just target him; I am not sure when I pulled the trigger. I observe his death until he died. For the first time it was a true story of a death that I wrote in my book. That day I did not shoot another bullet.
It was midnight when my sleep broke. I could hear a sound. Something was moving towards me. I put my hand on the knife and observed every movement. Suddenly it started to run toward me. I took my knife. that sound came very close. All on a sudden, I slaughtered the person who was making the sound. I could not see him. I could go, but I was waiting to see his face. When I woke up for second time, It was approximately 6 o’clock in the morning. I was stunned to see that a sweet little boy was lying on the ground holding my knife in his chest. I could not say anymore about the guilt that I felt.
After some moment, our army had arrived to rescue me. I when I left with them, I took the binocular from the boy. On the binocular there were a sticker with writing on it, saying “happy birthday, your mother; 11th of October”
"Animals Are Not Human" by Becky Manders
Animals are just that, animals. They do not have feelings or emotions. They do not know how to love. They are very stupid, no matter how much you abuse them or mistreat them; they will love and protect you anyway. We as a society spend an excessive amount of time, energy and useful property on animals. Many pet owners actually get their nails done together; styling their hair the same and even have matching clothes. They are buying healthy food, cleaning up after them and ridiculously will not go on vacation unless their pet is expensively or properly taken care of. There are people who spend their time and money capturing stray animals, taking them to overcrowded shelters. Very few are adopted out; people want purebred puppies and the animals end up being put to sleep anyway. These shelters take a lot of money to operate from electricity, food, water, shots, vaccines, employees and the cost to rent or buying the buildings.
I have a few solutions for this over dramatized love for animals. Animals should be helping us financially. Abused, wretched and cowed animals can be shaved and put on display for social entertainment and profit. It can be like carnivals or circuses. It would supply jobs for people who want to travel. They can go from city to city picking up the severally neglected and abused animals. Since animal abuse isn’t a crime, so many animals are abused it would be a constant cash flow business. Society would be relieved of the burden to take care of abused animals. Maimed animals with missing limbs can be in a Special Olympics. We could have dog and catfights for profit until they eventually die.
We could stop world hunger and keep our money and supplies here for our own people. Instead of sending money to other countries we could kill and butcher our pet rabbits, cats, dogs, horses, whatever animal is unwanted to the starving people. We would supply a great source of protein to people who otherwise are lacking good nutrition. We could take all the puppies produced at the mills, skin them and grind it up all together and feed our farming communities for their livestock at a cheap rate. Which in turn, we the consumers would get our meat at a reduced price.
As far as the property waste. The shelters could be filled with animals and burned to the ground for a Wal-Mart or McDonalds. This would produce a lot of jobs for the community and the convenience of both places at every street corner. Not to mention how depressing and ugly the shelters are for the neighborhoods. A new Wal-Mart or McDonalds would bring happiness and class to the surrounding areas.
I hope I have given you ample reasons for agreeing with me. You should no longer feel you are doing anything wrong when you are abusing the animals around you. In fact, you are encouraged to take your anger out on animals; the world would be a happier place. People would be nicer to each other and not have so much bottled up inside. Everyone should be required to have an animal. You could starve and beat them regularly, never taking them out of their cage. Imagine what a stress reliever that would be. I can think of no good reasons why we have to be nice to animals; we should use them to our advantage and start acting like the superior race that we are. Animals are just animals.
I have a few solutions for this over dramatized love for animals. Animals should be helping us financially. Abused, wretched and cowed animals can be shaved and put on display for social entertainment and profit. It can be like carnivals or circuses. It would supply jobs for people who want to travel. They can go from city to city picking up the severally neglected and abused animals. Since animal abuse isn’t a crime, so many animals are abused it would be a constant cash flow business. Society would be relieved of the burden to take care of abused animals. Maimed animals with missing limbs can be in a Special Olympics. We could have dog and catfights for profit until they eventually die.
We could stop world hunger and keep our money and supplies here for our own people. Instead of sending money to other countries we could kill and butcher our pet rabbits, cats, dogs, horses, whatever animal is unwanted to the starving people. We would supply a great source of protein to people who otherwise are lacking good nutrition. We could take all the puppies produced at the mills, skin them and grind it up all together and feed our farming communities for their livestock at a cheap rate. Which in turn, we the consumers would get our meat at a reduced price.
As far as the property waste. The shelters could be filled with animals and burned to the ground for a Wal-Mart or McDonalds. This would produce a lot of jobs for the community and the convenience of both places at every street corner. Not to mention how depressing and ugly the shelters are for the neighborhoods. A new Wal-Mart or McDonalds would bring happiness and class to the surrounding areas.
I hope I have given you ample reasons for agreeing with me. You should no longer feel you are doing anything wrong when you are abusing the animals around you. In fact, you are encouraged to take your anger out on animals; the world would be a happier place. People would be nicer to each other and not have so much bottled up inside. Everyone should be required to have an animal. You could starve and beat them regularly, never taking them out of their cage. Imagine what a stress reliever that would be. I can think of no good reasons why we have to be nice to animals; we should use them to our advantage and start acting like the superior race that we are. Animals are just animals.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Final Portfolio Information for 090 classes
Final Portfolio Information
Your final portfolio will be a polished compilation of the work you’ve been doing this semester and a process paper. You’ll have a chance to workshop it with a colleague, but this portfolio should be error-free. I’ll expect you to use all formatting guidelines. Also, I’ll expect that each piece will have been revised again since I saw it last—I will be able to tell! Think of this as a final art exhibit of your work.
Cover Page
Your cover page should have the title of your final portfolio, your name, class number (090___), times, my name and YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. I will give all portfolio comments by email unless specified otherwise. (If you want your portfolio returned to you, please give me a self-addressed stamped envelope with your portfolio.) Other than these specifications, feel free to be as creative as you like with your cover.
Table of Contents
Your table of contents page should have all your pieces listed by title and the corresponding page numbers.
Essays
Ideally you will include all four of your essays, revised and polished. (See length requirements)
Process Essay
This is a final essay that will either introduce or conclude your portfolio. You can take many different angles with this essay. It can either be an introduction to your pieces, talking about themes, inspirations, etc., as if you were the painter explaining your paintings at the exhibit. It could be a concluding piece, wrapping up your progress this semester, discussing where you began and where you ended up, etc. It could be a conclusion to your Creative Monster story, slaying the Creative Monster, yourself as a creative hero, etc. It could be a persuasive paper where you argue what grade you deserve in this class and why.
You can draw from any of the styles we’ve looked at this semester: descriptive, narrative, expository, argumentative. Examples could be:
Descriptive: Describe your process this semester, describe your pieces, etc, focusing on descriptive language, nouns, verbs, etc.
Narrative: Tell a story about your experiences with writing this semester, slay the creative monster story, etc.
Expository: Explain your essays to me and how they work together as an exhibit, explain your changing relationship to writing because of the semester, etc, Explain “How to____(pass this class, put together a portfolio, etc.)”
Argumentative: Argue what you believe your grade should be in this class and why, argue any other angle of this class, writing, etc.
Other specifics:
The Portfolio should be 8-10 page of your best work this semester including your process page but NOT including your cover page or TOC.
You may be as creative as you like as long as you adhere to my minimum requirements.
The portfolio doesn’t have to be professionally bound, but it must be stapled with page numbers.
For M/W 090-026 and 090-015 classes:
The portfolio must be in my hand or in my mailbox in South Room 313 by 3:00 Thursday, December 9. I will NOT accept any portfolios after 3:00. I will NOT accept portfolios by email.
For Saturday 090-509 class:
The portfolio must be in my hand or in my mailbox in South Room 313 by 12:00 Saturday, December 11. I will NOT accept any portfolios after 12:00. I will NOT accept portfolios by email.
I will be in my office (South 230) during our regular class times finals week to collect portfolios and to consult with students.
Have fun!
~NS
Your final portfolio will be a polished compilation of the work you’ve been doing this semester and a process paper. You’ll have a chance to workshop it with a colleague, but this portfolio should be error-free. I’ll expect you to use all formatting guidelines. Also, I’ll expect that each piece will have been revised again since I saw it last—I will be able to tell! Think of this as a final art exhibit of your work.
Cover Page
Your cover page should have the title of your final portfolio, your name, class number (090___), times, my name and YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. I will give all portfolio comments by email unless specified otherwise. (If you want your portfolio returned to you, please give me a self-addressed stamped envelope with your portfolio.) Other than these specifications, feel free to be as creative as you like with your cover.
Table of Contents
Your table of contents page should have all your pieces listed by title and the corresponding page numbers.
Essays
Ideally you will include all four of your essays, revised and polished. (See length requirements)
Process Essay
This is a final essay that will either introduce or conclude your portfolio. You can take many different angles with this essay. It can either be an introduction to your pieces, talking about themes, inspirations, etc., as if you were the painter explaining your paintings at the exhibit. It could be a concluding piece, wrapping up your progress this semester, discussing where you began and where you ended up, etc. It could be a conclusion to your Creative Monster story, slaying the Creative Monster, yourself as a creative hero, etc. It could be a persuasive paper where you argue what grade you deserve in this class and why.
You can draw from any of the styles we’ve looked at this semester: descriptive, narrative, expository, argumentative. Examples could be:
Descriptive: Describe your process this semester, describe your pieces, etc, focusing on descriptive language, nouns, verbs, etc.
Narrative: Tell a story about your experiences with writing this semester, slay the creative monster story, etc.
Expository: Explain your essays to me and how they work together as an exhibit, explain your changing relationship to writing because of the semester, etc, Explain “How to____(pass this class, put together a portfolio, etc.)”
Argumentative: Argue what you believe your grade should be in this class and why, argue any other angle of this class, writing, etc.
Other specifics:
The Portfolio should be 8-10 page of your best work this semester including your process page but NOT including your cover page or TOC.
You may be as creative as you like as long as you adhere to my minimum requirements.
The portfolio doesn’t have to be professionally bound, but it must be stapled with page numbers.
For M/W 090-026 and 090-015 classes:
The portfolio must be in my hand or in my mailbox in South Room 313 by 3:00 Thursday, December 9. I will NOT accept any portfolios after 3:00. I will NOT accept portfolios by email.
For Saturday 090-509 class:
The portfolio must be in my hand or in my mailbox in South Room 313 by 12:00 Saturday, December 11. I will NOT accept any portfolios after 12:00. I will NOT accept portfolios by email.
I will be in my office (South 230) during our regular class times finals week to collect portfolios and to consult with students.
Have fun!
~NS
Saturday, November 20, 2010
"My Monday" by Ali Snave
This conversation is between my friend Sarah and myself about my handicap tag which was missing on Monday.
“Hey Catty”
“Yes what up?”
“Hey, I think we’ve lost the placard, the handicap placard, not the one for school but the other one.”
“Shit.”
“I’ve looked for it almost the whole time that you have been in class. I’ve tried to call Ali, she didn’t answer and I think she’s at Rob’s “
“Well, guess what we are going to do today? Get me a new one!”
“No, Catty, it’s Monday, they are busy, we can’t go today, sorry.”
“By the way, I haven’t heard anything back from Ali about the tickets.”
“ I love Ali but she is being a annoying person.”
“I know I am frustrated too.”
“Did you see Pat today?”
“Yeah.”
“What did he say about the tickets?”
“He said get them myself tomorrow, don’t wait on Ali.”
Once we arrived home, my mom came out to help us look for the placard. When we figured out that it flew out the window, we called the people to get us a new one.
“Next time, it’s Ali’s turn to sit on hold for two hours because we weren’t the ones to lose it”
“Hey Catty”
“Yes what up?”
“Hey, I think we’ve lost the placard, the handicap placard, not the one for school but the other one.”
“Shit.”
“I’ve looked for it almost the whole time that you have been in class. I’ve tried to call Ali, she didn’t answer and I think she’s at Rob’s “
“Well, guess what we are going to do today? Get me a new one!”
“No, Catty, it’s Monday, they are busy, we can’t go today, sorry.”
“By the way, I haven’t heard anything back from Ali about the tickets.”
“ I love Ali but she is being a annoying person.”
“I know I am frustrated too.”
“Did you see Pat today?”
“Yeah.”
“What did he say about the tickets?”
“He said get them myself tomorrow, don’t wait on Ali.”
Once we arrived home, my mom came out to help us look for the placard. When we figured out that it flew out the window, we called the people to get us a new one.
“Next time, it’s Ali’s turn to sit on hold for two hours because we weren’t the ones to lose it”
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
"Don't Go Green, Go Purple" by Ian To
Are you sick of people telling you to ride a bike or even walk to places you need to go? Sometimes they will even suggest for you to take the train. Well, screw them! Driving is good. You do not need people to tell you what you should do, it is a free country.
Why would you walk or take your bike when you can drive? When you are driving its faster. You can get to places you need quick and on time. If you woke up and rode your bike or walked to work every day, you would have to wake up at least an extra hour early. With cars, they have air conditioner, and heat. So if it is hot outside you can blast the air conditioner and be nice a cool. If it is cold outside you can blast the heat and in some cars, you can turn on the heater seat. Bikes don’t have heaters seats?
Who cares about the pollution? Everyone is doing it anyways. Even if we all stopped driving, there would still be pollution. Animals don’t have feelings. Therefore, I am sure they wouldn’t mind. Besides, we’re all going to die in 2012 anyways. Might as well pollute as much as you can and have fun with it. Go buy yourself a new turbo charged car. This way you can fly through the streets at over 100mph. This creates a little more excitement in your life.
Are you one of those parents that wake up in the morning to take your kid or kids to school? Wouldn’t you like some way for them to just get their by themselves? Since we all have about another year to live, let’s get our kids go-karts for Christmas and legalize them on the streets. That way, we are not just having all the fun. We are thinking of our children’s too. They would be able to drive to school and back without you having to wake up early in the morning or pick them up after school. Now if you kid lives far from school, there is no worries. We will invent gasoline backpacks for a good affordable price. You simply just pour gasoline into a non-leakable backpack and use a long straw to suck the gasoline out and into your gas tank. You might think this is unsafe for your child, but the backpack is sealed and non-leakable. We will also include a bottle of fresh minty mouth wash, so that your kid’s breath wont smell like gasoline.
For the poor animals that do not get to drive, we will spend our tax moneys on giant semi trucks with jet-fueled engines to take animals on a joy ride. With a small fee, you can put your dog, cat, hamster; it does not matter, in the semi truck for a ride of their life. We will also make sure that we build the semi trucks with small holes, so that the dogs can stick their heads out in wind exceeding over 100mph.
There is no reason why we should go green and ride our bike or walk to places we need to go every day. Somehow, this planet is going to explode or we are just all going to die in 2012. So why not have a little more excitement in your life before we all die? The animals and plants are all coming along with us. They wouldn’t mind us polluting the environment anyways because we are taking them on rocket fueled semi truck joy rides.
Why would you walk or take your bike when you can drive? When you are driving its faster. You can get to places you need quick and on time. If you woke up and rode your bike or walked to work every day, you would have to wake up at least an extra hour early. With cars, they have air conditioner, and heat. So if it is hot outside you can blast the air conditioner and be nice a cool. If it is cold outside you can blast the heat and in some cars, you can turn on the heater seat. Bikes don’t have heaters seats?
Who cares about the pollution? Everyone is doing it anyways. Even if we all stopped driving, there would still be pollution. Animals don’t have feelings. Therefore, I am sure they wouldn’t mind. Besides, we’re all going to die in 2012 anyways. Might as well pollute as much as you can and have fun with it. Go buy yourself a new turbo charged car. This way you can fly through the streets at over 100mph. This creates a little more excitement in your life.
Are you one of those parents that wake up in the morning to take your kid or kids to school? Wouldn’t you like some way for them to just get their by themselves? Since we all have about another year to live, let’s get our kids go-karts for Christmas and legalize them on the streets. That way, we are not just having all the fun. We are thinking of our children’s too. They would be able to drive to school and back without you having to wake up early in the morning or pick them up after school. Now if you kid lives far from school, there is no worries. We will invent gasoline backpacks for a good affordable price. You simply just pour gasoline into a non-leakable backpack and use a long straw to suck the gasoline out and into your gas tank. You might think this is unsafe for your child, but the backpack is sealed and non-leakable. We will also include a bottle of fresh minty mouth wash, so that your kid’s breath wont smell like gasoline.
For the poor animals that do not get to drive, we will spend our tax moneys on giant semi trucks with jet-fueled engines to take animals on a joy ride. With a small fee, you can put your dog, cat, hamster; it does not matter, in the semi truck for a ride of their life. We will also make sure that we build the semi trucks with small holes, so that the dogs can stick their heads out in wind exceeding over 100mph.
There is no reason why we should go green and ride our bike or walk to places we need to go every day. Somehow, this planet is going to explode or we are just all going to die in 2012. So why not have a little more excitement in your life before we all die? The animals and plants are all coming along with us. They wouldn’t mind us polluting the environment anyways because we are taking them on rocket fueled semi truck joy rides.
"Teen Pregnancy" by David Media
As a teenager, there are many temptations infiltrating every aspect of your life. Whether it be skipping class, trying alcohol and drugs, or even something as simple as lying to your parents. One of the biggest temptations affecting most teens now days is practicing unprotected sex. There is an astounding amount of peer pressure to have premarital and unprotected sex. In turn resulting in an unplanned pregnancy.
Most of the time when this happens, the teens involved cannot comprehend everything that comes along with the pregnancy. If the parents decides against abortion or adoption, (which, these decisions themselves can cause much emotional and psychological scarring) they are faced with a long and treacherous journey. With this journey are many hardships and discomforts. Without a strong support system, composed of lots of loving and caring family and friends, this journey (to some) may be close to impossible.
Many of mature teen parents can understand this firsthand and the hardships that come along with it. Majority of teen parents might say they would never go back on having there children or there decision to keep them, but also would have waited and handled things a little differently.
As a typical teenager, your life is pretty self-absorbed. Everything is what they make it to be and working towards making your life the most enjoyable and as comfortable as possible. Your main issues are relationships with friends, school, television shows, and what’s for dinner. The biggest decision you have to make through your teen years is probably what to wear to the next school dance or homecoming game. Money problems are probably non-existent, as your parents provide you with all necessities. A normal teen idea of money problems would be having little money to save up to buy a new outfit, or possibly no money to allow them to go on a mini adventure with there friends.
As stated by many, once you become a parent, nothing is ever the same again. The phrase “late night” takes on a whole new meaning. Instead of sneaking in through the back door at a late night showing in the movie theaters, it simply means no sleep, and up all night in a rocking chair. The only time you get up from that position is to change the bio hazardous present the baby has left for you, or maybe to obey the baby’s screams and tears to get another bottle. Your main concern turns into you caring for the little helpless bundle of joy. Forget what you planned on wearing to the football game because all plans you’ve had are now sailing out the window. Who knows if you’ll even be able to comb your tangled bee hive hair the next day. Now your able to smell the entire coffee house and realize that money problems are very real. Instead of saving up for your next head turning outfit your now compared to a vulture trying to scavenge for every single last penny that might be hiding in the couch cushions, praying and hoping that you will have enough diapers, wipes, and formula to last the month.
It is to my belief that being a parent is not a position for a teenager. Even the most knowledgeable adults at their most stable points can have tremendous troubles with parenting. It is such an overwhelming task for anyone to take on. Especially knowing that your now responsible for another precious human beings life.
During the teen years is when a teenager starts to develop and discover who they are and they plan for there future. In a perfect world, teenagers would focus solely on their education. They would be involved in every extracurricular activity and no one would be having unprotected sex. However, we don’t live in a perfect world, and teens will continue to be gravitated to the next gorgeous body they see. Teen pregnancy, as well as sex education needs to have more attention brought to it along with the harsh reality of what may be should they choose to have unprotected sex. Perhaps if more effort were put into the causes of unprotected sex and preventing teen pregnancies, teens would take up responsibility and practice safe sex more diligently.
Most of the time when this happens, the teens involved cannot comprehend everything that comes along with the pregnancy. If the parents decides against abortion or adoption, (which, these decisions themselves can cause much emotional and psychological scarring) they are faced with a long and treacherous journey. With this journey are many hardships and discomforts. Without a strong support system, composed of lots of loving and caring family and friends, this journey (to some) may be close to impossible.
Many of mature teen parents can understand this firsthand and the hardships that come along with it. Majority of teen parents might say they would never go back on having there children or there decision to keep them, but also would have waited and handled things a little differently.
As a typical teenager, your life is pretty self-absorbed. Everything is what they make it to be and working towards making your life the most enjoyable and as comfortable as possible. Your main issues are relationships with friends, school, television shows, and what’s for dinner. The biggest decision you have to make through your teen years is probably what to wear to the next school dance or homecoming game. Money problems are probably non-existent, as your parents provide you with all necessities. A normal teen idea of money problems would be having little money to save up to buy a new outfit, or possibly no money to allow them to go on a mini adventure with there friends.
As stated by many, once you become a parent, nothing is ever the same again. The phrase “late night” takes on a whole new meaning. Instead of sneaking in through the back door at a late night showing in the movie theaters, it simply means no sleep, and up all night in a rocking chair. The only time you get up from that position is to change the bio hazardous present the baby has left for you, or maybe to obey the baby’s screams and tears to get another bottle. Your main concern turns into you caring for the little helpless bundle of joy. Forget what you planned on wearing to the football game because all plans you’ve had are now sailing out the window. Who knows if you’ll even be able to comb your tangled bee hive hair the next day. Now your able to smell the entire coffee house and realize that money problems are very real. Instead of saving up for your next head turning outfit your now compared to a vulture trying to scavenge for every single last penny that might be hiding in the couch cushions, praying and hoping that you will have enough diapers, wipes, and formula to last the month.
It is to my belief that being a parent is not a position for a teenager. Even the most knowledgeable adults at their most stable points can have tremendous troubles with parenting. It is such an overwhelming task for anyone to take on. Especially knowing that your now responsible for another precious human beings life.
During the teen years is when a teenager starts to develop and discover who they are and they plan for there future. In a perfect world, teenagers would focus solely on their education. They would be involved in every extracurricular activity and no one would be having unprotected sex. However, we don’t live in a perfect world, and teens will continue to be gravitated to the next gorgeous body they see. Teen pregnancy, as well as sex education needs to have more attention brought to it along with the harsh reality of what may be should they choose to have unprotected sex. Perhaps if more effort were put into the causes of unprotected sex and preventing teen pregnancies, teens would take up responsibility and practice safe sex more diligently.
Monday, November 15, 2010
"The Last Day" by Eleana Flores
Brenda was a hard working girl, with a child and bills to pay. She was a single mom with a child support payment that couldn’t get her through the month with diapers. Her job wasn’t paying her enough either. It was getting frustrating and overwhelming for her. She was going part-time to school but it was getting harder every day. Her son was at that age where he couldn’t stand still. He wanted to put everything in his mouth and wanted to crawl everywhere. She knew something had to be done.
It was September 18, 2010, Brenda woke up at 6 a.m. At this time her son was waking up to get fed. She had to go to work at 11 and had a million things to do. The first thing was to get her room cleaned up and give her son a bath. Then do laundry and start making her lunch for the long day at work. Today she was doing a 10 hour shift. She hated these days especially on a Saturday. What she wanted to do was to spend time with her son and relax. However, she knew that wasn’t going to happen.
It was 10:35 when she got her things ready to leave. She gave her son a big kiss, told him she’ll see him tonight and said bye to her mom. She got to work and the pressure was already on her. Things had to get done for the Halloween and Christmas season and she had not even started. She was the Jewelry Lead getting paid at 7.28 an hour. She had two other associates working with her but they didn’t do much work. Even though she told them since she was their manager they just ignored her. Sometimes they would help and sometimes they would leave her to do all the work. Today she wanted to get all her freight out. There was so much but her store manager wanted Halloween stuff out. Today wasn’t going to be a good day, she could feel it.
She got started on Halloween freight as soon as she clocked in. Right when she started her morning supervisor asked her to help her do other stuff. She didn’t complain she just walked behind her thinking, why am I here? Once she was done doing what was asked of her she went in and talked to her HR manager about the raise they were suppose to give her 4 months ago when she became the lead. All the HR manager said was that she was still waiting for it to be approved. Brenda couldn’t take any more pressure for only 7.28 an hour.
The following day she was supposed to work from 8 to 4. Brenda called her job around 7 a.m.
“Hi, it’s me Brenda can I talk to whoever is manager right now?” she asked.
“Yeah, hold on,”
When the manager answered and asked what was the reason she was calling in, Brenda told her what was on her mind.
“You know I don’t think I deserve to be getting paid 7.28 an hour for a lead position. The pressure you guys put me through to get stuff done it’s not worth it. I’m sorry but I’m not going in unless you guys give me a raise.”
“Oh well are you quitting.”
“If you guys give me a raise, then no. However if I don’t get a raise yes I am quitting. I have things to pay and diapers to buy, 7.28 an hour is too little. I mean you try doing your job for that much.”
“Well, I’m sorry but I can’t do anything about it. I’ll talk to the HR manager and tell her to give you a call ok.”
“OK then bye.”
That was the last day Brenda talked to her manager and the last day of her job. They never called her back.
It was September 18, 2010, Brenda woke up at 6 a.m. At this time her son was waking up to get fed. She had to go to work at 11 and had a million things to do. The first thing was to get her room cleaned up and give her son a bath. Then do laundry and start making her lunch for the long day at work. Today she was doing a 10 hour shift. She hated these days especially on a Saturday. What she wanted to do was to spend time with her son and relax. However, she knew that wasn’t going to happen.
It was 10:35 when she got her things ready to leave. She gave her son a big kiss, told him she’ll see him tonight and said bye to her mom. She got to work and the pressure was already on her. Things had to get done for the Halloween and Christmas season and she had not even started. She was the Jewelry Lead getting paid at 7.28 an hour. She had two other associates working with her but they didn’t do much work. Even though she told them since she was their manager they just ignored her. Sometimes they would help and sometimes they would leave her to do all the work. Today she wanted to get all her freight out. There was so much but her store manager wanted Halloween stuff out. Today wasn’t going to be a good day, she could feel it.
She got started on Halloween freight as soon as she clocked in. Right when she started her morning supervisor asked her to help her do other stuff. She didn’t complain she just walked behind her thinking, why am I here? Once she was done doing what was asked of her she went in and talked to her HR manager about the raise they were suppose to give her 4 months ago when she became the lead. All the HR manager said was that she was still waiting for it to be approved. Brenda couldn’t take any more pressure for only 7.28 an hour.
The following day she was supposed to work from 8 to 4. Brenda called her job around 7 a.m.
“Hi, it’s me Brenda can I talk to whoever is manager right now?” she asked.
“Yeah, hold on,”
When the manager answered and asked what was the reason she was calling in, Brenda told her what was on her mind.
“You know I don’t think I deserve to be getting paid 7.28 an hour for a lead position. The pressure you guys put me through to get stuff done it’s not worth it. I’m sorry but I’m not going in unless you guys give me a raise.”
“Oh well are you quitting.”
“If you guys give me a raise, then no. However if I don’t get a raise yes I am quitting. I have things to pay and diapers to buy, 7.28 an hour is too little. I mean you try doing your job for that much.”
“Well, I’m sorry but I can’t do anything about it. I’ll talk to the HR manager and tell her to give you a call ok.”
“OK then bye.”
That was the last day Brenda talked to her manager and the last day of her job. They never called her back.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Saturday, November 13
Need extra credit: Here's an event to do a review of a literary event--I'll be MCing...
Friday, November 19
8-10
Bardo's Coffeeshop
238 S. Broadway, Denver
Don't forget to attach all your workshopping to your final persuasive essays next week!
Journal #21: (you need magazine pictures for this one)Go to the list of pictures I've posted, either from July 13th or from September 27th on the blog. Pick one. Now I want you to imagine yourself AS this person. Now ask yourself--what are they the expert on? Then write a prompt assuming their voice and their expertise. OR Write the "article" that goes with the picture.
Journal #22: Introduction to Satire
Think of an argument that you feel strongly about and write from the opposite point of view--and then take it to the extreme--but you have to sound convincing and act as though you really believe it.
Friday, November 19
8-10
Bardo's Coffeeshop
238 S. Broadway, Denver
Don't forget to attach all your workshopping to your final persuasive essays next week!
Journal #21: (you need magazine pictures for this one)Go to the list of pictures I've posted, either from July 13th or from September 27th on the blog. Pick one. Now I want you to imagine yourself AS this person. Now ask yourself--what are they the expert on? Then write a prompt assuming their voice and their expertise. OR Write the "article" that goes with the picture.
Journal #22: Introduction to Satire
Think of an argument that you feel strongly about and write from the opposite point of view--and then take it to the extreme--but you have to sound convincing and act as though you really believe it.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
You guys were cracking me up with your mock arguments in class today--good job!
Don't forget to bring three copies of your persuasive rough draft for Monday.
Journal #23: Introduction to Satire
Think of an argument that you feel strongly about and write from the opposite point of view--and then take it to the extreme--but you have to sound convincing and act as though you really believe it.
Don't forget to bring three copies of your persuasive rough draft for Monday.
Journal #23: Introduction to Satire
Think of an argument that you feel strongly about and write from the opposite point of view--and then take it to the extreme--but you have to sound convincing and act as though you really believe it.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Here's a link to A Modest Proposal for Wednesday.
Journal #22: Audience/Tone
I want you to write three versions of a letter that says basically that you are leaving town. Feel free to make up the reasons around your departure. Write one version to your boss, one version to your child, and one version to your best friend. Spend about 7 minutes on each version, and then go back and notice how the tone of the letter changes with the audience.
Journal #22: Audience/Tone
I want you to write three versions of a letter that says basically that you are leaving town. Feel free to make up the reasons around your departure. Write one version to your boss, one version to your child, and one version to your best friend. Spend about 7 minutes on each version, and then go back and notice how the tone of the letter changes with the audience.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
"A Day At the Colorado State Children's Home" by Ann Unser
I will tell you about one day of being in the Colorado State Children’s Home and what it was like to live there.
Early in the morning, the house parent comes into your room to wake you up. Her name is Miss Bowerfild but we called her Miss B the witch because she was mean to us. She would come out snapping her fingers for us to get up and get dressed for the day to begin.
Her finders were painted a bright red and she would wear very bright red lipstick, as well, she would put on very bad perfume. She also had very bad taste in clothing, and they were awful to look at as they mostly black and gray in color. She was very ugly and fat.
We got up and made our beds, got dressed, and then lined up for breakfast. WE would go down the stairway that led to the front door, and then we would walk to the dining hall to eat breakfast. The food was always burnt and smelled very bad and tasted very bad as will even before you got in to the dining room: burnt eggs, toast, bacon, and cream of wheat. I mostly did not eat their food because it was bad and I did not like it at.
After we were through eating, we would go back to our department and do our work. I had to clean the stairway for at least four weeks; I had to get my pail of water, my scrub brush, and a rag. I had to make sure the metal on the edge go the stairs shined and on dirt was still on them or I would get in to trouble and be put on restriction and lose my little bit of allowance that they gave us each week.
When we were done with our chores, we would go outside and do more work like mowing the lawn then we would rake it up into piles. Sometimes we would play in the cut grass, make a playhouse, and pretend as if it was our very own house that we lived in all the time. I liked the smell of fresh cut grass, that was the only good thing about cutting the grass back then.
Then we would go back and get washed up for lunch, which was not much better then breakfast. We would have burnt hot dogs or hamburgers, French fries, pickles, and some kind of dessert like cake or pudding as they called it sometimes I think they did not know what it was.
After lunch, we would go outside to play if we were not in trouble or being punished for something we did or did not do like maybe running away from that place. This was because we were tired of being hit by that witch Miss B or being put in the hallway bent over with our hands behind our backs for hours and if we moved, she would hit us with her belt.
However, we had to stay right around the department that we lived in. We could only go away from the department if we were riding bikes on the D. The D was part of a driveway that was shaped like a D. Sometimes we asked if we could ride around the block.
We would sometimes have a picnic on the D in the summer time and that was the only time we had fun and good food to eat that was not burnt for a change like hot dogs, hamburgers, pickles, chips, pop and then we would play games like football, basketball, bad mitten and softball.
Next, we had to go inside the department ant wash up for dinner. I wonder what they made now for us to eat that they did not burn. Maybe hoping it was it some kind of meat like chicken with mashed potato, green beans and some kind of cake for dessert.
Now we go back to the department to watch some T.V. shoes for an hour or so like the Mickey Mouse Club, Old Yeller< and My Three Sons. They were our favorite shows.
Then we would have to take a bath before we could go to bed. There were twelve of us girls and we had three tubs so she had six of us at a time take our bath, two to a tub, I hated that but what could I do? I had to do what I was told to do.
Then we had to go to bed and do it all over again tomorrow the same old thing we did the day before.
Early in the morning, the house parent comes into your room to wake you up. Her name is Miss Bowerfild but we called her Miss B the witch because she was mean to us. She would come out snapping her fingers for us to get up and get dressed for the day to begin.
Her finders were painted a bright red and she would wear very bright red lipstick, as well, she would put on very bad perfume. She also had very bad taste in clothing, and they were awful to look at as they mostly black and gray in color. She was very ugly and fat.
We got up and made our beds, got dressed, and then lined up for breakfast. WE would go down the stairway that led to the front door, and then we would walk to the dining hall to eat breakfast. The food was always burnt and smelled very bad and tasted very bad as will even before you got in to the dining room: burnt eggs, toast, bacon, and cream of wheat. I mostly did not eat their food because it was bad and I did not like it at.
After we were through eating, we would go back to our department and do our work. I had to clean the stairway for at least four weeks; I had to get my pail of water, my scrub brush, and a rag. I had to make sure the metal on the edge go the stairs shined and on dirt was still on them or I would get in to trouble and be put on restriction and lose my little bit of allowance that they gave us each week.
When we were done with our chores, we would go outside and do more work like mowing the lawn then we would rake it up into piles. Sometimes we would play in the cut grass, make a playhouse, and pretend as if it was our very own house that we lived in all the time. I liked the smell of fresh cut grass, that was the only good thing about cutting the grass back then.
Then we would go back and get washed up for lunch, which was not much better then breakfast. We would have burnt hot dogs or hamburgers, French fries, pickles, and some kind of dessert like cake or pudding as they called it sometimes I think they did not know what it was.
After lunch, we would go outside to play if we were not in trouble or being punished for something we did or did not do like maybe running away from that place. This was because we were tired of being hit by that witch Miss B or being put in the hallway bent over with our hands behind our backs for hours and if we moved, she would hit us with her belt.
However, we had to stay right around the department that we lived in. We could only go away from the department if we were riding bikes on the D. The D was part of a driveway that was shaped like a D. Sometimes we asked if we could ride around the block.
We would sometimes have a picnic on the D in the summer time and that was the only time we had fun and good food to eat that was not burnt for a change like hot dogs, hamburgers, pickles, chips, pop and then we would play games like football, basketball, bad mitten and softball.
Next, we had to go inside the department ant wash up for dinner. I wonder what they made now for us to eat that they did not burn. Maybe hoping it was it some kind of meat like chicken with mashed potato, green beans and some kind of cake for dessert.
Now we go back to the department to watch some T.V. shoes for an hour or so like the Mickey Mouse Club, Old Yeller< and My Three Sons. They were our favorite shows.
Then we would have to take a bath before we could go to bed. There were twelve of us girls and we had three tubs so she had six of us at a time take our bath, two to a tub, I hated that but what could I do? I had to do what I was told to do.
Then we had to go to bed and do it all over again tomorrow the same old thing we did the day before.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Here's an electronic link to A Modest Proposal for 11/13
Journal #19: A Popular Opinion and Why I Disagree
Think of an opinion held my many people that you disagree with. Write about the opinion and then how and why you disagree with it. Write for 10 minutes.
Journal #20: What Needs to Change and How I Propose to Change It.
Feel free to think big or small, but I want you to brainstorm something that you think needs to change and how you propose to change it. Then take it one step farther and organize your argument into a 5-Paragraph Essay.
Journal #19: A Popular Opinion and Why I Disagree
Think of an opinion held my many people that you disagree with. Write about the opinion and then how and why you disagree with it. Write for 10 minutes.
Journal #20: What Needs to Change and How I Propose to Change It.
Feel free to think big or small, but I want you to brainstorm something that you think needs to change and how you propose to change it. Then take it one step farther and organize your argument into a 5-Paragraph Essay.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Addition to syllabus: Make sure to add "The Subject and the Predicate" in the Sin and Syntax books for 11/8.
Read the instructions for the Persuasive Exercise in the syllabus if you missed class. Due Monday, 11/8
Journal #21: A Popular Opinion and Why I Disagree
Think of an opinion held my many people that you disagree with. Write about the opinion and then how and why you disagree with it. Write for 10 minutes. In class we took this farther and then organized our argument into an outline for a 5-Paragraph Essay.
Read the instructions for the Persuasive Exercise in the syllabus if you missed class. Due Monday, 11/8
Journal #21: A Popular Opinion and Why I Disagree
Think of an opinion held my many people that you disagree with. Write about the opinion and then how and why you disagree with it. Write for 10 minutes. In class we took this farther and then organized our argument into an outline for a 5-Paragraph Essay.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Journal #20: Something I Hate
We're now getting into argumentative essays, so we want to explore where your strong feelings reside. For this prompt I want you to write about something you really hate. It can be something large or something minute. Explore it and why you hate it for 10 minutes. Then Part Two of this journal is to come up with possible solutions to this problem--write for another 5 minutes.
We're now getting into argumentative essays, so we want to explore where your strong feelings reside. For this prompt I want you to write about something you really hate. It can be something large or something minute. Explore it and why you hate it for 10 minutes. Then Part Two of this journal is to come up with possible solutions to this problem--write for another 5 minutes.
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