Table of Contents

Dear Reader Letter Introduction to The Treacherous Waters of Money Creek The Treacherous Waters of Money Creek Introduction to My Bedroom My Bedroom Introduction to New Experiences Everyday New Experiences Everyday Introduction to Empathy For Lyrics Empathy for Lyrics Introduction to All I Want for Christmas All I Want for Christmas

Dear Reader Letter

Dear Reader,

I’ve heard that you grow more as a person in your twenties and after high school then ever, which I have never really understood until now. So far, that has been very true for me. I have grown as in individual, as a writer, as a friend, and as a student, more in this quarter then I ever did in high school. Being in college and in a different social environment, has opened my eyes to many different people and career options. I think that right now is a time for me to explore all my options and directions that my life may take me, and that’s why I enrolled in college. I took a few years off after graduating high school because I didn't feel ready to start all over again. Unfortunately my full time job, working in a grocery store, made me feel like I was stuck in a rut. I didn't feel like that was the career path I was meant to be taking. I have always been very interested in art, and over the past year I had really begun to crave learning new things again. Now almost 21, I feel like I’m taking full advantage of what my life is offering me.

Although growing socially hasn’t all come from my college experience, furthering my education has expanded my views on different people and other career options. I have made friends new friends, who I probably would have never met otherwise, and I also have much more respect for teachers and professors then I ever did before. I think seeing what other options I have, has given me a chance to broaden my goals. However, this quarter has mainly helped me expand my writing skills.

I have never really been great at writing, and actually have never enjoyed writing anything before. I used to always get horrible grades in school for my writing assignments. It may have been because I didn’t use proper grammar, or maybe it was because I didn’t know how to express myself in detail. English 97 has given a whole new light to writing that I never realized before. The biggest thing that I have learned is to show not tell, which is basically describing everything with sensory details to involve the reader as much as possible. I think this is the easiest way to also keep the readers attention instead of boring them. Not only that, but it makes writing enjoyable for me, the writer, as well. I take pleasure in expressing everything with a better vocabulary. I think another reason I was never a good writer is because I used to word my writing in a weird order to make it sound more knowledgeable, which, in fact, did the exact opposite. I did this because I didn’t know proper grammar, for example, correcting run-ons, comma splices, or even as simple as where to place a comma. Learning how to punctuate properly has helped my writing make more sense, and it has also made it much more interesting to read.

The pieces that I have chosen for my E-Portfolio express a lot of description and voice, which are new strengths that I have acquired over this quarter. I chose pieces that show a considerable amount about myself as well. My major writing assignment, as well as my descriptive piece, demonstrates show not telling. I could not decide between two of my blogs to show voice through my writing, so I have included both, and my writers choice is a story about my childhood that shows a bit of entertainment in my writing, which my portfolio would not be complete without.

Thank you for your time, and I hope that you enjoy all that I have learned throughout this quarter.

Introduction to The Treacherous Waters of Money Creek

This Paper was written for our first out of three Major Writing Assignments, or MWA, which in this case was a descriptive piece. Our writing was based on how well we could describe what we were talking about and to show sensory details such as: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. I picked this piece because it was one of my first writings where I had to use this much detail, which I had never really tried doing before. I think that I showed a lot of sensory details. For example, when I said, “The freezing currant felt like tiny sewing pins instead of rushing water,” gives the sense of touch, or the sensory detail of sound when I said, “The soothing sound of the rippling waves encouraged us that it would be easy.” I learned that this was a great skill to have to give the reader a sense of actually being in your shoes.

The Treacherous Waters of Money Creek

Crossing the deceptive waters of Money Creek proved to be a test of will. As Kendra and I gazed longingly towards the sun-blanketed riverbank, we knew we had to navigate through water to feel the warmth. We did not expect that crossing would cause us so much trouble.

We were stranded in a campground covered like an umbrella from the enormous pine trees that swayed gently above us on the opposite side of the sun. We sat patiently, soaking our feet in the shallow water to prepare our bodies for the chill they were about to endure, debating our plan of action. We brought along floating devices to use as mattresses once we reached the other side. With a few more minutes of preparation, we blew up our fluorescent colored floating mattresses until our cheeks ached. The soothing sound of the rippling waves encouraged us that it would be easy.

One step at a time we crept into the river. Our numbing feet would not allow us to move our legs as fast as our minds wanted them to. The calm river began to move our limbs with a slow power. Close to six feet out into the water, we were knee length underneath. The freezing current felt like tiny sewing pins instead of rushing water. We struggled to keep balance because the riverbed varied in size and texture. Our bare feet slipped on the moss-covered pebbles, forcing our toes to slam into basketball sized, jagged rocks. Our breathing turned into short gasps, as if it were a violent struggle for air due to the drop in temperature.

Halfway across and up to our waist, we began to use our floaties as guides. Hovering over them with careful maneuvering, we tried to manage our balance more on our plastic toys than our feet. With every step, the invisible current grew with a heavy weight. Even with our balancing tactic, we had to defy the rocks that taunted us from below. Using our toes, we tested each rock before following through with our next move or else our feet would be forcefully wedged in between them.

Slowly we arose from the cold. Inch by inch the bank grew higher. Successfully making it to the other side, we could feel the sun sucking the frost out of our bones. Bathing in the heat and enjoying our accomplishment, we then realized that it was not over. Because our campsite was located on the side we originated from, we would soon have to torment our bodies with the harsh waters of Money Creek one last time.

Introduction to My Bedroom

This piece was also a descriptive one; however, it was not a major writing assignment, but one of the 18 journals we had written during this quarter. Our journals were a way for us to let our writing flow onto the paper without us having to stop and concentrate on our punctuation. I chose this journal for my descriptive piece because I think it allows the reader to actually visualize my room without even stepping inside of it. The part where I talk about “The entire sanctuary type room is decorated in a safari theme. Enormous paintings and pictures of elephants and giraffes hang on the walls,” especially shows that the room has its own unique style, and that it is also very soothing at the same time. Writing this piece allowed me to practice and demonstrate more of my descriptive writing skills.

My Bedroom

As I open the door, an explosion of vibrant colors catches my eye. The contrasting orange and maroon walls encase your body like a comforting blanket. I immediately feel at ease as I creep further inside. Surrounding me, are random strokes of plaster that texture the walls, and swirls of paint pop out as if they are asking me to touch them.

The lighting is dim and relaxing, and is careful not to blind the eye. Starbucks style lamps hover above the right side of the room; spaced just enough so that three can stretch across the cathedral ceiling. Just underneath sits a distorted, driftwood bed frame, which encases a plum colored, feather pillow-top comforter.

To the right of the bed, stands a ladder leading step by step to a plush loft with low pillow surrounded walls for a comforting couch-like feel. The nook is finished off with safety cable wire strung strategically through several posts.

The entire sanctuary type room is decorated in a safari theme. Enormous paintings and pictures of elephants and giraffes hang on the walls. On the opposing side of the bedroom a six-foot tall ancient plant finishes the look and feeling of the room. Its long glistening leaves engulfed in a deep green hang from its lengthy stumps. As I walk barefoot across the hardwood floor back towards the door, even the creaking wood has a relaxing tone.

Introduction to New Experiences Everyday

This and also my next piece aren’t particularly my best, but I picked them because I thought that they both show a lot of voice. They both come from my blog based around music. This piece shows a lot of voice because it involves an experience I had, and that I wanted to share with everyone. It’s not a formal letter or paper, but one where I involved everyone as a friend, which is how I usually talk to everyone I meet. By writing these blogs I have learned that you can open up and talk about what ever you want giving anyone a chance to hear what you have to say. I tried to involve the reader by adding them into my experience; “If you ever have a chance to yourself while walking, or sitting alone people watching, plug in those headphones and look at the world through music.”

New Experiences Everyday

Before coming to class today, I wasn't sure what I was going to write about, but then I experienced something really eye opening walking to class. I'm sure many of you have done this but I never have; while getting out of my car, my I-pod was still on a good song, so I hooked up the headphones and walked to class. We all know what it's like to listen to music in our cars or on the radio at home, but have you ever walked down the street with music playing in your ears? It really was a cool experience, I think because music isn't naturally suppose to be playing as a background for your life, like in movies, for example. It made me actually involve the people who were around me. I couldn't hear anything but the music, so I had no clue what anyone was saying, and all I could see were their expressions. I was also listening to a kind of slow, mellow song, so everyone felt really content. It was like a sense of peace for about 3 minutes. If you ever have a chance to yourself while walking or sitting alone people watching, plug in those headphones and look at the world through music.

Introduction to Empathy for Lyrics

This piece is also a blog. I couldn’t decide between this and my last piece, New Experiences Everyday, to show my voice because I think they both do that very well. In this blog I wrote about how music relates to mine, and everyone’s, everyday lives. I tried to involve the reader by asking them if they had the same thoughts as me; “Do you ever notice that no matter what kind of emotional state your life is in, the music you listen to always relates to your situation? Furthermore, when you do find that music that relates, you can't help but listen to it over and over again?” I chose this blog because it gave me a chance to think out loud while using writing to connect to everyone else.

Empathy for Lyrics

Here’s a little something to think about; do you ever notice that no matter what kind of emotional state your life is in, the music you listen to always relates to your situation? Furthermore, when you do find that music that relates, you can't help but listen to it over and over again? My friend introduced me to a new artist, Colbie Caillet, and the lyrics in her music have been relating to my everyday life lately. While driving in my car, or just listening to it on the computer, I can't help but just replay her music. Maybe it's because I feel like someone else is going through the same problems or situations that I am, and I find a little comfort in that I guess.

Also do you ever notice that if you hear a song you haven't heard in awhile, you instantly think of a particular time or place in your life? I wonder why we relate certain things back to past memories. I think it’s interesting to look back on how music and lyrics have an impact and relation in my life, and I also wanted to see if anyone else feels the same way as I do.

Introduction to All I Want for Christmas

I chose this piece for my writers choice because I think it shows a bit of the fun side of my writing, and I also wanted to show some of my background in my portfolio. This paper was my second Major Writing Assignment, which was a narrative piece. By writing this paper, I learned how to tell a story and use transitional words and phrases to allow for a narrative arc, which gives the sense of a beginning, climax, and an ending, instead of just explaining something in detail. I used transitions throughout my paper to make it sound more like a time line. For example, In the begining I wrote, "After the sun had set on a frosty December night, my sister Sarah, who was only ten years old at the time, and I were in for the scare of our lifetime." To bring the reader into the climactic part, I expressed, "With confusion and adrenaline pumping through my body, I jumped up and ran towards the bathroom where my dad was showering." To start the descent of my paper, I used closing words such as finally, like shown in this example: "Finally I began to absorb what he was telling me."

All I Want for Christmas

My sixth Christmas was like none other, and the song “All I want for Christmas” took on a whole new meaning that year. After the sun had set on a frosty December night, my sister Sarah, who was only ten years old at the time, and I were in for the scare of our lifetime. My mother had not yet come home from work, and my dad had just left the room to go take a shower. My sister and I were watching T.V. when she thought she saw the back sliding glass door rattle. She even thought that it was opening a little. Since we were not expecting my mom anytime soon, we knew that someone unwanted was trying to make their way into our house. Even though my dad was in the next room, my sister and I felt like we were home alone because we were so young.

Trying to protect me she yelled, “Run, we have to hide!”

Being only six at the time, I was confused at what she had heard or seen. With confusion and adrenaline pumping through my body, I jumped up and ran towards the bathroom where my dad was showering. Not far behind me was my sister tripping over the heels of my feet, and pushing me to go faster. We slammed open the bathroom door alerting my dad with our screams.

“Someone is trying to break in,” my sister exaggeratingly shouted. “I saw the door opening!”

She latched onto my head with her hand and shoved me first behind the washing machine, but I couldn’t fit within the small space. She then grabbed and moved me to hide behind the toilet. My dad immediately jumped out of the shower and covered himself with a towel. Although he was probably embarrassed, neither my sister nor I had noticed that he was still unclothed. We were too worried about the man who may have been breaking into our house.

“What the fu…” my dad yelled confusingly, as he caught his last word.

“Someone tried to come in the back door!” my sister repeated, her breath shaking with terror.

While my dad tried to get dressed, I noticed a dribble coming from my mouth, and a taste on my tongue like I had swallowed a penny. As I swiped my fingers across my lips, I realized my mouth was bleeding uncontrollably. However, I was too caught up in the moment, and my focus was not on where the blood was coming from, but my dad running from the bathroom in a panic. Returning after only a few moments, my dad reassured both of us that no one had broken into the house and after finding a Christmas package, he realized that it was only the UPS man trying to push our package under the overhang so it did not get ruined out in the rain. With the chaos off of the burglar, my dad also noticed I was bleeding. He rushed over to me and opened my mouth.

“You knocked out your teeth!” my dad exclaimed.

Thinking I would reach up and feel my two front teeth still strongly secured in my mouth, I only felt soft slimy gums. When I touched the holes where my teeth used to be, the pain made my lips pucker and my eyes shut tight. Finally I began to absorb what he was telling me, and I felt for myself. He was right, for I had lost both of my two front teeth. While my sister was trying to protect and hide me, her forcefulness had consequently knocked my teeth against the washing machine and the toilet. Sarah searched for my teeth while my dad tried to calm me down. My fear of someone breaking in instantly switched to anger and fear of my teeth being bashed out of my gums. The blood eventually stopped, and we all quieted down. Unfortunately the night had left our family with shaken emotions and me with a gaping hole between my teeth. Needless to say, when we visited the Nordstrom’s Santa Clause the following December afternoon, all I wanted for Christmas was my two front teeth.