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Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Reflection Letter
My name is Eric Koffski and I’m 19 years old. I have a brother who is 26 years old and sister that is 24. My girlfriend and I met in freshmen year of high school and have been dating since. I love sports, from the competitiveness to the exercise you receive. I am currently a student at Everett Community College. My goal for school is to finish with my associates degree in the welding program. This is the end of my first year and I have learned many new things. I’ve learned how to use an AutoCad machine which is a computerized cutting torch that automatically cuts the shape you created on a computer. I am also in the process of getting certified for Stick welding.
What I like about writing is that you can express yourself easily and it is a way to be unique and different from everyone else. No two people will ever write something exactly the same, no matter how alike they are. However I do have trouble with writing topics or picking one for that matter. When given the opportunity to pick my own topic, I have trouble deciding on just one thing and I'll make my essay to vague. However, “What is the best advice given to you?” is easy because I can think of everything I know about that piece of advice down, when I heard it, who said it and where it happened.
Since the beginning of the quarter I have learned to use more descriptive words and use them in complete sentences. I found out I used a lot of fragments, then learned how to correct them using commas, semi colons and combining sentences. For my portfolio I have chosen to use “Time To Focus” for my descriptive piece as I feel that was one of my strong papers using the “show not tell” theory. Also I would like to use two of my journals that show my progression throughout the quarter and strengths and weaknesses in writing.
What I like about writing is that you can express yourself easily and it is a way to be unique and different from everyone else. No two people will ever write something exactly the same, no matter how alike they are. However I do have trouble with writing topics or picking one for that matter. When given the opportunity to pick my own topic, I have trouble deciding on just one thing and I'll make my essay to vague. However, “What is the best advice given to you?” is easy because I can think of everything I know about that piece of advice down, when I heard it, who said it and where it happened.
Since the beginning of the quarter I have learned to use more descriptive words and use them in complete sentences. I found out I used a lot of fragments, then learned how to correct them using commas, semi colons and combining sentences. For my portfolio I have chosen to use “Time To Focus” for my descriptive piece as I feel that was one of my strong papers using the “show not tell” theory. Also I would like to use two of my journals that show my progression throughout the quarter and strengths and weaknesses in writing.
“Final Moments” Introduction
“Final Moments” is an essay I wrote at the beginning of the quarter; it was the second major writing assignment for the class. I chose this piece for my major writing assignment piece. The first draft of my paper has a solid core but it was mediocre and needed many revisions. Once I received revision notes and tips from my teacher and classmates I was able to revise the essay and create one of my stronger assignments. I wouldn’t have chosen this piece to demonstrate my major writing assignment if it didn’t need the attention it received. If you look at the many drafts of the essay, it shows my strength as a writer to take constructive criticism and fix my paper to make it better. Another strength this paper demonstrates is the use of building anticipation to reach a climax. An example of creating anticipation from my paper is, “This is what we spent all those gloomy, fall nights practicing for. This was the last play of the year and I’m sure I was going to make it worth my while. When they broke the huddle my heart was racing faster than ever. You could feel the tension lingering along the line of scrimmage.
Final Moments
From an outside perspective, a football team may look like a group of jocks hitting each other releasing their anger, but in reality they’re a group of motivated athletes acting as brothers trying to prove themselves. In football, the offense scores the points and gets all the fame, but the defense is what wins championships. Through the third quarter, the opposing Spartans had been controlling the game, running the ball consistently, following with tough defense. The score was 21-17.We didn’t have much of an answer for them, but fourth quarter was our time. When they fumbled during the handoff with eight minutes left in the game, we saw our opportunity to mount a comeback. In the upcoming drive, we knew we had to be sharp, making sure each of our assignments was met and then some. The lights were beaming down, the crowd was noisy and anxious, and it’s what Friday nights were all about. We started running sweep plays, running to the sideline stretching the defense, followed by runs up the gut. Being successful, we marched downfield and punched through the end zone with our fullback. After kicking through the extra point making it 24-21, the heat was now on them.
Stopping an offense from scoring when they need it the most is the best feeling. In the final moments of the last game of the year, the opponent needed to score one more time to win. That’s when the real excitement started. They were on the ten yard line, only thirty feet away from the end zone. “Go Bruins” was painted in bold crimson red on the turf, right in their faces. They could smell it, they wanted it bad, but it was easy to say my team wanted it more. It’s first down, four tries to score from point blank. They broke the huddle in the same formation they had been in all night. The ball was going to the massive running back that had been fatigued throughout the game: he was exhausted. The quarterback quickly hiked the ball, turned cautiously, and handed the muddy football to him. What happened next put me in awe. My three-hundred pound teammate lifted him off his feet and buried him into the ground. It was now second down, three more tries for the touchdown. The next two downs were unsuccessful pass plays due to our stingy defensive backs that swatted down every ball thrown in their direction. This is what we’ve spent all those gloomy, fall nights practicing for. This was the last play of the year, and I’m sure I was going to make it worth my while. When they broke the huddle, my heart was racing faster than ever. You could feel the tension lingering along the line of scrimmage. The ball was hiked and pitched outside the tackle. I jolted forward and took on the lead blocker. The next thing I knew a few teammates swarmed him like bees; we stopped them!
Stopping an offense from scoring when they need it the most is the best feeling. In the final moments of the last game of the year, the opponent needed to score one more time to win. That’s when the real excitement started. They were on the ten yard line, only thirty feet away from the end zone. “Go Bruins” was painted in bold crimson red on the turf, right in their faces. They could smell it, they wanted it bad, but it was easy to say my team wanted it more. It’s first down, four tries to score from point blank. They broke the huddle in the same formation they had been in all night. The ball was going to the massive running back that had been fatigued throughout the game: he was exhausted. The quarterback quickly hiked the ball, turned cautiously, and handed the muddy football to him. What happened next put me in awe. My three-hundred pound teammate lifted him off his feet and buried him into the ground. It was now second down, three more tries for the touchdown. The next two downs were unsuccessful pass plays due to our stingy defensive backs that swatted down every ball thrown in their direction. This is what we’ve spent all those gloomy, fall nights practicing for. This was the last play of the year, and I’m sure I was going to make it worth my while. When they broke the huddle, my heart was racing faster than ever. You could feel the tension lingering along the line of scrimmage. The ball was hiked and pitched outside the tackle. I jolted forward and took on the lead blocker. The next thing I knew a few teammates swarmed him like bees; we stopped them!
"Time to Focus" Introduction
I chose "Time to Focus" as my piece for the descriptive writing piece. This was written at the beginning of the quarter and it is one of my favorite pieces I've written. "Time to Focus" is about the football locker room at my high school where all the guys met to get ready for our Friday night games. The reason I chose this is because of the very descriptive detail I used to describe the locker room. I feel I painted a clear image for the reader. I've noticed that one of my greatest strengths as a writer is my use of pinpoint detail and I feel like this essay demonstrates that more than most of my other pieces. One example of my descriptive use to describe the locker room is, "The outdated tile is covered with cleat-patterned grass clumps everyone tracked in. Dirty socks and knee pads wander off from their owners and scatter themselves under the beaten wood benches. The history of the football program is taped to the walls with scores telling the outcome of past games."
Time to Focus
When you enter the locker room you become overwhelmed by the smell of dirty jerseys, and you hear the noise of thirty rowdy athletes; only a football player would appreciate this atmosphere. Each player has their own space filled with their gear, schoolwork, and good luck charms. It’s not like being at home where your mother tells you to clean up after yourself. The outdated tile is covered with cleat-patterned grass clumps everyone tracked in. Dirty socks and knee pads wander off from their owners and scatter themselves under the beaten wood benches. The history of the football program is taped to the walls with scores telling the outcome of past games. When a game is won, it’s an accomplishment to add a piece of history we can call our own. The cruel smell of body odor being covered up by Febreze and Old Spice lingers throughout the crowded space. When everyone starts to gather in the locker room, the beat of rap music pulsates out the doors. Because of the comfort level between players, there is no reservation when we begin to dance and sing. The tone of the locker room becomes more serious as game time approaches. As coaches appear in the locker room, the players become silent, soaking in each motivational speech given. Each player isolates themselves, head down and arms crossed, mentally preparing for the night to begin. Although the wrinkled posters from the eighties are just about to fall, they still bring motivation to the eyes glancing up at them. The locker room may not be up to date, it may smell horrible, and it may be too small, but it serves its purpose.
"Summer Time" Introduction
For my effective writing piece I chose my process essay. My process essay was demonstrating how to prep a swimming pool getting ready for summer time. This essay was written toward the end of the quarter so I had good practice before it. The reason I chose this to demonstrate effective writing is because I used strong detail to describe the condition of the pool and what it takes to restore it. Given that it was a process essay I provided understandable steps and transitions into the process of cleaning the pool. An example of the strong detail used to describe the condition of the pool is, “That means now everyone can see our half filled, green pool with an occasional frog in it. My pool looked like a swamp. Branches, leaves and burnt out fireworks from past parties from next door litter the water.” An example of the transitions used is, “Next, when it’s up to your standards, it’s highly recommended to add chlorine powder to the water, making sure no living thing can survive such as frogs, bugs, mosquitoes.
Summertime
Cannonball! Splashing the sunbathers was the reward for preparing the pool for summer. But before you get your swim trunks and bikinis on there, was work to be done. Believe it or not, the pool doesn’t always stay as crystal clear as it is mid summer. Late august the weather starts cooling down and the desire to lounge around outside starts to fade. Once pool season is officially over, the annual ceremony of pulling the tarp over it takes place. Opening the pool for summer is easier said than done but has its rewards on the hot sunny afternoons.
The very first thing that happens is the comment “Jeez it’s so hot out today, I wish the pool was ready.” Taking the cover off is what gets everything started. That means now everyone can see our half filled, green pool with an occasional frog in it. My pool looked like a swamp. Branches, leaves and burnt out fireworks from past parties from next door litter the water. Using the skimmer which is basically a long pole with net at the end of it does the job yanking up all debris.
After almost all large objects are removed, its time to vacuum the bottom. Yes, there is such a thing as an underwater vacuum. All you have to do is connect its hose to the pump and it filters out all the bad stuff. Two hours later, it’s an improvement but not yet swimmable. If it’s absolutely necessary and you cannot get all the algae off, draining the pool so its accessible to scrub the bottom is one option, but that takes up to two full days. A faster solution is to tough it out and dive down there with some goggles and scrub with soft brush, while the water is barely 60 degrees.
Next, when it’s up to your standards, it’s highly recommended to add chlorine powder to the water, making sure no living thing can survive such as frogs, bugs, mosquitoes. Waiting for the chlorine to dissolve gives time to make the appearance of the pool area more attractive. Use a pressure washer or broom to sweep away the pine needles and sticks from the edge of the pool so they can’t be blown back in from the wind or tracked in off someone’s feet.
Finally, if you’re a seasoned swimmer, it’s possible to get tired of the same old swimming back and forth. After someone broke the diving board last year, it was time to get creative. In a trip to Target you can get the essentials, like a few pairs of goggles and snorkels, basketball hoop and killer whale floatation with a squirt gun coming from its mouth. Setting up the basketball hoop was easy just using the supplied bolts to fasten to the fence going alongside the shallow end.
In a little over a day all the work pays off, you can jump, dive or flip into the pool with relief. At first the assignment felt large and impossible, but if you take it on in parts it’s not too difficult and rewarding in many ways.
The very first thing that happens is the comment “Jeez it’s so hot out today, I wish the pool was ready.” Taking the cover off is what gets everything started. That means now everyone can see our half filled, green pool with an occasional frog in it. My pool looked like a swamp. Branches, leaves and burnt out fireworks from past parties from next door litter the water. Using the skimmer which is basically a long pole with net at the end of it does the job yanking up all debris.
After almost all large objects are removed, its time to vacuum the bottom. Yes, there is such a thing as an underwater vacuum. All you have to do is connect its hose to the pump and it filters out all the bad stuff. Two hours later, it’s an improvement but not yet swimmable. If it’s absolutely necessary and you cannot get all the algae off, draining the pool so its accessible to scrub the bottom is one option, but that takes up to two full days. A faster solution is to tough it out and dive down there with some goggles and scrub with soft brush, while the water is barely 60 degrees.
Next, when it’s up to your standards, it’s highly recommended to add chlorine powder to the water, making sure no living thing can survive such as frogs, bugs, mosquitoes. Waiting for the chlorine to dissolve gives time to make the appearance of the pool area more attractive. Use a pressure washer or broom to sweep away the pine needles and sticks from the edge of the pool so they can’t be blown back in from the wind or tracked in off someone’s feet.
Finally, if you’re a seasoned swimmer, it’s possible to get tired of the same old swimming back and forth. After someone broke the diving board last year, it was time to get creative. In a trip to Target you can get the essentials, like a few pairs of goggles and snorkels, basketball hoop and killer whale floatation with a squirt gun coming from its mouth. Setting up the basketball hoop was easy just using the supplied bolts to fasten to the fence going alongside the shallow end.
In a little over a day all the work pays off, you can jump, dive or flip into the pool with relief. At first the assignment felt large and impossible, but if you take it on in parts it’s not too difficult and rewarding in many ways.
"Nervous" Journal Introduction
For one of my writer’s choice pieces I chose a journal entry titled “Nervous.” It was journal number five, written towards the middle of the quarter. I wrote about a time I was really nervous, it happened to be time I was sitting in the DMV waiting to take my drivers test to get my license. I picked this journal because I described exactly what happened and how nervous I was because I was anxious to get my license. I use very strong detail to describe my experience. One example of the detail I used is, “I felt like she was bracing herself for a crash and she was looking for something negative to write on her clipboard.”
Journal #5 Nervous
One time when I was overly nervous was just before my drive test for my license. While I’m sitting there my knees were trembling in those plastic chairs. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment; I just didn’t want to mess it up. When they finally called my number, I felt butterflies as we were walking out to my car. After we got started my hands were moistening the steering wheel at ten and two. Turning right out of the parking lot I felt like she was bracing herself for a crash clutching the hand rest. While I was backing around the corner it seemed she was just waiting to write something on her clipboard, making me nervous. But after I perfected the parallel parking I knew I pass.
"The Car Was Messy" Journal Introduction
“The Car Was Messy” will be one of my writer’s choice pieces. This was journal entry from the beginning of the quarter. I chose this piece because this is when I learned to use descriptive words creatively and it is something I am proud of. In the journal I had to show the reader how messy the car was, and not just tell the reader. This journal demonstrates my strengths of creating a mental picture for the reader to better understand my writing piece. An example of the strong descriptions I used to describe the car is, “If I could see the carpet I assume it wouldn’t be much different, but all I could see was Wendy’s and Burger King wrappers with old, rock hard french fries.”
Journal #4 The Car Was Messy
Walking up to the car I didn’t realize it was originally a white car. I ran my finger down the paint writing “wash me” turning my finger a nasty brown color. Opening the door was like opening a Port O Poty. Stench was so rancid that I had to breathe through my shirt. I couldn’t see through the windows from the caked on grim. If I could see the carpet I assume it wouldn’t be much different but all I could see was Wendy’s and Burger King Wrappers with rock hard French fries. With mold growing on the dash I decided to get out before I got sick.
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