Descriptive Essay January 18, 2008

“Like The Lazy Ocean Hugs the Shore”: A Special Bond Between Two Things in Nature

 

    As I walk along a sandy path, the rush of salt water caresses my feet with its warmth, and my foot prints are erased. The waves are now changing from violent and tall, crashing down like planes in 2001, to soft, tranquil, fields of grain. Who knew that underneath such a majestic scene lies a world much like our own, filled with happiness and turmoil.

I only see the surface, beautiful and smiling. The sound of gossiping birds fills my ears and I begin to smile. The sky is filled with warm colors, red, yellow, orange, pink, and in the distance I see blue emerging from the horizon. The smell of the air is salty, much like the taste from the ocean spray. As I turn around to glance to see how far I’ve come, I see no foot prints behind me. I feel as if I flew or magically appeared. No trace of my existence exists.

In time you realize that life goes on. It is embodied in us that we are part of a never ending circle of life. People change, people pass away, and life goes on. As I walked along this bare beach I saw in front of me scenes from my past: things I regretted, things I longed for to change, and things that needed to be remembered. It reminded me of the famous poem by Mary Stevenson titled Footprints in the Sand. The poem is about a man having a dream one night and his life flashing before him. He is shown two paths: one in which his.

As I walk further, the sky is a deeper, rich blue, and the ocean is quite. I turn around once more, and all the steps that I have taken are gone. It never truly mattered where I walked, what I saw, or what I did to get me to this point. The only thing that mattered was how far I had come and how far I was going. The soft white curls, the water glistening under the moon and the sound of my foot steps in the sand brings me back to a wonderful almost magical feeling.

 

Euphemism January 17, 2008

Oh’ idk my bff Jill? That commercial was the talk of the month. “Idk” is used on i.m, myspace, sneding e mail, etc. “Idk” is just a shorter, more convient way to say “I don’t know”. “Idk” makes typing faster, while still getting your point across. It is more informal, everyday use of diction; however, “I don’t know” is used in a more formal setting.

Research Paper! January 17, 2008

An Inside look into Autism

1 out of every 166 children is diagnosed with autism; however, over 560,000 Americans under the age of 21 struggle with this disorder. Autism is a complex disorder of the central nervous system that has the following three defining core features: Problems with social interactions, impaired verbal and non verbal communication, and a repetition with narrow, restricted interests. Autism is a behaviorally defined neurodevelopment disorder that begins in early childhood. Although that diagnosis of autism is not concluded until a child reaches preschool or school age, the signs and symptoms of autism may be apparent by the time the child is 12-18 months. Behavioral characteristics of autism are almost always evident by the time the child is 3 years old. Language delay in a child 5 years or younger is typically the presenting problem for a more severe case of autism. Autism persists through a person’s lifetime, although many people learn to control and modify their behavior to some extent. Through the data I have gathered on autism causes, symptoms, treatment and help information, I can now better interact and understand my family members who suffer from autism.
     1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism, and this number is on the rise. Statistically speaking 10-17% of the world’s

(FIG. 1)

population per year is diagnosed with autism. Males are 3-4 times more likely than females to have autism. It occurs in all races, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic levels. Autism occurs in all intelligence levels. 75% of autistic children have an intelligence quotient (IQ) below average, the other 25% have an average or above average IQ.  It is estimated that 4 million children are born in the United States every year: approximately 24, 00 of these children will eventually be diagnosed with autism. Since the 1990’s Autism has increased 173%, which is more than the population increase (13%) (Autism Statistics). Fig.1 shows the drastic increase of Autism in children ages 3-22, (between the years of 2000 to 2003). Autism is on the rise and is expected to increase dramatically over the next years. Doctors and experts are working patiently to find a cure for this disorder. The only information doctors are sure about are the symptoms.
     There is not one specific cause of autism. Research has focused on whether chemical imbalances, genetics, or problems with the immune system play a role in causing this disorder. Recent studies strongly suggest that some people have a genetic predisposition to autism. Scientists estimate that, in families with one autistic child, the risk of having a second child with the disorder is approximately five percent-one in twenty- which is greater than the risk for the general population. Although doctors think autism is caused by genetics other medical factors play a role in the diagnosis. Food allergies, excessive amounts of yeast in the digestive tract, and exposure to environmental toxins have all been investigated causes of autism. But there is no scientific evidence to support this. Some people believe that thimerisol (a vaccine ingredient) and vaccines—particularly the shot for measles—mumps—rubella (MMR)—could possibly be linked to autism. Environmental agents, teratogens, cause birth defects; doctors think that this is one of the many causes of Autism.
     The majority of autistic children suffer the same symptoms. Symptoms are usually seen within the first two years of life. Many autistic children develop seizures and can be resistant to treatment. Although some may express each one in a different way, they still have abnormal functioning in three core areas of development: social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication and interests. Social interaction is a major symptom which can rule their life.
     Social interaction tops all the other categories. The poor use of body language and non-verbal communication such as eye-contact and gestures can affect the child’s appearance and personality that others view. Preferring to be alone is a mild symptom and cannot be changed or altered. My cousin Wesley is 9 years old and was diagnosed with Autism when he was almost one year old. He demonstrates these symptoms in a different way, constantly grabbing hands and wanting to be held. He represents the more positive side of autism when it comes to social interactions. Wesley is consistently playing with objects and wanting family members to join him. Non-verbal communication is also a major part when dealing with social interaction.
     Verbal or non-verbal communication is a major problem when diagnosed with autism. They are unable to develop speech, express needs and wants, initiate conversation and develop imaginary play. When autism is diagnosed the doctor prescribes a therapy center for that child’s specific needs. Speech can be taught and obtained during the learning process. However, when a child reaches a certain age it is more difficult to develop speaking abilities. If a child cannot speak he or she will simply make a type of noise similar to a grunt and point at an object that interests him or her.
     The lack of interest in people and activities contributes a great deal when deciding if that child should attend a public school or be home schooled. Wesley is attending a public school that has an excellent program for autistic children. He is very social and interacts with everyone. His interests vary from music to light up toys and he shares these interests with his classmates. Many autistic children are usually home schooled and have a therapist who visits them.
     Autism cannot be treated with medicine; however, medicine can treat depression or obsessive-compulsive behaviors. With early treatment, many children with autism can learn to do the following things: relate better with others and communicate more efficiently. Depending on the child, treatment may also include such things as speech therapy or physical therapy. Because people with autism are so different, something that helps one person my not help another. Autism can be treated with therapy, special behavioral training, and parental involvement. My cousin Wesley is involved in the following therapies: Physical, speech, and occupational therapy. Occupational therapy helps improve everyday tasks in their daily life: eating, using utensils and getting dressed and undressed. Wesley was also involved in Hippo therapy, better known as Horse therapy. Hippo therapy is when an Autistic child works and learns about horses through, ridding lessons, trust establishment and learning how to love and care for a large animal.
     There are many different therapy treatments from speech all the way to Horse therapy. A popular therapy treatment is speech therapy. Speech therapy is recognized as a tradition to approaching the mastery of formal properties of language. The child needs to learn not so much how to speak, as how to use language socially to communicate. That includes knowing how to hold and initiate conversation, thinking about what the other person in a conversation understands and believes, and turning into the meta-linguistic signals of the other person, such as facial expression, tone of voice, and body language. A key point to remember is that communication is as much as non-verbal as it is verbal.
     Occupational therapy is a basic treatment which helps with daily motor skills needed to perform daily tasks. It commonly focuses on improving motor skills, or sensory motor skills which include the following: balance, awareness of body position, and touch. After the therapist identifies a specific problem, therapy may include sensory integration activities such as massage, firm touch, swinging, and bouncing.
     Music therapy is also treatment. While learning different sounds the autistic child can interact with new noises. This treatment includes the following: singing, movement to music, and playing instruments. Music therapy is supposed to be a good medium for kids with development disabilities. In other words it requires non verbal interaction, music is by nature, and can aid in socialization and influence behavior.
     Many people may think that a child with autism will not live a relatively long life. Damage is done to the nervous system and the child can not live alone and are not able to do the “norm”. They are wrong. A child with Autism is a regular kid with a few side-effects. Although most can not live on their own, they still live a relatively long life. Some may even out live a completely healthy person.
     Throughout the United States there are over thousands of help centers, in which help relieve stress brought on by autism. Treatment for this spectrum disorder is in the thousands each year. Therapy is a big expense and these centers help down size the costs and provide different coping skills. Many centers offer grants and financial aid.
     Overall, Autism is a spectrum disorder that has not acquired a cure yet. Treatment including therapy and behavioral training can minimize pain inflect and tantrums. Symptoms are usually seen within the first couple years of life and can vary from lack of speech to unavailable eye-contact. Some symptoms are misinterpreted and are often over looked as behavioral problems. Many reporters interview families dealing with autism and headline their reports as “Autism: The Hidden Epidemic?” Autism is appearing as an epidemic, occurring in 1 out of every 166^th person born in America. It is growing and there is no cure, only treatment, which can help families cope and teach the child certain skills. Concluding my research, through the information I have learned I now know what the causes could be, the symptoms, and excellent treatment and therapy to help cope and deal with autism in and outside the family.

Revision Analysis! January 17, 2008

The problems that were present in my fist essay were: uninteresting title, two paragraphs, my thesis was in the wrong place, and the sentence structure was all the same. In my new essay I made a title re-wrote my intorduction paragraph, placing my thesis in the correct place and varried my sentences by removing vague ones and deadwood. Through correcting my problems i learned where to place my thesis  in the intorduction paragraph. My goals for future in class essays are, to take my time and make a quick outline so i have more paragraphs.

Hemingway’s Biography Before..Yikes! January 17, 2008

This is my before Hemingway essay. In class essasys are my worst nightmare. I don’t like to be rushed and I like to take me time. This essay is inneed of some HEAVY REVISING!

Hemingway’s Biography After January 17, 2008

Earnest Hemingway’s Life: An inside look into the events leading towards 
 A Farewell to Arms.

     Hemingway was born in 1899 and passed away in 1961, following life changing events. Gorwing up in the 20th century, Hemingway had four wives, three siblings, and lost his father to suicide. The biographical information in the video gives an insight into Earnest Hemingway’s life and creates a better understandment of his novel A Farewell to Arms.
     Growing up, Hemingway enjoyed all aspects of nature: fishing, swimming, and hiking. Hemingway incorrporates his love for nature and the water, creating a symbol thriven, throughout his novel. Meaning that Hemingway wanted to include something beautiful into a seen of havoc. Hemingway uses many symbols, pertaining to his past and childhood.
     Events that take place in Hemingways novel are actualy events that took place while he was growing up. In 1917 Hemingway was in Iatly during the war driving an ambulance. In 1918 after becoming wounded Hemingway recieved two medals from the Hallam general and met thelove of his life. Hemingway altered this event by changing the names.
     Hemingway’s writing style is clear and percise in the development of his characters. After watching the biographical movie on Hemingway’s life, I now have a better understanding of why nature is used throughout the novel and how it is significant. A Farewell to Arms is based on wa and romance, which is climaxed when he is wounded in the war, and falls in love with Catherine.

Analytical Essay January 15, 2008

“I’ve Seen Fire and I’ve Seen Rain”: Weather Foreshadowing Destruction

     “I can see clearly now the rain is gone” is a trendy line people sing after some sort of turmoil has passed. This quote brings a more meaningful understanding of Hemingway’s use of rain in his novel A Farewell to Arms. In this novel Hemingway portrays rain as death, existence, pain and victory. Through Hemingway’s use of weather and seasons, he foreshadows tragic and triumphant events which emphasize the theme in the novel. A Farewell to Arms sets its scene in 1929 during World War I.

     In A Farewell to Arms the author uses summer combined with rain and irony to foreshadow attacks and inevitable death. “The leaves fell early that year and we saw that troops marching along the road and the dust rising and leaves, stirred by the breeze, falling and the soldiers marching afterward the road bare with white except for the leaves”(3) This quote is explaining the cycle of life. The dust that covered the leaves was from the soldiers past, who suffered impending death and purity.

     “At the start of the winter came the permanent rain and with the rain came the cholera”(4) This quote is using rain as a metaphor for death. Rain is never permanent, but death is in fact irreversible. Cholera is a diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and can cause death. Rain is recognized with the thought of death, “There would be many sick now the rains had started”. The quote is symbolizing what is already known, death and pain along with future attacks. Dose death always follow rain?

     Toward the end of the novel Lt. Henry and the love of his live Catherine, cross many borders and make residence in Switzerland where they find lovely rain. Italy is home t painful, horrid rain; however, in Switzerland the rain is happy and cheerful, creating a home of bliss. “Isn’t this rain fine? They never had rain like this in Italy. It’s cheerful rain.”(278). This quote explains the difference in conditions between Italy and Switzerland. Italy is faced with the war and the rain is death, never ending. Switzerland is calm and quite and the rain is triumphant because there is no war and no havoc.

     Snow on the other hand is a gift, with snow there is no war. “The snow didn’t come until three days before Christmas(296) This quote is explaining how the war didn’t end until three days prior to Christmas. The snow acted as a giant stop sign putting the war at a halt. Unlike the rain the snow was cold and harsh, creating terrible fighting conditions; therefore, both platoons retreated. Along with snow, cold itself is also wonderful. Lt. Henry said “..the day was very clean and cold and I could not tell it”(13). War is not present in the cold and therefore Lt. Henry said it was a very clean and cold day. Lt. Henry was “looking out the snow falling slowly and heavily, “he knew “it was all over for that year”(6). This quote is emphasizing that war was absent for that moment which lasted until the summer come.

     Through Hemingway’s use of weather and seasons along with the help of irony foreshadows death defying events along with triumphant ones. The author uses rain to symbolize attacks in which coincide with death. Rain normally brings happiness in society today whether it’s bringing water to a drought or just needed rain. Hemingway’s symbol is emphasized through the selective quotes and is portrayed as something evil.

Copy Change January 14, 2008

 

This is my story from Raleigh NC

My mother said,

Go to Raleigh

But don’t party.

An let the navigator be you–

The trip will be new.

I wonder if it’s that simple?

I am sixteen, young, born in Jax, Florida

I went to concerts there, then Miami, then here

to this pavilion on a hill in Walnut Creek.

I am the only one in the car with Kristen.

The parking lot is far from the stage

We walk in the rain, then up the steps,

And we come to our row,

The row in section 5, where we sit

In seats one and two, and we rock out.

It’s not easy to see from our view,

We see girls on the screen,

Grotesque view. Nickelback I hear you:

Hear you hear, hear me–we two–you, sing.

(I hear Kristen too.) Me–you?

Well, I like to sing, dance, and get crazy.

I like to drive, sing loud, and blast out.

I’d like backstage passes right now.

Or the members–Chad, the drummer, or the lead guitarist.

I guess being young has it’s cons and it’s pros.

So am I the only young one?

Am I an equal to the other adults here?

But I will be,

Soon. Two more years.

You are young, that’s

What you’ve sung.

This song is part of me,

And you.

A part of you Kristen.

You are young,

Yet older than me, as I am

Younger than you.

That’s the generation.

Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be

Apart of it.

But we are, that’s true!

As I learn from you,

I guess you learn from me–

Although your somewhat more free.

This is my story from Raleigh NC.

Stream of Conciseness January 14, 2008

 Alright well this is my stream of conciseness..i’m not sure i did this right; however this is what was running through my mind.

Stream of Conciseness

 

Kenny Chesney is amazing..

Why did I end things with him?

English Exam..yikes..

Mary, Rachel, Noelle and lies.

Friendship is overrated

The piano is very loud

Love. Is it real?

Writing Portfolio uggh!

Modeling showcase

Acting practice

MONOLOUGE..need to find one.

Food is my best friend..

I need to workout..

Sweet tea!!

Journal 4 January 14, 2008

People cheering

Dancing and singing,

Out in the distance

A black car with flags,

A man steps out,

Waving with a smile

Flags are flying with joy.