Portfolio Reflective Letter

When I reflect back upon this writing class, I realize that I have learned many very important concepts that have improved my writing effectiveness a great deal.

It has been a number of years since I last attended a writing class, and much of what was emphasized then is currently of much less significance. In this writing class, much of the emphasis is placed upon content, where as in my previous college writing class there was less emphasis on content and much more emphasis placed upon the structure and organization of the content using the "MLA" format.

As I stated before, this writing class has taught me a great many ways of improving upon my writing. Most notably, I have learned that "considering your reading audience" is crucial to effectively conveying your thoughts and opinions. I realize that if your audience is caught-up trying to understand unfamiliar words or terminology then the opportunity for understanding is lost. My first essay was considered "dense" because I chose to use fancy, but unfamiliar words in my writing which caused the reader confusion. In my successive writings I made every effort to keep the writing as uncomplicated as possible.

Another very important aspect of writing effectively is emphasizing your own "voice" otherwise known as the "you say". I have found in reading other student's writings that when they emphasize their own voice it makes the paper all the more engaging and holds my attention a great deal more than it otherwise would. Having realized the importance of the "I say" in writing I now make every effort to include as much of my own voice as possible. Comparing my first essay to my later essays illustrates how I have learned to personalize my writing. With my first essay my writing was unattached, and while I regurgitated facts, and referenced others opinions, I never placed any emphasis on my own thoughts or opinions. Whereas, in my latter two essays I emphasized the "I say", using my own voice. I have enjoyed writing much more since applying this technique because the writing becomes my own.

In addition to using your own voice, using the opinions of others, otherwise known as the "they say" can further your arguments, thus reinforcing and strengthening your position. With clever use of the "they say" a writer is able to chose quotes, statistics, or other reference material, to support their own opinion. This is a powerful tool to use in writing because the more you have in support of your "idea", whether it be right or wrong, the less inclined the reader is to disagree with you; that is of course if you can effectively argue your position, regardless of the amount of information you have in support of your position.

Writing is a never ending learning process, but using these the three aforementioned concepts I am confident that my writing effectiveness has improved tremendously.

Portfolio essay 2

Based upon what I have read from "Perverted Justice", I am offering my own opinions and views about the injustices within our justice system and I have written my own examples to illustrate my viewpoint.

"Ridiculous!" is what comes to my mind when I think of how I might be serving a "life sentence" in prison if I were held accountable for all the absurdities I have committed! To think that I could have become a victim of our legal system, in all it's ass-backwardness, because my intent was misinterpreted! But that is the very crux of the problem; . So, I pose the question; what becomes more important, intent or interpretation? For myself, intent is more important. For example, if a child reaches up into a glass cookie jar to get a cookie, but as he is taking the cookie, the jar the falls to the floor and breaks. Clearly the child's intent wasn't for the jar to crash to the floor, yet there are those who would punish the child for breaking the glass jar. Punishing the child is unfair justice.


Now, let's suppose that a foreign man, who is accustomed to all beaches being "nude beaches" arrives in the U.S. on a hot summer day and decides he wants to go the beach. When the foreign man arrives at the beach he removes his swim-trunks in front of 9 ladies and 1 man, the 9 ladies giggle at the sight but are not offended, yet the one man takes offense to exposed foreigner and decides to press charges. Presume that the foreign man is found guilty of a "sex offense" due to his exposure, and is forever deemed a "sex offender". But was it the foreign man's intent to offend anyone? I would say "no, it wasn't the foreigners intent to offend anyone." Again, punishing the foreigner is unfair justice.


I am not suggesting that those who commit vile sex offenses, such as rape or child molestation, shouldn't be punished! In fact, I believe those who do such things should get the "shit kicked" out of them! However, we must uphold justice and not lose humaneness in the process of delivering justice. Nor, must we deny those who have committed offenses their basic human rights.


By definition a basic human right, believed to belong to every person as such, must not be denied based on fear or prejudice. Housing should be a basic human right, something that cannot be taken away because of one's gender, race, or religion. In addition, if society begins to deny basic human rights to those who we deem to be "unworthy" then society, as human beings, become less than human ourselves.


The world is gripped by fear rather than love and compassion. Fear begets fear just as easily as love and compassion will; our focus determines our reality. All negative thoughts and actions stem from fear. When everything but one's own words and actions are out of one's control why try to assert control over the uncontrollable? What sense is there in worrying about what might happen when the only thing we can control is what we do ourselves? It is how one chooses to react to the actions of others that defines who we are. If one chooses to react with anger, fear, prejudice or hate then we have lost our true "human" characteristics of people's better qualities, such as kindness or sensitivity.


It has been suggested that sex offenders should be denied housing as a basic human right due to the nature of their crime. It has been suggested that sex offenders must be monitored at all times and it has also been suggested that all sex offenders should be taken to a remote island, or a place far from "civilized" society. However, this is a dangerous line of thinking because it is based on fear.


While I agree that sex offenders have committed a horrendous act upon their victims, to allow hate, anger, fear and prejudice is to lose myself and become something that I do not want to become; less than than human. I choose to believe in justice. A justice that balances punishment and fairness. A justice that one is held accountable for their actions, punished accordingly, but that punishment ends when their "time is served", no matter how egregious the nature of a crime.

Portfolio Essay 3

There is a saying which I now realize is truer than ever, and that saying is; "home is where the heart is". For myself that is precisely how I feel. I have found that I can be living anywhere in the world, and as long as I am with my loved ones, home is anywhere I chose to establish "roots".

My heart belongs to my sweetheart and I know that I as long I am with her, we could be living anywhere in the world together. She fills any place with laughter, life, and love. It is those ingredients that make anyplace I reside "home". Whether we be living out of a car (God forbid!) or a mansion, home is truly where the heart is.

One can try to establish roots wherever they dare to dream. One can venture to any part of the world to try to establish roots, but for those roots to take hold, one must "plant" roots where the ground is fertile. Sometimes, one may find them self forever on the move, forever traveling and never finding a place of permanence.

There is one family in particular that illustrates this point very well and that family is my father, his wife and stepchild. As far back as I can remember my father has forever been on the move from one city to another all over the United States. His reasons for moving have always remained the same, he relocates because he has yet to find a place where he and his family can establish roots. My father will live in a city for a time, usually a couple of years, and then pack-up all their belongings to move to another city, generally in another state. I have always teased my father that he is "on the run" from the "Feds" or some organized crime syndicate (really only partially teasing because if you knew my father then you wouldn't be able to entirely rule out the possibility...).

As I reflect upon my father and his experiences, I realize that I to have been living a similar lifestyle (and no, I am not "on the run" for any reason). Is it coincidence or destiny that my father and I share these similarities of lifestyle? I don't know if it is coincidence or destiny, but over the coarse of the last two years I have lived in 5 different houses, in three different states, even once sharing a home with my father!

For myself, home is not the sum of it's parts; home is not the shelter that keeps the storms at bay, or keeps it's occupants warm and cozy. Rather, home is the sum of those who occupy it, of which gives "home" it's significance, otherwise home is not unlike a skeleton; bereft of any real substance. Looking back upon all the places I ever lived, what I remember isn't so much where we lived, it is rather how we lived.

As a child growing up, my family moved from city to city, state to state. Overall, I didn't feel a sense of displacement because of the stable family unit, of which I belonged to. The family stability allowed me to feel at home no matter where we lived. That is because my heart is with my loved ones and roots can be established anywhere.

Even now, as the week and school quarter draw to a close, I am preparing to make yet another move. This move is being made to establish "roots", and while I have already found a "home" my sweetheart and I will be moving into a house together.

When I dream about the not-too-distant future, I see us establishing roots in many different exotic locations all over the world.

Portfolio: Final Exam

Marie Winn, in her writing: "Television: The Plug-In Drug" suggests that with the onset of the television set, family rituals: "that part of family life that the family likes about itself, is proud of and wants formally to continue" has given way to families centering themselves around the television set.

Suggesting that families center themselves entirely around something as artificial as a television set isn't entirely out of the question, but those families that engage in this type of behavior are certainly the exception, and not the rule. I suggest that our culture has blurred the line between the television set and rituals, in that the rituals and the television set are now intertwined.

In addition, Mary Winn, raises the question; "how has mealtime rituals, going to bed rituals, illness rituals, and holiday rituals survived the inroads of the television set?" For many families, those aforementioned rituals are an integral part of their family culture, and are not diminished by the inroads of the television set, rather they are enhanced.

For myself, growing up with an ever present television set, I can confidently attest to how my family upheld mealtime, going-to-bed, illness, and holiday rituals. To illustrate how my family upheld such rituals, I will offer my experiences, supporting my position that rituals have not succumbed to the television set.

I fondly look back upon the times which my family and I would sit around the dinner table, with the television set was on in the background...

Concerning the bedtime ritual: I remember how the television set was used as a reward or punishment. On school nights, watching late night television was out of the question, however, on the weekends depending on my behavior, I might be able to stay up late watching the television.

When I am ill, laying down watching the television set is a must. There is no better remedy for illness than the television set to take your mind off how badly you feel.

Lastly, I will address the holiday ritual and how the television set is an integral part of such ritual. Well, as it is, there are many-a-football-fan in my family and "the game" must be on the television set.

The possible consequences of the television set and the diminishment of rituals isn't a significant concern. Every family has the right to live out their lives in any fashion they so chose and what rituals are upheld in one family are not necessarily carried on in other families.

"Home Is Where The Heart Is" (Essay #3)

There is a saying which I now realize is truer than ever, and that saying is; "home is where the heart is". For myself that is precisely how I feel. I have found that I can be living anywhere in the world, and as long as I am with my loved ones, home is anywhere I chose to establish "roots".

My heart belongs to my sweetheart and I know that I as long I am with her, we could be living anywhere in the world together. She fills any place with laughter, life, and love. It is those ingredients that make anyplace I reside "home". Whether we be living out of a car (God forbid!) or a mansion, home is truly where the heart is.

One can try to establish roots wherever they dare to dream. One can venture to any part of the world to try to establish roots, but for those roots to take hold, one must "plant" roots where the ground is fertile. Sometimes, one may find them self forever on the move, forever traveling and never finding a place of permanence.

There is one family in particular that illustrates this point very well and that family is my father, his wife and stepchild. As far back as I can remember my father has forever been on the move from one city to another all over the United States. His reasons for moving have always remained the same, he relocates because he has yet to find a place where he and his family can establish roots. My father will live in a city for a time, usually a couple of years, and then pack-up all their belongings to move to another city, generally in another state. I have always teased my father that he is "on the run" from the "Feds" or some organized crime syndicate (really only partially teasing because if you knew my father then you wouldn't be able to entirely rule out the possibility...).

As I reflect upon my father and his experiences, I realize that I to have been living a similar lifestyle (and no, I am not "on the run" for any reason). Is it coincidence or destiny that my father and I share these similarities of lifestyle? I don't know if it is coincidence or destiny, but over the coarse of the last two years I have lived in 5 different houses, in three different states, even once sharing a home with my father!

For myself, home is not the sum of it's parts; home is not the shelter that keeps the storms at bay, or keeps it's occupants warm and cozy. Rather, home is the sum of those who occupy it, of which gives "home" it's significance, otherwise home is not unlike a skeleton; bereft of any real substance. Looking back upon all the places I ever lived, what I remember isn't so much where we lived, it is rather how we lived.

As a child growing up, my family moved from city to city, state to state. Overall, I didn't feel a sense of displacement because of the stable family unit, of which I belonged to. The family stability allowed me to feel at home no matter where we lived. That is because my heart is with my loved ones and roots can be established anywhere.

Even now, as the week and school quarter draw to a close, I am preparing to make yet another move. This move is being made to establish "roots", and while I have already found a "home" my sweetheart and I will be moving into a house together.

When I dream about the not-too-distant future, I see us establishing roots in many different exotic locations all over the world.

Personal Reflection Letter

When I reflect back upon this writing class, I realize that I have learned many very important concepts that have improved my writing effectiveness a great deal.

It has been a number of years since I last attended a writing class, and much of what was emphasized then is currently of much less significance. In this writing class, much of the emphasis is placed upon content, where as in my previous college writing class there was less emphasis on content and much more emphasis placed upon the structure and organization of the content using the "MLA" format.

As I stated before, this writing class has taught me a great many ways of improving upon my writing. Most notably, I have learned that "considering your reading audience" is crucial to effectively conveying your thoughts and opinions. I realize that if your audience is caught-up trying to understand unfamiliar words or terminology then the opportunity for understanding is lost. My first essay was considered "dense" because I chose to use fancy, but unfamiliar words in my writing which caused the reader confusion. In my successive writings I made every effort to keep the writing as uncomplicated as possible.

Another very important aspect of writing effectively is emphasizing your own "voice" otherwise known as the "you say". I have found in reading other student's writings that when they emphasize their own voice it makes the paper all the more engaging and holds my attention a great deal more than it otherwise would. Having realized the importance of the "I say" in writing I now make every effort to include as much of my own voice as possible. Comparing my first essay to my later essays illustrates how I have learned to personalize my writing. With my first essay my writing was unattached, and while I regurgitated facts, and referenced others opinions, I never placed any emphasis on my own thoughts or opinions. Whereas, in my latter two essays I emphasized the "I say", using my own voice. I have enjoyed writing much more since applying this technique because the writing becomes my own.

In addition to using your own voice, using the opinions of others, otherwise known as the "they say" can further your arguments, thus reinforcing and strengthening your position. With clever use of the "they say" a writer is able to chose quotes, statistics, or other reference material, to support their own opinion. This is a powerful tool to use in writing because the more you have in support of your "idea", whether it be right or wrong, the less inclined the reader is to disagree with you; that is of course if you can effectively argue your position, regardless of the amount of information you have in support of your position.

Writing is a never ending learning process, but using these the three aforementioned concepts I am confident that my writing effectiveness has improved tremendously.

"Poverty & Homelessness" (Essay #1)

Urban poverty is a political, as well as a financial issue. Moreover, urban poverty is an issue that cannot be ignored by our government institutions for political reasons, but those same institutions cannot properly remedy urban poverty because of financial constraints. Therefore the conundrum isn't easily surmounted unless influences outside the bureaucracy are not only willing to "speak" for those who have no voice, but, in addition, favor legislation that provides enough funding to overcome urban poverty.

According to Mayor Bergson of St. Louis, homelessness "is the most desperate need in our community." When people in the community are without homes, that's a priority for our community." --Mayor's Summit on Homelessness, 2004. This comment demonstrates the political nature of poverty and homelessness. Any given politician, will say something similar, because it is in their own political best interests to do so. However, in the last four years, nothing has changed, in fact, homelessness and poverty rates have increased.

According to Jay Shaft--Coalition Of Free Thought In Media, St. Louis, MO has had a 34% increase in it's homeless population of which 39% of them are children, and 60% of all new homeless cases are single mothers with children. In 2002 the US Conference of Mayors reported a 19% increase in shelter requests due to homelessness in 25 surveyed cities, including St. Louis. Requests for shelter by families increased by 20%. In spite of their efforts, politicians are facing an ever growing number of homeless and the issue of poverty and homelessness is ever growing more expensive, which is why more isn't being done. There just isn't enough financial resources available to house, clothe, and educate the destitute.

In July 2004, a new statewide program was implemented by County Social Service providers. Called "Universal Participation and Diversity Work Program", the program put greater expectations on individuals receiving benefits to put forth greater effort to become employed. Ironically, an increasing number of people in homeless situations are employed, but do not earn enough money to afford decent, affordable housing--Mayors summit on homelessness, 2004.

Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked; Factors that account for increasing poverty and homelessness are decreasing employment opportunities and declining availability of public assistance.

There are individuals and families who would like to change their circumstances, I know this because I met many such persons, but the challenges they face keep them from attaining what they desire. For many the sense of futility resigns their efforts, and for those, their recourse is to live off government subsidies, such as welfare. 

For many, it is easier to resign to fate; to live poor, forever beholden to circumstance.