Kellsey said:
1. How many injuries are caused by skateboarders? Probably a lot becuase I see so many people get run over everyday
2. How do other people feel about this? I feel annoyed. This happens to me all the time.
3. Is there a fix? To take skateboards away, Im tired of getting run over!
4. Who is at fault? The skateboarders!
5. How many people has this occured to? Everyone!
6. How do you know what you know? (evidence) It has happened to Kellsey herself and a lot of people just in our class. By watching people on campus I also witness this going on.
7. Who are you to the subject? (perspective) A victim
8. How is this event connected to other events? (patterns or opposing forces) This event is connected to bicycle riders and walkers because people get run over by bike riders, too.
9. What if things were different? (suppositions/predictions)If things were different there might be less anxiety on campus. People wouldnt have to watch their backs constatnly.
10. Why is this important? (significance) This is important because it happens on campus daily and is dangerous. This should be looked at to better the situation.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Letter to a Friend (500 words)
Dear Courtney,
Things are so different here at UCF than back home. It is a huge campus and people are always rushing around the place. Just the other day at the student union I almost got run over by this guy on a skateboard. I was very startled by the boy and I didn’t know how to react, I am sure you can imagine my clumsy self trying to dodge a skateboard. First you have to understand what the student union feels like to me. It is swarming with people rushing around and it is almost impossible to walk without hitting someone. This is a given that if you are skateboarding, you are probably going to hit someone. Even though the student union is a huge space, it feels so incredibly small with all of the people around you. Anyway, the poor guy looked so embarrassed. I would have been to if I almost ate concrete in front of everyone! After the incident I started wondering… How many injuries are caused by skateboarders? I would think quite a few because that same day I saw skateboarders run into multiple walkers. I understand the campus is so big and spread out and a skateboard helps to be on time to class but I feel it’s not hard to look out for people who are walking. You might also be thinking… How do other people feel about this situation? My friend Kellsey said she felt annoyed at the situation because she almost got crushed twice in one day. Can you believe that? Just walking around and almost getting run over, not ONCE but TWICE in just one day. During the situation at the student union, I saw the faces of the passersby and noticed people weren’t surprised by the situation. I was wondering how many other people this occurred to so I began asking people in my English class. Multiple people said they have experienced being chased off the sidewalk by skateboarders. In one case, someone had tire marks on their foot. Then I started thinking… When this situation happens, who is at fault? It’s hard to say because the sidewalk is for everyone. Skateboarders should look out for walkers because sometimes they come right from behind you so the walkers can’t see them. Skateboarders could give a warning instead of creeping up for behind you. I feel sometimes they scare you on purpose. I was thinking, is there a fix to this problem? Could there be a division in the sidewalk for walkers and skateboarders? In some places there is a different section of the road for bicycles could there be added room for skateboarders? I think if there was a fix to this problem, this would be the way to fix it. UCF couldn’t ban skateboarding, people have to be able to get around someway and it would be very unfair to say skateboarders couldn’t get around the way they choose. Don’t forget, UCF is a very spread out campus and walking from one end to the other takes a while.
Things are so different here at UCF than back home. It is a huge campus and people are always rushing around the place. Just the other day at the student union I almost got run over by this guy on a skateboard. I was very startled by the boy and I didn’t know how to react, I am sure you can imagine my clumsy self trying to dodge a skateboard. First you have to understand what the student union feels like to me. It is swarming with people rushing around and it is almost impossible to walk without hitting someone. This is a given that if you are skateboarding, you are probably going to hit someone. Even though the student union is a huge space, it feels so incredibly small with all of the people around you. Anyway, the poor guy looked so embarrassed. I would have been to if I almost ate concrete in front of everyone! After the incident I started wondering… How many injuries are caused by skateboarders? I would think quite a few because that same day I saw skateboarders run into multiple walkers. I understand the campus is so big and spread out and a skateboard helps to be on time to class but I feel it’s not hard to look out for people who are walking. You might also be thinking… How do other people feel about this situation? My friend Kellsey said she felt annoyed at the situation because she almost got crushed twice in one day. Can you believe that? Just walking around and almost getting run over, not ONCE but TWICE in just one day. During the situation at the student union, I saw the faces of the passersby and noticed people weren’t surprised by the situation. I was wondering how many other people this occurred to so I began asking people in my English class. Multiple people said they have experienced being chased off the sidewalk by skateboarders. In one case, someone had tire marks on their foot. Then I started thinking… When this situation happens, who is at fault? It’s hard to say because the sidewalk is for everyone. Skateboarders should look out for walkers because sometimes they come right from behind you so the walkers can’t see them. Skateboarders could give a warning instead of creeping up for behind you. I feel sometimes they scare you on purpose. I was thinking, is there a fix to this problem? Could there be a division in the sidewalk for walkers and skateboarders? In some places there is a different section of the road for bicycles could there be added room for skateboarders? I think if there was a fix to this problem, this would be the way to fix it. UCF couldn’t ban skateboarding, people have to be able to get around someway and it would be very unfair to say skateboarders couldn’t get around the way they choose. Don’t forget, UCF is a very spread out campus and walking from one end to the other takes a while.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
250 Words on the problem between skateboarders and walkers.
As I stood in front of the Student Union, waiting to meet my best friends Megan and Jenna, I noticed the Student Union was bustling with people. I then noticed a guy on a skateboard coming straight towards me. I didn’t know if I should move or stand still. If I moved, he might move the same way and we would either do that awkward shuffle where both people keep going the same way or he could run into me. If I stayed still he might move and NOT hit me or he would run into me. I choose to take a step back hoping he would keep going straight. He must have gotten spooked when he saw me because he ended up jumping off of his skateboard and almost face planting into the concrete. I felt bad because he looked like he was embarrassed but, what was I supposed to do? I only noticed him when he was so close to me that I really didn’t know how to react. I don’t really understand why he was skateboarding around the student union because it was crammed with people. I never could imagine UCF seeming so small but when it’s packed with people buzzing around like bees swarming a bee hive, it looks and feels so tightly packed, to me at least. Everyone being in such a rush reminds me of a summer day in high school when everyone was walking to their car, it started pouring and everyone started running trying to stay dry. Back to the Student Union situation, I noticed a person around me acting nervous, as if they would be the next one who would be hit with a skateboard. The skateboarders friends was laughing at him for the fall he had taken. Some people looked like they felt bad for the kid. The skateboarder gave me a bad look but I feel that it wasn’t really my fault. Maybe it was no one’s fault. We can’t read minds and we didn’t know how to react to the situation.
This experience was significant for me because I learned to watch out for skateboarders ahead of time. I hope this experience was significant for the skateboarder and I hope he doesn’t skateboard in crowded places again.
This experience was significant for me because I learned to watch out for skateboarders ahead of time. I hope this experience was significant for the skateboarder and I hope he doesn’t skateboard in crowded places again.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Commentary Assignment
Brainstorming Ideas:
1. Roomate's --
I asked the UCF housing department if I could request a new roommate because one of mine was moving out. They said my roommate didnt cancel yet so no. I then asked them if they could look out for Loren, the girl I wanted to move in they said when your roommate cancels call us. So when my roommate cancelled, I called them. Unfortunately, it was past the date to get ANY new roommates. One day, I looked at my room schedule and sure enough I had new roommate's even though they told me there would be no changes.
2. Tower's Parking --
The parking permits to park in the tower's where I live costs $500. So, I purchased a green pass instead. Parking at UCF wouldnt be so bad if they made parking accessible for people who pay so much to live in dorms already.
3. Parking Tolls--
Students shouldnt have to pay coins to park on campus.
1. Roomate's --
I asked the UCF housing department if I could request a new roommate because one of mine was moving out. They said my roommate didnt cancel yet so no. I then asked them if they could look out for Loren, the girl I wanted to move in they said when your roommate cancels call us. So when my roommate cancelled, I called them. Unfortunately, it was past the date to get ANY new roommates. One day, I looked at my room schedule and sure enough I had new roommate's even though they told me there would be no changes.
2. Tower's Parking --
The parking permits to park in the tower's where I live costs $500. So, I purchased a green pass instead. Parking at UCF wouldnt be so bad if they made parking accessible for people who pay so much to live in dorms already.
3. Parking Tolls--
Students shouldnt have to pay coins to park on campus.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Soul Stealing Statue (FINAL Memoir)
It was a normal sunny day, my sister Christina, my neighbor Kelsey and I had been roaming the neighborhood backyards in search of adventure when we all suddenly came to a stop when we saw the most beautiful statue. The statue looked like a goddess, standing tall and white as snow. My sister, who always seemed to have a strong personality, like no one could ever hurt her or scare her, said “WOW!” almost as if she was scared. Simultaneously, Kelsey and I said “What is that?” when we saw the gigantic but gentle woman created in the statue. The statue looked so powerful and almost out of place in the small backyard of our not so fancy neighborhood; a statue like this looked like it should have been in front of a mansion or the white house! The statue was facing a window on the left side of a small brown house, surrounded by huge palm tress and green grass. The statue must have been five feet tall, over powering my little body with all of her goddess like features. She was dressed in what looked like drapes and her hair was up in braids. Christina looked at Kelsey and me and said “If we stay here any longer the statue will steal our souls.” Kelsey and Christina were always playing tricks on me so I wasn’t going to fall for their trick this time. The two of them ran home (leaving me behind, like usual) through all of the big palm tress and wood fences, I ran as fast I could trying to catch up to the older girls who always called me a “third wheel”. I finally see what they meant because I was always yelling “Wait up, guys!” The rest of the day was spent by the lake feeding the new born yellow ducklings and riding bikes through the park next to the lake. The day ended with my sister and me lying in bed laughing at how scared we all looked running home after seeing the statue. I was just happy we wouldn’t be going back there again, or so that’s what I thought as I laid my head on my pillow that night.
The next day, Kelsey, whose face was pale but always had light brown freckles, showed up at our mediocre house and greeted us with a black mole right by her lip (which was unusual because Kelsey didn’t have black moles), looking back now, it reminds me of Marilyn Monroe’s mole right by her lip. “What happened to your face?” My sister and I asked, “The statue was at my window last night and gave me this mole!” Kelsey said, sounding very scared. “Let’s go back to the statue and see if it’s still there.” My sister said sounding so brave like she normally did. I did NOT want to go back; I was still hesitant about the statue and was tired of my sister and Kelsey trying to scare me. Kelsey was all for going back as she explained when she said “Yeah! I want to show that statue not to mess with me!” “Wait! We should NOT go back!” I said “YES! We should! Stop being such a baby, Katie!” Christina said. They were always pushing me around. I didn’t even get a chance to reply because against my will, they dragged me to the statue and kept saying “Come on Katie, don’t be afraid! You’ll only get a mole or your soul stolen!” After what seemed like 10 seconds, we were finally approaching the white statue in the small backyard. My thoughts about how afraid I was were interrupted by Kelsey when she said, “Look she moved! Before, she was facing the left side a little more.” Of course, I believed her (even though the statue had not moved at all) because I was so afraid already. The next thing I remember was that I was running home as fast as I could so I could tell my dad what had happened. Kelsey and Christina chased me yelling “Come back!” and “Where are you going?” They knew I was going to cry to my dad and they did not want to get in trouble for their mean antics. As soon as my dad heard the trick Kelsey and Christina played on me, he made them fess up to their trick. As it turns out, Kelsey had put eyeliner on her face in the shape of a mole to scare me; of course my sister went along with it. Their plan to scare me worked, like it always did. Looking back, I do not know how I could have believed them, statues are not possessed by evil spirits and statues do not give little girls moles. I was just a little sister wanting to play with the older girls and would do anything to fit in with them. However, things are a lot different now that it’s 13 years later.
Ever since then, I always know when I am being tricked by my sister and Kelsey and I never let them forget how they tortured a little five year old. My sister and I no longer bicker and fight; instead we are best friends, we don’t tell on each other anymore or try to scare each other. Instead, we look out for each other and now that we are older, can have a lot of fun together. Kelsey unfortunately, moved but we still keep on touch with her. I will never forget those days spent with my older sister and my best friend, Kelsey.
The next day, Kelsey, whose face was pale but always had light brown freckles, showed up at our mediocre house and greeted us with a black mole right by her lip (which was unusual because Kelsey didn’t have black moles), looking back now, it reminds me of Marilyn Monroe’s mole right by her lip. “What happened to your face?” My sister and I asked, “The statue was at my window last night and gave me this mole!” Kelsey said, sounding very scared. “Let’s go back to the statue and see if it’s still there.” My sister said sounding so brave like she normally did. I did NOT want to go back; I was still hesitant about the statue and was tired of my sister and Kelsey trying to scare me. Kelsey was all for going back as she explained when she said “Yeah! I want to show that statue not to mess with me!” “Wait! We should NOT go back!” I said “YES! We should! Stop being such a baby, Katie!” Christina said. They were always pushing me around. I didn’t even get a chance to reply because against my will, they dragged me to the statue and kept saying “Come on Katie, don’t be afraid! You’ll only get a mole or your soul stolen!” After what seemed like 10 seconds, we were finally approaching the white statue in the small backyard. My thoughts about how afraid I was were interrupted by Kelsey when she said, “Look she moved! Before, she was facing the left side a little more.” Of course, I believed her (even though the statue had not moved at all) because I was so afraid already. The next thing I remember was that I was running home as fast as I could so I could tell my dad what had happened. Kelsey and Christina chased me yelling “Come back!” and “Where are you going?” They knew I was going to cry to my dad and they did not want to get in trouble for their mean antics. As soon as my dad heard the trick Kelsey and Christina played on me, he made them fess up to their trick. As it turns out, Kelsey had put eyeliner on her face in the shape of a mole to scare me; of course my sister went along with it. Their plan to scare me worked, like it always did. Looking back, I do not know how I could have believed them, statues are not possessed by evil spirits and statues do not give little girls moles. I was just a little sister wanting to play with the older girls and would do anything to fit in with them. However, things are a lot different now that it’s 13 years later.
Ever since then, I always know when I am being tricked by my sister and Kelsey and I never let them forget how they tortured a little five year old. My sister and I no longer bicker and fight; instead we are best friends, we don’t tell on each other anymore or try to scare each other. Instead, we look out for each other and now that we are older, can have a lot of fun together. Kelsey unfortunately, moved but we still keep on touch with her. I will never forget those days spent with my older sister and my best friend, Kelsey.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
MEMO
To: Ms. Moody
From: Katherine Dee
Date: September 15, 2009
RE: After getting the feedback from my peers, I will make revisions to my final draft. I will do this by personifying the statue in all cases and not switch between “her” and “the statue”. I will also add detail to the beginning of the introduction. The detail I will add will consist of an explanation of why I was looking at the statue and how I got there. I greatly appreciate the feedback because I now know I should add more detail and complete a thesis.
After the revision, I will add the suggestions to my draft and start revising my final memoir draft. To my final draft, I will add extra details to fully describe my experience so that my audience feels like they were there with me. My memoir will be clear and the audience will have no questions at the end of my story.
All in all, I will have extremely vivid images of my experience with the soul stealing statue and I will personify the statue to incorporate my audience in my story. I am hoping my story will make the audience laugh and feel connected to me through my experience.
From: Katherine Dee
Date: September 15, 2009
RE: After getting the feedback from my peers, I will make revisions to my final draft. I will do this by personifying the statue in all cases and not switch between “her” and “the statue”. I will also add detail to the beginning of the introduction. The detail I will add will consist of an explanation of why I was looking at the statue and how I got there. I greatly appreciate the feedback because I now know I should add more detail and complete a thesis.
After the revision, I will add the suggestions to my draft and start revising my final memoir draft. To my final draft, I will add extra details to fully describe my experience so that my audience feels like they were there with me. My memoir will be clear and the audience will have no questions at the end of my story.
All in all, I will have extremely vivid images of my experience with the soul stealing statue and I will personify the statue to incorporate my audience in my story. I am hoping my story will make the audience laugh and feel connected to me through my experience.
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