University of California, Santa Barbara
Writing Portfolio
Minor in Professional Writing
Eli Pearlman
2012
Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
Table of Contents
1.0 Prefatory Material ........................................................................................................……..3
1.1 Personal Information and Academic Preparation ..................................................................... 4
1.2 Writing History ..........................................................................................................................5
1.3 Statement of Goals for Pursuing the Minor in Professional Writing…………………….................6
1.4 Track Choices and Explanation…………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
2.0 Resume´………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
3.0 Writing Samples…………………………………………………………………..……………………….….. 11
3.1 I like Your Nails, Are They Fake?...……………………………………………………………………………… 12
3.2 Policy Brief……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………. 16
3.3 Sports Fans & Gambling……………………………………………………………………………………………..20
3.4 Is Kobe’s Legacy Threatened by LeBron James?....................................................................25
3.5 Apology Letter……………………………………………………………………………………………………………28
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
1.0
Prefatory Material
3
Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
1.1 Personal Information and Academic Preparation
Personal Information
Name: Eli Pearlman
Local Address: 6628 Pasado Unit A, Isla Vista, Ca 97113
Phone Number: 415-259-8977
Primary Email: eliprophet17@yahoo.com
Academic Preparation
Major: Psychology
Minor: Candidate for professional writing minor
Upper-division writing courses completed as pre-requisites for the Minor:
Course
Instructor
Grade
WRIT 107B-BUS ADMIN WRIT
Ramsey
A
WRIT 107M-WRIT MAGAZINE
Bernstein
A
WRIT 105R-RHETORIC AND
WRIT
Vallis
A
WRIT 109SS-WRIT SOC SCIENCE
Brown
A-
Upper-division writing courses in progress as pre-requisites for the Minor:
- Prerequisites Completed
Other Writing Program courses planned for winter and spring:
Course
Quarter
Writing 150
Winter
Writing 157A
Spring
Writing 157B
Spring
Total units you plan to take during winter quarter? _16 spring quarter? _16_
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
1.2 Writing History
I have been passionate about writing for as long as I can remember; in the third grade I recall
writing a thirty page short story about a racing snail named escargot. In high school I wrote for
the school newspaper, The Tam News, covering anything from sporting events to soured milk in
the cafeteria, and also wrote a few opinion pieces as well. My senior year of high school I began
keeping a journal with ideas and storylines for a sitcom that I am working on. The journal is
ongoing, and I continue to add to it or write down anything that comes to mind on a regular
basis.
Thus far at University of California, Santa Barbara, I have taken four writing classes (detailed
above) and two upper division English classes which were writing intensive, receiving grades of
A in all except one (in which I received an A-). These courses have forced me to explore
different writing styles and techniques. Business Writing focused on industry reports and
professional tone, while classes such as Rhetoric and Writing or Magazine Writing allowed me
to improve my creative voice and establish my own style. Recently a humor article I wrote and
included in this portfolio was published in a small Bay Area magazine called the Beachcomber
as well as Conceit Magazine, based out of San Antonio and San Francisco.
In March of 2012 I began writing online for a website, The Sports Blitz. I cover the Golden State
Warriors basketball team, offering articles from a fan’s perspective. I have also touched on other
NBA and NFL related topics for The Sports Blitz and continue to write for them today. I plan on
writing a humor column for UCSB’s Daily Nexus this year.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
1.3 Statement of Goals for Pursuing the Minor in
Professional Writing
With the absence of any writing major, I pinpointed the Professional Writing Minor as
something I aspired to be a part of since freshman year. Although I’m still unsure of what I’d
like to do after graduating, as my school career and especially my collegiate career have
progressed I’ve grown increasingly certain that whichever vocational path I choose, I would like
it to involve writing. I think the Minor in Professional Writing will help me in that direction.
During the past summer I interviewed for an internship with a video-production company in
Marin County. Although I was under-qualified for the position in terms of computer-tech skills,
the interviewees were impressed with the enthusiasm I conveyed for my writing classes and the
fact that I had excelled with writing academically. In the end, the job was given to a computer
engineer, but a person at the company encouraged me to continue pursuing the writing minor,
saying that it would be an extremely useful asset for many business positions I may apply for in
the future. Indeed, aside from the fact that I quite enjoy writing, I also see the practicality in
joining the Minor from a future job-opportunity perspective. As my writing skills continue to
improve, the Minor will help me hone those skills for the business world.
Along with the primary goals of getting accepted into the Minor, doing well in the requisite
courses and bettering myself as a writer, I would also like to find an internship that is a good fit
for me. One of the aspects of the Minor that was appealing was the internship opportunity
during spring quarter. The experience would give me a window into what is expected in the
business writing field, as well as whether it’s truly the path I want to pursue.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
1.4 Track Choices & Explanation
Desired Track of the Minor
First Choice: Business Track
Second Choice: Multimedia Track
Third Choice: Professional Editing Track
Explanation of Track Choices
I have chosen the Business Track as my first option because I believe it will be the most relevant
track for progressing in a business atmosphere. It seems as though this Track is more broadly
applicable to the direction I could see myself going in. I have begun to take an interest in the
business world, exploring the possibility of completing the Technology Management Program,
which focuses on management training and entrepreneurial education. I have also started doing
my own research on the stock market and on how to read company financial reports. The
Business Track would be ideal if I were to try and work in a corporate type of field.
I prefer the Business to the Multimedia Track because from the description it looks as if the
main focus in Multimedia isn’t necessarily writing. Creating business cards and designing
effective text/image combinations are certainly important skills as well, however I would rather
work more on the written communication and collaborative skills which seem to be at the center
of the Business Track. That being said, the Multimedia Track is my second choice, and the fact
that it is flexible to a variety of majors and career paths is appealing.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
2.0
Resumé
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
Eli Pearlman
6628 Pasado
Isla Vista, CA 93117
Phone: 415-259-8977
eliprophet17@yahoo.com
Education:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Current Senior Standing
Major: Psychology
Minor: Prospective Minor in Professional Writing
Work Experience:
Spring 2012-present
Featured NBA sports writer for TheSportsBlitz and ThePenaltyFlag



Spring 2012-present
Cover the Golden State Warriors and other NBA related news
Contribute articles on sports gambling in the NFL
Involved in public networking and social media to promote articles
Promoted to Assistant Basketball Coordinator and Assistant Head of
Officials for UCSB Recreational Sports


2011-present
Coordinate and organize intramural basketball leagues
Assist in recruitment and training of intramural referees and officials
Caterer, Jeff Duerson Staffing


Winter 2010-present
Catering and concessions at events such as the Bank of the West Classic
Tennis Tournament at Stanford University and San Francisco 49er
football games
Catering for corporate events and parties
Gym/Field Supervisor, University of California, Santa Barbara
Recreational Sports



Facilitate intramural sports games and club sporting events at UCSB
Supervise intramural sport participants to ensure safety
Participate in marketing of Recreational Sports events at UCSB
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
Skills:





Strong writing skills in many different forums, including business and media, magazine,
journalistic, and academic writing.
Very capable with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Photoshop
Experienced in customer service through catering work
Proficient in Spanish (lived in Oaxaca, Mexico, for one year)
Enjoy working with people
Publications:
The Beachcomber
Conceit Magazine
Fast Forward Magazine
ThePenaltyFlag.com
TheSportsBlit.com
Trapped in Golden State
The Tam News
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
3.0
Writing Samples
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
3.1 Preface – I Like Your Nails, Are They Fake?
This is an article I wrote for Magazine Writing (Writing 107M) during spring quarter of 20112012. The article follows me as I attempt to complete the challenges provided by an iPhone
application, ‘A Better Man’ app, which is meant to improve the social skills of its participant.
I like Your Nails, Are They Fake?, is meant to be a humorous article; however it also looks at the
history of the “Seduction Community” and touches on some moral questions that arise with such
a concept. I have included this article in its entirety; I think it demonstrates my writing voice as
well as my ability to use humor in my writing. The article was published by a small magazine in
the Bay Area called The Beachcomber, and recently was also published in Conceit Magazine,
which is based out of San Antonio and San Francisco.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
I like Your Nails, Are They Fake?
The back of the chair dug into my chicken-wing shoulder blades as I slouched at the kitchen
table in a grey bathrobe. I momentarily strayed from whatever fantasy sports website was most
likely holding my attention to skim the Los Angeles Times. An article, Hey, pick-up artists, Neil
Strauss made an app just for you, caught my eye. The piece talked about a new IPhone app
called ‘A Better Man’, described as a sort of “secret-agent style, real-time game” in which “top
operatives” (the players of the game) are given “missions” that will theoretically improve their
social skills with women.
I was interested by the concept of ‘A Better Man’ for a couple of reasons: first, it seemed to me
the person completing the tasks (say, some sort of chiseled Adonis versus a pimply-faced
teenager), and the manner in which the tasks were completed (with confidence versus with a
stammer) would be much more integral to that person’s success than the completion of the
missions themselves. Second, I was curious to see how women would respond to the challenges
presented in the app. Would pretty girls in sundresses be fawning over me as I completed each
mission? As a 6’ 1’’ college student, weighing in at a number most women’s featherweight
wrestling coaches might be proud of, I had my doubts. So, with the click of a button, I decided
to try out A Better Man for myself. By purchasing the app, as per the store description, I was
accepting a challenge that would take me on a journey. I was assured that I was a winner, a hero;
ready to fulfill my destiny and reap the rewards I deserved.
A Better Man was launched by Neil Strauss, author of the bestselling book The Game:
Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists, an exploration of his experiences as a part of the
seduction community. The covert society, while new to me, has been around for quite some time,
dating back to 1988, when Ross Jeffries published his book How to Get the Women You Desire
Into Bed. Jeffries’ book generated an interest in the art of seduction, and an online community
formed where people could share tips and offer advice on how to pick up women. Online forums
devoted to the discussion of seduction proliferated across the internet, and soon translated into
the real world in the form of underground meeting groups called “lairs”. A global database
provided by sanfranciscolair.net currently lists over one hundred lairs worldwide, from the
Clermont Cocky Club in France, to The Secret Lifestyle in South Africa. Eventually “Pick-up
Gurus” – individuals well versed in the art of seduction – emerged and started to offer classes for
those less capable in such endeavors. Lessons can be taken in classroom settings, or even in the
field. And now, there’s an IPhone application as well.
Before receiving my first mission I was told to choose a “wingman name”, which was essentially
a username. I went with ‘MichaelBoltonBoy’ in hopes of channeling some of the singer’s
melodramatic romanticism for my own future exploits. Mission 1 on the first level was
straightforward: I had to ask a woman where I could find a cool, local clothing store. My
mission was complete once I had reported back with the name of two stores within the given 24
hour timeframe. A Better Man kindly reminded me that I was, in fact, a “rockstar!”, and I
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
accepted the challenge. The large, red numbers (representative of how much time I had) which
began ticking backwards from 24:00:00 were reminiscent of the television show. I was Jack
Bauer.
I decided that I would attempt to follow the tips given to me by the app for each mission. The
next morning I left the house in my red and black polyester pajama pants and an oversized white
thermal with an (I would maintain) almost imperceptible stain on the front. My roommate
commented on the irony of my first mission in light of my clothing choice. If I were going to
ask for fashion help, I might as well look desperate. Settling on a girl with a turquoise button-up,
I turned over my shoulder (as the tip advised) to ask her if she knew of any cool clothing stores
downtown. I resisted the urge to gesture to my current outfit as a would-be appeal to my
hopeless need for guidance. With an amused smile the girl suggested H and M or Urban
outfitters. I thanked her and hurried away – another helpful tip meant to create the illusion that I
had somewhere important to be (I didn’t). Mission accomplished. Jack Bauer’s got nothing on
me.
It is not difficult to understand why many people initially meet the idea of the seduction
community with some combination of intrigue and disgust. A group of men whose goal is to
pick up women through a variety of shared methods sounds interesting; it also sounds
misogynistic and potentially manipulative. The community’s reputation isn’t helped by terms
like “lairs” (which immediately evokes images of creepy, sexually depraved men scheming
underground), or expressions from the glossary of Strauss’s The Game such as Neg (“to actively
demonstrate a lack of interest in a beautiful woman by making an ambiguous statement, insulting
her in a way that appears accidental”) which only lend to that negative perception. However
according to Elana J. Clift, who conducted an extended field study of the seduction community,
men typically get involved not out some desire to systematically control women, but because
they feel frustrated and powerless “with their inability to attract the women they desire.” Her
thesis, “Picking Up and Acting Out: Politics in the Seduction Community” says that aspiring
members seek to improve “their ability to function within a social context” by “achieving selfconfidence.”
When I received Mission 2, I began to understand why ‘A Better Man’ had snuck in a liability
warning at the beginning of the app. I was supposed to “offer a woman unsolicited fashion
advice on how she could look better.” I’m more lost than the elderly in an Apple store when it
comes to fashion; my dream girl is wearing sweat pants and a football jersey. After two days of
wallowing in my own failure to play stylist, I finally approached a co-worker who was wearing
all black. The subsequent exchange went something like this:
Me: You’re wearing all black today? You should add some color to your outfit.
Her: I know (looking up from her phone). Actually, I have some pink on my waistband…
Me: Oh, yeah….You should wear a colorful hat or something with that.
She continued to text without granting my feeble suggestion a response. I couldn’t blame her.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
In subsequent missions I had to dial a wrong number, then talk the stranger who answered into
giving me a movie recommendation (after about the fifteenth call a lady recommended
Chimpanzee because not only was it “amazing” but also “Tim Allen, the Tool-man, narrates it
and makes some very funny jokes”); I had to spontaneously and genuinely compliment an
unknown girl (more difficult than you may think. I spent an entire day scrutinizing girls I walked
past, trying to find something I could say that wouldn’t sound creepy or contrived. Does that girl
have pretty eyes? Does her hair look nice in the sun? Ultimately I told a girl her earrings were
pretty.) By the end of level three, ‘A Better Man’ had users practicing “openers,” lines meant to
be effective conversation starters. Level four focused on “disqualifiers,” or statements such as
the previously mentioned ‘neg’ meant to show a lack of interest in the girl you are interested in,
(“make her chase you” instead of vice-versa). Missions continued to build on each-other,
teaching how to “demonstrate value” through entertaining tricks, or how to tell a good story.
As I progressed through some of the earlier levels (I didn’t get through the missions on level
three, although I hope to continue the rest sometime in the future) it became apparent that
presentation was everything. Tasks I completed nervously quickly turned awkward. Averted
eyes, blushing and splutters were met with quizzically raised eyebrows or even disdain.
Conversely, confidence was usually met with a smile or a shy response. Unfortunately, due to
the fact that I didn’t actually finish even half of the application’s missions, I can’t ultimately say
whether following ‘A Better Man’s’ advice and completing each level would have turned me into
some sort of Hugh Hefner type, smoking cigars and pulling ‘honeys’ left and right. Perhaps it’s
for the best though, honestly. I’m not sure I’m ready to grow a porno mustache and take on the
responsibilities of changing my bed sheets every other night. For now I’ll stick with the slippers
and the pajama pants and leave the seduction to the pick-up artists.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
3.2 Preface – Policy Brief
I have included excerpts from a Policy Brief I wrote for the chairman of the House Agriculture
Committee. The document addresses the state of the United States Farm Bill, outlying the
problems it presents domestically and internationally, as well as providing some possible
solutions. The current Farm Bill expired on September 30th, so this sample is pertinent to
current events.
This piece shows my ability to write using a more official tone, in contrast to the voice and style
of my previous sample article. The formatting and organization of the piece mimic that of an
actual policy brief (although I have left out certain portions for this sample). The policy brief
also demonstrates an ability to translate my critical thinking into clearly written ideas.
*The Discussion, Key Terms, and A Closer Look at Global Trade Problems and Internal
Problems Caused by Farm Bill Subsidies sections were omitted
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
TO: House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin C. Peterson
FROM: Eli Pearlman, Board of Directors of the International Federation of Agricultural
Producers (IFAP)
RE: A better functioning national agricultural system and global agricultural system, stemming
from the alteration of the current United States Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (known
more commonly as the Farm Bill).
DATE: Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Introduction:
The United States Government’s subsidization of the wealthiest corporate American
Farmers has become a problem at both a national and international level. The United States
Food, Conservation and Energy Act (Farm Bill) is the agricultural policy bill passed into law by
congress every 5 years, the most recent bill passing in 2008. Aside from addressing farm
subsidies, the bill also addresses conservation, energy, nutrition and rural development.1
Because of the structuring of this bill, a very small percentage of farm program beneficiaries
receive the vast majority of the benefits. The wealthiest top 10 percent of farming programs that
received subsidies collected 74 percent of the total subsidies allotted by the farm bill.
Meanwhile, five crops – corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat and rice – received more than seventy
percent of all farm subsidies over the last fifteen years.2
This disproportionate subsidization in turn causes a number of agricultural and
economic problems for national and international farmers, as well as health problems for the
public. Because the five afore mentioned crops are so heavily subsidized, in part based on the
quantity of bushels grown, farmers are encouraged to produce as much of their crop as possible.
The resulting overproduction of corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat and rice allows American farmers
to sell those crops overseas for exceedingly cheap prices, making it impossible for other farmers
abroad to compete and stay afloat. At the same time, these crops are key components to most of
the unhealthy processed foods that make up much of the food lining the shelves of our grocery
stores. Because the Farm Bill encourages large scale production of these crops, and gives almost
no consideration to other fruits and vegetables, the price of healthy produce is much higher than
that of the carbohydrate-filled processed foods. This is lending to the epidemic of obesity
among the lower income population in the United States
The house committee on Agriculture has been in charge of establishing farm policy for
agriculture and rural America for 185 years.3 Mr. Peterson, as Chairman of the governmental
committee which champions the farm legislature every five years, you are in an ideal position to
make the necessary changes to the Farm Bill which will restructure our country’s agricultural
system and the world’s agricultural system for the better. With your help, we at the IFAP hope
to create a system which does not make it impossible for small farmers to compete with a few
1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food,_Conservation,_and_Energy_Act_of_2008
Cook, Government’s Continued Bailout of Corporate Agriculture
3
http://agriculture.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=5&LSBID=23&RBSUSDA=T
2
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
large American corporations, a system which will alleviate poverty in other countries, and a
system which will improve the health of our American public.
Policy Recommendations:
The culture of our food system needs to be changed. In 2012 the Farm Bill will be
revisited as it is every five year, and this time there needs to be a complete overhaul of the bill.
In order to establish fair global trade in the agricultural sector, fair treatment of American
farmers and farmers abroad, and promote health within our own society, these are the changes
that must be made:
1. The elimination of Direct Payments and Marketing loans



There must be complete elimination of Direct Payments and Marketing loans for all
crops. Removing these two subsidies will save billions of dollars in taxpayer money. It
will level the market playing field for farmers of all produce and make it so that the top
percentage of wealthy corn, soy, wheat, cotton and rice farming corporations cannot
evade the risks of a normal market economy. They will no longer be able to unfairly
dominate the agriculture industry because of what is basically government intervention
in the market. This will also stop the perpetuation of overproduction of these 5 crops.
With the removal of Direct Payments and Marketing loans, Conservation subsidies
become obsolete. Farmers are no longer encouraged to use as much marginal land as
possible for financial gain. Not only does this fact also save billions of dollars, but it is
also a positive impact for the environment. Land degradation and the use of chemical
fertilizer will decrease drastically with the elimination of these subsidies.
The elimination of Direct Payments and Marketing loans will also put the United States
in better standing with World Trade Organization policies and global trading. We will no
longer have such an excess of crops that we “dump” in other countries, harming their
economies and making it impossible for their local farmers to compete with reduced
prices. Not only is this good from a human rights standpoint, but it will also be
advantageous financially. No longer will the U.S. have to pay subsidies to other
countries, and free flowing trade between countries is beneficial overall.
2. Emphasis on organic and fresh produce in the United States


The funding for organic research added to the farm bill in 2008 was a step in the right
direction; however it needs to be increased. Focus needs to be put on locally grown
produce and the success of smaller fruit and vegetable farmers. Because billions of
dollars will be saved on eliminated subsidies, a portion of that money can go to
furthering the development of local fresh produce farms.
This will even out the price disparity between cheap processed foods made from heavily
subsidized crops and more expensive, healthier fresh produce. As the disparity lessens,
the price of both will eventually balance out; the cost of fruit and vegetables will decrease,
thus making the choice to eat healthy not a privilege, but a choice shared by the entire
American public.
*Countercyclic subsidy payments will remain on the bill for now so there is still some
insurance for farmers in years where crop prices fall dramatically. However, all crops, including
fruits and vegetables, will be subsidized equally. Corn, Soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton will no
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
longer receive all of the subsidies. The result will be that of a free market that still has a safety
net for all farmers.
The elimination of agricultural subsidies from the farm bill is detrimental to the United
States’ participation in fair global trade. It will also positively impact the environment, the
economy and the health of the American public. While such a large change will be met with
skepticism, we can look at similar examples of subsidy elimination in other countries as a
successful case study. In the 1980s, New Zealand banned farm subsidies despite being four
times more reliant on farming than the U.S. is.4 Since, there economy has responded extremely
well, and today only one percent of their farm production value is represented by government
subsidies, compared to 11 percent in the U.S. The majority of American industries subsist
without the help of subsidies; there is no reason to think the agricultural industry won’t do the
same.
4
Edwards, Agricultural Subsidies
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
3.3 Preface – Sports Fans and Gambling Study
Included here are portions of a scientific report done on a study I conducted exploring the
relationship between sports fandom and gambling habits. After examining previous research I
wanted to look at a possible correlation between being a sports fan and gambling. My
hypothesis was that the more vested you were in following sports (in other words if you were an
avid fan versus a casual fan), the more you would exhibit gambling behavior.
You will find that I have included excerpts from this report which contain figures or tables; I
have done this in order to show my ability to effectively integrate graphic information into my
written work. It also demonstrates that I am able to work with qualitative and quantitative data
at an organizational level. The research done and data collected was all original.
*The Introduction, Background and Methods sections were all omitted, as well as portions of the
Results and Discussion sections
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
Results
Gambling
Twenty people in the sample said they gambled at least once in the last month. Twelve
(60%) of these respondents were male and eight (40%) were female. The majority of these
people gambled between 1-3 times, and only two people gambled more than four times in the
last month (figure 1).
Figure 1. How often have you gambled in the last month
Sports Fans v. Non-Sports Fans
% Of Fans and Non-fans
In the month previous to taking this survey, non-sports fans gambled at a lower rate than
sports fans. Non-fans had never gambled 81.5% of the time while sports fans had never
gambled 68.3% of the time. There was no significant difference between non-fans and fans who
gambled 1-3 times. Everybody who reported to gambling at least 4 times in the last month was a
sports fans, although there were only two people who did (figure 2).
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
36.6
25.9
19.5
Sports Fans
Non-Fans
0
Sports
Wagers With
Friends
# Of Times Gambling
Figure 2. Fans v. non-fans: gambling in the last month
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
% of respondents
The only types of gambling in which sports fans participated more than non-fans were
sports gambling and wagers with friends. Surprisingly, non-fans reported higher rates of casino
gambling, online gambling, and playing the lottery, although the differences were insignificant.
The only significant differences were between sports gambling (19.5% for sports fans vs. 0% for
non-fans) and wagers with friends (36.6% for sports fans vs. 25.9% for non-fans) (Figure 3).
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
81.5
68.3
Sports Fans
29.3
25.9
Non-Sports fans
2.40
2.40
00
Never 1-3 x 4-7 x 8-10 x 10+
Types of Gambling
Figure 3. Fans vs. Non-fans and types of gambling
% of
respondents
When citing reasons for gambling, once again the responses of sports fans and non-fans
were very similar. This time the only notable difference (not including the answer “I don’t
Gamble” which was the predominant choice of non-sports fans) was in the category
“excitement”. Ten (25%) sports fans said they gambled for the excitement of it, while only three
(11.1%) non-fans gambled for excitement. Interestingly, in response to the question “why do you
watch sports?” the answer that had the fewest responses (2, or 7.4%) for non-fans was also
“excitement”. Meanwhile, 32 (78%) of fans watched sports because they got excited (figure 4.).
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
78
Sports fans
Non-sports fans
25
11.1
Excitement
(Reasons for Gambling)
7.4
Excitement
(Reasons for Watching Sports)
Figure 4. Reasons for Gambling and Watching Sports of Fans and Non-Fans
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
Discussion
My research suggested that gambling among college students and the college-age
population is not as high as expected. This finding contradicted most of the prior studies I had
reviewed (Weinstock, 2007 & Wohl, Anisman, Matheson, Young, 2006), all of which pegged
college students as one of the most prolific gambling demographics. Also nearly all respondents
who did gamble in the past month did so rarely. With this information in mind it is a possibility
that at least some of these people who gambled so infrequently (1-3 times) do not do so every
month, and that this was just a chance behavior. Thus the population of people who gamble
every month could be even smaller than the sample suggested.
It did seem as though being a sports fan – and especially a male sports fan – made one
more likely to gamble. The correlation was fairly strong; overall 70% of people who had
gambled were sports fans, and non-fans gambled at a significantly lower rate than fans. As
expected, sports fans were much more likely to gamble on sports than non-fans (who would be
less inclined to wager money on something they did not care about or had little knowledge of).
Surprisingly, non-fans participated in higher rates of casino, online, and lottery gambling. The
difference in these rates was minimal however, and it should be noted that this data could easily
have been skewed by the negligible amount of non-fan gamblers (only six).
The main difference in reasoning for why sports fans and non-fans gambled was
excitement. A much higher rate of sports fans gambled for the excitement of it – 25% compared
to only 11.1% of non-fans. There was also a significant difference in the rate of sports fans who
watched sports for excitement versus non-fans who watched for excitement. In this case, sports
fans said they watched for excitement 78% of the time while the rate was only 7.4% for non-fans.
This could indicate that there are some possible biological differences at play between sports
fans and non-fans that relate to gambling habits. A study done by Wohl, Anisman, Matheson, &
Young in 2006 showed that cortisol levels (brought about by positive stress) were higher in
anticipation of gambling among people who gamble more. Another study had similar findings
with regards to sports fans, reporting that eustress was one of the main motivations for fans to
watch sports (Wann, 1995). The correlation between higher rates of excitement in gambling and
watching sports among fans could mean that they participate in these activities because they
seek eustress, perhaps more than non-fans or non-gamblers.
I was curious to see whether the degree of fandom, that is how avid a sports fan was,
affected their reasons for watching sports. I defined an avid fan as someone who had either a
strong or very strong emotional investment in a sports team and also watched three or more
sporting events on average per week. As it turned out avid fans did differ from other fans in
their reasoning for watching sports. Avid fans watched sports for group affiliation purposes,
entertainment, and to get away from stress at much higher rates than other fans. Perhaps the
high degree of fandom allowed the avid fan to identify with other avid fans and value those
affiliations more than the moderate fan. At the same time it is possible that the avid fan would
be more likely to forget about daily stresses when immersed in a sporting event because they
place more importance in the event, and for this reason they utilize sports as an escape more so
than moderate fans.
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Conclusion
Because this was a convenience sample and the number of gamblers in the sample was
limited, one must maintain a degree of skepticism regarding any of the conclusions made.
However, it seems reasonable to conclude that there is a correlation between being a sports fan
and participating in gambling activities. Sports fans did gamble (albeit infrequently) at a higher
rate than non-fans. Due to the lack of frequent gamblers, it was impossible to draw any
conclusion concerning a relationship between at risk or problem gambling and degree of fandom.
In fact we cannot really come to any conclusions at all on ‘at-risk’ or problem gambling because
only one person in the sample exhibited ‘at-risk’ or problem gambling behavior. Questions
regarding my secondary hypotheses remain unanswered. Future surveys must contain a larger,
more random sample size in order to glean any substantial information on the subject. Because
of the interesting findings pertaining to excitement in relation to reasons for gambling and
watching sports, I believe that further research should be conducted on the biological aspects of
sports fans and gamblers. There is still much to be learned about these two demographics which
could shed light on the psychology of the gambler and the sports fan. This information could be
potentially valuable in teaching about problem gambling and in aiding those who have or are at
risk for pathological gambling tendencies.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
3.4 Preface – Is Kobe’s Legacy Threatened by LeBron James
This is an article I wrote following the Miami Heat’s NBA Championship clinching victory over
the Oklahoma City Thunder. Is Kobe’s legacy Threatened by LeBron James is my take on the
scrutiny and expectations placed on Basketball player LeBron James by fans and the media. In
my opinion, criticism of James is often unwarranted and even irrational. It was published in
June on TheSportsBlitz website.
I have included this piece because I hope it demonstrates my unique stylistic voice and
versatility as a writer. The article was acclaimed by the head of TheSportsBlitz, GB Bongiovanni,
who nominated it as a top online sports article to BallHyped.com. The articles received a few
thousand views online across a number of different forums, and garnered the reaction of many
readers. I believe it is one of my better pieces of writing with regards to sports.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
Is Kobe’s legacy threatened by LeBron James?
Posted by Eli Pearlman on June 23rd, 2012 08:57 PM | NBA
LeBron James hopped up and down on the
sideline with a giant, child’s grin minutes
before the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma
City Thunder in five games to secure the 2012
NBA championship. It appeared as if about
three Shaq’s and a Rosie O’Donnell had been
lifted off the 27-year-old’s shoulders; it’s no
secret that LeBron’s been steadily losing his
hair over the last few years, but in that instant
he went from looking weathered, worn out and rapidly aging to looking like an exuberant 27
year old who enjoyed basketball again. A couple more years of losing and I was afraid LeBron
might have started looking more and more like Greg Oden (who was actually born in 1932).
And when it was all over, after LeBron James finally got his ring, he echoed the sentiment
shared by all of us who call ourselves King James fans, and for that matter, NBA fans: “It’s
about damn time.” My hope, however naïve, is that the incredible playoff performance, a
championship, and a well deserved finals MVP award will quiet the rabid, irrational LeBron
haters at least a bit. Over the last few years the tiresome anti-LeBron chatter of the sports media,
Lakers’ fans, and Skip ‘Water-Pistol Pete’ Bayless have made me question the sanity of a great
number of people who claim to be basketball fans (although I wouldn’t expect much more than
irrational arguments and one-sided whining from the majority of the Lakers’ “faithful”, in
quotations for a reason).
Going into the finals, many people thought the Thunder had the better team as a whole, and
going into the series they were favored as such. After a game one victory OKC was favored by
more than 2 to 1 odds. Before game a good friend of mine asserted that Kevin Durant was a
better player than LeBron James. The outcome of the series speaks for itself, with LeBron
winning in just five games, playing on what many considered an inferior team. But there are a
million other things that also make my friend’s statement so outlandish.
Durant is a better shooter, and right now in his career, that’s about it. The only other category the
two can be even be compared in is scoring. LeBron is a much better rebounder, a hundred times
better passer (one of the best in the league), and an élite defender. Nobody else in the league can
effectively guard EVERY SINGLE POSITION, point guard through center. During the finals it
seemed as if nearly all of Miami’s offensive possessions ran through James (seriously, watching
that series, you’d have to say AT LEAST 75% of the Heat’s offense relied on James to make
something happen.) Not to mention the incredible pressure that’s on him to perform night in and
night out: if there are 100 sets of eyes on Kevin Durant every game, there are about 500 thousand
sets of eyes – all of which have some form of high-powered microscope – honed in on LeBron.
I understand why “The Decision” and some of the things that James said after last year’s finals
debacle rubbed many people the wrong way. But honestly, as a fan-base we’re relatively quick to
forgive athlete’s for things like animal cruelty, physical assault, alcohol and drug abuse, and
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
even manslaughter. Hell, I’ll admit right now that I’m no exception: I like Michael Vick. Randy
Moss and Pacman Jones are two of my favorite players, and I’ve always had a soft spot in my
heart for Chris “Birdman” Anderson. That being said, I wouldn’t want any of those people to be
role models for my children (which thankfully, as a 21 year old, I have none of). So why is
James hated so vehemently?
Going to school in Santa Barbara, I have the unfortunate pleasure of coming into contact with a
large number of Laker fans, nearly all of whom hate LeBron. It’s as if they fear that Kobe’s
legacy is threatened by LeBron James’ greatness. Which it isn’t. I have no qualms expressing my
respect for the passion Kobe Bryant brings every game, every season, and I am constantly in awe
of what he continues to do on the court. But there’s a reason Jordan fans can point to statistics (I
recommend checking out this link) to demonstrate Jordan’s superiority over Kobe, while Kobe
fans resort to subjective jabs at LeBron during any Black Mamba, King James debate: “LeBron
chokes down the stretch” and “LeBron shies away from big games” are sometimes true
statements, just like they are sometimes true statements about Kobe and probably every other
athlete that is human. The thing about LeBron is that he’s the closest thing to non-human we
have ever seen on the basketball court, so people expect him to be perfect.
After this year, LeBron James’ averages in 10 playoff elimination games are as follows:
31.44 ppg on 46.35% shooting, 10.22 rpg and 6.62 apg with a record of 4 wins and 6 losses.
Meanwhile, here are Kobe Bryant’s averages in 19 playoff elimination games:
21.47 ppg on 41.42% shooting, 5.79 rpg and3.47 apg with a record of 9 wins and 10 losses.
Those numbers are slightly better (23 ppg on 41.7%, 6.29 rebounds, and 3.76 assists) if you
leave out Kobe’s first two seasons, which is fair because he received less playing time in those
two elimination games.
We all know LeBron came up short in last year’s finals, but I would hope even the most ardent
Kobe lover might have a hard time making the “big game choker” argument when looking at
those numbers, especially in light of how they compare to Kobe’s. Of course it’s inevitable that
the James haters will continue to hate. They’ll come back with the argument that “Kobe has four
more rings” (I’m very interested to see how many James ends up with) and say things like
“LeBron still doesn’t have the ‘clutch gene” (would you please just shut up Skip Bayless.) All I
have to say is if this year was any indication, LeBron James has finally found out what he needs
to do to win, and from the look of that grin on the sideline he enjoys it quite a bit. Let’s revisit all
the stats in seven to ten years, and then we’ll see how all the criticism lines up with the numbers.
I think there’s going to be a lot of people who will look back and feel foolish.
Eli Pearlman is a writer for The Sports Blitz Network and can be contacted at
EPearlman@TheSportsBlitz.com
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
3.5 Preface – Apology Letter
I wrote the ‘Dear Ms. Tiger’ Apology Letter in my Business Writing class (Writing 107B). For
this assignment we were instructed to respond to a longtime customer’s complaint letter. “Ms.
Tiger’s” shipment from “Framistan Consolidated” was not only sent late, but also damaged. As
CEO of the company, it was my duty to respond to Ms. Tiger’s complaints and allay any of her
worries about future orders.
I have included this letter because it is a good example of something which may come up while
working in a business setting. It is important to know how to approach this type of situation,
and I believe I demonstrate good work with respect to clarity, professional tone and strategy in
my response. Hopefully if this scenario were real, my letter would ensure that Ms Tiger
remained a loyal customer of Framistan Consolidated.
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Writing Portfolio, Minor in Professional Writing
Dear Ms. Tiger:
First I would like to thank you personally for your continued business over the last ten years.
You are one of our most valued and most loyal customers at Framistan Consolidated. I am
extremely sorry about the manner in which we handled your most recent purchase. Of course, I
understand that you have your own customers who rely on you, so we have already sent your
replacement motherboards in the mail through overnight shipping. They should arrive
tomorrow morning, and you can follow the package’s progress by clicking on this tracking
number: 3837849393. Enclosed you will find 35 replacement motherboards for those which
were either missing or damaged. We would also like to reimburse you 50% of your last order as
a way of further expressing our regret.
I have had a discussion with our shipping director, and we have addressed the issue regarding
the three-week delay; I assure you this issue has been resolved and will no longer be a problem
with any future orders from Framistan. I will also have a talk with our current shipping
company to smooth out any problems on their end that may have caused the damage incurred
during transit.
Along with your motherboards, I have sent a pre-labeled shipping box. It would help us a great
deal if you could send back the damaged motherboards so we could see exactly what went wrong
and take further steps to ensure the same problem is never repeated. There is no hurry, so
please do this at your own convenience; that would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you again for your business over the last ten years. We are deeply sorry for the
difficulties our last shipment has caused you, and would like to reassure you that the
replacements are on their way. I can also promise you that, should you decide to continue using
our services, we will do our best to make certain that you never encounter any of these problems
again.
Thank You. Sincerely,
Eli Pearlman, CEO
Framistan Consolidated
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