Portfolio Application for Acceptance into the Professional Writing Minor: Business Track Emily Oberhand 2012-­‐2013 6782 Pasado Road unit A Goleta, CA 93117 (310) 650-­‐2130 Emily Oberhand emily.oberhand@gmail.com OBJECTIVE Acceptance into the Professional Writing program offered at UCSB to improve and refine my writing skills in preparation for the future. EDUCATION University of California Santa Barbara, CA B.A. in Economics and Accounting Expected June 2013 3.4 GPA Universidad Antonio de Nebrija Madrid, Spain Studies in Spanish Sept 2011-­‐June 2012 3.8 GPA RELEVANT COURSEWORK Business Communications Janet Mizrahi A Spring 2011 Grammar Stylistics Craig Cotich A-­‐ Summer A 2012 Multimedia Writing Dan Wuebben A Summer B 2012 COURSES PLANNED 2013 Writing Program Writing 150 Writing 157A/B Total Units Winter: 16 Spring: 12-­‐16 WRITING HISTORY My personal history as a writer dates back to my first diary, started in the third grade. Although as elementary as my school, these habitual entries became the Passiflora seeds that would eventually grow and blossom and inspire me to now pursue the Professional Writing minor. I recognize, however, that writing for an audience on a professional level calls for more polished articulation. I took Business Communications spring of 2011, my first writing course at UCSB. This class introduced me to the stylistic writing useful for real situations. I learned how to write direct and indirect emails, memos, and proposals, and their appropriate situations. We created a business-­‐marketing plan persuading travelers 2 Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing to choose Argentina as their perfect destination. Assignments like these truly benefit students entering the workforce. I knew right away I wanted to pursue the Professional Writing Minor. This newfound interest budded that passionflower, planted in me ten years prior. Because that was my last quarter at UCSB before studying in Madrid, Spain for a complete academic year, I was unable to continue taking writing courses until this past summer. The almost 6,000 mile and 9 hour time difference between my old and new homes made frequent phone calls impossible. So, in order to maintain contact with my family and friends, I had no choice but to communicate through written word. Unlike a spoken conversation, writing allows for the proper time needed to choose words and develop thoughts for the desired interpretation. This experience matured my bud into a flower, finally making me recognize the beauty in writing and the unique qualities of communication it carries. Of course, my journal voyaged with me, this time containing introspections in Spanish. STATEMENT OF GOALS As stated above, I internalized a passion for writing at an early age. Far too many people overlook the importance of writing in the business field. A high quality of writing has proven to be an invaluable skill. The knowledge I have gained so far in my three writing courses at UCSB will surely be most relevant in the future. Continuing with the minor will greatly strengthen my writing skills, providing for me a solid base when I enter the workforce. Noticing my drive in Business Communications prompted me to rethink my purpose at UCSB. Professor Mizrahi’s enthusiasm and passion impacted me unlike any past teacher. Aren't we supposed to be this excited about what we choose to study? As much as my major interests me, much of what I have learned is theory. Learning how to effectively communicate is the perfect supplement. Through this minor, I hope to become confident in my writing before entering the professional setting. Many workers young and old lack the ability to even write coherent emails. I want to take advantage of what the knowledgeable and enthusiastic writing professors offer us. I hope to become fluent in various types of writing in order to be most prepared for communicating in the business world. I also look forward to the hands-­‐on experience gained from assignments and the internship. Students who complete this minor are one step ahead of the rest. I want to seize the opportunity to hone my writing capabilities suiting circumstances I will likely encounter. Quotidian reading, whether it be from an online article or pages of literature, stimulates my writing. However, the personal atmosphere in UCSB writing classrooms provides a matchless setting for learning. 3 Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing TRACK CHOICES AND EXPLANATION First Choice Second Choice Third Choice Business Communications Multimedia Communication Professional Editing After researching the three different tracks offered, I decided Business Communications best matches my professional goals. Written communication occurs daily between clients and coworkers and I want to be able to carry out tasks confidently and successfully. After seeing past students’ reactions to the minor on bizcommucsb.com, I know I can learn skills vital in the workforce. I took both Business Communications and Multimedia Writing and enjoyed them equally in different ways. Surely, either one of these tracks would help me with my goal of becoming an expert communicator, fluent in various modes of expression. Both focus on important aspects of professional writing I will encounter in my future. The Business Track focuses on refining students’ ability to communicate effectively in the workforce, which is my ultimate goal. I want to gain a thorough understanding of various workplace issues. Too many students and workers undermine the importance of good writing. I want to leave UCSB with a firm writing consciousness. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE UCSB Annual Fund Santa Barbara, CA Student Caller April 2011-­‐present Raised over $13,000 for university programs. Learned interpersonal skills by building strong rapport with a diverse range of alumni and parents. Camp Funtime Encino, CA Senior Counselor June 2010-­‐Aug 2010 Engaged 12-­‐20 children daily in confidence building activities. Developed leadership and communication skills through directing activities. Nine West Sherman Oaks, CA Sales Associate May 2008-­‐ Sept 2008 Sold $1,000+ of merchandise during longer shifts. Helped up to 6 customers at a time. Consistently exceeded daily sales quotas, surpassing sales of managers. Managed monetary transactions. Opened and closed store. Responsive Research Brentwood, CA Assistant Manager May 2005-­‐ Sept 2009 Handled $900+ cash. Edited/marketed events to participants. Assisted founder in creating events/researching speakers. Facilitated and organized meetings. SKILLS Highly adaptable to new responsibilities. Fluency in Spanish. Proficient with MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe Photoshop, Tumblr and other blogs. 4 Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing Writing Samples Table of Contents Page Number 1. External Environment Analysis Preface……………………………………………..…………………………………………….6 Report…………………………………………………………………………………………….7 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………12 2. Progress Report Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………13 Report……………………………………………………………………………………….…14 3. Text-­‐to-­‐Video Interpretation Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………16 Screenplay……………………………………………………………………………….……17 Script……………………………………………………………………………………………20 Blog Reflection………………………………………………………………………………24 4. Direct Letter Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………25 Letter……………………………………………………………………………………………26 5. Nutellate Advertisement Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………27 Advertisement………………………………………………………………………………28 6. Wikipedia Article Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………29 Article…………………………………………………………………………………..………30 Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 5 I. External Environment Analysis of Argentina The following five pages show the latter half of my external environment analysis of Argentina. It was included as the first section of a marketing plan assigned in Writing 109EC. The sample begins just after introducing Argentina’s wine country. The project aimed to provide future travelers with sufficient information about Argentina and why this South American country should be visited next. I learned the value of concise and persuasive writing, shedding old habits of using decorated vocabulary. I will admit I still sometimes wonder if I would have studied abroad in Buenos Aires instead of Madrid had I been assigned this project earlier. In the midst of completing the 41-­‐page plan, one group member quit unexpectedly and unannounced. As the team leader, I kept my remaining two peers motivated and assumed the missing student's tasks. Realizing this instance could likely occur in the future, in a job rather than an academic setting, I took the opportunity to prove my potential. Not only did I improve my writing skills, but I also gained fundamental leadership experience in group-­‐work. We started as four and ended as three, yet did not use this loss as a task-­‐reliever. We produced a report with a quality on par and even exceeding those from complete groups, making sure to still include all five required sections. Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 6 Argentine
Transportation
All major wine countries have great transportation, with
airports allowing travelers to fly straight in. Whether
travelers decide to go to Mendoza, San Juan, or San
Rafael, it is easy to find transportation. There are
ubiquitous bus stations, car-rental agencies, taxis, and
personal drivers.
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Figure 5: Map of Wine Country in
Argentina
It is recommended to get a driver in order to be able to
safely enjoy the succulent wines at each winery. February
and March are the ideal times to visit. Mendoza has over
1.6 million people in the area, and 110,000 in the city
alone. It is over 600 miles away from Buenos Aires, but
there are cheap flights that are only two hours long that
transport tourists.1
Weather
Being on the Southern Hemisphere, Argentina has
seasons opposite to the United States. Fall and Spring are
the times of year when Buenos Aires has the best weather.
Additionally, summers and winters do not see extreme
heat or cold, making the capital an enjoyable place to
visit, no matter the time of year.11
http://pics.34000.org/argentinaDue to the country’s large size, tourists can always travel
maps/show/3.html
there. No matter the time of year, there is a province of
Argentina who will boast nice weather. While the north is
wonderful to visit during the winter months because of the heat, the south is also a lovely
destination, with temperate weather. However, travelers who enjoy skiing may also opt to travel
to the south during Argentina’s winter months to enjoy the snowy slopes. Buenos Aires boasts its
most desireable weather in the summer, our winter.8
The following table shows the average high temperatures in the four different corners of
Argentina. Temperature measured in degrees Farenheit mark the y-axis, and months of the year
label the x-axis.Ushuaia is a city in the Patagonian south, while Iguazu is in the north. The map
following points out the different locations in comparison to the country as a whole.
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Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 7 Argentine
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Table 1: Argentine Weather
90!
80!
Buenos!Aires!
70!
Mendoza!
60!
Iguazu!
50!
Ushuaia!
40!
Jan!
Feb! Mar! Apr! May! Jun!
Jul!
Aug! Sep! Oct! Nov! Dec!
Figure 6: Map of Argentina
Data from: http://www.ladatco.com/temp-arg.htm
Geography
!
Argentina
The country has an area of 1.1 million square miles,
which is about the size of America, east of the
Mississippi River, making it the second largest South
American country,9 and eighth largest in the world.10
The country is flanked by Chile on the west, and
Uruguay in the northeast, with the Atlantic ocean on the
south and southeast. Argentina boasts a coastline almost
about 3,000 miles long.10 On the west side of Argentina
lay the Andean mountains. The land becomes flatter as
it nears the Atlantic Ocean on the east.2 This can all be
seen in the map to the right.
Patagonia. The southern-most province of Argentina is
close enough to Antarctica to share some of its weather.
Due to its proximity, colonies of penguins emerge from
craters in the ground. The population of these animals
can reach up to one million at its peak.7
!
http://www.planetware.com/i/map/ARG/ar
gentina-map.jpg
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8 Argentine
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Political History
Figure 7: Juan and Eva Perón
http://www.albertcombrink.com/wpcontent/uploads/2010/11/peron_juanevita.gif
Argentines have dealt with many dictator-like rulers,
who corrupt the government and military to their
liking. During the first half of the 20th century, the gap
between the rich and the poor kept growing.
Distractions from World War II worsened the already
vulnerable state. Internal conflict arose between
powerful military leaders and civilian factions. Juan
Perón seized power with his populist movement. He,
along with his wife Evita, created a cult following
similar to other fascist leaders of Europe at the time.
Upon Evita’s death, the couple pictured to the left
became less popular and Juan was expelled. Coming
back to power in the 1970s, he created a reign of terror,
killing those who opposed to his ideals. These people
were never found, and have been called desaperecidos.1
Recent Events
Figure 8: The Casa Rosada
With these intense military strategies came tremendous
debt. In the early 1980s, Argentina started a war with
the UK over the dispute of who claimed the Falkland
Islands, providing a distraction from internal conflict.
This gave rise to democracy, culminating in Carlos
Menem’s rise to power. He pegged the Argentine peso
to the American dollar in hopes of ameliorating the
financial status of the country. This helped somewhat,
but by 2001, the peso was so devaluated, many lost
their savings. The next president, Nestor Kirchner, who
is husband of the current president, helped stabilize the
economy.1
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/404564661_c0fc71f
The current president, Cristina Fernandez de
deb.jpg
Kirchner, lives in the Casa Rosada. Argentina is
split into 23 provinces, as well as an autonomous
district-- Buenos Aires. Similar to that of the US, the Argentinian government undergoes a
system of checks and balances, with different branches given different powers.9
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Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 9 Argentine
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Economy
GDP and employment
While many people believe all Latin American countries are impoverished, Argentina is in fact a
very developed country. In 2010, the estimated purchasing power parity of Argentina was just
under $600 billion US dollars, ranking them 24th in the world. The official exchange rate GDP is
$351 billion,10 up from $307 billion in 2009.9 Investments compose about 20% of the country’s
GDP, foreign trade; 31%, and exports 18%. Unemployment in 2010 measured roughly 8%,
which was lower than the previous year. Poverty is under 15%, dropping about 35% since the
economic crises a decade ago.9
Expenditures. The government spends almost 5% of its GDP on education, compared to the
United States’ 5.5%. It spent 8.5% on agriculture, 31.6% on industry, and 59.8% on services in
2010.9
Growth. The Argentine economy has grown 2.5% each year, on average, since 1950. Though the
country experienced a large debt in the early 2000s, it has made a striking comeback in the recent
years. Savings rates, as well as current account balances have proven impressive.12
Exchange rate
Figure 9: The Argentine Peso
The exchange rate between the Argentinian peso,
pictured, and the American dollar has proven
volatile over the past years. Because foreign
exchange is not very price-responsive, the currency
exchange rate undergoes fluctuations more often
than most others. The government does what it can
to exchange money at a fixed rate, mitigating
http://www.argentinepost.com/wpvolatility;13 however, there is an ever-changing
content/uploads/2008/11/peso.jpg
cycle of incentives and emphases in the economy,
12
which adds to the fluctuations. On average,
Americans get between three and four pesos per American dollar.10
Socio-demographics
In 2010, the Argentine population was an estimated 41.029 million, with an annual growth rate
of 1.053%. Buenos Aires alone boasts almost 13 million. Adult literacy is well above 97%.
European migration started in the 1870s.1 Most of the population is compiled of immigrants from
Spain and Italy, though there are significant populations of Middle Easterners in urban areas.
There are still native pueblos that are concentrated in the rural areas in the north and south.9
Roman Catholicism is the overwhelming majority, though there are significant Protestant and
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Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 10 Argentine
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Jewish populations. The median age is 30 years old, with over 63% of the population between
the ages of 15 and 65.10
Lifestyle. While knowing Spanish would help the journey, Argentines are very friendly and
make an effort to decode American tourists’ Spanglish.5 English is the second most studied
language in the country, and most folks who have continuous encounters with tourists can speak
English well.8 There are more psychoanalysts per capita in Buenos Aires than any other city in
the world,1, 5 leading the population to be very intellectual and enjoy philosophical
conversations.5
Technology
Argentina has 6.025 million internet hosts, proving the country has well adapted to the
increasingly prevalent internet connectivity worldwide. Cable television is very popular with
Argentines.10
Transportation
Argentina has built over 1,100 airports, allowing both natives and visitors to travel around the
country at ease. Argentina has the second most roadways and railways in South America,
proving Argentina is anything but an underdeveloped country.10 Trains and buses, both very
affordable, are common modes of transportation. Though travel times are longer for these than
planes, there are private rooms and food services which make the ride much more pleasant.
Additionally, tourists can opt to travel overnight,
Figure 10: Presidents Obama and Fernandez
saving money on a hotel room.8
US Relations
Along with the US, Argentina is a participant in the
Three-Plus-One regional mechanism, which fights
terrorist policies in South America. Since 2004,
Argentina has worked with the US on counternarcotic
efforts, mitigating the amount of drug trafficking from
Argentina to America. Subsequently, Argentina has
been declared a major non-NATO ally of the US.,
Argentines are welcomed in American society through
both educational and cultural exchanges.9
http://photos.upi.com/topics-Obama-welcomesPresident-Cristina-Fernndez-de-Kirchner-ofArgentina/8e140ce925efab93c2cf7ce9d218a94c/C_2.jpg
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Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 11 Argentine
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Endnotes
1. Kealy, K. Kidder, L. Duecy, E. Galgano, C. ed, Argentina, United States: Fodor’s Travel,
2010.
2. Source: “Ancient Argentina and the European Encounter,” A Brief History of Argentina,
Brown, Jonathan C., 2010, via Facts on File, accessed April 2010.
3. Source: “Argentina and Spain,” Spain and Portugal: A Reference Guide from the
Renaissance to the Present, European Nations, Ortiz-Griffin, Julia, 2007, via Facts on
File, accessed April 2010.
4. Source: 'Where the Dollar Hasn't Gone South,” Academic Source Complete, Bigda,
Carolyn, 2007, via EBSCOhost, accessed April 2011.
5. Schwarz, Benjamin and Christina. “Half a World Away. Buenos Aires is a European City
Six Months and a Hemisphere out of Synch.”
6. Argentina en Noticias, “Buenos Aires,” Argentina travel website,
http://www.en.argentina.ar/_en/tourism/buenos-aires/index.php, accessed May 2010.
7. Argentina en Noticias, “Tourismo,” Argentina travel website,
http://www.en.argentina.ar/_en/tourism/natural-argentina/index.php accessed May 2010.
8. Argentina en Noticias, “Useful Information,” Argentina travel website,
http://www.en.argentina.ar/_en/tourism/useful-information/index.php accessed May 2010.
9. Diplomacy in Action, “Argentine Republic,” U.S. Department of State website,
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26516.htm, accessed April 2010.
10. The World Factbook, “Argentina,” Central Intelligence Agency website,
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html, accessed April
2010.
11. All About Argentina, “Weather,” All About Argentina website,
http://www.allaboutar.com/ar_weather_buenosaires.htm, accessed April 2010.
12. United Nations. Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean. Santiago, Chile:
United Nations Publication, 2007.
13. Conesa, Eduardo R. The Argentine Economy: Policy Reform for Development. Lanham,
MD: University Press of America, Inc., 1989.
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Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 12 II. Progress Report I formulated the next sample, an interoffice memo, during the beginning stages of the marketing plan sampled just before. My role as group leader called for strict organizational skills. I assured an early start constructing the timeline as to set the right tone for the project and then diligently stuck to the dates. Starting off as an organized leader mitigated potential problems arising. This proposal starts with a proper heading, followed by a thought-­‐out and orderly justification for the time frame and proof we knew how to get the task completed in time. Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 13 Mizrahi Marketing Interoffice Memo Date: April 20, 2011 To: Professor Mizrahi From: Adam Kreyger, Emily Oberhand, Kiran Dhillon, and Vincent Rastello Subject: Marketing Plan for Argentina Progress Report This memo details the progress of our research for marketing Argentina to potential American travelers. The full report will be completed and delivered on May 31, 2011, as requested. Background: As of today, the 20th of April, every task in the marketing plan has been assigned to a team member. Every member has started research on Argentina in relation to his or her section. Weekly meetings are on Wednesdays, from 1:45-­‐3:45 PM, at Davidson Library, and by necessity. Group Organization: • All: Competition Analysis • Emily: Group leader, external environment analysis, table of contents, list of illustrations, and reference page • Kiran: Destination analysis, letter of transmittal, and conclusion • Adam: Target market analysis, executive summary, and page design with company logo • Vincent: Advertising/promotion, cover, and figures Important Dates: • April 25: Have all information for the work-­‐plan proposal completed and sent to Emily to organize. • April 27: Work-­‐plan/proposal due in class • May 1: Have target market • May 2: Have all rough draft/section outlines completed and sent to Emily to organize before meeting with instructor. • May 4: Meet with instructor with team • May 9: Rough draft of marketing plan due in class • May 11: Start discussing oral presentation • May 23: Have each analysis section completed and begin working on cover, letter of transmittal, table of contents, etc. • May 25 or June 1: Have oral presentation Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 14 • May 29: Have marketing plan complete • May 31: Marketing plan due. • June 1: Team evaluation letters due. Work Completed: We have designated each requirement of the marketing plan to someone in the team. We all understand the task at hand, and have already met multiple times. During the meetings, we have thoroughly analyzed different niche markets and subcategories, and made a final decision on who our target market is. Team members have started conducting research for his or her respective section. Target Market Justification: The target market we have chosen are honeymooners from upper-­‐income or metropolitan areas in the North East of the United States. We decided on this market because there are many activities in Argentina that would be attractive to newlyweds. Although it is not a typical resort honeymoon destination, there are still many activities that would interest couples who have recently married. Argentina is amongst the worlds top wine producers, with vineyards and tours throughout the country. Learning the tango is also something that would interest a honeymooning couple. The nightlife of Buenos Aires is also very famous. Work to be Completed: All members have yet to complete the outline for analysis. We are missing a lot of the data that will need to be included. However, this will be done two days before we meet with the professor on May 4. This should give us plenty of time to have a rough draft of the marketing plan ready when it is due on May 9. We still have to find visuals for our project, and decide which ones would best enhance the marketing plan. Once we have turned in a rough draft, we will start working on the oral presentation aspect of the project, as well as start the formatting of the final project. Lastly, we will all edit the marketing plan so that it sounds as though it is coming from one voice. Our goal is to have a completed plan by May 29, two days before the final plan is due. Whichever date we are assigned the oral presentation, our group will have to meet beforehand to practice what we are going to discuss. Anticipated Problems: Much of the information in the various sections of the marketing plan is interconnected. We will need to rely on other members to provide us with certain information and data. Therefore it may be difficult ensure that we all work at the same pace so that we can effectively work together. Given the vast amount of data and citations within a marketing plan, it will be problematic if we do not keep our information up-­‐to-­‐date. All facts and data need to be recorded as soon as it is referenced in our plan. By May 31, you will have our final report describing the target market most likely to visit Argentina, as well as effective ways to reach out to these perspective travelers. Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 15 III. Text-­‐to-­‐Video Interpretation For our final project in Wiritng 105M, Professor Wuebben asked us to create a video to be uploaded on YouTube. Once my group formed, I suggested remediating a piece of literature; converting a bildungsroman into a movie short. We chose to base the video on J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. Because I cannot print out the three-­‐
minute end product, I created a storyboard to include here to act as a guide. Additionally, I included the script to show the dialogue. Most of the dialogue and monologues come from Salinger’s writing, with a few alterations to suit our specific character (Holly instead of Holden) and setting (Isla Vista instead of the East Coast). I included Catcher in the Rye-­‐la Vista in my portfolio because it demonstrates my ability to take a piece of writing and convert it into a multimedia presentation that appeals to the new generation of YouTube fanatics. Unfortunately, reading has becomes somewhat of an outdated pastime. Online videos have become the optimal medium to communicate to an unlimited audience. This assignment proves my ability to interpret a text and transform the medium to create an end product relatable to many viewers. To supplement this preface, I included my blog post reflecting upon my experience and the goals we succeeded in reaching. The video can be seen on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-­‐
47OskKkgj0 Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 16 !
Indifferent!to!meeting!her!first!roommate,!
Holly!experiences!this!usually!exciting!
milestone!differently!than!most.!!
Holly!moves!on!to!how!selfLabsorbed!her!
roommate!is.!Sandy!interrupts!Holly’s!
thoughts!asking!her!to!do!an!assignment!
while!she!is!out!for!the!night.!
Maurice!notices!Holly!uninterested!attitude!
taking!her!for!a!naïve!college!partygoer.!He!
offers!to!have!his!friend!keep!her!company!
later!that!night,!Holly!accepts.!
Holly!narrates,!revealing!Sandy’s!
unsanitary!habits!through!her!description!
of!the!razor!she!shaves!her!legs!with.!
Holly!takes!the!elevator!up!to!her!
apartment!after!a!night!out.!!
Sunny!knocks!on!the!door!and!Holly!answers.!
She!finds!this!seducer!waiting!in!the!hall,!
anticipating!a!night!full!of!bed!rocking.!
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 17 !
Disappointing!Sunny,!Holly!uncovers!her!reason!
for!accepting!the!blunt!elevator!offer:!
loneliness.!All!she!wants!is!to!talk,!to!make!an!
intrapersonal!connection!through!words!
instead!of!lust.!
Holly!finds!a!red!cup!in!a!pile!of!trash!and!
begins!kicking!it!around.!We!discover!the!extent!
of!her!introversion,!preventing!her!from!
creating!relationships!with!peers.!!
Holly!reaches!a!cliff,!her!thoughts!culminate!in!
an!existential!realization.!She!values!innocence!
and!will!give!meaning!to!her!own!existence!
trying!to!freeze!this!stage!of!life!in!others.!!
!
Holly!walks!around!Isla!Vista,!contemplating!
her!surroundings!and!further!explaining!her!
opinions.!Multiple!clips!of!this!college!town!
are!shown.!
Her!strides!pick!up!in!pace,!until!she!is!running!
around!a!park!full!of!students!playing!volleyball.!
We!finally!learn!of!Holly’s!idealization!of!
youthful!innocence!and!desire!to!prevent!aging.!
Her!PeterLPanLcomplex!is!obvious.!To!be!
completely!content!with!her!life,!Holly!wants!to!
be!the!one!to!catch!children!when!they!jump!from!
cliff!of!childhood!into!the!ocean!of!adulthood.!
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 18 1
2
!
!
The!footage!cuts!between!clips!of!a!bird!flying!
over!the!ocean!and!the!kid!jumping,!as!if!Holly!
were!the!guardian,!the!catcher.!!
Nevertheless,!what!Holly!wants!to!do!is!
impossible.!She!cannot!prevent!the!
inevitable,!and!the!student!falls!into!the!
water.!Just!as!her!peers!are!destined!to!fall…!
…So!too!is!Holly.!The!bird!dives.!She!cannot!
avoid!aging.!
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 19 CATCHER IN THE RYE-LA VISTA
Script
1. EXT. APARTMENT - MIDDAY
Holly and Sandy meet and shake hands.
Holly (V.O.)
I’m always saying…
Sandy
Glad to have met you.
Holly (V.O.)
To someone I’m not at all glad
to have met. If you want to stay
alive, you have to say that stuff,
though.
2. INT. DORM – BATHROOM – AFTERNOON
Holly watches Sandy shaving her legs in the bathtub with a
filthy, rusty razor.
HOLLY (V.O.)
Sandy was more of a secret slob.
she always looked all right, but you
should’ve seen the razor she shaved
herself with. It was always rusty as
hell and full of lather and crap.
she never cleaned it or anything.
she always looked good when she was
finished fixing herself up, but she
was a secret slob anyway, if you knew
her the way I did. The reason she
fixed herself up to look so good was
because she was madly in love with
herself. She thought she was the most
beautiful girl in the Western Hemisphere.
SANDY
Hey. Wanna do me a favor?
HOLLY (V.O.)
Just because they’re crazy about themselves
they think you’re crazy about them, too.
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 20 SANDY
I have to do this YouTube project
for a class. Do you mind writing
my English composition for me?
3. INT. APARTMENT BUILDING – ELEVATOR – EVENING
Holly gets waits for the elevator. It soon opens and
Maurice is inside. Holly is unhappy. Maurice is hopeful.
MAURICE
Hey, how’s it going?
HOLLY
Oh, I don’t know. I’m kind of
feeling depressed tonight.
MAURICE
Oh, yeah? My friend’s coming into
town tonight. He can make your dark
day a little sunnier.
HOLLY
Hmm, all right.
MAURICE
I’ll send him over.
4. INT. HOLLY’S ROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT
Holly answers the door to Sunny. She hesitantly leads him
to her bed. They have different intentions.
SUNNY
Hey, I’m Sunny. I heard you were
lonely tonight.
HOLLY
Mind if we just talk tonight,
instead of doing anything else?
5. EXT. ISLA VISTA CUTS – DAY
Holly walks around Isla Vista. An insect buzzes around a
flower and flies away.
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 21 HOLLY (O.S.)
What a phony.
CUT TO:
Holly ashes a cigarette on her balcony and bathroom
profanity.
HOLLY (O.S.)
Sex isn’t something I understand
too hot.
CUT TO:
Graffiti is shown on a house and shoes dangling on a phone
wire.
HOLLY (O.S)
I mean, most boys are just so
dumb and all. You take a boy
when he gets all passionate…
CUT TO:
She sees remnants of a burnt mattress covered in trash. Red
cups, boxes once full of beer cans or Ziploc bags, and
other miscellaneous items.
HOLLY (O.S.)
He just doesn’t have any brains.
4. EXT. ISLA VISTA STREETS AND PARK – CONTINUOUS
Holly kicks around a red cup found in the trash while she
continues to contemplate. When she reaches the park, she
realizes what she thinks is her purpose in life.
HOLLY (V.O.)
Anyway, I keep picturing all
these little kids playing some
game in the big field of rye
and all. Thousands of little
kids and nobody’s around –
nobody big I mean – except me.
CUT TO:
Holly looking out over a cliff from a park on Del Playa.
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 22 Holly (V.O.)
And I’m standing on the edge of
some crazy cliff. What I have
to do, I have to catch everybody…
CUT TO:
A student starting to jump off a cliff. He descends in slow
motion, cutting in and out of this scene to a bird flying
over the ocean. Both end up in the water.
Holly (V.O.)
If they start to go over the cliff.
I mean, if they’re running and they
don’t look where they’re going, I
have to come from somewhere and catch
them. That’s all I do all day. I’d
just be the catcher in the rye and all.
I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only
thing I’d really like to be.
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 23 Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 24 IV. Direct E-­‐mail This next example included is the exact letter I sent to the Isla Vista Foot Patrol upon receiving a parking ticket I believed to be unjust. When I walked up to my car to find two citations sprouting out of my windshield wipers, I was furious. Did my first time ever getting a ticket (I suppose two times, if we are being technical) really end up being for something so undeserved? After reading the small print on the back, I decided to take up the policewoman’s offer of contesting the citation. The officers considered my argument valid, and dropped the fines. Months later, Professor Mizrahi introduced our class this exact type of writing. We worked on writing contesting letters for scenarios very similar to my own. I was proud to realize this intuition could already be found in me. My argumentative letter demonstrates my natural ability to write on a professional level with specific structure. Having a lesson on this exact style truly made me realize how valuable the skills taught in Business Communications really are. Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 25 Emily Oberhand 6665 Sabado Tarde Road Unit B Goleta, California 93117 (310) 650-­‐2130 On both February 2nd and 3rd, I received a citation for parking in front of a driveway. This particular driveway belongs to a vacant lot right across the street from my home. Not only is there no house to which the driveway belongs, but there is a fence surrounding the entire lot. The driveway leads to nowhere; therefore parking there creates no potential hazard. I have seen others park in this space throughout the six months I have been neighboring it. Additionally, I received two tickets during one parking instance. Had I seen the first ticket, I would have moved my car immediately. I am contesting this citation because I do not believe I have made a violation. Please let me know the decision within a week as to allow proper time for payment if this contestation is unapproved Thank you for your time. Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 26 V. Nutellate Advertisement I designed the following advertisement for a Business class while studying abroad in Spain, aimed to appear in magazines, newspapers, or billboards. The actual product does not really exist. We had to fill a gap in Spanish consumption by inventing a product we believe would be in demand. To give a brief bit of cultural background, plain churros dipped in a chocolate sauce is a traditional Spanish dish served for breakfast, desert, or anytime snacks. Cafes and restaurants serve this delicious duo in every city of the country. “Chocolaterías” serve almost nothing else, yet are still packed all hours of the day. This is likely due to the unbeatable array of dipping chocolate they provided to customers: white chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-­‐sweet chocolate, even orange-­‐ or banana-­‐flavored chocolate. Though churros are easy to make at home, the (in my opinion) most important half does not prove so easy. Now, on another note, Nutella dominates the market for spread in Europe. We make sandwiches with peanut butter and jelly, they with Nutella. I would argue there exists a jar somewhere in almost every Spanish household. Spaniards love “churros con chocolate.” Spaniards love Nutella. What could be better than a combination? I consulted my amigos before creating this project to see if this idea really was as great as it seemed to me. They wondered why nothing similar had come into the market yet (and I am still wondering when churros and chocolate will be introduced here). The “Nutellate” would have a milkier consistency perfect for dipping, and would be sold at grocers and businesses all around. This advertisement demonstrates my ability to create and market a good in high demand. Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 27 Mejor&Sabor.&Nutelláte.&
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Tome algo bueno y hágalo mejor con Nutelláte.
Calienta!y!Moja.!
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 28 VI. Wikipedia Article I edited the following Wikipedia article for my Multimedia Writing course. We were encouraged to edit articles about nonprofits or jobs we are interested in, so I thought it would be appropriate to write about where I work: the UCSB Annual Fund. Because only UCSB affiliates would have any interest in the programs we support, I decided against creating a separate page. Rather, I expanded what users in the past have posted on the university’s own page. The lack of information about our numerous free programs surprised me. They play a large roll in our rankings against other research or public universities. I added descriptions of the most popular ones in order to further develop a sufficient description of UCSB. Additionally, about one-­‐third of the student population uses Campus Learning and Services (CLAS) each year, proving how integrated these programs have become. About eight hours after I posted this section, someone edited my article. This student included a program to my list that I previously did not know much about: The Black Students Union. Although we do not advertise this specific program to donors at the Annual Fund, it does not make it any less important to the community as a whole. I included this article to show my comfort editing Wikipedia articles and understanding of what information users want. This is a very important aspect of business communications: knowing how to reach the proper audience in a relatable manner. This is especially true here, considering Wikipedia fills the high demand for easy-­‐to-­‐navigate explanations on a daily basis. I have learned the proper coding to create sections and subsections, weaving hyperlinks into plaintext, and have no qualms creating or editing other pages. I must note, the sample I included only shows what I edited personally. The article is still available on UCSB’s Wikipedia page with edits made. Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 29 !
Emily Oberhand’s Application for the Minor in Professional Writing 30