My English Experience
English 1010 Final Portfolio
Cassandra Hamphton
Salt Lake Community College
May 10, 2013
Table of Contents
Introduction: What I have learned from English
1010……………………………………pg.2
Reflection paper……………………….pg.5
Evaluation paper……………………….pg. 9
Analysis paper…………………………pg. 13
Research paper…………………………pg. 18
Introduction: What I have learned from English 1010
When I had first started this class I was worried because it had been at least six years since the
last time I had attended an English class. This class was also my first English class in my first
semester in college. I was very worried about how hard and time consuming this class would be
but as I progressed through the class I learned about some very useful writing tools and tips that
have helped me progress and write with more ease.
The first assignment that we had to do was our reflection paper and although the first time
writing it was meant to be fun and worry free I still overstressed it, well in the beginning at least.
I have always had a tendency to think that everything I write has to be perfect and if it didn’t turn
out perfect it would stress me out. This assignment taught me that in order to be an effective
writer I need to not be so critical on myself and just try to the best of my ability. Through this
assignment I also learned the art of descriptive writing. While I have done assignments that
required descriptive writing before I was never graded so critically on it. I do appreciate that I
was though because it really helped clarify what mistakes I had been making and give me useful
constructive criticism. I have learned through this class that there is no point in getting upset by
criticism because it is criticism that helps you better yourself and it is up to you to put it to use.
The second paper we had done was the evaluation paper. This assignment was a new experience
for me. This assignment in addition to the reflection paper taught me the importance of being
descriptive to help paint the picture you wish to portray. This assignment also was the first time I
had to cite any references before. I had never done that in any assignment I had did in high
school. I also learned that there are different formats for citing which was something that was
also new to me as well. I do remember touching on the subject briefly in high school but it was
never put to use.
The third assignment was new to me as well and fairly tough. It taught me to really analyze an
author’s writing. I have never had to do that before so I was lost when I first started. What I had
learned in this class though really helped me focus on what I needed to look for in order to
properly analyze a piece of literature. When I would read something in the past I never really
thought to analyze the way it was written or the what the writer was doing to try and persuade
their audience. I now look at each form of literature with a bit more clarity and understanding.
The fourth assignment was the research paper. I have had experience in doing something like this
before in high school but nothing to this extent. I have always gotten by with using one or two
sources of information in a research paper and there had usually been only a two page
requirement or so for them. This assignment taught me to really research a subject in depth. It
has also taught me to cite my references better as well. I have never had any practice doing this
so this assignment did me good.
Reflection Paper
My mind was like a broken record repeatedly playing the same words over and over in
my head it’s only a dream, it’s only a dream. My heart raced rapidly and the world that I knew
came crumbling down on me. The feeling of despair began coursing through my body quickly
bringing me to the harsh realization that this was all real. The heartrending looks displayed
across the faces of my family confirmed what my head and my heart were just coming to terms
with.
The night had started out like any other night. My sister and I were having one of our
infamous slumber parties. Our slumber parties only came about when our parents would go out
of town for the night. The aroma of popcorn filled the air and the clacking of the super nintendo
controllers echoed with the sounds of intense gameplay. The night was filled with fun, laughter,
and the inevitable fights that would occur between my sister and me. The night quickly
approached and with it my ability to stay awake slowly began fading away until I lay there fast
asleep.
I remember dreaming that night about the smell of cigarettes and the arms of my
grandfather shaking me gently whispering to me in a rushed and worried voice. I was not
dreaming about these things unfortunately. My grandfather had been unsuccessfully trying to
rouse me for quite some time but my body and mind were immersed in a very deep slumber. If
my sister had not taken it upon herself to begin hollering at me I never would have been able to
wake myself up to see what all the commotion was about.
My mind was still in a half asleep state when I finally climbed out of bed, not really able
to fully process what I was being told to do at the time. The few commands I picked out from the
rush of voices were to get myself dressed warmly and to get my shoes on because we were
leaving the house. When I had successfully gotten myself dressed my sister, my grandfather and
I head out the door to get in my grandfather’s car.
As we marched outside towards the car the bitter cold air gnawed viciously at our faces
leaving bright red streaks strewn across our cheeks. We clambered into the back of my
grandfather’s car, put our seatbelts on and prepared ourselves for the ride ahead. We had only
been in the car for a short while when I finally became conscious enough to ask my grandfather
where we were going. His response was very abrupt “We are going to get your father”. The
terseness of his response led me to the conclusion that any further questions I had at that time
would be unwise to ask.
As we drove towards my father’s location never ending rows of cornfields began to
engulf the scenery around us bringing about a dark and eerie presence. The ride itself only took
about a half an hour to reach our destination.
As we pulled up to our destination an old wooden gas station came into view. There were
only two pumps and a small mom and pop convenience store which was closed at the time. As
we pulled up I saw my father standing there facing away from the car talking on a payphone. My
sister had finally decided to wake up once we reached the gas station. After a short while my
father hung up the phone, turned around and climbed into the car without even glancing back to
look at me or my sister.
The first five minutes of the ride home were done in absolute silence. It took the courage
of my sister to finally ask the question that had been on both of our minds. “Where is mom?” she
asked cautiously. The silence in the car was almost deafening. After several minutes my father
turned around to look at us. His face was covered in red splotches with faint but visible streaks
where tears had previously fallen. His eyes were still lightly brimmed with tears that you could
tell he was trying so desperately to keep from pouring out. “Your mom is in the hospital” he
whispered in a hoarse voice.
It never occurred to me to be overly worried at that time about my mother. My mind was
content with what I had been told and none the wiser of the situation at hand. It wasn’t until we
arrived home that I thought otherwise. “Why aren’t we going to go see mom?” He said nothing
back to me as he exited the car and headed towards the house. I turned and looked at my sister
but she did not acknowledge me. An expressional stare was strewn across her face and I knew
that her mind was a million miles away.
We finally all got into the house and the first thing I could see was my father talking on
the phone again. When he saw us walk in he instantly placed the phone down on the receiver and
asked us to sit down on the couch. We ambled our way over to the couch not knowing what our
father had to say but knowing from the look in his eyes that it was nothing we wanted to hear. He
began speaking to us and as he did he broke down and began to sob. “Your mom has passed
away”, he said in between sobs. It felt like somebody had reached into my chest and was tightly
gripping onto my heart. The pain was almost unbearable.
“I don’t believe you” I muttered. I knew that deep down he was telling the truth but my
mind was trying to convince me otherwise. He didn’t say anything to me after I had said that. I
knew after several minutes that the lack of response from my family meant that he was telling
the truth. My father pulled my sister and me into a tight embrace. My grandfather stood behind
my father on the couch and placed his hands on his shoulders trying to show his support in the
best way he knew how. We had all broken down at this point and began crying clinging onto
each other. After a while I broke myself free from my family not being able to take the intensity
of the moment anymore. I rushed myself to my roomed and climbed into bed. I lay there in my
bed crying myself to sleep knowing that nothing was ever going to be the same again.
Restaurant Review: The Olive Garden: Murray, UT
The Olive Garden for many years has been known as the common man’s place to have a
genuine Italian dining experience without the high cost that is associated with a majority of
Italian restaurants. The first Olive Garden was opened by General Mills on December 13, 1982
in Orlando, Florida. There are currently more than 780 operational locations around the world.
The founders of Olive Garden opened up their own cooking school in 1999 called Institute of
Tuscany. They send many of their employees to this school to learn to prepare and cook
authentic Italian food.
The Olive Garden is involved in many community and worldwide charities. One of the
many they are involved in is called “Pasta for Pennies.” This program is where students from 1st
to 12th grade donate spare change that is given to the patients and families affected by Leukemia
or Lymphoma. This program is participated in, in over 71,000 schools. According to the article
“Kids put in more than their two cents for research, “Students donated a record $8.4 million
during last year’s Pasta for Pennies, to bring the total amount collected since the program’s
inception to more than $61 million.”
They also support a program called “The Giving Tree Program”. This program was
started so that guests can provide gifts to “children’s organizations, senior centers, or other
organizations during the holiday season” (olivegarden.com).
The Murray restaurant is located in front of the Fashion Place mall on State Street at
about 6300 south in Murray, Utah. This location would be considered to be a desirable place to
have a business due to the heavy flow of continuous traffic that accumulates in the area. The
parking situation for Olive garden is less than desirable as there are limited spaces to park next to
the restaurant itself. You can park in the mall’s parking lot if you do not mind walking but it is
an inconvenience that could cause frustration.
The physical appearance of the building itself does not really accomplish the theme in
which they wish to portray which is that of a Tuscan farmhouse. As you walk inside the scenery
drastically changes from a drab orange roof and light tan walls on the outside to clay red and
cream walls adorned with Italian inspired decorations on the inside. There are racks of wine
lining the walls as well as pictures of wineries and Tuscan farmhouses. There is Italian-themed
music playing in the background and low hanging lights adorned throughout the restaurant that
give off an amber glow producing a warm and homey atmosphere.
There is no delay in being greeted by the hostess when you walk in and within minutes of
being greeted you are being seated at a golden brown wooden table. The servers are polite,
attentive, and prompt in completing the tasks they are assigned. The server asked what we would
like to drink, took our order and made the promise that he would be back in just a little bit, true
to his word he returned promptly with our drinks in hand. There was never a shortage of drinks,
breadsticks, or soup on the table due to the multiple servants attending the area to ensure that all
needs were addressed promptly.
There is a wide selection of dishes to choose from at Olive Garden such as Lasagna
Classico ($13.25), Fettuccine Alfredo ($11.95), Spaghetti with Meat Sauce ($10.95), Cheese
Ravioli ($11.50), and Pizza ($11.95+)to name a few. They also have a decent selection of glutenfree entrees on their gluten-free menu to appease any gluten intolerant guests. Their drink
selections are fairly vast containing options such as water, coke products, juices, Italian sodas,
cocktails, and an extensive wine list provided to you with several different types of wine to
choose from. If you choose a wine to go with your meal the server will assist you in choosing a
wine that will best compliment the dish you have chosen. “While certain wine and food pairings
naturally complement each other, enjoying a great pairing is ultimately a matter of personal
preference” (olivegarden.com). If you have a sweet tooth there are also a decent variety of
desserts to choose from such as the tiramisu ($6.25), chocolate mousse cake ($4.95), Zepoli
($6.95), etc.
Once the food had been ordered it was delivered to us within less than 10 minutes of
ordering it. The aroma of the food was invigorating to the nose and to the taste buds just as well.
The chicken parmigiana ($14.25) was divine. The meal comes with your choice of soup or a
salad on the side. The chicken was battered and crisped to perfection with the perfect amount of
parmesan cheese spread atop each breast. The noodles were tender and coated in a delectable
marinara sauce that contains various herbs and spices. The amount of food provided per entrée
was almost enough to feed two adults alone not including the breadsticks and soup that were
previously provided.
There is usually a certain moment of dread that you experience when it comes time to
receive your check but the fear is short lived when you dine at this establishment. The food is
moderately priced for the well prepared, large portions of food that you receive and also for the
high quality attentiveness that you encounter from the staff. The entrees average around $10-$12
dollars per plate and the drinks vary from $2-$5 dollars for non-alcoholic beverages and $4+ for
any alcoholic beverages. They do have specials going on for people that are looking to save a
little more on their meal but the specials are always varying.
In comparison to other Italian themed restaurants this one is a clear winner when it comes
to quality of food, service, and atmosphere. If you are looking for a high quality Italian dining
experience with high quality food at a moderate price then Olive Gardens where you’ll want to
be.
Works Cited
Kids Put in More Than Their Two Cents for Cancer Research.” Olivegarden.com. Darden
concepts,2013.Web. 23 Mar. 2013
Olivegarden.com. Darden concepts, 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2013.
The Government Wants Your DNA
In the article “The Government Wants Your DNA,” Erin Murphy explains how the
government is broadening the use of the DNA testing which in turn is posing a threat to the civil
liberties of the American public. She also writes on the subject that the government is gathering
DNA from individuals when making an arrest even if the individual has not yet been charged
with a crime. Murphy effectively uses ethos and logos to prove that the handling of ones’ DNA
is not being done in an appropriate manner and it is causing a large threat to many United
States citizens whether or not they know it.
“Erin Murphy is a professor of law at the New York University School of Law and is
considered an expert on the use of DNA in criminal investigations. Her research focuses on
technology and privacy in the criminal justice system, with a particular emphasis on street
crime” (The Government Wants Your DNA 74).
Murphy’s article is directed towards the general public and the law abiding citizens that
are negatively affected by the practices of the government when it comes to handling and
obtaining DNA. She uses Logos to provide sufficient proof by using real life stories that help
show that the use of a DNA database can be just as counterproductive as it is productive. She
provides an example of a serial killer called the “Grim Sleeper” that was caught due to the use
of a DNA database search known as kinship: “kinship is a technique that looks for partial DNA
matches because related people tend to share more DNA with one another than they would
with a complete stranger” (Murphy 74). This was used on an individual who was arrested on a
weapons offense. They gathered his DNA and found that it matched fairly closely with the DNA
found at crime scenes caused by the “Grim Sleeper”. The dates of the crimes that were
committed did not coincide very well with the age of the man in question but it did lead the
investigation to an older individual with similar DNA, the father, this lead to the capture of the
serial killer known as the “Grim Sleeper”. This example of logos that Murphy provides helps her
establish with the public that she recognizes the good that DNA gathering can do but she also
follows up with an example that shows it can also be used inappropriately. She goes on to talk
about an instance where officers on the search for a killer, conducted what is called a DNA
dragnet. “A dragnet is a broad sweep of DNA samples from men matching the purported
description of a killer” (Murphy 74).
“In the 2000s states increasingly began to require samples from offenders convicted of
less serious felonies or even misdemeanors” (Murphy 75). Murphy goes on to explain that
more than half of the states have laws that allow them to take a DNA from an individual
immediately before any charges are formally placed against them. She uses this information in
the form of logos to help provide statistical evidence showing that this act is put into use more
than what was probably expected. Murphy is effective in portraying the fact that our DNA is
being taken without any second thoughts and that with it our rights as well. She also uses this
statistic to add the shock value to help make people realize that this happening more often
than expected.
The author also explains in the article that the comparison process that is used to help
identify people with similar characteristics of the suspected criminal is far from perfect. Murphy
states that “even today the potential for mistaken matches is greater than TV crime shows
would have you think” (Murphy 76). She uses ethos in this quote by using the formal
knowledge and experience she has in the area of DNA testing to let people know that she
knows the process and confirms that it is flawed and has the potential to cause more cases of
mistaken identity than people would think. Murphy’s extensive knowledge helps establish
credibility in what she is saying.
Murphy predicts that “in the future our DNA will be used as commonly as the practices
of credit searches and bag and body searches at airports, buildings and schools” (77). She uses
this to help identify with everybody in this statement to help establish the potential threat this
can cause in the future if nothing is done to help establish a set of rules to regulate the use of
DNA. Murphy suggests that laws be put into place to help protect the rights of individuals so
that DNA testing can be used under the right circumstances. She makes the point that the
government should report to the public in their findings of DNA testing. She believes that the
government should inform the public of the successes that have been achieved by the use of
DNA testing. “We have amassed millions of gene profiles, but no one can say how many arrests
have resulted from collecting this information, much less how many convictions and for what
offenses. Are these infractions for second-degree murder or merely for marijuana busts?”
(Murphy 77).
Erin Murphy uses logos for the most part to help support her argument in this article. She
provides an astounding amount of factual data in the form of research that she has done
throughout her personal career. She also uses logos by using real life stories that have
documented court history to help establish her point. She applies the use of pathos in the real
life stories that she has added into the article by appealing to the common mans’ emotions and
helping them think of how they would feel if they were put into a situation where their DNA
was used fraudulently. Murphy believes that the public is not informed of the potential abuse
that having ones’ DNA can cause and that something needs to be done to help establish laws to
protect the innocent.
Works Cited
Murphy, Erin. “The Government Wants Your DNA.” Scientific American Mar. 2013: 72-77. Print.
Research paper: Should the Age Limit for Alcohol Consumption be Lowered to the age of 18?
All 50 US States have their legal drinking age limit set at 21, although there are
exceptions that vary from state to state that allow consumption at a younger age. You may be
able to argue tthe fact that if you are considered an adult at 18 you should be able to make
your own decisions when it comes to consuming alcohol. You could also argue that if the age
limit was set at 18 it would decrease the number of fatalities and injuries associated with
underage drinking. The current age limit is set at 21 for a reason, to help reduce the number of
fatalities and injuries associated with drinking as well as to better preserve the physical and
mental state of underage individuals. There is enough valuable and credible evidence to prove
that drinking before the age of 21 not only poses a threat to an individuals’ physical and mental
health but it also increases the number of injuries, fatalities, and underage drinkers.
The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking states
that, “an estimated 5,000 people under the age of 21 die each year from alcohol related
injuries” (camy.org). According to an article by ProCon.org titled Should the drinking age be
lowered from 21 to a younger age? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
estimated that by making the legal drinking limit 21 it decreased the number of fatal traffic
accidents for 18- to 20-year-olds by 13% and saved an estimated 27,052 lives from the years
1975-2008(Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered?).
The most common form of underage drinking comes from college students. When the
word college comes to mind it brings with it the image of young individuals involved in drinking
and the use of other illegal substances. According to The Surgeon General “studies consistently
show that about eighty percent of college students drink and that approximately 600,000
students are unintentionally injured due to being under the influence of alcohol”(Consequences
of Underage Drinking). If those numbers were not shocking enough in and of itself, The Surgeon
General also states, “that an estimated 700,000 students a year are assaulted by other students
under the influence of alcohol and that 100,000 students a year are sexually assaulted while
under the influence of alcohol”(Consequences of Underage Drinking). If the age limit were to be
lowered to age of 18 there could be an increased number in underage drinking due to the fact
that high school students would be allowed to purchase alcohol once they reach the
appropriate age. This would give younger high school students another opportunity to illegally
obtain and consume alcohol. Which in could turn lead to higher percentages of alcohol related
injuries, fatalities, and sexual misconduct. It has been reported by the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention that a survey taken by high school students showed “that in the last 30
days 39% drank some amount of alcohol, 22% binge drank, 8% drove after drinking alcohol, and
24% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol”(Alcohol and Public Health).
In addition to the injuries, fatalities, and sexual misconduct that is associated with
underage drinking there are also severe negative mental effects associated with it as well. In an
article written by Melodee Hanes called Effects and Consequences of Underage Drinking it
states that recent research has proven that the human brain continues developing until the age
of 25 and that alcohol consumption under this age “can affect brain development and may
result in long term negative effects”. One of the negative effects that alcohol has on the
underage brain is that it causes the Hippocampi, which is the part of the brain that handles
memories and learning, to be ten percent smaller compared to underage people that do not
drink (Hanes: Effects and Consequences of Underage Drinking). Hanes also states that alcohol
has toxic effects on the Myelination process which helps stabilizes and speed the brain process
(Effects and Consequences of Underage Drinking). If there is a disruption in the Myelination
process it can produce cognitive deficiencies which may ultimately “keep youth from advancing
to more complex stages of thinking and social interaction ( Hanes: Effects and Consequences of
Underage Drinking).”
When it comes to the subject of the teenage mind most people see it as an unstable
animal ready to explode at any minute. Hanes says that “Adolescents have unique social and
emotional characteristics and these characteristics increase the likelihood that youth will find
themselves in dangerous and risky situations when using alcohol at a time when they are
particularly vulnerable to negative outcomes from drinking”(Effects and Consequences of
Underage Drinking). This state of mind could lead an underage individual to do things that they
would not otherwise do in a sober state. The CDC mentions that “youth who drink alcohol are
at a higher risk for suicide and homicide, abuse of other drugs, and death from alcohol
poisoning (Alcohol and Public Health)”, to name a few.
In addition to the mental effects alcohol has on an underage individual there are also short
term and long term physical effects associated with underage drinking. The Surgeon General
states, “That the highest prevalence of alcohol dependence is among people ages 1820”(Camy.org). If an individual has an alcohol dependence and they are unable to overcome it
they are subject to possible physical and psychological damage in their future. In the book
Alcohol and its Health Effects, George Kariuki lists and describes many possible illnesses that
could arise from alcohol dependence or as he states it “Alcoholism”. Kariuki states that some of
the common physical symptoms you can experience from drinking a long period of time are
reduction in appetite, sound sleep interference, malnutrition, shaking/shivering, or nervousness
(32-33). There are also many diseases as well such as cirrhosis (A.K.A liver cancer), Alcohol
Hepatitis, Alcoholic Ketoacidosis, terminal cancer, etc. (32-34).
It has been proven that the number of underage drinkers has diminished since the legal
age limit was set at 21. The CDC reports that 18 to 20 year olds alcohol consumption declined
significantly from 59% in 1985 to 40% in 1991 (Alcohol and Public Health). While this number
may not seem very impressive it definitely helps cut down the amount of money that is spent
each year in correlation with alcohol and alcohol related expenses. In an estimate made by the
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, it was concluded that in 2007 the total cost
associated with underage drinking was 68 billion dollars. Hanes says that “the immediate costs
of underage drinking include personal costs and costs to a drinker’s family, community, and
legal system” (Effects and Consequences of Underage Drinking). If the legal age limit is lowered
to 18 this number has the very real potential to increase and with it the amount of taxes an
individual pays would increase as well.
With all of the evidence presented it would seem that lowering the age limit to 18
would be unwise. The decline in fatalities, injuries, and underage drinkers is proof that leaving
the legal age limit at 21 is beneficial to both the underage individuals as well as every other
person on this planet. Unfortunately not everybody feels that the evidence provided is
sufficient enough to conclude whether or not the age limit should remain at 21. When it comes
to making your own decision on the matter education is key.
Works Cited
Kariuki, George. Alcohol and its Health Effects. Wit International, 2010. Print.
“Alcohol and Public Health.”CDC.gov. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Jan. 2013. Web.
April 21, 2013.
“Consequences of Underage Drinking.” Camy.org. The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth.n.d. Web.
Apr. 21, 2013.
”Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?” ProCon.org. ProCon.org.
12 Apr. 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.
Hanes, Melodee. “Effects and Consequences of Underage Drinking.” OJJDP.gov. The Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.