Saturday, December 10, 2011

Cover Letter

This is my portfolio! It's combined of the five writing projects that I finished this semester. My best work is shown in all of them because individually I try my best no matter what the assignment may be. Even though I try my best, I still need to work on my word choice as well as my organization skills because sometimes I read my rough draft and see the fragments that I inserted for no reason. Some of my strengths are supporting the main topic and also wrapping up the story with a nice, well-rounded conclusion. I suggest that I get an A on my portfolio because of my hard effort put into this class, as well as the time and thought put into each and every single project I finished. I also have learned many different things about writing, like about different kinds of letters, grammar, essays, and even how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! I love writing, so in the future I will always use the information learned in this class to my benefit, try to learn new writing techniques, and will continue to write until the last day I stand.

Essay/Writing Project 5

Travis Ney                                                                                                                         



Emily Miller



ENG 091



December 10, 2011
Pinnacle High School

            Pinnacle High School is very different from other schools, but its fun and also it has hands on activities. Being totally diverse to other schools, it’s all on the computer. Some may think it’s easier and some won’t. Even though you might not think it would be easy or fun, it definitely is because of the clubs, the activities, and all of the useful help provided. Every single morning, even if I had a bad day, I walk out of class with a smile on my face.
            First, Pinnacle has many fun clubs. They usually have at least ten to twenty people for each club. One of the entertaining clubs is the social problems club. This specific club keeps you involved and on your toes almost at all times. Each person talks about problems or challenges that they are facing while the rest support the individual and help out with the situation. It basically shapes you as a person for the future. Some other clubs are chess club, student council and the Honor’s club. The chess club gets together every Tuesday and attends several tournaments around the valley on the weekends to keep everybody on key. The Honor’s club does activities like making posters or promoting certain events like dances and assemblies. With a large variety of clubs, there is an endless amount of fun that comes along with it.
Second, the activities are also fun and amusing. We have races to see who can finish the math sheet the fastest. The winner gets a free big bag of Doritos as a nice treat. Another activity is when we are done with our work; we get to watch movies occasionally on Fridays. This is not only relaxing, but it’s entertaining and is always looked forward to as well. The activities are definitely different from other schools and keep the students participating.  For example at normal schools the teachers are always trying to keep their children quiet and get off track, but at Pinnacle your aloud to talk and work together on our activities so we can submit our best work.
Finally, the last reason why Pinnacle is so joyful for the students is because all of the useful help given to you by your peers, but most of all your teachers. There are two teachers in each room to assist you with whatever problems you may encounter. One teacher sits at his or her desk for a bit then helps, while the other walks around checking up on individuals that need the assistance.  The fact that its fun comes from the excellent grades you receive at the end of the class. The excitement runs through your body and it makes you feel better then ever.
            Pinnacle will have you tuned in while you’re in class and it’s absolutely a fun environment to be in at all times. The clubs, activities, and the great help that they provide you with really will make you shake out of your socks in excitement and receive the grade you always wanted in your classes.                            
                                                              (523 words)

Writing Project 4

Travis Ney                                                                                                                         



Emily Miller



ENG 091



October 4, 2011

Shocking Comeback
           
            Last week I witnessed a shocking win at the MMA arena in Gilbert. My brother T.J. entered a grappling tournament to increase his ground skills for his MMA. As the match started, both T.J and his opponent circled each other. That led to them tying up, taking each other down, as well as them both making many submission attempts. Towards the end of that match my brother got caught in a tight triangle chock while taking his opponent to the ground. Trying to escape, T.J couldn’t get his neck loose to save his life. Being locked around his neck for nearly two minutes, his face started turning bright purple. Twisting and turning only made the lock even tighter and he knew he had to make an abrupt change in his position as soon as possible. Using every little last muscle in his body, T.J miraculously managed to slip out. Quickly after, he caught his opponent’s arm and finished the match off with an arm bar. That was the match of his life and it surely was an amazing thing to watch and as well talk about at the end of the day.

(204 words)

Writing Project 3

Travis Ney                                                                                                                                    

Emily Miller

ENG 091

October 4, 2011
A Loser
            A loser is a person who is addicted to video games, sits at home all day, and doesn’t have any friends. First, a loser is really addicted to video games. Whenever they have free time in the day, they jump straight to their television. Spending about half of the day watching T.V. to some might be boring, but losers always look forward to it. They always put video games as a top priority in their day as well and also play games for long periods of time. Second, a loser sits at home all day long. They never leave the house unless they need to check the mail or have other relevant things to do. Also they never make plans with anybody, go to school, or even have a job. A loser is hands down just a couch potato. Finally, a loser doesn’t have any friends. They separate themselves either from people at school or even in their neighborhood. Not finding friends easy can be frustrating so as a result they hide in their house. Also they obviously aren’t social with many people besides their family members. Even though a loser is a very unique individual, there are plenty of them that live in our world today and they will continue to have that “L” right in the middle of their foreheads forever.

Writing Project 2

Travis Ney

Emily Miller

ENG 091

October 13, 2011
                                                  Christmas and Halloween
    Christmas and Halloween are different in several ways, especially what you eat, who you spend more time with, and the vibe of both days. First, the things you eat are different because you eat ham or mashed potatoes on Christmas and on Halloween you just have a normal dinner. Also you collect crazy amounts of candy to rot your teeth, which you don't get too much of on Christmas. Second, Christmas is all about family and not so much friends. You spend the whole day hanging out with your family and create tighter relationships between each other. Halloween on the other hand, you’re out with your friends going door to door usually for most of the night. Last, the vibes of both holidays are very different. On Christmas you are excited and happy and also loved, but when it comes to Halloween you are scared and the whole feeling isn't the same. Halloween has a spookier mood and Christmas is more of a happy environment filled with love. Both holidays are very different when it comes to the things you eat or who you spend the day with, but they are really easy to tell apart because when it’s Christmas you get presents and on Halloween you get candy.                                              (223 words)

Writing Project 1

Travis Ney
Emily Miller

ENG 091
October 5, 2011
                                                  Studying For an Exam
Studying for an exam can be very important for when you’re in high school and also in the future when you’re in college. There are three good techniques you need to do or use when studying for your next big test or exam. The first thing you should do is read over the chapters or assignments and also take notes. Taking notes will help you remember certain phrases or other relevant information related to the test. It also will help you because the more you look over your work or notes, the higher chance you have of getting a good grade. When it comes to reviewing your chapters or assignments, it helps you remember the bolded words or headings that were in chapters. Second, you write down in your notes some key words or vocabulary you don't understand, so after that you can figure out the definitions to them all. Last, you need to create flashcards for either vocabulary, words you don't know, or even key words that trigger your memory on certain information. Also if you have extra time you can copy your notes on your flashcards and get rid of your notes for more convenience. Exams are important to pass, so with these techniques you are sure to get a nice grade in the end.    
                                                      230 words

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Quiz 11/5/11

An event that I can remember is the first day when I started high school. I learned quickly that procrastinating is totally wrong and that finishing on time is key for anything in life. On the first day of school my teachers all decided to hand out homework that was due on Friday. For two of the classes they were essays. Not knowing what high school is all about, I went on the week wondering about the things I like to do and not finishing my homework until thursday. I had questions to ask, but time was running out, so the best thing I could do is try my best. All though it didn't work out for me because I turned it in late, I learned that its better late then never, but never late is better.