Midterm

In my opinion, I feel that a person is unable to determine what type of writer they are based on how they write. You either right for the pure satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that it gives you, or because you are told to do so and will be penalized for failing complete the assignment, never realizing which category you fall into. But, with no choice in the matter, I am forced to place myself in a specific category as a writer.

The revision process is something that Type A writers see as never ending, that a piece of writing can never really be complete. Type A writers see writing as powerful words that speak to the reader, the stronger the vocabulary, the more clear and easier the message will be conveyed to the reader. Type A writers strive to eliminate redundancy in their writing, because they feel that it is unnecessary and frivolous. They feel that their writing and strong vocabulary is symbolic to the reader, and can ultimately make or break their success as a strong writer.
Type B writers feel that their writing is a “constant process,” that they can “go on forever” revising their work to suit the readers expectations. They feel that revision shapes their argument, confusing the beginning and the end. Type B writers feel that their readers shape their revisions, keeping in mind that the reader influences their writing.

After reading the characteristics of the two different types of writers, I feel that I do not fit into either of those categories, because as a writer, I feel that it is unfair and untrue to limit you and your writing to specific categories. But, for the purpose of this assignment, I will force myself to determine what type of writer I feel I am, based on the characteristics of each type of writer.

Although I feel that writing and revision is a constant process that can be never ending and that readers do shape your writing, I would place myself as a Type A writer. As a writer, I tend to be short and to the point, very rarely repeating myself or being redundant. If you clearly state where you stand on the topic or a specific argument, there is absolutely no reason to keep informing the reader of that, and repeating unnecessary information. As a writer, I try to express who I am as a person and my thoughts and emotions on a specific topic through a strong, meaningful vocabulary that can speak to the reader in a meaningful way. Ultimately, the reader holds all the cards. A writer can continuously revise a paper, but in the end, it will never be complete until you have written something that can please any and every reader.

As a writer, no matter how old or how experienced I am, there will always be strong pieces of writing, along with weaker pieces of writing. At this stage in my college career, I feel that one of my stronger pieces was writing an argument, which was titled “Put an End to Drunk Driving,” As an inexperienced writer, I feel that I am strong at writing arguments or persuasive essays. In this piece, I explain the consequences that drunk drivers would have to face when breaking the law and driving drunk. In my opinion, I feel that I was able to show the reader why passing a specific bill to penalize law breaking citizens in a clear, effective way, providing them with evidence and my personal opinion, while still acknowledging an objective point of view. As with all papers, there is still room for improvement. Taking into consideration the suggestions of the reader (Howard Tinberg) I would change the title to something shorter and attention grabbing. Also, I would re-read the essay, and pay close attention to grammar and remembering to cite the source.

Part of being a good writer is admitting when you have a weak piece of reading, because lets face it, no one is perfect, and neither is their writing. The first piece of writing that we did early in the semester was an in-class essay based on eating disorders. After re-reading this piece, I feel that this is the weaker of the three assignments we’ve completed this semester. It was difficult to write this piece, not only because it was the very first college essay that I have ever written, but also because it is such a pressing issue in today’s society. Although I feel that I made some strong points as to why so may young girls suffer from eating disorders and why, but I feel that this piece is not a strong representation of who I am as a writer. During the revision process, I would relate today’s epidemic of eating disorders to the disgustingly thin celebrities that young girls idolize, and dream of someday becoming. Also, I would state in the very beginning that I shared the same thoughts and feelings on the issue as Kilbourne, and use supporting evidence from her article. However, the one thing that I would not change, is that it may be a passing fad, just fashion or music. As society grows and changes, it is very possible that their view of beauty and envy may too.

A Beautiful Mind, a Beautiful Mystery

Award winning director Ron Howard has created a masterpiece, guiding the audience through John Forbes Nash Jr.'s (Russell Crowe) life starting with Nash as an astonishing young matmatician striving for that perfect original idea when he becomes entangled in a mysterious crime. This is a story of passion, struggle, and courage.

Through Howard’s directing and Crowe’s amazing performance portrays Nash's achievements, along with his flaws without showing mental illness as something that society frowns upon. Crowe's performance as John Nash is an honest, but true look at the price paid by people who suffer from schizophrenia and the toll it takes on families and friends.

"A Beautiful Mind" is the story of mathematical genius John Forbes Nash Jr. as he enters Princeton University, a bright student with all the tools in life to be successful and make a difference. Obsessed with the idea that his is always right and truly matters, he competes against other students in Princeton’s challenging math department. While studying in a bar surrounded by all of his competitors, he competes with them for the attention of the young, gorgeous women at the bar. After studying his classmates for a while, he develops his ‘game theory,” which earns him a position at MIT, where one of his tasks is to teach a math class to the eager minds of Princeton.

Jennifer Connelly enters as Alicia Larde, one of the eager minds in Nash;s class. Alicia quickly falls for the socially unacceptable, and rather boring Josh Nash. Her invitation of going to dinner together sparks a romance among the two, and brings life and excitement into Nash’s orderly world. Alicia is the one and only thing that will remain real and consistent in Nash’s own world as is condition worsens and becomes known.

In such a short time, director Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman are able to provide us with such a powerful story of pride, love, despair, compassion, and triumph. Russell Crowe is able to brilliantly capture the passion and devotion to his wife and his work, while striving for that never ending feeling of excellence. The amazing performance from Jennifer Connelly is unforgettable as she captures Nash’s wife Alicia with such compassion and emotion. "A Beautiful Mind" is easily one of the finest films that I have viewed in a long time, and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written, beautifully acted movie.

Put an End to Drunk Diriving-Airgument paper

For years now, Massachusetts has debated the issue of drunk driving. In recent years, the Massachusetts legislature has been presented with a bill from the Weld Administration. The bill states that a repeated drunk driver would have a marked drivers license for ten years, and have a place card which would be on their license plate whenever their vehicle was in use. This is known as a hardship license. Also, first and second time offenders would be allowed to receive treatment with written reasons from a judge Lastly, the legal alcohol level would be lowered from .10 to .08. Like any other bill, there are those who support it and those who oppose it. For example, Scott Harshbarger, Bill Weld, and MADD support it, while Daniel O’Connell and others oppose it. The Massachusetts State Legislature should pass the drunk driving bill, and increase the penalties of those to choose not to follow it.

Granted, policeman might violate rights to illegal searches; however, the letter on the license plate would allow officers and the community to easily identify repeated offenders. It’s the police officers job to ensure the safety of the community, and having the letter on an offenders license plate would allow them to their job appropriately.

The legal blood-alcohol level would be lowered from .10 to .08 if the bill were passed. Once the blood-alcohol level was lowered, officers would be able to catch more impaired drivers on the road, making it safer for innocent victims that are obeying the law. Also, the number of impaired drivers driver’s on the road would dramatically decrease due to officers being able to convict more people of drunk driving. A lowered blood-alcohol level may result in fewer people drinking, because the drivers desired amount to drink and then drive would change due to the new penalties that they would potentially face.

To all rules, there are exceptions or loop holes. In this bill, there is an exception to first and
second time offenders. If a driver is stopped for drunk driving for the first or second time, the intoxicated drivers license will not be marked. The operator of the vehicle would be taken to court and presented in front of a judge. From there, the judge would put it in writing that the driver has permission to receive alcohol treatment, and be spared the other penalties. Although not all drivers receive this treatment, those who did would mean one less drunk driver on the road, and one less innocent person being tragically hurt, or even killed.

More importantly, a repeated driver would carry a marked license for ten years, and have a hardship license. The hardship license would require the driver to have a removable mark on their license plate whenever their vehicle was in use. This would easily allow police to see and stop an offender at anytime. The marked license would allow the officer to see if the driver was convicted of this deadly crime if they did not have a hardship license. If a driver is caught under the influence, then their license and license plate will be marked so that the police and community can easily recognize when someone like that is on the road.

The Massachusetts State Legislature should do everything in it’s power to pass the drunk driving bill. The bill would allow repeated offenders to carry a hardship license. Also, first and second time offenders would receive the proper treatment with the approval of a judge to help them act more responsibly. A repeated drunk driver having to carry a marked license plate and receive treatment is a small price to pay compared to the suffering and pain that families of the people that have been hurt, or even killed by a drunk driver. If you don’t want a mark on your drivers licensee, then don’t drink and drive. Simple as that.