Paul Perez Jr.
Monday, December 6, 2010
What does it take to be a writer?
Writing is a process and like any real process in life, it takes time. During that time it requires practice, hard work, and dedication. Staying focused on your project and making sure to answer the tasks at hand are also key for success. Editors are your best friend but without this one key element, writing is just words. You, the writer, are the key that unlocks the door beyond. If you can open your mind and paint your heart on a page waiting for opportunity to mark it with a purpose, then and only then, will you be a writer!
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If you wish to use any part or form of my work, please consent me first for permission. If willing, I will provide you with the correct cite information. Please do not use or redistribute my work without my consent.
Thank you,
Paul Perez Jr.
paulwall242@gmail.com
Thank you,
Paul Perez Jr.
paulwall242@gmail.com
Editing Log
When you edit, you check your writing for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The more your readers must pay attention to errors in your writing, the less attention they'll pay to what you have to say.
In a section of your notebook or learning journal, record the errors you have made in your returned assignments. (They are marked with a check mark above the error.)
Date your entry and give the title of your essay. For each check mark, identify the type of error. Rewrite the sentence, correcting the error.
I was contacted by someone in the athletics department and mentioned that the man in the jumpsuit had recommended me for the job.
When You Wish Upon A Star (Assignment 1)
Born out of wedlock,… When it was read, it sounded as if my parents were born out of wedlock and misconstrued the meaning.
…do”, The problem was that the comma was out of the parenthesis. It should look like this: … do,”
…mothers, who… The problem here was a misusage of a comma. It should read: My mom had to go in search of government assistance and received W.I.C. (Women, Infants, & Children) which was designed to aid low-income mothers who were unable to provide sufficient fundamental needs to her child.
… on … The problem was word usage. It should read: My parents began having relationship issues, and at the age of eleven, decided that it was better to go their separate ways, after several years of arguing and abuse between each other.
… turrets. I think the error here was inaccurate information. It should say: turret syndrome
…adult; realizing… The problem was the misuse of a semi-colon. It didn’t separate the ideas properly. It should read: I made changes in my life embracing my new role as an adult realizing the true meaning of a greater calling.
…year, and… I misused a comma right here. It should read: I was able to excel making the varsity baseball team my freshman year and varsity basketball team my sophomore year.
…spell; talking… The problem was the misuse of a semi-colon. It didn’t separate the ideas properly. I eventually got rid of this sentence and the paragraph it was in entirely because it wasn’t complimenting my essay.
…those whom which I cared… This sentence was also omitted entirely.
…couple weeks… It wasn’t’ a smooth flow into the sentence. I changed it to look like this: Weeks later, I was contacted by someone in the athletics department and mentioned that the man in the jumpsuit had recommended me for the job.
…undergrad. The problem with this word choice was that it was already understood. So I omitted it completely.
Sex: Are You Involved? (Assignment #2)
… by… It was a problem with clarity and choice. It should read: This was a story that had been published by Spike TVs “1,000 Ways to Die.”
… it, why … It wasn’t clear what “it” means. It should read: … knowing that everyone else around you is sexually active. Why aren’t you?
… interviewee’s… It should read: Here is one interviewee’s response:
… changes, and… It was a comma error. It should read: Many experience the transformations of bodily changes and are now becoming attracted to the opposite sex.
… neglection… Was a grammar error. The word was omitted.
… lives. Left the reader without closure. It was later fixed for closure.
Is A Relationship Right For You? (Assignment 3)
Tennyson… The problem here was that I didn’t write it as a paraphrase, so it appeared as a direct quote. It should read: This paraphrase of Tennyson’s quote has…
… risk… The problem here was that I didn’t explain the risk so it is very open ended. It should read: But at such a high risk with your future being on the line, …
Well… The problem here was that when I started my sentence, it was really understood as a first step without it anyway. It should read: First I’d like to…
… lucky, that’s… The problem here was that I left this sentence fragmented. It should read: … consider yourself lucky. That’s right, I said lucky.
…. spouse … The problem here was meaning and clarity. After reading this I realized it led to a different understood meaning from what I had originated. It should read: … we tend to spend an over exaggerated amount of time and effort into that someone.
… 2… The problem here was that it was a lonely number and didn’t flow smoothly. It should read: … two…
… that… The problem here was that the sentence didn’t flow correctly so the word “that” wasn’t a good transition word. It should read: In a relationship, you meet someone and grow to develop strong feelings for them and choose to care about their well-being.
… validated… The problem here was the difficult meanings that were assumed when it was read. It should read: … and in the blink of an eye that relationship is over with, sometimes without closure or even peace of mind.
… woman, others ... The problem here was sentence structure. It should read: .. Rihanna had found Chris texting another woman. Others say it was because Rihanna gave Chris a sexually transmitted disease, …
… they’re… The problem here was wrong word usage. It should read: there
… neat … The problem here was spelling, it wasn’t the correct way to spell a certain word. It should read: near
… heir-line… The problem here was meaning and sentence word choice. It should read: Another is love, where there is no bond between you and a significant other, there is no normal conceivable way to continue your blood line.
Is A Relationship Right For You?
“Is it better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all?” This paraphrase of Tennyson’s quote has been used for over a century and allowed for people to contemplate if love is a worth-while, risk-taking factor. If you’ve ever been in a relationship or even developed feelings for someone you have experienced a form of love. It’s even ok to factor in a love for a family member. Now “love” has some serious effects that tend to alter the way we think, act, and decide much of our future. But at such a high risk with your future being on the line, is a relationship worth sacrificing your entire life for someone’s love? How can we know if we’re a good candidate for a relationship? Is there even such a thing? Or maybe there is.
First I’d like to entertain those who have yet to really experience the depth of this matter and haven’t dabbled in the waters, to get a taste of its effects. Relationships are a way of expression that humans are notoriously known for. We, as social creatures, love to be loved and like when people know so. We also have a tendency to be wanted and accepted in society and tend to cling to comfort, so when we see that there is an opportunity to be loved, we usually accept the invitation. If you have been single for most of your life consider yourself lucky. That’s right, I said lucky. I believe that relationships are chaotic, dramatic, and over exaggerated concept in life. Why do we force ourselves upon others when we see something we like and are so quick to change our lifestyle so quickly and abruptly? To go from single to a companion is an enormous change on perspective. Things can no longer relate to just you anymore.
Let’s take several perspectives on this concept. Consider a financial standpoint. With a lot of Americans today owing money to private sectors because of loans, school allowances, and other debts like credit cards, we are already a financial burden on society. Now when we get into a relationship, we tend to spend an over exaggerated amount of time and effort into that someone. We also like to prioritize our life around that person and will devote money to them, for gifts, dinners, etc., that could be spent elsewhere to better help your own financial status. What about if he or she is the one for you? Well, when you get married, that debt doesn’t go anywhere. As a matter of fact, you’ll probably be inheriting your spouse’s debt as well, leaving you double the debts you had before and now you are responsible for two people. Not only do I consider this an unfair burden to both you and your spouse, but it is also an unnecessary one, which can be easily avoided.
Another perspective I want to take is that of a family’s perspective. Have you ever heard the saying, “Blood is thicker than water?” This quote is meant to show that family ties and relations are much more strongly bonded than those of any other. From the time you were born to the time you decide to move out, your family has always been an influential factor, to help provide you with the most effective advice and most encouraging love. Families are forced to tolerate you; therefore they’ve grown a certain type of love that is unmatched because in spite of all your flaws and mistakes, they are still a supporting factor day in and day out. In a relationship, you meet someone and grow to develop strong feelings for them and choose to care about their well-being. After all, this is someone you want to love you too for the rest of your life or at least some form of that intent, right? Well your counterpart has no obligation to have feelings for you and no bond to force them to stay with you. Yeah, marriage is supposed to be a sacred bond, but as the United States’ divorce rate continues to grow, why would you even chance this sort of thing. Because your spouse is not forced to love you, they will always have the option to stop loving you, even so to the point where they stop talking to you altogether. Great excuses that come to mind are: “It’s not you, it’s me,” or “I choose to love you in spite of your flaws,” or “I need some me time.” There is a central meaning behind all of these saying “Hey, I’m beginning to grow tired of you so I’m going to be pursuing my future without you,” and in the blink of an eye that relationship is over with, sometimes without closure or even peace of mind.
My final perspective that I would like to entertain is that of a more physical atmosphere. Ever hear of domestic violence? Not everyone who gets into a relationship is Mr. or Ms. Joe Cool. People have tempers, anger management problems, outside influences, and many other issues that tend to let get in their way easily. Let’s take a previous example that has been quite popular, the Chris Brown and Rihanna incident. Chris Brown and Rihanna were driving together one night when an argument broke out. Speculation said it was because Rihanna had found Chris texting another woman. Others say it was because Rihanna gave Chris a sexually transmitted disease, but whatever the real reason was, there was a dispute anyway. When there dispute was over, Rihanna had had easily visible signs of physical abuse throughout her face and although Chris Brown didn’t have anywhere near the amount of damage done to him, I’m pretty sure he suffered from physical and even emotional abuse, as well a Rihanna. Weren’t these two celebrities madly in love with each other? Well, apparently they were mad about something which led to a domestic dispute that became too hot to handle for either one of them. Because they were so emotionally bonded there was a need to express their meaning in a special way that would show their feelings about the matter to someone they’ve learned to have strong feelings about, which led to the domestic dispute.
Now, I don’t wish to sound like the bearer of bad news or someone who is just bitter about relationships. I’ve had my fair share of experiences, some good some bad. Being single also has its advantages and disadvantages. When you remain single you tend to have more freedom in your everyday activities, your options are more open to what you wish to do. Focus is more easily distributed on family matters and availability for visitation is much more open as well. Financially you have more of a say so about your budget and also choose what you wish to invest your money in and how. However, the bachelor’s lifestyle has its disadvantages. Most visibly is the fact that you are alone, there is no one there to own that comforting spot. Another is love, where there is no bond between you and a significant other, there is no normal conceivable way to continue your blood line. Your income is also limited to a single salary. I think the main factor that is a disadvantage to being single is the absence of love. Love is a unique feeling of emotion that is wild and dangerous! It caused people to do drastic and crazy acts to please their loved one, which makes it all the more dangerous. However, this feeling has also created many happy memories for many people and has allowed us to build families and not just an overpopulated reproduction system. Love is a risky chance taking scheme that isn’t meant for everyone, but for those who are truly daring to try so.
The single life is meant for those who are still wanting or needing to focus more on their own personal needs and ways. It is meant to develop a person’s character to prepare themselves when opportunities arise. Relationships aren’t for everyone, and for those who have doubts, know that it is okay to be patient. If we all took time to think and made logical reasoning a main priority, rather than base our actions off of pure emotion then maybe there wouldn’t be so many issues with relationships.
“Is it better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved before?” The right answer to happiness is, “To each his own.”
Works Cited
Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem. Memoriam: 27 . 1850. Nov. 11, 2010. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/62650.html
Toppo, Greg. “Chris Brown-Rihanna incident could be 'teachable moment'.” USA Today. March 9, 2009.
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