Table Of Contents

Table of Contents Dear Reader Introduction To Major Writing Assignment From Tranquil to Terror Introduction to Effective Writing "Two Ways of Viewing The River" Introduction To Analytical Writing Three Cup's of Tea Introduction To Readers Choice An Inventory Of Being Thank You

Dear Reader

I worked as a paramedic most of my adult life. Nursing or P.A school was always something I assumed I would eventually get to. After I was injured on the job and told my career in this field was over, I accepted it and moved on to other things I loved like, training dogs for service. It wasn’t until last year in a rural section of Minnesota I came upon an accident that made me reassess my direction. Seconds before my arrival, a young teenage boy had fallen while long boarding down a steep hill and sustained a significant head injury.

Because of the location I knew it would be some time before the ambulance arrived and that there was a good possibility it would be a BLS (basic life support) crew I knew that if this young man had any chance whatsoever, to live it was imperative that certain actions were put into play. The time between the BLS crew arriving, evaluating and then having to call for a paramedic who could provide more advanced care (ALS) would be too long. I convinced the 911 operator to patch me directly to the ER Md, to whom I reported the critical stages of the boy’s condition. Thankfully the MD trusted and agreed with me. He immediately ordered a dispatch of an ALS unit. He also ordered a diversion to a trauma center where a neurosurgeon and trauma team were waiting his arrival.

That young man is alive today because of this extraordinary TEAM effort that included everyone involved, from bystanders,the 911 operater, fire, and police along with the hospital staff. Because of this team, coupled with the amazing faith and support of his family, after 36 days in a coma and a surprisingly short few months of rehabilitation, today, almost exactly 1 year later Sam,is back in college working towards his future.I know that in this case I did play an important role in Sam’s miraculous recovery but, as I have learned over the 16 years I worked in the field of emergency medicine,it is only by a collaboration of team players that miracles like this happen everyday. Personally, I became aware of how much I missed being a part of that kind of group effort and every aspect of patient care. So after letting those thoughts stew for a few months along with some relentless badgering from family and friends I decided to add a detour to my path.

Today,almost exactly one year later, I am also back in school working towards my future and the next phase of my career. Its exciting to be back in school the pace suits me and it feels good to get my rusty synapses fired up again. I decided to take Eng 98 as well as 101 because, the ability to write clearly and effectively it is a crucial skill to have while moving forward in school as well as my future career.

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” Robert McCloskey

The quote above is the header of my blog, I thought it was appropriate for my E –Portfolio as well because this is how I have always viewed my writing. I have struggled with the ability convey my thoughts onto paper and have it read as it did in my head. I always felt as though I never really learned how to write properly. I had much to say but didn’t know or have the confidence to do more of it.At work I was able to produce immaculate run reports for my job, but they are 80% abbreviated in medical shorthand and it was essentially telling a story verbatim.It was when I found myself writing a letter or something of that sort, I would struggle however,I am sure a lot if it was my being overcritical along with a confidence issue.

This class has afforded me the opportunity to try my hand at a variety of writing skills. Through homework, class participation and the essays I can proudly say that this class has helped me realize my potential as a writer. I now know that I CAN articulate my thoughts correctly. I do still struggle with the grammar aspect and have put comas in places that no comma should ever be forced to go, but I will keep trying.

This new skill in progress is something I am really starting to enjoy. The revision process seems to have gotten a little shorter, the ideas come a little easier and I appreciate more than ever the books I am reading. I am having fun being creative and trying to expand my vocabulary and I have also started to keep a journal. This is something I have always wanted to do. I regret that I didn’t have the confidence to write down my thoughts and memories of some pretty great, and not so great life experiences so that I would have the chance to reflect on them later. I am a big thinker, I run out of room in my head and if I cant talk about something its nice to know that now I can, and will write about it.

Introduction To Major Writing Assignment

The first major writing assignment for the class was to write comparison/contrast essay.This is the first piece I have chosen to share with you.The title is “From Tranquil to Terror”. I remember my frustration at trying to decide what my topic would be. I knew the topic needed to be strong but not so complex that I could not break it down into content that was reasonable to structure in the three pages I was assigned. That said, my topic went from comparing all of the oceans, to comparing lakes and oceans, and finally to comparing two aspects of the ocean. I settled on this topic because I was able to base a lot of the content on my own personal experience. I found this topic to be a great choice for a compare and contrast essay, because I feel as though I was able to show how something that looks one way can be deceiving and can change drastically. I believe the title is a good reflection of this. What I really liked and seemed to capture the idea of my essay was a quote by author Herman Melville, taken from his novel Moby Dick.

"These are the times of dreamy quietude.when beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the oceans skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember,that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang"

In the end, after three drafts and countless revisions, I was very satisfied with the paper. I felt like I was really able to create the kind of visual experience that I enjoy so much when I read. I was able to do this by using personal examples and supporting them with creative details.
I hope you enjoy it.

From Tranquil to Terror

“These are the times of dreamy quietude, when beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang”.
Melville (Moby Dick)

Beaches are one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. Thousands flock to idealistic paradise-like locations in other countries as well as the equally enjoyable coastal regions of North America so that they can bask in the warm sun, feel the sand between their toes, and enjoy the tranquil waters of the ocean. Oddly, many of the same people who repeatedly make this pilgrimage will stick no more than one foot in the water. They are “afraid” they say, so they spend their beach time anchored to the sand by their fear. What is it that they are afraid of? The potential of seeing themselves served up as the happy hour appetizer for a Great White? Or perhaps they are tapped into the notion that beyond the familiar life that lives within the sea, the ocean itself is alive, and with little warning, its tranquil atmosphere can change from being beautiful and serene to so ferocious, so devastatingly powerful it becomes a far more dangerous predator than a measly shark.

As a child I was fortunate to have grandparents in Florida so I spent most of my vacations visiting them. The big draw of the trip was supposed to be Disneyland, but for me it was the beach. On arrival I would become enveloped by the warm and gentle breeze, its smell of the ocean’s salt lightly sweetened by the sap from the abundance of palm trees, and the flocks of seagulls, calling out as they danced circles in the air above the whispering sound of the waves. The presence of the ocean was palatable, and I found it much more enticing than the notion of breakfast with Mickey Mouse.

My uncle took me on my first snorkeling trip. It was a beautiful day. The water was calm and twinkling with more sparkles than the artwork I used entire cans of glitter on, which decorated our kitchen. I remember on the boat ride to our destination, my older brother began making excuses as to why he /we shouldn’t go. He was trying to appear calm, but I could sense his anxiety. He had spent as much time playing in the ocean as I had, but the idea that we had made our way far from the solid hold of the shore and into the vast never ending horizon was very unsettling to him. Wedged by his fear he opted to stay on the boat where he could try and maintain a sense of security. He begged me to skip the swim so that we could go back to the safety of land and became almost hysterical as I ignored his warnings and fearlessly jumped off the boat into the sparkling abyss.

Swimming under the water in this exciting new world I would see schools of hundreds of brilliantly colored fish swimming comical zig zag motion of in decisiveness. On the ocean floor,there were dozens of crustaceans scrambling around like commuters on their way to work while, a lazy Starfish stayed motionless. I even encountered the much dreaded jellyfish that seemed to wave at me in a laid back fashion that said, “What’s up?” as he floated by. There were elaborate coral structures and an abundance of shells in many different shapes and sizes scattered around the lush green plants that would playfully sway from the gentle tickle of an ever present current, serving as a friendly reminder that my host was very much present at this visual smorgasbord. Later that evening I would learn that the ocean wasn’t always as friendly and playful as it had seemed that wonderful afternoon.

Back at my grandparent’s I devoured the encyclopedia, schooling myself on everything about the ocean, as a storm was moving in. It actually seemed to be coming from the ocean onto the land, causing the big palm trees in the yard to shutter. I became mesmerized by the giant waves that were making their way much further up into sand than usual. I envisioned them as the mouth of the ocean, whispering over and over as it rolled in taking gulps of air that seemed to give it strength and turning the echoes of its murmur into roars that crashed violently into the sand where just hours before, they had lapped no harder than a puppy drinking water from a dish. I had no doubt that this endless pool of mystery was alive, but this would just be a small glimpse of the ocean that had yet to reveal the full portrait of his dark side, and with it the extent and potentially devastating effects of its mammoth power.

My first winter working as a paramedic in Connecticut was an eventful season due to the record-breaking snowfall. It was mid March and we were expecting yet another big storm except that this time, weather forecasters were calling the storm a “Nor Easter”. This was a term I was unfamiliar with however, having grown up in Minnesota I was sure it couldn’t compare. Whatever fancy name it had, it still meant a lot of snow. When the snow came that day it fell quickly, accumulating somewhere between 4 and 5ft. After a difficult but manageable. shift I was informed all crews were being held pending mandatory evacuations of the shore area. Having been north of the waterfront during the initial snow, as well as not being aware of the storms impact on the tides, I was surprised to learn that Nor’easters can cause coastal flooding, coastal erosion, hurricane force winds, storm surges and either more snow or rain. This was not going to be an ordinary snowstorm; the ocean fueled this storm. Later that night when high tide came in, I was unprepared for what I would see as I made my way through the eerie dark to the evacuation area.

The once beautiful New England coastal shore, accented by the numerous cape cod style homes, always tended to with immaculate detail, and the pristine beaches which were inviting even when covered by snow, were not what welcomed me. Shingles and shutters were tossed around; the rain came sideways from the shore with such force it felt like it would slice right through my skin. The treacherous surge of water was just far enough above my knees making it difficult to avoid the many obstacles the water had stolen from homes and yards along its relentless path. As I tried to forge ahead, I stopped in a combination of fear, wonder, and amazement as my thoughts drifted back to my childhood days at the beach where I had my first encounter with the two drastically different personalities of the ocean. This once calm and peaceful entity had grown so colossal and fierce, so massive, that it had seemingly taken over the sky, making it impossible to differentiate where the horizon once stood.

Beyond the fear of giant whales, Great Whites, and even that dreaded jellyfish, who all make their home in the sea. That home itself, the living ocean, is where the “dreamy quietude” as mentioned by Mellville can transform itself in an instant into a dark and relentless nightmare.

Introduction to Effective Writing

For the next example I chose a homework assignment where I was asked to summarize the passage “Two Ways of Viewing a River” taken from Samuel Clemens autobiographical book about his experiences as a river boat captain on the Mississippi. I picked this passage because I am a fan of Mark Twain and because I think this particular piece shows my ability to write effectively by giving the reader a good sense of the entire passage with vivid and descriptive details. For example,

“ Grace, beauty and poetry are words used by the author to describe his early days leading his steamboat along the shores of a river flourishing with animated scenery”.

Enjoy!

"Two Ways of Viewing The River"

In the passage “Two Ways of Viewing The River”, an autobiographical book enlightening his experiences as a river boat pilot along the Mississippi, Samuel Clemens, illustrates in vivid detail both his fresh first days along the majestic river and the unforeseeable future where his vision of this familiar waterway would be “lost forever”.
Grace, beauty, and poetry are words used by the author to describe his early days leading his steamboat along the shores of a river flourishing with animated scenery. He tells of colors so spectacular, so explosive the reflection seemed to be seared into his soul. Where the curves of the river seemed to dance in long drawn out gestures. Clemens explains how a solitary tree with one leafy branch, waves in the breeze like a trustworthy friend encouraging him to follow along the vast pathway of water. He tells of a simple buoyant log that appeared to have some sort of mysterious purpose as it drifts, persuading the water around it to come alive in sparkling forms and silhouettes. It is quite apparent that early in his days of piloting the steamship along the Mississippi river the author found himself captivated by the infinite scene, which he found so new and mystifying. That idealism would fade however, and with it the intense colors that had once illuminated his odyssey.
Practical, sensible, realistic. These are words that would now define the author’s inspection of the topography ahead of him. Gone is the magical joy he felt by just gazing at the bubbling water, now only interpreted as a warning of a changing channel. The warmth of the intense sunshine went unnoticed, other than the quick notion that it would mean wind the next day. The dance of the sand and soil along the shoreline has stopped and seems wearisome as he fixes his gaze upon it, checking to see if it is shoaling up, creating a potential hazard to his ship. In the distance the dark shadow of the forest seems almost invisible, other than a recognizable landmark he has accustomed himself to, noting as a marker for the purpose of navigation,
As the author looks at the familiar tree standing unsteady on the shore with its single weak branch, he does not see the same branch that in another time was like a welcoming beacon. Inviting him to come and share in its vast splendor, Nor was it the same tree that at one time, stood tall and would guide him to follow in the wonder of what lay ahead in the passageway, Today, this is just a tree, on its last legs and soon to be extinct, Lost forever are its grace, its beauty, and its poetry.

Introduction To Analytical Writing

To demonstrate my ability to write analytically I have chosen pieces from the five seminars our class held based on the book, “Three Cup of Tea,” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. The book is about a man who’s unexpected turn in his life’s path leads him to the remote Karakoram mountains in Pakistan where he eventually build schools for the children there.

The purpose of a seminar is to bring learners together to discuss and exchange ideas about the chosen material. To prepare for these seminars we were asked to pick specific passages and quotes in the book that were important to us or held specific value.An example of a quote that struck me,

Mouzafer and the korphe men were Shiite Muslims, along with Skardu residents Ghulam Parvi, and Makhmal the mason, Apo Razak, a refugee from Indian-occupied Kashmir, was a Sunni, as was Suleman. And the fiercely dignified body guard Faisal Baig belonged to the Islmaeli sect.” We all sat there laughing and sipping tea peacefully,”Mortensons says. “An infidel and representatives from three warring sects of Islam. And I thought if we can get along this well, we can accomplish anything. The British policy was ‘divide and conquer.’ But I say ‘unite and conquer”(Mortenson 189).

In doing this it is important to be able to understand what the author is saying, what it means and why it is important. These ideas, thoughts and meanings you choose are what you will share with your group and hopefully, together create some thought provoking conversations and critical thinking about the subject matter.