Writing Prompt [Post #2]

I found this prompt and decided it would be fun to try to write.

You're late for work because you overslept, but your boss hates over-sleepers. He does love entertaining stories, so create the most outlandish excuse as to why you were late.

O-Oh, h-hello there, sir! How are you? N-No, no, sir, I did not oversleep. N-No, of course not, sir. In fact, I was just up and about at the right time--what was that, sir? Yes, sir, I got up at precisely six in this morning. W-Why am I late, sir? Why, sir, that is a most interesting story.

You see, sir, I woke up at precisely at six in the morning, and, like any other human beings, I was tired and decided to mull around for a while. A minute or two later, I managed to push myself off my bed and get started on my morning routine. HOWEVER, sir--

It seems that I had left my window open over night, so when I awoke this morning, I awoke to piles of newspapers--tossed everywhere in every shape and form on my white carpet. Of course, sir, you know me--I have issues with this type of thing. I set about to cleaning them up and made my way over to close the window. W-Where am I getting at, sir? Well--

As I piled all the newspapers into one corner to sort out later today and closed the window, I finally managed to get back to my morning routine. However, I noticed that I was a few minutes off schedule, and thus, I began to hurry. Things seem to be going against me this morning, for I nicked my chin. And, sir, you know me--

I absolutely am faint at the sight of blood. As I ran around, trying to tame the vicious flow of the thick, red liquid, I became light-headed and thus, made my way over to my bed where I lied down. When I was finally able to think once more, I noticed that the window was open--what was that, sir? Get to the point? But, sir, I am, or I will!

You see, sir, a flock of birds had flown right through the open window! Each bird was the size of my thumb, and each one could peck my eyes out. Thus, I ran around, once more, trying to lure the flock of birds into another room where I could lock it.

However, upon reaching my study, I discovered a small, red and white ball. Curious and frantic, I grabbed it and threw it at the flock of birds. The ball burst, bright light shone through and a creature came out!

Yes, sir, I am absolutely telling the truth, sir. A creature! It was the strangest animal I had ever seen, possibly not even a creature, but perhaps some genetically mutilated one. Bright yellow with red, circle cheeks, long, thin ears with a thick, black stripe; brown stripes on its yellow back, small paws and a long, zig-zag tail... this creature saved my life! I don't know how! I closed my eyes because of a bright light, heard a sizzling, and when I opened my eyes again, I found that the flock of birds had left my study.

Sir, the creature turned to look at me and I was afraid it would go for me next... So as I huddled in a corner and willed it to go away, I happened to chance a glance at the clock. When I saw how late it was, I immediately rushed out--regardless of that creature. To be honest, sir, it wasn't very fast. Perhaps it is still waiting for me back at my house...

Hmmm? What, sir? Well, yes, that is all, sir. What? Oh, t-thank you, sir... I won't...over sleep next time.

[Post #1, 2, 3, + 4]

I haven't posted in a while but here I go...

First off, personal narratives. Since it is due on Friday and today is Wednesday, I am nearly complete. Or, I could be. Before this class, my revisions consisted of merely reading over once or twice and correcting a few words, deleting some phrases, and checking the spelling and grammar. That was it. However, with this class, I learned many new techniques that have become extremely helpful and will continue to use. Never have I written and rewritten a paper so many times. I am on my fourth revision! And that's not including the first crappy draft. It's strange yet I feel a lot more comfortable with my essay as each revision passed.

Today's workshop was also helpful. I'm sure many of my classmates knew some of the things we talked about, but there was a lot of things that I hadn't noticed. Commas are so tricky and I had a lot of trouble with that and still do! The writing groups were also extremely helpful. At first though, we were still in a daze and unsure of what to do, so there wasn't a lot of modifications. However, with the second workshop, I got a lot down and fixed. I also realized that I did repeat a lot of words but when reading them aloud, it seemed even more prominent.

On the subject of papers, I have started ethnography just today. Since I've never done this, I was unsure and uneasy as to how to even begin. Mainly, I just walked around to get the feel for it and watched the employees of Chuck E. Cheese--PK's work place. There were not a lot of people there; it was only Wednesday.

Finally, research papers. The research, I think, is due next Wednesday, right? That leaves less than a week to find a topic (if not already done so) and finish the research. I am unsure about my topic at the moment. I kind of want to do one on how age affects the ability to learn new languages. But that may be tricky--I'll poke around some more and hopefully will find something that interests me.

Ethnography [Post #2]

Ethnography. My first encounter with this word was actually on another blogging site. I happened across it, and curious, skim the contents. The whole project was done through online messaging, through the internet. Fascinating. It was actually on an online fanbase, a small community of fans who gathered to discuss their common interest.

As I watched my friends flutter frantically about due to their English ethnography project about a year later, I became interested. A study of a subculture was something I hadn't thought of before. Pretty soon, they managed to rope me into helping them with their project.

Now, I find myself nervously tapping my feet and excited to work on this project. The only problem was on what. I have absolutely no idea what subculture or group (or culture for that matter) I would study--oh joy, the stress.

Still, reading TCE made me realize certain things that I never actually gave much thought to. For example, when I read that some people said that "green" and "blue" were the same color (as an example for tacit culture), I realized that my parents do that. To them, the words for "green" and "blue" are the same.

Continuing on, TCE began explaining Microcultures, which, before this day, I have never thought of. (Google Chrome does not recognize the word "Microcultures", random thought there.) A culture within a culture--makes sense, yes? Most people don't think of that though. They don't think that say, a basketball team is a culture. I agree, but that might be because most people don't know what culture is exactly.

Which brings us back to the first chapter and the explanation of cultures.

The First Day [Post #1]

I was absent yesterday, so I've only just begun reading the very first assignment for this class and although I've only reached page two, I felt the need to write something.

In the introduction to FSTI, we're comparing the graceful and beautiful Korean pottery with the Japanese. I thought this was an interesting way to begin. As I continued on, I thought, yeah, this does make sense: the process, rather than the product, is the key. This may perhaps be because there are times when I would find myself searching up tutorials or a video of an artist to explain the process of a piece. I'm rather used to this, however I've never really noticed or compared it to the process of writing. Sure, I might have known somewhere buried in my mind that authors/writers/poets have a hard time writing too, that they spend countless hours sitting behind an empty screen with that accursed cursor mocking them. But that thought was never really compared to writing an essay for an English class.

(Random thought: I noticed that in Exploring the Subject, when the author(s) used the business executive example, they used the pronoun "she" rather than "he or she". What does that say? This would also be the place where I would insert an emoticon.)

It's interesting that they say to really look deep into the subject matter one is writing about. And yeah, it does make sense, because most students--and maybe some teachers--don't really dive into their subject matter. This is almost like they're picking apart the process and trying to show how to write--ugh, I forgot my train of thoughts. Maybe I'll come back to this.

I like how they compared writing to a stage performance with the process being the practicing of lines and such, and then the finished product being the final performance or act. It gives a new perspective on how and why you write. Or at least, for me.

I hate to say it but I think I really disagree with the assertion that poetry is not spontaneous because I completely agree with Wordsworth. To me, poetry is exactly that and it's not right if it's organized. That's what prose, or an original story is for. That is much more organized and formatted so that the reader has a much easier time enjoying the story rather than looking at how the words are organized.

Editing: That's what thesauruses are for. (Insert another emoticon here. Can I at least put a smiley?)

"The writing process is the beginning of movement from sight to insight." Why does that sound like there's going to be a revolution or something?

(I also would like to apologize for the over using the commas. I tend to vomit commas.)