Portfolio Essay

Surviving Alaska

If someone was going to invite you to go to Alaska, what would you think?  Would you be concerned that you may have to sleep in an igloo?  Do you envision yourself running away from a wild polar bear?  Surviving Alaska is much easier than you may think, and can be a lot of fun.  By following my three tips, when to go, where to go, and what to do, you too can survive the Great Frontier!

The first tip in surviving Alaska is knowing what time of year would be best for you to go.  If you prefer longer days and warmer weather, the summer would suit you best. During the summer months the sun stays up for about eighteen hours a day.  This extra daylight allows for activities that you would otherwise miss out on if you were in one of the lower forty-eight states.  If you enjoy colder weather and witnessing some of the most beautiful sunsets you have ever seen, the winter months may suit you best.  Be warned, however, temperatures can drop down to as low as negative thirty degrees at times.  Another factor that may be hard for some people during the winter is the lack of light.  The winter months offer nearly eighteen hours of darkness per day.  There can be advantages to this lack of light however, which I will later discuss.

The second tip to follow to survive Alaska is to know where you may want to go.  Alaska offers mountains, plains, city life, as well as rural living.  If you prefer the city life, you may want to check out places such as Fairbanks, Anchorage, or Juneau.  Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska and in my opinion offers the widest variety of experiences.  Another perk of visiting Fairbanks is the city closely mirrors other cities with its attractions, but with a better view.  Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and offers visitors a surrounding view of the mountains from the heart of the city. By visiting the south-eastern part of Alaska, you will have greater access to glaciers.  If you prefer more of a rural experience of Alaska some great locations would include Barrow, Seldovia, and Mountain Village.  Barrow and Seldovia both offer a smaller town but easy access to visitors, whereas Mountain Village is only accessible by boat.  Barrow is a great place to go if you would like to rub shoulders with real Eskimos.  Barrow is a great place to go if you really want to feel that you have survived Alaska because of the extreme changes of day and night.  During the summer months there are times the sun never goes down, whereas during the winter months the sun never comes up for months at a time.  Seldovia offers more of a touristy feel but without the lights and sounds of the city. 

Now that you have decided when and where to go, the final tip in surviving Alaska is knowing what to do when you get there.  The most family friendly location of Fairbanks offers attractions such as tours, trails, museums, and the State Fair that comes in June.  Fairbanks offers a great view of the Northern Lights during the winter months.  You can catch a good view while enjoying some of the freshest salmon and halibut available at one of the local restaurants.  Another activity to think about would be midnight fishing.  With the days being longer and the sun staying up well past midnight, fishing at this time would be a special treat.  If you wanted to take in the view of Alaska as a whole, you could take a train or ship ride during the summer between Anchorage and Fairbanks.  In the more rural parts of Alaska you will be able to see some rare wild life such as Caribou, Polar Bears, Elk, and even the Bald Eagle.  Skiing, snowboarding, and ice fishing are also great activities.  Alaska offers over 200 Alaskan Native culture groups.  You could get more into the culture by visiting some of the gifts shops or art museums.  As mentioned before, you could also go to the State Fair which offers most of the culture in one place.  You could see the totems, try the different food, watch a dance show, and meet some of the local natives. 

As you can see, there are many ways that you can survive Alaska and have fun doing it.  It depends on you.  Where would you like to go?  When would you like to go?  What would you like to do once you get there?  By following some of my tips above, this may help you decision making easier.  Although the weather may be extreme, Alaska has a lot to offer anyone who feels adventurous enough to leave behind the lower forty-eight states.  No matter when, where, and what you decide to do, you just may find out that Alaska does not need to be survived at all.

Thesis Statement

Thesis statement: In Dr. Seuss’s book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, which is about the various adventures you can take in your like, his quote, “You have brains in your head…”, reminds me that I have all the tools I need to make my own path in life.

Compare/Contrast Friday questions

One cultural norm or belief that Bourdain covers in the Haiti video is the Voodoo religion of the Haitian people. How this compares to my culture of Alaska is the Native Alaskan Tribe called the Tlingit. The Tlingit people follow a religion with similarities of the Voodoo religion. They both believe spirits are in everything and everywhere and they also both have a great respect for the dead. A cultural belief or norm that if different between Haiti and Alaska is their food. Bourdain shares with us the food that was available to him while he was in Haiti. Such as, rice and beans, greens, chicken, and cabbage. In Alaska, the primary foods are different types of seafood as well as game such as, Elk and Moose. From looking at the pictures in “where children sleep”, you can see a wide variety of sleeping arrangements. In these sleeping arrangements you can imply what kind of environment the child may be living in. Some may appear poor, dirty, or just more of a simple life. Others may appear uptight, spoiled, or even dangerous. The state of each child’s room could imply that the belief of that culture was either the child was not very important, or the child was extremely important.

Surviving Alaska

Tifani Davids

4/2/14

EN002/Essay 3 Draft

Surviving Alaska

                If you want to survive living in Alaska you must first understand there are three seasons: day, night, and summer.  Well known for its extreme climate, Alaska is more than just snow all the time.  Summer can last for about three months with average temperatures of about sixty-five degrees, but can reach as high as eighty at times.  During the summer months there are about eighteen to twenty-one hours of sunlight.  During the winter months it remains dark for about six hours.  The temperatures can drop below negative thirty degrees in the winter with an average snowfall of about seventy-six feet per year.  Granted, these clearly are in fact extremes, there are ways that you can survive, and enjoy, living in Alaska.

            The possibility of living in an igloo in Alaska is an option, but not the norm.  The suburbs and rural areas of Alaska are much like the rest of the lower forty-eight states.  There are houses, town homes, and apartments.  Many homes offer a mudroom, which is necessary for all the snow boots, winter coats, and snow suits for the kids.  Although the cost of living is higher for most things, especially utilities, housing is lower.  If you want to save money on your utility bills, you will benefit from covering your windows with tin foil, an inexpensive way to keep out the everlasting sun during the long days.  Residents of Alaska also receive a Permanent Fund (PFD) each year that you could use towards your heating costs.  Most schools are equipped with stadium lights on the playground so the children can still play outside even after the sun goes down around 3pm.  If you are a fan of homeschooling your children, you will have a lot of support as many families in Alaska home school their children.  You will want to lean to take high steps through the snow so you don’t lose your boots, or you could fashion yourself with some nice snow shoes.  Summer offers midnight fishing as a bonus to the long summer days as well as hunting, so if you are looking for an opportunity for year round hunting, this is the place to be.  Seafood is of an abundance in Alaska and a favorite among the natives since it doesn't have to be shipped up from other states.  Other meats available that you will not have easy access to in other states are bear, moose, caribou, and elk.  If you see a moose, which chances are you will since they are as common as deer are here in Maryland, take a picture from afar.  Do not be fooled to think you can pet the moose.  They are very aggresive and territorial.

            In order to survive an avalanche it would be best to have at least three days of food storage for each member of your family.  An avalanche can occur usually about twenty four hours after about twelve feet of snow drops.  You know an avalanche is nearby if you hear a distant thunder rolling through the mountains.  If you get a bit of cabin fever during the winter months you can always take advantage of the slops.  Skiing and sledding are great for a family activity.  When summer breaks, you can go and check out the State Fair which is offered in June. 

            Although an extreme climate to take on, there are ways you can survive living in Alaska.  I had the opportunity to live there with my family from the ages of five through seven.  No, we didn’t live in an Igloo and I never met an Eskimo, but I do remember getting caught up in the house after an avalanche, attending the State Fair, and even getting my boot stuck in the snow when I didn’t step high enough.  My school was equipped with stadium lighting as well on our school playground and I remember digging fort holes in the piles of snow.  Surviving Alaska is easy if you follow my basic tips.  Pick up some foil, buy a house with a mudroom, and don’t forget to plug your car in at night when those temperatures drop so your car will start in the morning.

Essay 2

                                                            The Stink of Government Aid

            Welfare, as defined in Webster’s Dictionary is: the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity.  The second definition it gives is that welfare can come as aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need, also as an agency or program through which such aid is distributed.  Welfare has been around for nearly two hundred years.  In the 1800’s, the government focused on creating programs for the poor to be able to work.  The government did not just want to hand out money to the poor, they wanted to assist the poor with training, education and work ethic.  During the Great Depression, possibly the most well-known era in which Government Aid was a great necessity, many families who previously were self-sustained, relied on Government Aid to get them by.  In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.  Under the act, the federal government gives annual lump sums to the states to use to assist the poor.  In turn the states must adhere to certain criteria to ensure that those receiving aid are being encouraged to move from welfare to work.(welfareinfo.org)

           Currently, there are more than twelve million Americans on welfare.  This does not include food stamp, medical assistance, or unemployment, according to the data listed on the website, Statistics Brain/welfare.  The unemployment rate in America right now is around ten million, according to the latest research updated in February of 2014 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor.  As you can see, only two million out of the twelve are out of work.  That means, that even though people are working, they are not being able to get by without some help.  So the question is, are American’s lazy and unwilling to work, or is it a larger problem across the board that needs to be addressed?

         Throughout history, as pointed out, the poor have always been among us, and the government has worked hard to assist them.  Then why are we still continuing to require such programs to assist the poor?  What isn't working?  Chances are you will either know someone who is receiving aid in some form, or you will find yourself requiring some government aid, in your lifetime.  What factors may cause this?  The single parent in which it is nearly impossible to be able to take care of household and employment obligations.  The lawyer, who at one time was making over $100,000 a year, more than enough to sustain a comfortable lifestyle, involved in an automobile accident in which he lost both of his legs, and his car, and is now unable to work.  Maybe a young couple in love decided to get married, the husband joins the military to be able to take care of his family and he loses his life.  Now, the wife, a lonely widow, possibly pregnant, with no income and now a new baby on the way to support.

            When we are at the grocery store waiting behind someone paying with food stamps, or WIC checks, do we get impatient?  Do we scan over their items on the belt with judging eyes?  Do we judge them for getting “free” food and feeling a bit bitter that we have to pay for our food with our own hard earned money?

            As someone who is currently finding themselves in a new position of requiring assistance, I have to remind myself every day of the years of work, and taxes paid, I have behind me.  That even though I may be in a position of need at the moment, the bridge of Government Aid that I receive right now will help me get back to a self-sustaining position.  As an American citizen utilizing every skill I possess to follow President Clinton’s Act of 1996, I hope to be able to remember this time in my life, and the next time I am at the grocery store waiting in line behind someone taking extra time to pay for their food with WIC, I will have a bit more patience and be less quick to judge how this person got to a place of requiring a hand out.  

Editing Run-on

Run on sentence:
I saw a dog laying in a field of purple flowers licking his wounded paw whimpering from the pain.

Fix:
I saw a dog laying in a field of purple flowers.  The dog was licking his wounded paw.  He was whimpering from the pain.

9 sentences

#1. Coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses
Read as: The Getting Dressed song is appropriate for children of all ages still in the stages of learing to dress themselves and is easy to learn for all caregivers.
Change to: The Getting Dressed song is appropriate for children off all ages.  The song is easy for caregivers to learn.
#2 Introductory phrase
  Read as: As a mother of a young son, I know all to well the battles that come with accomplishing daily tasks, especially getting dressed for the day.
No changes.
#3 Use with coordinate adjectives
Read as: As he cooperates with me by assisting with pulling his shirt down over his head, sticking his arms through the sleeves of his shirt, sticking each leg out as I help him put his pants on, and enthusiastically sticking out his feet ready for socks, I sing the Getting Dressed song to him.
Change to: While assisting my son with getting dressed he participates by pulling his shirt down over his head and sticking his arms out through his sleeves and sticking out his legs and feet for pants and socks.
#4 Adjective Clause
Read as: By using the mnemonic device song, Getting Dressed, you will find that the transition from nakedness to ready-for-the-day, can be a fun and educational experience for the child and the teacher.
This is a nonrestrictive clause (with commas)
Change to: The transition from nakedness to ready-for-the-day can be fun using the mnemonic device song Getting Dressed. [restrictive clause (no commas)]
#5 Appositives
Read as: By using the mnemonic device song, Getting Dressed, you will find that the transition from nakedness to ready-for-the-day can be a fun and educational experience for both the child and the teacher.
Change to: By using the mnemonic device song, Getting Dressed, the transition from nakedness to ready-for-the-day can be fun.
#6 Parenthetical expressions
Read as: By creating a mnemonic device through song, my son and I now enjoy getting him dressed, together.
Change to: My son and I enjoy getting him dressed now, using the mnemonic device song I created.
#7 Absolute phrase
Read as: Each verse is repeated until said instruction is complete, followed by an enthusiastic, "that's how we get dressed. Yay!", and he claps his hands.
Change to: He claps his hands enthusiastically as I sing, "that's how we get dressed. Yay!".
#8 Words expressing contrast
Read as: By using the mnemonic device song, Getting Dressed, you will find that the transition from nakedness to ready-for-the-day, can be a fun and educational experience for both the child and the teacher.
Change from child and teacher to student and teacher.  Also, nakedness to ready-for-the-day can be changed to naked to dressed.
#9 To set off a quotation or a direct address
Read as: The goal is to, as Maria Montessori put it, "Help me do it myself."
No change

Tifani's Blog EN002:Getting Dressed {updated 2/26/14}

Tifani Davids

2/26/14

EN002-Ankney

Mnemonic Device

Getting Dressed

Wouldn't it be great if we could all just run around naked?!  I bet young children would agree the best suit to wear is their birthday suit!  As a mother of a young son, I know all too well the battles that come with accomplishing daily tasks, especially getting him dressed for the day.  Activities that may seem effortless to us can feel overwhelming to a young person who is learning new things everyday.  Even playtime is true work to a child, and that is usually an enjoyable task.  By creating a mnemonic device through song, my son and I now enjoy the daily task of getting him dressed.  Dressing is an essential activity to learn, but it doesn't have to be a fight between the teacher and the student. The song I created is easy to learn, functional, and logical.  Any tune imaginable can be used to go along with the words to the song.  By using order, and beginning at the child’s head while working your way down to the feet, the child will not only remember what comes next but also what is missing.  Even small children know it is unacceptable to go out in public without any pants.  Eventually, by following the same order each time, the child will begin to anticipate his or her next step almost instinctively.  The verses are as follows.  Continue to repeat each verse until said instruction is complete:

            “Put your head in your shirt, put your head in your shirt.  Put your arm in your shirt, put your arm in your shirt.  Put your leg in your pants, put your leg in your pants.  Put your sock on your foot, put your sock on your foot.”  When finished, you end the song by exclaiming, “That’s how we get dressed. Yay!”

In a few short weeks of singing the “Getting Dressed” song to my son while getting him dressed, he has learned not only where his body parts are as well as what piece of clothing goes where, he also no longer screams and squirms to avoid getting dressed.  At the end of each verse he claps his hands.  This is a step he has included on his own proving the satisfaction and understanding of his accomplishment.    Maria Motessori, educator and creator of the Montessori learning method, explains, "Help me do it myself"  is the silent mantra of children.  Songs are a great motivator to encourage children to do what they already want to do.  "Getting Dressed" is a mnemonic device similar to other children songs used to accomplish tasks such as, "This is the Way we wash our Hands", and the ever popular, "Clean-Up" song.  Instructing a child to put his toys away or wash his face will most likely get a sour response, but simply singing the appropriate song for the task at hand offers a much more pleasant response.

Mornings are hard.  Mornings are usually rushed.  Throw an uncooperative, or should we say un-learned, child into your morning and spilled milk may not be the only thing being cried over.  The "Getting Dressed" song can now be added to your mental playlist of go-to songs to get through the day with your child, or child you are caring for.  There is a time and a place for the Birthday Suit, for all other occasions, the "Getting Dressed" song is a great mnemonic device to use for a smooth transition from naked to ready-for-the-day.  Not only will the child be fully clothed, he will also be wearing a bit of pride as well for "Doing it myself".