For blog number two I think I would write another personal essay. I think my focus would be on me and "who I think I am" I will be in the center of this essay. I was very intrigued by the paper with all the ideas for stories that professor introduced us too. I think writing about myself would be great not because I don't care about others but I want people to understand me so that I can be understood from the eyes of others. I believe who I am in public, private, and in my mind are all three different people. Not that I have a multiple personality disorder but because I believe what I give off to people is not always who I am or who I am trying to portray inside my mind. I love personal essays it gives me a chance to speak through my writings that I will probably never express by voice.

Blog #7

For my second essay, I will probably do another personal essay. I want to focus it around an incident in my past that I would want to relive and do differently. When I read this topic idea, I immediately thought of my grandmother. If I could change things that I did before she passed away I would. I feel like this would be one of my longer essays. To sit down and write about a moment you would want to change in your past is overwhelming, but I feel that I could compose a great piece because I know what I would want to focus on. I feel that this also stuck out to me because when I think about changing something, I always think about my last months with her. Hopefully, I can compose my thoughts, emotions, and ideas into a piece that answers the topic statement, giving me a strong and longer personal essay.

Blog 6

I really enjoyed the writing workshop! I felt very comfortable sharing my writing. Everyone was very supportive and encouraging. I got great feed back on my paper. At first I was very confused if my essay made sense or if it flowed becasue I had so much going on in the paper. By the end of the workshop I was not confused anymore, everyone was able to give me a postive comment and also something I can improve on. My classmates told me my essay made sense and it was good so far but that i should break everything down a bit more and I should give more detail about each expereince I was talking about in the essay. We also agreed that if we had any questions or needed more peer reviewing we could email our essays to eachother and give eachother some feed back. Over all it was time very well spent, I thought it was very productive and helpful.

Blog #6

I really enjoyed the workshop; I received great feedback and ideas on how to improve my paper. The feedback I received was positive and the advice I was given will definitely improve my essay. The group consensus determined that I needed to tie the ideas in my final paragraph into the beginning parts so that the story made better sense. Dr. Inskeep also provided me with good feedback, catching cliche phrases and helping me tell my story in different points of view and person so the affect of the moment I am describing is more effective. I will definitely be using al the comments everyone provided me and improving my paper. For my feedback that provided to my fellow classmates, I think helping them separate ideas and helping the structure flow better was the most useful feedback I provided. Also, helping them find better endings to wrap up there story was also another critique that I suggested.

Blog 6

Workshopping was overall a good experience.  We were able to discuss each group member's draft and share opinions and suggestions.  The feedback from my group that I found most useful involved the beginning and end of my draft.  My group felt that my opening sentence, also its own paragraph, served as a very effective hook.  They pointed out to me, however, that my ending lacked the same "oomph."  They suggested closing with another powerful sentence similar to the opening.  I found this suggestion very useful and I have been trying to think of the proper sentence to serve this purpose.  As far as the feedback I offered, it is more difficult to judge what might have been the "best."  One suggestion that I offered to Chrissy seemed to have been well-received.  I suggested mentioning or alluding to the "home" theme that concluded her essay at another point closer to the beginning.  She and I discussed this, and she seemed to believe it was a good idea too.  I have a lot of work to do overhauling my draft based on comments from the professor and my group, but I am very grateful for the opportunity to have received feedback.  It's very valuable and interesting to see how other people react to something I have written.

Blog 6

I really appreciated the working in groups. I'm personally not very good at dissecting papers and finding things to improve within them. However, watching my group give each other feedback and myself helping as much as I could, I saw ways that even really good writers have room for improving.
For my paper, I was fortunate to receive mostly good feedback with the occasional comment that I could use a tad more imagery, which I figured. The good feedback worked constructively as well though. My group all agreed that my paper was very inspiring and drew them in which I was very happy to hear. That encouraged me to continue with the style I was going with which I was a little doubtful with prior to this.

blog #6 workshopping

Working in groups definitely helped in giving me some ideas towards my essay. One great comment I got was to use what I see and turn it into a memory so that it flows and transitions better. For example if I see a cloud that looks like a book I can then go ahead and talk about all the homework I'm stressing about. Another great comment I received was to keep the facts about Overpeck park. I had mixed feelings about keeping the facts in the essay because I though it did not flow. My group said that it was interesting to see how Overpeck park made me feel first then get an actual idea of what it looks like and its location. I also got to read my groups essays and provide some feedback on that. I thought that the beginning of Katherine's essay was very effective in keeping the reader engaged and wanting to read more. I also thought that Taylor's way of splitting up the four types of love and then using the name of each one as the "character's" name was very clever. Seeing the way that everyones writing was different also made me comfortable in my own writing because there is no "correct way" to do the assignment. I kept wondering if I was writing the correct way but seeing that everyone had a different style made me more confident in my own writing. I had an overall good experience workshopping.

Blog #6

I found working in groups to be both helpful and fun. It helped to hear what my group thought about my work and get their feedback. I also enjoyed reading their work and getting pointers and ideas. The best feedback I received was to structure my writing in time order. I agreed and feel that this will help my readers get a better feeling and understand of my writing.

Rough Draft. Group 1

Have Less, Do More, Be More

I guess when you believe in caring excessively for our planet, wanting to tend to every sad soul, and disregarding most people’s judgments, your friends and family begin to refer to you as a quirky, compassionate, free-spirited hippie. 

Since I was just a youngster, looking after the environment was critical to me. I always saw it as, we’re living on this planet and if we take care of it, it’ll take care of us. To this day, I always try (to convince others as well) to use as few plastic products as possible, not take unnecessarily long or frequent showers, and conserve energy and gas. It would also really hurt to witness trees getting cut down knowing they keep us safe during floods and provide us with oxygen.  These things all meant and still mean so much to me. This opened many more doors in my life as I grew older. It became much more then just looking after the environment. I began realizing we live in such a corrupted world where, unless we look really hard and have a lot of money, are pretty much forced to eat all these artificial foods and drinks. We’re also given a life layout: go to college, graduate, work off the loan, find your significant other if you haven’t already, marry, have children, work to provide for your family. Get all the technology for your family and sit around on it all day. Wear all the makeup, take “selfies,” and wear all brand name clothing. Too consumed with their own lives to care about others. When I noticed this pattern in everyone’s life and very few people genuinely very happy, I realized this isn’t something we have to follow. It’s just the conventions that society has given us and made it so that if you don’t follow it, you’re frowned upon. That’s when I realized I will live my life how I imagine myself happiest and help others do the same. As Ghandi once said, “In a gentle way you can shake the world.” 

Whenever my mother and I would go shopping when I was younger, I remember always being too grateful at the end towards the wrong person. At the register, I’d always say to the cashier, not my mother, “thank you so much, I appreciate it. Have a great day!” My mom would then look at me, laugh and tell me, “Great manners, little girl, but they weren’t the ones just paying for your things!” as she’d continue to laugh. I would laugh too, then realize she was right, she deserves to be thanked a bunch and be showered with hugs. However, that somehow didn’t stop me from still thanking the cashiers a little. When my mother noticed I was continuing to thank the cashiers, she explained how she thinks it’s very sweet, but didn’t understand why I felt the need to constantly be so thankful every time. I didn’t really know how to answer at first because I didn’t really know why either. I just felt the need to thank everybody. Then finally an answer came out of me that I didn’t expect or even mean to say, but I really liked it and learned a lot about myself! I answered her with, “because while we’re the ones buying, they are the ones working. They can’t be too happy about that so why not let them know what they’re doing is appreciated and spread some happiness in their day.” My mom responded with a simple nod and face expression of approval, impressed. I noticed a change in attitude with her whenever we went shopping together after that. At registers, she would start making more conversation and making the cashiers laugh. I realized she was spreading joy in her own way and I was grateful to have influenced her to do so. I thought, if I continue to act this way around other people, maybe it’ll rub off a little. Not only would I be making someone else’s day a little brighter, but it’d be causing other people to maybe follow my lead. I soon found the quote in a magazine, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I thought the idea of having one person causing drastic changes was a little ridiculous, but I taped it to my wall as it was inspiring. It eventually became something I could live by. 

Ever since smartphones became very in demand, it was all people would engross themselves with. How could you not? There’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr… you name on it, it’s on there! I got caught up with all of it, too. However, I realized my life was beginning to revolve around it and it was causing me to feel isolated. I thought, “it can’t be only be feeling this way..” That’s when I gradually started cutting out technology from my life. I removed myself from Facebook, my biggest addiction. I forbid myself to get Netflix, and a limited amount of applications on my phone. We all know that’s not an easy task to do. Though doing so left me with so little to do with my time which brought me to the idea that during this time, I can go outside and enjoy nature, read, go on adventures, and build a closer relationship with those around me. Just overall do more productive things with my time and life. I saw that if I did not actually have these technologies that we’re so “privileged to have,” we could all make more of ourselves. “Have Less, Do More, Be More,” my favorite quote states.

Taylor Johnson

Rough Draft

2/19/15

“an intense feeling of deep affection.” –Love

Agape

“This is an unconditional love that sees beyond the outer surface and accepts the recipient for whom he/she is, regardless of their flaws, shortcomings or faults. It’s the type of love that everyone strives to have for their fellow human beings. Although you may not like someone, you decide to love them just as a human being. This kind of love is all about sacrifice as well as giving and expecting nothing in return. The translation of the word agape is love in the verb – form: it is the love demonstrated by your behavior towards another person. It is a committed and chosen love.”

My heart has no room for heartache and hurt for the most part I am filled with joy. Most of the time it smiles for it has 4 different ways to love. Without love where would we be as people? Love overpowers any emotion ever, if you love someone you can never stop loving that person maybe you will dislike them but never stop loving them just for being a human. I disliked Agape but I loved him unconditionally for he was always there when I needed him in times of sorrow and my happiness. My greatest moments werent complete if you were by my side. Its been years and although we had our perfect times of happiness the bad outweighed the good. But because of the person you were I loved you. Still till this day I can write these words about you unconditional love is what Agape brought for me. You were a apart of the family at every reunion, funeral, wedding, and gathering we had you were right by my side. I never though that years down the line you wouldn’t be here anymore. I demonstrate my love to you in so many ways, through my actions, words, and writings you are always apart of. Although you are not around anymore my love for you has never changed, lessened, or waivered for I will always unconditionally love my Agape.

Phileo

“The phileo love refers to an affectionate, warm and tender platonic love. It makes you desire friendship with someone. It’s the kind of love which livens up the Agape love. Although you may have an agape love for your enemies, you may not have a phileo love for the same people. The translation of the word phileo is love in the noun – form: it is how you feel about someone. It is a committed and chosen love.”

I commit myself to you girls. My Phileo’s yes I have a couple, three to be exact although I just met you girls about 3 years ago I feel like we’ve known each other all of our lives. My Phileo’s inspire me to be a better me. A group of girls who help one another grow as young queens. Some of the greatest experiences have been with you girls and I am overwhelmed with joy that I chose Kean University to become friends with you ladies. We may not all be exactly alike but each and everyone of us bring something great to the table. Powerful, strong-headed, intellegent ladies are who I am happy I chose to roll with. Uplifting one another when we need it, laughing until our stomachs hurt, finding ways to make a better future for ourselves, and being there for one another. Our friendship will be everlasting I was blessed to meet you ladies and God took his time shaping each and every one of you guys to be able to match my liking in someone I can call a friend, my Phileo’s youre more than I ever imagined in a bunch of women.

Storge

“It is a kind of family and friendship love. This is the love that parents naturally feel for their children; the love that member of the family have for each other; or the love that friends feel for each other. In some cases, this friendship love may turn into a romantic relationship, and the couple in such a relationship becomes best friends. Storge love is unconditional, accepts flaws or faults and ultimately drives you to forgive. It’s committed, sacrificial and makes you feel secure, comfortable and safe.”

Storge my first love, you’ve watched me grow, we have built a bond I couldn’t ask for from any other man in this world. You showed me the ins and outs on parts of life, dealing with boys, and how to become a young women. I would never forget us catching the train to Jersey City almost ever weekend, races down the street, long phone conversations when I knew I couldn’t call anyone else but you. My storge was my main squeeze, the apple of my eye, my very first love. When I knew that I had no one else in my corner I could always run to you and whether I was right or wrong you always heard me out before telling me so. In your eyes I could do no wrong, you cured my every dissapointment and healed my heart from any heartache that came my way. You showed me a different type of love like no other. You accepted my flaws and all not only because you had to because you knew that I was still in the process of ultimately becoming a better me each day. You never judged me like the rest of the world, I felt secure, safe, and comfortable with you, you were always there for me and would go the extra mile just to make sure that I was always good. You never let me go without even when you didn’t have it. My Storge the best man I could ever imagine. I want my sons to be just like you because you were the good example of the best Storge there can be my natural love for you was inevidable but you were my rock and although you was taken from me three years ago you’ll forever be my first love and my Storge forever and always.

Eros

“Eros is a passionate and intense love that arouses romantic feelings; it is the kind that often triggers “high” feelings in a new relationship and makes you say, “I love him/her”. It is simply an emotional and sexual love. Although this romantic love is important in the beginning of a new relationship, it may not last unless it moves a notch higher because it focuses more on self instead of the other person. If the person “in love” does not feel good about their relationship anymore, they will stop loving their partner.”

“This just offers you a general understanding and description of the four types of love which promotes a good, healthy and progressive relationship. In any relationship, you should have all these four loves working together to enable it survive for a longer time. But in some cases, a relationship may be long-lasting if partners share the same style of love.”

You make my heart skip a beat. Eros the feelings that you bring me overjoy my souls with happiness that can never be explained. You keep me on a high that I could never get down from. My passion for you will never die, you make my heart skip a beat everytime I hear your voice, I cant help but smile when I see your face and my love for you is endless. I can not fathom the thought of ever losing you. I love you. Baby, youre perfect, perfect to me simply means that you are perfect for me. God answered my prayers with you. Although we have not met yet I just know I will not die without finally meeting my Eros. Forever and always I hope that we can finally meet.

Rough draft paper 1 Group B

Celestina DaSilva

2/18/15

Rough Draft Paper #1

Group B

       My daughter's name is Isabella. I know that would be her name from the moment I held the positive pregnancy test. My best friend Sylvia told me it could be a boy, she was there that day and looked so happy for me. I remember feeling scared and nervous. Was I ready to be a mom? What would my parents say? As you probably already figured out, my pregnancy was unplanned and I'm unmarried. Isabella is 1 year and 5 months old. Many people say she looks like her father, my mother doesn't want to admit it and says Isabella looks like her. My parents love my daughter, probably more then me and my sisters. I told them I was pregnant about 4 days after I found out. They weren't happy but they also weren't upset like I thought they would be. My dad wanted me to get married, but I refused to allow the fact that I was pregnant to determine if I should get married. My boyfriend surprisingly agreed with my father but I feel that he just wanted to get on my dad's good side.

      Isabella's nickname is Bella, I'm sure you know that. She is the love of my life. It's amazing how much love I have for her. The day she was born will be a day I never forget. A natural birth. The contractions hit me around 8 pm on September 21st 2013. i went for a walk with my boyfriend to ease the cramps I was feeling. I didn't realise what I was feeling was contractions. My parents, sisters, aunt and uncle, cousins, and second cousins were at my aunt's house celebrating my little cousin Anderson's birthday. My aunt lives a cross the street from were my family lives. So when i got back home still in pain my boyfriend called my mother home and it didn't take her very long to get back. She took one look at my tear filled face and announced we were heading to the hospital. My mother is the type of woman that leads others. She's strong and brave, I admire her and all she's acomplished regardless of the life she had. 

       Bella loves grandma. We joke around and call my mother Bella's second mom. She gets excited when grandma gets home and doesn't want to be separated from her until she knows for sure grandma isn't going anywhere. When Isabella entered the world it was my mother who reached over the doctor's and nurse's arms and kissed her on her forehead. Yes, she kissed Bella covered in all those bodily fluids. I'm still in shock but I probably would of done the same if I was not stuck in the hospital bed being cleaned and sowed up. My mother was handed Bella and it looked as if she would never let go. The love the two of them have for each other is very apparent. My daughter loves grandma and grandma loves Bella. Later Bella laid wrapped in a home made knitted blanket from grandma. The same blanket that lays in the living floor were Bella lift it this morning before heading out. I like to think of that blanket being a hug from my mother when Bella is away from her. 

    I remember when Bella would hold on to furniture or my legs to move around the apartment. She was scared to let go but wanted to get around. The day she finally did had me in tears of joy. Bella was in grandma's living room with grandma, I had just arrived from work to pick her up. I was standing in the doorway of the living room speaking to my mother. Bella was holding on to the couch and turns to look at me with the biggest smile on her face and takes her first no help from anything or anyone steps. Four steps and she was in my arms. I was so happy. Then my mother called her and she went back to grandma. I called my sisters and Carlos to come see. This moment was so precious to me, I was afraid she would stop. Now a days I wish she would stay still for a more then a second. It's how we always want more and forget to treasure what we have at the moment. I remember being in a rush for her to speak. Now it would be nice to have some quiteness. Let me make it clear though,  Bella still doesn't speak really, it's more like she babbles and says certain words that let me know what she wants. Like bubu means juice. I've learned to not push her into growing and just enjoying the journey. And I guess that's how parenting is, we learn as we go. No one's perfect but if you're thinking of your child and try to do the best, that's all that I feel is important.

    Bella currently has a ear infection but that doesn't stop her. She's running around the apartment with no big sign of being sick, except her runny nose that's pink from endless attemps by myself of cleaning the snot dripping down. She's always been a happy baby. Unless she gets a fever. Then you can find her crawled up in my arms. I love holding her. Smelling her hair and feeling her little hand play with my lip. Yes my lip. Since she was about 4 months old she began that little and sometimes annoying habit of playing with my lips while she drifts to sleep. I don't know how it started or why it started. As a child and even sometimes now, I've twirled my hair to sleep or to relax myself. My daughter likes pinching and rubbing the lips of the person holding her.

rough draft for work shop

Christina Dente

Essay One

Rough Draft

“It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.”

It was a beautiful day; I was with my family on the Margate beach. There was a light breeze, making the sun warm, but not too hot. My whole family, my dad, my stepmom, my brother, even myself, were happy to have a day off to sit on the beach. We were grateful for such a beautiful day. We kept saying how this was the best day of the summer and it was a great feeling being there with them.

            As the sun shined, the waves crashed, the sound of my brother giggling on his boogie board in the ocean, it was a peaceful day. This summer in particular was a hectic one, so to get my family all together with no time restraints, there was a happy vibe springing through all of us. Family time in particular has been rough for me growing up as well. I come from a not so normal family, a broken home if that makes it clearer. I grew up going back and forth to houses, between stepparents and money issues, nothing ever came easily. Things in my life remind of a rollercoaster, I’m always stuck on it and the events seemed to go up and down. Moments in my life where I’ve been completely happy and completely at peace are rare.

            This day, I remember it like yesterday, it was just a day that engulfed me with happiness. All those issues I’ve ever dealt with were gone; I was content. No rushing, no worrying, just the three most important people and myself enjoying the time spent with each other. Money has been tight, so to sit on the beach and spend a few dollars on ice cream was more than perfect for us. We didn’t need to spend money to enjoy each other’s company.

            The water was warmer than it has been all summer, so my step mom and I stood knee deep as we watched my dad take my brother out farther and farther. He giggled, we talked, and the sun shifted warming the right sides of our body. As the day went on, people started to leave. We were in no rush, so we stayed and enjoyed the emptiness that was upon us, digging in the sand and eating the snacks we packed. The sun shifted more, so did our chairs, but the happiness remained. The sun was beginning to set, and we all agreed to stay. The beach was cooler, with a small wind that brought peace to your mind. It was quiet empty and the most apparent noise was the waves crashing the seagulls passing. At this moment I realized no amount of money, no amount of fancy things, could ever bring me as much happiness than this exact moment, sitting with my family, watching the sunset, putting all of our worries behind us.

            This happiness felt like home. Figuratively speaking home is term connected to happiness. Despite the troubles in life, a simple day on the beach took it all away. If I could go back to that day for the rest of my life I would. Happiness is truly how much we enjoy so while a day on the beach may not mean much to some people, it meant the world to me. 

Blog #1 "Dentist without Borders" is considered creative non fiction because it is a true story about a visit to the dentist with a fun twist on it. It can seem boring because of the concept of just a typical visit to the dentist but it actually made me laugh. He does not make up fairytales or false characters that would make the story seem fake. In categorizing this essay in a sub-genre of CNF and I would put this under "Essay of Place" because it captures the setting using sensory details using factual information and writer from the narrators point of view.

Blog #2 Love- a strong feeling or affection or a strong interest or pleasure in someone 

There are different types of love like having love for a child or family member, actually being in love with someone like a spouse or significant other, or even having a love with someone of faith like (God) someone who you have never seen but have the belief in him. Love can also be a feeling that is indescribable to try to tell someone how it feels but you just know that its there. Love is also an emotion. There are four different types of love Agape, Phileo, storge,eros.

Blog#3 What is find appealing about CNF is that it is two genres put together in a way. I had already taken creative writing in highschool and even in college but that can be either real or fake but CNF are real stories written creativity. I do find distatsteful about this genre some of the stories because they are real stories you don't really have the ability to spice it up a bit of give false info so that the reader can be a little more engaged. Its not as easy to have an interesting story about a dentist trip unless something out of the ordinary happens. As a reader i get excited about a little sense of extraness to some stories but with CNF it has to be real and if it isnt fun and exciting it might come off boring.

Blog#4 I chose to write a personal essay about my different types of love. I believe that a huge part of life is love and if its not love for a parent, child, significant other or yourself. People are made to love one another and without love life would be harsh. I love the idea of love, any type of love its just a positive feeling or association you can have with someone. my focus about my essay would be the love for my father (my first love) and then my love for my neices (who feel like my children) and then love for a guy.

Blog #5 My take on ethics and CNF is as long as it is true and authentic and genuine then it is good. Like I said in class I dont feel like telling a story about someone else isnt bad without their permission because everyone has their personal feelings and reactions to something and if im telling a story about my mother being on drugs without her reading what i wrote than it should be okay if im telling it from my point of view because i am telling you how i personally feel about the situation and how it affects me as a person. If they are my experiences and emotions then my writing is based on how i feel. Although there is alot of politics with CNF i do believe that the ethics with this genre shouldnt be so strict. 

I believe that it is hard to tell the difference between emotional and factual truth because you do not to assume and i believe some of the best writing will be filled with emotions because it comes from the heart so i wouldnt personally try to negotiate the difference between the two because if its genuine then its pure writing,

Blog 5

In CNF, ethics are signifcant. It's easy to get lost in the writing when you get so caught up in a story that you may distort some facts for a better audience reaction. Emotional writing needs to remain as factual emotional writing. Especially when recalling a memory -- you want others to feel what you were feeling. Therefore you may exaggerate some facts which is a quick and easy way to turn any story into fiction even if for a moment. A way to avoid this is by perhaps going off a personal journal if one was used. Going off a journal not only helps retrieve a memory more accurately, but it can give detailed feelings of how you felt at an exact moment and that would be a nice touch to any story.
Privacy is also very important. You need to make sure that people included in the story are aware of their being in it. Especially if you're writing a personal story about someone else. If things are to be completely factual, sometimes the town they reside in is needed or their family issue becomes involved. It's disrespectful and can get a writer in a lot of trouble by revealing too much or at least without their permission. If a minor fact such as the name of the person you're writing about needs to be changed, the reader needs to be aware of it and it is as simple as a small explanation of it. It is good to keep a line between how much should/what's necessary to be shared and what's too much to share to readers you don't know.

Blog #5

My take on ethnics is that it is important and key to writing CNF, without it we would be writing fiction. I feel that CNF should always be based on true events and that the writer should always stick to the facts. If and when writing based on memory, the writer should make that clear to the reader so that the reader knows that the writer is giving facts that are to the of their knowledge and true to them base on their memory. I feel that there might be times that a CNF writer will have to ask other people who were present at the time of the particular memory to help them get the facts correct but there will be times, as we read in our text, that you may have a different recollection of the same experience. It doesn't make what you are saying false, if you are basing it on your memory of the event. Between emotional and factual truth, one is the. Truth based on ourselves and the other is based on facts. Emotional truth is based on our memory and feelings at the time. For example the book refers to a writing saying she remember it being cold during a flashback, but records indicate that it was actually a hot day. This writer was in fact referring not to the weather but how she remembered feeling cold because of the emotional state at the moment. We also need to remember that if we do need to make something up that we explain it to our readers, for instance a name change in order to keep someone's privacy.

Blog #5

Ethics in CNF are very important because you simply cannot write something that is not true and call it CNF. If so, it would just be a fictional story. It is easy to get caught up in the creativity aspect of writing CNF and exaggerate a story in order to make it more interesting. However, I think that what make a good CNF writer is being able to turn any story, dull or exciting, into an interesting one using your words rather than having to lie about the facts in order to make it interesting. It is knowing how to excite the reader about something ordinary and make it extraordinary; like we learned in our reading. Also, when writing about a story which includes other people, I believe privacy is very important. I myself am a very secretive person and wouldn't like if someone told a personal story about me to people that I do not know and trust. I will be writing about my experiences at Overpeck park which involve some of my friends. I will not be referring to them by their name and am thinking of leaving some experiences that may be too personal out of my writing; simply because I feel they are personal. When dealing with emotional and factual truth, I feel that it is important to go in depth and explain to your readers what was actually accruing, and what your feelings about that situation were as well as reasoning behind why it made you feel that way.

blog #5

When it comes to ethics and CNF I believe it's important to respect the privacy and reflect on people and situations in a respectable way. As soon as you discuss someone or something in a way that could potentially make someone uncomfortable, I feel you crossed the line. It's important to be able to tell what happened in a situation because it is nonfiction writing, but respect is important. For me, I am writing about my volunteer group. I am not going to say personal things about the people I work with or there first names. Things like where they work, live, and what disabilities they have will remain unknown to the readers. I will be telling a true story, but I will be respecting those I speak about. When describing a true story, emotions and factual truth are bound to get intertwined. As a writer though, it's important to help separate the two. Explain to your audience that your emotions may be a limitation within your writing. For example, if a bad experience happens during the hot summer and you say you felt cold and numb, explain to your readers why your emotions were opposite of the facts. I believe in CNF truth always matters. It's nonfiction writing. Of course there will be exaggeration and emotions involved but that's because we are only human and we want to make our stories interesting to others. Just don't let creativity get in the way of the truth. Nonfiction actually happened and it's important we don't want to lie to our audience.

blog 4

I'm still thinking about what to do for my writing piece and a little perplexed as to what each genre really is. However I'm starting to think writing about a place that I went camping at will be one I'll be able to elaborate best on. I love and have a deep appreciation for nature so I feel that through my writing, I will be able to share my passion and experience with others.

Blog 4

 I am thinking of elaborating on my blog 2. It was about my name, what it meant, why i got the name, if I have any nicknames, and what the name means to me. I am not sure how I would extend it. I am not entirely sure yet of what to do for my first writing piece. 

My name is Celestina

My name is Celestina. It means heavenly and reminds me of celestial. I was given this name by my paternal grandfather, who wanted to name me after my grandmother who had passed away a few years before my birth. It's spelled with four vowels and can be broken up into two different names, Celest and Tina. For most of my life I've been referred to as Tina, my nickname. For this reason I sometimes feel as if that is my name. In my family there is also another Celestina, my aunt. I always felt as if she was Celestina and I was Tina. It's not that I don't like my name, more like that I familiarize more with Tina. My name sound like Selestena but in Portuguese it sounds different.

Blog # 4

For my first formal writing project I'm thinking of writing a personal essay, that focuses on the concept of love. It will start with when I found out I was pregnant to the birth of my daughter and then elaborating on the love I have for her. I choose personal essay because I plan on focusing on the present but bring flashbacks of the past to express love.

Blog #4

My essay is going to be an essay of place and elaborating on the story I used for blog #2. I want to write about my experiences at overpeck park and why it is important to me. I don't know if I want to write about one experience there or more than one experience. I am planning on sketching my ideas out and seeing which experience I find more interesting to write about.

Blog #4

For my first formal writing project, I plan to elaborate on the topic I chose for Blog #2.  Instead of just focusing on fidelity and schistosomes, however, I would like to branch out to love, of several forms, and parasites.  As of now, I have schistosomes to represent fidelity and romantic love; I also have a species of tick that carries its babies around, protects them, and helps them find hosts to represent maternal love.  I am not sure if I am going to stick with these two, or if I will include two other interesting parasites, a nematode that sacrifices itself for its young (another maternal love example) and the chemical communication between plasmodia (friendship/camaraderie).  My goal is to get people to think about parasites in a new way.  I feel that the juxtaposition between something that all humans find beautiful (love) and something that all humans find repulsive (parasites) will be interesting as well as emotionally challenging for prospective readers.  I would also like to awaken in the readers' minds this subtle sense of conviction, like, if these brainless little monsters squirming around in guts and poo can figure out love and selflessness and loyalty, then what excuse do we, as intelligent, spiritual beings, have?  In the end, maybe it'll prod some people into self-reflection and, ultimately, better treatment of his/her fellow man.

A challenge that I have come across with this essay is the notion of scenes.  I noticed that my Blog #2 was pretty much all "telling" without painting any scenes.  I am trying to change that for the essay.  The problem with my topic and scene-painting is that certain readers may be immediately turned off by images of ticks or worms, regardless of the information/message I'm ultimately trying to convey.  I will have to gauge how far onto the gross-o-meter most folks are willing to go before turning away.  That, or use purposely vague descriptions that don't reveal up-front the creatures that are doing the loving.  But that's not really painting a scene, though, is it?    

Blog #4

I definitely want to write a personal essay. I think for my definition of happiness, I can create it into something thats based around a personal essay of something in my life that has happened giving me my own definition of happiness. I want to expand on maybe one or two of the topics I brought up in my original definition of happiness. I'm having a hard time deciding which one I want to tell my story about, but once I decide, I am going to turn that event into a story, explaining and showing readers why this moment in my life has been added to my meaning of happiness. It will be me retelling a story from the past in a way that is more meaningful that just describing events.

Blog #3

Creative Nonfiction is a type of writing I kind of forgot about but is read on probably a day to day basis just looking through social networks and various other websites. If you have a facebook and use it regularly, chances are you find creative nonfiction writing pretty appealling. I enjoy how with creative nonfiction, one can elaborate enough to where the reader actually feels present with the writer or can at least share a perspective with them. What I find particularly nice sometimes when I read this type of writing is that if it happens to be about a romance, you're investing yourself in a real situation rather then what somebody made up in their head. I find myself with an interest most in probably personal essays.

Blog #3/ CNF

My preference for all matters in life is truth and logic but I love abstract ideas that can paint an idea in numerous ways.  I think that is what appeals the most to me about creative nonfiction.  Being that it is nonfiction writing the stories written are based on real and honest information and I love true stories. However, the best part of CNF is that there is the freedom of creativity.  The writer uses literary techniques and their creative styles to write real stories in captivating ways that is not typically drawn out in nonfiction writing. CNF makes typically boring, true stories more entertaining to read. As a reader I am drawn to memoirs.  As a writer I think I am gravitating more toward personal essays or opinion essays.      

Blog 3

Creative nonfiction is the perfect combination of two great types of writing. Creative writing is always interesting, fun, and enjoyable. I like the fact that nonfiction is based on true facts or stories. I my opinion reading creative nonfiction is time well spent. I hate reading something that is face or that gives me a false impression about something. I also hate reading something boring or dull. I never experience this with creative nonfiction because I am reading accurate information but in a fun, exciting, and or funny way. I think reading or writing creative nonfiction is a stress reliever, its a great way to express your self.

Blog 2

My name is Melissa. one "L" and two "S's". It is a common girl name and many people share my name. My parents gave me that name with no reason behind it, they simply liked the name. I have a couple of nicknames, Mel, Meli, and Meliss.
My family speak Spanish and my nick name in Spanish is Meli, every Melissa in Spanish is called Meli for short. In English some people call me Mel or Meliss when they don't use my full name. I prefer Meliss, I can identify my self with it more than Mel, Mel reminds me of Melanie.
The origin of the name Melissa is Greek, it means honey bee, and Meli mean honey.

Blog 1

"Dentist without orders" is considered creative non fiction because it is a true story explaining a visit to the dentist but with a fun twist to it. He describes in detail his experience at the dentist, and he has a good way of connecting with his audience. The writing is very easy to understand and he paints a scene for the audience, helping them imagine exactly what its like. This piece of writing could be described as an essay of place. He writes this from his point of view and refers to doctor visits over time. I think its great how even the audience that has not been to a doctor in France can still understand and capture his experience.

Blog #3

I really enjoy creative nonfiction writing because it allows a writer to express the truth about a story in a way that is appealing to others. Its like recreating the event and the emotions that already happened. Its a challenge sometimes because you may have to take a simple moment in time and describe in a way that makes readers want to keep reading. I like that is allows creativity within reality. My favorite genre is most likely the personal essay. I like how it focuses on the here and now, not the past. Yes it still refers to the past, but it describes life events moving forward. I also like the portrait sub genre. It's like painting a picture of someone with words, not paint. It's making who they are come alive on paper. Its showing the uniqueness of individuals for everyone else to see.

Blog #2

Happiness (Noun)

1.

the quality or state of being happy.

2.

good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.

Happiness is waking up as the sun rises, and watching the sunset. Empty beaches with a small wind. Seeing your hard work pay off. Being with the ones who you love the most. Meeting genuinely nice people. Helping those in needs. Eating good food with good people. Seeing people happy. Watching your little brother grow. Being able to give to your parents just a portion of what they have given me. Driving with the windows down and your favorite song on. Doing activities with friends that you wont forget. Reading a really good book. Getting a good grade on an assignment you worked so hard on. Laughing until your stomach hurts. Being with your best friends. Understanding that mistakes happen and you  can move forward. Singing at the top of your lungs. Good pizza. Getting a good pedicure. A song that you can't help but dance too. Good conversations. A good hug from someone you love the most. 

Blog #3: CNF

I find Creative Nonfiction appealing because it is freedom of expressing face through your own words. It keeps readers engaged in the writing and even makes them relate to it because of the way the information is presented. When reading texts that are in creative nonfiction genre I feel as if I get to learn who the writer is as a person. I find that I enjoy reading Personal Essays. Personal Essays focus on the "here and now" but can also bring up flashbacks into the past. I like the little glimpse into the characters past. Those glimpse help you as a reader understand why and what the character is experiencing. In a way it is similar to a memoir but then it isn't because it's focused on the present. My writing preference would be Narrative Journalism because it allows me to report on a topic through my own words. It's more then giving facts, it's giving the readers your view on the topic. You get to recreate your experience for others to enjoy.

Blog #3

I enjoy creative nonfiction because it has to do with real life, true scenarios, that could happen to anyone of us. I enjoy the blunt, straightforward language that is used in most of this writing and especially when there is a sarcastic tone to it. My favorite creative nonfiction to read is probably about love and relationships. I believe it is the interaction and feelings between two individuals that catches my attention. This love or relationship does not necessarily have to be with a significant other. It could be a relationship between a mother and a daughter, two friends, a father and a son, etc. I believe that as a writer I also gravitate towards this kind of CNF. It is something that I could easily write about and enjoy at the same time.  

Blog #2 Writing about place

Kites flying under the fluffy clouds that make up pictures of puppies and families that vanish in front of your eyes as they move through the sky. Much like the actual puppies running through the grass to fetch their squeaky dog bones. Couples laying on the grass, protecting their skins from the itchy grass with a thin blanket, talking about the changing pictures in the sky, their dreams, their aspirations, their insecurities, their goals, their thoughts- keeping an eye out for the kites crashing down from the mild wind.

Kayaking, families wearing life vest, children running, bikers, big open fields, trees, rollerbladers racing each other, two teens throwing a football back and forth, a yorkie running towards a little kid; stops; then runs after his owner, a bride, a groom, their friends, the photographer, the camera, the newly weds kiss, they pose.

Overpeck County Park is an 811-acre county park in Bergen county, New Jersey with major sections in Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, and Teaneck, surrounding overpeck creek, a tributary of the Hackensack river.  The area in Ridgefield Park along Challenger Road, off Emerson Road is 22 acres and consists of two softball fields, two soccer fields, amphitheater with 3,000 lawn seats, six tennis courts, playground, lawn, 700 parking spaces, boat launch, and walking trails. The park's grand opening was on July 5, 2010.

The pictures in the sky keep changing. The people are lost in their own happiness. Each group of people not paying much attention to the other. The relaxing feel, the freedom, the judgment free zone,  the gift of overpeck.