Kristina+Battenfield

**Introduction** My name is Kristina Battenfield. I was born and raised in St. Mary's County, Maryland. I'm a country girl who doesn't mind getting down and dirty. I enjoy mudding in my truck, also known as "the Stallion." My truck is a 1997 Chevy S10 Zr2. Yes, Zr2 means it is four wheel drive. I was born in October of the year 1991. Fall is my favorite season. I like to have fun, and I plan on making the most of life. I live by the quote "you have to take some chances, you have to risk it all, you have to close your eyes and jump, because it might be worth the fall." **Bio Poem:** ﻿I chose this poem to give you a little insight about myself. I plan on making this E-portfoilio personal, just incase anyone got the wrong impression of me. Kristina Ambitious, Artistic, Intricate, Witty Daughter of an old man who means the world to her Who is known for her abnormal amount of energy and random comments Who loves long walks on the beach and corny pick-up lines Who feels life will go on if things don't turn out the way she expected Who needs to be surrounded by a constant blaring of music Who fears dying before getting the chance to complete her "bucket list" Who gives everything to the ones she loves and asks for little in return Who would like to see the world in the eyes of a stranger Resident of a small dwelling located in a small county Battenfield ﻿**Formal Essay:** I chose the definition essay. This is because I think it's comedic, and I feel very strong about this. It is one that I know the women will agree with, and the men should read. Maybe take a few pointers as well. ** The Ideal Spouse ** Every person, male or female, has an idea of “the perfect mate.” Whether they are famous, popular, or a “nobody,” at some point in their lives, they dream of the “perfect” spouse. Everyone does! It’s natural in the society we live in to want love. Some dream of a rich, romantic, or an attractive artist. But all-in-all, almost everyone has the same requirements in their perfect spouse. Ideal spouses must be a contributing factor in household duties, financial necessities, and must have dynamite personalities. Nobody likes to have to tell anyone to pick up after themselves. It should be something that person does naturally without being told. Your ideal spouse must help out with the daily chores willingly, and without being nagged. I’m a female who enjoys a male who can cook every now and then, and be willing to do the dishes afterwards. I love when a man isn’t afraid of a little laundry detergent. There is nothing more impressive than a man who can successfully clean my delicate clothing. Men, I know you love a lady who isn’t afraid to wash those sweaty gym socks, no matter how smelly they are. Household duties can become overwhelming when there is only one person doing them. In some way or form, everyone wants a spouse who will help keep the place clean without being told over and over again, and without complaint. Finances are a major deal when thinking of the ideal spouse. In the economic depression America is throwing itself into, it is more than natural to have two working adults in the household. Expenses are constantly increasing and many people are struggling. Everyone should appreciate a spouse willing to pay some portion of the bills, and still have the money to buy that present on sale at the mall. In doing this, the spouse must be able to hold down a steady job. It’s very unnerving when a significant other is constantly in and out of jobs and financially strapped. Ladies, a man with a good paying job is a definite plus! It shows he can take care of a family and can still afford to buy flowers when he feels like being a romantic. Men, I know you love a woman who can buy her own items of interest, whether it is make-up, or that sexy black dress, or those expensive heels in the shopping mall window. Of course, she’ll appreciate being spoiled a little, too. Lastly, but most importantly, is the personality. Of course there are the typical characteristics “cute,” “funny,” “charming,” etc. It seems as though everyone wants that! Attraction, happiness, and flattery are what turn people on to their spouse. The most important thing in the personality aspect is compatibility. A couple must make a great team. My perfect spouse should be the peanut butter to my jelly, the spark to my firework, and the stars to my sky. Working well together is the most important thing when it comes to the ideal mate. If a couple is not compatible, there is no future for them. I know I want a guy who completes me. We must be able to make logical decisions for our relationship, or our future. I want a guy who when a problem arises, he will not be afraid to come to me and discuss a solution. I want a guy who will make me laugh when I don’t feel like smiling; A guy that accepts me and respects my point of view. He must make up for what I lack. True compatibility is noticeable. A stranger can see a great couple from a distance and think “Man, they were made for each other.” Everyone looks for that other person, whether he or she has already found them, or whether he or she is still in search. Monogamy is a hard thing to accomplish in relationships these days. When someone has that ideal person in their head and he or she seems impossible to find. Well, maybe because they are impossible. People sometimes spend their entire lives looking for that special someone. If expectations are high, everyone will seem to be a letdown. If this sounds familiar, stop and rethink. Who really needs someone that has a million dollar car and a mansion? Material things should not matter-- it’s the little things that should count. My ideal guy should help me out when he doesn’t feel obligated. He should do sweet things for me just because he cares and appreciates all that I do for him. The ideal spouse is hard to come by, but when he or she comes, it will be an instant click. **Journal #1** I chose this Journal because I think everyone knows about the boogie man. I liked reading about where the boogieman originated, and I'm sure you will like to learn where it came from, too. No worries, he's not a real creature that hides under the bed. That's a myth. ** Watch Out Before the Boogieman Gets You ** As I child I was always warned about the Boogieman. If I were to get out of bed at night, the Boogieman will come kidnap me and hide me under the bed. I was always told to stay out of my parents closets because the Boogieman will get me. The Boogieman isn’t a specific shape, gender, height, or appearance. He is simply a form of terror. I never understood why this creature existed. Fear, to me, is not acceptable when teaching a child what is right and wrong. I think it opens the door to fear many things that would not normally be scary, for instance the dark. If the Boogieman will only get me at night, what else could only come out at night? It always scared me, and I never wanted to confront the Boogieman, or whoever may be lurking in the shadows. The Boogieman was created to instill fear in children to prevent, deter, or stop children from acting a certain way, doing a certain thing, or going a certain place. It was certainly a very effecting method. I know I was scared of him! When I was told not to leave my bed because he was going to get me if I do, I know I stayed in bed until morning when it was safe to come out. The Boogieman originated from Indonesia. They were a tribe that attacked many people and became feared by anyone outside of their boundaries. The fear is what stemmed this mythological creature. The Boogieman may have been a real person at one time, but now it is only an act of the imagination. **Journal﻿ #2 **﻿I chose this journal because I loved writing it. I liked being able to talk about a game I am addicted to, World of Warcraft. Some people think it's nerdy, but that's only because they haven't given it a chance, and they stereotype the people that play. ** Addictions ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">In “Cookies or Heroin” by Marie Winn, the author describes an addiction as “an overindulgence in some pleasurable activity.” Everyone has some sort of addiction, some are good for the body, and some may be considered detrimental to one’s health. Winn references television addictions in her speech as unsatisfactory. This is because when people have addictions the addictions are usually physically and emotionally fulfilling, but television never gives that feeling, deeming it detrimental. The lack of fullness television watchers experience causes them to lose track of time and become engulfed in whatever show is on. <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">My addiction is a video game called World of Warcraft. I play almost every day for at least an hour. I have taught myself to put my other household duties first because when I start playing, I know it will be hard to stop. Playing WOW can be bad for my health if I play too much of it, but on the other hand, it keeps me from spending money by shopping for unnecessary items. It also keeps me entertained when I am home alone. I say it can be bad because over time by playing on the computer, the screen will give me a headache, or I can develop a typing disease if I have bad posture while playing. <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">World of Warcraft (WOW) is a very commonly known game with millions of players. You can meet people from all over the world. I met one of my best friends through playing WOW. He is from Bulgaria and every time I get on to play, he and I team up and do quests and dungeons and raids. There are two types of characters, Alliance (the good guys) and Horde (the bad guys.) I have three alliance characters that are diverse races that I alternate playing each day. It is a game that requires internet connection, and every Tuesday the company that created WOW updates the game and works on problems, so it is constantly changing. I find it intriguing, and if it keeps me away from spending unnecessary amounts of money, then I will continue to play. It helps that my boyfriend plays the game as well. It’s something we can do together as a couple. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">﻿**Journal #3** <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">﻿ ﻿ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">﻿I chose this journal because I completely understood where Raine was coming from. Many times work gets very repetitive, and people start to hate their job. I work at Bear Creek Open Pit BBQ, and I hear a lot of the same things over and over again. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">** Nice? ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">In the passage “Why should I be Nice to you” by Emily Raine, the term good service is sold as part of a company’s’ product. To make the restaurant more appealing to the public, it is often advertising guaranteed customer satisfaction, and great service. Starbucks, being the main example used by Raine, is a coffee shop that entails a small amount of interaction with customers. She says that even a simple “how are you?” would interrupt the flow of the business. According to the author, one person is assigned to one specific task and is instructed to smile and use injunctions to make the customer feel like they are royalty to the company. Raine feels the process is very redundant, and tends to be boring. <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">I understand the aspect in which Raine is looking at a business. I work in the hospitality business and it is a very repetitive process. We make sure the customer is happy and their needs are attended to. More times than none I find myself saying the same phrase over and over again such as “how did your meal come out?” or “may I get you anything else?.” Raine feels that in order to feel better about the job, you need to be able to express emotions, and return the vibe given off by a customer. The author says “if you want to avoid becoming a green-aproned coffee dispensary, you’re just going to have to tell people off about it.” It’s natural to feel angst and annoyance, so when a company instructs you to suck it up, make sure you don’t let that company turn you into a smiling robot. <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"> ** Research Paper Abstract  ** Genetically Modified Organisms: Would You Like Some Chemicals with that Food? Genetically Modified Organisms, what are they? Genetically Modified Organisms, commonly referred to as GMOs, are “organisms modified by certain laboratory techniques that change the heritable traits in a more directed way than conventional breeding” (Nestle). In other words, GMOs are organisms, usually plants, which have a foreign gene injected in them to enhance traits, such as ripeness, size, or quality. These plants are consumed which is ending up not to be a good thing. GMOs are effecting the environment, the farmers, and the well-being of all living animals and humans. The environment is having problems because foreign genes being injected into these plants are not natural. The GMO companies are injecting fish into tomatoes. The pesticide tolerant herbs and pest resistant herbs are not good because they are killing animals that it is not intended to kill. Along with the pesticide tolerance, GMOs are commonly associated with Roundup, which is causing mutations in weeds. As for the farmers, there is a large economic crisis. GMOs are not contained well and contaminate organic fields. They are also made sterile, which means herbs will not drop seeds that can be used for following years. This is causing issues because farmers have to purchase new seeds every year. GMOs are causing health issues with consumers. GMOs are linked to cancers, allergic reactions, and other harmful toxins. The only way to really stop and fix this madness is to educate the public. Protest groups are getting together to boycott GMO companies and push for labeling, better containment, and for consumers to stop buying these products. As consumers, we can learn more about these organisms by searching on the internet, reading the news, and by choosing not to support these companies. Local organic farmers are the ones that are suffering most. The best thing to do for them is to buy from them. Although it will be more expensive, organic food is much more nutritious and is much better for the environment. ** Final Reflection ** ** Reflection ** In Mrs. Lowry’s class of English 1010, I learned many things, as well as tweaked the knowledge I already had. As much of a pain it was to write as much as we did in the class, looking back, it was a good way to practice and improve our writing skills. The feedback I received on my papers showed me where I need the most work. There wasn’t much, but I came to terms that I did need to tidy up case agreements and commas. Most of the errors I found in my papers were small ones that I would have never thought to look for. For example, “they” and “an individual” do not agree. This is because “an individual” is singular, and “they” is plural. The case agreements are where I struggled most. I do feel the workshops we did in class were very helpful to me. I was able to see other sentences with the errors and get an idea of what to look for. As I revised my papers, I made sure my cases were matching, and figured out a way to make my writing sound more professional. As far as commas go, I knew where they fit for the most part, but I could’ve never explained to anyone else why they go a certain place. The acronym FANBOYS helped clarify when commas should be used. Similar to the case agreement workshops, the comma workshops were very helpful as well. I like being able to look at sample sentences during “what’s the problem” and the workshops and figuring out as a group where the comma should or shouldn’t be. At the beginning of the class I liked to “hyper-comma,” which means to incorporate too many commas when they are not necessary. From repeated practice, I have mastered the comma skill. My writing may not be perfect, but it has improved a tremendous amount. English 1010 was a course that I feel is a very necessary class for every student, whether they graduated a year ago, or twenty years ago. The curriculum is composed of reiterating the Basic English writing skills, such as grammar, research, and paper structure. It refreshes the memories of past knowledge stored in the sub conscience. I am glad I can walk away from English 1010 with a better understanding of the writing structure and a new found confidence in my writing skills.