My E-Portfolio

Michael Johnson
Ms. Stokely
ENG 101-ONLINE
02 September 2007
A Trip to the Dump
I went to a place I have not been since childhood. It was not a trip I would normally take, but I believe people were thinking about using my home as the new local landfill. Going to the dump is never fun, but you never know who or what you might come in contact with. It also triggers many different senses you would rather not use in this way. It is not the greatest place on earth, but still serves its purpose well.
I remember, as a child, I would go with my grandfather to the dump every Saturday. It was not the best way to spend the day, but it helped to pass the time until my mother would pick me up. I remember faintly the smell from it even today. I think it played a major part in why I have trash pickup.
On this day, I needed to go to the dump due to the back up of baby boxes and other items that clearly could not wait until Thursday’s pickup. The aroma of diapers alone are enough to drive anyone to insanity. It took forever for me to find the motivation needed to gather up dirty Diaper Genie bags, boxes, and everyday trash. I do not mind doing jobs such as mowing the lawn, washing dishes, or even washing clothes, but taking the trash to the dump was the one thing I hated doing the most. So I sucked it up, threw the trash can and other items into the bed of my truck, and started off on my journey to the local trash dump.
Upon arriving at the local dump there was a congestion of cars I could not have anticipated. The smell of the carbon monoxide in the air from the mufflers was, in itself, almost too much to bare. I guess it was just a precursor to the day’s festivities. I finally got a chance to grab a parking space near the front. As soon as I opened the door I was instantly hit with a smell that could have catapulted my nostrils all the way across town. It was the single most disgusting smell I could have ever come in contact with.
Beyond the smell, the sights were something not wanted either. The juices from someone’s torn trash bag rushing across the road is enough to make me never want to come back.
The people that adorned the dump’s environment were just as quick as I was to get away from it. They rushed back and forth, from car to trash bin, with the speed of an NFL running back. I also noticed that people were pretty mean to each other when they were trying to leave. People coming into the dump would block those trying to get out.

That created an unwanted tension between everyone.
In conclusion, I remember going to the dump as a child with my grandfather. It was not a magical place, as it still is not now. The smells, sights, and sounds of the dump all make it a place you would only need to go to in an emergency. Although it serves its purpose well, I never want to go again.

Michael Johnson
Ms. Stokely
ENG 101-ONLINE
02 September 2007

A Trip to the Dump
The purpose of this paper is to explain, in detail, the surroundings of an environment that would not normally garner my full attention.
I. Introduction
II. Childhood memory
III. Preparation and agony of the trip
IV. Description of the environment
V. Conclusion

Michael Johnson
Ms. Stokely
ENG 101-ONLINE
16 September 2007


The Beach
The purpose of this paper is to explain, in sensory detail, the place that has always been most memorable to me, and why it gives me emotions and feelings that have lasted a lifetime.
I. Introduction
II. Sleepless night before vacation
III. The 4 hour drive
IV. Memory’s that have lasted forever
V. Conclusion

Michael Johnson
Eng 101
Ms. Stokely
22 September 2007


The Beach
The place that has always been most memorable to me is the beach. The times that were shared with friends and family are some of the best I have ever had. I will try to describe, to the best of my ability, why the beach was so memorable, and why it has given me some of the best experiences of my life.
The night before a vacation I always had trouble sleeping. Packing the car always kept me busy, but always reminded me a little of algebra. Getting everything in the proper place was a hard chore. When trying to go to sleep, I would often toss and turn, hour after hour, until finally winding up with about an hour of sleep.
The most memorable drive to the beach happened just after my parents divorced. My brother and I packed into the car with my mother as she continually played Reba McIntyre songs all the way to the beach. Four hours was a long time to spend in the car with a mother, who cried the length of the trip, and a brother that was young and singing Barney songs. The only stopping point, between home and the beach, was in Columbia, at the local McDonalds. As you can tell from the description, with signs of the beach approaching, fireworks of happiness would go off inside me.
Upon arrival at the beach, exiting the car brought on a blast of sea air that would make some sick to their stomach, but for me brought a happiness indescribable. I would then immediately go to the beach to feel the sand between my toes. It is a feeling of home in a sense. The sand felt as if it was a soft sponge, like a new pair of sea shoes. I would then have to walk a little further towards the water to feel the cool rush from the knee down.
After experiencing the sand and water, we would go to the motel room to unpack our luggage. Unpacking was always a lot faster than packing. We would put things away in a hurry in hopes of having some more time in the sand.
Some of the best times I had as a youth always involved me making a fool of myself. One time in particular, I was walking down the main strip with a couple of friends when we noticed some girls walking on the opposite side. We all thought they were really attractive, and we could not stop looking. Little did I know, at the time, that we were running out of sidewalk. I was walking with quite a swagger, when out of the blue, I ran into a stop sign. I did not notice if the girls were laughing, but my friends were having a pretty great time at my expense. I picked myself up off the ground and dusted my clothes off. That night, I went back to the room due to an egg shaped knot on my forehead. I bet the stop sign is still swaying to this day.
A couple of years later, I took my brand new truck and was so excited to show it off to everyone. I took it down to the beach to be with friends and finally let people see a vehicle that I actually owned. Not my parent‘s car that I would have to borrow. I remember driving down the strand and once again, the female sex caught our eye. I was paying too much attention to them and decided to rev the engine of my truck to get theirs. When I went to put the gear in neutral, I mistakenly put it in reverse and the truck made a horrible screeching sound. The truck stopped in the middle of the road. The lucky people that were sitting in lawn chairs in the bed of the truck lost their seating. It was one of the most embarrassing times I had ever experienced. Luckily, the truck glided over to the side of the road way, and it started back up without interruption.
You would think, by the time I was 19, I would have figured out how to maintain some sort of dignity around others. Fate would have another plan in mind for me. I have never claimed to be the best golfer, and with the way I played, one sunny day, with my grandfather and uncle, I showed the reason why. I hit a shot into the woods, as most of mine went, and had to go find it with the rest of the hunters. Upon finding my ball, I felt something sting me on my leg. I looked down, and to my amazement, found a mound of fire ants covering it. I could not even see the color of my shoes. Leaving the woods, more quickly than I had entered, I ran through the parking lot dropping a piece of clothing at every turn. Running so quickly, without regard for anything, I noticed my breathing was becoming very restricted. With my grandfather and uncle right behind me, we all jumped into my truck to find the closest emergency room. Riding down the highway, with no idea of where the local strand hospital was, became extremely disheartening. The only comfort my grandfather could find, was trying to give me water even though I could not breathe. We found the emergency room, only by chance, and my family rushed me in to be seen by the doctor. Hours later, with many shots of Benadryl in my system, I finally awoke from the biggest nightmare I had ever experienced at the beach. My parents had come to meet me and treated the ordeal as trivial. Little did they know, I had a serious allergic reaction to fire ant stings. Ever since then, I always have to have an Epipen in my possession when traveling out to a location where there may be fire ants.
As I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate the family side of going to the beach more so than before. Since being married and having a child, our most recent trip had become the most memorable. Bringing my child to the same sand I used to come to as a child was really exhilarating. Seeing him eat the sand, play in the water, and entertain, as I used to, really brought back a lot of the great times. It has brought my entire life at the beach full circle.
In conclusion, the beach has given me the most memorable experiences of my life. Some embarrassing, but for the most part, wonderful. The last trip we took basically gave me the chance to see my child as my parents saw me. The smells, sights, and sounds of the beach make it the place closest to my heart. The beach, to me, represents a place where I can go in bad times and good, and the best part about it is, no matter what the circumstances, I always came back from the beach with a warmth in my heart unmatched by any other place on earth.


Michael Johnson
Ms. Stokley
Eng 101
30 September 2007
Annotated Bibliography
Amnesty International Report 2007. UK 1961.
This resource, Amnesty International (AI), is a movement of people worldwide who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. It is broken up into four sections, news, library, act now contributions, and campaigns worldwide. They have extremely in-depth information as far as learning about human rights violations in every country. They do not support any government faction, so their ideas are non biased and from an outside opinion. I would highly recommend this to students around the world who are interested in learning about human rights.
Human Rights in China. China 1989.
This website was founded by Chinese students and scholars in March 1989. They are a non-governmental organization with a mission statement to promote international human rights. They offer press statements about what they believe to be wrongfully convicted promoters of peace in China. Their main focus is to generate international pressure for social change. I would recommend this to people who want to learn about specific situations of imprisoned Chinese citizens. The web link is Hrichina.org.
Reporters With Borders. France 1985.
This website was created for journalists that were being put into prison for their views and reports against certain governments. They have four main goals; to defend journalists and media assistants from being imprisoned for reports, fight against censorship and laws that they believe to undermine press freedom, give financial aid to weak media outlets, and work to improve the safety of journalists. I would recommend this to someone who was interested in what media life is like in certain international war zones.
Bureau of Public Affairs. US 2001.
This website serves as the State Department’s portal of information on US foreign policy and information about the State Department. This current State Department website covers the administration of George W. Bush since the election of 2001. It is separated into four sections; Issues and press, Travel and Business, Countries, and Youth and Education. It had very helpful information pertaining to this paper. It gives a US perspective of what is going on in each country in reference to human rights. I would highly recommend this source to someone who wanted an at-home opinion of what is going on in other countries.

Michael Johnson
Ms. Stokely
Eng 101
13 October 2007

Letter from Hangzhou Xihu Prison
Dear Ina,
As you know, I have been detained in Hangzhou prison since December 23, 2001. It is now October 13, 2007, and I have not been able to get any word to you since. Ina, you are my beloved wife, who I miss with all of my heart and soul. I am sorry about the consequences of my actions as an activist, but I am not sorry for my cause. The Chinese government has charged me with “illegal possession of secret documents”, and you know, as well as I, that this is just another ploy by them to rid their country of perceived threats. I would like to describe to you how this all came about.
On the night of December 23, 2001, I was walking home from work when two policemen came up to me and asked if they could do a field interrogation. I was unable to speak because of the shock I was in. After not being able to speak, they began to attack me viciously with their sticks. I could see out of the corners of my eyes that people on the street began to blend in with the darkness that surrounded me. They then carried my limp lifeless body to the local jail. That is where I have spent the last six years without trial.
I am a person that truly believes in a democratic reform in China. The government has taken offense to that, as well as, my book, “Corruption in the Communist Party of China”. They believe I am personally gathering troops to take down and reform this government. That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. So, because of this, they have added another crime of “incitement to subvert state power” to my already dismal record. My problem is that no one is able to have freedom of religious rights. Economically, we are told what we can be, and how much wages we make for it. Politically, we are taught not to have any beliefs or thoughts of our own. The government expects us all to just bow down to a regime that commits genocide on a daily basis and to never question the power and control they hold over us. Here in the prison, they have conducted such inhumane tactics to try to find out information most of us in here don’t even have.

They use animals to provoke fear, and in some cases, let them attack us. Another method of torture they use are cables that they hook to our bodies that send heavy doses of electricity surging through our already weak veins. These things I describe I have seen first hand, and if there is a chance I do not see you again, please stay strong, for I will be watching over you always. All I have done is try to be a person that could make a difference in the lives of our local Chinamen. I have written essays and one book to promote thinking amongst our peoples. The Head of State, Jiang Zemin, and the Head of Government, Zhu Rongji, have taken offense to it, and now I am here alone. If we cannot promote thinking, and a new way of life, what life is there that we should lead? Since China has not signed the International War Crime Act, they can do whatever they deem necessary to have complete control over China. They also have proposed a crack-down on suspected government opponents, stigmatized as “ethnic separatists and religious extremists”. This is the hand that has been dealt to me and what I have been characterized as. This has been going on in China for hundreds of years, and the greatest topic of my writings. If we cannot look to the past for answers about how to change the future, nothing will ever be accomplished in making this a more democratic union.
In closing, I ask that you help the organizations in town to come up with any help that they can provide for us. There are many different websites and culture groups that are working everyday to help out the repressors of human rights violations. One of the best proposals I have heard is getting the word out to bigger countries who can help with changing China into a democratic nation, then combining with the United Nations in creating a more perfect world. Obviously, no actions in the past have been taken to remedy this, so we must take action now. I am writing this letter to let you know, in great detail, to argue why our human rights have been extremely violated, and ask that you do all that you can to help. I may not ever have another opportunity to write you again. So, I will wait until the day when I can hear the voices of a thousand people outside my window telling me that we are free at last.

Michael Johnson
Ms. Stokely
English 101
03 November 2007

What Food Means to the South
The purpose of this paper is to define, with detailed expository research, what southern foods mean to people who reside in the south.
I. Introduction
II. A Southerner defined
III. History of food in the south
IV. Future of southern foods
V. Conclusion

Michael Johnson
Ms. Stokely
English 101
11 November 2007

What Southern Food Means to the South

In this paper I will try to explain, with the help of expository research, what food means to people in the south. I will neither defend or promote my own views on the food in the south as I see it. I believe that southern food is a culture, not just something to digest. A way of life, not just something to help people survive. It is a tradition, a celebration, and something that is passed down from generation to generation.
To begin to understand the food in the south we must first come to understand what it is to be a Southerner. A Southerner by definition is a native or inhabitant of the south. The date the term Southerner came about was in 1827. From some of the information I have read about Southerners, it takes on a much more complex meaning. From the beginning, the south has always been caught up in controversy within our nation. In the civil war the south decided to break apart from the United States and form what they thought of as a more perfect union. The south is still defined by the slavery issues that it dealt with such a long time ago. People from around the world talk about how beautiful the south is with its lush mountains and sandy beaches. There is no one definition that could describe each person from each region. So they are just called Southerners.
The South’s food heritage is filled with clues to the character and personality of the region. The heritage originated in nature, from the sun, earth, and water. The South is a food-conscious culture. It had the right temperatures, the proper levels of rainfall and proper soil to create proper growth of resources available for many different types of food.
From the beginning, Southerners, were close to the soil. Their lives revolved around the seasons. Most of them were farmers primarily as their occupation. If they did have another occupation they certainly still did it as a side job.
Most people in the south worked in fields attending to food growth from the early morning hours until late in the evening. Families would use all their children to work in these conditions. They also sat down with each other for three meals a day. The ringing of the dinner bell always brought back the essential goal that doing this regularly was extremely important. When times started out difficult for most in the south finance-wise, they started by eating many vegetables and breads. Breads were often eaten in cornbread form and vegetables were really too many to note. Skillet gravy was also a necessity at many meals due to most of the ingredients being easily found and not hard to work for.
One of the special occasions Southerners really got together for was Sunday dinner. A long day of worship was always followed by the gathering of families to celebrate their time together. Most families would designate one person to take a chicken from the backyard, and have their heads wrung off their bodies. Roosters were fried in lard; hens were baked in the oven, mostly with cornbread dressing. They would have gravy with both, and normally be used to cover mashed potatoes and biscuits. They would circulate green beans, turnip greens, and okra around the table. They would have a couple of pitchers of iced tea and also buttermilk. They would have good conversation between family members while they ate. After it was over, they would clear the table to make room for the pies and cakes. When desert was over with, they would stumble, belly full, to the closest porch or sitting area. Then they would take naps while they waited for the agony of being stuffed to subside.
It was not just the happy occasions that would bring about such gathering of people and food. It also took place during times of mourning or death. It would always bring about a steady procession of family to the door with food to feed the guests. Death then was a domestic experience with the undertaker bringing the body to the bedroom of the house where close by the body would be buried in a nearby family cemetery. People who came from a ways off would sometimes stay for days. This presented a problem for feeding many different people for a lengthy amount of time.
Southern cooks always took pride in their ability to bring joy to a large crowd. In North Carolina, where they had local or individual specialties, they made hickory-bark syrup. Or in the Arkansas Ozarks they would make chocolate gravy. In the Florida Gulf Coast, they would make smoked mullet. Universally, the would have boiled custard, ambrosia, hush puppies, fried chicken, and chess pie. Sweets were a specialty as well as a delight. It was rare where a cook could not whip up a quick batch of cookies or egg kisses or pastries. They would also have something heavier, such as blackberry cobbler or a banana pudding. The Southern sweet tooth was something of a legend. They would normally take up the last half of every cook book.
After the Civil War, there was a period where cookbook writers emphasized eating to live rather than living to eat. They focused on health, nutrition, and money. They began to look down on those who only looked elevate the experience of eating. It was during the same time that many Southern women sought freedom in the kitchen. They found it was a time that could be best spent preparing different dishes while getting away from troubles of everyday life.
Even though Southern food customs were securely based in the home, they also began to reach the larger communities. The church was one place where food played an important role. They used bread and wine in communion, as well as in the Last Supper. Even church songs had phrases about food that they tied into Christian life.
Schools and political parties also used food to attract a large gathering. The harvest festival is an example. So is the political barbecue, where it was a fixture in the South even before the Civil War. They would have a public fish fry and an oyster roast which gained huge amounts of popularity. In Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia, many people came together for Brunswick stew.
Southern restaurants also began to have traditions. In New Orleans men’s bars would serve free lunches to attract customers. Tearooms would cater to female clientele such as the Chesterfield Tea Room in Richmond. Small country hotels would really promote their food to gain more popularity.
The future of Southern food has become almost a cult gathering of sorts. From the Cracker Barrel to the Waffle house, all claim to have the best Southern food.
These days, food in the south still is closely tied to the family. Some still live religiously to having Sunday dinners. Many still have at least one night a week where they would gather together as a family to a spread of many different foods grown in their own back yards.
While times have changed considerably with the growth of restaurants and many different foods from throughout the world, people in the south still love their time together to share foods their families have loved for ages.
In conclusion, Southern food is something that has deep seeded meaning for people that live in the south. I have tried to explain with great detail, and a lot of expository research, just what Southern food means to people in the south.




Verb/Noun Agreement
Underline the correct choice:
1. The orders from that company (is, are) on your desk there.
2. Thirty dollars (is, are) too much to pay for that.
3. The man around the corner from the sandlots (come, comes) to our meetings.
4. Here (is, are) some reasons you may not want to go on that trip.
5. Strawberries and peaches (are, is) my favorite dessert.
6. Neither the man nor his little girls (was, were) injured in the accident.
7. The windows in the living room (was, were) shattered by the storm.
8. The pictures in this new magazine (shows, show) the rugged beauty of the west.

Words Easily Confused
Underline the best choice:
1. The thundering applause showed how deeply the presentation had (affected, effected) the audience.
2. (Lie, Lay) that book over here while you (lie, lay) down for a nap. You should have (lay, laid, lain) here much sooner!
3. (Sit, Set) down and talk to me. You can (sit, set) the dishes out later.
4. I don’t know how I could (lose, loose) such a big dress. It is so large that it is (lose, loose) on me when I wear it!
5. Is the gas station much (father, farther, further) down this road?
6. Fortunately, Jim’s name was (accepted, exempted) from the roster of those who would have to clean bathrooms because he was supposed to go downtown to (accept, except) a reward for the German Club.

Verb Tense
Look at the verb given before each sentence. Read the sentence carefully to determine what tense is best for the verb’s usage in the sentence. Underline the best answer:
Run 1. When I saw her pass the house, I ________ after her.
run, runned, ran, ranned
Go 2. She should have _________ on that trip.
went, go, gone, goed
Swim 3. The boy called for help, and I ______ out to him.
swum, have swam, swam
Drink 4. During the flood, we ________ bottled water.
dranked, drank, drunk, drunked
Think 5. Who would have _________ that the way to the city was through a forest?
thunk, thought, thinked, thoughted
Bring 6. I don’t like the fact that Sarah _______ her little brother to the party.
brung, bringed, brought, broughted
Choose 7. She didn’t understand why the farmer ________ that kind of seed.
choosed, chose, chosed
Tear 8. The coach thought he had ______ a ligament.
torn, teared, tore
Drive 9. How far have you _______ today?
drove, drived, driven
Write 10. I have _______ my report already.
wrote, written, writed

Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement
Underline the correct choice:
1. There (is, are) two ways to make enemies.
2. If one of your friends (tell, tells) you a secret, you should not turn it into gossip.
3. Gail and Sue (make, makes) friends easily.
4. (Were, Was) neither of the twins in the Easter Parade?
5. Everyone in the class (laugh, laughs) at my jokes.
6. Nan and Alma bought (her, their) own tickets.
7. She or Sally will sell you (her, their) ticket.
8. One of the men forgot to bring (his, their) tools.
9. Both of the boys had (his, their) notes handy.
10. Anybody can pass this course if (they, he) will work.
11. Neither of the desks (are, is) high enough for me.

Punctuation
Add the proper punctuation to the following sentences:
1. The boys hat’s were lost in the water because they were careless in not latching them to the side of the boat
2. There are two s’s in that word, although I don’t know why it is spelled like that
3. The dog lost its collar when digging for bones in the soft dirt beside the river.
4. Its an honor to accept the awards certificate’s and medals presented to the club.
5. When Suzie arrived at the dance, no one else was there.
6. She got out of the car, she waved hello, and she walked into the house.
7. Several people wandered about in the mall looking for the lollipop display, but when they could not find it they went home.
8. The president of the company got the idea from his smartest employee, and then put his own name on it.
9. Sarah saw the problem with the burning car. She immediately ran for help.
10. Sarah saw the problem with the burning car and ran for help.
11. Worried and frayed, the old man paced the floor waiting for his daughter.
12. When certain chemicals are mixed together the result can be disastrous. Therefore it is important to understand the nature of the mixture before actually pouring them into a test tube
13. The young girls idea of love was really different from the concept that her grandmothers stories presented.
14. I asked that you not do that.
15. The boy yelled, “Please help me!”
16. Yes that happened back in 80’.
17. She asked, “Have you done that yet?”
18. The bridge was elegant, a symbol of its own strength and beauty.
19. The victory was ours!
20. That computer program is Jane and Sam’s.

WORKBOOK FOR WRITERS
Exercise 21-2 and 21-4

21-2
1. The sergeant instructed his men to clean the barracks.
2. The plane remained intact after passing through the severe storm.
3. The dictator was overthrown by his brother.
4. Astronomy calls for great accuracy.
5. After he fell into the cesspool, his suit was so soiled it could not be cleaned.
6. The inheritance was divided among her sisters.
7. The crowd dispersed once the ambulance took away the accident victim.
8. The tenants withheld their rent in protest over the long-broken boiler.
9. Most fashion models are tall.
10. The patient was restored to health by physical therapy.
11. Because of his exorbitant behavior, the young man was thrown out of the restaurant.
12. The committee voted to suspend voting on the budget until the missing members could be located.
13. The coach talked to the team in the capacity of a friend.
14. The family donated its time to help restore the fire-damaged day-care center.
15. The practical joker tittered as his victim slipped on a banana peel.
16. The professor praised the class for its good work on the midterm examination.
17. Sometimes people offer rewards to help capture dangerous criminals.
18. The guest wondered if it would be impolite to ask for a third piece of pie.
19. The man secretly took his wife’s birthday present into the attic.
20. The lifeguard’s skin was dry from overexposure to the sun.
21-4
1. My anthropology professor is a brilliant man.
2. The food in the main dining hall is barely edible.
3. Please shut off the lights when leaving classrooms.
4. The Dean of Faculty will address the audience at graduation.
5. Irregardless of the weather, the honors and awards ceremony will be held on Thursday evening.
6. All students must wear skirts or slacks under their graduation robes.
7. The elevator is reserved for faculty and students with passes.
8. Remind your guests to park their cars in the visitors’ lot.
9. Anyone parking a motorcycle on campus should chain it to the rack in the parking field.
10. Relatives may stay overnight in the dormitories provided they have written in advance and touched base with the house parents before 10P.M.

Michael Johnson
Ms. Stokley
Eng 101
04 October 2007


Letter From Hangzhou Xihu Prison
The purpose of this assignment is to write a letter from a prison, in a city not in the US, and with great detail argue why my human rights have been violated.
I. Introduction to letter
II. The night it began
III. Human rights violation
IV. Condition of environment
V. Conclusion