Compare/Contrast Essay Assignment: 1,000 Words (about four pages)
In a compare/contrast essay, you will use skills you already possess and use every day. When you get up in the morning, for instance, you may contrast two choices of clothing—a short-sleeved shirt vs. a long-sleeved one—and then make your decision, or you may contrast and choose between sugar-coated Lucky Charms or Kashi 7 Grain. You will weigh the health advantages of walking to campus and the speed afforded by driving or riding a bike. You compare teachers and restaurants; similarly, you compare movies, books, girls/guys, candy, chips, drinks, classes, sports, players, pretty much everything without even realizing it. Compare/contrast helps you to make a decision or a judgment about two or more objects, persons, ideas, or feelings.
When you write a comparison or contrast essay, your opinion about the two or more elements in question becomes your thesis statement; the body of the paper then shows why you arrived at that opinion. For example, if your thesis states that McDonald’s is preferable to Burger King, your body paragraphs might contrast the two restaurants in terms of food, service, and atmosphere: finally revealing the superiority of McDonald’s on all three counts (or, you can bring in a third element: discovering that on all counts, it’s better to eat at home or at another restaurant).
There are two principal patterns of organization for comparison or contrast essays. For a short paper, you should choose one pattern and stick with it throughout the essay. In a longer essay, you may mix the patterns for variety. But, as long as you maintain clarity and logical organization, the choice is yours.
Pattern One: Point by point
The body paragraphs compare or contrast the two subjects first on point one, then on point two, then three, and so on. So in the McD’s and BK example, it would go something like this:
Introduction
Point 1: Food
McD’s
BK
Point 2: Service
McD’s
BK
Point 3: Atmosphere
McD’s
BK
Conclusion
If you choose this pattern, you must make a smooth transition from McD’s to BK in each discussion to avoid choppiness. Be consistent
Pattern Two: The Block
This method presents body paragraphs in which the writer first discusses McD’s on points 1,2,and 3 and then discusses BK on the same points.
Thesis: McDonald’s is a better family restaurant than Burger King because of its superior food, friendly service, and relaxed atmosphere.
McD’s
Food
Service
Atmosphere
BK
Food
Service
Atmosphere
Conclusion
Which pattern you use is up to you.
Some Topic Ideas:
Two political candidates and their views/policies on one issue
Two of the readings we’ve done for this class or readings you’ve done for another class
Two different points of view on the same thing or situation (think Samuel Clemens’s “Two Ways of Viewing the River.”
An expectation and its reality
A first impression and a later point of view
Two views on a current controversial issue (campus, local, or national), but be aware of the off-limits topics
Two conflicting theories you are studying for another class
A memory of a person or place vs. a more recent encounter (an ex or a childhood friend)
Coverage of the same story by two different newspapers or magazines
Two essays with similar themes but different styles or similar styles but different themes
Two paintings/ photographs/ advertisements
Two places that are special for you in different ways
An opinion you had before college that has changed
Your attitude toward a social custom or belief and your parents’ attitude toward that belief or custom.
The possibilities are limitless (but be aware of off-limits topics)
Topic Proposal for Compare/Contrast Essay
Selecting the right subject is important. To help clarify your ideas and strengthen your topic choice, use this proposal sheet. Be aware that your ideas may change as you write.
What two different subjects will your essay discuss? In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different?
Who is the audience for your essay?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Definition Assignment
Definition Assignment: 1,000 Words (about four pages)
“What do you mean by that?” In some cases, our failure to comprehend just one particular term may lead to total misunderstanding. If you ask your grandparents for some “dead presidents” because you’re going shopping, will they know what you mean? Ten years ago, if you would’ve said you wanted to “text” someone, it would’ve meant nothing. Similarly, people from the same generations, who watched the same TV shows growing up (“aaayyy, Nanu Nanu”), and knew the same news stories, and they often have a shared vocabulary that other generations may not. In other words, a clear understanding of terms or ideas is crucial to meaningful communication. Families sometimes use common words to mean uncommon things; outsiders may not understand what these words mean.
When you write any essay, you will always have to define your terms. Even when you describe your boyfriend/girlfriend, if you say she’s hot or he’s cute, you should define exactly what you mean by those words. What does funny mean? Silly? Scary? Those words mean completely different things to different people.
In courts of law, many cases are dismissed because there was a misinterpretation or a misrepresentation of terms. Terminology can make or break your writing so be sure to always define any terms that you use that may have different interpretations.
Sometimes, a dictionary definition or a one- or two-sentence explanation is all that is required (courage is “grace under pressure” (Hemingway)). Sometimes a brief, humorous definition is sufficient. Robin Williams once defines cocaine as “God’s way of saying you’re making too much money.” Think of bumper sticker definitions (“Death is Nature’s way of telling you to slow down.”).
Other times, you will find it necessary to provide an extended definition. The articles you read on subjects like assisted suicide or mercy killing define “life’ in a variety of ways. Other recent studies have grappled with definitions of free speech, animal rights, pornography, and terrorism.
Your definition essay should define something of your own choosing. Choosing something intangible rather than a tangible physical object may be easier for you. For example, some suitable topics are emotions (jealousy, anger), beliefs, concepts, ideas, or ideals (accountability, freedom); a habit, practice, or type of behavior (orderliness, consistency, determination, sloppiness, immaturity, stubbornness, etc.); and in general, anything having to do with the way people tend to feel, act, or think.
Or, your essay can define a common term that most people never think about; be sure to define your term in a unique way. Some ideas for this definition are nature, wilderness, home, pets, etc. Be sure not to choose over-used topics such as defining what love is, or what a best friend is, or what Christmas is. If you must use a commonplace topic, be sure to do some inventive thinking. If you say “she’s always there for me,” you are opening up a topic for a whole new essay. Where is “there?” You could write an entire paper titled, “She’s Always There For Me.”
The broad freedom of topics can count for or against you. Be creative. I’ve gotten serious essays (date rape), fun essays (popcorn), informative essays (Halo) (weanis), sad essays (mourning), funny essays (spandex), math terms, science terms, car terms, etc.
Sometimes we need to define terms as clearly and objectively as possible. Other times, we may wish to persuade and inform our readers. People’s interpretations of words, especially abstract or controversial terms, can, and do, differ greatly depending on their points of view. One person’s protest march can be another’s street riot. Decide on your purpose. Think of the term “union.” For some, it means marriage, for others, gay marriage, for others, workers’ rights, for still others, a place for college students to hang out, for still others it has connotations of the civil war.
Give your readers a reason to keep reading:
A great introduction is to explain the previous use, misuse, or misunderstanding of the term; then, present your new or better definition of the concept.
Know your purpose:
Keep your audience in mind:
Because you are trying to present a new or improved definition, you must strive for clarity.
Describe parts or characteristics, offer examples, compare to or contrast with similar terms, explain a process, state some synonyms, tell the reader what the term doesn’t mean, present the history of or changes in the meaning, discuss causes or effects, associate it with recognizable people, places, or ideas.
Some Essay Topics:
A current slang term
Person
A term from your field of study
A slob or other undesirable type of roommate
Success or failure
A kind of music, painting, or dance
A social label (goth, punk, prep)
A term from science or technology
A rebel or conformist
A current fad or style or one from the past
A family or hometown expression
A good/bad restaurant/store/movie
Self-respect
Discrimination
A controversial idea or term
A term from a hobby or sport
A medical term or condition
The possibilities are limitless. Know your off-limits topics.
Topic Proposal for Definition:
At least 4 pages (1000 words)
“What do you mean by that?” In some cases, our failure to comprehend just one particular term may lead to total misunderstanding. If you ask your grandparents for some “dead presidents” because you’re going shopping, will they know what you mean? Ten years ago, if you would’ve said you wanted to “text” someone, it would’ve meant nothing. Similarly, people from the same generations, who watched the same TV shows growing up (“aaayyy, Nanu Nanu”), and knew the same news stories, and they often have a shared vocabulary that other generations may not. In other words, a clear understanding of terms or ideas is crucial to meaningful communication. Families sometimes use common words to mean uncommon things; outsiders may not understand what these words mean.
When you write any essay, you will always have to define your terms. Even when you describe your boyfriend/girlfriend, if you say she’s hot or he’s cute, you should define exactly what you mean by those words. What does funny mean? Silly? Scary? Those words mean completely different things to different people.
In courts of law, many cases are dismissed because there was a misinterpretation or a misrepresentation of terms. Terminology can make or break your writing so be sure to always define any terms that you use that may have different interpretations.
Sometimes, a dictionary definition or a one- or two-sentence explanation is all that is required (courage is “grace under pressure” (Hemingway)). Sometimes a brief, humorous definition is sufficient. Robin Williams once defines cocaine as “God’s way of saying you’re making too much money.” Think of bumper sticker definitions (“Death is Nature’s way of telling you to slow down.”).
Other times, you will find it necessary to provide an extended definition. The articles you read on subjects like assisted suicide or mercy killing define “life’ in a variety of ways. Other recent studies have grappled with definitions of free speech, animal rights, pornography, and terrorism.
Your definition essay should define something of your own choosing. Choosing something intangible rather than a tangible physical object may be easier for you. For example, some suitable topics are emotions (jealousy, anger), beliefs, concepts, ideas, or ideals (accountability, freedom); a habit, practice, or type of behavior (orderliness, consistency, determination, sloppiness, immaturity, stubbornness, etc.); and in general, anything having to do with the way people tend to feel, act, or think.
Or, your essay can define a common term that most people never think about; be sure to define your term in a unique way. Some ideas for this definition are nature, wilderness, home, pets, etc. Be sure not to choose over-used topics such as defining what love is, or what a best friend is, or what Christmas is. If you must use a commonplace topic, be sure to do some inventive thinking. If you say “she’s always there for me,” you are opening up a topic for a whole new essay. Where is “there?” You could write an entire paper titled, “She’s Always There For Me.”
The broad freedom of topics can count for or against you. Be creative. I’ve gotten serious essays (date rape), fun essays (popcorn), informative essays (Halo) (weanis), sad essays (mourning), funny essays (spandex), math terms, science terms, car terms, etc.
Sometimes we need to define terms as clearly and objectively as possible. Other times, we may wish to persuade and inform our readers. People’s interpretations of words, especially abstract or controversial terms, can, and do, differ greatly depending on their points of view. One person’s protest march can be another’s street riot. Decide on your purpose. Think of the term “union.” For some, it means marriage, for others, gay marriage, for others, workers’ rights, for still others, a place for college students to hang out, for still others it has connotations of the civil war.
Give your readers a reason to keep reading:
A great introduction is to explain the previous use, misuse, or misunderstanding of the term; then, present your new or better definition of the concept.
Know your purpose:
Keep your audience in mind:
Because you are trying to present a new or improved definition, you must strive for clarity.
Describe parts or characteristics, offer examples, compare to or contrast with similar terms, explain a process, state some synonyms, tell the reader what the term doesn’t mean, present the history of or changes in the meaning, discuss causes or effects, associate it with recognizable people, places, or ideas.
Some Essay Topics:
A current slang term
Person
A term from your field of study
A slob or other undesirable type of roommate
Success or failure
A kind of music, painting, or dance
A social label (goth, punk, prep)
A term from science or technology
A rebel or conformist
A current fad or style or one from the past
A family or hometown expression
A good/bad restaurant/store/movie
Self-respect
Discrimination
A controversial idea or term
A term from a hobby or sport
A medical term or condition
The possibilities are limitless. Know your off-limits topics.
Topic Proposal for Definition:
At least 4 pages (1000 words)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Expository Example-Compare and Contrast: Twain's "Two Views of the River"
SAMPLE SELECTION
Two Views of the River
by Mark Twain
Mark Twain (1835-1910) was the pen name of Samuel L. Clemens. At the age of four, Twain's family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the great Mississippi River. In his younger days, Twain dreamed of becoming a riverboat pilot. He got his chance around 1860, but the Civil War soon put an end to that career.
He recounts his riverboat days in Life on the Mississippi, published in 1883 by Dawson Brothers, Montreal. The excerpt below is from pages 97-100 in Chapter IX.
Two Views of the River
by Mark Twain
The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book--a book that was a dead language to the uneducated passenger, but which told its mind to me without reserve, delivering its most cherished secrets as clearly as if it uttered them with a voice. And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day. Throughout the long twelve hundred miles there was never a page that was void of interest, never one that you could leave unread without loss, never one that you would want to skip, thinking you could find higher enjoyment in some other thing. There never was so wonderful a book written by man; never one whose interest was so absorbing, so unflagging, so sparkingly renewed with every re-perusal. . . .
Now when I had mastered the language of this water and had come to know every trifling feature that bordered the great river as familiarly as I knew the letters of the alphabet, I had made a valuable acquisition. But I had lost something, too. I had lost something which could never be restored to me while I lived. All the grace, the beauty, the poetry had gone out of the majestic river! I still keep in mind a certain wonderful sunset which I witnessed when steamboating was new to me. A broad expanse of the river was turned to blood; in the middle distance the red hue brightened into gold, through which a solitary log came floating, black and conspicuous; in one place a long, slanting mark lay sparkling upon the water; in another the surface was broken by boiling, tumbling rings, that were as many-tinted as an opal; where the ruddy flush was faintest, was a smooth spot that was covered with graceful circles and radiating lines, ever so delicately traced; the shore on our left was densely wooded, and the somber shadow that fell from this forest was broken in one place by a long, ruffled trail that shone like silver; and high above the forest wall a clean-stemmed dead tree waved a single leafy bough that glowed like a flame in the unobstructed splendor that was flowing from the sun. There were graceful curves, reflected images, woody heights, soft distances; and over the whole scene, far and near, the dissolving lights drifted steadily, enriching it, every passing moment, with new marvels of coloring.
2
Two Views of the River
I stood like one bewitched. I drank it in, in a speechless rapture. The world was new to me, and I had never seen anything like this at home. But as I have said, a day came when I began to cease from noting the glories and the charms which the moon and the sun and the twilight wrought upon the river's face; another day came when I ceased altogether to note them. Then, if that sunset scene had been repeated, I should have looked upon it without rapture, and should have commented upon it, inwardly, after this fashion: This sun means that we are going to have wind to-morrow; that floating log means that the river is rising, small thanks to it; that slanting mark on the water refers to a bluff reef which is going to kill somebody's steamboat one of these nights, if it keeps on stretching out like that; those tumbling "boils" show a dissolving bar and a changing channel there; the lines and circles in the slick water over yonder are a warning that that troublesome place is shoaling up dangerously; that silver streak in the shadow of the forest is the "break" from a new snag, and he has located himself in the very best place he could have found to fish for steamboats; that tall dead tree, with a single living branch, is not going to last long, and then how is a body ever going to get through this blind place at night without the friendly old landmark.
No, the romance and the beauty were all gone from the river. All the value any feature of it had for me now was the amount of usefulness it could furnish toward compassing the safe piloting of a steamboat. Since those days, I have pitied doctors from my heart. What does the lovely flush in a beauty's cheek mean to a doctor but a "break" that ripples above some deadly disease. Are not all her visible charms sown thick with what are to him the signs and symbols of hidden decay? Does he ever see her beauty at all, or doesn't he simply view her professionally, and comment upon her unwholesome condition all to himself? And doesn't he sometimes wonder whether he has gained most or lost most by learning his trade?
Two Views of the River
by Mark Twain
Mark Twain (1835-1910) was the pen name of Samuel L. Clemens. At the age of four, Twain's family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the great Mississippi River. In his younger days, Twain dreamed of becoming a riverboat pilot. He got his chance around 1860, but the Civil War soon put an end to that career.
He recounts his riverboat days in Life on the Mississippi, published in 1883 by Dawson Brothers, Montreal. The excerpt below is from pages 97-100 in Chapter IX.
Two Views of the River
by Mark Twain
The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book--a book that was a dead language to the uneducated passenger, but which told its mind to me without reserve, delivering its most cherished secrets as clearly as if it uttered them with a voice. And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day. Throughout the long twelve hundred miles there was never a page that was void of interest, never one that you could leave unread without loss, never one that you would want to skip, thinking you could find higher enjoyment in some other thing. There never was so wonderful a book written by man; never one whose interest was so absorbing, so unflagging, so sparkingly renewed with every re-perusal. . . .
Now when I had mastered the language of this water and had come to know every trifling feature that bordered the great river as familiarly as I knew the letters of the alphabet, I had made a valuable acquisition. But I had lost something, too. I had lost something which could never be restored to me while I lived. All the grace, the beauty, the poetry had gone out of the majestic river! I still keep in mind a certain wonderful sunset which I witnessed when steamboating was new to me. A broad expanse of the river was turned to blood; in the middle distance the red hue brightened into gold, through which a solitary log came floating, black and conspicuous; in one place a long, slanting mark lay sparkling upon the water; in another the surface was broken by boiling, tumbling rings, that were as many-tinted as an opal; where the ruddy flush was faintest, was a smooth spot that was covered with graceful circles and radiating lines, ever so delicately traced; the shore on our left was densely wooded, and the somber shadow that fell from this forest was broken in one place by a long, ruffled trail that shone like silver; and high above the forest wall a clean-stemmed dead tree waved a single leafy bough that glowed like a flame in the unobstructed splendor that was flowing from the sun. There were graceful curves, reflected images, woody heights, soft distances; and over the whole scene, far and near, the dissolving lights drifted steadily, enriching it, every passing moment, with new marvels of coloring.
2
Two Views of the River
I stood like one bewitched. I drank it in, in a speechless rapture. The world was new to me, and I had never seen anything like this at home. But as I have said, a day came when I began to cease from noting the glories and the charms which the moon and the sun and the twilight wrought upon the river's face; another day came when I ceased altogether to note them. Then, if that sunset scene had been repeated, I should have looked upon it without rapture, and should have commented upon it, inwardly, after this fashion: This sun means that we are going to have wind to-morrow; that floating log means that the river is rising, small thanks to it; that slanting mark on the water refers to a bluff reef which is going to kill somebody's steamboat one of these nights, if it keeps on stretching out like that; those tumbling "boils" show a dissolving bar and a changing channel there; the lines and circles in the slick water over yonder are a warning that that troublesome place is shoaling up dangerously; that silver streak in the shadow of the forest is the "break" from a new snag, and he has located himself in the very best place he could have found to fish for steamboats; that tall dead tree, with a single living branch, is not going to last long, and then how is a body ever going to get through this blind place at night without the friendly old landmark.
No, the romance and the beauty were all gone from the river. All the value any feature of it had for me now was the amount of usefulness it could furnish toward compassing the safe piloting of a steamboat. Since those days, I have pitied doctors from my heart. What does the lovely flush in a beauty's cheek mean to a doctor but a "break" that ripples above some deadly disease. Are not all her visible charms sown thick with what are to him the signs and symbols of hidden decay? Does he ever see her beauty at all, or doesn't he simply view her professionally, and comment upon her unwholesome condition all to himself? And doesn't he sometimes wonder whether he has gained most or lost most by learning his trade?
Expository Essay Example 1
James Miller
Professor Register
ENC I0I
E-3
03/12/09
Pioneer camping is the old fashioned way of camping out. With pioneer camping, there is no fancy camper trailer, air conditioner, electricity, or running water. A person who desires to tackle the challenge of pioneer camping does not have to be an experienced outdoors person. However, basic survival knowledge, such as how much beer, food and water a person needs for a certain number of days, what plants, animals, and insects are poisonous in the area, and how to safely start and sustain a campfire, is strongly recommended. Planning and preparation are the keys to a successful pioneer outdoor experience. Without proper planning and supply preparation, a camping trip can quickly transform into a dangerous, uncomfortable and possibly sober situation.
Planning
In the planning process, there are 4 major things to consider when selecting a location: weather, wildlife, water, and laws. The location is important because it will help to determine the different supplies and equipment that may be needed for the trip. Becoming familiar with a camping location can be achieved by searching the Internet, or making a trip to a nearby bookstore.
For an enjoyable experience, I recommend camping in cool, dry weather. When the weather is too cold, heavier clothing, blankets, and heating sources are needed to maintain warmth and survival. When the weather is too hot, extra measures need to be taken to stay cool and comfortable, such as purchasing battery operated fans and setting up a tarpaulin above the tent for extra shade. If the trip is accompanied by an icebox or cooler, the heat will pose a challenge in keeping the beer cold, and hot beer on a hot day is not a good combination.
The joy of camping is being outdoors, but unlike hot and cold temperature, rain can be more difficult to predict. With that considered, it's probably a good idea to assume that rain will be present
when selecting a tent and making leisure preparations. I suggest a lot of beer, a guitar, and cold medicine should be included in your supplies. Long exposures to rainy conditions can lead to confinement in a damp tent and misery, accompanied by an illness such as a cold or pneumonia. When camping in cool, dry weather, additional gear, extra work, and the chance for illness and sobriety are greatly reduced.
There are many books available, small enough to fit in your pocket, that can help to identify which plants and insects are poisonous. Becoming familiar with the plants, animals, and insects native to a location can be beneficial when camping in the wilderness. Knowing how to identify what is poisonous can help with medical treatment if there is ever an emergency. Basic knowledge of native animals is helpful. If there is ever an encounter with an animal, such as a cougar, bear, or snake, knowing how to respond can be a lifesaving advantage. If fishing is to be involved, knowing the types of fish will assist in catching the fish.
Water is an important factor in pioneer camping. Access to water allows for fishing, swimming and water supply replenishing. Fishing is a fun way to relax, and a fresh catch can make a camping meal complete. However, relying on catching fish for food can lead to hunger. Assuming that no fish will be caught is probably the safest plan, so food preparations should be made. Unless a campsite is located on a campground, a shower may not be available. Portable showers, ranging from a water bag with a spout to a pop up stall with water heating capabilities, can be purchased from an outdoor supply store. Although a desirable status of clean will be difficult to achieve, a long swim in the water will do if no shower is available. I do not recommend drinking directly from any body of water, stream or river. The bacteria in the water may cause upset stomach, leading to a loss of consumed beer and increased dehydration. Consuming beer is your safest option, but if the water must be drank, boiling it will help to reduce the germs and bacteria. Inexpensive water purification systems
and purification tablets can be purchased at an outdoor supply store as well. Choosing a campsite near water can make the pioneer camping experience more enjoyable.
The local laws governing the campsite should be acknowledged also, for rules and regulations are set to maintain wildlife habitats and populations, as well as the safety and well being of neighboring businesses and homes. Information on the laws can be obtained from the local Department of Fish and Wildlife. Many types of fish have size, weight, and quantity restrictions. For people over the age of sixteen, most states require a freshwater fishing license when fishing with a rod and reel fishing pole. Obtaining a license is a good idea, as fines are expensive.
In some areas there may be a burn ban or burn restrictions. A short telephone call to the nearest fire department can help to avoid any costly fines or damages that may occur. Regardless, safety should always be practiced when starting and maintaining a fire. When the planning process is carefully followed through, an exciting and adventurous time will surely follow.
Supply and Gear Preparation
First and foremost of the supplies is beer. Food and water is greatly recommended also. If a camping trip is to be for the term of three days, one should bring at least a seven day supply of beer, and a five day supply of food and water. Good rations should include, but are not limited to: premium beer, hot dogs, pretzels, and a lot of chips. Including campfire favorites such as marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers will prove to be a good idea also. Camping in the woods sober and hungry is not very adventurous.
A good tent should be included in the list of gear. Tents do not offer much refuge from hot and cold weather, nor are they waterproof, but they do offer refuge from insects as well as direct exposure to the elements. Tents are made from a porous nylon material, ensuring ones beer sweat and beer
breath can evaporate properly. Some tents come with a waterproof covering known as a rainfly. A rainfly covers the tent, leaving an air space between the cover and the walls, averting water away from the sides. When selecting a tent, always remember if the tent sleeps two, it is barely enough room for one to be comfortable. If the tent is to be shared with another person, a three to four person tent should probably be purchased. In the event that it should rain for a substantial amount of time, both persons
will be able to comfortably consume his or her beer without complications.
Fishing poles and tackle should be included in the gear. Knowing what types of fish are in the water will help to know what kind of tackle will be needed. Beer is a universal tackle that assist with the fishing process. The general rule for artificial baits are as follows: light colored baits are good for dark water, and dark colored baits are good for light water. Raw baits such as shrimp or chicken liver will normally catch most type of bottom dwelling fish. Live baits like worms and minnows are much like raw baits, most fish will eat them, and if all else fails, drink more beer. If one can not catch a fish, at least he or she can catch a buzz.
Cooking utensils and a good knife are a necessity. The required utensils are not extensive. They consist of only a fork and spoon, a pot and pan, and plate and cup. The knife should be good and sharp, for it may be needed for protection from wild animals, as well as cleaning fish. If cooking utensils are unavailable, the empty beer cans can be used to make everything but the plate.
A first aid kit and insect repellent are valuable accessories when camping. A basic first aid kit should contain bandages, antibiotic ointment, and alcohol wipes. Cuts and scrapes can be easily acquired in the wilderness, so a first aid kit is necessary to for preventing infections. Having a bottle of calamine lotion handy is a good idea as well. Calamine lotion will relieve itching and irritation if contact with a poisonous plant has occurred. Insect repellent is a valuable tool in the wilderness. However, if a persons blood alcohol levels are high, this alone may be enough tho keep the bugs at bay.
Miller 5
Every campsite should be equipped with a campfire. When packing for the trip, a cigarette lighter or a box of strike anywhere matches should be included. If ones fire starting skills are a bit on the poor side, a fireplace log can be purchased. Fireplace logs are a composite of various organic materials, and will burn for several hours. The logs can also help to start a fire if the surrounding vegetation happens to be damp, and the wood for fire is not dry enough to burn. Before a fire is started, some sort of fire pit is recommended. A pit can be made of big stones, logs, or by digging a shallow hole. As mentioned earlier, local fire restrictions should be considered.
Pioneer camping can be an unforgettable event. Stepping outside of modern society can help us to regain a piece of mind that is lost due to everyday stresses, and replenish our appreciation for the finer things in life. As you can see, the required equipment is minimal. With proper planning and preparation, an outdoor getaway is easy. And remember, when participating in any outdoor event, we should all practice being good stewards of the earth and never leave litter behind. Good luck and happy camping!
Professor Register
ENC I0I
E-3
03/12/09
Pioneer Camping: Tips To Success
Pioneer camping is the old fashioned way of camping out. With pioneer camping, there is no fancy camper trailer, air conditioner, electricity, or running water. A person who desires to tackle the challenge of pioneer camping does not have to be an experienced outdoors person. However, basic survival knowledge, such as how much beer, food and water a person needs for a certain number of days, what plants, animals, and insects are poisonous in the area, and how to safely start and sustain a campfire, is strongly recommended. Planning and preparation are the keys to a successful pioneer outdoor experience. Without proper planning and supply preparation, a camping trip can quickly transform into a dangerous, uncomfortable and possibly sober situation.
Planning
In the planning process, there are 4 major things to consider when selecting a location: weather, wildlife, water, and laws. The location is important because it will help to determine the different supplies and equipment that may be needed for the trip. Becoming familiar with a camping location can be achieved by searching the Internet, or making a trip to a nearby bookstore.
For an enjoyable experience, I recommend camping in cool, dry weather. When the weather is too cold, heavier clothing, blankets, and heating sources are needed to maintain warmth and survival. When the weather is too hot, extra measures need to be taken to stay cool and comfortable, such as purchasing battery operated fans and setting up a tarpaulin above the tent for extra shade. If the trip is accompanied by an icebox or cooler, the heat will pose a challenge in keeping the beer cold, and hot beer on a hot day is not a good combination.
The joy of camping is being outdoors, but unlike hot and cold temperature, rain can be more difficult to predict. With that considered, it's probably a good idea to assume that rain will be present
Miller 2
when selecting a tent and making leisure preparations. I suggest a lot of beer, a guitar, and cold medicine should be included in your supplies. Long exposures to rainy conditions can lead to confinement in a damp tent and misery, accompanied by an illness such as a cold or pneumonia. When camping in cool, dry weather, additional gear, extra work, and the chance for illness and sobriety are greatly reduced.
There are many books available, small enough to fit in your pocket, that can help to identify which plants and insects are poisonous. Becoming familiar with the plants, animals, and insects native to a location can be beneficial when camping in the wilderness. Knowing how to identify what is poisonous can help with medical treatment if there is ever an emergency. Basic knowledge of native animals is helpful. If there is ever an encounter with an animal, such as a cougar, bear, or snake, knowing how to respond can be a lifesaving advantage. If fishing is to be involved, knowing the types of fish will assist in catching the fish.
Water is an important factor in pioneer camping. Access to water allows for fishing, swimming and water supply replenishing. Fishing is a fun way to relax, and a fresh catch can make a camping meal complete. However, relying on catching fish for food can lead to hunger. Assuming that no fish will be caught is probably the safest plan, so food preparations should be made. Unless a campsite is located on a campground, a shower may not be available. Portable showers, ranging from a water bag with a spout to a pop up stall with water heating capabilities, can be purchased from an outdoor supply store. Although a desirable status of clean will be difficult to achieve, a long swim in the water will do if no shower is available. I do not recommend drinking directly from any body of water, stream or river. The bacteria in the water may cause upset stomach, leading to a loss of consumed beer and increased dehydration. Consuming beer is your safest option, but if the water must be drank, boiling it will help to reduce the germs and bacteria. Inexpensive water purification systems
Miller 3
and purification tablets can be purchased at an outdoor supply store as well. Choosing a campsite near water can make the pioneer camping experience more enjoyable.
The local laws governing the campsite should be acknowledged also, for rules and regulations are set to maintain wildlife habitats and populations, as well as the safety and well being of neighboring businesses and homes. Information on the laws can be obtained from the local Department of Fish and Wildlife. Many types of fish have size, weight, and quantity restrictions. For people over the age of sixteen, most states require a freshwater fishing license when fishing with a rod and reel fishing pole. Obtaining a license is a good idea, as fines are expensive.
In some areas there may be a burn ban or burn restrictions. A short telephone call to the nearest fire department can help to avoid any costly fines or damages that may occur. Regardless, safety should always be practiced when starting and maintaining a fire. When the planning process is carefully followed through, an exciting and adventurous time will surely follow.
Supply and Gear Preparation
First and foremost of the supplies is beer. Food and water is greatly recommended also. If a camping trip is to be for the term of three days, one should bring at least a seven day supply of beer, and a five day supply of food and water. Good rations should include, but are not limited to: premium beer, hot dogs, pretzels, and a lot of chips. Including campfire favorites such as marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers will prove to be a good idea also. Camping in the woods sober and hungry is not very adventurous.
A good tent should be included in the list of gear. Tents do not offer much refuge from hot and cold weather, nor are they waterproof, but they do offer refuge from insects as well as direct exposure to the elements. Tents are made from a porous nylon material, ensuring ones beer sweat and beer
Miller 4
breath can evaporate properly. Some tents come with a waterproof covering known as a rainfly. A rainfly covers the tent, leaving an air space between the cover and the walls, averting water away from the sides. When selecting a tent, always remember if the tent sleeps two, it is barely enough room for one to be comfortable. If the tent is to be shared with another person, a three to four person tent should probably be purchased. In the event that it should rain for a substantial amount of time, both persons
will be able to comfortably consume his or her beer without complications.
Fishing poles and tackle should be included in the gear. Knowing what types of fish are in the water will help to know what kind of tackle will be needed. Beer is a universal tackle that assist with the fishing process. The general rule for artificial baits are as follows: light colored baits are good for dark water, and dark colored baits are good for light water. Raw baits such as shrimp or chicken liver will normally catch most type of bottom dwelling fish. Live baits like worms and minnows are much like raw baits, most fish will eat them, and if all else fails, drink more beer. If one can not catch a fish, at least he or she can catch a buzz.
Cooking utensils and a good knife are a necessity. The required utensils are not extensive. They consist of only a fork and spoon, a pot and pan, and plate and cup. The knife should be good and sharp, for it may be needed for protection from wild animals, as well as cleaning fish. If cooking utensils are unavailable, the empty beer cans can be used to make everything but the plate.
A first aid kit and insect repellent are valuable accessories when camping. A basic first aid kit should contain bandages, antibiotic ointment, and alcohol wipes. Cuts and scrapes can be easily acquired in the wilderness, so a first aid kit is necessary to for preventing infections. Having a bottle of calamine lotion handy is a good idea as well. Calamine lotion will relieve itching and irritation if contact with a poisonous plant has occurred. Insect repellent is a valuable tool in the wilderness. However, if a persons blood alcohol levels are high, this alone may be enough tho keep the bugs at bay.
Miller 5
Every campsite should be equipped with a campfire. When packing for the trip, a cigarette lighter or a box of strike anywhere matches should be included. If ones fire starting skills are a bit on the poor side, a fireplace log can be purchased. Fireplace logs are a composite of various organic materials, and will burn for several hours. The logs can also help to start a fire if the surrounding vegetation happens to be damp, and the wood for fire is not dry enough to burn. Before a fire is started, some sort of fire pit is recommended. A pit can be made of big stones, logs, or by digging a shallow hole. As mentioned earlier, local fire restrictions should be considered.
Pioneer camping can be an unforgettable event. Stepping outside of modern society can help us to regain a piece of mind that is lost due to everyday stresses, and replenish our appreciation for the finer things in life. As you can see, the required equipment is minimal. With proper planning and preparation, an outdoor getaway is easy. And remember, when participating in any outdoor event, we should all practice being good stewards of the earth and never leave litter behind. Good luck and happy camping!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Narrative Essay Example 1
Professor Register
08/18/2009
08/18/2009
Gate Takeout
Walking down the beach on a Sunday afternoon my friend Randy and I started to become rather hungry. Being 16 at the time we were both broke and didn’t have a dime to spare; luckily Randy had a Gate gas station card which was loaded to the brim with credits. He was only supposed to use it for emergencies, but starving at the time we decided that was an emergency itself. We went inside and Randy got a few candy bars while I got 2 hotdogs, a protein bar, and a bottle of water. As soon as we purchased them, we downed out food and began walking back to our cars. On the way back home, decide to stop by the gym and get a quick workout. The workout went great; I felt on top of the world and continued to hit the weights. While doing bicep curls, however, I started to feel a little queasy to my stomach. I figured it was because I had just eaten and didn’t give my body enough time to digest the food. We left the gym and go our separate ways back to our homes.
When I walked in my house I still felt nauseas, so I told my mom and she said it was because I worked out on a full stomach also. I went upstairs and try to take a nap, figuring by the time I woke up I would feel much better. I fell asleep for a good 2 hours and woke up feeling as if I swallowed some glass shards. My stomach was in intense pain, and it felt like it could pop within minutes. I turned the TV on, hoping it would take my mind off my tummy. It only made things worse and every food commercial I saw only made me feel sicker and sicker. I couldn’t handle it anymore so I ran straight to the bathroom and forced myself to throw up. It was horrible and I hoped that I had gotten it all out of my system by puking. Nope, within five minutes my gut started crying again and I was back at the toilet, inches away from giving my self a swirly. This went on all night long, every 5 to 10 minutes from the bed to the toilet, nonstop until I had nothing to throw up anymore.
There was a point where it was about 3am, and I hadn’t thrown up for a good 20 minutes. I thought it was out of my system, but boy was I wrong. It was the eye of the storm, and as soon it passed the second round hit me again; I was, again, at the toilet every few minutes until 9 am the next morning. When it was over I was exhausted, physically and mentally. After throwing up more than 40 times I had come to the conclusion it was food poisoning, from those damn hot dogs. I had always told myself the last thing I would want to get is a kidney stone. I’d pee rocks the rest of my life to avoid another night of that hell. One thing is for sure, if I ever get a hot dog again it better be from the vet instead when my dog has a fever.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Descriptive Essay Example 2
Carl Adam Robbins
Prof. C. K. Register
ENC. 1101
14, July, 2009
The Ballad of the Blanco Bulldog
Or How to Know a Great White Yard Shark When You See One
The muse for my descriptive essay is my companion, pet, and wildest friend. My bulldog, Bully, has been with my family for 2 years now and is striking in many ways.
To properly visualize this animal, someone must first know that he is a full bred male American Bulldog and, true to the breed, is almost completely snow white. The exceptions to this are the backs of his ears, (they have light brown spots on them) his belly, (which is pink with brown spots) his nose, (big and black) and his left eye, (encircled in black with a brown eyebrow) which goes a long way to making him look like he has recently been in a fist fight. His body is long and slim and if I had his muscle definition, I would never lack for female companionship. No description of this dog could be complete without mention of the size of his head, which is, in a word, HUGE. This canine’s cranium is colossal and cartoonish by common criteria (is that enough C’s for ya?) and has, on a few occasions, made Mardi Gras floats jealous. With a big head, comes a big mouth, and with that, big teeth. Mentioning his insane incisors might give you the impression that he is mean, aggressive, or dangerous, all of which is patently untrue. The only things he uses such big teeth for are eating, nibbling for fleas (which he doesn’t confine to himself, just ask anyone, dog or human, who’s been in my house), and shredding paper, which he does with verve and gusto (it’s an absolute riot to watch).
Bully’s fur is about twice the length of normal velvet and is soft and silky when clean, which is a very rare thing, as he loves the sand pit outside the house. His shoulders and hips are well muscled and feel somewhat like warm stone. His tail, ever in motion, is just as strong. Feeling a little like a furry steel cable, it wags with enough force to knock drinking glasses off tables and does sting a little when he hits me with it at full force.
This dog, though somewhat subdued and quiet inside the house, is a raving lunatic when let out the back door into the yard. He runs around, kicking up sand and barking with machine gun rapidity at everything and anything he can fix his somewhat short attention span on. His voice booms as he runs and jumps with such fervor that I have, on more than one occasion, had to pull him out of the crepe myrtle tree in the back yard after he made a nearly four foot vertical leap onto the bottom branches, just so he could bark at squirrels at a little closer range.
I have told how this canine comedian, this fool of a Fido, this barking buffoon, looks, feels, and sounds like. I will now recount that he, no matter what, smells and will always smell, like a dog. No amount of bathing or cologne can stop it, that bouquet of fur, dirt, and wild that most dogs emit in small amount and Bully exudes with beastly magnificence. He is, I think, proud of this, and I believe he works on his musk just like people work on their hobbies, that is to say, with pride and diligence.
All of this writing brings me to the last of the five senses, taste. I will say here and now that I have not, nor will I ever taste my dog. Never. Not ever. If I did it might forever alter man-dog relations. Besides he and I have a no biting agreement, he won’t bite me if I don’t bite him. So far mutual deterrence has worked with this behavior as it works with most other antisocial behavior (like nuclear, chemical, and biological war).
Lastly, no description would be complete without mention of the character of the subject. The best way I can tell about Bully’s character is this next story.
About eleven P.M. one night I was shining a laser pointer around the house and Bully was chasing the red dot all over the floor (to them it looks like a bug, I think). He would chase it on to the couch, up and down the hall, along the walls and was so hyped up that when I started shining it up higher on the wall he began jumping for it. The higher he jumped the higher I shone the laser until it was about 6 feet up the wall. He jumped for it and made it all the way up to the light but, at the apex of the jump, realized how high he was and panicked. When he came down he came down wrong, on his left rear leg instead of evenly on both of them. His body went one way, his leg another, and I knew before he yelped that when he landed he snapped his leg nearly in two. I quickly called my mother and cradled the dog in my arms while she called around to an all night emergency vet hospital. My mom drove and I held him the whole way there. He didn’t make a sound. Not another yelp or snarl. We arrived at the hospital and the vet techs greeted us at the front door with a stretcher and when I placed him on it he reached his head up, licked the lead techs hand, and began wagging his tail. They promptly went through the procedure of setting, aligning, bandaging, and splinting his broken leg and within two hours he was home resting comfortably, with only a splinted rear leg wrapped in yellow gauze with a green puppy foot print pattern on it to tell that anything had happened.
The next morning he woke up, blazed through the house and out the door like any other day, and a year and a half later, he is still the same dog that walked up to me as a stray in a gas station parking lot and when I went in, refused to come in with me, but waited patiently for me to come back out.
I talk to him when I’m lonesome like;
And I’m sure he understands.
When he looks at me so attentively,
And gently licks my hands;
Then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes,
But I never say naught thereat.
For the good lord knows I can buy more clothes,
But never a friend like that.
~ W. Dayton Wedgefarth
Prof. C. K. Register
ENC. 1101
14, July, 2009
The Ballad of the Blanco Bulldog
Or How to Know a Great White Yard Shark When You See One
The muse for my descriptive essay is my companion, pet, and wildest friend. My bulldog, Bully, has been with my family for 2 years now and is striking in many ways.
To properly visualize this animal, someone must first know that he is a full bred male American Bulldog and, true to the breed, is almost completely snow white. The exceptions to this are the backs of his ears, (they have light brown spots on them) his belly, (which is pink with brown spots) his nose, (big and black) and his left eye, (encircled in black with a brown eyebrow) which goes a long way to making him look like he has recently been in a fist fight. His body is long and slim and if I had his muscle definition, I would never lack for female companionship. No description of this dog could be complete without mention of the size of his head, which is, in a word, HUGE. This canine’s cranium is colossal and cartoonish by common criteria (is that enough C’s for ya?) and has, on a few occasions, made Mardi Gras floats jealous. With a big head, comes a big mouth, and with that, big teeth. Mentioning his insane incisors might give you the impression that he is mean, aggressive, or dangerous, all of which is patently untrue. The only things he uses such big teeth for are eating, nibbling for fleas (which he doesn’t confine to himself, just ask anyone, dog or human, who’s been in my house), and shredding paper, which he does with verve and gusto (it’s an absolute riot to watch).
Bully’s fur is about twice the length of normal velvet and is soft and silky when clean, which is a very rare thing, as he loves the sand pit outside the house. His shoulders and hips are well muscled and feel somewhat like warm stone. His tail, ever in motion, is just as strong. Feeling a little like a furry steel cable, it wags with enough force to knock drinking glasses off tables and does sting a little when he hits me with it at full force.
This dog, though somewhat subdued and quiet inside the house, is a raving lunatic when let out the back door into the yard. He runs around, kicking up sand and barking with machine gun rapidity at everything and anything he can fix his somewhat short attention span on. His voice booms as he runs and jumps with such fervor that I have, on more than one occasion, had to pull him out of the crepe myrtle tree in the back yard after he made a nearly four foot vertical leap onto the bottom branches, just so he could bark at squirrels at a little closer range.
I have told how this canine comedian, this fool of a Fido, this barking buffoon, looks, feels, and sounds like. I will now recount that he, no matter what, smells and will always smell, like a dog. No amount of bathing or cologne can stop it, that bouquet of fur, dirt, and wild that most dogs emit in small amount and Bully exudes with beastly magnificence. He is, I think, proud of this, and I believe he works on his musk just like people work on their hobbies, that is to say, with pride and diligence.
All of this writing brings me to the last of the five senses, taste. I will say here and now that I have not, nor will I ever taste my dog. Never. Not ever. If I did it might forever alter man-dog relations. Besides he and I have a no biting agreement, he won’t bite me if I don’t bite him. So far mutual deterrence has worked with this behavior as it works with most other antisocial behavior (like nuclear, chemical, and biological war).
Lastly, no description would be complete without mention of the character of the subject. The best way I can tell about Bully’s character is this next story.
About eleven P.M. one night I was shining a laser pointer around the house and Bully was chasing the red dot all over the floor (to them it looks like a bug, I think). He would chase it on to the couch, up and down the hall, along the walls and was so hyped up that when I started shining it up higher on the wall he began jumping for it. The higher he jumped the higher I shone the laser until it was about 6 feet up the wall. He jumped for it and made it all the way up to the light but, at the apex of the jump, realized how high he was and panicked. When he came down he came down wrong, on his left rear leg instead of evenly on both of them. His body went one way, his leg another, and I knew before he yelped that when he landed he snapped his leg nearly in two. I quickly called my mother and cradled the dog in my arms while she called around to an all night emergency vet hospital. My mom drove and I held him the whole way there. He didn’t make a sound. Not another yelp or snarl. We arrived at the hospital and the vet techs greeted us at the front door with a stretcher and when I placed him on it he reached his head up, licked the lead techs hand, and began wagging his tail. They promptly went through the procedure of setting, aligning, bandaging, and splinting his broken leg and within two hours he was home resting comfortably, with only a splinted rear leg wrapped in yellow gauze with a green puppy foot print pattern on it to tell that anything had happened.
The next morning he woke up, blazed through the house and out the door like any other day, and a year and a half later, he is still the same dog that walked up to me as a stray in a gas station parking lot and when I went in, refused to come in with me, but waited patiently for me to come back out.
I talk to him when I’m lonesome like;
And I’m sure he understands.
When he looks at me so attentively,
And gently licks my hands;
Then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes,
But I never say naught thereat.
For the good lord knows I can buy more clothes,
But never a friend like that.
~ W. Dayton Wedgefarth
Descriptive Essay Example 1
Kerri Brown
Enc. 1101
Professor Register
Essay 1
2/14/09
Around the Fire
When I was 17, I was kidnapped by hippies! I was whisked away and crammed into the back of a truck with five other people, all our camping gear, two djembes*, and a dog. I knew we were headed for the Rainbow Gathering, an annual event that takes place in the Ocala National Forest, but being that I had never been to one before, I had no idea what to expect. The whole weekend proved to be memorable, but the part that stands out most vividly in my mind will always be my first drum circle.
The drum circle began at sundown. Initially, the sky was streaked with the most vibrant shades of violet, orange, and magenta. The colors deepened as the sun retired for the evening, and finally faded to black, revealing millions of stars that seemed to shine brighter in anticipation of the evening to come. A huge clearing in the woods had been designated for the festivities. Earlier in the day, someone had dug a fire pit that was easily 100 feet across and shaped like a heart. For some reason, the dirt in the Ocala National Forest closely resembled beach sand, and seemed to shimmer with reflection of the fire.
I was astonished at the number of people that had gathered around the fire. It seemed strange to me that at least 150 people had come together in the middle of the forest to play music and dance around a fire. There were families with small children and people who looked old enough to have great grandchildren. Some people looked (and smelled) like they had been living in the woods for years, adorned with dreadlocks and hand made patchwork clothes, while others looked like they had spent a huge portion of their lives within the confines of a cubicle, staring at a computer screen. It was obvious that there was no dress code. There were women dressed like belly dancers, men in long skirts, and grungy looking kids with mohawks, wearing jeans and band tees. Some people even opted to wear nothing at all.
The variety of musical instruments that sang out through the woods was as diverse as the group of people who had come together to play them. There were drums of all shapes and sizes, bells, horns, castanets, buckets, cans, and even a few didgeridoos**. Initially, only the people with djembes played to establish a beat, but before long, everyone in attendance was either playing an instrument, clapping along, or singing and dancing around the fire. The music was almost hypnotizing and it was obvious that everyone else had become entranced as well. I felt like Alice who had accidentally tumbled down a rabbit hole, and into a completely different world.
Being that I am not musically inclined, and that the whole Rainbow Gathering experience was so new to me, I was a little leery of joining in, and felt much more comfortable as an observer. The fire looked like it had grown to the same height as the trees around it, and seemed to flicker, dance, and sway to the mesmerizing sounds of the drum circle. At one point, the music became intense, and it seemed as if everyone had become possessed by it. Everywhere I looked, people were dancing as if they would never dance again. Some people seemed to have resigned control of their bodies to unseen puppeteers hell bent on putting on a good show. From the outside looking in, the whole event looked like a spinning frenzy set ablaze by the fire and breathed to life by joyful, almost tribal sounding beats.
Though the festivities carried on throughout the night, the group dwindled as the hours passed. The music never stopped completely, but had obviously reached its climax and would never become anywhere near as spirited as it had been to begin with. I spent the rest of the night engaged in conversation with people with names like Amnesia, Krusty, and Faerie. And though the fire had died down considerably, someone always happened to be around who was dedicated enough to keep it going until the sun came up to relieve him of his duties.
* A djembe is a skin covered hand drum.
** A Didgeridoo is a wind instrument of the Aborigines of northern Australia.
Enc. 1101
Professor Register
Essay 1
2/14/09
Around the Fire
When I was 17, I was kidnapped by hippies! I was whisked away and crammed into the back of a truck with five other people, all our camping gear, two djembes*, and a dog. I knew we were headed for the Rainbow Gathering, an annual event that takes place in the Ocala National Forest, but being that I had never been to one before, I had no idea what to expect. The whole weekend proved to be memorable, but the part that stands out most vividly in my mind will always be my first drum circle.
The drum circle began at sundown. Initially, the sky was streaked with the most vibrant shades of violet, orange, and magenta. The colors deepened as the sun retired for the evening, and finally faded to black, revealing millions of stars that seemed to shine brighter in anticipation of the evening to come. A huge clearing in the woods had been designated for the festivities. Earlier in the day, someone had dug a fire pit that was easily 100 feet across and shaped like a heart. For some reason, the dirt in the Ocala National Forest closely resembled beach sand, and seemed to shimmer with reflection of the fire.
I was astonished at the number of people that had gathered around the fire. It seemed strange to me that at least 150 people had come together in the middle of the forest to play music and dance around a fire. There were families with small children and people who looked old enough to have great grandchildren. Some people looked (and smelled) like they had been living in the woods for years, adorned with dreadlocks and hand made patchwork clothes, while others looked like they had spent a huge portion of their lives within the confines of a cubicle, staring at a computer screen. It was obvious that there was no dress code. There were women dressed like belly dancers, men in long skirts, and grungy looking kids with mohawks, wearing jeans and band tees. Some people even opted to wear nothing at all.
The variety of musical instruments that sang out through the woods was as diverse as the group of people who had come together to play them. There were drums of all shapes and sizes, bells, horns, castanets, buckets, cans, and even a few didgeridoos**. Initially, only the people with djembes played to establish a beat, but before long, everyone in attendance was either playing an instrument, clapping along, or singing and dancing around the fire. The music was almost hypnotizing and it was obvious that everyone else had become entranced as well. I felt like Alice who had accidentally tumbled down a rabbit hole, and into a completely different world.
Being that I am not musically inclined, and that the whole Rainbow Gathering experience was so new to me, I was a little leery of joining in, and felt much more comfortable as an observer. The fire looked like it had grown to the same height as the trees around it, and seemed to flicker, dance, and sway to the mesmerizing sounds of the drum circle. At one point, the music became intense, and it seemed as if everyone had become possessed by it. Everywhere I looked, people were dancing as if they would never dance again. Some people seemed to have resigned control of their bodies to unseen puppeteers hell bent on putting on a good show. From the outside looking in, the whole event looked like a spinning frenzy set ablaze by the fire and breathed to life by joyful, almost tribal sounding beats.
Though the festivities carried on throughout the night, the group dwindled as the hours passed. The music never stopped completely, but had obviously reached its climax and would never become anywhere near as spirited as it had been to begin with. I spent the rest of the night engaged in conversation with people with names like Amnesia, Krusty, and Faerie. And though the fire had died down considerably, someone always happened to be around who was dedicated enough to keep it going until the sun came up to relieve him of his duties.
* A djembe is a skin covered hand drum.
** A Didgeridoo is a wind instrument of the Aborigines of northern Australia.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)