Facing  Reality  By  Matt  Fansler  

Photo  by  Sandy  Doe  

Facing  Reality  By  Matt  Fansler  

 Table  of  Contents  

 

Editor’s Note————————————————————————#1

“Expert” By: Matt Fansler———————————————————#2

“Encyclopedia” By: Matt Fansler————————————————#3

“Get Published” By: Matt Fansler————————————————#4

“Share My Judgment” By: Matt Fansler —————————————#5

“Languages” By: Mara Ho———————————————————#6

“Pet Peeve” By: Jarrod Infante—————————————————#7

“We Suffer When We Can't Face Reality” By: Maureen Murphy—————#8

“How Facing Reality Will REALLY Change Your Life Starting Today”

By: Richard Wilkins——————————————————————#9

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Editor’s  Note  The pieces in this Zine demonstrate the ignorance of

avoiding problems that should be taken seriously. The theme is “Facing Reality.” As I was reading through my previous work, my goal was to find a common ground between all my writing. What did they all have in common? Then it hit me, each story line talks about matters that people aren't aware of. How people see to think everything is all right but a lot of times, they aren't. Or how some people need to wake up, and realize the time is now, your path in life is not handed to you it's earned. I chose my pieces based off of my knowledge I have gained this semester on what good writing is. I looked for four completed requirements: content, organization, conventions, and style. Each requirement had to have been met at least as average or advanced.

This semester I have learned a lot about myself as a Writer and what good writing is. When I came in to this year I knew I struggled at writing. I always practiced but never seemed to improve significantly, expository writing has taught me why. I have to know what good writing is to be able to write it. I've learned tons of new ways to write whether it be narrative, reflective, or descriptive. I found reflective to be more of my strength as I was always able to give a question to a question. Descriptive writing I also enjoyed because, it allows me to use my imagination as I'm writing. I think about all my senses: sight, smell, and sound. I learned during this time my best work comes when I'm fully engaged in my papers. I feel more comfortable writing work that I have a personal connection to. However, as the year went on I decided in order to become a better writer I had to strengthen all sides of writing including, topics I have never heard of. I have always heard the saying, you're only as strong as your weakest player and I guess that could be said for me.

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Every Sunday is a big deal: computers up, TVs on, and all the food I can eat. I tend to have a stash of food prepared for each Sunday; cookies, chips, sunflower seeds, and pancakes are all at my disposable. No one can disrupt me it as if I'm glued to my chair looking up stats and plays. I am constantly pressing the "jump" button flicking through channels watching as much games as I can. The dream is in a year or two is buy direct TV. I recommend anyone who loves football to purchase it. Direct TV allows you to watch all NFL games every Sunday. It's like a dream come true to all

The purpose of this paper was to convince the reader that he or she

could trust me. To do so, I had to constantly give my personal experience on this subject, in this case fantasy football. In this paragraph I try to give the reader an image of how my experience on "Fantasy football Sundays" are: " Computers up, TVs on, and all the food I can eat. I tend to have a stash of food prepared for each Sunday; cookies, chips, sunflower seeds, and pancakes are all at my disposable." My trust me statements were used appropriately, which expressed to the reader how passionate I am towards fantasy football. This paragraph was well descriptive giving "Lists" for the reader.  

“Expert” By: Matt Fansler

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This past Summer I went on a trip to Japan. As I walked and traveled all over Tokyo with my friends, I wondered what did the Japanese think of us? I was considered a "tourist," do they think of me as rude, unhappy, big, smelly, and odd? These ideas rattled through my head. All it took were five minutes to get my answer. As my friends and I boarded the elevator I couldn't help but notice as we dropped to each floor, the Japanese citizens did not come close to us. There must have been eight Japanese all scrunched up together giving us, "Americans" lots of room. They gave me the impression that I was a disease to them, that they did not like me. It was a great experience being in a new place, trying new things but also uncomfortable at the same time.

This paragraph is a good example of reflective writing. In the paragraph I ask questions to give the reader a sense of wonder, "I wondered what did the Japanese think of us? I was considered a "tourist," do they think of me as rude, unhappy, big, smelly, odd?" The tone of the paragraph was well appropriate to being a reflective piece of writing. My organization in the paragraph is very logical. The paragraph was structured as a story; the introduction to where I was, the climax, and then my final thoughts toward the trip.  

“Encyclopedia” By: Matt Fansler

4  

We've been having a recent struggle in attendance of UH football games. Over the past 3 years the UH football team fan base has been having a significant decrease. The Aloha stadium can hold up to 50,000 people. Since 2012 the UH fan base has been averaging 27,000 to 30,000 people. This means close to half of the seats are empty. With the loss of ticket revenue, the University is currently in $2.1 million dollars in debt. People are not buying tickets because we are just simply losing. The University considered dropping the football program, but to speak for the people of Hawaii, the football team is all we have as a real competitive sports team. Over the past two seasons the UH Warriors have come out with a 4-20 win/loss record. With this said, a coaching change should be made immediately.

This piece of writing is a letter to the Honolulu advertiser. It follows my theme

because; it talks about how we have to stop being okay with a mediocre football team. We have to start dealing with the problem of the weak fan base, instead of avoiding it. I thought the content of this writing is very good. Following that, the organization is well done giving the problem then answering with a solution. My stolen pieces are appropriate for this paragraph, because they support my claim. “Since 2012 the UH fan base has been averaging 27,000 to 30,000 people.” I then immediately talk about the consequences: “With the loss of ticket revenue, the University is currently in $2.1 million dollars in debt.” The tone is very appropriate, the writing gives off a sense of anger but also worrisome. I felt angry at the results of the team but also felt afraid that the team could be no more.  

“Get Published” By: Matt Fansler

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When a person decides on a college what are they looking for? Are they looking for the education? Are they looking at the Athletics? Or are they just looking for the "Big" names? "Big" named schools meaning everybody knows the school for being one of the best. It could mean the size of the campus, how good athletics are, or if they dominate in student body. Choosing a school is a topic I have and will be focusing on for the past and the next two years.  

This piece of writing follows my theme because, it talks about picking your future college and the amount of time you put into your final decision. Picking your college in a way is facing reality because; it is the time in your life you have to start growing up and focusing on your future. The paragraph starts off with asking four questions in a row this started off as a great introduction because; it gets the reader to think about their own personal preference toward picking colleges. I also like this because it gives insight to the thinking of a student towards college, how it’s not only education a person looks for.  

“Share My Judgment” By: Matt Fansler

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“Languages” By: Mara Ho

Every time I’m taking a test I'm praying for the C. After taking 2 years of Spanish I have found it quite difficult to achieve anything other than a C, without spending countless hours going through flash cards or bawling my eyes out. Almost every class I can feel a heavy weight pressing on my brain with the thought of trying to bullshit my homework, class work, and even tests/quizzes. Everyday I walk out asking myself, "Why is this required? I'm never going to use it". That probably is true, unless I want to work in business. But that's a career I will unlikely apply for. So is taking a language really beneficial for high school students?

The piece of writing writen by Mara Ho follows my theme because it talks about the real word towards grades and studying. Getting good grades is not an easy thing to do, it takes lots of commitment in to studying. People have to face reality and realize grades arn’t handed to you, they’re earned. I think this is good writing because it is very relateable. Everyone has been in this postion of getting bad grades at one point in their lives. “I have found it quite difficult to achieve anything other than a C, without spending countless hours going through flash cards or bawling my eyes out.” Following this is the diction, although “Bullsht” may sometimes not be appropreite, it is appropreite towards the tone of this wiriting. It makes you feel angry and also dissapointed because of all the hard work in to studying.

Photo By: Amanda Hobbs

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“Pet Peeve” By: Jarrod Infante

I think it says a lot that people will risk their lives to go on their phones. Don't know what I'm talking about? Texting and driving. According to the Washington post, in last year alone 5,870 people died while texting and driving. I think it's, ridiculous, to be that hooked on your phone to the point, that you're willing to die, to just text someone. Even after the countless advertisements and warnings to not text and drive "digital natives" continue to do it anyways. Although, more intelligent with technology than any other generations, digital natives have no common sense.

Infante’s piece shines light on the dangers of texting while driving. It follows the theme of “facing reality” because, it spells out that just the small second of distraction can be someone’s death. We have to realize that it’s a concern and people need to start taking it seriously. Infante does a great job of using his stolen pieces and utilizing them to help his case. He also does a great job at introcucing his paragrph by giving his own opionion towards the subject.  

Photo By: Newscom

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“We Suffer When We Can't Face Reality” By: Maureen Murphy

 

Do you want to be joyful and live the best life you can? Do you really? Knowing the truth is always best, even if it's not the truth you want. Imagine yourself knowing the truth about why you feel certain ways, think certain ways, behave certain ways. Most of the time when you do this and accept it, you can actually look back and laugh at yourself. And imagine the freedom of knowing you never have to follow old destructive patterns out of a warped reality or denial again. Imagine having healthy behaviors and responses to people and situation that used to mess you up.

Murphy’s paper talks about-facing reality, but instead talks about the consequences and the regrets. The content of this paper followed a very reflective tone. It started by asking questions, making the reader think about his own personal life. This created a connection between the writing and the reader. Murphy did a good job on creating descriptive lists, “Imagine yourself knowing the truth about why you feel certain ways, think certain ways, and behave certain ways.” Murphy does a great job at introducing this paragraph and ending it. Her ending sentence sums up her paragraph but it gives her an option, to either end the paragraph or transition to a new one.

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“How Facing Reality Will Really Change Your Life Starting Today!”

By: Richard Wilkins

Many times in my life I have realized I am paralyzed by my dreams. A dream that I have created initially as a goal. Over time it becomes an escape from what I believed to be the mundane nature of my daily life. I realized that all of us suffer from this a little bit – even those who don’t have ordinary lives. It’s why people have all the gear and no idea. It’s why we buy loads of things we don’t need and watch football and pay ridiculous amounts of money to do it. It’s why we buy self-help books and cosmetics. It’s why we have boob jobs. Some of those fantasy worlds are light entertainment – but as we all know – too much of a good thing results in destruction. I realize that my dreams are the real problem.  

Wilkins piece describes how people tend to waste their time on things that aren't important. That we tend to waste our time on dreams that are impossible to achieve. We have to realize what’s probable and what is impossible. Wilkins does a great job at creating a message through his words. He explains it by listing acts that we tend to waste time on: “It’s why we buy loads of things we don’t need and watch football and pay ridiculous amounts of money to do it. It’s why we buy self-help books and cosmetics. It’s why we have boob jobs.” Wilkins did a great job by using good adjectives, the words are unheard of, but the reader is able to understand the meaning. His organizational skills are also strong. His entire paragraph gives evidence and opinions to his introductory sentence.

Expository  Writing  Period  #