Underworld.....

Pulled down to the depths of the earth... Feeling a little claustrophobic... surrounded by a white that outshines the dark... and really hungry for a salt-and-vinegar potato chip... These are all feelings I experienced while reading the feature of the week, Underworld, by Jeanne Marie Laskas. This article is an excellent example of how we can use words so descriptive that the reader is actually pulled into the story and senses are engaged. An excellent writer can create emotion, inspire feelings and ignite interest. Laskas inspires us to explore an "underworld" not only from her perspective as a hands-on observer but also from the standpoint of the men who work in the belly of the earth.

I think Laskas pulls me in from the very first paragraph, when she writes in a way that is refreshingly real and blunt. We know from the first page this article is not going to sugar coat anything but will actually tell the story the way it is. She is honest and uses almost child-like description to paint a picture in our head. I still laugh a little as I picture the character nicknamed, "Foot" exclaiming, " You gotta stop shining your frickin' light in my eye, What did I tell you about that?" She doesn't embellish but speaks the truth so bluntly it's refreshing.

She spices up the feature with little bits facts and pieces of history, all the while sticking to a descriptive manner of writing that lets the characters tell their stories. The feature is longer than most of the others we have read but I found it so engaging I didn't want it to end. The feature is a prime example of how to effectively write in a descriptive manner. Now please pass a salt-and-vinegar potato chip, let's read this story again!

"Betrayed"

One of the articles we are reading tells the poignant story of how Iraq interpreters are treated by the United States government. It is a rather long magazine article. I found the manner it is written in that it tells a story and presents a factual account to be an interesting combination.

Before I read the article I really thought it would be more of a personal saga of a few Iraqi individuals, however, while the story does address specific people, it is also organized in such a way that facts, historical background, and numerical data are incorporated. I felt it is also written rather impartially, with clear sympathies towards the Iraqi plight but at the same time basing this sympathy on fact rather than emotion.

The author, George Packer, opens with a descriptive paragraph pulling the reader in and giving us a personal glimpse into the conflict between Sunnis and Shia ethnic groups. The beginning portion of the article continues like this, reading as a story and introducing us to various characters. Next, the author moves on to add a little more historical information by pulling in the story of an American. This American becomes instrumental in helping the Iraqi. The Iraqi find themselves in an impossible dilemma, outcasts from Iraqi society after helping the Americans but at the same time ostracized by the very people they are helping. The article lapses into various stories and personal accounts but continues to flash back to the American, Johnson, and his instrumental role in the lives of Iraqi interpreters.

As I continued to read the story I felt more and more ashamed of how the Iraqi people are being treated. They are risking their lives to help American and should be awarded for their valor. Why are we taking their efforts for granted and treating them with disrespect? This question is addressed by the article and the story ends with a very poignant sentence essentially summing up the entire article. When asked if he felt betrayed by America one of the interpreters replied, "Not betrayed, no, not disappointed. I can never blame the Americans alone. Its the Iraqis who destroyed their country with the help of the Americans, under the American eye. To this moment, I dream about America," said Firas, Iraqi interpreter for the Americans.
I think the author did a good job opening with a story and ending the article with a summation of the plight and indomitable spirit of many Iraqis who risk their lives to help America. It is a story of unquestionable courage, impressive spirit, and indefatigable hope. The ending is bittersweet, a mixture of hope and sadness. Facts and other essential information are woven throughout the article without detracting from the main story line. It is both factual and personal a direct parallel to the story of hope and despair the Iraqis face. It was an insightful read and well organized by plot and character structure.

Another idea.....

After I published the post regarding the reading, "You Have Thousands of Angels Around You" I ruminated a little more about the immigrant in the story, Cynthia. I began to think about how not only were others around her responsible for saving her life but how she herself was responsible for her own saving. Her story is one of survival, hope, never giving up, and how one act of kindness can go full circle. If she had not been driven by inner determination and a will to live she would never have fully embraced life. The human will to survive is incapable of description, it is an inner desire that becomes fully apparent when faced with situations beyond our own imagination. We never really know what we are capable of until we are forced to face impossible situations. A friend once told me, " Trying is going into something with the option of failure. No more trying, just doing." Cynthia didn't try in her life.... she set her mind upon a goal and proceeded to work toward it without looking back. Her inner courage inspired others to help and ultimately saved her from impossible circumstances.

"You Have Thousands of Angels Around You"

The reading "You Have Thousands of Angels Around You" is a beautiful article following the struggles and triumph of a young immigrant's life. I think what struck me so deeply about this article is how so many people and events in life are intertwined.

It really is a small world, and our actions can make a difference. The little actions we do on a daily basis that do good, or help others, or bring a smile to someone's face can add up to something wonderful and good in the long run. In the article one woman's life is impacted by so many singular events leading to a beautiful ending. One phone call, one answer to an e-mail, one kind word, one open heart all led to making the difference in her life.

I have a philosophy to try, sometimes unsuccessfully, to do one small thing every day that brightens someone's day. Whether it is a big gesture or a simple smile to someone having a rough day, I really try to do one little thing that brings good to the world on a daily basis. I may not be able to change the world or bring world peace but hopefully the small things I do will make a positive impact.

While in Europe, last spring, I met someone who really helped shape my world view. He spoke with quiet courage of how he works with Israeli and Palestinian youths one person at a time to change a centuries old hatred between both nations. The task seems so daunting and yet he explains how he focuses his attention to a single youth, a single problem, a single task in the hopes of ultimately bringing peace one step at a time. The way he spoke with fortitude and courage gave me insight and spurred a desire in me to make a difference. To look beyond my own problems and help others. Right now I'm not really sure what that means for my life, or how I will bring about change, so I focus on little, positive steps each day.

Sometimes we can be so lost in our own problems that we forget others are dealing with huge, stressful life issues too. By giving a little sunshine to others we can show kindness and not only impact the lives of those around us but help us realize that our actions do make a difference.

From more of a technical perspective I like how this article is written in a way that it takes you back and forth in time. The timeline is not particularly continuous but rather jumps around a little making the reading more of a challenge to follow and at the same time logical and straightforward. When writing articles sometimes we can spice them up a bit by changing the format, switching the timeline, or changing who is narrating. William's style of being very informal and writing in a conversational tone set this article apart as a definite magazine style. I think when I write a feature article I would like to use some of the same ideas and format I noticed in this article. Perhaps changing the timeline a little to better tell the story and using a rather informal voice will be an interesting way to make my feature more tangible to my reader.

cupcake review

After reading the review about The Cupcake Cottage I seriously wanted to rush off and try one of the delicious cupcakes described. I don't even like cupcakes that much but by just, reading about the cupcakes described so deliciously, I started to get really, really hungry for a mini cupcake in about 5 different flavors. It's amazing how much we are influenced by what we read and how powerful the written word can be. It definitely can be used for good or for evil. In the case of The Cupcake Cottage review the result is pure flavor and culinary delight. A far cry from anything remotely resembling "evil" unless you consider it a temptation too much to handle!

I have enjoyed learning more about the fine points in writing a review as well as what to look for when reading one too. I'm looking forward to reading other's reviews in class as well as writing my own.

A little bit about me....

Hey! My name is Kelly and I am a senior Advertising/Public Relations major at Texas Christian University. I am minoring in English and am excited about the projects we will be working on in this class. I enjoy writing and graphic design so I think how this class combines the two should be an interesting experience. I am also looking forward to creating new material to add to my online portfolio and resume.

I was born in Oklahoma but lived most of my life in Texas. I also spent a few years living in Missouri and transferred to Texas Christian University from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

I am contemplating continuing on with my education and obtaining my master's degree but I haven't made any concrete plans. Life is kind of up in the air right now for me so we will see what this year brings.

I work several jobs as well as going to school. I have an internship doing some web design for a company and do some freelance graphic design on the side. I worked for the TCU Skiff last semester but am taking a little break until later this fall. I also work at the Sunglass Hut.

I have a passion for decorating and designing and enjoy any and all creative activities. I love to dance and would really enjoy taking salsa dancing lessons someday. I like pretty much any and all kinds of music except country music... well there are a few country songs I like, but not many.... guess I have a bit of a love/hate relationship. Otherwise, I will listen to anything, especially if I can dance to it! I also enjoy concerts and live music. I love to travel. Last semester over spring break I traveled to Scotland on the TCU leadership trip. It was the experience of a lifetime and I made many memories I will always cherish.

I enjoy any and all sports, I'm super competitive, and relish the challenge of a good work-out.

Well, I guess that's enough about me for now but I'll be back to post soon.