Corinne+Lefebvre

Writing has never really been an issue for me. Some things I would rather write about more than others. For example, in one of my classes I was assigned to write about a story from each grade, from first until twelfth. I enjoyed the assignment because writing about myself never is a problem. I can also easily write about my opinion. The only thing I have trouble with is reading something quickly and then writing about it. I would have to re-read something many times before I feel comfortable enough to write about it. I do not think I will have any problems with this course and I hope to learn how to make my writing stronger. Hopefully, in this course I will get to write about my opinion on things and maybe even a few things about my life.

** __Homework__ ** : In order for someone to be certified to teach others I believe that they need to have certain qualities. First, a teacher must be smart. For example, if a teacher is teaching their class about science they need to know the topic well. A teacher also needs to be able to understand the age group they are teaching and the difficulties or problems they may have understanding the topic. Second, I believe all teachers should be caring. It is important for them to try their hardest to make sure all students pass. Teachers also should try to always keep a happy face so students will not get discouraged. It is also helpful when a teacher is helping a student to keep a happy face because they are the one controlling the situation and if a teacher breaks down the student will have a hard time holding up. Lastly, a teacher needs to know how to handle situations maturely. A teacher should never get in the middle of two students. For example, if two students are having an argument a teacher should never takes sides. It is also important for teachers to remember that they need to respect everyone, especially other teachers. Once one teacher disrespects another teacher then students will lose respect for one, or even both of the teachers. Overall, it is a huge responsibility to be a teacher and in order to perfect the job, there are certain necessary qualities.

** __Activity 16__ ** :

** The student had several ways of passing time during the dull lecture. ** -The student counted how many people were in the room. -He did his homework for other classes. -The student thought about his plans for vacation.

** I could tell I was coming down with the flu. ** -I felt like someone beat me up the night before. -I could not even open my eyes to wake up and get out of bed. -My whole family had the flu and I started to feel sick.

** The food at the cafeteria was terrible yesterday. ** -The food was still frozen. -There was a hair in my sandwich. -The bread was stale.

** I had car problems recently. ** -I got a flat tire on the highway. -My car began to smoke at a redlight. -I ran out of gas on my way to school.

** When your money gets tight, there are several ways to economize. ** -Do not go on shopping sprees. -Buy food that is on sale. -Car pool with as many people as possible.

** Some people have dangerous driving habits. ** -Many people text and drive. -Some people cut off other cars on the road. -A lot of people drive much faster than they should.

** __Writing Assignment #1 (pg 80)__ **

__Olivia's Dangerous Driving Habits__

My friend Olivia has dangerous driving habits. First, she constantly texting while driving. In order for her to type a text on her sidekick she has to take both hands off the wheel. Half the time her eyes are on the screen of her phone rather than the road. Second, Olivia tries to race cute boys at red lights. Once, she was even caught racing by a police officer but that has not stopped her. Every time I am in the car with her and she races someone I feel my life flash before my eyes. Finally, she did something that I would never do because it is definitely the most dangerous way to drive. She drove drunk. Driving drunk is one of the things that bothers me most. There has been so many deaths due to drunk driving. If there was something I could change about my friend Olivia it would be her poor driving habits.

** __Writing Assignment #3 (pg 82)__

__Stress in My Daily Life__

I have a great deal of stress in my daily life. First, I have a lot of stress that is school related. I not only go to high school, but I attend college courses. I am also hosting a fashion show this month for my senior project and there is so much to get done. Second, I have stress at work. I recently picked up more hours and now I work every single day. Another stressful thing that I deal with at work is making new friends. I started working at a new Subway and I do not know many people there. Finally, I have plenty of stress involving my friends. Lately, all of my friends have been fighting and it is very difficult to stand in the middle. I have not hung out with my friends in awhile because of that and have mainly just been with my boyfriend. It can get hard because if I get in a fight with my boyfriend I barely have anyone to talk to. Many would not know it, but I do actually have a lot of stress in my day. **

**__ Writing Assignment #1 (pg 183)

Selfish Roger __**

My husband Roger is a selfish person. For one thing, our family vacations always revolve completely around him. I do not even think they are considered family vacations. We have been on his golfing trips that last days on end. We also visit his family, who live a few states away, on a monthly basis but never have once visited mine. He even took the kids out of school to watch his favorite football team play at an away game. Another example of Roger's selfishness is that he spends any leftover money on himself. Last summer, he brought a brand new motorcycle and two months later a brand new truck. I am still driving my ten year old car that frequently breaks down. Unfortunately, he never has the time to fix my car. Yet, I walked in the bedroom to find him watching a football game on a brand new flatscreen tv that somehow fits into the budget. Finally, my husband never has time for our children. He has never been to one of the soccer games, even though they play every weekend. He also never helps me out with picking them up from school or their sports. One time, my son was waiting at school for two hours because Roger forgot to pick him up. I later found out Roger was busy hanging out with his friends at the bar. My husband Roger is very selfish and I hope one day that will change.

** __Writing Assignment #2 (pg 185)__ **

__The Most Generous Person In the World__

My grandma is the most generous person in the world. Ever since I have been born she has been extremely generous with the limited amount of money that she has. I can remember my grandma coming over with bags of groceries for my family. This would happen on a weekly basis because she enjoys helping others out. At any chance given, she will try to give money to her grandchildren. The occassions could range from christmas or a birthday, to halloween or valentine's day. Another way my grandma is generous is that she puts everyone before herself. For example, if we were sitting outside and I was cold she would take off her jacket and give it me in a second. She even offers her new car to anyone in the family that may need it. A couple of years ago she gave one of her cars to my cousin. Finally, my grandma shows her generousity by offering her house to everyone and anyone. Everyone and their boyfriend of girlfriend is always invited over for dinner every holiday. She always makes a huge delicious feast and then sends the leftovers home with me or my siblings. My grandma is the most generous person I have ever met.

** __Writing Assingment #3 (pg 189)__ **

__A Student's Day Filled With Conflicts__

The daily life of a student is filled with many conflicts. First of all, a student needs to wake up early to go to school. Waking up early is extremely difficult for some people and it can automatically put someone in a bad mood. Starting the day off on a bad start can ruin an entire day. Second, students most of the time have other activities such as sports, activities or a job. This can conflict with school because all their time cannot be dedicated to their homework or studies. School and a students' studies may cause one to quit a job or drop an activity. Lastly, students have many things going on in their life with friends and boyfriends or girlfriends. This is probably the biggest conflict with a student's daily life. No matter what the situation is, a problem with another person is hard to put off until later or to forget about which causes problems. The daily life of a student consists of many conflicts.

__** Writing Assignment #4 (pg 189) **

The Average American Diet __

The diet of the average American is unhealthy. First of all, Americans are constantly in a rush to everything that food is constantly being eaten in a rush. People do not pack healthy lunches anymore and instead run to a fast food store next door to get lunch everyday. It may not cost a lot and also it may save time but in the end it is just causing many unhealthy Americans. Another reason the diet of the average American is unhealthy is because many families are busy and do not feel like cooking after a long day at work. Instead, the family will order food which is most of the time unhealthy. This is causing the country to not only look obese, but also it hurts the insides of many people. Lastly, Americans have become much more lazy over the years and many people will sit on the couch all day and watch TV instead of going for a walk outside. It is important to have a healthy diet not only so the outside of ones body looks good but so the inside is healthy too. Overall, Americans need to change their diet habits.

** __Writing Assignment #1 (pg 233)__ **

__My Two Homes__

All houses and the areas that the houses are placed can be very different or very similar. My old house in Pawtucket was very different to the Exeter home I live in now. First of all, the sizes of the home are total opposites. My old house was so small that it was actually a challenge to live with four other people and a dog. Sharing one bathroom between five people was one of the biggest difficulties. In the house that I am living in now I have three bathrooms which makes getting a faily of five ready and out the door some much easier. Since I moved into my house in Exeter I have not had to share a bedroom like I had to do before. It has now made me less willing to share my things because I am not used to sharing everyday. Second of all, Pawtucket and Exeter are not only on opposite sides of the state but also extremely different. Pawtucket is a city with cars constantly driving by and it is impossible to get privacy even if you try. On the other hand, in Exeter I am basically in the middle of no where with trees completely surrounding my home. This affects the things that you are able to do because instead of just walking down the street to go somewhere it is a huge process and takes at least 10 minutes to get to the nearest store. Lastly, the amount of noise and diruptions are also complete opposite in Pawtucket and Exeter. In Pawtucket, there are constant engines, sirens, and dogs barking. In Exeter, the only thing that you can ever hear outside is the birds or the wind. The two homes that I have lived in are complete opposites and it makes me enjoy the home I live in now so much more.

** __Writing Assignment #2 (pg 237)__ **

__My World vs. My Perfect World__

In my perfect world, my life would be different in the areas of work, money, and friends. First, the job I have at Subway is a low paying job with long days of hard work. By the end of the day I am very tired and have had to deal with all the other people that work there. They constantly complain about things that do not even matter. In a perfect world, my job would be easy enough so that by the end of the day I am not tired. I would also love to get great pay even when working short days. Most of all, if everyone was nice and happy the day would even be better. Second, my friends, or the few friends that I do have just add drama to my daily life. Everyone is always fighting or being mean to each other. This had caused me to lose so many friends and now I only have a couple of friends. In a perfect world, I would have many nice friends who always care about my feelings. I would also have many friends that were generous and sweet, never starting drama. Lastly, my money situation is pretty tight at the moment. I recently bought a new car which means I have to pay it off. The bills that I need to pay will not pay themselves so I need to save all my money. I never can go on a shopping spree or even just spend some money here and there. In a perfect world, money would never be an issue and I would be able to spend as much as I want without having to worry about paying it back. I would also never have loans or bills that need to get paid. All in all, I do not live in a perfect world so I must deal with the real work that I do live in.

__** Writing Assignment #3 (pg 239) **

Driving on an Expressway vs. Driving on Country Roads __

Driving on an expressway is definitely different from driving on country roads. First of all, the amount of cars on the road is completely different. On an expressway, there are many cars and there can even be traffic which can get difficult to drive in. On a country road there are very few cars, in fact, sometimes you may not pass a car for miles. Second of all, the speed on an expressway is very fast and makes some people nervous. No matter if you are willing to or not you must keep up with the speed for you and everyone else's safety. On a country road, the speed you go is pretty much your choice. No cars are around and if you want to take a nice ride and go slow, no one will bother you. Also, if you want to get somewhere fast you can speed and most likely will not get pulled over since there is not much radar on country roads. Lastly, the scenery on an expressway and a country road is very different. On an expressway, there are many cars, guardrails, and bridges. That may get boring to look at after awhile. On the other hand, a country road always has something interesting. For example, a country road may have a beautiful farm on one side and pretty lake on the other. In conclusion, I would personally rather drive on a country road then an expressway. The two are extremely different from each other.

** __Writing Assignment #1 (pg 248)__

__A TV Addict__

Television addicts are people who will watch all the programs they can, for as long as they can, without doing anything else. TV addicts, first of all, will watch anything on the tube, no matter how bad it is. Some will sit for hours watching nonsense reality shows. Some addicts even take it as far as watching boring informercials instead of doing something valuable with their time. In addition, addicts watch more hours of TV than normal people do. They will sit on the couch all day night long or even all day and night long. On vacation time, they might spend the whole week or two sitting in front of the tube. Finally, addicts feel that TV is more important than other people or any other activities that might be going on. This may turn a TV addict into a bum without a job. It could also lead to an overweight problem from the lack of exercise the person is getting. **

**__ Writing Assignment #2 (pg 250)

An Optimist Person __**

** I think one of the best compliments a person can get is that they are an optimist. An optimist is a person who is always looking on the bright side of things instead of dwelling on everything and looking at the negative. If someone is an optimist, good things will come their way. Positive people receive positive feedback from all categories of life. An optimist is always thinking good thoughts which keep the bad thoughts away. Optimists also have many friends because they are happy and fun. Nobody wants a friend who is constantly complaining or looking on the bad side of things. Lastly, optimists send out good vibes to the people around them. Because they are happy it spreads to the people around them. Anyone who is told that they are an optimist has received an excellent compliment. **

__** Writing Assignment #3 (pg 252) **__

__Responsibility__

Responsibility is not easy. First of all, in order for someone to be called responsible they must also be mature. Having responsibilities can keep a person from doing things that they would rather be doing. For example, young mom needs to be responsible to her child. Instead of going out and drinking with some of her friends she needs to stay home and babysit her child even though they may not be on the top of her list. Second of all, someone who has responsibilities must also have discipline. For example, if you have bills that must get paid then you must stop yourself from going on and spending money on things that are not needed. Also, if someone has a job they are responsible to attend that job at the correct time and on time. If they do not, then they will not longer have that job. It requires discipline to maintain responsibilities. Lastly, someone with responsibilities must be willing to work hard. It can be difficult at times to constantly be working with no breaks or play but it is just how it is. For example, if a student has to attend school, do homework, and work two jobs, they need to be willing to work hard. They have many responsibilities to fulfill and need to work hard in order to do so. In conclusion, responsibility is very hard work and takes a strong person to be able to handle it.

__** Group Assignment

What Can Break a Marriage **__

A strong marriage can end due to many reasons. Stress is one of the most common reasons a strong marriage ends. It can also end from a variety of other different things that bring tension to a marriage. A common reason a marriage ends is because the two people that once seemed so compatible lose interest in the same things. Another common reason that a strong marriage comes to an end is because of personal problems that one or even both of the people in the relationship are going through. A strong marriage that is supposed to last forever can suddenly end because the man is no longer interested in the partner due to her new figure and behavior. She may not act as the woman he married two years ago. She cannot communicate with a reasonable result, and she has gained weight after having a baby, which she is not ready or trying to lose. Another common reason for a strong marriage to come to an end is if a partner falls in love with someone else. It can be hard at times because he or she may not intent to break the marriage, but as times goes by it will cause an end in marriage. This would happen if he or she did not back off from falling in love with someone else. Incompatibility can also break a happy marriage because the couple probably did not realized that they were not compatible, but after some time they realize that they are not compatible and simple but important things. Some incompatibilities may be choices of clothes, food, and friends that they can no longer tolerate about each other. Lastly, if they cannot solve problems through communication or other ways, the marriage would end up breaking up. Stress can cause also cause strong marriages to come to an end. Couples are faced with all different types of stress everyday. First of all, if a family is undergoing financial issues, everyone begins to suffer. Not only will it bring stress to the marriage but also may put blame on an individual. Second of all, if a married couple has children not only will they be dealing with their own stress, but also their children's stress. Children have problems of their own that parents are obligated to take upon themselves. For example, if a child is in the transition stage of a child to a teenager and the child is making poor decisions, the parents need to step in. If the parents cannot agree on punishments, rules, or standards for the child, then stress will build within the marriage. Lastly, in-laws can be the cause of stress between marriages. Many people have trouble getting along with their in-laws, which may eventually break apart a marriage. One may want to always side with their family instead of their spouse, causing arguments. In conclusion, even strong marriages can fail from daily stress caused from a variety of different reasons. Lastly, personal problems are also a reason for a strong marriage to break. People face many personal problems in their lifetime, but when it comes to personal problems in a marriage it can ruin the love that a couple shares. Personal problems in a marriage can include depending on one another too much. If once spouse depends on the other all the time is causes tension in the relationship. This tension also occurs when one spouse handles all the responsibilities in the household. This means instead of sharing the burden that these responsibilities can bring, one spouse is putting it upon the other. Another personal problem that a marriage may have is abuse. Whether it is physical or emotional abuse, abuse will tear apart any relationship. Many strong marriages end due to stress, incompatibility, or personal problems. Before going into a marriage it is important to consider all the possibilities of problems that the couple may have face. It is also important to share the same views of the other person so there will not be any disagreements.


 * __Writing Assignment #1 (pg 262)__ **

__Types of Housekeepers__

There are three different types of housekeepers. First, there are housekeepers who never have a clean house. No matter when you go to the house, or what time it is the house is always a mess. Food is on the counter from the night before; dishes piled high in the sink, and dust balls everywhere. Those housekeepers are either the type of people who sit on the couch all day not worrying about a thing besides themselves or the type of people who are so busy they do not have any time to put aside to clean their house. Then, there are also housekeepers who have a clean house constantly. Those housekeepers can sometimes get annoying. There is never a second when the housekeeper does not have a vacuum or duster in their hand. Sometimes guests may feel uncomfortable going over the house because they are afraid of ruining anything. Housekeepers who constantly have a clean house sometimes get nervous when guests come over because they do not want all of their hard work to go to waste. Although there are extreme differences in housekeepers, there are some housekeepers who are more of a happy medium. Those homes are clean on a regular basis but do not go crazy if everything is not perfect. Housekeepers that keep their home clean on a regular basis are not afraid to have company or get a few dishes dirty because they will eventually clean it up. Overall, there are many different types of housekeepers, from the houses that are never clean to the clean fanatics, and of course there are housekeepers who are just a happy medium.

__**Writing Assignment #2 (pg 264)**__

__Types of Sports Fans__

There are millions of sports fans all around the world and they can all be separated into different categories. First, there are the sports fans that walk around wearing team hats and team shirts but have never even sat down to watch a game. Those are more of the poser sports fans. They may think that they are cool just because they like a certain team. Second, there are the sports fans that are dedicated to their team and sit home at night watching the game on television, hardly ever missing a game. Those sports fans get angry when their team loses and when attending a game live in a stadium they may not be afraid to pick a fight with the fans of the other team. Lastly, there are the extreme sports fans that dedicate their entire life to following the team around. No matter rain or shine, or even what state the game is held in, they will never miss a game. That is all because they are so dedicated to their favorite sports team that they feel like they need to constantly follow them or then they will not be considered a good fan. Some of those people end up losing their jobs, families, and even go broke. It is good for fans to support their favorite team but it is also important to not let it go too far.


 * __Writing Assignment #3 (pg 266)__

__Participation of Students in a Classroom__

In a classroom, there are always all different types of students. Some students participate and some students do not. First, there are the students who sit in the classroom like a rock, never moving or speaking. Sometimes, those students even have the nerve to fall asleep on their desk until the class is over. Second, there are the students who may be shy but if they understand or know the answer they will not be afraid to raise their hand and participate. Those students normally have most of their work completed on time. Lastly, there are the students in a classroom that constantly participate to the point where other people in the room get annoyed. Those students always want to share the answer, showing that they are always right and know everything. It can also becoming irritating for others working with that person because they want to do everything themselves and not share roles with anyone else. In conclusion, a classroom is full of different types of people and the participation level of all the students is always different.

**__**Writing Assignment #1 (pg 275)**__

__A Pet Lover's Room__

I could tell by looking at the room that a pet lover lived there. I walked in and in a matter of two seconds a bird had already landed on my shoulder. I could smell unclean cages and pet dander. I looked down on the zebra printed carpet and a snake was twirling up my leg. I walked over to the bed to sit down and the bed was shaped as a whale. Everywhere I looked there was something in the room that resembled some kind of animal or animal thing. In the room there was a dog, a cat, a huge aquarium beside the bed, a stinky bird cage and a few hamster cages. For a minute, I thought I was at the zoo because even the lamp was shaped like a tree and I could hear birds chirping. The last thing I did was walk over to the closet and every single article of clothing was animal printed and that is when I was completely sure that this person was an animal lover. Since I do not like animals too much I had to get out as quickly as possible.


 * __Writing Assignment #2 (pg 278)__

__Creepy Neighbor__

My neighbor has always given me the creeps. I find him as kind of a strange man. No matter what hour of the day or even night it is, he always has cars driving in and out of his driveway. His house it set far back from the road and some people probably do not even know there is a house there. Often, there is a fire burning in his backyard which usually has a strange smell. I can only let my imagination run wild and think that he is burning dead bodies. There is also always yelling coming from his house. Him and his girlfriend must be fighting because you can hear the screaming through the woods. One night, I got up in the middle of the night to let my dog out and he was standing in my backyard in the pouring rain looking up at my house. Also, I know that the same situation occurred more than once because one time after all the snow had melted I found his cell phone on my patio. My neighbor is definitely a creepy person and I like to stay as far away from him as I can.


 * __Writing Assignment #3 (pg 281)__

__First Trip to the Pet Store__

This small picture has many things going on in it. First, you can see a glass window in front of a fish aquarium. The glass window is label "Pet Store" on the outside of the window in large capital green letters. A man, wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt, who looks like a customer is looking at the fish aquarium labeled, "clown fish" on the bottom. The tank looks like it is sitting up on a high wooden table. The table is about waist high and the tank comes up to about a person's shoulders. There is a price on the bottom left of the tank labeled, "$3.00". Next to the tank is some "fish food" in a small orange shaking container. The tank is covered in glass on all four sides with an open top and a black base. Inside the tank, there are four clown fish surrounded by water and sand covering the bottom of the tank. There is also a green decoration plant in the tank and a small rock. One clown fish is at the top spitting water into the man's face. The man looks shocked, scared, and nervous.


 * __Writing Assignment #4 (pg 282)__

__My Dog Reagan__

My very first pet was a golden retriever dog. I was five when I got him so I loved spending all my time with him. His name was Reagan and he was the nicest dog in the world. When he was full grown he was about thigh high tall with a light brown coat. His face was lighter then the rest of his body and at one point in his life he had a very long, fluffy tail. Reagan was the kindest and smartest dog I have ever met. He always knew when something was wrong with someone and found a way to comfort them. Though, he was not a wimp. If he was not happy with something he would not be afraid to growl or bark. When my parents would discipline him or point their finger at him he would show his teeth and get angry because he did not like to be told what to do. Although, I knew that if anyone was to ever come near any of my family members that Reagan would have no problem risking his life for us. Even though he was the nicest dog, he had a mind of his own and did not care to listen to orders that anyone gave him. While walking around the neighborhood he would go at his own pace and go where he pleased. He had the best laid back personality and once anyone got to know him they would love him. ** ** **