Hair Example Essay

  It's a well known fact that kids shouldn't play with scissors, and if they do usually something bad is going to happen. Talking from experience, when little girls get a hold of a pair of scissors it usually means a short, unsightly hair cut. I've had the pleasure, along with a good chuckle, of witnessing a few of these beauticians in training right after the completion of their first masterpiece.
  The first little hairdresser to be was my daughters friend, Jocelyn. She was three years old, with the cutest Shirley Temple curls that fell slightly past her shoulders. One morning while dropping my daughter at her pre school, Jocelyn came running up the sidewalk as usual, excited to see her friends. In place of the bouncy little curls that usually adorned her head, there was a hodge podge of misshapen curls with patches of near baldness. At her forehead where there was once a variety of ringlets, was a tuft of hair cut at a 60 degree angle. I know she saw the surprised expression on my face because her eyes went directly to the ground, and a small pout came to her lips. All I could push out was a slightly stern, "Jocelyn, did you cut your hair?" There was a brief moment of silence before she squeaked, "Yes," without ever lifting her eyes. I knew then that she had already heard a "mom speech" that morning, so I left it at that.
  The next little Edward Scissorhands I had the pleasure of dealing with was my own daughter. It was two weeks before Christmas and she was soon to turn four. Her hair was long and straight, well past her shoulders because I had never cut it. I had been wrapping Christmas gifts at the dining room table as she played with some toys on the floor near by. I remember having to tend to lunch cooking in the kitchen, when I returned she was not playing where I had left her. It was too late when I found her in the bathroom. She was perched on her stool she used to brush her teeth with, the scissors still in her little hand and a huge clump of hair in the sink. She turned and looked at me with a big, proud smile, like she had just done something wonderful. I couldn't be mad at her at that point, I just told her again about the dangers of playing with scissors and tried my best to fix her new bangs.
  My third example of little girls trying to play beautician includes my sister-in-law. This one was quite a shocker to me, for sure, because she was eight years old at the time. Usually if girls are going to attempt to cut their own hair, it's when they are little and trying to imitate what they've seen their mother do. I think that Rose just wanted a hair cut that day and didn't want to wait for someone else to do it. She has always had short hair, but she definitely made it shorter that day. I didn't see the immediate results of her with scissors in hand but the aftermath that she was left with when her mother tried to fix it was atrocious. Her bangs were straight but only about a quarter of an inch long, and they started way past her temples. There was no way to make the back straight because she had chopped clumps of hair out in various spots all around her head. Her hair took a long time to grow out to a point where it was worth while to see a real beautician to have it fixed.
  Little girls cutting their own hair is a normal occurrence, some might even call it a rite of passage, the first little step that a young girl makes to show their independence. Even today, if I saw a toddler with a bad haircut, it would bring back all of these memories of the girls I knew as children and their bouts with cutting their own hair. I would just chuckle and give her mom a look that I know she would understand, and probably wink at the little girl, knowing that she was just doing what comes natural to all girls, making themselves look pretty.

Example Essay

   For years myself and my friends have noticed that I have displayed small idiosyncrasies about certain things in my life. Over the past ten years these idiosyncrasies have transformed more into obsessions that I can't seem to break. My family sees me do these odd things, like check three or four times to make sure that I've turned something off, or put the cover back on something, and they are used to it. But when others notice, I laugh and say "Oh, that's just my touch of OCD" and they laugh, and all is forgotten. I know it's not a laughing matter to those that suffer greatly from this disorder, but it is my way of taking the attention off myself. Honestly, they think I am making a joke , but in reality it's the truth. I do believe that I have a "touch of OCD" and here are some examples why.
  Thinking back, the first time I noticed that I was acting a little out of the norm, we were camping at a remote site that friends and I and my daughter used to frequent often. This place is set 13 miles back in the woods and a four wheel drive truck is necessary for access. We were running low on ice and nearing the end of our stay. All of the coolers were strategically placed in the shade to avoid losing any of the precious cold stuff that is necessary when camping. I remember walking to the coolers and pushing down on each cover to make sure they were closed tightly. I then went about my business, satisfied that nothing else could be done to prevent more ice loss. Five minutes later, I find myself back in the shade checking each cover again, knowing that I had just done this very task. Throughout the rest of our camping trip, I obsessed over those coolers. If I saw someone even near them, when they left I would have to go check to make sure they were all closed tightly. 
  I also have a "touch of OCD" when it comes to making sure that my truck is locked. It was my daughter who brought this one to my attention, and she is correct. Every time that we go shopping; the grocery store, mall, and even the movies, I have this overwhelming fear that I haven't locked the truck correctly. I make sure that everyone is out of the vehicle and doors are shut, then I push the lock button. The truck honks at me and flashes its lights, telling me that the job is done, but after about 20 steps away I want to push that button again, just to make sure. I even have found myself making up excuses to push it. Well, maybe that was someone else locking their vehicle at the same time and I heard their horn, or maybe the button isn't working right. I have even tried locking the truck, walking around to check each door, then zipping my keys in my purse and telling myself, "it's locked you stupid ass, now leave it alone!," but I still had the tugging urge to dig the keys out and lock it again.
  It's most noticeable to me and my family when we are leaving for a vacation. This year for example; I made a list of everything that I needed to do at the house before leaving, like unplugging appliances and locking doors and windows. I thought that if I made a list and checked off things as I went I would feel more at ease being able to see that I have checked them off and they were done. So not true! An hour after diligently finishing my checklist, I found myself, list and pencil in hand, going back through each step and checking them off again. Even after all of that checking and rechecking, I still asked my daughter while on the flight to Florida if I had unplugged the water heater.
  Even as a teenager I was known as the worrier in the group, making sure that we had a plan for what ever adventure we were headed on. Maybe all of the craziness started back then, the need to make sure that everything is done and done correctly. So far, my little idiosyncrasies don't have much of a negative impact on my life. (maybe just a little annoying to my family) I don't believe that if I were ever clinically tested that I would be diagnosed with OCD, so for now when someone notices, I will continue to just laugh and say "Oh, that just my touch of OCD coming out."

Example Essay Intro #2

  For years myself and my friends have noticed that I have displayed small idiosyncrasies about certain things in my life. Over the past ten years these idiosyncrasies have transformed more into obsessions that I can't seem to break. My family sees me do these odd things, like check three or four times to make sure that I've turned something off, or put the cover back on something, and they are used to it. But when others notice, I laugh and say "Oh, that's just my touch of OCD" and they laugh, and all is forgotten. I know it's not a laughing matter to those that suffer greatly from this disorder, but it is my way of taking the attention off myself. Honestly, they think I am making a joke , but in reality it's the truth. I do believe that I have a "touch of OCD" and here are some examples why.

Example Essay Intro

  Everyone has an idea of their "Dream House" while growing up, either the small, quaint, charmer on a corner lot with a white picket fence or maybe a huge old rambling farmhouse set out in the country with plenty of room for critters and gardens.  My dream house has always been a log cabin near the water. Something about the natural wood and stone that surrounds most log cabins has always made me feel an inner peace, and I've always been drawn to the water. Even as a young adult, when there was some major crisis going on in my life, I would drive to the lake and sit for hours to think about my problems. Four years ago, my husband made my "Dream House" a reality. He purchased us a three bedroom log cabin with a pond that I can gaze at any time my little heart desires. I love this house! It covers every aspect of what my imagination could ever have come up with, driving by other years ago, and then some.

Reaction Graf/ In Class Essay

  I actually took this graf as a major challenge,,,and I like challenges.  I started it at a time when I knew that I wouldn't be interrupted by the phone ringing, or the dryer sounding off its steady BEEP-BEEP-BEEP. I made sure that the dogs had gone outside and finished their business, then sat down and told myself that I was going to make this happen in less than an hour.  ( I think that you're correct in your lecture, if there's a time limit it doesn't leave time to over think things...and I am definitely guilty of that in all aspects of my life.)  Even after admitting that fact, I will tell you that I read the assignment Saturday morning and knew that I would not be able to write it until Monday morning while alone in the house. That gave me two days to ponder over the topic, while driving or watching TV. (My husband actually doesn't ask me anymore why I'm sitting there with a blank look staring at the ceiling when we are watching television.) When I found that, some more pondering took place about what would interest anyone else besides me.
 P.S.- Thank you for the "freebie", and you made my day with you complement. :)
 
 

Three Items of Annotated Bibliography

"C

            "Canine Epilepsy Network." Canine Epilepsy Network. 4 May 2002. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.canine-epilepsy.net>.

   This web site deals in detail about studies that have been performed on dogs with epilepsy, the causes; brain trauma, idiopathic, thyroid issues, and liver function, all being possibilities. It also touches upon different possible drugs for treatments and their side effects.

"Canine Epilepsy Resource Center & Home of the Epil-K9 List." Canine Epilepsy Resource Center & Home of the Epil-K9 List. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.canine-epilepsy.com>.
  Here I found a major list of reading materials...everything from diets, drugs, natural possibilities such as herbs, massage, acupuncture, and even aromatherapy. I might take a few things from this site, but it will probably reading material that encounter through them, not from them.

"Pet Health Care | Dog and Cat Behavior Information by Veterinarians." Pet Health Care. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.peteducation.com>
  This site actually brought up facts that I had never encountered. The phases of seizures, although the description given here was not exactly as my dog experiences, it made me more aware that the phases are there. It also goes into some detail about what to do during a seizure, the common drugs, and even the treatment for a prolonged seizure. Also, there is a list of breeds that are more prone to epilepsy and explains possible triggers.

Contrast Essay

  In my short 17 years as being a mother to my lovely daughter Devan, I have had the privilege of meeting most of her friends. Not all of them, some were just a fleeting story or two, then never to be heard of again. On the other hand, there are the girls that have been around for a certain season that she has enjoyed a sport with, such as cheerleading or softball. They always had a lot to chatter about and the occasional whispers, but Haylee has always been there. The two have been practically inseparable since the first day of Junior High. Sure, there has been the occasional girlhood bickering, but they always have seemed to find their way back to each other. Now, believe me, I know my daughter. If someone had asked me seven years ago to line up all of Devans friends at the time, and pick who would be the girl that she stuck with through thick and thin, I definitely would have never picked Haylee. These two girls on the outside are the definition of night and day.
   One of the first differences that any outsider would notice between the girls is their appearances. Haylee could be a model in any outdoors catalog such as Cabelas or The Sportsman's. She wears her hiking boots proudly, usually with a plaid shirt, and would be lost without her L.L. Bean jacket.  Devan, on the other hand looks as though she stepped off the cover of Seventeen magazine. Her shoes have to match her outfit perfectly for the day, (even if they are completely unpractical for the situation) and she refuses to leave the house if she hasn't at least put her "eyes on" and completed her hair.  Haylee could take it or leave it, she wears only enough makeup to accentuate her eyes, and wears her hair usually pulled back away from her face. Both are beautiful girls with totally different styles, but share the strength to know that they don't have to look alike to be best friends. 

  Another difference between Devan and Haylee is their love of kids.  Haylee has a huge family, she was raised as an only child, as was Devan, but Haylee has many aunts and uncles that all have children under the age of six.  Devan has a few aunts and uncles too but, they are mostly living out of state and the few that are around this area aren't old enough for children.  Haylee was an instant babysitter for her family and naturally loves little children and they love her too.  You could say that she is a kid magnet.  Devan on the other hand could go without.  She says that wants a baby someday, but as far as I'm concerned it's going to be many years before I am a grandmother.  Both girls love their freedom, but I can picture Haylee having a baby within her first really serious relationship.

  The two girls also differ widely about their attitudes for achievement. Devan has always been an achiever in school, don't get me wrong now, there are some classes that she has to struggle through such a chemistry this particular year, but she always tries her best. When she knows that her grades are not up to par she sets aside the needed time to work on the assignments or extras that will bring her grades where they need to be.  Haylee is the absolute opposite. She just doesn't care about school, or anything to do with it but her friends. She is a smart girl, and I know that she could definitely do well, but she doesn't drive for it unless the situation is at its final straw and she knows that she will stay behind.

  Even though there are all of the exterior and interior differences between these two girls they have chosen to remain BFFs. They have a few connecting friends but mostly travel in separate circles in school due the their different class schedules but I can count on a visit at one house or the other every week. I believe that they work off each others weaknesses and strengths to better each other in a way that helps both of them. Everyone needs a BFF that can provide the strength that is lacking within ourselves.

  

Contrast Essay Roads

  As a child my grandmother lived on a dirt road in town called the Webb Ridge road. I always loved that road because it meant I was going to visit Nana. Looking back I remember the muddy ruts and the big bumps and even a few times my mom having to turn around for fear of getting stuck. Last summer, on a particularly warm day, while taking my daughter driving to practice for her licence, we drove down this road. Of course that warm feeling that I used to get as a child wasn't there anymore, knowing that my grandmother was not going to be there in her driveway with her arms open, waiting to give me a huge hug, but everything had changed. As a child this road was fond to me for several reasons, and none of them are present anymore.
  The first difference I noticed was that the road is not dirt anymore, there was a fresh layer of pavement covering all of the bumps and ruts that were so familiar to me. I remember that it amazed me that I hadn't noticed that the town had done this, and wondered really how long ago, because I travel past the end of this road for every visit to my mothers. I understand that with time there has to be change but, I just missed the old familiarity of the ruts and mud and was looking forward to instructing my daughter about where to slow down and which side of the road to stay on as she drove through.
  Elm trees also used to line both sides of this road for the entire second stretch.  I remember often asking my mom to go the long way home so we could drive through what I called the tunnel.  This particular "tunnel" was so beautiful in mid summer and especially early fall before all the leaves had fallen off the huge old elms. Dutch Elms disease struck our small town when I was approximately 25 but I never thought that it would get to those old majestic trees. They are all gone now, leaving just a view of the open fields and the old rock walls. The only thing left of them was the occasional stump poking out from the over grown grass.
  The children that were always riding their bicycles or jumping rope were all missing too. That was another reason I loved this road as a child. The neighborhood that I lived in, I was not allowed to play in the road. The traffic roared by so fast, there was always my mothers fear that I would get hit. Not on Nanas' road, all of the children would meet up and play together for hours.  Sure there was the occasional car or truck, but they were always going slow, trying to avoid the inevitable damage to their vehicle. There were no children playing that day on the road. I'm assuming because now that it is paved, the parents of the children have that same fear that my mother had.
  I was very disappointed with the trip down Webb Ridge Road that day with my daughter. I was so looking forward to telling her some of the memories I have as a child spending time on that road. Learning to jump rope, getting my bicycle stuck in the mud and losing my shoe, rolling my cousin down the big hill in a barrel.... But all I could talk about was what was missing, leaving out the part that what I was missing most was my Nana.
 

Isearch Progress Report

  To be absolutely honest with you, I have let the Isearch paper go to the wayside. It hasn't completely left my head though.  I bring up the topic to new people every chance I get, looking to find someone else with a dog with the same issues,,,so I guess it hasn't been pushed too far back.  I feel I have a strong topic, and something that I have been personally dealing with for a long time. I plan on looking further into the web to find some outcomes of dogs with epilepsy, whether it's a medical site or just personal stories.  I know that I haven't touched on that subject in any of my writings but sitting here thinking about it, it may be a good paragraph (or completely sad ) depending on my findings. I'm glad that you asked for this graf, you've put a new fire under my ass!  Do you want the annotated bibliographies we are using for the Isearch?? , and should I use the site you mentioned in the lecture ( http://www.easybib.com/#sourceList ) to make sure I have them listed correctly,,it has been a LONG time since I have done anything like this..??

Contrast Graf 2

  One of the first differences that any outsider would notice between the girls is their appearances. Haylee could be a model in any outdoors catalog such as Cabelas or The Sportsman's. She wears her hiking boots proudly, usually with a plaid shirt, and would be lost without her L.L. Bean jacket.  Devan, on the other hand looks as though she stepped off the cover of Seventeen magazine. Her shoes have to match her outfit perfectly for the day, (even if they are completely unpractical for the situation) and she refuses to leave the house if she hasn't at least put her "eyes on" and completed her hair.  Haylee could take it or leave it, she wears only enough makeup to accentuate her eyes, and wears her hair usually pulled back away from her face. Both are beautiful girls with totally different styles, but share the strength to know that they don't have to look alike to be best friends.

Contrast Intro #2

  My daughter Devan, has had one true BFF since the first day of Junior High School. Sure, she has other friends that have lasted for the same duration of time, or longer,but not like Haylee. Others have came and gone with the changing sports seasons, or friendships made in certain classes, but the bond that these two girls have formed seems to be one that will last for a lifetime. If you were an onlooker, not seeing the past years that these two girls have endured, you would never put them together as best friends.

Contrast Intro #1

  In my short 17 years as being a mother to my lovely daughter Devan, I have had the privilege of meeting most of her friends.  Not all of them, some were just a fleeting story or two, then never to be heard of again. On the other hand, there are the girls that have been around for a certain season that she has enjoyed a  sport with, such as cheerleading or softball. They always had a lot to chatter about and the occasional whispers, but Haylee has always been there. These two girls have been practically inseparable since the first day of Junior High. Sure, there has been the occasional girlhood bickering, but they always have seemed to find their way back to each other.

Classification Essay

  It is a well known fact that every person in this great big world has to eat, has to feed their pets, needs to have soap and shampoo, paper towels and toilet paper. Jesus, don't forget the toilet paper! We all need the basic necessities that will fill our bellies and overall make the household run smoothly. Due to this fact, every one has to  eventually do the dreaded grocery shopping. Where we choose to do our shopping is the question? In my small circle which I travel often, I have a choice of three stores. The small "Mom & Pop" store a half mile down the road from home. The grocery store which is further away but has the freshest vegetables, or the almighty Walmart, that carries just about anything a person could need.
   I call them "Mom & Pop", others call them "Convenience Stores", and in some parts of the the country they're called a "Bodega". The small corner stores that offer the basics at a somewhat higher price than the larger stores. These stores are usually family owned and run, with a friendly person behind the counter who knows your name and usually your family, and is genuinely interested in how your day is going. I visit my convenience store often, maybe because I am low on milk, or I need the paper. My husband goes usually twice a day, it is part of his morning routine to stop and get his coffee. Chat with Trish about whatever topic may arise, or maybe get some gossip about the neighborhood. Every community needs this type of store, it is a gathering place for the locals to say hello and feel that they have a connection with their neighbors.
  Then there's the grocery store, the larger, lower priced stores that offer the freshest vegetables,( unless it happens to be summer and the veggie stand is open.) This store offers a better selection of products  and lets me feel that I have a choice in my purchase. I use this store for my coupons that I cut out of the Sunday paper to give me the false notion that my husband hasn't worked all week just to feed us. My grocery store is part of a small chain, they are in three of the surrounding towns and have been established for years.  The service isn't as personal and smiley as the "Mom & Pops" but the good selection and lower prices make up for it when I need to fill the cupboards.
  This leaves us with the big box stores, the almighty Walmart. The store that has everything, and has made its mark in my community because of the convenience of one stop shopping. Here I find, unless I know the person, the only reason the cashier is smiling at me (which doesn't happen often) is because they know that their supervisor is watching them. I use Walmart for shopping for such things as shampoo, soap, dog food, and paper products. I will never buy vegetables or meat there, but I have on occasion purchased a few non perishable items because of the convenience. I tend to avoid shopping here during peak hours due to the long lines and pissy attitudes of their patrons.
  Every person has their own preference on where they do their grocery shopping. Each type of store serves it own purpose in any community, catering to the specific needs of the people. I frequent all three types of these stores as often as needed, taking into consideration the urgency of my list and how much toilet paper we have left on the shelf.
 

Outro to Classification Essay

  I frequent all three types of these stores often, as I am sure most people do. They all serve their purpose in any community, catering to the specific needs of the people. "Mom & Pops" for the kids full glass of milk with dinner,  but watch the dates. The grocery store offers its beautiful fresh vegetables, and almighty Walmart has the 50 lb bag of dog food that is needed for the ever hungry dogs.

Intro #2 Classification Essay

  We all have to shop. Not the fun kind of shopping, say for new shoes or clothes, but grocery shopping. Everyone needs the basics; milk, bread, eggs, butter, meat, toilet paper. Jesus, don't for the toilet paper! The question is where do we choose to shop?  In my small circle, I have only three places to choose from. There's the small "Mom & Pop" store a half mile from my house. The somewhat larger grocery store, a little further away but has a much better selection. Then there's the almighty Walmart, that has almost everything a person could need with one stop. All of these stores have their advantages and disadvantages, it all depends on my needs for the trip.

Intro #1 Classification Essay

  It is a well know fact that every person in this great big world has to eat, has to feed their pets, needs to have soap and shampoo, paper towels, etc.... The basic necessities that are needed weekly or monthly depending upon the size and proportions of your family, that will fill our bellies and overall make the household run smoothly. There are the fortunate ones that love to grow a garden and spend countless hours in the kitchen canning the vegetables and fruits of their labor so they can the spoils of their hard work to enjoy for all the winter months, but even they have to go shopping eventually. I have never been one of those lucky people, so I find myself stopping frequently to purchase a special request for dinner, or batteries for the remote because it has finally told my husband for the last time that they were low. Where I choose to stop is the question. Do I stop at the local mom and pop store close to home, the grocery store in town, or do I fight the crowds at the all mighty Walmart?

Reaction to Sample Classification Essays

  Where to begin?? I understand the assignment of the Classification Essay completely,,what I don't understand is why you want a reaction to other students essays. I thoroughly enjoy your class, truthfully, it is the best mind opening, self exploring, and brain teasing test that I have ever done. I can completely relate to the way you convey your lectures, and assignments except for the reaction grafs.

  Do you want me to give my opinion about the sports fanatics, or maybe the woman writing the essay? To me it sounds like she just needed to release a little steam about her husband, get it off her chest, and feel a little better when she pushed the send button. I can relate to the snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails essay though, she did a great job classifying men. Any woman who has spent any amount of time in the so called dating world should be able to relate to that one unless they are stuck in a rut and always pick the same type of man. I especially enjoyed her outro, she was kind to the guys who might be reading her essay and I hope she eventually found her perfect match. 

  Or should I comment about the structure of their essays, the nit picky stuff.  I saw a few words spelled incorrectly, and some grammar issues, but no laws that I am sure I haven't broken myself. I will admit that I do have a small OCD problem when it pertains to spelling. It drives me absolutely insane to see that squiggly red line come up underneath a word that I have just written, and I will indulge in a verbal rambling of outrage if I observe a public sign with a simple spelling error.

  Please don't take me wrong, I understand completely that you do no want to explain to us ( your students) what to write about, and I respect that. But, why do you ask for a reaction to other peoples essays before we write our own? Would it not be a better learning tool to ask for a reaction graf about our own writing?  Personally, I have found that when I read another students essay about a topic that we are assigned, that my mind always seems to follow their topic, I have to turn my computer off, or start an assignment from another course before I can find my own essay topic.