Compare/Contrast Essay

Shrek and Fiona
From the 2001 DreamWorks animated film Shrek, came the two most popular and widely-known ogres of this millennium, Shrek and Fiona. In the beginning, the two appeared to be complete polar opposites- Shrek was an ornery, filthy ogre; Fiona, on the other hand, was a beautiful princess. Shrek was mean to everyone, and only cared to benefit himself; Fiona was kind-hearted and loving, and small gestures that help others came naturally to her. They may have despised each other from the start, but they eventually realized they have a lot more in common than they thought.
Shrek lived alone in a deserted swamp in the middle of the woods, which had a sign in front of his cottage that read “Beware the Ogre!” He wanted nothing but privacy, just to be left alone to wallow in his filth. Shrek hated people, mostly due to the fact that people hated him even more, and usually tried to kill him since he was ogre. People judging Shrek without even getting to know him was something that always bothered him, so he chose to live his life in peace and quiet by himself. Loving parents were a luxury he was never accustomed to, as he stated his father would bathe him in barbeque sauce and put him to bed with an apple in his mouth.
Fiona is the daughter of the King and Queen of Far Far Away. She was always treated as a princess, and the people of Far Far Away loved her. She grew up in a castle with loving parents who wanted only what they thought was best for her. But Fiona’s life was not completely perfect, as she was cursed. The curse turned her into an ogre every night, therefore to protect her, Fiona’s parents stowed her away in a run-down castle guarded by a dragon, to await a kiss from her one true love (who was not intended to be Shrek) to break the spell.
Shrek and Fiona are alike in that they both befriend Donkey, another character in the movie, they are both big green ogres (at least at night), they are both strong-willed and adventure seeking, and they are both keeping secrets from each other.
After a lot of adventure and a little misconception, Shrek and Fiona find that not only do they have something in common, but they are in love. When they kiss for the first time, Fiona is turned permanently into an ogre like Shrek, but he tells her she is still beautiful, and he would love to marry her. And they live happily ever after, of course.

*im aware that the ending needs a little work, but thats why its only a rough draft. im open to any suggestions.

ugh. :/ its one of those days.

so, the final draft of our example essay was due today. blah. i don't like my essay. i couldn't think of anything to write about, so i ended up with some bs thesis statement and a bs example essay to go with it. the rough draft had zero comments on it- probably due to the fact that i posted it at about 10:30pm after i got off work on the day it was due. blah. truth is- even though my essay is about the value of getting a working experience at a young age, right now i totally disagree. it just makes you so tired and really henders one's ability to exceed in school. the grocery store i worked at closed down about a week ago. i've went from working about 32 hours a week to having nothing to do, and its been amazing :) i've really noticed a differnce in my school and my attitude overall. so perhaps thats why i hate my essay now- but don't get me wrong- when i first wrote my essay my view on the subject was completely parallel to my paper. but now my opinion is different. it may not stay that way once i run out of funds for my everday life, but for now, not working feels great.

wow. so thats not what i imagined writing about when first clicked "new post" lol.

essay 2, the most stressful one yet. (oops, forgot to put "example essay")

Having a part-time job at a restaurant can be both a rewarding and a challenging experience. One can learn the value of a dollar, of organization, and of an honest day's work. Interacting with employees, managers, and customers instill a people-friendly attitude and underscore the value of working as a team. There are many lessons to be learned in life, and, if you're up for the challenge, getting a job at a young age can give you a head-start in the real world.
I got my first job at the age of 15; I worked as a waitress at a restaurant in the town in which I was raised. The first few days were an interesting obstacle, as I had to become accustomed to being held responsible for the image of my benefactors, as well as maintaining an orderly and punctual schedule. Conflict is inevitable when working with the public and, with practice and patience, I slowly learned to deal with such issues. These are crucial skills for a mature, working environment, and will probably help me for the rest of my life.
There are also a few negative points to consider when determining whether prematurely joining the work force is a choice you'd like to make. Precious hours are consumed by a job, leaving less time to study and participate in other curricular activities. This may have an undesired impact on one's grades, due to smaller periods allowed to study. Additionally, the stresses of work may also take a toll on one's mood, limiting one's ability to work efficiently with professors and fellow students.
The question of “to work, or not to work” is ultimately up to you, and may be influenced by the time at which your classes take place, the number of classes you are taking, how relatively difficult or time-consuming you find your schoolwork, and you are in need for income. Having extra cash to pay for gas and other expenses may be a necessity to most, but if that is not the case, it may not be worth the time taken from one's studies.
Considering all variables and circumstances, I stand by my decision to work alongside my academic career, but it may not be for everyone. I feel that I have acquired invaluable skills and accumulated particularly enlightening experiences in my pursuit of a weekly paycheck, and would recommend a similar path for those able to take up the challenge.

Final Draft Was Due Today!

what was my greatest challenge with writing this essay?
hard to pick. but i am going with choosing a topic. i enjoyed the freedom of choice, but i almost felt like i had too many uninteresting topics to choose from. i tried writing about five other essays before finally stumbling upon one i could work with. it was about 8 p.m. on monday night, and i was at the point where i thought i wasnt going to be able to complete my essay on time. so, i sat down and started watching HGTV. then it came to me- instead of trying to describe an event like the book suggested, i would describe something i liked. and i wanted to talk the reader directly and really get him or her involved, as if the were a part of my paper, which is why i chose to write in 2nd person. i really enjoy 2nd person, so i do hope thats not a problem :)
also, i just wanted to Windex this for anyone who wondered, this essay is fiction. there is not actually an old house at the end of Lite-n-Tie Road- well, not a very welcoming one anyway. so thats why i didnt give an exact location or anything.

i enjoyed reading and commenting on everyone else's posts. it made me feel more confident about my own, and i like to think i helped out a couple of people with a little simple, kind-hearted advice.

first essay for english 1101

A Forgotten Home

If you’re ever driving down Lite-N-Tie Road with a little time on your hands, park your car just around the graveled curve near the end of the road, and walk a little ways into the woods to your left. On the right day, in the right weather, and at the right time, you will see an old house in the near distance. It has been neglected for many years– perhaps several decades– and the majority of the structure is in a state of disrepair. You may notice the way the surrounding forest can play tricks on your eyes, creating the illusion of a looking at a sepia-toned photograph. The soft, evening sunlight of autumn filters through the tall Georgia pines and century old oak trees, casting soft, soothing shadows on the faded blue paint of the house, as the aged shutters creak pitifully in the breeze.
The doorway is like a dusty portal to a time long past, taking you into a foyer of antique paradise. The hardwood is scattered with old treasures, and hanging up on the walls are photographs of unknown people; perhaps they lived here, or perhaps they were merely friends of the people who did live here. One can only wonder. If you keep walking, on past a two filthy bathrooms and three abandoned bedrooms, you’ll find yourself in an ancient kitchen. Small specks of newly unsettled dust float visibly in the few streams of sunlight that have barely made it through the opaque, brown, age-stained windows. Dishes lie where they were left, piled high in a rusty sink invaded by a soft, pale green mold.
Exiting through the kitchen door will take you onto a run-down, screened-in porch. The nearly-rotten boards beneath your feet screech with the stress of this newfound weight, and the wood itself is chipped and splintered in many places. Nails, deep crimson with years of accumulated rust, protrude from the dry-rotted boards, and what may have been paint many years ago is now nothing more than a few pitiful chips scattered randomly beneath your feet. The screens, suspended between pillars of maple, are riddled with punctures, no longer providing any defense against mosquitoes or other pests.
The door of the porch, as old as it is, glides open with surprising ease. Gently taking the now crooked steps carefully, as not to cause any further damage, down one at a time will take you into an overgrown back yard, tangled with tall weeds, vines, and many other invasive types of greenery. A path, just barely distinguishable from this green entanglement, allows safe passage around, back to your waiting car. As you stop and momentarily stare over your shoulder at the structure for one last memory, you can’t help but feel a pang of sadness for how beautiful and livid this forgotten home once must have been.

what do i want out of this class?

so, this is the first blog i've ever written. its for my english 1101 class, as i'm sure anyone reading this has already figured out. professor aiken has instructed my class to create this blog for a grade, and she told us to write about what we want to get out of this class. so, what would i like to get out of this class? well, of course i would like to get a good grade :) ha, but really... i guess i'm going to college for a "college education" so i suppose i want an education... most people have told me that this class is nothing but essays, which i always feel i'm terrible at. so, if can learn how to write essays better, that would be nice. i'm just scared that professor aiken is going to already expect me to know how to write well, like how to use MLA format and how to use footnotes and what ever else people are supposed to know how to do before they write an essay. i would also like to learn more about the plagarism thing that has been so stressed about at MSC, because honestly, i'm not totally sure i know what is and isn't plagarism anymore. well... i suppose this is about i know that i want for now... i may add more later :)