Expository Writing: A New Invention for All, the Nintendo Wii

It will attract the interest of people all over the world, and it will get people
activated and moving. All this will happen while people are playing video games! It is
hard to believe that an invention designed for kids could have such a powerful effect on
people of all ages around the world. Some people find it hard to believe that this
invention allows people to continue playing their video games while being an actual
character in the game, providing options for different interests, and even making people
healthier.
 A person might ask, “How can a person really play a game of bowling in a video
game?” This is possible because people playing the Nintendo Wii hold a wand. The
wand is a device that a person holds in their hand. It is slender and rectangular shaped,
and it is quite light. It looks very similar to a television remote control. As the person
moves, the wand’s movement registers in the video game. The want itself does not
make any noise, but the game on the television makes noise as the person playing
moves the wand. This means that the person’s movements tell the video game what
movements and choices to make. Currently, the Nintendo Wii is tasteless, but who
knows what technology will bring next? Who would have thought that it could be
possible for a person to actually participate in a video game? Just make sure not to get
too carried away and let the wand fly from your hand.
 Is playing tennis enjoyable? Is bowling a more challenging option? Maybe
playing baseball is super stimulating. The Nintendo Wii has game options for all ages
and interests. Recently, a local newspaper reported that community organizations
including nursing homes, fire departments, after school programs, and libraries are all
ordering Nintendo Wiis for their groups. Each of these organizations is able to find
games that are interesting for their participants to play. People are all very different with
different interests. Because so many different groups of people are purchasing
Nintendo Wiis, it is obvious that there are a variety of engaging games that these
different people find interesting.
 CNN, an online news informational site, reported that 68% of Americans play
video games at least three times a week, but less that 28% of Americans exercise three
times each week. These statistics show that this invention will compliment people’s
interests with what their bodies need to be healthy. Imagine a fourth grader who likes to
play video games daily, for an hour after school. Instead of just sitting on the couch with
a controller in his or her hands, this fourth grader will now have a wand in his hand and
be up, off the couch, actively enjoying video games.
 In the first two weeks the Nintendo Wii sold 476,000 systems. Although sales
results like these are hard to believe, it goes to show that Americans are attracted to the
benefits and enjoyment of this new invention. People of all ages are clearly enjoying
interactive video games, and these people cannot help but to get off the couch and
participate. Pretty soon, moms and dads will stop saying, “Turn off those video games!”
and will instead shout, “Go get some exercise on your Nintendo Wii!” It is clear why
Nintendo chose “Wii want you to play” to be the slogan for this enticing invention!

Narrative Writing: The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Once, not so long ago there lived three Billy Goats Gruff. They lived in a big field at the edge of a river. They loved to munch on green grass and delicious yellow flowers.

One day Daddy goat woke up and realised that all the fresh green grass was eaten. The goats would have to cross the wooden bridge to get to the new grass on the other side.

The goats were petrified to cross the bridge because a vicious ugly troll lived underneath.

Little baby goat decided to cross the bridge first. Up jumped the troll. “Please don’t eat me up” said the baby goat. Wait for mammy goat. She’s much bigger than me”

The goats tricked the troll to let mammy goat across too. Finally daddy Billy Goat stepped on the bridge. Up jumped the troll.“ I’m going to eat you up” roared the troll. “Oh no you’re not” said daddy goat and he bucked the troll over the bridge and into the water

The goats were delighted that the troll had drowned and they danced on the bridge. They had all the fresh green grass they wanted for the remainder of the year.

Descriptive Essay: Summer Escape

 My family has always looked forward to leaving Florida during 
the torrid summer months. It is a tremendous relief to get out of 
the heated hustle and bustle of summer living in Florida. Each 
summer, we follow the yellow brick road to our hometown in 
upstate New York. 
As we drive through state after state, it becomes apparent that 
the world around us is changing. In South Carolina, we already 
begin to notice changes. The trees appear to be touchable, 
offering soft, plush leaves which sway in the breeze, and the 
grass actually invites us to share its place rather than scaring us 
away with mounds of intruding fire ants. As each state brings 
new surroundings, our anticipation builds, and home seems closer 
all the time.
Leaving the flatlands and entering an area where we are 
suddenly surrounded by hills of purple and blue are by far the 
most awakening moments. Virginia and Pennsylvania offer 
brilliant scenery with majestic hills and checkerboard 
farmlands. As we descend through the curves and winds of the 
northern region of the United States, home is now very close: we 
are almost there. Suddenly, we have driven from wide-open
flatlands to a narrow, winding road surrounded by hillsides of 
stone and trees. Around every curve, orange and black tiger 
lilies claim their place in the world as they push themselves 
out toward the car, waving hello and flashing their 
mysterious black spots toward us as we drive by.
The journey home is almost complete. As we begin our final 
descent through the state of Pennsylvania into upstate New 
York, the surroundings become comfortably familiar. Before 
long, we are welcomed by a sign that reads “Waverly, 18 miles”
and the familiar fields of grazing cattle. Through the last stretch 
of Pennsylvania, the bursting foliage seems to envelop us and 
carry us over the hills like a carriage created by nature.
It is at this point that our family, even the youngest member, 
knows that our vacation in New York is about to begin. Our 
eldest son has joked for years that he can “smell” Grandma’s 
apple pie already. Approximately fifteen minutes pass and as our 
vehicle takes us over the final crest, we see the smoke stack 
from the local factory as we cross the border of Pennsylvania 
and New York and are aware of our surroundings. A couple of 
turns later, we are there. We have reached our destination; we are 
home.

Argumentative Writing: Technology

The article “Virtual Addiction: Sometimes New Technology Can Create New Problems” written by David N. Greenfield explains that the Internet represents the forefront of industrial Revolution with innovations in technologies that improve the ways of doing things. A new technology is exciting at first, but it requires a lot of effort, time and energy in maintaining it. However, technology has not fulfilled its promise of improving the quality of life and the internet and computer can be dissociating and time distorting. As such, the internet can be used and abused, and that psychological factors contribute to the power and appeal of the internet. It seems clear that the features behind the potency of the internet have become habit forming. The study involved interviewing to establish the internet behavior of nearly 1800 individuals through answering a study on a website. The results support the argument that the internet is psychoactive in nature and that some individuals are compulsively using and abusing the internet. In this way, the internet is considered mood altering and thus it poses behavioral impacts. The author supports the thesis adequately since the information obtained from the comprehensive online research supports the argument since out of the 1800 individuals examined, 30 % of them indicated that the internet alters their mood. As such, they have become addicted and ended up using the internet as a drug. Besides that, the author examined recent studies on the nature and effects of the Internet that yielded intriguing trends and patterns in internet behavior. The writer quoted substantial evidence from existing surveys like The Carnegie Mellon University study (Kraut et al, 1998) which stated that internet use caused depression and social isolation. In addition, the assumptions made by the author are acceptable. He considered all relevant factors by basing his assumption on independent studies conducted throughout the country.Although the author admits that some information on the human/internet interface is not clear to many, he presents legal, clinical and anecdotal evidence that suggest that being online has a dramatic impact on individuals. The author should recognize opposing positions from the numerous debates in relation to the terms and definitions in providing a description of pathological Internet behavior. Since the internet is potentially habit forming, some researchers express concern over terminology that is used to demonstrate the ‘addictive nature’ of the internet. The author targets internet users to inform them the negative and positive impact of relying on technology. The study involved individuals with an average age of 33 years old, which ranged from 8 to 85. 82 %of the participants were predominantly white and male accounted for 71%. Most of them were employed while the majority of those were students. He gained the trust and readership of this particular group by indulging them in the discussion by providing statistics obtained from the survey to make the readers make up with their own conclusions. The author uses a light informing tone, which influences emotional response from the reader thus fostering expectations of the conclusion.He presents his argument by emphasizing on the studies that have been conducted in the field and thus makes an assumption. One can infer the persona in the work since it is the author himself speaking although he incorporates opinions of other researchers. Throughout the article, the writer established ethos- have they made their authority clear through demonstrating obvious good character since he does not impose his opinions on the readers. Thus, in conclusion, he urges that, individuals should remember that if technology does not improve life, then it is of no benefit.