Recommendation Report

Memorandum

May 1, 2013

 

TO: Justine Markin and Angela Markin

FROM: Justine Markin

SUBJECT: Recommendation to University of Arizona

 

As you have recommended, I have applied to multiple colleges for my life after high school. The purpose of this report is to weigh my options and choose the best one for me. After some visits and talks with all schools, I have narrowed the choices to two locations: Sam Houston University and University of Arizona. With your comments in mind, I have developed the following criteria for the ideal place for me:

1.      Location

2.      Price

3.      Living

 

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend that we choose the University of Arizona. The location is beautiful and not far from home. The college is a little pricey, but I fell you pay for what you get. The UofA has a really good campus, education system, and atmosphere. All dorms are really nice and can easily work for the first year of living.

 

DISCUSSION

LOCATION

Both colleges are in two separate states from California. Therefore, the location must be suitable and comfortable for the next four years.

 

Sam Houston University. The college is huge, making it its own town in Texas. It has a large amount of hills that surround the school in and out. About 1400 miles away, this would be a 5 hour plane ride or 32 hour drive. It is very humid yet the weather is almost always nice.

 

University of Arizona. This college is new and beautiful. It’s all flat and mostly hot year round.it would be easy travel only being about 400 miles away, making it a 1 hour plane ride or 6 hour drive.

 

Conclusion. While both locations meet our requirements, the UofA seems more convenient and accessible.   

 

PRICE

We have received scholarship money and loans to pay for one full year of college.

 

Sam Houston University. The college is big and has a lot to offer. The cost per year is around $35,000. This covers education, dorms, entrance fees, sorority, etc.

 

University of Arizona. The college is newer and is much known for its academics. The cost per year is around $45,000. This covers all expenses needed to attend.

 

Conclusion. The cost for UofA is $10,000 more expensive. It exceeds our price range yet all other categories fill our requirements.

 

LIVING

Both dorms are on campus close to where my classes will be. They’re nice and room two people, someone else and myself.

 

Sam Houston university. These dorms are fairly new and exceed my living expectations. Each room comes with its own small kitchen area and own personal bathrooms.

 

University of Arizona. The dorm is on the west end close to the stadium, market, and my classes. It is a coed building hold two people to a room. Bathrooms are in the middle of the hall and there a large kitchen downstairs.

 

Conclusion. Both dorms are extremely nice and fit my needs. I can adapt easily to any environment and feel I can make either areas work.

Autobiography of Benedict Arnold

Birthdate and Place
     Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741. He was the 6th Benedict Arnold, born after his dead brother, the 5th Benedict Arnold. His mother and father were surprised he survived, for he was born during the coldest month.

Family Members
     Arnold was the son of Benedict and Hannah. He had 3 sisters named Hannah, Mary and Elizabeth. All eventually passed due to a disease going around, except for his sister Hannah. Later he married Margaret Mansfield and had 3 sons 5 years later.

Childhood and School Life
     Benedict Arnold grew to be a thrill seeker, natural athlete, and a showoff. He began to get in trouble so his parents sent him off to boarding school. After getting the news about his family's death, he opened his shop in New Haven, where he and his sister worked together.

Hobbies, Interests and Activities
     Arnold was always really driven. If he became interested in something, he would put his full commitment to it. After creating his successful business, he branched out and began investing in a trading company with partner, Adam Babcock. As the Stamp Act began, he became a patriot and joined the Sons of Liberty.

Anecdotes
     Bendicct Arnolds passion soon became all about war. He gave many great ideas and was quickly promoted to War General. He led his men on many routes, succeeding in most. He was very admired by almost all his men and other War Generals.
     As Arnold layed in the hospital from his recent injury to his leg, he felt helpless, only hearing the sounds of gunshots and fighting. While out, he thought of plans to take the win. Once up and moving, he surprised the Americans by having his men fully surrounf them with gunfire. The fighting went on for weeks and the men grew tired. But with little strength still in them, they gave their last shots causing the Americans to surrender. Arnold became known as the greatest War Generals at the time.

Career
     Benedict Arnold started from the bottom working his hardest to be on top. With his dedication and pride for the war, he was promoted to War General. He became known for his sneaky routes and plans. During war he gained an injury. Unfaithful he would get better, he eventually dropped his general position. Unable to go back, he returned to his hometown where he stayed the rest of his time being.

Fame
     Benedict Arnold became known as one of the finest generals in war. He gave ideas and demands that were looked upon by others. Working side by side with General Washington, he began to be recognized by congress. He also won in almost all areas of war.

Later Life and Old Age
     After being injured during war, he dropped his position as War General. The pain in his leg became so excruciating, he could no longer focus. Even though he dropped his position, mhe mapped out plans and routes for Washington and the remaining of the army. He moved back to home where he stayed.

Death
     On June 14, 1801, Arnold passed away at the age of 60. His wound to the leg swelled with gout causing massive pain. He moved to the countryside in hopes of it helping his sickness, yet became more ill. A few days passed and he died of high fever and delirium.

How High School Cheerleaders are Perceived

At West hills, Cheerleading has always been a big part representing our school. They’re full of spirit and always able to get a crowd pumped But today, is that how they are perceived?

 

We have a freshmen, JV, and varsity team that are always involved in school functions as well as cheering on players at football, basketball, wrestling, and water polo games. Cheerleading began as a spirit squad to get our school excited and pumped at events, but is that still what they do?

 

“When my mom went to school, cheerleaders here were so spirited. They travelled and took 1st place in almost every competition. do only do a few chants.” –Kylie Cristini (Senior at WHHS)

 

 

  Cheerleaders have always been very outgoing, spontaneous, and recognized as leaders around school. Though, as the years go by the reputation these girls hold having begun to go downhill. How do you see cheerleaders at West Hills?

 

“Cheerleaders have become a very popular subject, at the time of their season, some in not so many good ways. At this point in my High School years I’ve realized, it doesn’t matter if you do anything wrong or not, but you will always be seen in a different way than just a normal student. Many of the girls just seem rude and high maintenance, while some who have become my close friends are very nice and easy to get along with.” –Anthony Naderhoff (Senior at WHHS)

 

 

 

For all the years West hills has done competition, they have been known to take the floor and kill it. They’re the best competitive cheer squad in Grossmont District, coming head to head with Granite Hills. The girls who join the squads are dedicated and know the time and effort they must put in to have an amazing routine. Unfortunately, in  the past 2 years, the program has fallen apart. Do you think that West Hills cheerleaders are as focused on districts as they used to be?

 

“My eighth grade year, I had my mind set that cheer was what I wanted to do. The program seemed amazing, for the girls had gone to Hawaii for Nationals.  The team was known to be the sharpest, cleanest squad out there. But I agree these past 2 years have not been the same. Girls just don’t seem to have the drive and passion anymore. It really makes me sad knowing my senior year, we didn’t compete.” –Tiffany Coletti (Senior/ Varsity Cheerleader at WHHS)

 

Overall, West Hills cheerleaders have made such a difference to our school. Although some may not be as dedicated as others, they form as one, making one of the best teams in Grossmont District.

 

 

 

    

Justine and Joey Menu Writing

Coraline Review

Coraline Review

 

          Coraline is a terrifying yet bizarre horror film directed by 
Henry Selick. This strange movie features characters of all sorts. Coraline (Dakota Fanning) is a smart, courageous, and easily irritated girl. She moves away from all of her friends to Oregon, where her parents further their writing careers. Constantly working, they have no time to entertain Coraline. Until she meets Wybie (Robert Bailey) a goofy, attentive boy who loves all the adventures that Coraline brings along. 

          Coraline, being the adventurous girl that she is, was always exploring through all of her new surroundings. Playing a game her dad made up for her, she found a small door blocked by bricks from the inside. Giving up her chances of getting inside, she goes to bed. Waking up, she hears a little mouse chirp which led her to the now unblocked door. This leads to an unknown world of all her perfect dreams on her own life. Little does she know this fantasy land is not at all what it portrays itself to be. During her trips back and forth, Coraline see's her new life in a very unrealistic way. Button eyes, and magical gardens, even a talking cat. But soon to realize this wasn't what she wanted at all. Coralines 2nd mom (Teri Hatcher) eventually turns into a horrid woman, trapping her real parents, stopping her from going back to the real world. Being clever, she plays a little game with mother #2 to find her parents and the lost childrens eyes. With hard work and determination, Coraline won the game going back to her normal life.

 

          The effects and time that was put into this film are incredible. There is so much detail like the scenes, characters, voice overs take such percise increments of each slide. Every character has a whole case of outfits, body structures, and face expressions to make the full effect on the scene. Since they were made out of clay, it made them a lot easier to work with.

 

          A lot of time is put into films like this. It is not like a movie with real characters. Every scene is taken by photos that are snapped by every milisecond. 7 seconds of the movie takes about 3 weeks to shoot, due to the charcters face expressions and movement. This is called the stop and go method because every step they take has to be shot. After all scenes are done, it will have take about 4 to 5 years to show one movie. Its the such detail that makes the film so beautiful.

 

          I feel Coraline is such and amazing film. It is full of such detail that it blew me away. It's intended audience is children which in my opinion, is the least of appropriate. The film is quite scary and a bit revealing in some scenes. In one specific scene, Miriam and April, Coraline's neighbors, were half naked. That kind of image is not okay for a movie intended towards young children. In an adults point of view, this movie is so incredible and we appreciate the small details. Overall this movie was beyond

Switched at Birth Review

  Switched at Birth

Switched at Birth is an intense and dramatic show that never fails to keep you on your toes. The Kennish and Vasquez families come to realize their daughters were “switched at birth”. Going through all struggles of learning each others lives, the two sixteen year olds, Bay Kennish (Vanessa Marano) and Daphne Vasquez (Katie Leclerc), try and reconnect with their birth family.

Daphne is hardworking, dedicated and focused on pursuing her dream in cooking. For Bay she was enthusiastic, daring and doing anything to get away from her love triangle with Emmett Bledsoe (Sean Berdy).

Getting away from her problems at home, Bay was sent on a trip to the Galapagos Islands where she went to study, yet tried to find a new spark. Man would I love to be sent away every time I needed to escape. Though finally, coming home with her new boyfriend resulted in feelings for Emmett that had yet to disappear.

Simone was quite gutsy to apologize to Bay but I feel it was very bold and well needed. Some people look for comfort in more steamy ways then others. She had her breaking point yet did the right thing and apologized.

Chef… wow can we say jerk? He does not give two cares in the world about Daphne being deaf. She handled all of their confrontations so well and does not want to give up. She is very strong and does not need any help from Kathryn Kennish (Lea Thompson), her biological mom. She feels in some sense that she can prove herself to him. We’ll see.

What is going on with newly weds Regina and Angelo? How will her boyfriend Patrick react? After that dramatic ending I can not wait to see what the season has to bring.   

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