Table of Contents

Table of Contents Dear Reader Intro to “Crossing Over to an Efficient Future” Crossing Over to an Efficient Future Intro to “The Dark and Unknown” The Dark and Unknown Intro to “We Are the Champions” We Are the Champions Intro to “Inventory of Being” Inventory of Being Thanks for Reading

Thanks for Reading

Thank you for reading and hopefully enjoying my writing pieces. I feel that my writing skills have grown this year and I am to share my writing with others!

Intro to "We Are the Champions"

For our final major writing assignment this quarter, we were to write an argument paper. To do this, we needed to incorporate all of the skills we had learned in English 98 to show that we can write effectively. The argument paper also challenged me to write analytically though. I chose to write my argument paper on college football. I argued that the current BCS system in Division 1A college football needs to replaced with a playoff system to determine the National Champion. To write this paper, I needed take the concept of the BCS system and break it down into its most elemental parts. I needed to do this to understand the reason behind creating the BCS as well as the components of that system to set up my counterargument in my paper, but most importantly I needed to be able to explain the elements of this system because I knew most of my audience was not familiar with sports in general, let alone college football’s ranking system.

In the paper “We Are the Champions” I was able to analyze why the current BCS system for college football is not working by looking for the parts that are unfair and providing examples. I said, “In the same way, it [playoff system] would allow teams that are from smaller divisions who do win in their conference to have a shot at the national championship.” I went on to provide an example of one time in many that the BCS has proved itself unfair. As you read this piece, please notice that I have analyzed the BCS system to identify a few reasons that it needs to be dismantled.

We Are the Champions

NCAA Division 1-A football is different from all other college sports in that is does not end its season with a playoff system designed to determine a champion. Instead, Division 1-A college football has a Bowl Championship Series (BCS). In this system, teams play a regular 12-game season against opponents in their division as well as a few games outside their conference. At the end of the season, teams are selected to play in various bowl games. Four of these bowl games, the Fiesta Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Rose Bowl, and the Orange Bowl are considered the most prestigious, because one of these four bowl games is chosen annually to be the championship game. The teams who are chosen to go to these bowl games are not chosen fairly though because a computer-generated process is used, instead of sending the teams with the most wins. The current BCS system, which determines college football’s national champion by opinion and computer is unfair and needs to be replaced with an eight-team playoff bracket system.

The Bowl Championship Series was established in 1998 to help determine the national champion for college football while maintaining the bowl system that had been put into place nearly 100 years ago to generate more revenue for college football (Limon, par. 3). Six of the nation’s major conferences - the Big Ten, Pac-10, ACC, Big East, Big 12, and SEC committed to have their champions determined under this system (Alder, par. 6). Teams are selected to play in the BCS bowl games based on a combination of polls from NCAA officials and selected coaches as well as computer generated rankings of the following “statistical factors: wins and losses, strength of schedule, opponent’s strength of schedule, and other minor statistics, like defensive scoring performances” (Carey, par. 6). NCAA football is the only sport to use this system, so why the difference?

The hope of the BCS system was to create a playoff atmosphere throughout the season while still incorporating traditional college bowl games, but it isn’t a fair system. A true champion can only be determined by wins on the field and not by personal opinions of officials and coaches through a poll. Supporters of the BCS say that the current system works and are not looking for change, but this system often produces a disputed winner, so it’s not working. At the end of each season there is invariably at least one team that claims they earned, but were excluded from a shot at the National Title.

An example of this controversial championship happened in the 2006 football season. The Boise State Broncos ended their season undefeated with a 13-0 record, but they did not get a chance to play for a National Title. Brian Carey, in his article “BCS Ranking vs. Playoff System: What is Best for College Football” says “Since Boise State plays in a weaker conference (Western Athletic Conference) than most other BCS teams, its strength of schedule was not enough to earn it a place in the National Championship” (par. 10). Even with a perfect record, Boise State was not crowned National Champions. Instead, that year the Florida Gators took home the crown after their victory over Ohio State. Although the Gator’s record that season of 13-1 was impressive, they were not the best team in Division 1 football. These conferences were established years ago based on regional location and schools were placed in conferences with schools similar to themselves in size. Since the establishment of these conferences, teams have fallen and risen to different levels of competing, but no alterations of conferences have been made.

Incorporating a bracket playoff system would level the playing field for all of college football by deciding the better team in head-to-head competition and allowing all teams in college football a chance at a championship. Rather than being measured by polls, which ultimately are better for teams with more media exposure, a playoff system would prove that “if you’re not good enough to win your conference, you’re not good enough to win the national championship” (Suellentrop, par.5). This means that the computer and opinion polls would not select which teams went to the bowl games, but rather the teams with the best records would go and play against each other, no matter which conference they were from. The BCS has become a like a high school popularity contest, allowing those who are well-known or well-liked in the eyes of the media to be given more of a chance at the championship than others. A playoff system would redirect this emphasis.

In the same way, it would allow teams that are from smaller divisions who do win in their conference to have a shot at the national championship. For example, in 2000 the TCU Horned Frogs went undefeated behind the running of Heisman Trophy candidate LaDainian Tomlinson, but they were not even considered for a bowl game, let alone the National Championship Game. Those who run the current system had already made up their minds which well-known teams they would elect into the BCS before the season was even over that year (Suellentrop, par. 2).

Those in opposition of a playoff system also claim that the season would last too long. They are concerned that students would miss final exams of fall semester and the beginning of classes for spring semester, but the current BCS system already has games that continue into spring semester. The proposal for an eight-team playoff would only require one extra week of play for two teams and two extra weeks of play for the top two teams in the country. Although, this is extra time, the college basketball tournament means an extra week for 64 teams, two extra weeks for 16 teams, and three extra weeks for four teams and the media doesn’t advertise complaints about that. Additionally, one more bowl game which would be required for the playoff system would generate millions of dollars for college football.

The BCS must be changed from its current operation because teams who have worked diligently for the chance to play on this kind of stage deserve it by playing tough games and winning them. A playoff system would limit the controversy over the winner of the National Championship title that is currently created by the BCS system. By winning the National Championship through a playoff system, teams could proudly say with certainty that they were proven the best college football team in the country.


Works Cited
Alder, James. “BCS vs. Playoff System.” About.com 2009. 25 Feb. 2009. http://football.about.com/od/bowlchampsionship/i/bcsvsplayoffs.htm.

Carey, Brian. “BCS Ranking vs. Playoff System: What is Best for College Football?” January 9, 2007. 25 Feb. 2009. http://www1.epinions.com/content_4933918852.

Limon, Iliana. “Despite criticism changes to BCS system not likely in foreseeable future.” McClatchy-Tribune News Service 19 Jan 2009: ProQuest. 25 Feb. 2009. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1629305071&sid=1&Fmt=3&vlirnylf=8125&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

Suellentrop, Chris. “A College Football Playoff That Works.” Slate.com 2008. http://ww.slate.com/id/91886/

Intro to "Crossing Over to an Efficient Future"

The first major writing assignment for English 98 was a compare and contrast paper. We were to choose a topic to compare and contrast, showing our ability to write persuasively and to write effectively. I chose to compare and contrast sports utility vehicles to crossover utility vehicles. This paper “Crossing Over to an Efficient Future” shows my ability to take a piece of writing through the writing process. My thesis “A crossover utility vehicle (CUV) is an energy-efficient alternative to a sports utility vehicle and offers improved design and luxury features as well as superior performance and handling” guides the direction of my paper. This thesis was revised many times throughout the writing process and finally after my paper was organized sufficiently, I was able to form a thesis that tied in with the rest of the writing.

Of all our major writing assignments, this one needed the most revision throughout the writing process. I had an easier time with my prewrite and had many ideas to share in my writing piece, but the organization of my piece was much more difficult. I first tried to organize in a block format, but realized there was way too much information shared about SUVs before I could share my counterarguments about CUVs. Finally, I decided on a point-by-point format, which I think is easier for the reader to follow. Even after I organized my writing in a point-by-point, I still used feedback from my professor and classmates to include transitions between my ideas, which is still proving to be an area of needed improvement for me. Conclusions have proven to be the hardest part of writing a paper for me, but in this paper my conclusion does an excellent job of reiterating my points from the paper and concluding the writing. The conclusion was strong because of the work I did revising my writing.

Crossing Over to an Efficient Future

In the late 1980s and early 1990s it became the trend to buy sports utility vehicles. Many families bought a sports utility vehicle (SUV) as a means of transportation that could seat their entire family, without being a minivan. Vehicle manufacturers saw this trend and in recent years are offering another option with many of the same attributes that made these sports utility vehicles popular but that are more efficient. A crossover utility vehicle (CUV) is an energy-efficient alternative to a sports utility vehicle and offers improved design and luxury features as well as superior performance and handling.

The features of sports utility vehicles are what helped build their popularity. A full-size sports utility vehicle is built on a light-truck chassis with the passenger carrying space of a minivan. According to Wikipedia’s “sports utility vehicle” article, most SUVs are built like a station wagon, “with a square cross-section, an engine compartment, a combined passenger and cargo compartment, and no dedicated trunk” (par.5). Many of these vehicles offer three rows of seating and ample cargo space. This design has been attractive to many buyers, but the size of an SUV is unnecessary to most consumers in an urban or suburban location.

Instead of buying an SUV, many buyers have recently been attracted to crossovers. Crossover vehicles have become more fashionable in the last decade as consumers have realized they can find many of the same design features in a lighter weight and therefore more fuel-efficient vehicle. Crossover vehicles are built on a car chassis while borrowing the popular features of an SUV, including tall interior, ergonomically correct H-point (hip-point) seating, and high ground clearance (Wikipedia). Unlike the bulky SUVs, crossovers are styled to appeal to people looking for a sporty, active lifestyle vehicle. While keeping a sleek, aerodynamic design, crossovers are also roomy and versatile on the inside, with ample space for cargo. Many models even offer adjustable seating arrangements to allow for various types of cargo.

Many purchases of SUVs are due to the fact these vehicles are known for their power. Most of these all-terrain vehicles have a V8 engine and the towing capacity of a pickup truck, but this is feature unused by most owners. Consumers are also attracted to a sports utility vehicle because of their advertised off-road capability, but in reality, this is not designed to be the primary use of these automobiles.

Crossover utility vehicles have equal or better acceleration and performance over similar sized SUVs. In fact, CUVs typical V-6 engines are so powerful, that most can keep up with sports cars in the 0-60 sprints. In addition to the speed of a sports car, the CUV is known for having car-like handling with a much smaller turn radius than a SUV.

Most SUVs come equipped with a truck-sourced four wheel drive (4WD) system, but typically operate in two wheel drive most of the time, so this means that the engine’s power is going to rear wheel only unless the 4WD is engaged. When 4WD is not engaged, an SUV is essentially carting around many pounds of extra weight, thus leading to a higher gas bill. Not only that, but if 4WD is engaged on dry, paved roads it may even lead to damage of the vehicle, which it turn could cause higher bill for maintenance.

Built on a car platform, crossovers are designed for urban and suburban driving with some light off-road capability. Unlike an SUV, a crossover vehicle comes with all wheel drive, which means that the car’s computer is “always on,” automatically routing power to the wheels with the most traction. Not only does this make more sense to have all-wheel drive for traction, but this allows for better fuel efficiency as 4WD burns through more gas per gallon.

In addition to 4WD, SUVs have numerous fuel-inefficient features. The popularity of SUVs is generally thought of as one reason the U.S. population has consumed so much gasoline in the last decade. SUVs are, as a class, much less full efficient than comparable passenger vehicles. “The main reason is that SUVs are classified by the U.S. government as light trucks, and thus are subject to the less strict light truck standard under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations. The CAFE requirement for light trucks is an average of 20.7 mpg (US), versus 27.5 mpg (US) for passenger cars” (“Sport Utility Vehicle, par. 8). Contributing factors to the fuel inefficiency of SUVs include the wind resistance caused by their large frame and the vehicle weight due to heavier suspensions and larger engines.

In contrast, the inefficient SUV is being displaced by the more efficient crossover vehicle. The smaller frame on a crossover allows for a more aerodynamic design, thus decreasing the wind resistance. Crossovers car style frame with less weight also contributes to the efficiency of these style vehicles.

Many families need a vehicle that seats multiple passengers plus cargo. The crossover is a style of vehicle that is offered by most automobile manufacturers and can fulfill this need for families with its SUV design features, while also offering excellent performance and handling. The largest selling factor is the fuel-efficiency of crossovers which will allow its owners to have a luxury vehicle that helps build an environmentally conscientious society.

Works Cited
Sports Utility Vehicle. 20 Jan. 2009. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_utility_vehicle

Crossover Utility Vehicle. 20 Jan. 2009. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossover_(automobile)

Intro to "The Dark and Unknown"

For this assignment, our class was to practice what we had learned about writing interesting and varied sentences as well as adding in colorful language. We were also expected to use a mix of simple, compound, complex, and compound complex sentences. We were given a story outline titled “Janet and Brad’s Excellent Adventure” and then were to put verbs and descriptive words into the blanks to create an interesting story with great word choice. I originally wrote my piece on February 7, 2009. When I first read the outline of the story, I immediately pictured Janet and Brad’s adventure occurring on a stormy night, therefore when I wrote my piece I included details that described this scene and titled my piece, “The Dark and Unknown”. It was interesting to read my classmates writing and to find that many of them actually turned this piece into a heat wave or a different scenario. It was fun to see how a collection of writers chose to change certain details or add in new events that created completely different story. My piece illustrates a dark, stormy night in which “the couple’s unpredictable vehicle had chosen this chilling night to stall along a dark and twisting highway.” I feel that my writing in this piece has varied sentence structure and word choice that shows my ability to describe in my writing. These strengths found in “The Dark and Unknown” show my ability to write effectively.

Intro to "Inventory of Being"

I chose my “Inventory of Being” piece as my Writer’s Choice because it was the writing piece I had the most fun with during this course. Writing this piece allowed me to show a bit of humor and it allowed my classmates to understand me as a person, a peer, a classmate, and a student. Even though it was the first piece written for English 98, this exercise required me to open myself up as a writer and gain a willingness to be self-reflective immediately and able to share things with others I had not yet been introduced to. It was difficult for me at first, because I am not used to opening up this quickly, but I feel that this piece does show who I am on more than a surface level. My favorite part of my “Inventory of Being” is “The sound of crying puts my stomach in knots. Without love and acceptance, I would be nothing. Without security, I would feel anxious. Without Worcestershire sauce, Bloody Mary’s would not be possible.” I feel that these statements show my inner fears, but also show the way that I use humor to cope with those stresses. Before publishing my writing in my e-portfolio, I was able to go back and revise a few sections. I enjoyed changing elements of my writing based on the skills I have learned throughout English 98 and based on the trust I have built with my classmates to share so much about myself.

The Dark and Unknown

As midnight approached, Janet and Brad scurried toward the decrepit mansion to escape the daunting storm lurking in the distance. The couple’s unpredictable vehicle had chosen this chilling night to stall along a dark and twisting highway. They walked carefully along the edge of the road, their eyes wide with fright and an enormous sense of fear coming over them. Brad, cloaking Janet with his large raincoat, tried to seem fearless, but continued to gape at the shadows ahead. As they gained headway towards the only sign of safety ahead, a torrential downpour began as if a sign to go no further. What seemed like hours later, the drenched pair nervously ambled up the worn steps to the weathered oak door, as harsh winds filled with air with creepy, bloodcurdling sounds. Janet pounded on the door, and moments later, it creaked opened to reveal a disturbed scientist, with a face that looked as though it had never seen daylight. Brad and Janet gave each other a fleeting look and with their heart’s pounding, darted from the door instantly, back into the storm, which was a much less frightening scene.

Inventory of Being

I am Kevin Lloyd Slater

This next birthday I will be 32 years old. My body aches as if I’m older, but my mind and heart are much younger

On crisp Saturday mornings as I walk through the autumn leaves of the University district on my way to a Husky football win (or loss) I become again the child I was walking hand in hand with my dad to my first football game.
I am a caregiver for a paycheck and a caregiver in life

I stand over six feet tall with brown hair that tries to curl when it’s showing me it’s time for a haircut.
I am gifted with my mother’s patience and my father’s passion

I have the wisdom of a man and the heart of a child
I am an artist and comedian
My presence is known to calm others

I love the smell of a storm ahead and the sound of rain hitting the roof while I am inside my house sitting by the fireplace.

My mom is my true inspiration
My dad is my best friend
My nephews and nieces are my happiness

I appreciate the simple things in life, like fresh cut grass in spring, the smell of coffee in the morning, and my girlfriend’s laugh

My first love is basketball
I love the sound of the Dave Matthews Band echoing off the rocks at the Gorge every summer
I love deli dill pickles. I love the sound of crunching into each bite when they’re fresh ad cold. And when they’re all gone, I drink the juice

I hope my nephews and nieces are successful in life. They don’t have to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Amanda will be an actress, Bryan a major league baseball player, and Brandin an entertainer, probably a magician. Most of all, I hope that the work I do changes people’s lives.

I believe that people have the right to choose their own attitude. I have learned that I have to believe in myself!

I know that earning my degree is a long road ahead, but I am dedicated. I know that the payoff of hard work in school will be worth it for many years to come. I know I will have support around me to accomplish my goals.

I don’t understand ignorance and even more so, I don’t understand how anyone could abuse a child.

My number one role model, my mother, has taught me to appreciate life.
My uncle, Darrell, who lost his life way too young, is who I strive to be like.
My father, a leader, has taught me to stand up for what I believe in.

The sound of crying puts my stomach in knots.
Without love and acceptance, I would be nothing. Without security, I would feel anxious.
Without Worcestershire sauce, Bloody Mary’s would not be possible.

All of my money goes where my girlfriend puts it, which usually means something new we don’t need.

Indiana Jones is someone every little boy wants to be.

With a large sum of money, I would quit my job, finish school, travel the world, buy my mom a house, and donate money to help those in need

I wish I lived in Seattle and that our cat would love me. I wish I could play the guitar.

I love to be tidy, but hate to clean
I am obsessed with turning on the windshield wipers in the car when the first drop is seen.
When I buy eggs at the store, they ride in the front seat with me

I am working towards a Nursing degree because I am interested in anatomy and want to give back to our community

I would love to lose weight but I never go to the gym.

I am Kevin Lloyd Slater and I am just finishing my first class at EVCC

Dear Reader

Although I have been through college programs before, I am now completing English 98, the first college class of many on my journey to becoming a nurse. I spent most of my late twenties working in various jobs trying to find one that suited my abilities and personality. I kept finding myself in jobs where I did well, but I did not feel my job meant anything. I wanted a career that I had a passion for. Through all of my searching, nursing found me. I had previously completed a personal trainer program at Ashmead College which led into my jobs at therapy clinics. Although I enjoyed this work, I realized that I really wanted to work in a hospital setting. I took the first step and got certified as a nursing assistant through Edmonds Community College. I have been working in assisted living facilities as a nursing assistant for three years now and am ready to take the next step in my career toward a degree in Nursing. Completing this course has allowed me to see that a Nursing degree is attainable for me!

I struggled at the beginning of this course thinking that I may be one of the oldest members of the class and knowing that partially because of that, my computer skills may not be up to par for an online class. I have gradually felt more successful throughout this course though! Not only have my computer skills improved, but I have realized that although I have never considered myself a successful student, I can be. The feedback I have received from my classmates and professor has helped me identify my strengths and areas for improvement in writing. I have learned that I enjoy expressing myself through writing. I have found that I am easily able to put my voice into my writing and my sentence structure has improved, but I still need to work on organizing.

Besides my growth in the area of writing, another important element to this course was my growth as a contributing member of my community. While reading Three Cups of Tea and volunteering at the VOA food bank in Everett, I found myself thinking deeper about the meaning of choices I make in my life. I know that the self-reflection I have made based off of those experiences is much deeper now than it would have been for me years ago. In this respect, I am glad I am one of the older members in the class since I think I am able to take more away from this as a thirty something. Finally, I have learned more about the great skill of time management. Though I have never had too much trouble getting done what I need to, working full time and attending college classes definitely requires lots of energy and planning ahead!

To illustrate the growth I have made this quarter, I have chosen four writing pieces to include in my portfolio from various stages of my learning in this course. The selected pieces highlight my strengths as well as showcase revisions I have made as my writing has improved this quarter. The first piece I have chosen was our first major writing assignment, the compare and contrast paper. In this paper, I compared and contrasted crossover vehicles to traditional sports utility vehicles. Next, I am including a piece that shows my ability to write clearly with a variety of sentence structures and word choice. This piece was titled “Janet and Brad’s Excelled Adventure” in our assignment, but I have titled my piece “The Dark and Unknown.” I have included another major writing assignment, my argument paper, which shows my ability to write analytically. This paper proves that college football should change their way of determining the national champion from the current bowl championship series to a fairer and practical playoff system. Finally, I have selected my “Inventory of Being” piece for my writer’s choice. This was my first piece in English 98, so I thought it would be fun to come back and revise it using the skills I have learned this quarter. I also like the way this piece shows my ability to write effectively, while introducing myself.

Please enjoy my great works of writing!

The beginning of my e-portfolio

My e-portfolio blog has been created and I will soon be posting my writing pieces from English 98