Writing Standards Portfolio Year 2 ENGLISH

August 3, 2011.

Introductory Letter - Year 2.

"Hi Mrs. Sueoka,

Over the school year, I have definitely matured and become better at managing my time - also, ever since last year, I have begun to grow more social, as opposed to being shy and somewhat silent during the Freshman year.  As time passed, I learned to be able to take matters into my own hands, as I used to let others do their own part of the project, I try to help and make "backup parts" now, an example being the ECybermission project, where I could have helped one of my teammates for a better and more successful project instead of an unfinished one.  I also began to explore the internet more, because in Middle School, I never used Email to communicate, but now I even use it to talk to others and send documents online.  During the summer, I became more mature, to being serious, and determined to get the task at hand done.  Overall, I have psychologically changed considerably, but I am still in the process of learning and changing.

Zach" 

 As I look back, I see that I have come a long way from the beginning of the year, as well as coming far from what I used to be.  In the past, I had slight difficulty with sentence fluency and organization, but now, I am better and know more in those categories for future assignments.  I tried hard to make sure I was up to date with everything we were being taught, and I did fulfill my idea to work ahead, to make sure that I had a backup, in case anything had happened to our group.  Now, I use Email more than ever, to ask the teacher questions, my fellow students for help and direction, and to communicate back and forth.
- Z

Angry letter Draft # 2

Angry Letter

Zachary Chock

1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408.996.1010

Dear Apple,

I have been using your products for a good portion of my life – The IMac, IPod, Macbook, and all of these worked and performed like I had hoped for them to work.  The technology is great, but there are some compatibility problems between older and newer versions of the software that I think you should have fixed a long time ago.  For example, I think there should be an application to work with Windows or PC items on a Mac without any conversion errors.

On the contraire, the items and products are very “repetitive” when they are released.  Apple updates the Applications for functioning platforms continuously, and each time, they are more expensive, or have many features taken out.  Several “add - ons” and new releases of a product are the same as the previous version with features excluded that were in the previous version which made me choose it, or very little changes done to the features.  In the latest release of Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Pro X, the application was not compatible with the older versions of final cut, or had many of the features, or functions of final cut that everyone and I loved about FCP.  To sell that item with missing and incompatible features for $US 300 is not very effective for the company if you want to sell more items.  I know you may be calling it revolutionary, but I think it is just the same thing with a new gadget or device slapped on it. 

Also, I found it to be annoying that when I buy a new Mac, or IPod, another machine seems to come out yearly or every few months, similar to Samsung or Sprint.  If anything, there should be a service that exchanges the former device with the newest release to date.  When I am enjoying an iPod, iPad, or Mac, I dislike finding out that you have released an all new version of the item and I have to pay more for it just because of a few features that I may not use.  Besides that, I think the majority of the products, and service compatibility are fine.

Sincerely,

Zachary Chock

Angry Letter Draft #1

Angry Letter

Draft #1

Zachary Chock

1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408.996.1010

Dear Apple,

I have been using your products for a good portion of my life – The IMac, IPod, Macbook, and all of these function as I hoped each to function as they were advertised.

On the Contraire, the items and products are very repetitive when they are released.  You update the Applications for your platforms a lot, and each time, they are more expensive, or have features taken out.  Many updates and new releases of a product are the same as the previous version with features excluded that were in the previous version, and very little changes made to the features.  In the latest release of Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Pro X, the application was not compatible with the older versions of final cut, or had many of the features, or functions of final cut that everyone and I loved about FCP.  To sell that item with missing and incompatible features for $US 300 is not fair.  I know you may be calling it revolutionary, but I think it is just the same thing with a new gadget or device slapped on it. 

Also, I found it to be annoying that when I buy a new Mac, or IPod, another machine seems to come out yearly or every few months.  If anything, there should be a service that exchanges the former device with the newest release to date.  Besides that, I think the products, service, and compatibility are fine.  I do not have any argument for the customer service.

Sincerely,

Zachary Chock

Bullies: Should we make courses for them?

Risky Business Essay - Bullying: Should the Government create courses for it? Zachary Chock Period 2 11/7/11 The government should create classes and sessions to counsel and help stop bullying. With people being plagued by the individuals known as “bullies” everyday, people urge the governing system to do something about the issue, as not much is being done to fully address the issue. However, there are people who claim that the government has already done enough to resolve and help the issue. I am on the Pro side, arguing we can do more to fund and produce "Bully awareness" classes. The first argument complains that our government is not doing enough to address and combat the issue about bullying. There are many programs the government has made to combat bullies, but so far, there are very little to no school courses, classes, or sessions held in education departments, to talk about the dangers of bullying. In one case on October 17 2009, a teenager, Tyler Long, was bullied until he was sent over the edge, and hung himself. There was no law or bill for education of these school bullies being passed around, so no one was able to Strangely, the school officials failed to recognize or acknowledge any form of the bullying in process, and disturbingly, his suicide was mocked and openly made fun of in classrooms, without any action being taken to stop mockery and disrespect. The bullies who pushed Tyler over the edge as well as those who mocked him were not pulled over or consoled, educated, or taught to stop the bullying, and neither did the government or school step in on any of the action. Now, when caught, the tormentor can be subjected to detention to learn and put an end to their bad behavior. Since then, School officials now talk with bullies to find out motives and reasons the individual has for their actions, and how they can repent on it. On the other side, there are the people who counteract with the idea that everything in our power has already been done to help the efforts of the anti- bullying activities. The government has started enacting warnings for schools to detain and help console, or have therapy with bullies, to combat the issue and rehabilitate the bully to stop their course of action. Government statistics reveal that one of three students are bullied in Middle and High schools now, affecting overall mental health, success in school, and being able to be around others with trust. 
The action is hoping that by installing courses and classes to educate about bullying and putting a stop to it, to bullies, will alter the bullies' motives and hopefully end their idea to pick on smaller targets and end their bully spree. People say that the government does not need to create classes, but the PSA’s and court rulings are enough to dissuade others to not join bullies. Without Classes, Society would possibly have a rise in the amount of bullies and school issues involving harassment. In conclusion, The Government should be holding classes and mandatory lectures to encourage the stop of bullying. The programs and laws are active, but starting where the problem begins, in the schools, is where classes and courses should be held to combat and educate early on in children's lives, so they will not be encouraged to enact bullying. With Media and various other commercials appearing to encourage Human rights, we should be promoting in - school education for Bullying as well.

• http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/

cmeduski/600/600.pdf, Date accessed, 11/8/11, PDF FILE, House of Commons Education and Skills Committee.

• "What Is Bullying? | StopBullying.gov." Home | StopBullying.gov. U.S Government. Web. 09 Nov.

2011. <ht
tp://www.stopbullying.gov/topics/what_is_bullying/index.html>.

• Warr, Suzanne. "How Kidscape Courses Help Children Beat the B

ullies | Society | Guardian.co.uk." Latest News, Sport and Comment from the Guardian | The Guardian. Guardian, 23 Sept. 2011. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/sep/23/bullying-children- kidscape-courses>
.

Bullying essay Draft # 2

The government should create classes and sessions to counsel and help stop bullying.  With people being plagued by the individuals known as “bullies” everyday, people urge the governing system to do something about the issue, as not much is being done to fully address the issue.  However, there are people who claim that the government has already done enough to resolve and help the issue.  I stand on the side of the argument complaining that the government should do something about the issue, opposing the side saying the government has done enough.
The first argument complains that our government is not doing enough to address and combat the issue about bullying.  Although many programs exist, such as anti bullying programs, websites,  and flyers to educate about the issue and what can be done to stop the bullying, there is little action being taken by the governing system when the bully is caught and detained.  In one case on October 17 2009, a teenager, Tyler Long, was bullied until he was sent over the edge, and hung himself.  Strangely, the school officials failed to recognize or acknowledge any form of the bullying in process, and disturbingly, his suicide was mocked and openly made fun of in classrooms, without any action being taken to stop mockery and disrespect.  The bullies who pushed Tyler over the edge as well as those who mocked him were not pulled over or consoled, educated, or taught to stop the bullying, and neither did the government or school step in on any of the action.
On the other side, there are the people who counteract with the idea that everything in our power has already been done to help the efforts of the anti-bullying activities.  The government has started enacting warnings for schools to detain and help console, or have therapy with bullies, to combat the issue and rehabilitate the bully to stop their course of action.  Government statistics reveal that one of three students are bullied in Middle and High schools now, affecting overall mental health, success in school, and being able to be around others with trust.
In conclusion, I stand on the side that says there is not enough being done to prevent bullying in today’s schools.  The government may be taking action and preventive measures, but there are still people who push others into mental breakdown, and to the verge of suicide, while people say that there is nothing else that can be done about the events that unfold during a bully’s rampage.