January 19, 2010

Dallas Rowe
124 Fake Place
Sportstown, British Columbia
Canada V2A 1Q9

Mr. Kleats
Central High School
123 Main Street Sportstown, British Columbia
Canada V2A 1W3

Dear Mr. Kleats:

I have attended a number of my daughters, Daisy's athletic practices, and I have some concerns that I wish to make sure that you are aware of. As a father, I feel it my duty to give you feedback, so that your coaching ability is able reach its full potential.


During some of the practices I have attended, I frequently noticed the children are left unsupervised at the allotted start time. I would recommend that the children would receive beneficial results if you were able to provide coaching supervision throughout the practices. I also noticed that some of the children seem to be disorganized with skill development.

It is also noticeable that several of the children aren't given a equal amount of time on the field in comparison to others. I feel that this inequality is affecting their overall attitude on or off the field; which can be addressed by changing up the player rotations more often with the intent of making the game fun for all of the players not just a predetermined hand full. This would prove constructive to all of the players attitudes and more helpful in building teamwork among the players.

Sometimes Daisy does not seem to be having fun at her games as there is a large burden placed on her shoulders to win rather then trying to enjoy herself and play to her ability; I think you may be surprised how well children are capable of playing without being overly encouraged and allowing them to use their own abilities and skills to their advantage. There has also been an increased emphasis on overly encouraging the players to win rather then allowing them to perform without the pressure that is being currently placed on them.

Lastly it was discernible that a large amount of vulgar language is used while coaching the players, and I don't feel that there is a lot of positive reinforcement behind it that will help the players win games or work together efficiently.


I appreciate your time to read my concerns, I feel it is possible with a lot less effort than you may think our team can be made champions. I am sure that with any these changes in your coaching strategies there will be advantageous outcomes for all involved.

Sincerely, Dallas Rowe

Expository Essay, Certain events that mark the start of maturity.

In life you meet and have to surpass challenges making you more mature in each conceding step you take. There are major steps where each person meets these challenges and in each new problems arise to be conquered, if one is to fail these challenges they will ultimately not be able to cope with the everyday life of a married adult. Life presents itself in specific events barring its teeth at you begging for you to rise to meet the challenge, some of these challenges much less significant then others in the deciding factor of your ultimate success. Of these challenges two major hurdles present themselves with the greatest height, the commitment and responsibility that is required from yourself and another through marriage, and having your first child.

Approaching the hurdles of marriage, many will fumble over their own feet in the unpresidented amount of responsibility that is promptly burdened upon you. With the exception of couples that participate in a common law relationships and deal with their personal affairs seperately; there is a lot that is suddenly placed upon you, such as: bills, taxes, paperwork. If either partner fails to clear this hurdle the relationship will suffer considerably, as one partner has to take on more of the established duties that would have been shared in a normal instance of marriage. Worst yet a couple where both are unable to cope with the new found responsibilities learn to sink or swim the quickest, as they are struck repeatedly by the brutality of real life. Even if a balance is met both partners are endowed with a new sense of maturity as they have cleared one of life's many tests. Marriage being one of the toughest along with the conception of your first child and the responsibilities that are incidentally burden upon you.


What would be considered as the larger hurdle in the set that represents life, is the burden of another ones life that instead belongs to you and your partner. This is the point in life where many acknowledge their life was forever changed after child birth, as large amounts of responsibility is placed heavily upon you in the form of a "bundle of joy." Marriage you can hit rough patches and make mistakes and get past them, whereas bearing a child actually means to take care of another human beings life, not as meager as a contract between two people. A mistake made when it comes down to taking care of a child can be dire, as babies are delicate and unable to think proactively for themselves. Taking a life compared to breaking a contract is on two completely different levels thus the stress and responsiblity that comes tied with the "bundle of joy". Though this bundle will change your life completely and will force you to shape your life around a small child, forcing you to change your schedules and adapt them to that you can take proper care of the infant. If you are capable of conforming to all of these changes and rising to the challenge then you just may have cleared the largest hurdle in life and are heading straight and true to the finish line, which unfortuntely happens to be your death.


It is clear that life presents many challenges, many of which everyone will have to attempt to overcome at some point or another in their lifetime. Of which challenges two present themselves as being the most difficult to overcome as a change in maturity is forced instictively on each indivual to cope with the new found responsibilities. The two challenges are the contract one creates to another through marriage, and bearing a child and all of the implications and responsibilities that follow. It is also clear that if one fails to complete some of the challenges they will be unable to cope with much in life and ultimately unable to mature to their full potential.

Assess which passage, “The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." or “Be-ers and Doers,” shows the more respectful approach.

Parenting is an acquired skill achieved usually at a early part of adulthood, or subliminally obtained from the false conception that reading a "How to Parent for Dummies" books will actually give you that skill. Two insightful passages into the world of parenting, a essay, "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." written by Neil Millar and the short story "Be-ers and Doers" by Budge Wilson. Both passages attack the common ground of disrespectful children and how to raise them to your ideals. Although both passages share a similar goal they both host completely different attack strategies one much more aggressive then the other. The short story's "Be-ers and Doers" ideal of parenting is put far out of reasonable proportion, it would be feasible to think that the essay "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." is a far more reasonable approach at parenting.

Although both passages host strategies that can overcome the difficulty of parenting, only the essay "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." written by Neil Millar shows a solution that is plausible in most of the situations parents face, where the "in your face" solution offered by "Be-ers and Doers" won't work in many settings with children and trying to shape them. The passage "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." presents a passive solution that can be applied in early childhood or later, leaving it to be extremely flexible. It encourages to "raise well-rounded, confident, considerate children that show gratitude and appreciation for all that is given to them and just a fraction of what you do for them." Unlike "Be-ers and Doers" this passage tries to hit a balanced ground of discipline, and emotional appeal; not over emphasize that the children have to work to get through life. It is key that the approach that "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." presents is so neutral to the development of the child versus trying to force them to outright change against their will, instead of trying to ease them into working without making it so much as a chore more of a duty that is established overtime.
In contrast the strategies suggested in the short story "Be-ers and Doers" by Budge Wilson demands that children conform to what you desire of them. The antagonist in the story was the mother who tried to force her child into becoming a "Doer" and not floundering around as a "Be-er". She was a person who needed a reason for everything and had to always be doing something not enjoying life, juxtaposed to his father who was a "Be-er" who was happy with a slower life, enjoying and basking in the moments. Though this is much more relaxed approach to life, she sees this as a threat and does not want to see her son grow up into a "Be-er" and aggressively attacks his way of life trying to enforce change rather then progressively nudge someone into changing. In the end he never changed because her strategy was to attack his personality rather then suggest, reason, and try and tell him the positives of doing something her way.


There is no doubt that in any case that anyone should select the parenting methods discussed in "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask.." are much more effective approach at parenting a child so they don't grow into "children [that] spend fifty percent of their free time surfing the net and talking in chat rooms and catch[ing] up on thirty hours of TV a week" while forcing you to slave over just mere children. Though more responsibility comes with having children there is no reason why someone should concede to their will, it is ductile and can be mended to your desire if you approach them about it with the right attitude; like the one displayed in "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask...". If you were to take on the offensive like in the short story "Be-ers and Doers" the child is likely to be resistant, making the whole effort overall ineffective. Giving no doubt that the more respectable approach at parenting is represented by Neil Millar and the essay, "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..."

Dave Cook's the Turkey

"He got a ladle of the turkey gravy, and ran around the house smearing it on the light bulbs." Now why would someone do something as obscure as this you may ask, but the answer lies in with erratic behavior displayed by a male in distress. In the story Dave Cooks the Turkey by Stuart Mcneal, turns a tale of an everyday life of an everyday man named Dave into something resembling a puppy on ice. The humour displayed in this short story mostly fits under something that we can relate to as we all know what the Christmas rush feels like and Dave being an everyday man easily fits into comedy routine of a desperate male during late December. Dave is struck by the sudden realization that "[l]ooking after the turkey, something he had promised to do, meant buying it as well as putting it in the oven." As it also shows clear that lack of knowledge on the subject of poultry has consequences as well as "it became clear what grade B meant. Dave's turkey looked like it had made a break from the slaughter house and dragged itself a block or two before it was captured and beaten to death. [He] began to refer to his bird as Butch. Perhaps, he thought, Butch died in a knife fight." Dave becoming flustered by his meager burden had began to mix up loved ones with meat as he says his "[t]urkey and [his] kids are at the Food Bank. I brought Morley here so they could cook her for me." These common misconceptions generally don't stand very well in court when you cook your wife over an open flame instead a bird, Dave had become quite attached with a bird named Butch.

Certain events marks the beginning of maturity: Narrative Essay

I began to lose focus on what I once looked at as important or essential to my life, and change became evident. This is what I experienced mentally as I progressed through maturity, turning six years or so into several short sentences. Although the change was gradual the realization of the change only struck me periodically during specific events.


Thus far what has stricken me as the most obvious change in my personality is that I no longer feel the selfish greed that plagued me and many others in younger years. This year I have had what feels like an epiphany but I can't recall when it occurred. Up until now I have looked forward until Christmas, embracing the thought of being spoiled with gifts given selflessly from others; now the only thoughts that flood my mind are that of spoiling others with lavish gifts and not having a care in the world what I may receive in return... What had happened to me? I found myself feeling more fulfilled emotionally with this new presence in my mind, and took joy in the thought of making "someone else" happy. This change was universal and not only applicable to buying gifts for a different person but applicable for my entire life as I noticed similar changes as my wants and needs actually began to separate into two separate ideas.


The event that truly knocked me sideways was the first day alone at university. Though it was a familiar experience something was a foot, a new day, and a new school. This wasn't foreign to me as I have changed schools numerous times in my academic history, but something just seemed different, missing from this new environment. The day before I found myself with my parents moving my belongings into my dormitory, still filled with a sense of security that had since begun to fade. Getting settled took an unorthodox amount of tossing and turning on my bed with my laptop next to me, I was on Facebook trying to keep up with the global chatter that was were my past friends. Though it was only 10:00PM I figured it was time to turn in as it was a big day tomorrow, and right I was. I'm woken by the chime of the next apparently greatest artist from my alarm, and to my bodies great dismay I had to actually get out of bed and hit the annoyance across the room that decided to hide under the counter. Whoever designed the alarm clock that rolls away and hides should be shot.

Like any other day I wake up at 6:30 to meet the unpleasant disturbances that come with living beside one hundred other people who face the same fate that I do. Groaning and slamming of doors came apparent quickly as time progressed and I got ready to head out headfirst into my first day of university, which somehow had a familiar feeling, similar to the first day at kinder garden, all alone without your parent to aid you. Though of course there has been immense amount of chance and self reliance since then so you wouldn't think that the feeling would be as overwhelming as it was. After completely the necessary morning routine: brush teeth, shower, take medication. It was time for me to step out into a new world seeking new horizons. There wasn't any classes scheduled for today it was all just orientation, which went pretty much like clockwork. Went out with multiple strangers, engage in various small talk situations with the some strangers, familiarize self with strangers who's small talk was actually interesting, regroup with same strangers all heads accounted for, and made a couple friends in the process, clockwork.

The whole orientation process took the most of the day, finding myself finally being able to go back to my dormitory at around five. During bits of the past days things have begun to hit me, there was alot that I actually had to for myself, laundry, shopping for everyday items, budgeting, not to mention cooking with a under-budget hot plate. All of these things were essentials of life that I had become to accustom to getting treated to not having to deal with everyday, never being able to fully realize how hard it hits you when you get tossed out into the world and have to fend for yourself. No one is ever really trained for this rude awakening of life, but it is something all of us need to face at some point or another; 40 year old virgins that live in their parents basement may be exempt from that last line...

An increase in profanity (foul language) is indicative of a decline in society's morals.

Affirmative:

It is significantly visible of the increased use of profanity in today's culture in contrast to even twenty years ago when censorship was heavily enforced. All sides have been pushing the envelope trying to bring more profanity into the picture, and it has worked. The current generation embrace this, conforming to what media provide them and slowly exposing themselves more to increasingly greater offensive material as it becomes "ok to do so." As more is becoming uncensored today's culture is becoming negatively impacted by this decline in society's morals. It is clear that any increase in profane language or activities is not beneficial to society in anyway, and it should not be as exposed as much as it is to today's culture. Why in any case would we feel a need to: swear more, see more, etc. None of these are a logical reason to keep pushing forward and raising the bar at which we have drawn the line of what is acceptable and what is not. I don't feel that it is healthy that society feels a need to further expose themselves to more and more profane material. Why would there be a need as soon as society begins becomes more civilized, war begins to slow down, more peace is apparent, and then many choose to expose themselves to profane content for seemingly unknown reasons? There has been no proven explanation for this behavior but it isn't something everyone should tolerate as it is clearly not something that helps society in the slightest, and never will given any circumstance.

Negative:

There are plenty of reasons why society should allow it self to go more acquainted to this type of profane material. Since the early times all societies have loosened up old traditions and introduced new ones, it is we as a race grow and learn to accept one another instead of dwelling on rules made hundreds of years ago that don't have the same impact then as they do today. As more profane material becomes acceptable it will lessen the hate in society as ways to offend each other become less applicable. As a society we should be allowed to grow and cherish what we have and not hide and refute it; much of this growth regarding profane material and its natural link to change in society is that new generations (People born generally three to four years apart depending on the age of which you actually reflect when your generation is, as generations increase in age as people grow older.) are the ones that demand change, and are uncomfortable under the rule of a previous generation, this of course leaves older generations feeling uneasy with the change, and thus is why this sort of topic is raised. This is something that wasn't as apparent hundreds of years ago but was still existent, but now days this change is what is shaping society and it isn't something that should be feared but cherished. Today's culture demands change, and it will occur without select few if they choose to stay behind while others move forward.

Who I am?

I have no extracurricular activity, no involvement in: sports, clubs, volunteering. There is much else I can do below the surface and beyond pay less and unrewarding activities such as those. There are great deeds that can still be completed by me regardless of the desire for these needless activities. Many post-secondary institutions want undermine you and make you think you need these to achieve success but no more!

I have my fault, many of which involving my lack of these so called community activities; I don't have these under my belt but I do have many other positive points to look at. I can build a computer with my eyes closed, and out-script an apple programmer with my hands tied behind my back! How is this possible you might ask, well if you continue reading that may or may not be explained.

I can scale the empire state building with only my feet; I can jump off the golden gate bridge and talk about it! These are not feats any mere human could accomplish but feats a avid gamer such as my self can achieve. A gamer, one who sits upon there bottom all day trying to sythesize reality into: a screen, a mouse and a dream. The word gamer symbolizes my very soul, my meaning for existence and thus is why you want me at your post-secondary institution. There are endless possibilities when one of your students can anticipate the future because of gamers nature of having a sixth sense.

I know, I Dallas Rowe would want to have myself at your post-secondary institution and why wouldn't you?