ToddFlavetta

Mrs.KatieCrichton
APLanguageandComposition
21January2014
ABearWinter
Asmanymayknow,Californiaisinastateofemergencyduetotheoncomingandongoing
drought.Thisdroughthasaffectednotonlythelivesofthestatescitizens,butthelivesofthewildlifeas
wellbearsespecially.I,alongwithcountlessothers,havebeenfeelingalittledowninthesnowforthe
bears.Aroundthistimeoftheyear(approximatelymidJanuary),bearsarenotusuallyseenduetothe
winterbeinghibernationseason,butbecauseoftheragingfirestormaffectingCalifornia,manybears
havebeenseenendlesslywanderingskislopesinplacessuchastheSierrasinsearchoffood.This
questforfoodisseenasproblematicforboththebearsandCalifornia'scitizensbecausethefactofthe
matteristhatmostfoodduringthistimeofyearisfoundingarbagecans,garbagedumps,andaround
skiresorts(whichcouldbecomedangerousforvacationers).
IhavelivedintheSanJoseareaforallmylifeandhaveneverexperiencedadroughtsuchlike
thisone.IrememberthetimeswhentheBayAreawouldreceivethreeinchesofperspirationinJanuary
alone(weatherspark.com).Atthispointintime,January21,theSiliconValleywouldbeluckyto
acquireasummationofthreeinchesofrainforthewinterseason.Thesethreeinchesofrainarelessthan
the13inchesofrainthedesolateandscorchedMojaveDesertacquiresannuallyaplacewhereplants
andanimalshaveadaptedtotheideaofnorainfall.EventhoughCaliforniahasenjoyedalittlerainfall,
theamountisnotenoughtoallowforgrizzliestodigtheirhibernatingholesandforfishtoappearin
rivers/creeks.
ThebearslikewisetheinhabitantsofCaliforniaarejustlongingforawinterwonderland.Aplace
torelaxfromthestressesthataccompanytheseasonsofspring,summer,andfall.Aplacewherean
individual,bearorhuman,canhidefromthepeltingwinterandrecuperateinawaywhetherthatbeby
hibernatingorbysittingaroundthefireplaceruminatingonthebrillianceoflife.Inowunderstandwhy
ancientcivilizationsprayedfortherain,dancedfortherain,andcreatedGodshavingtodowiththerain.
Inowunderstandtheimportanceoftherainyseasoninthelifeofabeartoo.

APWritingReflection
1. Howdoesyourvoiceshinethroughinyouressay?Whatimpressiondoesitgiveyourreader?
Myvoiceshinesthroughtheessaybyexpressingapersuasivetone.
2. Whatwordsandphrasesdidyouusetopullthereaderforwardthroughyouressay?The
structureofmysentencesallowedthereadertopullthroughwhenreadingmyessay.
3. Howdoyoudemonstratethatyouarecredible,butdonottakeyourselftooseriously?I
demonstratethatIamacrediblesourcebydescribingthatthedroughtisaffectingtheplace
whereIliveandnotsomewherewhereIdonotlive.
4. Howdoesyouressayaddtoyourreadersknowledgeandexperiences?Itinformsthemofthe
othereffectsadroughthasonacommunitythanjustalackofwater.
5. Whatuniqueperspectivedoyouofferyourreaders?Insightintotheeffectsofthedroughton
bears.
6. Isyourdictionprecise,fresh,andengaging?Yes
7. Howdoyoudemonstrateagoodsenseofyouraudience?Byutilizingmanyappealsand
relatableevents.
8. Doesyouressaysoundlikeonecompleteunit?Yes
9. Areyourdetailsconcreteandselective?Yes
10. Whattype(s)ofimagerydoesyourdictioncreate?(Visual,Auditory,Olfactory,Tactile,
Gustatory)Visualimagery.
11. Whattechniquesdoyouusetomakeyourwritingsoundeffortless?Aformulatedstructure.
12. Howdoyoudemonstratecontrolofgrammar,punctuation,usage,andformatinyouressay?It
flowswell.
13. Howdoesyouressaysappearancecommunicateahighlevelofprofessionalism?Itflowswell
again.