Taylor 1

Wyatt Taylor
English Unit 5 Portfolio
December 11, 2014

Time to get up honey, youre going be late for school, said my Mom.
Thanks for getting me up early! I cant wait for the first day of high school, I said in reply with a smile.
Honey, dont forget to do your morning chores. Also, brush your hair, teeth, and dont forget to wash
your face. First day of high school, there will be lots of girls. Its time to start making real friends, she said as she
walked out of my room.
I got up and went to the closet expecting to see my puppy. Sure enough, she was sleeping away on her dog
bed. My puppy always salved me. I went to my t-shirts and picked a clean one. I took off my pajama shirt and
pulled on my clean one. The shirt fit just right and I grabbed a pair of jeans, got my backpack ready for school, and
headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Want some French-toast? my mom asked.
Yes maam! Extra syrup on the side and add some brown sugar, I said.
I know, I know. You want extra syrup, no crust, three pieces, and little touch of brown sugar, she said.
Yes maam! I replied gleefully. I sat at the bar as I watched her do everything I said. She knew me just
as well as I knew her. I watched her make my breakfast in perfect timing. She moved gracefully and cooked like
she was a dancing chef.
There you go sweetie, just the way you like it! she said as she gave me my breakfast.
Has dad found any new job openings? I asked. I mean, hes been working pretty hard. He was doing
great before we moved here.
Hes doing pretty well! He had to leave early this morning for a job interview at the Sport Cars
Dealership. You know how it is up-state in Los Angeles. It gets pretty busy. If he gets this job, well be doing
pretty well. He said with every car he sells, thats a 2,000 dollar check in his pocket. Nowadays, people are always
going to the dealership in LA, she replied with a hopeful smile.
I hope he gets the job then! I said.
You and I both Mason, she said with a reply. You better hurry up and finish your breakfast. School
starts in forty-five minutes and you still need to brush your hair, teeth, and wash your face. Also, dont forget to let
Josie out before you go, and make sure you put dog food in her bowl. Every time I see it, its almost empty.

Taylor 2
Wyatt Taylor
English Unit 5 Portfolio
December 11, 2014
Yes maam. If dad calls you before he gets to his job interview, tell him I said good luck! I said walking
back upstairs. I went back to my room, and poured Josie some dog food. Then, I went downstairs and let her out.
Next, I went to the sink and splashed some water into my face. I went and let Josie back in.
Bye mom!
Bye honey, have a great first day of school! she said as I walked out the door.
I went to the garage, grabbed my backpack and was off to school. As I was riding down the street, I
noticed how blue the sky was. Itd been cloudy and rainy for days. I almost forgot what it was like to see no clouds.
There were new people moving in next door, and my mom wanted me wanted me to go greet them. She also told
me that they had a daughter that was my age. So, I strode up to their door and rang the doorbell. An older man
came to the door. He was middle aged and very tall.
Can I help you? he asked.
Actually, no not really, I'm Mason! I'm your neighbor and wanted to meet you guys. I'm just trying to
welcome you guys to the neighborhood, I said with a friendly reply.
Oh!! Well thank you; youre the first to greet us. My name is David Pleen! He replied happily.
Very nice meeting you, but I have to get off to my first day of high school, I said with a grin on my face.
I'm very excited. If you need anything, dont hesitate to ask. Ill be happy to give a helping hand.
Thank you! You seem like a very nice young man! he said.
I try to be. Not as easy as you think with some of the other neighbors! I said laughing.
One more thing, I have a daughter; shes really shy and this is her first day going here. Do you mind
showing her around and helping her out for the day? he asked pleadingly.
It would be an honor, sir! I said.
Why dont you cmon in, and let me introduce you to my family? he asked.
If you dont mind me barging in when you just moved in? I said.
I insist. It is more like an invite to my house. After you! he said.
I went inside, and stared. It didnt look bad at all on the outside, but on the inside, it was a mess. The walls
were bare and not painted, and the flooring was a disaster.
Sorry for the mess, it kind of needs a lot of work! Its a work-in-progress! he said.

Taylor 3
Wyatt Taylor
English Unit 5 Portfolio
December 11, 2014
Maybe after I get my homework done, I can come over here with my family, and we could help out, I
said.
Really, that would be amazing! We could use all the help we can get! he said. Hey honey, do you mind
coming down for a sec? Theres someone I want you to meet. Nicole, you get down here to! he said.
Ill be right down babe! said an unfamiliar voice.
Hold on, dad. Ill be right down. Let me finish getting ready for school, said a kind of of faint voice.
Finally, a woman appeared from the stairs above. She had black hair and looked about in her forties. She
was also tall and had nice tan skin. Her face was very smooth. She looked like a familiar person I knew. Then, a girl
stepped out of the room and looked at me.
Who do we have here? I know, a very fine looking young man! she said.
Molly, this is Mason! He is one of our new neighbors. He came to greet us and welcome us to the
neighborhood, said Dave, as he watched Molly shake hands with me.
Then, a girl stopped in front of me.
Hi, I'm Nicole, she said.
You ready for school? I asked her as she starred at me.
Yes! Just one moment, let me go grab my bag! Ill be right back, she said.
I saw her sneak a grin right before she finished turning around. She had blond hair and was about my
height. She had gorgeous brown eyes, just like my mother. She was wearing a yellow shirt and some skinny jeans.
I waited until she finally came back with a jacket and her backpack.
Have a great first day at school Nichole! Very nice meeting you, Mason! I'm looking forward to your help
after school, said David.
I walked outside with Nicole, and we both got on our bikes and started towards the school. I caught a few
glimpses of her as we were riding. She looked over a few times and then looked away. She seemed very uncanny.
So, you have a favorite color? I asked trying to make a conversation.
Yeah, its blue. How about yours? she asked.
My favorite color is orange! Do you play any instruments? I said, asking another question.

Taylor 4
Wyatt Taylor
English Unit 5 Portfolio
December 11, 2014
Yeah, I play guitar, sing, and I do a little violin. Do you play instruments? she asked repeating my
question.
I play piano, I sing a little bit in the shower, and I'm getting ready to start electric guitar, I said.
You have a girlfriend? she asked.
My cheeks turned a little red and then I said, Nope, never have had one before. How about you? Have you
ever had a boyfriend?
Nope, I have never had one either, she said.
Why do you ask? I said.
I dont know, I was just wondering, she said.
Why were you just wandering? I said.
I did it, because I felt like it, she said.
Why did you just feel like it? I said smiling.
I have no idea! she started smiling.
Why do you have no idea? I said giggling.
I dont know! Why do you keep asking questions?! she said laughing.
So, tell me a little a bit about yourself, I said politely.
Well, I lived in France before I moved here. Then, we moved to New York. My dad had a major in art and
is an architect. I was only seven when we moved. My mom and dad thought it would be more fun if we took a cruise
to NY. You know how they are, so, of course, we took a cruise to NY. My little brother and I had so much fun. My
brother was only five. The cruise took a hard turn, and he flipped over the side of the boat, she said while tearing
up.
I'm sorry. I didnt mean to ask it like that. So after that, you guys moved here to LA? I asked.
Yeah, my dad got some major money building celebrity houses here. I think he has some real talent for his
job, she said.
I thought about how her sentiments kept going back and forth. We rode down the giant hill and I saw a
pretty good size ramp.
Did I ever tell you that I'm pretty good with a bike? Here watch this, I said.

Taylor 5
Wyatt Taylor
English Unit 5 Portfolio
December 11, 2014
I then steered toward the ramp and lambasted it. I started peddling really fast. I stood up on my bike
feeling the wind rush into my face. I'm beginning to feel my biking skills kick in. I could hear and feel the ground
moving fast underneath my bike. The ramp is about 30 yards in front of me. I finally bent my knees and went off. I
was flying in the air with my bike. I caught the air and used it to my advantage. I did a backwards flip, going into a
handstand and then did a superman. All of which lead into a graceful landing. Looking back down at my back, I
realized it was covered in squalor.
Whoa, where did you learn to do that?!? Nichole asked.
I learned sort of from my dad, but not really. You see, before my dad moved jobs, he had some pretty cool
friends. I mean celebrity friends. He designed special cars for celebrities. While he was working, he made some
pretty cool BMX friends, singers, and actors. I guess that part came with the job. Anyways, TJ Lavin, a professional
BMX, taught me some pretty cool moves. So, I tried it out and he said I was a natural. I basically stuck with it, and
now I take my bike a lot of places.
Thats pretty neat. Do you love doing BMX?? she asked.
Yeah, I think its pretty amazing! I said. I mean, being able to have all that talent with a bike, ramp, and
air.
You know youre pretty cool! she said smiling.
We are here. Theres the school, and thanks! Youre pretty cool too! Also, dont be afraid to try to make
new friends. Catch you after school, I said.
We both put our bikes on the bike ramp and left it at that.

Taylor 6
Wyatt Taylor
English Unit 5 Portfolio
December 11, 2014

Declarative Sentence:
A Declarative sentence makes a statement. It starts with a capital letter and ends with a period.
Example:
The molten lava spewed from the volcano and wiped out the village.
Compound-Complex Sentence:
Since a dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a sentence, complex sentences must also have at least one
independent clause.
Example:
Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to go with.
Compound Sentence:
A compound sentence has two independent clauses or sentences. The independent clauses can be joined by a
coordinating conjunction, such as "and," "so" and "but".
Examples:
I would have gotten the promotion, but my attendance wasnt good enough.
3 sentences
Youre pretty cool too. Your= Pronoun, Pretty= Adjective, Cool= Adjective, Too= Adverb
Just one moment, let me go grab my bag.
Just= Adjective, One= Adjective, Moment= Noun, Let=Verb, Me, Pronoun, Go= Verb, Grab= Verb, My= Pronoun,
Bag=Noun
Then, a girl stepped out of a room and looked at me.
Then= Adverb, A= Noun, Girl= Noun, Stepped= Verb, Out= Adverb, Of= Preposition, A= Noun, Room= Noun, And=
Conjunction, Looked= Verb, At, Preposition, Me= Pronoun.

Taylor 7
Wyatt Taylor
English Unit 5 Portfolio
December 11, 2014

Project Rubric
Category
Reading Selections

Description
Project includes a thorough understanding of at
least one reading selection (look back through the
course tree for help)

Points
20/20

Reading Selection: ______________

Literary Devices

Project includes a thorough understanding of at

least one of the following literary devices:

20/20

Theme, Setting, Symbolism, Metaphor, Simile,

Imagery, Text Features, Conflict, Dialect,
Characterization
Highlight the device you included.

Vocabulary

Grammar Concepts

Project correctly uses at least 5 vocabulary words

from the semester. (Please highlight them in the
actual paper if applicable).
At least one of the following grammatical concepts is
explained:

20/20

20/20

Parts of Speech (all 8), Parts of Sentence (all 7),

Phrases (all 5), Clauses (2), Types of Sentences, Rules
for Commas, Rules for Punctuation
Highlight the grammatical device you included.

Format

TOTAL

Project looks professional, creative and neat.

Projects are colorful and use consistent font. Papers
are in MLA format. Project is free from spelling,
grammar, and punctuation errors. A Check My Work
report is included for papers.

20/20

100/100

Taylor 8
Wyatt Taylor
English Unit 5 Portfolio
December 11, 2014