Josh Foster English 111 4/29/13

Table of Contents

Title 1. Self-assessment 2. Revised Memoir 3. Memoir

Page 1-2 3-7 8-12

Self-assessment

What have I learned from this class? That time management is essential to any college class, assignments must be turned in on time, and there will be consequences if you dont. I will begin by saying it was hard from the start for me and the reason being my lack of experience. All my earlier experience was on the high school level and was in the form of a formal essay or a research paper. I would have to dig deeper in this class and I quickly learned this was not high school. I would have to expend more effort in reading, and research into my weekly class sessions and assignments. I did these things in high school but not to the extent and with the expectations I would need in this class. Composition has always just been the other title word on my high school English book but after taking this class I have come to know what is really involved in composition of an essay or a story. Commas do have a place in an assignment and I have learned to use them. I have learned this class is my responsibility alone and if I dont complete the assigned tasks I have no to blame but myself. I had a list of assignments and I would have to motivate myself to complete them. I hope my efforts, jumbled as they may have been at times, were a worthwhile contribution to my class. I have learned from my class discussion that participation in class discussions is essential. I also learned that there is so much more to what a person puts down on paper than just good reading material. When you discuss a subject and read others ideas you get your eyes opened to different viewpoints that you would probably never have thought about before. This happened to me each week. When a new story came up for discussion, I would think I can see his point, why didnt I think of that. Discussion has expanded my thought process and understanding of many types of writing. It has also gotten me to read and discuss subjects that I would not have chosen. This is a good thing, it helped me to look outside of my safe little box and share personal views. It also helped me to be able to not take offense if

someone had a different view. We all have an opinion and even though they may be as different as night and day it does mean either one is wrong. The reading has been somewhat of a struggle for me. It is not in my DNA to love reading, but the more I read the more I came to enjoy it. I have found myself confused when reading some assignments and have had to read them a few times to really understand the content. When I have to read an assignment again and look for a specific point I have found that I get more out of the reading. I see things on those written pages that were not there before. I think it is like when you see a movie over and over again, you see something you missed the last time you saw it. Direct instruction has been a great learning tool for me. When I do not understand something I need the direct instruction to guide me and lead me in the right direction. I often turned in a paper thinking I had done a good job, but the instructor comments let me know I could have done better. I appreciate all those comments and have grown because of them. Your understanding when I had computer problems has been essential to my piece of mind. Your comments never were intended to belittle me and I never took them as anything but a push to help me grow and learn. I thank you for your patience and understanding. I have

heard horror stories about instructors that were so strict their students never wanted to take another class they were teaching again. I can say your class was not like that, but was a real growing experience that I can take with me in my next college class.

Joshua Foster

Instructor Stacy Jones English 111 25 March 2013 Revised The Worst Week Ever I got off the bus on a warm, December day, and I ran to my house from the bus stop as Caitlin, my sister, and I always do. I gazed at the house for a minute to see an old two- story brick house with a little garden in the front. Only the warm rays of sun in spring could bring back the daffodils my mom worked so hard on each year. I could hardly wait for those blossoms of yellow to come out of the ground. The cold wind chilled me so I ran into the house. Mom, Im home! I shouted at the top of my lungs from the living room door. Silence was all I heard. Hmmm, I guess Moms running some errands. I proceeded into the kitchen to fix me a snack while I waited for my little sister Caty. She is such a pain, but I love her. Mom came in with a bag of groceries, and she said, I have a present for you, Laundry! Gee, thanks mom, I said in my best sarcastic voice, just what I wanted. Caty finally got home, and we all packed up to go to my grandparents. I quickly packed my two pairs of pants, underwear, socks and two shirts - cant forget my toothbrush or Nan will fuss. I heard my mom kindly say, You can carry three video games with you. The usual as always three games, three games, you can bring only three games and that sucked.

Thanks mom youre the best, I said. I got my stuff packed and ran to put it in the car. As I opened the door, a freezing wind hit me and blew right down the back of my spine. Brrrrrr, I need a jacket, or Im going to get cold playing outside at Pops, so I ran into my room and picked up a jacket. Before I left, I glared at my big warm bed, my small stash of video games, and all the neat stuff my Nana Elaine had sent earlier that year. The road trip to my Nan and Pops was going to be long but turned out to be uneventful, except for the occasional complaint from Caty along with her bad singing. Finally, we arrived after two and a half hours of complete boredom. While mom unloaded all of our possessions at Nan and Pops, Caty and I ran as fast as we could to get to Aunt Gussys. She had called on the way and invited us to watch a movie she had rented called 1408. Her living room was nice and cozy despite being small. We all fitted in nicely and began to enjoy ourselves. The smell of fresh popped corn was in the air. Now, all I needed was a Coke, and I was ready for that movie. Later mom finally made it and snuggled up to Caty as Aunt Gus began the movie. The movie had an interesting twist with the burning of a hotel. Later that night my mom received a call and from our neighbor who was in a panic, Your house is on fire! I have called the fire department. Can you come home? With fear in her voice and dreading the worse, my mom called my Pop. Her voice was full of sobs as she told him about the call. Will you please go with me to see what is going on? Pop dragged on his clothes and rushed to pick up my mom. We stayed with my Aunt Gussy wondering if we would ever see the home we had grown to love. I wondered about my stuff, would it be safe? Would I get to go back to school on Monday?

I found it hard to sleep that night. So many things were going through my head but eventually I fell asleep, tired from my long day and all the excitement. My Aunt Gus let us sleep late, dreading the questions we were sure to ask as soon as we got out of that bed. Nan was there when we woke up, hoping to soften the blow. All was lost or ruined. A possible electrical fire in the basement, which was where my bedroom was located, was the cause. I would see for myself the damage done when we all went back Sunday. Caty and I still had a few days left in school before Christmas break and our neighbor had offered for us to stay with her till the break. When we arrived on Sunday, my heart dropped as I saw what was left of the place we once called home. I got to go into the house. When I got to my room, everything was gone. All I saw was black walls and bed springs. A little part of me died right then because I had nothing left, and my mom and sisters possessions were smoke damaged. We stayed at my best friend Kerrys house to finish off that half of the school year. I guess in my childlike wisdom I thought,Tomorrow it will go away and it will be just as it was when I left Friday afternoon. Little did I know this was only the beginning of my familys troubles the worse was yet to come and only a day away. Monday morning I woke to my moms voice talking to Nan. Caitlin has a light fever does she need to go school? My mom asked. Nan assured her it was probably just all the excitement. Give her some Tylenol, and if she is still sick this afternoon, take her to the doctor. My mom followed her advice and got the Tylenol from my friend Kerrys mom. By the time the bus arrived Caitlin seemed better. I guess Nan was right mom look at her, I say. Okay, okay you to go your bus stop before you miss the bus, she said. Yea, yea, yea Im going I say.

I boarded the bus and the day went by as usual very slowly. But when I got to history class, the teacher asked me where my book was? I dont have it I say. Where is it, he asked hatefully. It burned up with everything else I had, OKAY I yelled. Thats no excuse, he said handing me a book and starting class as usual. A little understanding would have helped my feelings, but I soon forgot his lack of understanding, asshole. Later that day Caitlin, Kerry, and I got off the bus at Kerrys house, and Caty went to take a nap. Mom went to wake her up, and she was burning up with fever so she took her to the emergency room at the hospital. My mom called later that night to let my friends mom know what was happening, but she didnt tell me anything just that Caty was okay. So, Kerry and I went to bed not knowing what was happening. The next day at school I remember getting some new clothes that day but still wondered about my sister Caitlin. I was called to the office. My grandparents were there to pick me up. I said, I dont know where my mom and Caitlin are - they never came home from the doctors visit. My grandmother said, Honey, your sister is sick, she is in Vanderbilt Hospital, and she has a disease called leukemia. Really, I thought, what is that and when will she get to come home? Little did I know how serious it was and that it would be a long time before she would leave. My grandparents drove me to the hospital to see Caitlin and we talked some. We had all heard about this disease but none of us knew what was to come. I soon learned that my sister had a terminal form of leukemia and that the only way to help her was to have a bone marrow transplant. I looked at my sister and to me she looked fine but sometimes looks can

be so deceiving - this was one of those times. I was scared because my mom was scared. She tried hard not to show it, but I knew. A few days later she and I were both tested to see if we were a donor match - we werent. I thought,Now what will happen to Caitlin. I dont think I fully understood how important it was to find a donor soon. I would have to go stay with my grandparents for a few months. I loved my grandparents and enjoyed staying with them, so it wasnt a terrible situation. The only thing that made my heart hurt was being so far away from my mom and sister. I now had a lot on my shoulders for a twelve year old kid, but we would get through this terrible week one day at a time. In time all would be good again in my life. A donor was found for my sister through the Bone Marrow Donor Bank and all went well for her transplant. She did have to stay in Vanderbilt Hospital for about six months, and I got lonesome sometimes but my grandparents were great. They took me to see her every weekend and sometimes during the week if they could arrange it. It was a 100 mile trip, but it always seemed to be a short distance because of my excitement to see her and my mom. Today I look back on that week and it all seems like a blur - it happened so fast. I found out how giving and loving people can be, how much I loved my sister and my mom, how to say thank you and really mean it and most of all how to survive the worst week ever.

Joshua Foster Instructor Stacy Jones English 111

25 March 2013

The Worst Week Ever I get off the bus on a warm December day and I ran to my house from the bus stop as Caitlin, my sister, and I always do. I gaze at the house for a minute to see an old two story brick house with a little garden in the front. Only the warm rays of sun in spring could bring back the daffodils my mom worked so hard on each year. I could hardly wait for those blossoms of yellow to come out of the ground. The cold wind chilled me so I ran into the house. Mom Im home! I shouted at the top of my lungs from the living room door. Silence was all I heard. Hmmm, I guess moms running some errands. I proceeded into the kitchen to fix me a snack while I waited for my little sister Caty. She is such a pain but I love her. Mom comes in with a bag of groceries and she says I have a present for you. Landry! Gee thanks mom I say in my best sarcastic voice just what I wanted. Caty finally gets home and we all pack up to go to my grandparents. I quickly pack my two pairs of pants, underwear, socks and two shirts cant forget my toothbrush or Nan will fuss. I hear my mom kindly say, You can carry three video games with you. The usu al as always three games, three games, you can only bring three games and that sucked. Thanks mom youre the best I say. I get my stuff packed and run to put it in the car. As I opened the door a freezing wind hits me and blows right down the back of my spine. Brrrrrr, I need a jacket or Im going to get cold playing outside at Pops, so ran I into my room and picked up a jacket. Before I left I glared at my big warm bed, my small stash of video games and all the neat stuff my Nana Elaine had sent earlier that year.

The road trip to my Nan and Pops is going to be long but turned out to be uneventful, except for the occasional complaint from Caty along with her bad singing. Finally we arrive after two and a half hours of complete boredom. While mom unloads all of our stuff at Nan and Pops, Caty and I run as fast as we can to get to Aunt Gussys. She had called on the way and invited us to watch a movie she has rented called 1408. Her living room was nice and cozy despite being small. We all fitted in nicely and began to enjoy ourselves. The smell of fresh popped corn is in the air. Now all I need is a coke and I was ready for that movie. Later mom finally makes it and snuggles up to Caty as Aunt Gus begins the movie. The movie had an interesting twist with the burning of a hotel. Later that night my mom gets a call and its our neighbor calling in a panic, Your house is on fire I have called the fire department can you come home? With fear in her voice and dreading the worse my mom calls my Pop. Her voice is full of sobs as she tells him what is going on. Will he please go with her to see what is going on? Pop drags on his clothes and rushes to pick up my mom. We stay with my Aunt Gussy wondering if we will ever see the home we had grown to love for almost a year. What about my stuff would it be okay? Would I get to go back to school on Monday? I found it hard to sleep that night. So many things are going through my head but eventually I fall asleep tired from my long day and all the excitement. My Aunt Gus let us sleep late dreading the questions we were sure to ask as soon as we got out of that bed. Nan was there when we woke up hoping to soften the blow. All was lost or ruined. A possible electrical fire in the basement, which was where my bedroom was located, was the cause. I would see for myself the damage done when we all went back Sunday. Caty and I still had a few days left in school before Christmas break and our neighbor had offered for us to stay

with her till the break. When we arrived on Sunday my heart dropped as I saw what was left of the place we once called home. I got to go into the house. When I got to my room everything was gone all I saw was black walls and bed springs. A little part of me died right then because I had nothing left and my mom and sister had stuff with smoke damage. We stayed at my best friend Kerrys house to finish off that half of the school year. I guess in my childlike wisdom I thought tomorrow it will go away and it will be just as it was when I left Friday afternoon. Little did I know this was only the beginning of my familys troubles the worse was yet to come only a day away. Monday morning I wake to my moms voice talking to Nan. Caitlin has a small fever does she need to go school? My mom asks. Nan assures her it is probably just all the excitement. Give her some Tylenol and if she is still sick this afternoon take her to the doctor. My mom follows her advice and gets the Tylenol from my friend Kerrys mom. By the time the bus arrives Caitlin seems better. I guess Nan was right mom look at her I say. Okay, okay you to go your bus stop before you miss the bus she said. Yea, yea, yea Im going I say. I get on the bus and the day goes by like usual slow. But when I got to history class the teacher asked me where my book was? I dont have it I say. Where is it he said hatefully. It burned up with everything else I had, OKAY I yell. Thats no excuse he said handing me a book and starting class as usual. A little understanding would have helped my feelings but I soon forgot his lack of understanding, asshole. Later that day Caitlin, Kerry, and I got off the bus at Kerrys house and Caty went to take a nap. Mom went to wake her up and she was burning up with fever and took her to the emergency room at the hospital. My mom called later that night to let my friends mom know

what was happening but she didnt tell me anything just that Caty was okay. So, Kerry and me went to bed not knowing what was happing. The next day at school I remember getting some new clothes that day but still wondered about my sister Caitlin. I was called to the office, my grandparents were there to pick me up. I said, I dont know where my mom and Caitlin are they never came home from the doctors visit. My grandmother said, Honey, your sister is sick she is in Vanderbilt hospital and she has a disease called Leukemia. Really, I thought what is that and when will she get to come home? Little did I know how serious it was and that it would be a long time before she would leave. My grandparents drove me to the hospital to see Caitlin and we talked some. We had all heard about this disease but none of us knew what was to come. I soon learned that my sister had a terminal form of leukemia and that the only way to help her was to have a bone marrow transplant. I looked at my sister and to me she looked fine but sometimes looks can be so deceiving, this was one of those times. I was scared because my mom was scared. She tried hard not to show it but I knew. A few days later she and I were both tested to see if we were a donor match, we werent. I thought now what will happen to Caitlin. I dont think I fully understood how important it was to find a donor soon. I would have to go stay with my grandparents for a few months. I love my grandparents and enjoyed staying with them so it wasnt a terrible situation. The only thing that made my heart hurt was being so far away from my mom and sister. I now had a lot on my shoulders for a twelve year old kid but we would get through this terrible week one day at a time and in time all would be good again in my life. A donor was found for my sister through the Bone Marrow Donor Bank and all went well for her transplant. She did have to stay in Vanderbilt Hospital for about six months and I got lonesome sometimes but my grandparents were great. They took me to see

her every weekend and sometimes during the week if they could arrange it. It was a 100 mile trip but it always seemed to be a short distance because of my excitement to see her and my mom. Today I look back on that week and it all seems like a blur it happened so fast. I found out how giving and loving people can be. How much I loved my sister and my mom. How to say thank you and really mean it and most of all how to survive the worst week ever.