Reflection Letter

 

December 6, 2012

 Professor Jerome McKeever

Corporate College West

25425 Center Ridge Road

Room 301 D

Westlake, Ohio 44145

Word Count: 912

Dear Professor McKeever:

 

As I reflect on the last twelve weeks of this course, I remember my initial fear and the reservations I had about taking an English composition course. It had been a long time since I had to write a paper for school. I was not really sure that I wanted to do this. I have never considered myself to be a strong essayist. The thoughts, feelings and ideas come easily to me, but I struggle when I actually have to put them down on paper. But, as most students know, English is a requirement and I had to complete this course before I could really go any further with my education. Once I reviewed the syllabus, the schedule of assignments, the MLA format, and only managed an 8 out of 10 on the MLA format quiz, that was it, I can remember thinking “Houston we have a problem.”

However, from the beginning of this semester, until now, I have grown much more confident and at ease with my writing skills. I am able to comfortably put those thoughts and ideas down on paper. I am even more at ease with the MLA format, my grammar and punctuation. I found Smarthinking.com to be an extremely helpful tool. The feedback was a huge help for me.  

I really enjoyed the discussion boards. It was nice to put my thoughts down in a not-so-formal setting. I also really enjoyed being able to see what the other students were thinking about a particular topic. I enjoyed reading my fellow students thoughts and seeing their different styles of writing. Plus, it was gratifying when a fellow student had a positive comment about my discussion board post.

The essays you provided us were actually quite good. I found every one of them to be interesting to read. Without a doubt, my favorite was “Love is a Fallacy” under lesson 4, evaluating an argument. I found it to be funny and very witty. Not to mention, it helped to really understand the different propaganda techniques that are used today.

The assigned text book was a world of help. It really provided me with a solid foundation to start my papers. It was easy to read and filled with excellent tips and ideas. It laid out exactly how my paper should be formatted. I found it to be an invaluable tool for me. It is something I will definitely keep and refer back to, as I continue my education.

I have included all of my essays on my digital portfolio. Given my reservations about taking this course, I am quite proud of all of the pieces I wrote. I would have to say the writing I found the most pleasurable/interesting was my restaurant review. It was a restaurant that I fondly remembered from my high school days and I was anxious to try it again. It was a good, if not better than I remembered. Regardless if the review was positive, or negative, I found this essay to be the enjoyable to write. I never really struggled with what I wanted to say, or how I wanted to say it.

The assignment I struggled with the most was my evaluation of the Tiger Mom. It was really difficult for me to decide if this woman was a really great mother, who would raise very successful children or an overbearing, pain, whose children would one day resent her. I usually don’t struggle with picking a side in an argument, but in this case, I had a rough time.

As this class concludes, I am grateful I took this course. I have learned far more than I ever expected to. This course will definitely help me as I continue my education. Everything that I learned in this class will somehow be applied in future courses.

In addition, I really enjoyed having you as my professor for this course. I am so thankful for your guidance this semester. I truly appreciated your thoughts, feedback and insight into my work. An added bonus was that you are a football fan. I really enjoyed our football conversations. Should you ever decide to leave teaching, I see professional scouting in your future! My decision to return to school was a tough one. I have a family and a fulltime job. I wasn’t sure it was something I really wanted to do, or had the time to do. However, I knew something inside of me was not complete and I was looking for new challenges and adventures. Having you as my professor has made me want to continue and really succeed with my classwork. If I could finish this course, and do it well, I feel confident that I can be just as successful with my other courses. I consider myself blessed to have met a professor who enjoys teaching and has taken more than just a passing interest in his students. The way you planned the lessons and your above mentioned feedback made this class very enjoyable. My only hope is that other students, or returning students, from the work place have a professor that can inspire, motivate and educate with such a novel approach.

Thank you very much for everything you have done to help me this semester. I wish you nothing but the best. GO IRISH!

 

Sincerely,

 

Jason Lowbridge

 

 

Individuals Who Need Government Assistance Should

Jason Lowbridge

Professor Jerome M. McKeever

English 1010

9 November 20112

Word Count 941

Some lawmakers around the country are beginning to demand that welfare recipients submit to random drug testing as a condition of their benefits. Wyoming Republican House Speaker, Ed Buchanan, stated that “Joe Taxpayer  doesn’t mind helping you out, but you need to show that you are looking for work, or better yet, that you’re employed, and that you’re are drug and alcohol free.” (Neary et al. 2012) Georgia State Senator John Albers strongly believes that “tax dollars should never be spent on enabling illegal activity.” (Quinn et al. 2012)  “With more Americans turning to the government for assistance in this struggling economy, over three dozen states have proposed drug testing for people receiving benefits like welfare, unemployment assistance, job training, food stamps and public housing.” (Sulzberger 2011) The 1996 Welfare Reform Act authorized that states can impose mandatory drug testing as a prerequisite to receiving welfare assistance. Although the act did not make drug testing a requirement, all signs point to people who require any form of government assistance will be required to submit to those random drug tests. Despite some opposition to implementing plans to drug test government assistance recipients, the good parts of the plan may outweigh the bad.

The most obvious reason for drug testing those who require government assistance is it will keep people off of drugs, therefore, making society a safer place and cracking down on the sale of illegal drugs. Those in favor of drug testing believe that it may also be a way to help people that are already addicted to drugs. Those that need the assistance for themselves and family may be forced to get the help that they need and give up their drug habits in an effort to survive.

However, those opposed to drug testing welfare recipients are appalled by the assumption that because one is having financial problems and require assistance, that it makes them a drug addict.  They feel that the stigma attached to being a welfare recipient is bad enough, let alone being required to submit to drug testing. Additionally, opponents feel children may actually be the ones that suffer. Parents that are banned from receiving assistance because of a failed drug test, will not receive the assistance that is necessary to support their children.

Those in favor of the mandatory drug testing bill feel it is o.k. to drug test those who require government assistance because government assistance is supposed to be temporary and, going forward, most employers will drug test in the workforce, either before hiring an employee, or randomly during their employment. Drug testing will require recipients to stay drug free and hopefully make them employable.  By staying sober, people can look for a job or go to school, anything that will reduce the need to stay on welfare.

On the other hand, opponents say that most employees sign a consent form allowing their employer to drug test. Welfare recipients may actually be having their fourth amendment right, of illegal search and seizure, violated. In 2003 A U.S. District Court judge in Michigan struck down an attempt to impose drug testing on welfare recipients. The ACLU argued, and the judge agreed, that drug testing violated the fourth amendment protection against unreasonable searches.

Finally, mandatory drug testing of people that require government assistance will cut down on cases of welfare fraud. Welfare fraud is an ongoing problem in the country and it is simply not fair to ask tax payers to pay for the people on welfare who suffer from drug addictions. No state wants to waste valuable tax dollars.

Opponents will argue that drug testing is expensive. So even if they are kicking people out of the government assistance programs because of drug abuse, the government is still not really saving tax payer money. On average, administering a drug test costs $42.00 per person. The Center for Law and Social Policy states that “since few substance abusers are identified in tests, but many are tested, the cost of catching a drug abuser may run between $20,000 and $77,000 per person.” (Montaldo 2012)

There are a number of pros and cons to drug testing those who need government assistance, but ultimately states are doing whatever is necessary to save money in these economic times, and drug testing is an available option. States will work through the 4^th amendment legal issues and find a way to drug test assistance recipients. In an effort to save costs associated with the drug testing, many states may follow Florida’s example and actually require the recipient to pay the costs of the drug tests. Litigation is pending in the Florida court system, but as it stands now, those that refuse or fail, lose their assistance. The latest call for drug testing government assistance recipients will happen sooner rather than later.

Works Cited

ACLU. “Drug Testing Of Public Assistance Recipients As A Condition Of Eligibility” ACLU.com. 8 April 2008. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

House, Michael. “Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients: Pros And Cons.” Myaddiction.com. 8 July 2011. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

Montaldo, Charles. “Drug Testing Welfare.” About.com. 13 February 2012. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

Neary, Ben and Ivan Moreno. “Conservatives’ Plans To Drug Test Welfare Recipients Get Momentum, Earn Support Of GOP Candidates.” Huffington Post. 25 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

Quinn, Christopher and Christine Torres. “Drug Test Bill Draws Legal Heat.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution. 9 April 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

Sulzberger, A.G. “States Adding Drug Test As Hurdle For Welfare.” NYtimes.com.10 October 2011. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

Restaurant Review of Danny Boy’s

Jason Lowbridge

Professor Jerome M. McKeever

English 1010

25 November 2012

Word Count:  677

            Danny Boy’s restaurant held fond memories for me when I attended St. Edward’s High School in Lakewood, Ohio. After every football game, we would walk across the street and grab their famous Woogie Bear pizza rolls. If you have never been to Danny Boy’s, you are in for a big treat. Although they are considered a chain restaurant, the atmosphere at Danny Boy’s is that of a cozy, little, neighborhood eatery that has amazing service and unforgettable food.

            Danny Boy’s has since relocated from Lakewood to Detroit Avenue in Rocky River. In addition, there are now locations in Broadview Heights, Youngstown, Canton, Chesterland, and Sandusky. 

Upon entering the Rocky River restaurant, the nostalgic atmosphere embraced me. Although the space is almost too small to handle the bustling dinner crowds, it is still cozy and inviting. The memorabilia that adorns the walls and the subtle background music is a tribute to the Rat Pack and the era in which they performed. Old vinyl record covers, concert programs, and photos of Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and even the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra paint the walls. The classic oldies pipe through the restaurant. New York, New York, That’s Amore, The Candy Man can all be heard throughout meal service. Even artists that influenced the Rat Pack like Nat King Cole and the Andrew Sisters are on the playlist. The nostalgic and charming atmosphere is perfect for both families and date night.

            The service is nothing short of amazing. Our server was attentative, yet not overbearing. It almost felt as if the servers were part of the ambiance that Danny Boy’s wants to create. From the minute I walked in the door, I felt like I was walking into the home of an old family friend. It felt like I had been dining there for years and everybody knew who I was. There is that sense of familiarity.

            Danny Boy’s is known for their award winning pizza. They have won numerous local and national pizza contests. Even with all their accolades, the selections at Danny Boy’s will not cost you a lot of dough.  The menu is so vast that it was difficult to decide what to order. The menu, like the Rat Pack, is star-studded and diverse. Appetizers ranged from Killian’s red chili to Italian pigs in a blanket. We chose the homemade bread sticks, which were shaped like a classic bowtie. They were fresh and warm and sprinkled with garlic and cheese.  Of course, I could not forget about the Woggie Bear pizza rolls that I so fondly remembered. The pizza roll is a calzone, stuffed with Ricotta cheese, sauce, and pepperoni.  They were as amazing as I remembered them to be. Although the menu offers a number of delicious sounding entries like sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes, we chose to have one of their “main event pies.” We chose the Cleveland Pie which is described as “a little upside down, built a little backwards and kinda right in the middle of Chicago and New York.” It uses a New York style crust with cheese and pepperoni and topped off Chicago style with sauce and cheese. It was delightful and delicious. The only disappointing part of the menu was there was no dessert menu.  Despite that, the food was cooked to perfection, had amazing flavor, and was presented beautifully. That’s amore!!

            To quote Dean Martin, “How lucky can one guy be?” My visit to Danny Boy’s restaurant left me wondering when I can return for more and what I will order next time. I may just have to try that pierogi pizza I saw on the menu. I loved Danny Boy’s. Although I did not grow up in that era, I am a fan of that generation. Danny Boy’s is a tribute to the greatest generation. The nostalgia, service, and food deserve a standing ovation and my taste buds would love an encore.