Sunday, September 12, 2010

"The Learning Curve" Assignment

In his story, "The Learning Curve", David Sedaris goes into great detail about what kind of image he wants to present to his students. Write a paragraph describing the image you would want to portray of yourself in a particular situation. It can be funny, like "The Learning Curve", or it can be serious. You can write about any arena that you'd like, real or imagined. For example, you can invent a rock star persona for yourself or the image you'd like to present if you were the loving lapdog of an elderly woman. Be creative, and be very descriptive. Think about what clothes you might wear, what your voice would sound like, what you would want people to call you, etc, as Sedaris does in his story. Post your paragraph as a comment and include your name as it appears on the roster.

19 comments:

  1. It's a little passed four o'clock and this is my fist dance class. My dance class starts at five. I'm sitting on the corner of my bed nervous thinking of what these young girls will think of me. Should I be mean and strict? Should I be nice and open? What should I ware?
    It's two minutes to five and all the girls are here.It's time to make my entrance. Being so nervous, I walked in the room and tripped over the air passing through my toes from fright falling to the grown. I think I was more scared of them then they were of me. After recovering that great fall I got up with shame. The girls were all laughing. I then knew I would need to get on their good side so I brought out the new hottest hits from R&B and played in the CD player. I was upset from that fall ,but I didn't want to show the girls I was upset so I change my voice to a more calm level.I aslo left the room and changed my chlothes to hip hop ware. I put my baggy Pole Jeans with my Polo muscle shirt thats said" Its All ABout ME"! As I entered the room again they were amased and I heard comments like "she can dress" and "I like her chlothes" "Ladies follow me", I said and they did. They seem to be having a great time. The girls were socializing and dancing like there was no tomorrow. I then knew changing my voice to a more calm voice and getting on their good side would win them over and it did!
    By :Sadie Johnson

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  2. I arrived at my first casting call thirty minuites before my appointment.I had black and white dress attire. I was as nervous as a prisoner getting endicted for a murder. My thoughts was all over the place and my heart was racing like a race horse. As I sat in a big blue chair waiting for my name to be called, I began to go over my monolouge in my mind. I had then got so nervous,that I had forgotten my lines. While trying to remember my lines,the director called me to his office. I began to shake and my teeth began to chatter. but I tried to play it cool and act normal before i walked into his office. While walking into his office he began to shout at me and use such vulgar language that relly hurt my feelings. He told me I didnt have what it takes and he hadnt even given me a chance. Immediately I got upset and began to think vulgar thoughts, but nothing came out my mouth but "Up Yours". Then as I was walking out the door the director yelled and said"You Got the part", but I was so mad at how he treated me all I could say was "Keep It Jerk".

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  3. It is 8:45 p.m. and my art show starts at 9 o'clock. I am finishing the last touches of my exhibits before the rich people come in from the lobby. I am nervous, because i am paranoid and I do not like alot of people around me, but it is a must in order to pay the bills. 9 o'clock comes around and people begin to fill the room, asking questions like, what inspired your use of color and what is the meaning of this. Honestly I never really know the answer to most of the questions, so I always have to make up something. So a man asked me, "What does this painting mean?", and I replied, "There is no meaning, it's just what I felt at the moment." He replied, "That's stupid!" So i punched him in the face and they had to shut down the art show.

    Jonathan Brown

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  4. It's 7:00am and my broadcasting job starts at 8:00am. I have to rush and get dressed but still have to be professional. Important people like the G.M is going to be there. As a sports analyst we have to compete for air time. I want present my self as a marketed person with well communication skills. Nice hair and well groomed skin.Black suit that make me look skinny for the television fat. Meaning it adds a extra 10 lbs.So much noise around i almost feel like im in a circus but i love the noise and loud scents. The subway rushes and yet sports talk of the nite. So in the end I want to be the top Broadcaster in Miami.

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  5. Waking up late as usual. It's about 7:35 and all I know is that I have to be at work for 8 o'clock. Running through my house putting on my Armani suit and eating breakfast at the same time. Dipping between cars like a road raged monkey looking for a banana, finding a parking spot, then running up the stairs like fat kids running with their low booksacks to the front of the line because they have cake today. Still attempting to present myself as the most prompt, qualified, and most professional courts interpreter because I'm out of breath.

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  6. Im anticipatng the arrival of my manager saying those three words: "Its Show Time." I finished my vocal warm ups and Im ready to walk on that stage and hear my adoring fans shout and scream my name. I had rehearsed my 1st hit to the point where it was emboided in my brain. "Its Show Time". I lost my breath; I gathered my thoughts and my confidence and walked on that stage, introduced myself and sung that 1st note. Bad thing is that the beat was not mine and turns out I was in the wrong club. "This isn't the Jazz Lounge". Turns out I was in "The Larry Bunsen Polka Lounge". "That's it, my manager is fired!!!"

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  7. Watching the early bird catch the worm i stood on the mound as the red sunise came from behind me. As i look i seen the first group of uncordnated rascals tripping over there bat bags, and right there i knew i was in for a long day. i gathered the worthless group nd stood tall and looked down on them and said "if u cant take the training leave right now i have no time for loser. if you can get through the conditioning i will guarantee we will have a good season and alot of good times. now gave me 5 laps around the field." as they ran ran i looked at them as rough clay. hard and difficult to change but with time and work i can mold them into a champion team

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  8. Today is the day I start my new job as the head baseball coach. I am very nervous because I don't want them to get the wrong impression of me. I wear my coach's shirt neatly tucked into my shorts, with my hat properly placed on my head. I want to be a friendly coach but I also have to let them know I'm not to be played with. I set a lot of rules for the team and a I begin to think they would hate me. So I went a little easy on them at practice and now they think I'm a push over. I am now stuck between a rock and a hard place.

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  9. It's 6a.m. and I'm up bright and early putting putting on my versachi suit, but I am extremely tired because I had only had two hours of sleep. I start my new job today as the CEO of the biggest marketing company in North America. I eat breakfast and drink four cups of coffee to keep me awake. I get to work and everything is going good then we have a scheduled board meeting after lunch. I went to eat lunch and came back to get prepared for the board meeting. I gave my speech and now we are listening to the vice president of the company speak. People began looking around because they hear a loud thunderous noise and when they turn their heads it is me asleep.

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  10. Judd_Carriere
    RING!!!!RING!!! heart bitting, melting has ice with the AC on. It is 3pm and my first class is starting right now; I am starting today as a math teacher. While walking to the class my heart was bitting like there was a guy playing drum in my chest. All the kids were already there waiting for the mysterious teacher to make his entrance. Dress like a business manager, my briefcase full of my notes, my head straihgt up, I entered the classroom. "Good afternoon class, my name Mr. Judd"-"...." no words, so I am starting to freak out. I have to take the control, I said. I lay down my briefcase on the table and started to aske some questions that aren't appropriate for the class such as:"how was your vacations", "who made a girlfriend"...some questions to loose up the class and they enjoyed it. After little break i gave, i went back to my briefcase and took some papers and said:"Quiz time!" suddenly the class went silent again. But that way showed them that even though i am a funny teacher I still hold the stick. But everyone did great on the test. I was so happy that my first day as a teacher went well and looking foward to make it always easy and funny to learn mathematics

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  11. Gabbriana Cain
    Bzzzz...bzzz! My alarm sounded as I slowly uncovered my head from under the covers. After I wiped the crust from the corner of my brown slinder eyes, I yawned as I put on my slippers. Once I walked into the restroom I realized what today was...My wedding day! I couldnt believe the day had finally come. I took a deep breathe, stepped back and looked at myself in the mirror. I was a short average sized woman with a head full of silky brown hair that flowed down my neck and ended at the tips of my purtruding colar bone.
    While on the elevator on my way to the limo the excitement of the day ahead came rushing back. As the day progressed the excitement running through my veins increased. I felt as if I were a teen eagerly awaiting my date to arrive for the homecoming dance. The clock had finally struck noon; one hour until the wedding begins. Everything was in place; the church was beyond beautiful. The pews were filled with excited guests.
    The momentum built as the brides maids and groomsmen maid their way down the long narrow isle of the church. My heart felt like it had fell down to my big toe. My lips trembled as I tried my hardest to smile while holding back the tears of joy. This is it, the moment I have been waiting for my whole life. Both doors to the sanctuary opened and there I was the center of attention. The guests turned and stared as if I had a big green bougar in my nose. I slowly walked down the isle with my dad on my side. I could no longer hold back my tears. They rolled down my cheeks like an over flowing bathtub. I was filled with so many different emotions that when it was my turn to say my vows my voice trembled.
    The officient said you may kiss the bride and my groom gave me the most romantic kiss i had ever recieved and at that moment I realized that I had just become one of the luckiest girls alive!

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  12. IDAKWOJI, MARY.

    The learning curve is a sort of funny paper. The writer creats an image like masculine, business like with a briefcase and having an aggressive voice. The actual includes, unqualified, he was in constant fear and the students thought that he was crazy due to his behaviours. The students were divided into two groups due to his attitude. He kept the students busy with celebrity corner, feedbag forum and watching Tv shows. The students challeged him by refusing to do the work he gave them, there was a constant arguement between him and his students, but thank God that they were able to overcome him and he took to his heels. My wish is that, students should recognise why they are in school, so that when the right thing is not being done by the teacher, an alarm should be raised. In so doing, teachers will be self minded and do the right thing at the right time and the stardard of education will be uphold.

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  13. Today I am applying for a job as events coordinator for my hometown. For years everyone one has known me on a somewhat casual level but today i would like to show my professional side. I choose my dark pinstriped dress suit for a femine and professional look. My hair is pulled back and sculpted into a dainty bun. I grab my far from empty brief case that which is packed with my portfolio and proof of my experience as an event coordinator. Now, I am ready to get things started. I enter the office and sign in. Not too much time passes before the mayor's secretary calls me in and the mayor along with the alderman board starts my interview process. I am careful with my choice of wording, also making sure that my pronunciation is on point right along with my enunciation. After a complete rundown of my experience over that past 10 years I am asked to step out of the room while the final decision is made. Ten minutes seemed like ten hours each minute lasting forever. Finally, I am called back into the room, the atmosphere is now chilly. I am asked to sit down, as is sit I can feel a lump develop in my throat as the mayor starts talking... it grows bigger and bigger. Just when i'm about to swallow my tongue from so much coughing she tells me that I am the new events coordinator for Smellville. I am given a drink of water, i shake everyones hand and ensure them that the won't be disappointed with their decision.

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  14. It is the first day at my new job as a math teacher. i wanted to show my class that i am professional and ready to teach, but i also wanted to show them that i am laid back and was going to make the class enjoyable too. i wait until the whole class has entered before i aproach the classroom leaving them guessing and wondering still who is the new teacher. i would be wearing a fresh all black with a red trim stacey adams suit with some red with a black dem shoes. i would also have on some dark shades so i could see there eyes but they couldnt see mine. then i would walk into the back of the classroom and sit in the very last desk and sit there looking at my phone until nobody was paying attention to me. after that once everyone thought i was a student just like them i would start the class from back there, and wait and see how long it would take someone before they would actually ask me am i there teacher. that would sort of break the ice and i would tell them some information about me, and then ask something about everyone else before preceeding with class.

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  15. My first day as a high school coach. I’ve always dreamed to coach a team and spread my knowledge of the game to others and finally, now, I have my chance! The whole day I couldn’t wait until it was time to tie my shoes and report to the field, it felt as if I was back in my playing days. I wanted to make sure I was the first one on the field so I can see who comes in last and who really wants to be out there. Of course the late guys ran I had to establish a rule of command over them so they knew if I said do something they need to do it to the full extent. We worked hard day in and day out and it all paid off at the end of the season. We were undefeated and won the championship, after the game players came up to me and thanked me for pushing them to be great and that was the greatest moment of it all.

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  16. My first day as a paid rapper is so strange. On t.v. i had to portray a well manered person from the hood. In my lyrics they describe me as someone trapped in their own mind. In my detailed studio session, they wamted me to be something i wasn't, after all this is my dream. But no one one told me the record label makes "u" in to who they want you to be.In the end, getting paid to perform is wonderful, i just wish the world knew who i really am!

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  17. Walking through the jungle with my head held high. Animals running and hiding behind trees or anything they could find. My fur is smooth and clean. My main is thick and no animal is better than me. My roar is bone chilling and heard miles away. Each step I take leave an endeavoring print that can’t be duplicated by other lions. My baby cub is my pride and joy and makes my ferocious, protective, territorial ways worst. One day I hope that he is just like me and more. He has the same features as me except he has more maturing to do but that’s understandable.

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  18. My palms were drenched with sweat as if they were in a replenishing puddle of water. My feet were pacing rapidly as if I was a member of the "human jukebox". I wonder if their going to like my voice. I straightened my frailed hair, fixed my twice over faded Black dress, I took a deep breath and walked into my music class. As I entered the room there was an imediate silence ad if I had walked in the wrong class. I introduce myself as Ms. Aleshia in such a loud goofy manor. With twisted looks on their faces like"is she serious" they turned into a roaring crowd as if they were in a football stadium. On a firm tone like a drill Sargent I shouted "please be quiet!!!". From that moment on I held their attenion by belting out graceful notes as if thy were in an opera, and they applauded.

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  19. Alarm going off at 8:40A.M Monday through Friday. My Husband and child are already off to school and work. I walk through the house to find myself stumbling over the expensive car toy that Zoey would have died over if she wasn't able to drive it because all of her friends at Kimmy's party was.Well, I guess my baby is dieing soon because Bubbles, our dog, has been chewing on the battery for about a two weeks. At work I'm the complete opposite. As I walk through the hallways I observe my employees immediately stop their loitering and pretend to answer phones, search for files, or type on the computer. Maybe it's my sharp, starch female business suit, or that I fired five people in the last month.

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