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Such Great Heights:  A Portfolio Encapsulating an Associate’s Degree

May 16, 2005

Dear Committee,

                 Over the course of my two years at Housatonic Community College, I’ve delved headfirst into the Journalism Program, learning about my chosen profession from the instructors, editors, and other students.  This portfolio is the zenith of what I have learned to do at the college, and includes nine pieces of my work from both journalism and publication classes that demonstrate my skills and prowess as a reporter and writer.

                 During my time at the college, I’ve learned that my strength lies in opinion pieces, including both reviews and editorials.  I’ve found that as I’ve experimented as a writer that I clearly favor writing reviews, although not by much, over editorials.  This has led me to consider a career in entertainment journalism, and I’ve tried to expand my skills as a writer in this direction with many different articles exploring avenues I never thought I could.

                 Since I started at HCC, I believed I’ve honed my skills as a review writer to the point where I make good use of my voice to express my opinion on aesthetic matters.  While reviews and editorials are related in that they both are products of the author’s mind, my reviews have a distinctive flavor different from that of my editorial writing, relying more on my tastes and showing my dry, quirky sense of humor.

                 My review of Team America:  World Police, entitled Politically Incorrect or Politically Incoherent, is a fine example of this sense of humor in my writing.  After laying out the plot of the movie for my readers, I launch into why they should not see the film saying, “Somehow it’s okay for Johnson to have an opinion and blow up terrorists, but if other actors raise their voices for peace, it makes them weak.  This self-contradiction is completely missed by the intended audience, which seems to consist of boys who laugh at puppet vomit.”

                 Puppet vomit was a unique presence in the movie, and I believe it was an effective example from the film supporting my opinion, while keeping my unique presence in the article.  In short, using examples from the movie, I convinced my readers not to see it, all while keeping up that humor which is my trademark.

                 This distinctive voice is apparent in all of my reviews, no matter what rating I give a subject.  Though these are opinion pieces, I work hard to be fair and support my conclusion with examples that provide insight into the subject.  As a result, I am as capable of gushing as I am panning, and sometimes just calling a mediocre product mediocre.

A good counterpoint to the negativity of my Team America article is one of my positive restaurant reviews, entitled Saint Tropez:  Better than Perfect.  One of the best things about this article is that it lays out the logic I use to judge cuisine and write fine food reviews.

My theory of culinary aesthetics is threefold.  First, ingredients and technique have to be flawless.  Achieving this first level of beauty is pretty simple if you know how to shop and have half an attention span while watching the Food Network on cable TV.  The second step is to be imaginative, taking a dish with no errors and adding a little something different and new, not only making it your own but also making it better.  The final step to culinary perfection is achieving balance, making sure every separate flavor is a complimentary addition to the dish.

                 This theory of culinary perfection can be generalized in an aesthetic theory that applies to all of my review writing, providing a reasoned basis for my criticism.  In short, I understand what makes reviews in the Arts and Entertainment section work because I understand how art works, whether it be film, television, theater, food, books, or music.

                 To improve my entertainment writing, I’ve pushed myself to delve in deeper with my subject matter, as demonstrated in an analysis of the five Best Picture nominees entitled, Does Oscar Need Prozac?  This was a difficult piece to write because it was a review that had to juggle five movies while giving my opinion on who would win the Oscar in 2005.

                 This piece also included some fine descriptive passages, which are vital to writing a good review.  One of my favorite quotes from this article came in describing a delightful movie, Sideways.  I said, “Wine was effectively used as a metaphor to describe what happens to people as they get older and reach their peak before declining.  Without being heavy-handed, the movie took people on a path worth walking, but like life, it has its ups and downs and can leave you feeling small.”

                 While I did not correctly guess which film would win the Best Picture Oscar, I believe I gave a reasoned analysis of the race.  The article lays the nominees before the reader, weaving in my opinion, plot summaries, and why each picture could have won, using Oscar traditions and history to make my case.  In the end, I went with The Aviator because it had the most nominations in all categories, and was directed by a famous director who had been snubbed in the past.  This was fine logic, but it couldn’t overcome the buzz that was Million Dollar Baby.  Still, I think it shows that I understand the entertainment industry enough to be an entertainment writer.

                 Not all entertainment writing is about reviewing art.  Sometimes, it involves profiling the artist, which is why I included the next piece, an in-depth feature about HCC marble sculptor Stan Vogel, entitled 3000 Pound Labor of Love.  This is a long article about an elderly artist who spent his own money to buy a block of marble and carve it into a human figure for a class project at HCC.

                 This is a news piece that required many interviews and a very objective author who was not afraid to use description to draw the reader into Vogel’s world.  To write it, I spent several days with Vogel, interviewing him, his wife, teachers and his fellow students.  One of the most difficult challenges of this piece was incorporating Vogel’s quotes to capture his character, while still using my own words to show my readers what an amazing person he is to be around.

                 Vogel’s eyes lit up as he told the story of how he decided what would come out of his piece of marble.  “We were in sculpture class…the student who sits [across from me], sat herself up on the table, took off her sneaker and her sock and proceeded to continue work on a foot of her own.”

                 Vogel became very animated as he told the story of how the student was sculpting a piece out of clay, using her own foot as a model.  She was facing him, kneeling on one knee.  He said he knew that this would be a better look for the figure he was planning to carve out of his marble block.  He didn’t want to name the student, out of respect for her privacy, but he said she has modeled for him since the inspiration struck.

                 This is one of my favorite passages in the article because it uses those quotes, yet also employs my own descriptive narrative.  The article was one of my favorites during my career at HCC because it allowed me to stretch and grow as a writer, by showing, not telling, and I believe that growth comes through loud and clear in the article.

                 Since I started writing for the school paper, Horizons, I have been deeply involved in producing editorials.  Even though I favor the Arts section, Editorials hold a special place in my heart, because they are such an effective showcase for my talents as a writer, not to mention the fact that I am opinionated.  I believe I wrote at least one editorial for almost every issue of the paper that came out during my career at HCC, for a total of fifteen pieces.  While each one is worthy of this portfolio, for the sake of the committee’s time, I’ve selected three that are fine examples of what make me such an effective editorial writer.

                 The first piece is entitled Confused about Your Rights, and is a very personal article that not only informs the reader about what their rights are when confronted by a police or security officer, but also shares a story about an experience I had when my class was threatened by HCC’s chief of security, Sergeant Chris Gough.

                 I’ve included it for two reasons.  First, it is a persuasive piece that remains objective, despite my personal involvement in the incident.  The reason it remains objective is that it draws on so many sources besides me, from Ben Franklin to an HCC professor with a law degree.  As a result, this is one opinion piece that isn’t just about the author’s opinion, but instead contains a well-reasoned and supported argument.  Second, it shows my willingness to get involved in local issues and relate them back to national ones, because I clearly make the connection for my readers by talking about country-wide events they’d know about like the increase in security after 9/11.

                 Confused about Your Rights touches on quite a few subjects, all relating back to the central point of how important civil liberties are.  At the end, I put it in a clear, strong language for my readers, saying, “As students working hard to educate and better ourselves, we have an obligation to ask these questions.  But, more importantly, we have an obligation to educate ourselves about our civil rights.  If something feels wrong, we have to speak up, get the facts, and advocate for change.”  As a writer, I’ve developed this strong language with every editorial, striving to clarify issues for my readers.

                 The second editorial I’ve chosen for this portfolio is Snow Daze: HCC Plows through Lives of Students.  My opinion was that HCC did not shut down when the weather was dangerous and that the school was placing the students’ lives in peril with this policy.  A hallmark of a first class opinion piece is when the author lays out a solution to the problem they are complaining about.  In Snow Daze, I say,

                 On days when the weather makes it dangerous or impossible for some to come to school but is not uniformly bad enough to force a closing, a snow advisory day should be declared.  Teachers and students would be encouraged to attend if they can safely do so, but would have official sanction to stay home if they feel they must. If a student misses a test on such a day, the teacher would be required to allow a make-up, just as if it were a full snow day.  Likewise, if an assignment is due, students get an extension.

                 Not only do I take advantage of multiple sources in the article, including the Connecticut Department of Transportation, but I also provide a unique alternative for HCC to consider, alleviating the burden of the “No Snow Days” policy on its students.  This editorial also had an impact.  After publication, during the next snow storm on Tuesday, March 1, classes were canceled due to inclement weather.  I do not think my piece was the only factor in getting more snow days, but I don’t think it hurt the cause.

                 The final editorial piece is Homeless Vets:  Symptom of a Much Larger Problem.  I included this piece for two reasons.  The first is to demonstrate that I have the ability to talk about national problems and issues.  I am not just a local writer; I have range.

                 Secondly, this piece makes sense of the often confusing numbers that accompany those national matters.  For example, when talking about the homeless problem I say, “According to Homeless.Org there are three million people who are forced to live on the streets.  At least a quarter of these are veterans, meaning there are 750,000 people who fought for this country who do not have a home.”  When sharing my opinion, I don’t just want to rant.  I have developed research skills so I can dig up those facts to support my views and editorials.

                 While my specialty as a writer is reviews, editorials, and profiles, particularly around the arts, they aren’t the only kind of stories I can write.  The last two pieces in this portfolio include a news story and a creative non-fiction piece to demonstrate how versatile I can be with my work.

                 Diversity is as Diversity Does is a news article that investigates what it means to be a minority at a prestigious school.  Every year, some of the Seven Sister Colleges set out to recruit people of diversity from community colleges.  This piece helps to show that I can remain fair and balanced in an article where I might have my own opinions.  Since I made sure to list both the pros and cons, I allowed the readers to make up their own minds.

                 I think the tenor of article is effectively summarized by one of the many people interviewed for the piece, Peggy Delfino, who says, “The first month was the hardest in terms of feelings of isolation and displacement.  We are different...and must accept that. We are older.  We are coming from a different socioeconomic background than most of the traditional students.  However, [we] bring a different and unique outlook toward life to the table which enables us to make the connections we need.”

                 The preceding quote shows, as in all good news pieces, that an author needs to know when to use quotes and attribution effectively.  Throughout Diversity there are a lot of sources, quotes, and everything is properly attributed.

                 Finally, the last piece I’ve chosen for this portfolio is a creative non-fiction piece called Gnawing on Kitties.  Not only does this piece demonstrate that I can effectively use description and dialogue in my writing, but it also emphasizes my most important strength as a writer:  my willingness to take chances, get emotionally involved in my subject matter, and put myself on the line.  More importantly, it is a good example of my growth as a writer.

                 Gnawing on Kitties is a subtle piece that borders on terse, but is quite coherent and emotionally engaging.  It starts off with a conversation that took place between my father and I on Christmas day that ended with him hanging up on me.  It then goes through everything that happened in the past year, and makes a statement about the relationship children have with their parents.   My favorite passage comes at the end, and I believe it is an effective summary of the dialogue and descriptive power of the story.

                 Later that night, I was sitting around, enjoying a Christmas dinner of orange chicken and spinach dumplings with my husband.

                 “Why should we respect our parents if they don’t respect us?” Steve asked me.

                 “I don’t know.  I think I’ve always wanted to respect my parents.”

                 “Your parents don’t deserve your respect.  They’ve always wanted a clone.  It’s like in Austin Powers.  Is Dr. Evil happy with Scott?  No.  Scott is his own person.  Dr. Evil is much happier with a 1/8-scale clone of himself who gnaws on kitties.”

                 I couldn’t help it.  I laughed.

                 While I really do believe I am a proficient writer, quite deserving of a degree in Journalism from Housatonic, I also admit I have some areas that I could improve in.  I know my skill at writing news stories is not fully developed.  I freely acknowledge this as a weakness, and an area that I could improve with more practice out in the real world.  Also, as stated above, when writing about my Oscar article, I think my analysis of the entertainment industry could be sharpened.  Again, this is a skill that can only be gained with practice.  Still, I am more than confident that I have developed enough talent to continue my efforts as a writer.

                 The Journalism Program at Housatonic Community College is one that prepares students for the world of writing, no matter what sort of direction they choose to go.  In my time here, I was able to explore many different types of articles, and play with my skills and talent until I found what sort of subject matter and style suited me best.  This portfolio is a fine example of my work as an Arts and Entertainment writer, but it also highlights my other skills as a news writer, deeming me worthy of a degree from HCC.

                 I’d like to thank the committee for their time in reviewing this portfolio, and also the instructors, friends and students who helped me put it together and who helped support me while writing each of the articles contained within and throughout my career as a student here.

With Highest Regards,

Amanda Evans

Copyright 2005

by Amanda Evans

Date: 05/16/05