I run because I love to run. I run because when I run I can escape into a different world. I run because I like to set my mind free from all of my problems. I run because I like to keep my body physically engaged. I run because sometimes I feel that I'm a completely different person when I do. I run because I want to challenge myself. I run because I set new heights for myself and through running I've discovered that I can achieve anything, I just need to work at it. 

Since this trailer was released back in June I have watched it continuously. Assassins Creed is a video game series that is extremely popular and it’s one of my most beloved franchises. I love it so much that I almost wrote my second paper about the famous fictional assassin “Ezio Auditore de Firenze”. In the new video game, Assassins Creed III, that comes out very shortly we play as a new assassin and it’s expected to be one of the biggest games this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if this game winds the Video Game of the Year award.

                Before every game comes out Assassins Creed releases a CG trailer to amp up the anticipation. These trailers are so well made that it was in fact the trailer for Assassins Creed Revelations is what drew me into the franchise. Usually, the previews for this game feature the exciting thrill of intense battle and the subtle tension of stealthy assassinations. The first game came out back in 2007. The popularity of the first edition lead to three sequels with more on the horizon.  

                Over the years, gamers everywhere have grown connected to the series and its many protagonists. The image of the protagonist in his white cloak has become an icon in the gaming industry. This has been a result of brilliant marketing on the part of Ubisoft, the game’s developer. They have taken every opportunity to put images of the protagonist in a battle scenario in magazines or websites that they know fans use or traffic frequently. Ubisoft further takes advantage of pathos by playing into the patriotic feelings many Americans share. The protagonist fights on the side of the colonies in the revolutionary war. This stirs images of pro America themes that will be sure to boost sales in the States. 

This paper has evolved to become a more specific. Something that I've noticed in anytime that I write, is that I'm pretty general when I first right. After I write more and more I become more specific by putting in examples and becoming less general. I've fixed some punctuation here and there but the content of my paper has been most of the same. I haven't had to make any drastic changes so far. I sort of knew the direction that I was going to go when I first began writing this paper. 

Ever since I was a little kid I would always look up at the sky and dream of flying. I would see the airplanes zipping through the clouds and all I could think of is how great it would be to fly a plane. Later as I grew older I soon started to realize that this would be a lot harder than I expected. Anything pertaining to the sky has always interested me. I would see people skydiving in movies and in video games and all I could think of is one day being able to skydive. I just couldn't imagine what the feeling of free falling could feel like, and after 18 long years I finally experienced it for the first time. 

The only reason why I didn't skydive near my birthday was because my father also skydived when he was younger and I promised that I would wait for him. He's currently healing from surgery and the impact could damage the repairs he made. However, when I came here I was eager to join the Skydiving club and I really wanted to just get into the air and jump. I made my first tandem jump (a jump when you are tied in front of someone) almost a month ago and it was amazing. But, I wanted to go much farther. I want to learn how to skydive on my own. 

I'm currently working on getting my license to skydive. So far I've done two jumps with instructors, and in all honesty it was really scary. I wasn't tied with anyone and I jumped out of the airplane on my own and when I deployed my parachute it was just me and blue sky. It took a lot to make that first jump because of the uncertainty that would follow but I have to tell you, free falling is one of the best experiences that I've ever had in my entire life. On my third jump there were some clouds and I fell right in the circle of a cloud and it was just like a movie, with the white clouds and blue sky, it was just an amazing experience that I will never forget. However, this excitement quickly faded when I deployed my parachute at 4,000 feet, something went wrong. When the parachute deployed from the rig some of the wires got tangled up and it didn't fully deploy the right way. I will admit in my head I sort of freaked out but within a second I pulled myself back together and remembered my training. Luckily I was able to fix the issues within a couple of seconds but it's just a scary thing to experience on your second solo/training dive. 

Although I have yet to fly a plane, I still intend on getting my pilots license for a small plane to learn how to do tricks in the air and get another experience of flying. In addition, I want to learn how to wingsuit which is where you get into a suit that imitates the shape of a flying squirrel, you jump out and literally fly. With the suit you can actually fly and every time I watch videos of them I get extremely jealous. I just can't wait to get back in the air, jump and get better at what I love to do which is skydiving. There's always been something about the sky that has always attracted me and I have yet to discover what it is. 

Alyssa Marsellos

1.       In the essay the argument that is being made is that although people may not be a fan of Shakespeare, they cannot escape the fact that he is very present in our modern society. Alyssa support’s this argument by using a very effective quote that I’ve never seen before that instantly starts the essay with a bang and hooks the reader. The quote is used to describe all the modern day sayings that people say. The funny part is that many people don’t even know that they are saying quotes and sayings that came from Shakespeare in his plays. In addition, she describes the similarities between the beloved child favorite movie Lion King and the famous tragedy of Hamlet. This was a very effective point in the essay because it goes along with her overall point that even though you may have never picked up a book and read a play from Shakespeare does not mean that have never been exposed to his literature.

2.       I think the essay was very well written and I liked how the essay was geared towards you. It’s as if the writer was writing directly to you but it still had a general touch to it. I think that the writer should continue by using more modern day examples to show that even though Shakespeare is not physically present in our lives, he continues to live on through many different forms of literature. From reading the end of the essay I know that the next main point will be She’s  the Man which also comes from Shakespeare. Also maybe to include West Side Story would be a great way to tie in how prevalent Shakespeare is in modern day culture. His plays are still conducted worldwide and there is still a huge fan base that support and love Shakespeare.  Overall, very well done and the essay looks great! 

Tori Johnston

1.       In this essay Tori talks about the magazine, The Water Skier, which is a magazine that talks about the various types of skiing. It’s very clear from the essay that the magazine would not be as successful if it did not include visuals. Since this magazine highlights all of the forms of skiing there needs to be visuals to wow the reader. The argument that is being is that the magazine’s visuals help aid the reader making it more enjoyable because they are able to gain a lot of information on how to do certain tricks and body positions by just looking at the pictures.

2.        This essay is looking very good. The only thing that I would say to add is when it is talking about slalom skiing is to describe what it is. As a skier, I know what it is but to the general population I don’t think they do. Just a small short description would suffice. The author is going in a great direction by offering more examples and maybe including how these pictures provide safety in that they cause fewer accidents for people who want to try the tricks in the future. This essay is great, keep up the good work.

David Breeding

1.       The essay talks about how vital photography is for the sport of wakeboarding. The main argument in the essay states how important it is to get the right photo shot of people wakeboarding. The magazine is very successful because each issue must be aided by visuals of the sport to attract people’s interests. It is supported by the various examples throughout the essay explaining how important the visuals are to the magazine. Because the visuals are successful many people by the issue allowing the magazine to company to be very successful. For this reason the magazine company goes through great lengths by using expensive photo shots, such as helicopter shots, to get the best possible shot.

2.       This essay was very interesting because it talks about a sport that is filled with fun and adrenaline. Reading it only furthered my desire to one day wakeboard. I liked the essay a lot and you are going in a great direction. The only thing that I could maybe add is that towards the end the essay states how the sport is starting to become more international, maybe write some of that and include how Transworld Wakeboarding influenced international competitiveness. Maybe the magazine being sold in other countries gained the sport support? Keep it up, this essay is going to be great.