Sample Posts for 506DE
Sample from my blog on creativity: My husband and son “live” in the garage. They always have a project going and even when they don’t, they hang out there admiring their “stuff.” Their big project at the moment is rebuilding a ’64 Ford pickup. They have had the truck for several years and do things here and there, but I guess other things kept taking precedence. Although it’s been in pieces for quite a while, a beautifully reupholstered red and gray seat is ready and waiting. In the past several months or so their interest has suddenly returned and they have been actively working on the body. They decided the frame the truck is on is not what they wanted so they found another truck on Craiglist. This one doesn’t run either (just what we need right?) and not only that, it is LIME GREEN — metallic lime green. They assured me they were just buying it for the frame, not for the body. I was impressed that that very same weekend, they removed the body from the frame. The frame is now in the garage being welded and painted. Here’s the problem — at least for me. The cab and bed of the green pickup are sitting in our driveway. Thankfully we don’t have a homeowners association, but still it’s starting to look like we live down the street from Loretta Lynn. So, the pieces went on Craiglist last week. Believe it or not, people are actually calling them! So far they have sold a door, some other miscellaneous parts and today, the rest of the cab. I yelled a thank you out the window when the guy came to pick it up. I’m told the bed is sold too and will be hauled away this week. Needless to say, they are quite proud of themselves. I was in the garage visiting last night and they showed me what they were doing with the extra money they were making from selling pieces. They’ve bought an engine from someone, and were “mocking it up” for me so I can see how great it’s going to look. My son is especially impressed with the Edelbrock valve covers they obtained from my equally packrat-ish brother. I guess the covers are from the late 50′s or early 60′s, are quite hard to come by, and are way cool. I tried hard to find the beauty in the engine they are so proud of, but that’s what is so intriguing about creativity — it’s different for every person. They just shook their heads as I went back to the house to play with my paper and fabric scraps. Here's a second sample -- a typical article from my work (not very exciting and I've changed some names and acronyms to protect the innocent): CAC Creates One-Stop Tool for CAN Information Although he has yet to see the EBSS solution live and in action, he’s already sold. When MSgt James Baker became the Change Agent Coordinator (CAC) for the 102nd Air National Guard Fighter Wing at South Bend International Airport in Indiana, he was not sure what to expect. He delved quickly into researching what the program was all about and it didn’t take long for him to become a believer. “The single source of data contained in EBSS will change our lives,” he said. When MSgt Baker took on his CAC duties in October 2010, he found EBSS information in many different places. He decided that he needed to get the Site Transformation Plan, contact lists, fact sheets, and other records organized and easily accessible, so he experimented with different ideas. Because of its ability to accept so many different formats, he finally settled on a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet to keep track of the data via tabs, attachments and links. Selling new change agents and leaders on the program is a challenge he explained, and keeping the pertinent information at his fingertips in this tool increases his credibility. “There’s lots of useful material out there, but getting yourself organized to use it efficiently puts you at a big advantage,” said Baker. He stressed that this is a local tool that needs continuous updates, but used effectively, it’s like EBSS itself, a one-stop source for information. The sergeant has been in government procurement work for a number of years, so working with the antiquated legacy systems is part of his daily life. “Today, my counterparts and I go to a file in a computer, then to a book on the shelf to pencil down more information, then back to the computer with a floppy disk to access yet another program,” he related. “That’s all done before we even begin to accomplish the simple task we set out to do. EBSS will change all that.” Bauer is convinced that the system will save the Air Force (AF) time and money. As a Systems Analyst, he is amazed that they are still utilizing the same computers and programs used more than 26 years ago when he began – computers and programs which cost more and more each year to repair and patch. But he also understands change will not be easy. He is impressed with the recent comments from the CSAF and other AF leaders who realistically admit that not everything about EBSS will be rosy. Especially at first when not all bases are live, some workers will be doing double data entry. “That won’t make people happy, but this is just too big a job to do all in one swoop.” He continued that no matter how hard or how slow, this HAS to happen. “It will be worth it,” he said. EBSS Field Agent Jerry Olson praises MSgt Baker for his dogged persistence to make EBSS a success within the Indiana ANG. “Through all the stops and starts, typical in programs of this magnitude, James has held fast to the vision and goals of EBSS as the enabler to transform supply chain operations within the AF,” explained Olson. “He’s often been that lone voice of support when others might succumb to negative rumors and skepticism; however, he’s backed by an increasingly optimistic and supportive change agent network,” he continued. “I have no doubt MSgt Baker and the South Bend team will be successful.”
What I like about both of your samples is that you touch on subjects that aren't common but are still strangely familiar. I never rebuilt anything with my dad and am in no way a "car guy" but I still feel a nostalgic tug at the heart when I think of father and son working as a team to accomplish a project that is important to them. The importance is lost on mom, but that only adds to the charm.
ReplyDeleteI think the only area where an improvement could be made is that this sample seems to leave some things unsaid. What I mean is, it seemed like you were leading to a point, perhaps a call to action, but never really said it. I got your point without being told - even though you don't get the fascination with old trucks and engines, you still love the fact that your boys are proving to be so clever and that father and son have formed a bond - but others might benefit from driving home the point with a final push.
The second sample is good old-fashioned reporting. I respect that. You've taken a topic of which I know nothing about and made me care enough to finish the article. Great work.
Hi MimisMuse,
ReplyDeleteYour first piece has a gentle yet engaging sense of focus, which makes for an enjoyable read. When I say “focus,” I mean that you are not trying to tackle the notions of “beauty” or “creativity” in a broad, unwieldy way. Instead, you choose a small, specific example in your husband and son’s truck project. I found this piece poignant, compelling and scattered with humor in just the right places.
You create some great images in this piece, such as the “metallic lime green” truck parts sitting on your lawn, and the “beautifully reupholstered red and gray seat.” In fact, since the mention of that seat came at the end of your introductory paragraph, I actually expected the whole piece to be about that seat and was a bit disappointed that you didn’t come back to it. However, I loved the line about living “down the street from Loretta Lynn” and chuckled at the idea of you yelling a thank-you out the window to the people picking up the truck parts. The piece has great personality.
You wrote your way into this piece. One of the most interesting parts of this post comes at the very end, when you mention how you went back into the house to play with your paper and fabric scraps. This proves your main point about how creativity is different for everyone, and I wanted to know more about this hobby. You couldn’t quite see the beauty in their engine, and they “just shook their heads,” about your fabric. Yet in a way, you understand one another perfectly.
The writing in your second sample is solid, and I particularly liked how your use of quotes supplemented the points you made in the article. As a reader, I made a smooth transition between quote and non-quote. Like PlsnslyUnplsnt, I knew nothing about the subject and yet felt engaged with the material.
In what kind of publication would an article like this appear? Will you incorporate some of your professional writing into your course work?
Thank you for two great samples. Looking forward to more!
--Prof. Nichols