Monthly Archives: February 2013

NAFTA

Dear Reader,

In 1994, I signed a lease to an apartment.The same year several national and international agreements were signed. One of these agreements was chosen to discuss in the following essay. Correlating this agreement to the much smaller scale of signing a lease was difficult. However, learning more about this agreement caught my interest.
I received several comments of advice to improve my initial draft to write the following essay revision.

One comment stated, that although my descriptions were appreciated, certain sentences needed further clarity.

Another comment indicated that my essay could use a title.
Two comments believed that choosing one event over several for comparison would be more effective.

Last, a comment suggested the “motif” ( a great word to apply to writing) of old and new could be worked more creatively within the essay.
I received very effective comments with which to work to improve my essay.

I liked most about this essay that it concerned an international agreement, and gave me the opportunity to learn more about it. I believe the revision is a decent draft, but like most drafts, could always use some improvements. Perhaps better choice of words, sentence, structure, rhythm, and/or pattern.

Revision

In 1994, I signed a lease to one of several favorite apartments available for rent. It was a great little apartment, sunny and bright with wood floors and moldings, as well as high ceilings and whitewashed walls. It was an older building, the type no longer built today. Although an older building, both building and apartment appeared fresh and new to me. The high ceilings, moldings, and chandelier were special, interesting and had a beauty of their own.

Located in NYC; a major metropolitan city, my apartment had easy access to all; transportation, such as buses and trains; stores, supermarkets, work, etc. The apartment, fresh and new, although in reality an older building, had easy access to all.

On a much, much smaller scale, it could be correlated to the international agreement, NAFTA, signed the same year.
In January, 1994, NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, was signed. This was an agreement and/or contract between Canada, Mexico, and the US, creating a trade bloc between nations. This trade bloc allowed for open trade and equality between countries, and the elimination of tariffs, on particular items. Items such as eggs, corn, and meat were tariff-free. With open trade and easier access to goods, such goods would be available to all. Basic foods such as these should be automatically tariff-free, allow them to be affordable and available.

The purpose of NAFTA was to expand trade between the US, Canada, and Mexico. Expanding trade would allow countries to become more competitive as well as strengthen and build businessess. As businesses grew in size and strength, economies; in other words, nations; would also increase in size, strength, and resources.

Trade tripled, and US exports grew by 156%. Gas and food prices were reduced, due to the removal of tariffs. Services such as banking and healthcare quadrupled. However, in spite of this success, there were several costs and setbacks. With manufacturers moving to Mexico to take advantage of reduced labor costs and wages, US jobs were destroyed, and wages were lower in certain areas. Mexican farmers were exploited, and the environment polluted, due to the lower cost of corn and grains. Mexican farmers were forced to farm marginal land and use more fertilizer, causing pollution and deforestation.

Despite these setbacks, NAFTA, was the largest trade agreement in the world and largely successful. All three countries could maintain their independence, yet work together.

A novel agreement in 1994, NAFTA, based on an earlier set of laws, were necessary reforms needed by all three countries for some time previously, allowing for, and the hope of, a brighter future everywhere.
My apartment also, on a much, much smaller scale was the hope of a bright future; many twists and turns perhaps, but bright and forward always.
NAFTA would hopefully continue in its entirety, and allow for a brighter future across the globe.

Dear Reader —

In 1994, I signed a lease to one of several favorite apartments. The same year various national and international agreements were signed. Many more occurred than I have mentioned in the following essay. Correlating such agreements to the much smaller scale of signing a lease, was difficult. However, learning of such agreements was of interest.

One piece of Zinsser advice of interest, discussed in class as well, included that words, are the “tools” of a writer. They should be “used with originality and care…Good writers of prose must be part poet… ” (page 36).
Also, “…develop a respect for words …. And about their shades of meaning…”. (page 32).

Rhythm, pattern, sound, uniqueness, length of sentence, etc. should be considered. Sentences should move along at various “gaits”. The order of a sentence can be reversed, the sentence length altered, a unique word substituted, and/or a phrase added, with emotional weight.
I believe I can pay more attention to rhythm, pattern, sentence length, uniqueness of words, etc.; perhaps, all of the above, to achieve better writing.

Essay Draft 1

In 1994, I signed a lease moving into a favorite apartment. It was a great little apartment, sunny and bright, with wood floors and moldings, as well as high ceilings and whitewashed walls. It was an older building; the type no longer built today. Although an older building; both building and apartment appeared fresh and new to me. The high ceilings, moldings and chandelier were special, interesting, and had a beauty of their own.

Located in NYC; a major metropolitan city, my apartment had easy access to all; transportation, such as buses and trains; stores, supermarkets, work, etc. The apartment, fresh and new, although in reality an older building, had easy access to all.

On a much, much smaller scale, it was similar to various national and international agreements and/or contracts signed the same year. Some of those agreements and/or contracts included: nationally, former president Clinton’s State of the Union Address; internationally, NAFTA, as well as the Kremlin Accords. Also given the same year were several Nobel Peace Prizes.

January 25, 1994, Bill Clinton delivered his State of the Union Address calling for health care reform, the ban on assault weapons and welfare reform. Necessary reforms, these reforms were needed by many, and at the very least, to reduce the budget; maintaining the economy, and in effect, the nation; with its prosperous businesses and population.

Fresh and new, but based on an earlier set of laws, these necessary reforms were needed by the economy for some time previously, allowing for, and the hope of, a brighter future in the US.

On an international level, in January, 1994, NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, was signed. This was an agreement and/or contract between Canada, Mexico and the US, creating a trade bloc between nations. This trade bloc allowed for open trade and equality between countries, and the elimination of tariffs, on particular items. Items such as eggs, corn and meat became tariff-free. With open trade and easier access to goods, such would be amenable to all. All three countries could maintain their independence, yet work together.

January 14, 1994, former president Bill Clinton and Russian president Boris Yeltsin signed the Kremlin Accords, stopping nuclear missiles towards each country’s targets. The Kremlin Accords also provided for dismantling of the nuclear arsenal in the Ukraine. Such actions would hopefully continue in their entirety and allow for a brighter future.

October 1994, Nobel Prizes were given for Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace and Economics signifying major advancements in these areas. Some of the recipients were Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, and Yitzhak Rabin.

My apartment also on a much, much smaller scale was the hope of a bright future; many twists and turns perhaps but bright and forward always.

All agreements and/or contracts and actions were based on previous older systems, situations and laws, and allowed for major advancements and improvements. All would hopefully continue in their entirety, and allow for a brighter future across the globe.

Blog 1.2

One piece of Zinsser advice of interest, discussed in class as well, included that words, are the “tools” of a writer. They should be “used with originality and care…Good writers of prose must be part poet… ” (page 36).
Also, “…develop a respect for words …. And about their shades of meaning…”. (page 32).

Rhythm, pattern, sound, uniqueness, length of sentence, etc. should be considered. Sentences should move along at various “gaits”. The order of a sentence can be reversed, the sentence length altered, a unique word substituted, and/or a phrase added, with emotional weight.
I believe I can pay more attention to rhythm, pattern, sentence length, uniqueness of words, etc.; perhaps, all of the above, to achieve better writing.

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