Professional Writing Portfolio

Sheehan Planas-Arteaga

Table of Contents

I. Internship Documents

i. Résumé

ii. Internship Evaluation by Supervisor

iii. Agency Evaluation by Intern

II. Professional Writing Program Portfolio

i. Introduction

ii. Internship Journals/Logs

III. Publications and Artifacts from Internship Site

i. Blogs

ii. Research/Proposals

iii. Social Media

IV. Miscellaneous Publications

i. Barry Buccaneer

ii. What Oft Was Thought

V. Portfolio Quality Papers

i. Essays

ii. Research Papers

iii. Humorous/Creative Pieces

VI. Conclusion

I. Internship Documents

Sheehan Planas-Arteaga 2439 Tequesta Lane, Miami, FL, 33133, 786-252-0022, planart9@gmail.com

Education Barry University – Miami Shores, Florida September 2011-December 2015

• BA in English, Professional Writing • Dean’s List for fall of 2011, Athletic Director’s List for spring of 2012, fall 2013, and fall 2014 • Took courses in Technical Writing, Creative Writing, Screenwriting, Literature, and Rhetoric

Belen Jesuit Preparatory School – Miami, FL August 2007- May 2011

Experience

Perfectly Frank Inc. November 2015-present • Wrote detailed reviews for restaurants based on service and quality, as well as for other types of

businesses, such as gyms

The One Agency May 2015-November 2015 • Worked as content writer, writing weekly blogs and marketing strategies/proposals for clients, as

well as researching potential ones, while also handling social media posting to increase site traffic

Seattle Mariners Baseball Club June 2014-present • Drafted by Seattle Mariners in 2014 MLB Player Draft, as a result of my skill set and intangibles

Cushman School January 2015-March 2015

• Taught baseball to children ranging from 6-13 years old, organizing practice schedules and using patience and reason to settle disputes with students

Easter Seals, South Florida May 2010-August 2010 • Assisted with care and supervision of elderly suffering from dementia, preparing exercise and

entertainment routines for patients

Activities & Publications

Barry University Baseball September 2011-June 2014 • Team captain for 2014 season due to leadership skills. Daktronics All-American and team MVP

Barry Buccaneer January 2012-May 2013

• Wrote for deadlines, as well as within word count limitations, on Barry sports topics

What Oft Was Thought • Published works in the 2013 and 2014 editions of Barry’s Literary journal, including a flash fiction

piece and a poem • Won the Sigma Tau Delta Poetry award, given to the student who creates the best piece of poetry

Skills

• Proficient in Spanish, both in speech and in writing • Proficient in Microsoft Office and experienced in design and production software • Proficient in technical writing, creative writing, screenwriting, argumentative writing, journalism,

literary analysis, and copywriting as a result of coursework and work history related to these styles

Barry University—College of Arts and Sciences—Department of English & Foreign Languages

Professional Writing Internship—Agency Evaluation Form

Name of Agency: The One Agency

Intern/Evaluator: Sheehan Planas-Arteaga

Training

1. What kind of training was provided by the organization?

Training involved how to properly manipulate various programs, including buffer, wordpress, and google drive. I was also trained on different writing styles, including writing for social media, proposals, and blogs

2. How useful did you find the training?

Very useful, as I used what they taught me practically every time I was given a job to do

3. In what ways could the training have been more helpful?

I would have liked at least one practice run after each training. However, my first time using the program was always for an official document

Work Environment

1. How did the organization’s staff respond to you as a volunteer?

They seemed to respond well throughout my time there, and were thankful for my help

2. Were you given assistance by staff when challenges or problems arose?

Yes. My weakness was technology, and any time I had an issue with a program my boss was sure to help me if I asked

3. How productive/comfortable was the physical work space?

Very comfortable. Everything was clean. Lounge area and a work area.

Supervision

1. How much supervision did you receive?

Occasionally I would work with my boss hands on. Other than that, my superiors sat in their offices while I was in the work area.

2. What kinds of support or coaching did you receive from on-site supervisor?

Coaching on how to manipulate the aforementioned programs, and help with different styles of writing

3. To what extent was the role of your on-site supervisor important to your internship?

She was important in getting me acclimated to all the intricacies of the job

Responsibilities

1. How well/clearly were assigned tasks explained to you?

Very clear. I was given deadlines and a clearly outlined objectives

2. Were you assigned a sufficient variety of tasks?

Yes. I had daily responsibilities and weekly ones as well, involving social media, research, proposals, and blogging

3. Were you given opportunities to exercise initiative?

I was given some creative freedom when it came to editing a movie and show treatment. In that case, I was able to impose some of my ideas.

Overall Evaluation

1. On the whole, how would you rate this internship opportunity?

Overall, very good experience. I learned many different skills related to writing styles and using different programs. I would be interested in working there again

2. Do you have any suggestions for improving the service opportunities at the organization where you worked? Please explain.

They could have organized my time management better, as there were instances where I had little to nothing to do, yet was still asked to come into the office. I could have worked remotely, and that would have prevented wasting many of my internship hours.

II. Professional Writing Program Portfolio

i. Introduction

From late May to late October, I was an intern at The One Agency (TOA) in Miami, FL.

TOA is a talent agency, meaning they handle the marketing and brand development of various

types of people. Their clients include professional athletes, musicians, artists, writers, and chefs,

among others.

Mr. Andrews and Ms. Zimichi were my supervisors at TOA. I was hired in order to

provide necessary writing material and insight related to sports, which they were lacking in at the

time. However, as my internship went on, my job encompassed many more responsibilities.

When my internship began in May, my responsibilities were sports-related. I was asked

to handle daily social media posting related to sports, as well as weekly blog posting about a

major topic in the sports world. I fulfilled these duties until late August, when I was asked to

write become more involved in the marketing of athletes and various other types of clients.

My new responsibilities for TOA included me conducting research reports on potential

clients, writing blogs focused on different types of clients and events. I was also asked to create

marketing strategies and proposals for prospective clients, as well as current ones. I was also

asked to edit movie treatments, as Mr. Andrews, the CEO, had several television and film ideas

that he wanted to come to fruition. These different types of jobs affected the writing styles I

utilized, as I alternated between a direct, economic style and a more descriptive, eloquent one. I

also wrote a weekly personal blog which highlighted the happenings of my time at TOA.

I learned many things during my time at TOA. My main deficiency when I arrived was

not being knowledgeable in the manipulation of certain popular programs. These included

Google Drive, Buffer, WordPress, and Twitter. Since it was necessary for me to be at least

adequate with these tools, Ms. Zimichi took it upon herself to teach me the basic ins and outs of

each of them. By the end of my internship, I was serviceable using all of these programs, which

helped me tremendously in fulfilling my many Internet-based duties for the company.

Furthermore, I received writing assignments that I had never dabbled into, including

social media posting, movie and television treatments, and marketing proposals. This resulted in

me learning to expand my writing ability in order to encompass the styles necessary to complete

these assignments. I was comfortable with the descriptive, blog-writing style, as I have done

similar things at Barry. However, the economic wordage needed for social media was something

I refined while at TOA, as I dealt with hard word count limitations daily. I also learned about

writing for marketing, which was needed when I had to promote a client, or potential client.

Marketing jargon was not something I was familiar with at the onset. However, I eventually

became comfortable using this type of language, and it further expanded my abilities as a writer.

ii. Internship Journals/Logs

SUMMER LOG

5/21-8/24

Action:

Throughout the summer portion of my internship, I was away from home playing

professional baseball. As a result, I had to work remotely, and discussed topics with my boss

over the phone and over video chat. Most of what I did over the summer was social media

posting: five a day for Twitter, two a day for Facebook, one a day for Google+ and LinkedIN. It

was not until I arrived in Miami that my boss decided to remind me that they no longer need

Google+, and only require one post for Facebook. I would do this seven times a week, because

that is what was asked of me. She would also inform me upon my arrival that they stopped

posting on the weekends months ago. I guess she had a busy summer and it slipped her mind.

Nevertheless, I did not mind the extra work, as it was very good practice.

The other aspect of my summer internship was a weekly blog. Every Tuesday, the agency

would post a 400-500 word blog on their website, under the news section. Topics ranged from

fashion, to entertainment, to sports. Prior to me working for them, The One Agency did not have

someone with expertise in the sports world. That is where they turned to me. I was now in charge

of writing about a weekly sports topic. The first one was about the Conference Finals in the

NBA. I had to forecast the matchups and make predictions. The next one involved the possible

soccer stadium partnership between David Beckham and Donna Shalala. After that, I wrote

about the FIFA scandals, the NBA Finals, Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th hit, NBA Free Agency, and

the Women's World Cup. I thoroughly enjoyed writing every one of them, and my boss told me

that the amount of website views went up after I started posting them. I was slightly limited in

how I was allowed to portray some of the athletes I wrote about. As my boss always said,

"Everyone is a potential client." I had to be very objective, but I was still able to add some flair.

Unfortunately, Mr. Andrews eventually wanted us to focus on the clients and the prospective

clients, so I had to stop blogging and start researching.

Reflection:

The summer was challenging for me. I had to focus on baseball as well as keep up with

my internship responsibilities. This often involved getting back to our apartment after a game at

around midnight, then working on social media or my blog. On the road, it was always a struggle

to find a reliable wifi network. Some of the hotels we stayed in were relatively nice, but some of

them were not. When we were in the less-luxurious places, I sometimes had to sit in the lobby

late at night, or even have a friend or coach take to a local Starbucks, assuming they were still

open. There were a few times when the wifi in our apartment would stop functioning. If it was

late at night when this happened, I would have no way to fulfill my social media duties, as

businesses that offered free internet were closed. In these cases, I would have to wake up very

early in order to get it done before it was too late. The first posting is usually scheduled to go out

at 9 AM, meaning I would have to finish before then and be ready to head to the field, which we

typically did at around 10 AM. There were definitely some challenges, but I made it work. I did

not miss one social media or blog deadline, which I am very proud of.

9/7-9/13 -- WEEK 1

This week at The One Agency, I was only required to come into the office once. My boss

is out of town, and her boss (the founder of the agency) doesn't always come in. In total, I

worked about ten hours.

Five of the hours were dedicated to posting on the company's social media sources from

Monday to Friday. Every day, I posted five times on Twitter, once on Facebook, and once on

LinkedIN. The Twitter posts involved postgame baseball scores, the U.S. Open, NFL injuries,

etc., the Facebook posts were related to NFL player contract news, and the LinkedIN posts

involved athlete marketability and endorsements.

The other five hours saw me help out the head of the company with some of his projects.

He has several movie ideas that he made treatments for, with his brother. It is my job to "make

sure he doesn't embarrass himself" when he takes them to someone that works for HBO. He has

a relationship with said person, so hopefully he/she is gentle with him. The movies are absolutely

atrocious. I've tried to drop subtle hints about changes that need to be made, and it has definitely

caused improvement. But he is pretty stubborn when it comes to most of my suggestions.

Nevertheless, at least the treatments will be well-written.

9/14-9/20 -- WEEK 2

Action:

This week at The One Agency, the CEO and I were largely focused on potential clients,

mostly in the form of college athletes. Mr. Andrews has me research potential clients, as well as

formulate possible advertising campaigns that he would be able to use in the event that the

athletes sign with the agency. This research involves their upside as athletes, meaning I look up

their high school/college statistics, as well as their professional prospects. I also research the

athlete's' marketability. The player must have a clean and positive image, on and off the field,

which can largely be displayed on Twitter/Instagram.

My CEO also gave me the task of finding a videographer. One of his clients is an artist,

who is quite an extrovert, apparently. He wants to make a pitch for a TV show, which would

center on him. What he needs is edited footage of the artist, hence the need for a videographer. I

emailed the head of the School of Communications at the University of Miami, asking if anyone

would be interested in expanding their portfolios by accepting this project. I am also going to

meet with the head of the School of Communications at Barry to see if there's anyone available.

The last task of the week was to reach out to Crispin Porter & Bogusky. CP+B is one of

the largest advertising agencies in the world, and they have several accounts that my boss is

interested in. The upcoming NASCAR stadium in Homestead has been surprisingly unsuccessful

in luring in franchises and businesses. Mr. Andrews wants to bring forward business ideas for

some of CP+B's accounts, which would involve partnering with NASCAR. They would then

take his ideas to the businesses, and he would get a commission. My girlfriend is a creative

designer for CP+B, so I have some sort of in.

I did the same type of Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIN posting I did last week.

Reflection:

I enjoyed the work I did this past week. I didn't have to do any serious writing, but I liked

the business aspect of my internship. I hope that I can get a videographer soon, because my boss

is very excited about his TV pitch. The writing I did do was concise and to-the-point. It just had

to be research-type writing that they can use to create a presentation to present to potential

clients. These presentations are usually in the form of a slideshow, meaning the sentence

structure is typically short and sweet. I felt that my writing should be similar to that, so there

wasn't anything special about it. I am also very excited about the potential of the CP+B ideas. I

can potentially make the agency a lot of money, which would definitely bode well for my future.

9/21-9/27 -- WEEK 3

Action:

This week at The One Agency, my two bosses were very active, and I had to come in

every day of the school week. They were heavily focused on their current clients, as opposed to

their prospective clients.

One of them is a chef. Their idea was to get her a sponsorship with a local grocery store,

who can then promote her and fund some of her culinary events and whatnot. They told me to

seek out either Publix or Whole Foods. It was my job to find the contact information of the

person in charge of marketing, then pass that info along to my boss so that they can discuss the

business side of it. I found the marketing director of Whole Foods, who was a very nice woman

eager to hear what my boss had to say. Publix was a little more difficult, I guess because they are

a larger chain. I was able to find their marketing director's contact info, though I wasn't able to

talk to her.

Later on in the week, a salesman came into the office to give a presentation on something

called the Magic Mirror. That thing has to be one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I felt like

I was in the movie Minority Report. It looks like any mirror, until you touch it. Then it springs to

life and becomes a tablet/computer/television. It can also sense when you're looking at it, and

greets you when you walk by. I had to sit in on the presentation to give my opinion, and I really

hope they buy it. I guess it's meant to impress visitors.

The most interesting thing I had to do was sit in on a business meeting with television

producers. Mr. Andrews set up a meeting with two accomplished producers, who have done

VH1 shows, to pitch his idea for a series centering on our eccentric and talented artist. I enjoyed

seeing the negotiations take place, and even got a chance to contribute to some of the

conversation, mostly about the possible setup of the show. The only downside of the meeting

was when I read the show treatment. I had no part in writing it, as my boss wrote it. Though she

majored in English at Barry, Spanish is her first language, and it showed. There were

grammatical mistakes all over the place, including the title, and it just looked hastily thrown

together. I hope the producers overlook that, because it was incredibly unprofessional.

Reflection:

This week was not as rewarding as the previous week. Though I did get to sit in on the

business meeting, as well as witness the coolest invention ever in the Magic Mirror, I didn't do

much writing apart from the daily social media posting. I made sure to pick my spots in the

meeting, as I didn't want to make a fool of myself in front of the businessmen. My shining

moment came when the discussions had finished, and one of the producers asked what my

position was. I told him I was just an intern and that I helped with writing and research. He was

surprised, and said that he thought I was one of Mr. Andrews' partners. That made me feel pretty

good about how I did, and I hope I can keep it up.

9/28-10/5 -- WEEK 4

Action:

This week at The One Agency, I had to come in from Monday to Thursday, as Mr.

Andrews travelled to Gainesville to meet with a prospective client on Friday. It was not a very

active week for me. I did not do much writing, other than the social media posting, and there

were no meetings for me to attend.

The work that I did do involved our current clients. My boss had me edit some things that

she wrote related to the artist client that we have. I hope she has me edit everything she ever

writes for this company, because she is a nice person but an awful writer.

My boss also had me write an email regarding our DJ for her to send out to art galleries.

They want an art gallery that will be featured in Art Basel to hire him to spin for the event. It was

just a paragraph or two about how a proper playlist enhances the experience of the art patron,

making it an auditory experience, as well as a visual one.

I also wrote a short blog for the company, about our celebrity chef. She will be speaking

at an event called the Brazilian Festival, which is an annual event that will be in Pompano Beach

this year. She plans to discuss techniques that restaurants can use in order to be health-savvy and

eco-friendly. I wrote about what her trademark style is, which is environmentally-safe cooking

and healthy, delicious dishes. I also wrote about what this event involves, which is Brazilian

culture. It was a couple hundred words.

The worst part of the week was when I shared it with my boss. She took it upon herself to

edit some of the stuff I wrote, which I had already proof-read several times for mistakes and

clarity. She ended up adding some grammatical errors. My personal favorite was when she

changed this sentence, which began "Tokyo Blue Miami will host Isa's VIP discussion, since it is

one of the first establishments..." She made it "Tokyo Blue Miami will host Isa's VIP discussion,

since it's one of the firsts establishments..." I changed it back. She needs to realize what her

strengths and weaknesses are.

Reflection:

My work this week was pretty boring, though I did enjoy getting to write a blog again.

This allowed me to stretch my legs a little when it came to writing. I hope they rely on me for

things like this in the future, as I would enjoy the opportunity to write more pieces for the

company. The research I've done is fine, but the best part of the internship is the different styles

of writing I get to use.

10/6-10/11 -- WEEK 5

Action:

This week at The One Agency, I was only asked to come in three times. On Wednesday, I

asked to have the day off so that I could properly study for a Dr. Schanfield Shakespeare

midterm, which was on Thursday. My boss let me work remotely on Friday, as it was the

beginning of fall break at Barry.

My work this week involved a lot of research, mostly related to Art Basel. Mr. Andrews

really wants to explore the possibilities this festival has to offer for his clients, particularly his

artist and his DJ. I was asked to find galleries that would possibly be interested in either or both

of them. There are over 250 galleries, so I have my work cut out for me.

I was also asked to find out if their were any opportunities for another client, an actor. He

wanted to know if there were options for a celebrity guest or host; anything that he can do while

he is at the festival, which he plans on attending anyway. My girlfriend's cousin works for Art

Basel, so I managed to get a hold of her and ask if there are ever any events that feature

entertainers or other types of celebrities as guests or whatnot. She said that they have art

interpretation in which many celebrities come on to give their opinions about the pieces. Last

year Pharrell was the main one. Other than that, she said there are also instances in which famous

people will host a gala/dinner type occasion to celebrate one of the artists or galleries. She gave

me the contact info of the person in charge of these things, which I passed along to my boss. She

also gave me the info of the person to contact in order to get tickets to these events. I passed

everything along to my superiors.

I did the same old stuff in terms of social media posting

Reflection:

My work this week wasn't very challenging in a writing sense. However, the research was

not easy. While finding a gallery for the artist is just grunt work (I click each link one by one till

I find one with art that looks similar to our artist's work), I had to do some thinking to find the

Art Basel connection I have. My job has evolved from the sports-guy to the everything-guy,

which I take as a sign that I've proven myself trustworthy to handle bigger and more versatile

tasks.

10/12-10/18 -- WEEK 6

Action:

This week at The One Agency, I did not have to do very much. I did my part, which was

to provide my superiors with information that allows them to market their clients at Art Basel. I

had to come in four of the five weekdays.

The one real task I had was to write a blog about Art Basel. My boss had me write a short

bio about the history and the makeup of the event, as well as what is in store for this year's

festival in Miami Beach. I then had to provide the reader with info on who from TOA might be

there, namely our artist, chef, and actor clients. The entire blog was a couple hundred words.

I was also asked to post my previous blog, which was about the celebrity chef. I got to

learn a little about Word Press, which is the program we use for posting on the TOA website.

I did the usual social media posting.

Reflection:

This week was pretty boring, but I did enjoy writing for the blog. Though Art Basel doesn't

particularly interest me, it was nice to be able to write a blog again. My writing was pretty basic,

as I was basically rewording what I looked up online. Still, it was better than nothing.

10/19-10/25 -- WEEK 7

Action:

This week at The One Agency, I had to come in every day from Monday to Friday.

Though I was mostly pretty bored, I did have two assignments to focus on.

The first involved editing Mr. Andrews's latest project, which a movie called The Last

Crown Holder. He shared his storyline with me, which him and his brother developed, on

Google Drive. He is not a capable writer, to put it lightly, but he acknowledges this, and had me

edit it to make it grammatically and stylistically correct. The story itself makes absolutely no

sense and is quite ridiculous in several parts. However, I just did my part in editing it and told

him it had potential when he asked me what my thoughts were.

My other assignment was to compile and organize research on something called a

CHDO. It is a government policy that allows non-profit organizations who purchase property to

be tax-exempt, or something like that. All I did was copy and paste info onto a Google Drive

document and organize it into different sections. Mr. Andrews is interested in real estate-type

projects, and he apparently has a few on the horizon.

I did my usual social media posting.

Reflection:

I did not do any real writing this week, as I mostly organized and edited things that were

already written. My interactions related to The Last Crown Holder with Mr. Andrews are a test

in tact, as I don't want to just tell him that his story is insane. However, I also don't want him to

make a fool of himself when he takes this treatment to some sort of producer. Hopefully, he'll

listen to some suggestions that I think would improve the story.

III. Publications and Artifacts from InternshipSite

i. Blogs

This aspect of my internship at The One Agency (TOA) involved me writing blogs, often

weekly, on the topic of their choosing. My first few months with the company saw me writing

sports stories exclusively, in which I would write about a prominent topic every week. Later on, I

wrote stories about upcoming events, as they related to our clients, as well as blogs about our

clients themselves. The following three pieces are examples of the various topics I covered.

Alex Rodriguez’s 3,000th Hit Reminds Us All Of What He Is,

And What He Once Was

By: Sheehan Planas-Arteaga

Justin Verlander delivered a much too hittable pitch. A 95 MPH fastball nonetheless, but one that

caught too much of the plate. The rest, literally and figuratively, was history. As Alex

Rodriguez’s 3,000th hit soared into the stands in Yankee Stadium, everyone was reminded just

how good this 39-year-old man still is at baseball.

Unfortunately, we were reminded of a few other things as well.

We were reminded of the A-Rod we once knew. The 18-year-old wunderkind, whose

unimaginable talent was matched only by his charisma and effortless swagger. The one who was

to become the greatest there ever was, while teaming up with fellow immortal, Ken Griffey Jr.,

to deliver championship after championship to the Seattle Mariners.

We were reminded of the A-Rod in his prime. The one who used his prolific combination of

power and speed to haul in three MVP awards. The one who finally fulfilled part of his destiny

by capturing that elusive World Series title. The player who was “Baseball’s Savior,” called

upon to smash the records of the evil and diabolical steroid users.

Ultimately, we were reminded of the most recent act of A-Rod’s career. The first admission of

steroid-use. The Biogenesis scandal that originally caused a 211-game suspension. The suit

against MLB and its player’s union. The record 162-game suspension he served for the 2014

season. The title as one of the “Most Hated Athletes In America” he carries with him everywhere

outside of New York (home team) and Miami (hometown).

And yet, A-Rod continues to hit. Pushing 40, bad hip, year off from the game, no PEDs (we

assume), and the man can still demolish a baseball with the best of them. Thus far, he has made

about as good a comeback as anyone could have foreseen, and the Yankees will need the ride to

continue if they want to be playing in October.

But how will this story end?

Maybe, just maybe, the closing scenes of A-Rod’s career will be positive ones. Maybe he will

continue to speak via the cracks of his bat, as they resonate through Yankee Stadium. Maybe he

renews his certification as one of the greatest talents ever, one that did not need PEDs for flaws

in his game, but for flaws in his psyche. Cooperstown is more than likely not in Rodriguez’s

future. But maybe, when he has finally left the game, we will still remind ourselves just how

truly great A-Rod was on a baseball field.

For more on the latest news and trends, follow us on Twitter @_TheOneAgency and like us on

Facebook!

Art Basel Coming To Miami Beach This December

By: Sheehan Planas-Arteaga

For over four decades, Art Basel has served as a beacon of fine art and culture from both the 20th

and 21st centuries. Every year, this festival features some of the most famous and established

artists from around the world, all looking to display their pieces in front of millions of patrons.

Come December, Miami will be receiving an influx of cultural beauty, as Art Basel makes its

yearly stop in the Sunshine State.

From December 3rd to the 6th, exactly 267 galleries will fill up the Miami Beach Convention

Center with color, beauty, and class, as thousands of artists will put their talents on display.

Various parts of the world will be well-represented at this event, with 32 countries from the likes

of South America, Asia, Europe, and Africa all exhibiting their art. For patrons who have been to

this festival before, there are some exciting new artwork to take in, as 29 of the galleries will be

featured in Art Basel for the first time.

This year’s Art Basel will also have multiple events and functions featuring several public

figures and celebrities, all supporting the astounding culture they are surrounded by. TOA aims

to be well-represented in this regard, as clients such as DJ 360, artist Rich B. Caliente, celebrity

chef Isa Souza, and actor Randall Pierre may all make appearances. Don't miss this opportunity

to entrench yourself in culture and beauty from around the world, as Art Basel makes its way to

the 305 this winter.

For more on the latest news and trends, follow us on Twitter @_TheOneAgency and like us on

Facebook!

Isa Souza, VIP Speaker at The Brazilian Festival

By: Sheehan Planas-Arteaga

In today's day and age, many celebrity chefs care as much about the quality of their cooking as

they do the health and environmental implications of it.

Renowned chef Isa Souza is a part of this trend, as she makes delicious and healthy dishes using

eco-friendly methods. This master chef has developed a trademark and innovative style that

combines balance, sophistication, and a wide array of flavors, making all of her creations

delicious.

On October 17th, Isa will be featured as the VIP speaker at The 4th Annual Brazilian Festival,

which aims to build awareness about Environmental protection and recycling.

The festival will take place in Pompano Beach, Florida, where native Brazilian, Isa will entertain

the crowd with culinary tips and tricks to remain healthy and eco-friendly. This style has become

a large part of her reputation as a chef.

Tokyo Blue Miami will host Isa's VIP discussion, since it is one of first establishments to

implement the eco-friendly methods in Florida.

The ONE Agency welcomes everyone to enjoy Isa’s delicious, healthy, and environmentally-

friendly dishes in a day dedicated to Brazil’s sights, sounds, and flavors here in our very own

South Florida.

For more on the latest news and trends, follow us on Twitter @_TheOneAgency and like us on

Facebook!

ii. Research/Proposals

Another aspect of my internship involved me creating research reports for potential

clients as well as formulating advertising/marketing plans to present to these said prospects. I

was charged with compiling relevant information on the person in order for TOA to make a

decision on pursuing him/her or not. Once that person was listed among the agency’s potential

clients, I was often asked to create a marketing strategy they could use to lure him/her in. The

following are examples of some of these research and marketing strategies

Laquon Treadwell/Bridgestone Tire Proposal

Tire Industry

Several tire companies routinely haul in millions, and even billions of dollars of revenue per

year. These companies are the largest consumers of rubber in the world, as they sell over one

billion units annually. According to recent studies, the automotive tire market will be worth

666.6 million units by 2019. Industries associated with these companies include automotives,

cycling, and aircrafts, ensuring that there will always be a need for their products.

Bridgestone

Currently, the largest manufacturer of tires in the world is Bridgestone, which was founded in

1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi. The company's total revenue is north of 3 trillion dollars, with their

yearly profit usually surpassing 100 billion.

Problem

The tire industry, as many other industries, use brand ambassadors, celebrity endorsements, and

spokespersons in order to expand and market their products. Be it a racing team, a driver, a

cyclist, or even an entire league, tire manufacturers like Bridgestone are always looking for a

way to spread their brand. In the case of spokespersons, the company searches for people who

can produce sales through their already-established image, as well as their compatibility with the

Bridgestone name. Laquon Treadwell is a prime example of someone who will fit this billing.

About Laquon Treadwell

Since arriving at the University of Mississippi, Laquon Treadwell has evolved into one of the

most electric pass catchers in all of college football. As a freshman, he was named the SEC

Freshman of the Year, joining the likes of Emmitt Smith and Peyton Manning. He lead his team

in receptions and set school records for yards, receptions, and touchdowns as a freshman.

Laquon's sophomore season was off to a blistering start, as he had already surpassed his yardage

total and matched his touchdown total, all in four less games. Unfortunately, he then sustained a

lower leg injury against Auburn, which ended his season. Normally, an event like this can

completely derail a player's career, often ending it altogether. However, Treadwell is not an

ordinary player.

After an entire offseason of rigorous rehabilitation and training, Laquon has managed to make a

full recovery, and is in the midst of his best season yet as he leads the 3rd-ranked Rebels on their

quest for a national championship.

Laquon is consistently projected to be selected in the 1st round of the 2016 NFL Draft. With

catching ability, intelligence, speed, and strength, the 6'2", 215 lb wide receiver is everything

scouts want. Couple these gifts with his solid character, and there is little preventing Mr.

Treadwell from having his name called very early in the draft.

Laquon’s Brand

39.7K followers on Twitter,

56.1K on Instagram

Off-Field Brand

Laquon Treadwell represents much more than simply a star athlete. In his time at Ole Miss, he

has become a fan favorite, evident by the bevy of fan mail he received after his season-ending

injury last season. Fans of all ages expressed their support and prayers for Laquon, who has been

described as a deeply religious and humble young man. Treadwell's social media pages feature

over thousands of followers on Instagram and Twitter. His fan base will only continue to grow as

his accomplishments pile up.

Laquon also does not shy away from charity work. He has expressed interest in founding an

organization that would focus on childhood literacy, specifically in the Chicago, Illinois area

where he was raised. The Treadwell Foundation, as he will like to call it, would spread the love

of reading to youngsters that may not have access to books and other reading materials.

Strategic Relationships

Due to Laquon Treadwell's marketability, as well as his perfectly-fitting name, it makes sense for

him to have an endorsement with a large tire manufacturer like Bridgestone. The two brands can

form marketing campaigns with messages surrounding endurance, strength and courage.

Marketing Strategy

In today's day and age, there are dozens of mediums from which to market a product. From print,

to social media, to television, the variety of marketing strategies has expanded greatly. Laquon

Treadwell's partnership with Bridgestone could be shown in a commercial, possibly displaying

Laquon's catching ability, as well as the tires' ability to catch the road. "TreadWell with

Bridgestone," is an example of the many slogans that apply perfectly to an ad campaign featuring

Laquon. This slogan can be featured on print ads, displaying a receiving Treadwell with a racing

set of Bridgestone tires. Laquon can also do marketing campaign where he has his team and

other training facilities use Bridgestone tires as practicing tools, so that the merge is organic. The

ideas and possibilities are endless.

Meet Vernon Hargreaves III

Vernon Hargreaves III is a junior defensive back at the University of Florida. He is the son of

Vernon Hargreaves Jr., and Jackie Hargreaves. He graduated from Wharton High School in

2013, in Tampa, Florida. His father coaches the linebackers at the University of Arkansas.

Social Media

Vernon has become a fan-favorite since he arrived in Gainesville, evident by his 35.9K Twitter

followers, 43.6 Instagram followers, and excellent fan reception on social media.

High School Career

While attending Wharton High School, Vernon excelled both in football and in track and field.

As a senior, he amassed 110 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 5 forced fumbles, while also scoring 5

touchdowns on offense. For his efforts, he was named Class 8A Defensive Player of the Year,

and a USA Today First Team All-American. He was also named the MVP of the Under Armour

All-America game, as he recorded 5 tackles and an interception.

Hargreaves III also excelled in track and field, as both a sprinter and jumper. In 2012, he ran a

personal-best 22.56 in the 200M, while also placing in the top 5 at the FHSAA District Meet in

both the 100M dash and the long jump.

Vernon was heavily recruited throughout his high school career. He was labeled a five-star

recruit, and Rivals.com tabbed him as the nation's best cornerback, as well as the second best

overall prospect. After receiving offers from Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami, and dozens of

others, he chose to become a Florida Gator, and he has not missed a beat.

College Career

Vernon Hargreaves III acclimated very quickly to the speed of the college game. His first

playing opportunity came as a true freshman, during the second game of the season against the

rival Miami Hurricanes. He did not look back, as he would finish the season with 38 tackles and

3 interceptions, earning First Team All-SEC, Third Team All-America, and National Defensive

Freshman of the Year honors.

As a sophomore, Hargreaves III somehow managed to improve upon his stellar freshman

campaign. He racked up 50 tackles, an SEC-leading 13 pass break-ups, and 3 more interceptions.

His biggest pick of the season came in the Gators' bowl game against ECU, when Vernon's

interception in the end zone sealed Florida's 28-20 victory. For his efforts, he was selected as a

First Team All-American, and a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, awarded to the

nation's top defensive player.

Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds 2013 Florida SEC FR DB 12 26 12 38 0.0 0.0 3 39 2014 Florida SEC SO DB 12 31 19 50 2.0 0.0 3 0 Career 24 57 31 88 2.0 0.0 6 39

NFL Prospects

Vernon Hargreaves III's athleticism and instincts have caught the eyes of NFL scouts since he

arrived at the University of Florida. ESPN analyst and three-time All-American, David Pollack

has said that Vernon has been a 1st-round caliber player since he was a freshman. "...best

cornerback I studied. He's that good. He's instinctive, balanced, [and] understands route

concepts." said Pollack. If Hargreaves III continues to excel for the Gators, his mix of speed

(4.48 40-yard dash), quickness, versatility, leaping ability, and knowledge should make him one

of the top defensive backs picked in the 2016 NFL Draft, and a potential top-10 overall pick.

Vernon Hargreaves III's Off-Field Brand

Off the field, Vernon Hargreaves III has been described as an unassuming, quietly confident

young man, who has always let his play do the talking. However, as an incoming junior and one

of the leaders for the Gators, Vernon has started showing a little bit of gusto, as he recently

declared himself the "best corner in the country," as well as saying that Florida will feature the

nation's best secondary. Hargreaves III is also a resilient and determined person. The one knock

NFL scout have against him is his relatively small stature, (5'11, 190 lbs). He responded by

putting on 14 solid pounds, while also admitting that he is constantly focused on his pursuit of an

NFL career.

iii. Social Media

Social Media was also a part of my internship. I was placed in charge of all social media

postings involving sports. I handled posting on Twitter (5-7/day), Facebook (1-2/day), LinkedIn

(1-2/day), and Google+ (1-2/day). The Twitter posts usually involved daily scores, injuries,

trades, etc. The Facebook material was related to larger, developing stories. Finally, LinkedIn

and Google+ dealt with the business aspect of the sports world, usually involving contracts and

endorsements. The following is an example of a regular day’s worth of sports-related social

media postings.

Twitter:

#Virgina shuts out #Vanderbilt 3-0 to force winner-take-all game 3 of #CWS.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/baseball/cws/story/_/id/13138709/college-world-series-virginia-cavaliers-blank-vanderbilt-commodores-force-game-3-finale

#GiancarloStanton hits 484-foot blast, but #Marlins lose to #Cardinals 4-3.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=350623128

#Japan defeats #Netherlands 2-1 to reach #Women'sWorldCup quarterfinals.

http://www.espnfc.com/womens-world-cup/match/422270/japan-netherlands/report

#NHL implements 3 on 3 style overtime rules, beginning in 2016 season.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/13137930/nhl-general-managers-vote-make-overs-3-skaters-per-side

#Dodgers fan catches foul ball while feeding baby.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/13138017/chicago-cubs-fan-keith-hartley-robs-los-angeles-dodgers-first-baseman-adrian-gonzalez-foul-ball-holding-7-month-old-son

#MichaelJordan and his #CharlotteHornets to host 2017 #NBA All-Star Game.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13134713/charlotte-hornets-host-nba-all-star-game-2017

Facebook:

#TomBrady's appeal of his 4-game suspension for #Deflategate lasts 10 hours.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/13137796/appeal-hearing-new-england-patriots-qb-tom-brady-ends-10-hours-testimony

If the #HallofFame is to accurately document baseball history, both good and bad, #PeteRose belongs in #Cooperstown.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13136055/pete-rose-belongs-hall-fame

LinkedIn:

The Charlotte basketball franchise continues to reinvent itself, as it will host 2017 NBA All-Star Game.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article25330123.html

Google+:

The Miami Heat partnering with luxury brands is a unique but useful tactic for the franchise.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciajessop/2014/06/12/the-miami-heats-partnerships-with-luxury-brands-creates-unique-in-arena-experiences-for-fans/

IV. Miscellaneous Publications

i. Barry Buccaneer

Early in my Barry career, I had a job as a sports writer for the school’s newspaper, the

Barry Buccaneer. Every month, I was asked to write a story on an event, team, player, coach,

etc., who was somehow related to the Buccaneers. I was given varying word counts, but I was

usually restricted to 500 words. These assignments often required research and interviews, as

player, fan, and coach perspectives helped add depth to my stories. The following is an example

of one of these articles.

Buccaneer Basketball Celebrates Seniors

As is the nature of every endeavor, all good things must come to an end. This year, for

the men and women’s basketball team, a select few players will conclude their tenure for the

Buccaneers. On the men’s side, Evan White will finish his Barry playing career this season,

while on the women’s side, Shanna Suttington, Danielle DeBerry, Glaucia Lehn, Jen Mitchell,

Yvonne Houston, and Alexandria Zamora will play their final games donning the red and black.

The men’s team, though not losing nearly as many players as the women’s team, will

have to replace their leading and most prolific scorer in Evan White. The senior from Ft. Wayne,

Indiana is currently averaging 13.5 points per game and has been a driving force for the

Buccaneers all season. The women’s team must deal the loss of both quality and quantity in this

situation. They are going to be charged with replacing six graduating seniors, all of whom have

been productive for the Bucs. While this may seem like a significant obstacle to overcome, it will

be just as difficult for the players to pull through once the season has ended. When asked what it

is she would miss the most from her experience as a Barry University basketball player, Danielle

DeBerry replied, “I’m going to miss being with the team the most. Knowing you have a second

family away from home is one of the best feelings to have. There are many memories I’ll have to

look back on when it’s over and wish I was still a part of.”

Some of these players, namely Evan White, hope for greener pastures after they are no

longer on the Buccaneer roster. It terms of what his plans are after the season has concluded, he

said, “It all depends. If the opportunity presents itself, I will take advantage of it. But my ideal

situation would be of course doing something that I love. If a team overseas recognizes my talent

that would be great.”

One thing is certain; these seniors have each made their own unique mark upon the

basketball program at Barry University. In one way or another, these seniors have affected their

fellow teammates, classmates, and coaches. Cassie Bro, an assistant coach on the women’s team,

had this to say, “They really love to play the game of basketball, but even more importantly they

want the team to be successful. They have their eyes set on a goal much greater than

themselves.”

On February 25th, come out and support your senior Buccaneers on Senior Night. Watch

as they continue to pour their hearts onto the court for Barry and try to lead their teams as far as

possible this season. Give a little back to our senior Bucs, for they have given all they have for

us.

ii. What Oft Was Thought

Every year, Barry releases its literary journal, What Oft Was Thought, which features the

some of the school’s best literary pieces in various genres, including short story, flash fiction,

poetry, essay, and others. I was published in this journal in 2013 and 2014. The first was for a

flash fiction story, and the second was for a poem. The latter won the Sigma Tau Delta poetry

award, given to the best poem written by a Barry student. It is called, “Big Red Shoes.”

Big Red Shoes

The children laughed and the children played,

As my big red shoes worked their charm.

But after the act, none had stayed,

As the confetti would slide off my arm.

My big red shoes went up the stair,

With graffiti strewn on the wall.

My right hand held to my colorful hair,

My left held a squeaky, red ball.

I reached the door of room 310,

And opened with a grate and a creek.

I dropped my gimmicks and entered my den,

With mold and a new faucet leak.

I peeled of my shirt of green and blue,

And removed my shoes gleaming red.

I took off my pants, and began to remove,

The paint stuck across my head.

I, the jester, sat in my room,

And buried my face in my hands.

The floor was cluttered with bits of costume,

And crushed and empty beer cans.

Tears seeped through and moistened the floor,

As the terrible irony set in.

The big red shoes twinkled near the door,

And the colors dripped off my skin.

V. Portfolio Quality Papers

i. Essays

While at Barry, I took many classes that involved essay-writing. This type of writing was

required in classes such as argumentative writing and rhetorical analysis. This style called for

heavy analysis and logic, all in an attempt to get a point across to the reader. The following is an

example of one of these essays.

“A Tale of Two Sex Hormones” Analysis

In Anthony Esolen’s essay entitled “A Tale of Two Sex Hormones,” he discovers the

double standards held in the minds of Americans towards steroids and estrogen. Steroids are

viewed as reprehensible and immoral, while estrogen is simply seen as a natural enhancer. He

examines how the two are very similar in their overall effects, the intention of the user, as well as

the morality behind their use. He calls many of the ideas that American society currently

subscribes too into question, as they are the main reason why we have adopted this double

standard. This essay uses myriad rhetorical techniques in order to sway the reader, appealing to

our emotion, logic, personal experience, etc.

Esolen begins his essay by telling the story of Barry Bonds’ ascension towards becoming

the most prolific and decorated homerun hitter ever. Bonds holds the Major League Baseball

record for homeruns in a single season (73), as well as in an entire career (762). However, Bonds

has been linked to performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), particularly steroids. These drugs

increase the testosterone production inside the body, making it easier for an athlete to build

muscle and recover from injury. Put simply, an athlete who takes steroids will become stronger,

faster, and healthier in a relatively short period of time. While the use of steroids is legal with

medical prescription, its use in the world of sports is entirely illegal.

Esolen states how, during 1999, Bonds was beginning to wear down as an athlete. He was

no longer as fine-tuned a machine as he had been in his earlier days, for he was now 35 and

nearing the typical age of retirement from baseball. His batting average dropped to .262, and he

appeared in only 102 of the 162 total games, both his lowest statistics in a decade. Then

suddenly, he appeared the following spring training with an entirely new physique. As Esolen

writes, “Bonds arrived in camp the next year with a new body. He had put on weight, but lost

body fat. And his bat speed was breathtaking, so much so that pitchers were afraid of leaving the

ball anywhere over the plate.”

Bonds would go on to have a streak unlike any other player in Major League History. In

2001, he launched 73 homeruns, 24 more than his previous high, and had a slugging percentage

of .863, nearly 200 points greater than any of his other years. In 2004, and the advanced

baseball-age of 40, he drew 232 walks, smashing the previous record 198 that was also set by

him. From 2001 to 2004, he would break the walk record three times, a record that was

previously held for 78 years, evidence that pitchers were truly unwilling to pitch to such a

monstrous hitter.

Due to the many ties and allegations of illegal steroid use that have been linked to Bonds’

name, Esolen assumes that he was guilty of cheating. He then discusses the immorality behind

the use of these drugs, as well as explaining why baseball fans are so vehemently against these

athletes. “Lovers of baseball have…decried these years as the “steroid era.” They accuse the

players of a kind of cheating that goes far beyond the gamesmanship... In fact, they seem

unwilling to elect any of the cheaters to the Hall of Fame, at least until many years pass by.”

Esolen delves further into the issue that baseball fans have with these players. He

explains that, if we are to give them equal footing compared to players of the past, then we

would “immiserate” those who did not use steroids. He states, “It would also compromise the

venerable history of the game, making it impossible to judge the worth of contemporary players

against that of players past.”

Esolen’s sports analogy is a very useful rhetorical strategy. Sports is a useful attention

grabber for the reader, as nearly everyone has some sort of affinity for them. Maintaining the

purity of the game is an idea that most people enjoy believing in. We want to believe in the

meaning of sport as athletes playing to the best of their abilities through countless hours of clean,

grueling work and preparation. Any stains upon this veil of ignorance is met with harsh

judgment, making Esolen’s steroid segment very effective in rallying the support of the reader.

Painting the negative picture that he does towards steroids also helps his later argument once he

establishes the similarities between the performance-enhancing drug baseball players use and the

performance-enhancing drugs he says women use.

The following portion of the essay involves comparing estrogen to testosterone and

showing how the two should be judged similarly. He questions why estrogen, a female hormonal

drug that is also used to prevent pregnancy, is readily available and not looked down upon, while

steroids are punishable and seen as immoral. Esolen then begins to show some of their

similarities.

Testosterone (the chemical amplified by steroids) and estrogen both have medical uses,

as they are both used to treat certain diseases. Esolen details the positive effects testosterone can

have. “…there is also an immediate health-related benefit that testosterone secures. It builds and

repairs muscle. That is, taken by itself, a good thing. If it helped Barry Bonds to swing a bat, it

would help Barry the Miner to swing a pickax, or Barry the Infantryman to climb up a cliff, or

Barry the Roadworker to heal from the battering his frame takes when he spends a day with the

jackhammer.” However, due to the fact that these productive uses of steroids are not medically

necessary, we judge them as being wrong. Esolen’s use of repetition here is very useful in that is

makes a figure such as Barry Bonds one of us. It puts his wrongdoing into perspective for the

reader.

Esolen explains what he believes are the three main reasons why we believe that when

people do things similar to what Barry Bonds did, they are wrong. “…the benefit is outweighed

by the risks of the drug; and the use of the drug by some men would put others at an unfair

disadvantage…” He then shows how estrogen offers even less of a positive outcome.

“Testosterone will help Barry lift things up and put them down, and that, considered alone, is a

good thing. But estrogen enhances no such practical performance.” According to Esolen,

ingesting testosterone is also less of a reprehensible because it serves to enhance a natural

process of the body. Though he still remains against its use, he compares it to estrogen in that the

female drug counteracts the body’s natural modalities. People that use estrogen “want to obtain

not ability but debility. They want not to repair but to thwart.”

Comparing these two sways the reader towards his side of the argument by exposing the

incorrect morality behind estrogen. Steroids remain wrong in his eyes, but its counterpart is

revealed as being far worse.

Esolen then defends counterarguments that state that estrogen prevents against certain

diseases. He exposes the improper definition assigned to “diseases” in this case. When a male

and a female act together to conceive a child, it a natural occurrence, not a malady. “When the

reproductive organs are used in a reproductive act, the conception of a child is the healthy and

natural result. That is a plain biological fact… Childbearing and malaria are not the same sorts of

thing.” By showing how proponents of estrogen are wrong in their classifications and definitions,

it discredits all most all opposition to Esolen’s argument.

Esolen then explains what he believes is the core of the widespread and accepted use of

estrogen. “Without the drug, many millions of sexually active women would become pregnant

who do not wish to be so. But now we are not in the realm of individual choices alone. We must

address the whole of society. We must address the common good.”

Here, Esolen expresses a slightly liberal ideology. While conservative themes tend to focus upon

the individual as being free to make their own choices with little to no interference, liberalism

shifts towards the good of many. Conservatives would probably have given someone leeway

when it comes to choosing to take estrogen, for it is their choice in the end. While liberals might

have tried to prevent it, due to the overall harm it will cause to society. However, the actual

concept of estrogen does not agree with conservatives, who tend to be against any artificial

means that stunt the birth process or prevent pregnancies. Liberals usually support giving couples

the freedom to choose in regards to decisions involving child bearing. The overall effect on

society does not seem harmful to them, while it usually does for conservatives. Therefore, the

idea of abandoning estrogen because it is harmful to the common good is liberal, but the idea of

estrogen being harmful at all is conservative.

Esolen then shows the similarities between the drugs in terms of immiserating others. “It “helps”

this couple, here, do the child-making thing, without making a child. It “helps” that couple, there,

do the marital thing without being married. But it immiserates all those couples who, in a

healthier age, would not wish to do so.” He does on to explain how this drug has played a large

part in children today never being a part of a married couple. This stirs sympathy in the reader,

for no one wishes to see children experience this sort of thing.

In Anthony Esolen’s essay “A Tale of Two Sex Hormones,” he draws comparisons

between testosterone, particularly the use of steroids, and estrogen. He uses many rhetorical

devices to show how estrogen is just as immoral as steroids, and in many cases is more wrongful,

making this a very compelling piece of public discourse.

ii. Research Papers

I have also taken courses that required extensive research reports. These classes were

usually dedicated to a particular genre of literature, including World Literature, Shakespeare, and

American Literature. I was charged with forming a thesis based on extensive research on a

certain topic, as this would formulate my arguments. The following is an example of one of these

assignments.

The Modern Relevance of William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1

William Shakespeare’s historic play, Henry IV, Part 1, tells the story of the tense battle

that Henry IV and those close to him go through in order to maintain his grip on the crown. The

play is the second in a series of four history plays written by Shakespeare that center on the

successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V. Written between the years 1596 and

1597, the play examines the tense psychological struggles the stressed King Henry experiences,

both in relation to the uncertain state of his kingdom, as well as his testy relation with his

rambunctious son, Hal. (Bevington 370) The well of Shakespeare’s literary mind extends far

deeper than that, however.

As is the case with most, if not all of Shakespeare’s plays, there are myriad different

levels and perspectives in which the viewer/reader can examine the story. Henry IV, 1 is no

different. Characters in this play are extremely multi-faceted, as Shakespeare utilizes his vast

mastery of displaying the ups and downs of the human condition. For this reason, several aspects

of Henry IV, 1 remain relevant in modern art and culture, surviving through the flattery of

imitation.

There are three character archetypes in particular that echo far past the time Shakespeare

wrote Henry IV, 1. The first is that of Prince Henry V, son of King Henry IV, who is referred to

as Hal throughout the play. Hal is talented, immature, reckless, and rebellious; all traits his father

vehemently disapproves of. He has become everything his father does not want him to be,

choosing to spend time in brothels and taverns with low-lifes instead of performing princely acts

of valiance and honor.

The youth who is performing these feats of greatness is Harry Hotspur, who belongs to

the Percy family. The members of this family were once Henry IV’s strongest allies, helping him

in his rise to the throne. However, when the king begins disrespecting them, largely through

unfulfilled promises, they become the largest threat of usurpation. While they provide the most

serious conflict of the play, one of Hal’s closest companions is responsible for most of the

comedic relief.

Hal spends a great amount of time with Falstaff; the portly, drunk, cowardly, lying,

hilarious patron of the Boar’s Head Tavern. Falstaff is a foil character to practically everyone he

interacts with in the play, particularly Hal. Falstaff is without any moral fiber to speak of, and

will go to any lengths for personal gain (which generally involves acquiring money or alcohol).

He reflects all of the bad traits that Hal chooses to adopt as his own, as he is his main influence

and father-type figure throughout the a good portion of the play.

These three characters have all been influential in one way or another. The troubled but

talented youth (Hal) that resists his destiny until he finally realizes his potential, is a tried and

true character mold. The ally-turned-enemy (Hotspur/Percy family) can also be seen in modern

pop culture. It is also comparable to several real-life examples, for the struggles of the Percy

family has been mirrored by other prominent political figures. Finally, the hilarious bad

influence and foil character that is Hotspur has generated myriad characters with similar

functions, usually in the comedy genre. The following analysis will delve into how these three

character archetypes have stood the test of time.

I would like to preface the rest of this report by acknowledging the inevitable futility one

finds when attempting to label and typecast Shakespeare’s characters. Part of what puts him on

the Mount Rushmore of English literature is his ability to produce rounded characters, who

gradually reveal various aspects of their psyche that the reader did not initially anticipate. With

that in mind, this paper will attempt to grasp the slippery, protean characters of Shakespeare, and

compare them to similar, but far from identical, modern examples.

The story of Hal, or Prince Henry, is indicative of a bildungsroman. According to The

Tormont Webster’s Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary, the definition of bildungsroman is “A

story concerning the hero’s early life and development.” Hal’s development throughout Henry

IV, 1 matches this description.

One of the trademark characteristics of a “coming-of-age” tale is the disapproval the

hero receives in the beginning of the story. Hal’s relationship with his father fits this billing.

From the very first scene, Shakespeare lets us know how much Henry IV disdains the life his son

has led thus far. He does so in the cruelest of ways, lamenting that the brave Hotspur was not his

son instead of Hal. “. . .thou mak’st me sad, and mak’st me sin in envy that my lord

Northumberland should be the father to so blest a son. . . whilst I, by looking on the praise of

him, see riot and dishonor stain the brow of my young Harry.”(1.1.77-85) Harry is Hal in this

scene, and the lord Northumberland is the father of the valiant Hotspur.

Another necessary trait to a bildungsroman involves having the hero make a significant

change between the beginning and the end of the story. Hal is a far different young man at the

beginning of the play than he is at the end of it. In the beginning, he spends much of his nights at

the Boar’s Head Tavern, the stomping ground of Falstaff and a cesspool of sin and human filth.

He helps plan a highway robbery, as well as a subsequent plan to steal it back so as to playfully

catch the thieves, namely Falstaff, lying about how it was lost. As Poins, another of the Boar’s

Head regulars, says to Hal, “The virtue of this jest will be the incomprehensible lies that this

same fat rogue will tell us when we meet at supper.”(1.2.180-182) Clearly, Hal is not associating

himself with a high quality of people, instead choosing to befriend thieves and scoundrels.

Though audience’s first experience with Hal highlights what his father is talking about,

the scene ends with some foreshadowing, done by the prince as he delivers a monologue. Hal

mentions how, given the kind of life he currently leads, the extreme contrast will make his

meteoric rise to power all the more impressive. He says, “So when this loose behavior I throw

off and pay the debt I never promised. . . my reformation, glitt’ring o’er my fault, shall show

more goodly and attract more eyes than that which hath no foil to set it off.”(1.2.202-209)

According to him, he is simply setting up his glorious comeback.

To some, this may affirm that Hal is not actually immature, but is merely pretending to be

by associating with Falstaff and the like, in order to augment his ascension to the throne.

However, I believe him revealing his ultimate plan confirms his immaturity. This is simply a

security blanket he is applying to himself, so as to not feel guilty about his despicable actions.

There is no need to anger his father and his father’s people during an extremely tense time of

impending war, just so that he can develop some contrast for people to appreciate once he

chooses to abandon his sinful habits. His closing monologue does not disprove, but proves his

immaturity, as no one fit to rule a kingdom would ever think to devise such a plan. Thus, the first

scene involving Hal perfectly sets up the bildungsroman.

In every coming of age tale there is a defining moment for the hero, in which he or she

reaches a turning point that ultimately sets the hero down the path to his or her true destiny. For

Hal, it is a very subtle, but monumentally important turn. It springs out of what appears to be

more shenanigans involving Falstaff, obviously taking place at the Boar’s Head Tavern. It occurs

in the fourth and final scene of the second act, as the fat jokester and Hal decide to engage in a

game of role playing after he receives news that requires him meeting with his father. They

decide to rehearse appropriate answers and reactions, so Hal can be prepared when his father

inevitably berates him. In the game, Falstaff impersonates Henry IV, who is displeased with his

son’s lifestyle, and then vice-versa, with Hal now playing his father and Falstaff playing him.

Though it begins humorously, with Falstaff using makeshift objects to represent a throne, crown,

etc., the tone switches rapidly when they switch, and Hal now becomes his father. It is here that

Hal finally acknowledges the fact that, though he has clearly developed a rapport with Falstaff

and the rest of the regulars at the Boar’s Head Tavern, he will one day have to move past them,

for his destiny lies on the throne. Falstaff, as Hal, pleads with Hal, as Henry IV, to not banish

him. His pleading ends with, “ . . . banish not him thy Harry’s company-banish plump Jack, and

banish all the world.”(2.4.472-475) Hal replies simply by saying, “I do, I will,” (2.4.476).

Regardless of the relationship he has built with Falstaff, he can not take him with him to the

throne, and now the plump man knows it.

From this point on, Hal’s motivation is not to live amongst low-lifes in order to anger his

father or create his comeback tale. He now wishes to finally live up to his potential as Henry V,

heir to the throne. He confidently speaks to his father, who is obviously angered with him, saying

that he will indeed become the valiant and noble leader he wishes him to be, much like Hotspur.

He finally proves his worth on the battlefield, eventually killing Hotspur, and garnering the

praise of his father. Hal has come of age, beginning with his acknowledgment of the life he was

born to lead.

This bildungsroman archetype remains incredibly popular today. Throughout the arts,

there are myriad tales of troubled and under-achieving youths who are able to overcome their

faults and become successful in some way. In film, examples such as Good Will Hunting (1997),

Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977), and The Way, Way Back, all feature a similar struggle to the

one Hal goes through. In literature, James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

(1916), J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye (1951), and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

(1960) all feature young, flawed main characters who develop that develop tremendously

throughout the course of the story.

Characters like Hal will always speak to audiences. We enjoy seeing the hero triumph

over his or her flaws, as that is largely what we would like to be able to do ourselves. The

bildungsroman genre will live on as long as people continue to self-analyze, for we see much of

our issues reflected in the early versions of the man or woman who is to come of age. He or she

is not perfect, as many heroes are. Their flaws are fully on display from the beginning of the

story, making us feel comfortable with our own shortcomings. Then, as we would all like to do,

the hero learns from his or her mistakes and lives life to a far greater potential than in the

beginning of the story. Hal was able to do this is in Henry IV, 1, and for that reason, he remains a

relatable and imitated character today. He overcame the obstacle of the Hotspur, and by

extension, the Percy family, who also draw similarities to modern examples, both real and

fictional.

Throughout Henry IV, 1, the Percy family presents a very real threat to Henry IV’s

kingdom. Though they helped him militarily in his quest to overthrow Richard II, the king who

preceded him, they have since felt slighted by the king they helped onto the throne. Henry IV

refuses to turn over the prisoners that the Percy gained after winning a military battle, as they

requested. They also dispute the fact that he should be on the throne at all, given that Lord

Mortimer, a member of the Percy family, is of closer lineage to the fallen Richard II, and

therefore has more right to be king than does Henry. This boils the blood of Hotspur, who resents

the tactics of the king, and is largely responsible for leading the battle to usurp him. He

acknowledges the two-faced nature of the methods he used to reach the crown, when he says,

“The King is kind; and well we know the King knows when to promise, when to pay,”(4.3.56-

57) Henry is a politician, which is a sharp contrast to the brash and swashbuckling nature of

Hotspur’s demeanor. These transgressions alienate Hotspur and the once-allied Percy family, as

they represent another common character archetype, both in the actual world and throughout the

arts.

The idea of ally-turned-enemy is as old as any character mold. The common denominator

is usually fact that the character believes the hero has disrespected him or her in some way, as

the person has likely done a great deal for the protagonist to that point. Characters such as

Anakin in Star Wars 1-3 show how a powerful, yet undermined hero/ally can quickly become the

worst nightmare to the ones who have underappreciated him or her. Obi Wan Kenobi, Anakin’s

master, continually tries to put him at peace, for though he has established himself as one of the

more formidable warriors in the galaxy, winning many battles for his cause, the Jedi council

steadfastly refuses to properly acknowledge his achievements. Anakin wishes to be placed on the

level of Obi Wan and the other Jedi masters, yet is denied time and time again. Many of them

pay the ultimate price, as this is one of the main factors that lead Anakin to turn against the Jedi,

leaving nothing but death and destruction in his wake. There are clearly parallels between this

character and Hotspur and Percy family, as they too have felt slighted, and wish to rectify the

inequities by any means necessary. While this is a fictional example of this mold, there are also

examples of this sort of issue in real life.

Benedict Arnold, who has become synonymous with the word traitor, particularly in the

United States, experienced many of the things that Hotspur and the Percy family went through,

leading them to revolt against Henry IV. Arnold was a celebrated general from Connecticut

during the Revolutionary War. As Barry Wilson writes in his book, Benedict Arnold: A Traitor

in our Midst, “ . . . Arnold became the premier soldier in the Revolution and one of the key

military players in its triumphs.”(Wilson 16) Much like the Percy family, Arnold was one of the

more pivotal pieces in an aim to overthrow a government, in this case the British monarchy in

the United States. Without him, it is possible that the colonials would not have won the war, as

he won several decisive battles that helped turn the tide in the United States’ favor. However,

despite his success on the battlefield, he never received the recognition he believed he deserved.

As noted by The Tormont Webster’s Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary, Arnold was “. . .

embittered by what he considered unfair treatment by the Continental Congress.” He was seeking

a promotion by the Continental Congress for his accomplishments, but was not granted one, as

many other officers took credit for some of his heroics on the battlefield. All of this culminated

in Arnold’s switching allegiances, joining the British and becoming one of the most notorious

traitors in American history.

The Percy family, Anakin, and Benedict Arnold all accomplished many great things

while fighting for a greater cause. Unfortunately, that cause denied them many of the things they

felt they had earned through their acts of bravery and valor. As a result, these three parties

decided to turn against the forces they had previously fought for, showing how ally-turned-

enemy archetype Shakespeare uses to depict the Percy family lives on well beyond his time, both

in the arts and in reality.

There is still one character in Henry IV, 1 that truly “stands the test of time.” Falstaff, the

immoral, gluttonous clown that Hal chooses to associate with, is a classic source of comic relief,

providing a foil to mostly every character who is not as wild as he is, particularly the prince. He

has become one of Shakespeare’s most popular and influential characters. As David Ellis writes,

“The only way to talk about comedy is through particular instances. Of all the instances in our

own culture, Falstaff bulks largest.”(Ellis 95) Throughout the play, Falstaff provides memorable

line after memorable line, as his wit, nerve, and tall tales grow with each passing scene. Falstaff

is also one of the smarter characters, particularly in terms of survival. As Maria Eppich-Harris

writes, “Shakespeare's repeated attempts at killing Falstaff or simulating his death delight the

audience because they make us believe that Falstaff is invulnerable.”(Epich-Harris) Falstaff

acknowledges some of the futility of living with valor and honor, as it likely to get a man killed.

He ponders these concepts on the battlefield, when he says, “What is honor? Air. A trim

reckoning. Who hath it? He that died o’ Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No.

‘Tis insensible, then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction

will not suffer it. Therefore, I’ll none of it.” (5.1.133-139). In this sense, Shakespeare’s character

distinguishes himself from most other comedic relief/foil characters. As stated previously, his

characters are extremely rounded and multi-faceted. Characters that are similar to Falstaff in

terms of his practices and his general function in the play usually do not rattle off deep

philosophical thought. But it’s Shakespeare. As Jill Levenson writes, “Towards the end of Henry

IV: Part 1, Shakespeare’s Falstaff conducts himself in ways apparently designed to unsettle the

audience’s responses.”(Levenson 722) However, there remain dozens of characters who

resemble Falstaff’s other characteristics, and they usually fall under the comedy genre.

The character of Seth is the 2007 high school comedy film, Superbad, resembles some very

Falstaff-ish traits. The most obvious is that Seth is overweight. Portly, comedic foils are seen

throughout pop culture, thanks in no small part to the rounded Falstaff. Seth largely holds back

Evan, the hero, from realizing his potential, as he continuously gives him a hard time for

choosing to attend Dartmouth the following fall, thus leaving Seth behind, while also influencing

him through alcohol, excessive partying, etc. Evan remains a close friend of Seth regardless of

his laundry list of flaws, much like Hal is to Falstaff. Seth also provides many of the punch lines,

another distinctly Falstaff-esque trait. This character mold is arguably the most popular of the

three mentioned in this report, as audiences are naturally drawn to the character that provides the

laughs, while also tending to humanize the main character. There is no room for a true hero with

characters like Falstaff around, making the audience able to relate to everyone in the story more,

and making this archetype one that will continue to stand the test of time.

The characters of Hal, Hotspur and the Percy family, and Falstaff, all represent character

molds that remain relevant today. Shakespeare’s plays have managed to remain just as relatable

to audiences in the present day as they were in the 16th and 17th century. Characters that coincide

with these three archetypes are a big reason why Shakespeare is still a hot topic. The young,

troubled hero who gradually finds his or her way can still be seen in modern pop culture, as can

the ally-turned-enemy and the comedic foil. Shakespeare truly was the master of developing

multi-faceted, relatable character, who allow you to understand more and more about their inner

working as you continue to watch them. For this reason, Henry IV, Part 1 will continue to stand

the test of time.

Works Cited

Bevington, David. The Necessary Shakespeare. Pearson, Fourth Edition, 2014. 370-411.

Ellis, David. “Falstaff and the Problems of Comedy.” Cambridge Quarterly. Oxford University

Press, 2005. 95.

Eppich-Harris, Marcis. “Resurrect your darlings: Falstaff’s Death(s), Resurrection(s), and

Lasting Influence.” Shakespeare Newsletter (Spring 2014): 97.

Joes, Tobias. “Modernist Studies and the Bildungsroman: A Historical Survey of Critical

Trends.” Literature Compass. Blackwell Publishing, 2006. 230.

Levenson, Jill. “Shakespeare’s Falstaff: ‘The Cause that Wit is in Other Men.’” University of

Toronto Quarterly: A Canadian Journal of the Humanities. (Spring 2005): 722.

Wilson, Barry. Benedict Arnold: A Traitor in our Midst. McGill-Queen’s Press, 2001. 16.

The Tormont Webster’s Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary. Tormont Publications Inc.

Montreal, Canada. 1990.

iii. Humorous/Creative Pieces

I never took a class at Barry whose focus was on humorous writing. However, I did take

classes on creative writing, which allowed for a wide range of styles. Therefore, there were

occasional opportunities to be humorous, which is as tough of a task as any in writing. The

following is one of those examples.

Crossfit: A Philosophical Analysis

You’ve seen them. I’ve seen them. We’ve all seen them. They come in a blurring cloud

of neon green, cherry-red, and fluorescent pink. They leave in a wave of dripping sweat and

workout hashtags, alerting all others of their “gains.”

They are: the Crossfit-ers

These exercise freaks are one-of-a-kind. Though there is technically not a designated

uniform for their revolutionary workout regimen, you wouldn’t know it with the haze of

blindingly bright colors present in their gym. I put much of the blame for this modern trend on

Crossfit-ers, who to have been the true pioneers of the recent neon boom.

The louder, the better.

It is tough to say which is more important to the average Crossfit-er; incremental

improvements in strength and durability throughout the body (which is the point, I believe), or

the ever-crucial selection of the proper Instagram filter. X-Pro II? Lo-Fi? Choose wisely young

Crossfit-er, the fate of your likes depends on it.

But who cares? This is just me expressing a difference in taste. There is nothing

inherently wrong with the bright wardrobe or the incessant Instagram workout pics. I’m being a

#hater after all. The true problem lies at the core of the entire establishment. It is rooted in the

very concept that drives these glowing exercise warriors.

It can be expressed in the following simile.

We’ve all been there. The whole night/week/month is dedicated to studying, learning and

memorizing all of the details and finite points of a subject. We become entrenched in math,

science, literature, maybe even French, all in order to ace a test and satisfy mom and dad.

That’s the relation between the two. Lots of studying=good grades=good college=good

job. Perhaps there are diamonds in the rough whose thirst for knowledge stems from the sheer

pursuit of it; people who get a real bang out of the periodic table. But for the much larger

demographic, the grades are why we study.

The same applies for the sporting world. We train our minds and our bodies in order to

perform on the field of play. Every squat, press, deadlift, and curl is aimed towards running

faster, hitting harder, and making much more money than the average human. Goals. Goals.

Goals. They exist in every facet of our lives, and the aforementioned activities are generally used

to reach them.

Generally.

As I watch ESPN’s coverage of the Crossfit Games, I approach this simile. Crossfit is

like studying for a test in order to get better at studying for a test. Normally, athletes lift heavy

things in order to improve on the field of play. Now, these “athletes” lift heavy things…in order

to get better at lifting heavy things.

They’re studying for their test; and the test is to see how well you study.

I can hear the uproar coming. The “I wanna see you do it” crowd. I get it. None of this

takes away from the immense difficulty present in Crossfit. But calculus is difficult too. So is the

Sunday edition of the crossword. I don’t see ESPN covering them.

Needless to say, I’ve never taken the plunge into the world of Crossfit. I don’t think I’ll

ever don the classic green, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, and blue of America’s latest

workout revolution. If you wish to pay to work out so that you can improve your ability to work

out, so be it. It certainly gets results. But let’s be honest.

Do you really want to do pull-ups like this?

VI. Conclusion

These pieces highlight different styles of writing I am proficient in. My internship at The

One Agency allowed me to expand my skills to make them encompass research and marketing

proposals, while also reinforcing my sports writing. I also managed to become proficient in

several programs I was asked to use, including Buffer, WordPress, Google Drive, and others. My

time at The One Agency truly gave me a preview of what life would be like writing for a

company like them, which was one that involves making changes to material at a moment’s

notice, dealing with strict deadlines for multiple projects simultaneously, and working towards a

singular goal with different types of people.

At Barry, I learned how to alternate between the innovative, eloquent style necessary in

creative writing, and the direct style needed for technical writing and essay writing. I was also

fortunate enough to be a part of multiple quality publications like the Barry Buccaneer and What

Oft Was Thought. I enjoyed the wide range of classes I was able to take as a Professional Writing

major. I leave Barry with few writing styles I have not used or been exposed to in some way,

shape, or form. All of this has allowed me to become the versatile, well-rounded writer I am

today, and I hope to continue to polish and build upon my abilities.