Monday, December 10, 2012

1. Paragraph -- A Highlight of My Christmas Vacation


This paragraph is based on an experience I had over Christmas Vacation 2012.  Instead of writing a narrative, I decided to state a claim and provide evidence to prove my claim.   


            A day at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park may seem expensive, but it is worth the price.  For the thirty-dollar adult admission, there is much to see and learn.   For instance, once you are in, you can attend planetarium shows about planets and stars, earthquakes, weather, or other topics without further charge.  Other exhibits about earthquakes include a shaking house that simulates the movement of three different magnitudes of earthquakes.  On that tour visitors learn about the San Francisco earthquake, the causes of earthquakes, where fault lines run, and about how to be prepared for an earthquake.  In addition, the academy has an extensive and beautifully designed aquarium that could by itself provide hours of viewing and learning.   There is also the African hall with a variety of dioramas, some with mounted animals, and others with live animals, including an entire colony of African penguins.   One of the most outstanding features is the largest spherical rain forest exhibit in the world with a spiraling walkway going up four stories from the underbrush to the canopy.  Above the entire building is a living roof, carpeted with plants native to California, with walkways accessible to visitors.   At the working science labs you can learn about a variety of topics from the experts.   Considering all that is available at the California Academy of Sciences, the cost of a day’s admission  is a worthwhile bargain.  


Jennica Dorsey in the walk-though rain-forest aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences  -- Photo by Claudia Dorsey


Go to   2. Paragraph -- -- What's Missing?

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January 3/4, 2013 -- Thursday/Friday