Performing With Opportunity

Lions’ Roar

StudentVoice A Normandale Community College Student Media Outlet for Audio, Visual, & Written Work.

Welcome to the real April issue of the Lions’ Roar Student Voice.

Hopefully, after our satire issue, we haven’t lost all credibility. We’ve titled this magazine “Performing with Opportunity” because we’re covering two major events at Normandale, the Opportunity Fair and Normandale Performs. There are many color photos of talented Normandale students on stage in the Mall of America, as well as highlights from the Opportunity Fair. In addition, there is an informative essay that may help you write your next essay; a story about the Minnesota Twins, and a short story about See Yourself Here, a program that creates opportunities for Middle School Students. Enjoy!

Karlynn O’Neil Editor in Chief Our Spring 2016 Staff: Karlynn O’Neil – Editor in Chief Michael Achterling – Assistant Editor Greg Lyons – Staff Advisor Contact us by Email at lionsroar@normandale.edu Or stop by our office K1401 Kopp Student Center

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Issue 21

Features 3 Essay Writing With Ease

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See Yourself Here

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Normandale Performs

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Opportunity Knocks

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Young Twins Step Up 16

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The Five Easy Steps of Essay Writing Story by Michael Achterling

Sitting down to write the perfect essay is a difficult skill to master. How do I start?

What information should I include? How should I structure my paper? These are all questions every writer must answer for each assignment they are given. With these five easy steps, every essay can be a professional, organized, and model piece of written work for any aspiring writer.

First, a topic for the essay must be chosen.

Sometimes a topic will be chosen by a teacher or supervisor, but it is not always the case. Brainstorming possible topics on a sheet of paper is an effective way of selecting a topic. For the next five minutes, list any topic ideas on a separate sheet of paper; however, do not go into any detail about any one topic. Brainstorming is focused on the quantity of ideas, not the quality of their depth. The more ideas to pick from after the brainstorming session, the better the quality of topic that will be selected. After the list of topics is created, review the list and select one of the topics, you, as the writer, are passionate about. This passion will feed the entire writing process from thesis statement to the final period after the conclusion.

Next, create an outline and supporting thesis statement for the chosen topic. A thesis statement is the overall message the writer wishes to convey to the reader in the

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essay. Write a rough draft thesis statement for the chosen topic at this time, but keep in mind the thesis may change as the essay develops its main points. Using this rough thesis statement, think of at least three different main points that can be supported with details, logic, and evidence, and write them down. Using these support items, list some sub-points under each main point.

Once enough support information is listed under each main point, usually two or more different supporting arguments, write one sentence that summarizes each main point: this is the topic sentence. The topic sentence will serve as a feedforward to the reader, clearly summarizing what they will read in the following paragraph. Do this for all of the main points. Upon completion, revisit the rough thesis statement, and revise it based on the newly created topic sentences. A good thesis statement encompasses parts of all the topic sentences from the main points of the essay.

Third, use the outline to create a rough draft of the essay. The thesis statement, and topic sentences, should be written word-for-word as they were envisioned in the outline. Then, the supporting evidence must be transformed from sub-points into full sentences to support the topic sentence of each main point. After these sentences are constructed, write an introduction and conclusion for the topic based on the tone of the overall essay. The

introduction is comprised of a few sentences before the thesis statement.

Using a quoted source, or describing a vague picture of the main essay points are good introductory techniques. On the other hand, the conclusion wraps up the essay in a neat, concise package. After the last main point paragraph, the conclusion revisits key parts of each of the preceding paragraphs. It leaves the reader with a final thought about the topic.

A useful conclusion strategy is revisiting the thesis statement, and describing how it was proved correct.

After this third step, a workable rough draft of the essay will have been completed, but it is not final.

The forth step of the essay writing process is self and peer revision. It is important to re-read the rough draft from start to finish, noting anything that seems out of place. Printing a copy of the rough draft can be useful in order to mark grammatical and punctuation errors with a pen. By reading the rough draft and marking changes to be made, the essay is polished. After corrections have been made to the rough draft, it is important to have a trusted peer read the essay and point out parts that don’t make sense or are difficult to follow logically.

A second set of eyes is crucial to gather a varying perspective.

A writer ’s written work is based on their own personal experiences.

Those experiences may have swayed the tone of the writing; however, a second set of eyes helps eliminate the writer ’s biased

perspective. After the peer edit, use good judgement and make any necessary changes to the essay. These may be the last changes the essay will take-on until it’s finally handed in.

Lastly, read the final essay aloud before finishing the final draft. Reading the essay aloud allows the writer to be able to speak their essay in a verbal form, instead of interpreting written words on a page.

By using a verbal form of communication, the essay is transformed.

If the essay sounds pleasing and complete to the writer, it is finally ready to be turned in. If not, another round of revision or editing may be necessary. Keep repeating

this last step until you, the writer, are comfortable with the essay.

Writing is literary art.

The perfect essay doesn’t exist, but writers must always try to perfect their craft by striving to attain the unattainable. Essays are thoughts, ideas, and informative statements expressed in written form with supporting evidence.

A well written essay should be a goal for any up-andcoming writer, or student.

With these five easy steps, any essay assignment can be successful; creating a model piece of written work that is born from the depths of a writer ’s mind and it all started with listing topics on a page.

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NORMANDALE PERFORMS! Mall of America shoppers stop to watch as Yakub Ibrahim as performs an original rap called MY BROTHERS.

Story and photos by: Karlynn O’Neil

On Saturday March 19th, Normandale took to the Mall of America East Rotunda Stage for the 2nd time to showcase some of it’s most talented.

Students, alumni, staff, faculty, and Foundation Board members contributed a variety of musical acts, causing shoppers to stop on all floors. ( Left) Symone Wilson sings on the east rotunda stage.

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From top right clockwise: Jenna Halpin—Sings PART OF YOUR WORLD from the Little Mermaid.

Heather Vander Tuin—Sings Titanium on the MOA east Rotunda stage.

Anna Rios—Strumming a ukulele, Anna Rios performed YOU and I.

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Symone Wilson— Dances for the instrumental break as she sings DESIRE to people on all floors of the MOA Rotunda.

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Upper: Yakub Ibrahim draws a crowd with an original rap called MY BROTHERS. Lower: Normandale performers pose for a photo after the show.

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Spring 2016

Opportunity Knocks at Normandale Story by Michael Achterling Most college students attend college to attain a coveted career in their chosen field of study. However, these jobs can be difficult to find once the student is removed from the college support network.

Normandale’s Department of Experiential Education is making it their mission to setup motivated college students with paid internships, part-time jobs, and career opportunities.

Normandale hosted its first Opportunity Fair, Thursday March 24, inviting businesses and organizations from the Bloomington area to participate in an event that landed some students jobs, followup interviews, or summer internships.

“I may have a biased opinion, but I would say…yes, it was very successful,” said Wanda Kanwischer, Normandale’s Director of the Center For Experiential Education, and one of the organizers of the fair.

“We saw around 300 students come through the fair itself, but

L e s l e y F a r n h a s , r i g h t , N o r m a n d a l e ’s F r e s h L i n e C o o r d i n a t o r, c o n d u c t s a L i n k e d I n d e m o n s t r a t i o n d u r i n g N o r m a n d a l e ’s O p p o r t u n i t y F a i r. ( p h o t o b y M i c h a e l A c h t e r l i n g ) more importantly there were guidance, the opportunity students in the ‘dressed for fair gave students the tools success’ and resume writing necessary to be successful in sessions. There were students their career fields. who got interview offers, and a “Mo s t s t u d e n t s m a y h a v e few who got job offers.” n e v e r h a d a re s u m e , ” s a i d The “dressed for success” K a n wis c h e r. “Ma n y s t u d e n t s and resume writing sessions a re c o n f u s e d a b o u t h o w t o assisted students in building re p re s e n t t h e s k i l l s t h e y their professional selves. By a re g a in in g , lik e c l u b s o r demonstrating helpful interview o rg a n iz a t io n s , leadership techniques and resume building s k ills , c la s s specialties, h o w d o we h e lp t h e m s h i n e above the other candidates t o g e t t h a t jo b ? I n t e r v i e w i n g a n d n e t wo rk in g is s o m e t h i n g t h a t we d o n ’t g et a g r e a t o p p o rt u n it y t o p ra c t i c e o r t o d o b e f o re we h a v e t o d o i t i n a h ig h s t a k e s s e t ti n g . B e i n g h e re a n d t a lk in g w i t h 3 0 o r 4 0 b u s in e s s e s o r n o n - p r o f i t s , a n d p ra c t ic in g t h o s e s k i l l s is re a lly imp o rt a n t f o r o u r students.”

B u s in e s s e s participating in t h e f a ir in c lu d e d : M a l l o f A me ric a , No rd s t r o m R a c k , Ra d is s o n B lu , a n d Ve r i z o n Wire le s s . A ls o , m a n y n o n Amber Newgard, a Verizon Wireless recruiter, speaks to a Normandale p ro f it o rg a n iz a t io ns , s u c h a s student during the Opportunity Fair. (photo by Michael Achterling) T h e Wild lif e Re h a b i l i t a t i o n

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C e n t er of M inneso ta, o ffe red i n t e rn ship and vo lunte e r o p p o r tuni ties.

So me opportunity fair c o m muni ty partners w e re focused o n sp e cific N o rm andal e students.

Th e Bl oom i ngto n P o lice D e p ar tm ent was accepting a p p l icants to fill su mme r p o s i tions for students e n ro lled in Normandale ’s C ri mi nal Justice pro g ram.

Ka nwischer sa id, “More t h a n l i kely, we will b e d o ing a n o t h er one of these [fairs] i n t he futur e. I h o p e more s t u d ents com e n e xt time, b e c a use I do believe th a t t h e re i s som ethin g fo r e very N o rm andal e student a t the f a i r. ” St udents ar e enco u raged t o f ill out Oppo rtu n ity Fair f e e d b ack sur veys loca ted i n t he O ffi ce of E xp e rie n tia l Ed u cation ( 1st flo o r, College Se rv ice Buildi ng , across from t h e Advising Cente r) and s u b mi t thei r i de a s about h o w t o make futur e ca reer fa irs a n e v e n bi gger success.

Recruiters from Nordstrom Rack, left, at Mall of America speak to Normandale students during the Opportunity Fair. (photo by Michael Achterling)

Noelle Falde, left, Radisson Blu Assistant Director of Human Resources, shakes a Normandale student’s hand during the Opportunity Fair. (photo by Michael Achterling)

A Normandale student visits the Good in the Hood information table during the Opportunity Fair. (photo by Michael Achterling)

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See Yourself Here Story and photos by: Karlynn O’Neil

See Yourself Here is an outreach program that allows middle school students the opportunity to have a taste of what it’s like to be in college. On Friday April 1st, Olson Middle School visited for the day. See Yourself Here is hosted by the Center For Experiential Education, who recruited Normandale volunteer students to help run the event and lead tours.

Students had their first college level lecture with David Rayson. The lecture was about the civil rights movement; students took notes and eagerly answered questions.

After the lecture, Olson students split off into small groups to take a tour of campus and have their very own student ID made. After the tour, it was back to the classroom for lunch and a discussion about financial aid. The whole day was wrapped up with a panel discussion, where middle schoolers could ask NCC students about what it’s like to a be in college.

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Third baseman/Outfielder Miguel Sano, now number 22 for the 2016 season, poses for p h o t o . ( p h o t o b y S t e v e M i t c h e l l , U S A To d a y )

Outfielder Eddie Rosario swings at a pitch during a 2015 regular season game. (photo b y J a s o n M i l l e r, G e t t y )

Editorial by Michael Achterling

Rookie of the Year voting in last season.

Outfielder Eddie Rosario, who posted a .267 batting average in 2015, is poised for another strong showing in what will be his first full season with the big league club. The young outfielder compiled 46 extra base hits in 453 total at-bats, and threw out 16 base runners

Twins Take Important Steps Forward in 2016 As the Minnesota Twins gear up for the upcoming season, baseball fans from around the State have good reason to be optimistic.

The downward spiral of losing seasons and little hope ended last year when the Twins posted their first winning record (83-79) since 2010. The young core of talent that grew in the Twins farm system over the past few seasons has finally been harvested, and the Minnesota faithful will finally see a full season from their touted prospects: Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, and new Korean slugger Byung Ho Park.

Sano, the 23-year old Dominican third baseman converted to outfielder for the upcoming season, is poised to add to his 80 game rookie campaign in which he blasted 18 home runs, drove in 52 runs, and had 36 extra base hits in just 279 at-bats. A healthy, full season from the young slugger will provide much needed power for a Twins lineup, which finished 16th in Major League Baseball in 2015 with 156 home runs.

Sano finished third in the American League

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A full season in the big leagues will only add to this young players’ resume, and provide the Twins with an offensive spark plug they need to secure a division title. from the outfield, leading all Twins outfielders.

The spark that Rosario provided mid-season helped lead the Twins to a 20-7 record last May. A full season in the big leagues will only add to this young players’ resume, and provide the Twins with an offensive spark plug they need to secure a division title.

Byron Buxton is Major League baseball’s top rated prospect for the third consecutive year; even though, he failed to deliver in the 46 games he spent with the Twins in 2015. The highly touted prospect only hit .209 in 129 total at-bats last season striking out a horrendous 44 times against major league pitching, but his talent is undeniable. During his four season minor league career, Buxton batted .301 in 1069 total at-bats, with 94 stolen bases and 216 runs-scored in 276 total games played. He’s electric on the base paths and is sure to give many pitchers headaches should he find himself on base. His plate discipline will improve as he continues to see more pitches and pitchers; hopefully, delivering the Twins a needed leadoff threat that they’ve been missing since Denard Span was traded to the Washington Nationals in November 2012.

Korean slugger Byung Ho Park, First Baseman/Designated Hitter, is turning out to be the wildcard of all the 2016 predictions.

Baseball isn’t quite sure what to make of him.

The Twins saw enough film on the slugger to offer the Korean Baseball Organization’s (KBO) Nexon Heroes a 12.85 million dollar posting fee (permission to negotiate), and agreed to fouryear, 11 million dollar contract with the 29-year

Outfielder Byron Buxton sprints out of the b a t t e r ’s b o x d u r i n g a 2 0 1 5 r e g u l a r s e a s o n g a m e . ( p h o t o b y S c o t t K a n e , S t a r Tr i b u n e )

old prospect. Park hit .343 with 53 home runs, and 146 runs-batted-in, in 140 total games played in 2015 for the Nexon Heroes. No one expects him to duplicate his KBO statistics in the Major Leagues, but even a fraction of last year ’s output will help the Twins move forward into playoff relevance in 2016.

Even a fraction of last year’s output will help the Twins move forward into playoff relevance in 2016.

With these four prospects, the Twins have a lot to look forward to this season. If everyone stays healthy and puts forth the effort they have shown through portions of last season, the Minnesota Twins will challenge the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians for supremacy in the highly competitive American League Central Division.

The division title, playoffs, and a possible third world series championship are not out of the question in this 2016 campaign.

Minnesota baseball fans should stay positive and buckle up for the most exciting Twins team this state has seen in many years.

First baseman Byung Ho Park launches a homerun while playing for the Korean national team. (photo by Masterpress, Getty)

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