Essay

Desiree Maldonado
Mrs. Boresen
Expose Writing, 4th
Definition Essay
January 27, 2009
Sisters
What does it really mean to be a sister? According to the dictionary being a sister means you have one or both parents in common with another (1165). In the online dictionary though it says some other things, like a sister may be one you share a special bond with or a sorority type sisterhood. In my own words I believe sister means to have someone who is always there for you and will never let you down. The action of a sister means a lot and that is what interests me most about this word. The type of sister I’m most focused on though would be the one you are related to or a best friend that you treat like a sister. Also how your little sister, older sister or even sister-like friend, will always be looking up to you.
Even though the dictionary might not describe the action of a sister that well to one who might not know what one is or how one is suppose to act, it isn’t really hard to learn. From my experiences I have learned most of what being a sister is like and I can explain the action of this word more in depth than the explanation in the dictionary. To me I would describe the verb form of sisters as two or more girls who get along and tell everything to and do everything with. I guess I could say that it’s almost like having a best friend but you are much closer. To be a sister you spend time with each other and you share all those things you wouldn’t ever tell your parents. You trust each other in every possible way and you are always there for each other. Being a sister to someone could be a big responsibility because you have to be there for them when they need comfort and need a shoulder to lean on. Sometime we might fight but what sisters don’t? The list of actions of a sister can go one forever but they all have to do with a sisterly bond. On the website called The Quote Garden I found a quote that explains what I just said in a way. It reads:
“Having a sister is like having a best friend you can’t get rid of. No matter what you do they will still be there.” ~Amy Li (quotationgarden.com)
When describing the word sister I tend to think of a big sister. Being a big sister has many responsibilities and several words that can describe them like, mirror or rolemodel. Big sisters are the ones the littler ones look up to and try to be like. If the big sis is not behaving and doing the right thing then in most cases the little one isn’t either. It’s up to them to teach and inspire the little ones to be all they can and so much more. When researching the types of things people who have a little sister say they all said pretty much the same things. My cousin who is also a big sister said this, “She does everything I do and I try so hard not to mess up because I know she will mess up too! She comes to me with all her problems which shows me know she can trust me. It may be hard being a big sister but someone has to do it and I'm so thankful for having her” (Isabel Cantu). On the Quote Garden website I found a quote that goes along with what it’s like to have a little sister:
“An older sister is a friend a defender- a listener, conspirator, a counselor, and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too.” ~ Pam Brown (quotationgarden.com)

The actions of a sister can be fun, mean or maybe even a mixture of both at times. Many sisters will turn to one another which brings me to the next point. Sisters don’t always treat each other with kindness or rudeness, but they do use a lot of both. When describing a sister people start to think of what a sister is instead of how sisters are. Sitters act like best friends and tell each other secrets. Sisters are nice to each other and show each other love but yet they can’t stand to be with each other at times. With some of my experiences with my sister we have had those times when we wouldn’t talk to each other and then the next minute we are laughing and telling each other our life stories. She is always there for me when I need someone to talk to as am I when she needs someone. The actions of sisters are a better way of understanding them then just getting the definition from the dictionary.
Obviously the way I have just described the verb part of sisters is now better understood by those who have listened to my definitions and my life experiences with this word. A sister is a lifetime friend, and for all of you who have that I encourage you to cherish every moment of it because you never know how much longer you will have it.



Work Cited

"Sister Quotes, Sayings about Sisters and Siblings." The Quote Garden - Quotes, Sayings, Quotations, Verses. 17 May 2008. 30 Jan. 2009 .


"Sisters definition Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com. 27 Jan. 2009 .

"Sister." Merriem-Webster's Dictionary. 2003. 1165-165.

Extra Credit Visual

Winter Break Narrative

Desiree Maldonado
Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing
Winter Break Narrative
January 13, 2009

One of His Best Pranks

As I look at all the pranks my cousin and I usually pull, I realized that after what he had pulled this year was going cause me to step up my game and get him back ten times better. This year during the winter break, on Christmas day, my cousin, David, got me some lotto tickets. Unfortunately one of them wasn’t your ordinary ticket and I was about to find that out after everyone had gotten their gifts.

It all started that Christmas day. My family did the usual thing, eating and talking and then it was time for the presents. My cousin, looking very innocent, handed me my gift and I gave him his. He opened his and then waited for me to open mine. It was ten dollars worth of lotto tickets and some candy. I wasn’t really expecting him to do anything mischievous since we said that we weren’t going to pull anything that day. (Man was I dumb for thinking he was really going to follow through with this!)

Everyone had finished opening their gifts and David told me I should scratch my tickets and that if I won anything he would take me to get what I won. Now I was a little nervous because I knew that he was up to something. I scratched the first ticket and won nothing. Then I scratched the next one, again nothing was won. I came to the third one and scratched the numbers one by one. $20, $2, $40. Wow that row wasn’t very good! Then I scratched the first number in the next/last row, it was $10,000 and I was like, well this is going to be another losing ticket. Then the next number was $10,000. At this point I was like there is no way this is a winning ticket worth that much! I scratched the last number slowly so it would show the number by little parts, as I scratched it $-1-0-,-0-0-0. OH MY GOSH!!! I WON!!! I was jumping and screaming with much excitement because I had just won $10,000. (Or so I thought.)

I showed David and my family my ticket and they were just as happy as I was. They couldn’t believe I had won so much. Then my cousin Kimberly said well you should read the back of it so you know what you have to do, or where you have to go to get your winning money. I read it and it read:

“Prizes of $1, $2, $4, $8, $20, $40 and $100 may be redeemed, subject to validation, by any retailer at a claim center or by mail using claim form.
$5,000 and $10,000 prizes may be claimed at Ya Mama’s House! Or by mail using a claim form supplied by the tooth fairy. Please sign and mail your winning ticket and claim form to Santa Clause, P.O. Box 777, North Pole.
All prizes must be claimed no later than 30 seconds after scratching the game card. All winners are subject to people laughing at you. Valid only in your dreams.”

I looked at David, who had a video camera in his hands and told me he got the whole thing on film. The whole thing was a joke. He laughed and said, “Ha-ha I got you big time! There is no way you can get me back now!” I looked with a big grin and said, “Oh yeah?! Watch me!” Then my family ate desert, finished visiting and went back home after saying their goodbyes. I finished scratching the remanding tickets which ended up being loser ones too. That was honestly a really good prank he pulled, but I will get him back! Also, it was the probably the highlight of my break because it was really funny yet embarrassing at the same time. From now on, December 25th, 2008, will be a day I will never forget because it was one of David’s best pranks.