This document provides an introduction to the author's e-portfolio, including biographical information and resume. The biography outlines the author's background, including being born in Puerto Rico and living in several states in the US. The resume lists the author's education, including a current pursuit of a Master's degree, as well as relevant experience in technical writing, volunteer work, and other positions. The portfolio entries then provide samples of the author's writing on various topics.

1. Welcome To My Efolio Hello, and welcome to my e-folio! Here I will be sharing some information about myself, as well as some work for my professional writing class

2. Biography I immigrated from Puerto Rico when I was five years old. I spent a good eight years living in Miami, before moving to Cape Coral, Florida. I moved back to Miami to finish my Associate of Arts at Miami Dade Community College. Two years later I attended and graduate from the University of Florida. I am currently a Chatham University where I plan toacquiring my Master of Professional Writing.

3. Resume Objective Acquire technical writing job. Education Master of Professional Writing, 2011 Chatham University Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 2007 University of Florida Emphasis: Public Affairs Minor: Gender Studies Associate of Arts (cum laude), 2005 Miami Dade College High School Diploma, 2003 Cape Coral High School

4. Resume Continued Experience Computer Coach Volunteer, Cape Coral, FL, August 8, 2010-Present Instruct beginners in using the Internet, setting up e-mail accounts, exploring the library’s electronic resources, and searching the library’s public access catalog. Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer, Kissimmee, FL, July 2009-August 2010 Visiting the child and keeps the child informed about the court proceedings; Gathering and assessing independent information on a consistent basis about the child in order to recommend a resolution that is in the child's best interest; Reviewing records; Interviewing appropriate parties involved in the case, including the child; Determining whether a permanent plan has been created for the child in accordance with federal and state laws and whether appropriate services are being provided to the child and family; Submitting a signed written report with recommendations to the court on what placement, visitation plan, services, and permanent plan are in the best interest of the child; Attending and participating in court hearings and other related meetings to advocate for a permanent plan, which serves the child's best interest; Maintaining complete records about the case, including appointments scheduled, interviews held, and information gathered about the child and the child's life circumstances. Freelance Technical Writer, Cape Coral, FL, September 2007-Present Preparing letter reports and technical reports about subjects that require technical explanations, diagrams, charts, and jargon understood by technical readers. In addition, I present technical information to technical readers so they understand the concepts and subsequently apply them in their work. I also design web pages for interested individuals.

5. Resume continued Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network, Gainesville, FL, August 2006-September 2007 Restraining Order Assistance Program (ROAP) Victim Advocate in charge of obtaining legal referrals, referrals for assistance from law enforcement, referrals for medical help, referrals to other social services, filing Victim’s Compensation, criminal justice support, and completing the Address Confidentiality Program. Additionally, responsible for providing safety planning, crisis counseling and intervention, and assistance in screenings for shelter. One Stop Career Center, Hialeah, Florida, September 2003-December 2004 Assistant Local Veterans Employment Representative Facilitation of labor exchange services provision for eligible veterans and other eligible persons. Duties included intake and assessment, counseling/case- management, testing, providing job- search assistance, job development, referral and placement through Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP). Bilingual—fluent in speaking, reading and writing Spanish as well as English; Florida Teaching Certificate, (6-12) Social Sciences.

6. Entries The following is my portfolio

7. Priorities It seems to me that those who support their right to bear arms under the guise of the Second Amendment do not think about the consequences that come with backing a candidate solely on the issue of gun rights. A plethora of individual rights go unsupported both within America’s border and in the borders of other countries. First and foremost, we have a deteriorating economy that has just recently fallen the farthest it will fall in our record-breaking recession. We have a dwindling house crisis where the housing marking has, according to national home sales and prices, fallen dramatically in March 2007 — the steepest plunge since the 1989 Savings and Loan crisis. According to National Association of Realtors (NAR) data, sales were down 13% to 482,000 from the peak of 554,000 in March 2006, and the national median price fell nearly 6% to $217,000 from a peak of $230,200 in July 2006. Furthermore we are facing a health insurance crisis in this country. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2008 there were 46.3 million people in the US (15.4% of the population) who were without health insurance for at least part of that year. The percentage of the non-elderly population who are uninsured has been generally increasing since the year 2000. Moreover, there is the issue of the war in the Middle East, more specifically Afghanistan. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 2,118 Afghan civilians were killed by armed conflict in 2008, the highest number since the end of the initial 2001 invasion. This represented an increase of about 40% over UNAMA's figure of 1,523 Afghan civilians killed in 2007. Furthermore, the Taliban is still a major threat in the region, capitalizing on the drug cartel by harvesting poppy seeds, the main component of heroine, while maintaining a stronghold on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. In addition there is the nuclear proliferation in both Iran, which has in the past made threatening remarks towards Israel and whoever supports Israel, and the dictatorship of North Korea, a country with an above 90% illiteracy rate and which has gone through a famine leaving 600,000 of its own citizens dead. Additionally, free speech is not protected in either country, probably the worst violation any country can enforce on its own citizens. It is freedom of speech that makes living bearable, that has created whole countries through the use of revolution (as ours), and that has made sure that evil is punished. And yet we still whine over bills such as the one passed during the Clinton era that no American shall be able to own automatic weapons, or that students are not able to bring guns onto a university campus—something suggested after the Virginia Tech shooting—or that commercial pilots are not able to carry weapons on airplanes. What ever happened to priorities?

8. Looking Down the Barrel An article in Mother Jones, by Siddhartha Mahanta, states that last October, the UN started floating the idea of international standards for the importing, exporting, and transfer of conventional firearms, which frequently find their way into illicit markets and cause countless deaths each year. This of course would make any pro-gun advocate nervous; it made the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms nervous. The organization recently blasted out an email alert-cum-funding request (via an affiliated group, Vision to America), warning its members of a proposed UN treaty it claims is poised to trample the Second Amendment. The CCRKBA claims that the treaty could prohibit weapons manufacturers from selling guns to the US public, and require Americans to turn over any banned firearms to the government. Opponents of the treaty, like Gottlieb and Bolton, fail to note that such a treaty doesn't even exist yet. There isn't even a working draft. And even if there were such a treaty, the Second Amendment holds precedence over any law drawn up by an international body. Furthermore, in Reid v. Covert the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution supersedes any international treaties ratified by the United States Senate. So even if such an international treaty is passed, the Court can supersede such attempt to change American law. The government at no point, including the government in place now, has ever stated that owning a gun is illegal or unconstitutional. What the government has done, especially in various states, is place restrictions which guarantee the safety of all Americans, especially those at risk of getting injured, such as the elderly and children. District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago has guaranteed the rights of Americans to own handguns. But never have these cases stated that Americans have a blanket right to do whatever they want in expressing their rights under the Second Amendment. District of Columbia v. Heller stated that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that firearm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. Never in these court opinions does it state that government doesn't have a right to enact restrictions which protect the safety of others. The annoying growls of pro-gun advocates are something out of the traditional Republican play book. The fact is that gun rights, under the guise of the Second Amendment, are still much larger politically than they are legally. The Federal Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller stated that residents of District of Columbia clearly had a right under the Second Amendment to own handguns. Furthermore, in McDonald v. Chicago the Court once again proclaimed that the Second Amendment is one that protects an individual’s right to own a weapon. The Court stated that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self defense in one's home is fully applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. The latter case is very important since it applies to the states, not just the District of Columbia. Hence, states at this point through the political process are the ones who will decide individually what forms of restriction they wish to impose upon their citizens, not the courts.