Is this a five-paragraph essay? A news article? An AP-style synthesis essay? Is my introduction paragraph a précis? Is my conclusion furthering my ideas? Am I varying sentence structure?

Illustration by Camilly Pereira

Illustration by Camilly Pereira

In response to the drastic budget cuts that the district currently faces, a number of staff positions will be eliminated for the 2011-12 school year.

The Board of Trustees approved the budget reductions for the next two school years at a contentious board meeting April 27.

“Daniel” was in fifth grade when his grandfather first introduced him to chewing tobacco.

Photo by Seth Andrews

I smiled at posters of President Barack Obama in a Nazi uniform—a Hitler mustache conspicuously penciled in above his upper lip.

Illustration by Monique Askland

Illustration by Monique Askland

In light of a significant decrease of state funding for the California education system, the administration is faced with the critical task of cutting down the school’s budget for next year.

When Chloé Guillemot looked out of the window of her chemistry class, she thought it was snowing. The class erupted in excitement as white flakes drifted to the ground in the center quad.

Photo by Michael Weinstein

WHITE PAINT debris coats the campus following windy weather. The nontoxic substance continues to be an annoyance.

In light of a significant decrease of state funding for the California education system, the administration is faced with the critical task of cutting down the school’s budget for next year.

Although Marin may be known for its affluent and comfortable lifestyle, over a thousand teenagers do not have a permanent home to sleep in each night.

Already the majority of teenagers are hooked into an infinite network of interaction and access through smart phones and computers. While this endless connectivity has been available for some time, it’s significance will only fully become apparent over the next 10 years.

By the time Nick Twisp is arguing with his imaginary, mustachioed alter ego, after committing a potentially violent crime, it has already become clear that director Miguel Arteta’s Youth in Revolt is not a typical teen comedy.

"Aaron” was looking for a way to earn money. As opposed to toiling away at a retail store, he chose to explore the potential profit inherent in one of his favorite recreational activities — smoking marijuana.

Illustrated by Will Durkee

Roll down the windows of Mom’s 10-year-old, battered minivan. Herd as many loiterers soliciting for rides into the back doors of the van until maximum capacity has been achieved. Pop in some Mac Dre––or maybe a reggae mixtape, or perhaps a burned, sharpie-designed Jason Mraz CD––slide up the volume knob, and roll out like a gangsta…

elenadrawing3.jpg

elenadrawing3.jpg

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

LT. ALDO RAINE, played by Brad Pitt, puts on a mug with his fellow “basterds” looking on in the background. The newest Quentin Tarantino film made over $37 million in its first weekend.

 Nine years ago, far beforethe general population had ever heard of the distinctively misspelled InglouriousBasterds,writer and director Quentin Tarantino was already several chapters into hisscript. Three movies later, the rumored masterpiece has finally been released.The product of Tarantino’s extensive labor is inarguably one of the best filmsof his career, and maybe even of the decade.