I sit on the old courthouse steps in the town square of Denton in the great state of Texas. The square is filled with people from all walks of life. Nestled between two universities and surrounded by residential neighborhoods, this place is constantly alive with people coming and going. I find myself humming along to the sounds of music coming from a group of young college kids who have set up their instruments and are performing on the courthouse lawn for all to enjoy. A gentle breeze picks up and with it is carried a glorious scent of bbq wafting over from one of the local restaurants. This place plays host to many festivals throughout the year. From where I am seated I can see the strings of white LED lights strung throughout the trees on the courthouse lawn. In the evening these lights are turned on creating a lovely ambiance. This is the type of place where the waitress at the diner knows your name and order as soon as you walk in the door. This is that small town America that for so many years I looked for and finally have found.

I sit on the steps of the old courthouse here in Denton, Texas. The courthouse square is packed with all sorts of people. Many have walked here from a few blocks away due to the limited parking options. Just a few feet from me, an amateur band of college kids have set up and are using the courthouse lawn as an open air practice studio. Walking about the square, darting in and out of the waves of people, I duck into a diner. The waitress is chatting with one of the locals. This is the type of place where you get the feeling everyone knows each other. There is definitely a small town America feel to this place. In some ways it is like the town that time forgot. The shops and restaurants here are not your typical fare. There are no familiar chains to be found here, just shop after shop of mom and pop independently owned establishments. Throughout the year, this congested little town square does it's best to pack in as many people as it can during the many small town festivals and events. Immersed in the throngs of people, one feels like cattle being herded down the chute. During these events, parking is non existent and even walking space is extremely limited. This is truly a small town that seems to have outgrown itself.

Analysis
I attempted use of figurative language and selecting details supporting my intentions and completely omitted others. I tried my best to look at the same situation through two different viewpoints. On the positive view of the square I emphasize the positive points of a small town, for example “This is the type of place where the waitress at the diner knows your name and order as soon as you walk in the door.” For someone that enjoys the small town experience, I felt this point would be appealing. I also completely omitted the points that discuss the negative aspects such as lack of parking or overcrowding. In my attempt at figurative language I painted a picture of how the massive crowding felt, “Immersed in the throngs of people, one feels like cattle being herded down the chute.”
I feel the most important lesson I have taken from this assignment is to be careful in my writing. By just changing a few words, a warm glowing review of a place or experience meant to draw someone to it can quickly turn into a very negative tone driving people away from the place or experience. Honestly, I can see how this could carry over into everyday conversations as well. Yes, being measured and careful with words is a good habit to get into.