1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
THE DESIGN SCHOOL
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
NAME: JAKE SIA CHYI SERN
STUDENT ID NO: 0314396
TOOL SELECTED: SPONGE
WORD COUNT: 480
ENGLISH 2 (ENGL 0205)
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: NARRATIVE ESSAY
LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA
SUBMISSION DATE: 14TH NOVEMBER 2013

2. The first thing I did to determine what object to use as 'the tool' was
to observe my surroundings carefully and pick an object that is suitable. The first
location that came to mind was the kitchen because I spend many a time there
enjoying a hearty meal with my family and also because the kitchen was one of
the suggestions in the brief. Once I had found a location, I then browsed through
the large array of cooking and dinning utensils that varied from the forks and
spoons to the pots and pans. Then I remembered something that was always
sitting by the sink, the sponge. I told myself that the sponge is a neat piece of
equipment that is used regularly so why not. I decided to use the sponge as my
object because I am familiar with it as I spend most of the days washing the
dishes.
The sponge's brand is Scotch Brite, a well known brand in the field
where cleaning products are concerned, where its quality is to be considered the
best or at least one of the best. As I observed the sponge up close at the kitchen
table, the first thing I caught was that it had fine edges resembling a cuboid or
more or less cubic in shape. Its top side is covered with a layer of coarse dark
green and the rest of the sponge is bright yellow and smoother than the green
side. Its whole surface was covered in tiny pores which only allowed element
such as water and air to diffuse through it. As I lifted it up, I had noticed that it
was as light as a feather, similar to lifting thin air itself. However when I added
water, I began to feel the weight resting upon my palm. I squeezed the sponge
and felt it get lighter once more. I then smelled the sponge. Turns out the sponge
have both the aroma of detergent and the stench of cooking oil since the sponge

3. is closely associated with such substances. The sponge always came in contact
with tap water hence its temperature is likewise considerably low. When the
sponge is dropped it produces close to no sound at all but when thrown into the
basin makes a little 'thump' sound. However, when the sponge is full of water and
thrown into the basin, it produces a deeper and louder sounding 'thump'. My
sponge was already quite worn out so it cannot maintain its solid shape very well
and is rather wobbly than compared to how it was when brand new. Of course
due to the frequent usage of this sponge, its bright yellow colour has turned
slightly brownish because of the dirt stains. I wouldn't say that my sponge is a
unique sponge rather it is just like all the other millions of sponges in the world.