Reflection

Our semester will end in May. After I look back over the semester and think about the projects and in-class activities we've completed, I feel I have so much that I want to say. Actually, I learn much new knowledge about computer in this class.

At the beginning, I learnt how to create our own blog alone, and I think that project is my favorite. To tell you the truth, I never do a blog or space in China with Chinese. Therefore, all the things are new for me, and I am interested in it very much. We could choose which color and size we like. I could also choose the beautiful style of my essay. It attracted me a lot and I think it is very useful skill for my future about computer. I feel very grateful.

In fact, working with Purdue Space, creating a podcast, developing our own favorite photos collection, creating a wiki, and creating a “V-essay” are all very attractive and interesting. I love them all. In addition, they help me to know more about computer. I know that after I hold these abilities, I could do more. Moreover, they are all about different aspects, so they would not make me feel setup. I am exited about every project.

However, I think the second project which let us research our perfect career is not good enough. I can’t deny that it is also useful, but I think it’s not interesting enough. At the same time, it had too much work to do. If we add some funny information and discussions, I think it would be perfect. Thank you!

The most important thing that I want to say is that the professor is so helpful and friendly. Because I know less about computer, I need much help. They are so kind to help me when I need that. I feel so thankful. Their smile let me have confidence and want to continue to work with computer. Thanks to them, I could learn every project clearly!

Chinese vs. American

Do you think that writing in Chinese is more "colorful?"

Yes, I think writing in Chinese is more colorful. That’s because China has a very long history, and there are many stories happened and many philosophers during the time. In American paper, we often only write the fact, but in Chinese paper, we can express our moods. I have to say that writing in Chinese is much more colorful.

That is to say, when you are writing in Chinese, what images do you form in your head?

I think when I am writing in Chinese, I will write some beautiful words in the head. Sometimes I will also write an ancient story which is very useful for my topic.

Chinese characters are very beautiful - when writing with these characters, tell us what is going on in your mind.

I strongly agree with you that Chinese characters are very beautiful. When I am writing these characters, I will think the real scene in my paper. I will feel the happiness and sadness that I have written. Chinese characters can move readers and move writers. So I never stop to imagine it in my mind when I write characters.

China has a long, rich, history - how does this long, rich, history affect you as a writer when you are writing in Chinese?

As a Chinese, I am very proud of her long, rich history. Furthermore, the history affects me very much. As a writer, history teaches me many good stories about all topics. When I am writing in Chinese, I could write essays like poems. The long and rich history lets me become knowledgeable. Therefore, I must say that Chinese history affect me too much as a writer when I am writing in Chinese.

How do you feel when you must write in American English?

I think that is fine, but I can’t write as beautiful as in Chinese. Sometimes, I also feel sad because in American English I can’t express what I want clearly. However, I also like to write in American English, and I think it’s also useful.

In ENGL 396, many of your projects have involved the use of images, photos, and/or videos. Did using these items help you to express your ideas better in English? Why or why not?

Of course, these items like images, photos, and videos are very useful and help me to express my ideas better in English. They let my paper look more beautiful and more abundant. In addition, they help me to express what I want to write but are difficult to write out. All in all, I love them very much.

Writing

As a student in China, we were required to do very beautiful writing. What's that meaning? It is that we should use very beautiful words and some examples that others don’t know. We should put an essay into many paragraphs and every paragraph should have its own meaning of existing. In the beginning, we need a very good and attractive start. For example, we should use parataxis or put an idiom in every sentence. In addition, the good words are very important. Maybe, if you have many good words in an essay but the grammar is not good enough, teacher would give you a good score. During most time, we don’t need to do research because the examples and good words should be remembered by our heads. However, if the essay is very long and we need to spend long time to finish it, we could do research like finding books in library or searching internet.
In fact, writing tasks in the United States are very different from writing tasks in China. Of course, we paraphrase or summarize examples in China. In China, an essay with too long examples is a bad one. Therefore, we need to paraphrase and summarize examples with beautiful sentences. In the United States, it’s also important. We should use the skills because we should put the useful information in our paper. In America, we must adhere to styles such as MPA or APA when we are composing our papers because we could not copy others. It means stealing and hurting others. However, in China, we could not copy the whole essay. In contrast, if we write some sources, we could not write the address because the teachers would know it is from other place and that is enough.
Indeed, there are many differences between Chinese and American writing. However, we should understand and identify with it because different countries have different cultures.

One Week's Dead

Please look at this picture. Why are there so many people in the picture? What is it about? They are dead Americans in Vietnam in only one week. In the picture, we can see the young man and the old man. We can see many vital smiling faces and serious faces. However, now we lose them. We won't see them again. They leave the world just because of a war!
I hate wars and I believe many people hate wars, too. However, we are not able to prevent it. Wars let people lose their important close relatives. Wars let people lose their property. Even wars let people lose the lives of them. I hate wars because wars make deaths and destruction. I hate wars because wars make tear and sadness. However, wars may happy in any time and any place. It's so sad to see a war starting just like we see the people in the picture lose their lives. It's like a knife to sting the heart. I can feel the pain.
Look at the picture and think of the reason of a war. Is it obligatory? Will we get more than we lose? Is there anything more important than people's lives? Obviously, the answer is "NO"! There is no excuse for a war. Every reason they give is maladroit excuse. I am not only sad, but also angry. I am angry with myself. Why haven't I thought of this problem? Why haven't I cared about it? I admit that the realizing of me have too little help, but at least I should. At least, I could write an essay for them. At least, I could think of dead people in a war. At least…
Look at this picture and I feel sad. I could not imagine the sadness of their close relatives. I could not imagine the whole loss of a war. Therefore, please look at the picture and think of this problem cannily.
URL: http://www.life.com/Life/lifebooks/100photos/gallery/9.html

Technology

With the increasing of technology, people's lives are becoming better and better. People use cars instead of feet and horses; use cell phones and e-mail instead of letters; use computers instead of pens and paper. Even pens and paper are all the products of technology. Consequently, I strongly believe that we couldn't continue our lives without technology.

Computer is a very important tool in nowadays and it is also the best representative of technology. Many people should use it everyday just like me. We do the homework, listen to the music, watch movies and search information all using computers. It is so useful and convenient. For instance, a month ago, my friends and I went to Los Angeles. The computer is so convenient that I could take it with me. The day before I went to Disneyland. I searched the information about it like the most interesting facilities and maps. Then I had a wonderful day in Disneyland.
In fact, I never used computers to do the homework. However, after I came to America. I knew we should do our homework on blackboard. Then I found that it was so convenient and easy to communicate. I realized I liked computers more and more strongly.
Maybe people couldn't realize how important technology is. I think it is just because we never thought it is possible that one day we would lose it. We live with technology even every moment, so we think it is common. If people could think about it. I believe no one could deny the importance of technology.
All in all, I want to say," I even couldn't continue to live without technology, especially computers!"

Food

Food is the resorce of life. So today I will talk about food. However, I don't want to tell the differences between Chinese food or the changes following the time going. Today, I just want to introduce some dishes. I not only know how to cook them, but also cooked before or even learned them from very good cook.
First of all, I want to bring a kind of Chinese dishes called coke chicken. After I came to America, my roommates and I tried to cook it and we found that we succeeded. It is so delicious that we even couldn't stop eating it. Then please let me introduce how to cook it! The first step is to flavor the chicken. We should add sugar, soya sauce, chili and so on. Second, we should heat the pan and put the chicken into it. Third, we add coke until the chicken is covered. Then we can wait. At last, when the coke nearly disappears, the dish is completed. But please remember, if you never cooked it before, please taste it and then add flavoring during the cooking time. After all of these, I believe you can cook a very delicious dish. Although it is a kind of Chinese food, I still think people all around the world will like it.
In addition, I want to introduce Pizza. I learned it last Thursday from a professor who I knew in the church. She told me that more than 80% of Amecicans like pizza, but most of them don't know how to cook it. And pizza in Chicago is the best of America. I am so glad and thankful I learnt so much from her. Now I will tell you what I have learnt. First, we should put flavor in a big bow and then add a teaspoon of yeast and a teaspoon of honey. Then we mix them. I know it is not easy because the first I did it is not good. But I believe after many times, we can do it very well just like a cook in the restaurant. Furthermore, we put it into a plate and then put sausage and cheese on it. Finally, we can just put it into the oven. After about twenty minutes or more, the pizza is done. Actually, I don't like pizza at all. But that night, I ate much because it was really very, very delicious. I hope you can have a try and then you will love it. Though, I only introduced two dishes, however, I believe you can get much from my essay. And I hope you can try to cook by yourself, especially the person who don't know how to cook. You will find that cooking, even cooking the delicious food is not difficult at all.

Please cook, and then you will love it, not only the delicious food but also the feeling of cooking.

FAMILY

I believe that family is a very important part of a person's life and I am proud of my happy family. We have three people - my parents and I. My father is a senior engineerer with flight test and he affects me much so that I want to learn engineering after I pass the ELP class. My mother is a business woman and she is very humorous. We all love our family very much and I think if you don't have a good family, your life is not full enough.

I also believe a family can not lack any member. I know lots of crime caused by the children who only have father or mother. And I think it's unfair to them. So in my opinion, their crime is not only because they don't have a good moral character but also because they don't have all of their members. All in all, I want to say to the parents in the world that please don't leave your child; if you will, please don't be a parent.

After I came to America, I was asked " If you can choose one, you will choose a strife family or a divorced family." I think it's a so sad choice. I always said," I will let my parents divorce if they are at strife day and night." Because I think it's a bigger hurt to a child. How can a child be in his right mind under the non-stop strife. I even bear to think of the sadness of the child. As a consequence, please forgive and love your wife or husband even for your child.

Now I am a daughter and I haven't been a parent so I say so many words only for children.
o(∩_∩)o...
Thank you for your reading~~~

Sara