Finally, it is the end of year of my Secondary One life. I have learnt a lot of things in my Secondary school. Now, it is the time to reflect what I had learnt in the whole Secondary One year.
Firstly, I had learnt the school values(J-TIGER) which is Joy, Teamwork, Intergrity, Global perspective, Excellence and Respect. I feel that these values are very important because they helped me through the year of Secondary one and I use them as a guide on how to be an independent learner.
I also made a lot of friends and they helped me when I were in need of help. I also met some teachers who were teaching us with their greatest help that they could give. Hence, I am very grateful for all the teachers who had taught me one way or the other.
Then, I learnt many new things that was going round the world through the Current Affairs when some panelists were discussing a topic which is related to what was going on around the world with us. This certainly enriched me in the Secondary One life.
I have also learnt a lot of knowledge that the teachers had taught us through different subjects. This enriched my knowledge of different subject and this somehow made me become a independent learners.
I think I have learnt a lot of knowledge and values which are very important to the Secondary life and the future. Hence, I think my Secondary One is a fruitful year.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Old and New Generations
My parents expected me to become a useful person in the future so that I can contribute to the society and let them have more glory. They wanted me to study hard and work hard in order to achieve good results. They also expected me to do well in all areas, especially acedemic.
However, when I grow up, I expect my child to do well to and want him to be an all-rounded person. I will send him for special course, such as piano playing and etc. I might also expect him to have a clear mind of what wrong and what is right. I also expected him to do well in his subjects as well as sports.
I think there are not much difference in expectations between my parents and I. It's probably because I am influenced by my parents but I think my expectations of my child might change as I grow up.
However, when I grow up, I expect my child to do well to and want him to be an all-rounded person. I will send him for special course, such as piano playing and etc. I might also expect him to have a clear mind of what wrong and what is right. I also expected him to do well in his subjects as well as sports.
I think there are not much difference in expectations between my parents and I. It's probably because I am influenced by my parents but I think my expectations of my child might change as I grow up.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Book review
Title: The Process of Aging
Author: Louis George Alexander
Summary: At the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous. It has yet reach its full size and strength but at this age the likelihood of death is least. Earlier, we are infants and young children and consequently more vulnerable; later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigor and resistance which, though imperceptible at first, will finally become so steep that we can live no longer, no matter how well we look after ourselves, however well the society. This decline in vigor with the passing of time is called aging
Feeling: I think this book tell us a lot of things, such as the knowledge of aging and how to appreciate the time before we start to age. I think this book is very interesting and I have gained much knowledge from it.
Author: Louis George Alexander
Summary: At the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous. It has yet reach its full size and strength but at this age the likelihood of death is least. Earlier, we are infants and young children and consequently more vulnerable; later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigor and resistance which, though imperceptible at first, will finally become so steep that we can live no longer, no matter how well we look after ourselves, however well the society. This decline in vigor with the passing of time is called aging
Feeling: I think this book tell us a lot of things, such as the knowledge of aging and how to appreciate the time before we start to age. I think this book is very interesting and I have gained much knowledge from it.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
CASINO
I strictly condemn its construction and ultimately the hardships it will cause in Singapore. I know that some people will have a job and make a living by working at the casino but with one more casino on the world, it offer more places for the gamblers to gamble and more people will start to gamble. It is a losing situation because although there are people getting jobs, there are people who are losing their jobs by gambling. Money may not necessarily be earned from the casino. It may be earned from tourism or other places not necessarily from casino. My parents said that With the casino, people will think that gambling is alright and legal so they they will start to addict to gambling even more seriously. The NPR said "and there are signs the economic downturn is spreading to the gambling industry." Hence, it shows that casino is not good to be built and make money from. Hence, I strictly condemn its construction and ultimately the hardships it will cause in Singapore.
LOTTERIES
I think I do not support lotteries. This is because the lotteries are waste of money and energy. Lotteries are just another form of gambling because people who buy lotteries are betting their money and when they did not buy the correct number, they will not be getting their money back. This is similar to gambling. However gambler spent more money than buying lotteries. My parents said, "However, buying lotteries is a habit so you will become addicted to it. Hence, you will buy more lotteries after you win or not win so the money lost is accumulated and in total the money lost by buying lotteries is quite a lot too." The "Battling back from Gambling Addiction" said that Jonny W. says he lost almost everything to a gambling addiction — his wife, his money, and the life he once knew. Hence, I think that buying lotteries is similar to gambling which is not good. The money used to buy lotteries can be used to buy a lot of other things, such as food, clothes or daily necessities. Hence I think that buying lotteries is a waste of money and should be condemned.
Comparison between poems
In the first poem,Tom Beatty is a lawyer who try to bet and thinks that gambling is not good as the percentage of winning is very low and if you lose, you cannot get back the money and have to leave the room.
The second poem is about the people in the casino wanting to win back their money.
"the blazing desire to win back,
To take revenge, to bring back
The nerves, the time, the brain
And all that was spent in vain." shows that the energy and money spent by gamblers are useless.
The third poem is about a man who spent his only one dollar coin on gambling and now he had nothing.
The first poem is from the lawyer's point of view, while the second and the third poems are from the gamblers' point of view.
The second poem is about the people in the casino wanting to win back their money.
"the blazing desire to win back,
To take revenge, to bring back
The nerves, the time, the brain
And all that was spent in vain." shows that the energy and money spent by gamblers are useless.
The third poem is about a man who spent his only one dollar coin on gambling and now he had nothing.
The first poem is from the lawyer's point of view, while the second and the third poems are from the gamblers' point of view.
Monday, June 29, 2009
My favourite poet
His work has been featured in the Pushcart Prize anthology and has been chosen several times for the annual Best American Poetry series. My favorite poet is Billy Collins who was born in New York City in 1941. He is the author of several books of poetry. I think that all his works of poetry are quite interesting and rhyming. His poem is also very pleasant to read and recite. I think he is very brilliant and clever as he is able to create such poems. I like this poet because he can write many wonderful poems which I think they are interesting.
This poet leaves me an impression that he is very talented when I first see his photograph. After reading his poem and his background, I found out that he is really a talented poet. Hence, I started to like him and his poems. I found out that his poems are very popular. Thus, I like this poet.
This poet Billy Collins was born in New York City in 1941. He is the author of several books of poetry, including Ballistics (2008), She Was Just Seventeen (2006), The Trouble with Poetry (2005); Nine Horses (2002); Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems (2001); Picnic, Lightning (1998); The Art of Drowning (1995), which was a finalist for the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize; Questions About Angels (1991), which was selected by Edward Hirsch for the National Poetry Series; The Apple That Astonished Paris (1988); Video Poems (1980); and Pokerface (1977).
Collins's poetry has appeared in anthologies, textbooks, and a variety of periodicals, including Poetry, American Poetry Review, American Scholar, Harper's, Paris Review, and The New Yorker.
In 2001, Collins was named U.S. Poet Laureate. His other honors and awards include fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Foundation. In 1992, he was chosen by the New York Public Library to serve as "Literary Lion". He has conducted summer poetry workshops in Ireland at University College Galway, and taught at Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence, and Lehman College, City University of New York. He lives in Somers, New York.
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/278
Three poems by the poet:
1)Fishing on the Susquehanna in July
by Billy Collins
I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna
or on any river for that matter
to be perfectly honest.
Not in July or any month
have I had the pleasure--if it is a pleasure--
of fishing on the Susquehanna.
I am more likely to be found
in a quiet room like this one--
a painting of a woman on the wall,
a bowl of tangerines on the table--
trying to manufacture the sensation
of fishing on the Susquehanna.
There is little doubt
that others have been fishing
on the Susquehanna,
rowing upstream in a wooden boat,
sliding the oars under the water
then raising them to drip in the light.
But the nearest I have ever come to
fishing on the Susquehanna
was one afternoon in a museum in Philadelphia
when I balanced a little egg of time
in front of a painting
in which that river curled around a bend
under a blue cloud-ruffled sky,
dense trees along the banks,
and a fellow with a red bandanna
sitting in a small, green
flat-bottom boat
holding the thin whip of a pole.
That is something I am unlikely
ever to do, I remember
saying to myself and the person next to me.
Then I blinked and moved on
to other American scenes
of haystacks, water whitening over rocks,
even one of a brown hare
who seemed so wired with alertness
I imagined him springing right out of the frame.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16497
2)Forgetfulness
by Billy Collins
The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,
as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.
Long ago you kissed the names of the nine Muses goodbye
and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag,
and even now as you memorize the order of the planets,
something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps,
the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay.
Whatever it is you are struggling to remember
it is not poised on the tip of your tongue,
not even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen.
It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall,
well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those
who have even forgotten how to swim and how to ride a bicycle.
No wonder you rise in the middle of the night
to look up the date of a famous battle in a book on war.
No wonder the moon in the window seems to have drifted
out of a love poem that you used to know by heart.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19754
3)Introduction to Poetry
by Billy Collins
I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.
I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.
But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20177
This poet leaves me an impression that he is very talented when I first see his photograph. After reading his poem and his background, I found out that he is really a talented poet. Hence, I started to like him and his poems. I found out that his poems are very popular. Thus, I like this poet.
This poet Billy Collins was born in New York City in 1941. He is the author of several books of poetry, including Ballistics (2008), She Was Just Seventeen (2006), The Trouble with Poetry (2005); Nine Horses (2002); Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems (2001); Picnic, Lightning (1998); The Art of Drowning (1995), which was a finalist for the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize; Questions About Angels (1991), which was selected by Edward Hirsch for the National Poetry Series; The Apple That Astonished Paris (1988); Video Poems (1980); and Pokerface (1977).
Collins's poetry has appeared in anthologies, textbooks, and a variety of periodicals, including Poetry, American Poetry Review, American Scholar, Harper's, Paris Review, and The New Yorker.
In 2001, Collins was named U.S. Poet Laureate. His other honors and awards include fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Foundation. In 1992, he was chosen by the New York Public Library to serve as "Literary Lion". He has conducted summer poetry workshops in Ireland at University College Galway, and taught at Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence, and Lehman College, City University of New York. He lives in Somers, New York.
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/278
Three poems by the poet:
1)Fishing on the Susquehanna in July
by Billy Collins
I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna
or on any river for that matter
to be perfectly honest.
Not in July or any month
have I had the pleasure--if it is a pleasure--
of fishing on the Susquehanna.
I am more likely to be found
in a quiet room like this one--
a painting of a woman on the wall,
a bowl of tangerines on the table--
trying to manufacture the sensation
of fishing on the Susquehanna.
There is little doubt
that others have been fishing
on the Susquehanna,
rowing upstream in a wooden boat,
sliding the oars under the water
then raising them to drip in the light.
But the nearest I have ever come to
fishing on the Susquehanna
was one afternoon in a museum in Philadelphia
when I balanced a little egg of time
in front of a painting
in which that river curled around a bend
under a blue cloud-ruffled sky,
dense trees along the banks,
and a fellow with a red bandanna
sitting in a small, green
flat-bottom boat
holding the thin whip of a pole.
That is something I am unlikely
ever to do, I remember
saying to myself and the person next to me.
Then I blinked and moved on
to other American scenes
of haystacks, water whitening over rocks,
even one of a brown hare
who seemed so wired with alertness
I imagined him springing right out of the frame.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16497
2)Forgetfulness
by Billy Collins
The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,
as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.
Long ago you kissed the names of the nine Muses goodbye
and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag,
and even now as you memorize the order of the planets,
something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps,
the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay.
Whatever it is you are struggling to remember
it is not poised on the tip of your tongue,
not even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen.
It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall,
well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those
who have even forgotten how to swim and how to ride a bicycle.
No wonder you rise in the middle of the night
to look up the date of a famous battle in a book on war.
No wonder the moon in the window seems to have drifted
out of a love poem that you used to know by heart.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19754
3)Introduction to Poetry
by Billy Collins
I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.
I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.
But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20177
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Why I like the poem ' FOR I AM A METAPHOR'
I like the poem 'FOR I AM A METAPHOR' because it is poetically beautiful and it also rhyme very well. I feel that the poem runs very smoothly and I also like the way he describes himself as other objects or living things. I like the way he uses similes. The similes that he uses are very appropriate and suites his poem. I feel that he is really a metaphor because he keep on emphasizing on the phrase "FOR I AM A METAPHOR" so it leaves a strong impression on the reader. Therefore, I think this poem is very well written and I like it a lot.
My favourite poem
' FOR I AM A METAPHOR'
By: Kottrell Johnson
'For i am a Metaphor
For i am free as a bird
wiser than wise itself
brighter than a sun gama ray
FOR I AM A METAPHOR
for i love like the word
think like einstein
dream like Martin
FOR I AM A METAPHOR
For i smell like success
Achieve like achievers
and soar like number 23
FOR I AM A METAPHOR
for i deliver like mailmen
determine like focus
and prosper like underdogs
FOR I......AM.....A METAPHOR'
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-i-am-a-metaphor/
The poet used the figurative language in the poem when he described himself free as a bird, wiser than wise itself, brighter than a sun gama ray, love like the word, think like einstein, dream like Martin, smell like success, achieve like achievers,
soar like number 23, determine like focus and prosper like underdogs.
This figurative language that he used is all similes. The author used similes because similes are figurative language and it can be used to compare two object with or without irony. Hence, the writer used the similes.
By: Kottrell Johnson
'For i am a Metaphor
For i am free as a bird
wiser than wise itself
brighter than a sun gama ray
FOR I AM A METAPHOR
for i love like the word
think like einstein
dream like Martin
FOR I AM A METAPHOR
For i smell like success
Achieve like achievers
and soar like number 23
FOR I AM A METAPHOR
for i deliver like mailmen
determine like focus
and prosper like underdogs
FOR I......AM.....A METAPHOR'
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-i-am-a-metaphor/
The poet used the figurative language in the poem when he described himself free as a bird, wiser than wise itself, brighter than a sun gama ray, love like the word, think like einstein, dream like Martin, smell like success, achieve like achievers,
soar like number 23, determine like focus and prosper like underdogs.
This figurative language that he used is all similes. The author used similes because similes are figurative language and it can be used to compare two object with or without irony. Hence, the writer used the similes.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Book Review 4
Title: The Coldest Place on Earth
Author: Tim Victory
Summary: Until now, in the South Pole, there is a house, named Amundsen which is a South Pole station. The indoors of the house is warm, no matter summer or winter and people can work live or work there. It is very convenient, either to reach there or depart from there. One can travel from the South Pole station to other countries within hours. However when one walk out of the station 500 meters away, the destination will be the coldest place on earth.
In 1911, there were no airplanes and houses. Except for the snow and the coldness, almost nothing existed in South Pole. There was neither British flag nor Norway flag. But there were a few people who slowly walked across the South Pole. Those people were Scott, the leader, with his team. At that time, the temperature in South pole was worse than -30℃. They put up with the hungriness, tiredness and coldness and tried to reach their destination, South Pole.
Now, the words of Scott can still be seen in the South Pole station and it says that “God, this place was horrible!”
Review: I think this story had enriched my knowledge and it had also taught me some of the values. The knowledge I had learned from this book covered about the topic of South Pole and the values that I had learnt was perseverance. Only perseverance had led them to success. Hence, I like this book.
Author: Tim Victory
Summary: Until now, in the South Pole, there is a house, named Amundsen which is a South Pole station. The indoors of the house is warm, no matter summer or winter and people can work live or work there. It is very convenient, either to reach there or depart from there. One can travel from the South Pole station to other countries within hours. However when one walk out of the station 500 meters away, the destination will be the coldest place on earth.
In 1911, there were no airplanes and houses. Except for the snow and the coldness, almost nothing existed in South Pole. There was neither British flag nor Norway flag. But there were a few people who slowly walked across the South Pole. Those people were Scott, the leader, with his team. At that time, the temperature in South pole was worse than -30℃. They put up with the hungriness, tiredness and coldness and tried to reach their destination, South Pole.
Now, the words of Scott can still be seen in the South Pole station and it says that “God, this place was horrible!”
Review: I think this story had enriched my knowledge and it had also taught me some of the values. The knowledge I had learned from this book covered about the topic of South Pole and the values that I had learnt was perseverance. Only perseverance had led them to success. Hence, I like this book.
Book Review 3
Title: Dead Man’s Island
Author: John Escott
Summary: The protagonist, who is called Carol Sanders, lived in England. When he was younger, he lived in Hong Kong. His father was a businessman there while his mother is a secretary. When the protagonist was schooling, he enjoyed himself with lots of friends. He liked pop music. However, when he was seventeen years old, he felt that everything was beginning to go wrong for him. His father went to Australia for business and the protagonist did not wish his father to leave him along with his mother. His father stayed in Australia for two weeks. Then, all of the passengers in the airplane died and that was his father’s returning journey. After knowing the incident, He cried for a few weeks and was feeling lonely and sad. After the incident, he began to take drugs under the influence of his new friends. Then, the police came to the college to arrest some of the students but they did not arrest him but he had to leave college. Hence, his mother was very angry and decided that they should go to England and begin a new life. After a few weeks of immigration, he decided to find a college and a job. The he saw a job of secretary for the summer months on a small private island in Scotland. The job was awarded with good pay for the right person. Hence, the protagonist went for the job and that when the adventure began.
Review: I think the story is quite interesting and entertaining. I like the adventures that the protagonist experienced the most. After reading this book, I begin to like story with adventure as I enjoyed this book a lot. The adventures, for example the protagonist find many dead bodies on the small island accidently, always entertain me. I like the bravery of the protagonist, Carol, because he was not afraid of the dead man’s island and try to investigate what had happened. Hence, I like this book.
Author: John Escott
Summary: The protagonist, who is called Carol Sanders, lived in England. When he was younger, he lived in Hong Kong. His father was a businessman there while his mother is a secretary. When the protagonist was schooling, he enjoyed himself with lots of friends. He liked pop music. However, when he was seventeen years old, he felt that everything was beginning to go wrong for him. His father went to Australia for business and the protagonist did not wish his father to leave him along with his mother. His father stayed in Australia for two weeks. Then, all of the passengers in the airplane died and that was his father’s returning journey. After knowing the incident, He cried for a few weeks and was feeling lonely and sad. After the incident, he began to take drugs under the influence of his new friends. Then, the police came to the college to arrest some of the students but they did not arrest him but he had to leave college. Hence, his mother was very angry and decided that they should go to England and begin a new life. After a few weeks of immigration, he decided to find a college and a job. The he saw a job of secretary for the summer months on a small private island in Scotland. The job was awarded with good pay for the right person. Hence, the protagonist went for the job and that when the adventure began.
Review: I think the story is quite interesting and entertaining. I like the adventures that the protagonist experienced the most. After reading this book, I begin to like story with adventure as I enjoyed this book a lot. The adventures, for example the protagonist find many dead bodies on the small island accidently, always entertain me. I like the bravery of the protagonist, Carol, because he was not afraid of the dead man’s island and try to investigate what had happened. Hence, I like this book.
Book Review 2
Title: Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp
Author: Judith Dean
Summary: Aladdin was a lazy boy. He did not like to work and he played all day with his friends in the market. He and his mother were very poor and were often hungry but Aladdin never worked and never helped his mother.
One day, Aladdin’s uncle, Abanazar, arrived in the city. He told Aladdin and his mother that he was a rich man. He gave them gold , bought Aladdin a beautiful new coat and wanted to help them.
However, Abanazar was not Aladdin’s uncle. He was a magician from Morocco and he wanted to find an enchanted lamp. He knew the lamp was in a magical garden under the ground near a city in Arabia. Only the poor boy, Aladdin, from the city could get into the garden and found the lamp. So Abanazar wanted Aladdin to find the enchanted lamp for him but Aladdin refused and in the end, Abanazar did not get the enchanted lamp.
Review: I like fairytales and magic a lot. So, when I read this book, I was filled with excitement and amazement. I envy Aladdin because he had a enchanted lamp and the magical spirit in the enchanted lamp can fulfill Aladdin wishes and I wish I could have one. The story is also adventurous. Hence, I like this story.
Author: Judith Dean
Summary: Aladdin was a lazy boy. He did not like to work and he played all day with his friends in the market. He and his mother were very poor and were often hungry but Aladdin never worked and never helped his mother.
One day, Aladdin’s uncle, Abanazar, arrived in the city. He told Aladdin and his mother that he was a rich man. He gave them gold , bought Aladdin a beautiful new coat and wanted to help them.
However, Abanazar was not Aladdin’s uncle. He was a magician from Morocco and he wanted to find an enchanted lamp. He knew the lamp was in a magical garden under the ground near a city in Arabia. Only the poor boy, Aladdin, from the city could get into the garden and found the lamp. So Abanazar wanted Aladdin to find the enchanted lamp for him but Aladdin refused and in the end, Abanazar did not get the enchanted lamp.
Review: I like fairytales and magic a lot. So, when I read this book, I was filled with excitement and amazement. I envy Aladdin because he had a enchanted lamp and the magical spirit in the enchanted lamp can fulfill Aladdin wishes and I wish I could have one. The story is also adventurous. Hence, I like this story.
Book Review 1
Title: The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
Author: Daniel Defoe
Summary: Robinson Crusoe was born in 1632 in British. His father was German and his mother was British. Robinson was getting tired of the peaceful life in British. He decided to become a sailor and travel around the world. He took a ship in 1659, travelling from Brazil to Africa.
One day, a terrible storm came and broke the ship. Robinson and the crew on the ship soon struggled for help in the waves. All of the people on the ship were drowned to death, except for Robinson. Robinson reach the land unconsciously and he found himself alone on a unfamiliar, deserted island with no food, no boat and no way to escape from the island.
He lived on the island for 27 years alone and he learned to build houses, plant cropsand use animal skin to make clothes.
Review: I like adventurous story and I enjoyed them very much. I think this story educate me to become independent. I admire Robinson Crusoe as he was a very persevering man and had strong willpower. He was managed to stay alive on the island. He was also quick to change and adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings. He could change from an ambitious sailor to a survivor on an island. Hence, I like Robinson Crusoe and the story.
Author: Daniel Defoe
Summary: Robinson Crusoe was born in 1632 in British. His father was German and his mother was British. Robinson was getting tired of the peaceful life in British. He decided to become a sailor and travel around the world. He took a ship in 1659, travelling from Brazil to Africa.
One day, a terrible storm came and broke the ship. Robinson and the crew on the ship soon struggled for help in the waves. All of the people on the ship were drowned to death, except for Robinson. Robinson reach the land unconsciously and he found himself alone on a unfamiliar, deserted island with no food, no boat and no way to escape from the island.
He lived on the island for 27 years alone and he learned to build houses, plant cropsand use animal skin to make clothes.
Review: I like adventurous story and I enjoyed them very much. I think this story educate me to become independent. I admire Robinson Crusoe as he was a very persevering man and had strong willpower. He was managed to stay alive on the island. He was also quick to change and adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings. He could change from an ambitious sailor to a survivor on an island. Hence, I like Robinson Crusoe and the story.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Village By The Sea book review
Lila who prayed to sacred rock in the morning was responsible to take care of the house by doing all the house chores. Hari was responsible to earn money for the family. Their mother was terribly sick and was very weak and their father was a drunkard and he liked to drink toddy. Bela and Kamal were the youngest sisters in the family. They went to school but Lila and Hari did not Pinto was their family’s dog and it was very loyal to the family. Their family was very poor.
Ramu was Hari’s friend and he wished to get a job in the new factory which would be built in Thul. Biju was probably the richest fisherman in Thul as he owned a fishing boat with diesel engine and fridge but he was very arrogant so the villagers did not like him. The de Silvas was a very rich family and owned a bungalow in Thul. He was one of the benefactors of Hari.
Hira- bai was the man who sent the medicine to the children’s sick mother. Adarkar led the villagers to Bombay to protest against the building of the new factory. The factory watchman did not like Thul but had to live in a tin shack to protect the materials being stolen. The policeman disagreed Hari to sleep in the park but he agreed at last.
Mr Panwallah repaired watches for a living. He used to live in a villa but now his home is a little room near Grant Road Station. He helped Hari a lot by teach him how to mend watch for free of charge and he provided him with extra jobs so that he could earn more money so he was Hari’s one of the benefactors.
Jagu ran the Sri Khrishna Eating House and live in a slum in Bombay. He was Hari’s benefactor because he provided Hari with jobs to earn a living in Bombay. Mrs Jagu was unhappy when her husband, Jagu, brought the sick boy home from the restaurant. Their family was not so rich. Sayyil Ali Sahil came from Bombay and he like the simple life in Thul.
The themes that appear in the story are mainly five themes. They are “change and adaptation”, “urban and rural India”, “poverty and wealth”, “family” and “benefactors”.
Change and adaptation is reflected when there would be a new factory been built in Thul and when Hari went to Bombay to find a job and earn a living. Hari leaves Thul and had to learn to adapt to living in the city. He could no longer rely on the traditional livelihoods of farming and fishing but begin to make plans for the future.
The theme ”urban and rural India” can be seen in the story when the village Thul was very rural and poor but a sense of urbanization was indicated with the news of the factories which was to be built in Alibagh and Thul.
Poverty and wealth is reflected when Hari’s family was too poor that they only can eat dry bread or dry rice and Hari had to escape to Bombay to find jobs and earn a living. However, Biju and the de Silvas were so rich that Biju owned the best fishing boat in the village and the de Silvas had a bungalow in Bombay.
The theme “family” can be seen in the story when Hari had a dysfunctional family. His mother was so sick that she could not get up from the bed and his father was a drunkard. His father slept all the time and only wake up in the night to go the she toddy shop to drink toddy with the three brothers from the neighboring farms. While a healthy family can be seen in the de Silvas, who spent their holidays in Thul together and the parents care and provide for the children.
Benefactors is reflected when the de Silvas helped the family, Hira-lal, Jagu and Mr Panwallah helped Hari when Hari went to Bombay. Mr de Silvas sent their mother to hospital and pay all the fees on his own accord. Hira-lal saved Hari from hunger in Bombay when Hira-lal brings Hari to Jagu. Then, Jagu gave Hari a job and his salary was one rupee a day. After that, Hari met Mr Panwallah and Mr Panwallah taught him how to mend watches on his own accord. Mr Panwallah also let Hari help out in his shop and Hari was given salary.
I think that this book is quite interesting because it shows a lot of themes and interesting characters. The themes can reflect real life scenes, such as the theme family. The characters are also quite real too. The characters give me a sense that I am just in their story. All in all, I think that the story is well-written so I think I will recommend it to my friends.
Ramu was Hari’s friend and he wished to get a job in the new factory which would be built in Thul. Biju was probably the richest fisherman in Thul as he owned a fishing boat with diesel engine and fridge but he was very arrogant so the villagers did not like him. The de Silvas was a very rich family and owned a bungalow in Thul. He was one of the benefactors of Hari.
Hira- bai was the man who sent the medicine to the children’s sick mother. Adarkar led the villagers to Bombay to protest against the building of the new factory. The factory watchman did not like Thul but had to live in a tin shack to protect the materials being stolen. The policeman disagreed Hari to sleep in the park but he agreed at last.
Mr Panwallah repaired watches for a living. He used to live in a villa but now his home is a little room near Grant Road Station. He helped Hari a lot by teach him how to mend watch for free of charge and he provided him with extra jobs so that he could earn more money so he was Hari’s one of the benefactors.
Jagu ran the Sri Khrishna Eating House and live in a slum in Bombay. He was Hari’s benefactor because he provided Hari with jobs to earn a living in Bombay. Mrs Jagu was unhappy when her husband, Jagu, brought the sick boy home from the restaurant. Their family was not so rich. Sayyil Ali Sahil came from Bombay and he like the simple life in Thul.
The themes that appear in the story are mainly five themes. They are “change and adaptation”, “urban and rural India”, “poverty and wealth”, “family” and “benefactors”.
Change and adaptation is reflected when there would be a new factory been built in Thul and when Hari went to Bombay to find a job and earn a living. Hari leaves Thul and had to learn to adapt to living in the city. He could no longer rely on the traditional livelihoods of farming and fishing but begin to make plans for the future.
The theme ”urban and rural India” can be seen in the story when the village Thul was very rural and poor but a sense of urbanization was indicated with the news of the factories which was to be built in Alibagh and Thul.
Poverty and wealth is reflected when Hari’s family was too poor that they only can eat dry bread or dry rice and Hari had to escape to Bombay to find jobs and earn a living. However, Biju and the de Silvas were so rich that Biju owned the best fishing boat in the village and the de Silvas had a bungalow in Bombay.
The theme “family” can be seen in the story when Hari had a dysfunctional family. His mother was so sick that she could not get up from the bed and his father was a drunkard. His father slept all the time and only wake up in the night to go the she toddy shop to drink toddy with the three brothers from the neighboring farms. While a healthy family can be seen in the de Silvas, who spent their holidays in Thul together and the parents care and provide for the children.
Benefactors is reflected when the de Silvas helped the family, Hira-lal, Jagu and Mr Panwallah helped Hari when Hari went to Bombay. Mr de Silvas sent their mother to hospital and pay all the fees on his own accord. Hira-lal saved Hari from hunger in Bombay when Hira-lal brings Hari to Jagu. Then, Jagu gave Hari a job and his salary was one rupee a day. After that, Hari met Mr Panwallah and Mr Panwallah taught him how to mend watches on his own accord. Mr Panwallah also let Hari help out in his shop and Hari was given salary.
I think that this book is quite interesting because it shows a lot of themes and interesting characters. The themes can reflect real life scenes, such as the theme family. The characters are also quite real too. The characters give me a sense that I am just in their story. All in all, I think that the story is well-written so I think I will recommend it to my friends.
The books that influenced my parents life
I interviewed my parents and I found out that the books that influenced their life are the series of New Concept English. They said that those books influenced their life because those books are very good and they learned English from the books. Those books contain different kinds of English passages, which include fiction and non-fiction.
They think the books are good because the passages contain a lot of good vocabularies and the passages are ranged from the easiest to the hardest. In the series, there are four books, which are also ranged from the easiest to the hardest.
After they had read those books, their English improved a lot and they were able to communicate in English. So those books helped them a lot. Then, when they apply for jobs, they could go for the job that required them to speak English.
They also introduced the new edition of the series to me because they believed that those books can help me in my English.
They think the books are good because the passages contain a lot of good vocabularies and the passages are ranged from the easiest to the hardest. In the series, there are four books, which are also ranged from the easiest to the hardest.
After they had read those books, their English improved a lot and they were able to communicate in English. So those books helped them a lot. Then, when they apply for jobs, they could go for the job that required them to speak English.
They also introduced the new edition of the series to me because they believed that those books can help me in my English.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
BLACK Market and organ transplant
I have found out that black market is also called the underground economy, underdog, shadow economy, black economy, parallel economy or phantom trades and it refers to a market where all commerce is conducted without regard to taxation, law or regulations of trade. Luckily, there is no black market in
I feel that organ transplant in the black market is illegal and should not to be legalized because the goods are usually stolen by traders and they sell them below the legal market price but there is no receipt, guarantee, and so forth. So, when the buyers buy the organ from the traders and it is very unfair for the people whose organ was stolen. And the organ might not be disease-free so the buyers might not be get a good organ. Hence, the black market should not be legalized.
I think it is the black market that should not be legalized but not the organ transplant. The organ transplant should be legalized because organ transplant can save many people's lives and it is essential for badly-ill patients. Without the organ transplant, they might just died because of their illness. Hence, organ transplant is essential and should be legalized but the black market should not be legalized.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Reflection for blogging
I feel that blogging actually is not boring at all, which I thought it was at first, and it is more interesting than just writing diary entries. It is mainly because when we created a blog, we need to maintain it. However, I think that it is the most difficult part of starting a blog.
I like the wide variety of choices of templates to decorate my very own blog. I like to write blog entries as well. I was lazy to write blog entries at first but after writing some of the entries, I actually feel the fun behind it. Besides having fun, writing blog entries can actually increase your vocabulary power and improve your writing skills. I like blogging so much that I do not even have any dislikes about blogging.
I think that we can improve the whole process from starting a blog, maintaining it to writing a blog entries by allowing us to write blog entries on our daily life or not about school, instead of only writing blog entries about school.
I like the wide variety of choices of templates to decorate my very own blog. I like to write blog entries as well. I was lazy to write blog entries at first but after writing some of the entries, I actually feel the fun behind it. Besides having fun, writing blog entries can actually increase your vocabulary power and improve your writing skills. I like blogging so much that I do not even have any dislikes about blogging.
I think that we can improve the whole process from starting a blog, maintaining it to writing a blog entries by allowing us to write blog entries on our daily life or not about school, instead of only writing blog entries about school.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Differences between graphic novel and the written novel
Yesterday, I had read a graphic novel. I tell you, it is so interesting. I have also finished some written novel. Hence, I decide to compare them and guess what?
I found out that the graphical novel can convey a clearer picture but the written novel can give a broader one. That is the difference between the two kinds of novel. I think that it is because the graphic novel is in picture form so others can understand the story when they "read" it but as it is all pictures, the novel can not convey too much information to the reader. Hence, the graphic novel can give a clearer picture but not a broad one.
Whereas, the written novel contains only words and words and words...... but, as we know, words can convey much more information than pictures and words are much more "smaller" so on one page, there can be more words than pictures. However, as there are more information, people can get confused while reading. Hence, written novel can give a broader "picture" but not a clear one.
Both novels have their "strengths and weaknesses" but they are both very interesting.
I found out that the graphical novel can convey a clearer picture but the written novel can give a broader one. That is the difference between the two kinds of novel. I think that it is because the graphic novel is in picture form so others can understand the story when they "read" it but as it is all pictures, the novel can not convey too much information to the reader. Hence, the graphic novel can give a clearer picture but not a broad one.
Whereas, the written novel contains only words and words and words...... but, as we know, words can convey much more information than pictures and words are much more "smaller" so on one page, there can be more words than pictures. However, as there are more information, people can get confused while reading. Hence, written novel can give a broader "picture" but not a clear one.
Both novels have their "strengths and weaknesses" but they are both very interesting.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Plagiarism
Plagiarism means that someone use or close imitate the language and ideas of another author and make them as their own original work. I feel that this act is very irresponsible and it shows the personality of the person who plagiarize. That person is very irresponsible and he should also be considered as a cribber.
Plagiarism can cause a lot of consequences, such as expulsion from a university or loss of a job. Plagiarism can also cause a writer's loss of credibility and professional standing. When writers use material from other sources, they must acknowledge this source. Not doing so is called plagiarism, or infringing copyrights, which means using without credit the ideas or expressions of another. Hence, we should avoid plagiarism.
We should caution:
Plagiarism can cause a lot of consequences, such as expulsion from a university or loss of a job. Plagiarism can also cause a writer's loss of credibility and professional standing. When writers use material from other sources, they must acknowledge this source. Not doing so is called plagiarism, or infringing copyrights, which means using without credit the ideas or expressions of another. Hence, we should avoid plagiarism.
We should caution:
- against using, word for word, without acknowledgment, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc., from the printed or manuscript material of others.
- against using with only slight changes the materials of another
- against using the general plan, the main headings, or a rewritten form of someone else's material.
These cautions can apply to information you find on the Internet, World Wide Web, or other electronic or on-line sources and to the work of other students as well as to the published work of professional writers. Therefore, we should not plagiarize and infringe copyrights.
Information on Plagiarism:
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
"Why Did I Do It" Philip Malloy's point of view
After transferring to a new secondary school, I felt really regretted of my actions and the troubles that I had made in the previous secondary school. Why did I do it?! I felt sorry for my English teacher, Miss Narwin. I thought that I should not be so mischievous and thought that she was always against me. If I could be her student once again, I would never feel that her lessons were boring and would concentrate on my studies instead.
I regretted of making troubles for Miss Narwin as she worked so hard for all of the students just to make us like literature. She was never too complacent of being the best teacher in the school. However, she even wanted to attend lectures given by the university professor and high school "master teacher".I was really sorry to make troubles for her and made her think of resigning, instead of being the best teacher in the school.
I was really sorry to create troubles for the school too. My troubles had made my school notorious and had bad impression when others looked at the students. I wanted to transfer because I wanted to save the "face" of the school. However, when I transferred to a new school, I felt that every thing was not going smoothly. Hence, I started to regret about my action. Why did I do it?!
I regretted of making troubles for Miss Narwin as she worked so hard for all of the students just to make us like literature. She was never too complacent of being the best teacher in the school. However, she even wanted to attend lectures given by the university professor and high school "master teacher".I was really sorry to make troubles for her and made her think of resigning, instead of being the best teacher in the school.
I was really sorry to create troubles for the school too. My troubles had made my school notorious and had bad impression when others looked at the students. I wanted to transfer because I wanted to save the "face" of the school. However, when I transferred to a new school, I felt that every thing was not going smoothly. Hence, I started to regret about my action. Why did I do it?!
Monday, February 23, 2009
My reading habits
I only start my reading habits when I was primary 4. When I am in primary 4, the teachers keep on emphasizing on the importance of reading. After much influence by them, I decided to take up reading habits.My school always had some book fairs during the recess so I started to visit every fairs that the school held.
I actually benefited a lot and found a lot of good books in the book fair. My parents supported me in my reading habits by give me money to buy the books that I am interested. After returning home from school, I always go to my study room to read the books that I had bought days ago.
Sometimes, I also go to library to borrow some books that I like and read engrossly in home. Actually, I am very enjoyed when I read the books that I like and I recently read a book called "Nothing But the Truth". I did enjoyed that book a lot. Hence, I think that reading is essential in our writing and it can also enrich us.
http://weread.com/profile/zhou/8B63BF21-A225-4E25-86EB-9E4C0E87DF5F?refuid=8B63BF21-A225-4E25-86EB-9E4C0E87DF5F&src=&auri=
I actually benefited a lot and found a lot of good books in the book fair. My parents supported me in my reading habits by give me money to buy the books that I am interested. After returning home from school, I always go to my study room to read the books that I had bought days ago.
Sometimes, I also go to library to borrow some books that I like and read engrossly in home. Actually, I am very enjoyed when I read the books that I like and I recently read a book called "Nothing But the Truth". I did enjoyed that book a lot. Hence, I think that reading is essential in our writing and it can also enrich us.
http://weread.com/profile/zhou/8B63BF21-A225-4E25-86EB-9E4C0E87DF5F?refuid=8B63BF21-A225-4E25-86EB-9E4C0E87DF5F&src=&auri=
Friday, January 16, 2009
My New Secondary Life
Yeah! I have finally graduated from my primary school and now, I am a Secondary One student! However, I am very sad because all my primary school classmates had gone to other secondary school except for one of them but we are not the same class. Despite that, I am very glad to make some new friends in the new school.
When I stepped in the new school, I was not so familiar with the surroundings around me and some differences between my primary school and my secondary school. I was feeling a bit lonely at that time. So, I tried my best to adapt to those changes so that I could learn better in the new school.
In this process, friends are essential as they can help me to adapt faster. Hence, I make some friends in the new school and I spent a great time with them. Nevertheless, I soon adapt to the surroundings and feel much better. I am very happy to study in the new school and start my secondary school life. I hope that I can score well for each subject and make progress.
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