Final Exam

 Ya~~! I've almost finished all of the final exam~ I am free right now!! (The sentences above aren't related to the journal) Fine. Let's talk about the English Final. I feel worried and uneasy about my final though I've tried my best to describe poetic elements in "Paul Revere's Ride" in the essay question. It's difficult to determine the form of the poem, though I think that it's a ballad. Since it focuses on only one event- Paul Revere rode on the horse, passed the towns, and warned people that the British was coming. Actually, I don't think I'm confident about any questions, since there may be "special surprises" whenever we feel confident about any questions. If the teacher had said as he was passing out the exams, "Don't worry, this exam is very easy," depends on his attitude, I would have 50 percent wanted to kill him. Since he may just wish students to be relaxed, or he really thinks it's piece of cake at his position. However, I would likely or not to kill him, and my standard to "kill" him isn't like those murders, it's dislike, unlike cruel, ruthless murders.

Heroism Today

  People in today's world do things don't really believe in heroism. The truth is that they seldom have heroic qualities, since knight is only a fade, it's not medieval Europe, and there aren't that many monsters and demons in real world. However, because I'm always a child and believe in those magical stuff, I would like to read fantasy novels and create heroes in my heart. I especially prefer mythologies, since they seem to be more mysterious and interesting. Some of the people may heard about Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Yes, I'm going to talk about his heroic deeds. Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, though I prefer Athena more, since I am an Athenian. He is going to clear himself by proving he didn't steal lightening bolt. He encounters Medusa and Hades, and they accidentally have a battle; however, he survives it. He then finds out that it is Luke, Hermes' son who stole the lightening bolt. He is awarded and becomes honorable after he takes back Zeus' lightening bolt. Later on, he has a new journey. Although it's only a story, I pretty enjoy the relationship among gods and goddesses. Well, it's only a visionary example, the possibility happens in real world is almost zero.

True or False?

I think it is okay to alter the truth when creating a work of art. An artist would do stuff like that since he or she needs to create a artistic, beautiful work although it doesn't exist, such as an abstract painting. It originates by people's imagination, connect with their creativity, they can create such great artistic work. A poet would make up some words in order to cooperate with the rhythm. Readers would enjoy the beat if it times the rhythm. I believe that it will sound smoother for the readers to read if it rhymes exactly. Furthermore, a writer would like to exaggerate the event, for the purpose of making someone more honorable. If the hero did a great job and won the battle, the author may describe the enemy as a horrible monster and how difficult the hero defeats the monster. A writer does that because it makes the story more interesting and exciting, though it's not the truth. I think it's OK to lie if it helps to create something good. I once lied for my brother, lying to my father about his state of illness, in order to calm my dad down. (Since my dad once had melancholia, it's not good for him to receive bad information) After all, I am just being obedient to my mother's order.

Independent Reading Project Reflection

  Through the experience of making my reading project, I somehow understand how difficult is an author writes a Newberry honor book and how hard is to make a fantastic quadrama. I do prefer this independent reading project since we can select our favorite book, although it really spends me a lot of time to design and make the project. Yes, a lot of time. At the beginning, I thought about making a creative model because it will be interesting if it is 3D. However, I'm not an artist. I can barely build the base of the quadrama, which looks like a church. I paint every background by scenes that related to the person's savvy and try to draw "active" characters. It is definitely a great learning lesson that enlightens my creativity. I learn a new ability to do something that I never thought I could accomplish before, and I know that I should take art classes. After finishing the project, I feel that the exercise is worthwhile because I can preserve the model forever. (if there is no earthquake or accident) The project is also a beautiful memory that represents how I spend my life in PAS. I think this is a really great project, but I suggest that we can make some projects that hang on the ceiling. We can even compete with each other whether which one can stay longer. Anyhow, instead of making a project, I would rather like to play games. 

Sands of Time

"Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime.
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time."

After reading the deep poem on top, it reminds me a modern person can accomplish great things. He creates a "language" that can communicate with entire Chinese in the whole world, people can chat really well through his language although they don't recognize others. He creates a wonder in my heart-- He is Jin Yong. He is my favorite martial art and chivalry author and a great model. Although he is old, he never gives up studying and even get Ph.D in University of Cambridge. His writings mingle the true Chinese history with some of the heroes he creates. Readers can find out what happens to China through dynasties and how Chinese tries to drive out the invaders. He also adds lots of philosophical thoughts and religion believes in novels, such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. My favorite part of all is the concept of his novels, which emphasizes the importance of the loyalty in brotherhood. I appreciate the steadfast friendship and bond between the characters. They are usually loyal to their brothers and are willing to sacrifice themselves. They aren't scared of death and are willing to die together. I love their firm determinations while they face death.
The literary device that Longfellow using with “leave behind us/Footprints on the sands of time” is metaphor, since the footprints represent the marvels or great accomplishments that people leave behind in the world. As for Jin Yong, the novels he writes have already exist for 50 years, even before I am born. I was so regret that I didn't read his novels until I was grade 7. However, I can promise that his novels will hand down forever, because he is the best martial arts writer ever and has a significant position in leading worldwide novelists. As for me, I wish that I can leave behind "footprints", too. Although I don't really sure whether I have the ability or not, at least, it's a dream that will push me forward. I think I'm more interested in genetic engineering and business. I will definitely learn to be a businesswoman since I would like to study invest and stock certificate. I would like to study genetic engineering because I am attracted by breeding new species. It may produce a large amount of harvest within a short time; therefore, it can help avoid from famine. Since girls like to be beautiful, I think there is a great opportunity for earning money by making cream and essence that include genetic engineering, such as revealable- white- skin genes in plants. Anyhow, this is only a dream. If I wish that dream will come true, I better study harder, get high grades on SAT, and admit to favorite university first.

My Most and Least Favorite

  Since we have read many different types of novels this year, whether talking about growth of brotherhood, a Cinderella, a surviving adventure in wilderness, or a mysterious murder which awarded 200 million. I personally prefer the Outsiders, a novel by S.E. Hinton, which is about a group of boys who have steadfast friendship, with strong loyalty to their brotherhood. The main character, Ponyboy, is thoughtful and intelligent, he treasures the friendship with his brothers and helps them at the right moment. He never bound by his background, the Greasers, oppositely, he is proud of themselves. He is willing to sacrifice himself and help his buddies. "A buddy in need is a buddy indeed". The spirit of brotherhood in the Greasers will remain forever. On the other hand, my least favorite novel is Hatchet. Since it's a surviving adventure in wilderness, the plot is sort of obvious- no matter what did he experience, he would always survive and learn skills that grow him up. First of all, I'm not interested in wilderness, because it seems so dreary and wild (of course). Second, I doesn't like the main character, Brian, because he is too fragile to survive and he isn't agile. Last, he still hasn't solved his internal conflict, the pressure that his mom cheated on his father. The ending is unclear to unveil his internal conflicts. However, the book slightly attracts me when Brian encounters the storm, and when he is dealing with the new environment.

Hip-Hop Language

Splash! Splash!
Don't spread on my face!
Walking at a quick pace
enough to drop a vase
dampen the pretty lace
excel the time in race

Splash! Splash!
swim in the pool
without any complex tool
enjoy the pleasant cool
remote from the warm wool
motions calm and lull 

Splash! Splash
step on the shoal
collect memorable shells
listen to the sea roars
expect a bird to soar
achieve my goals

Splash! Splash!
remember the dreary dream
watch out vampires appear in team
surround and sing a pean
invite passengers stop and see
ask for claps and provide a seat

Since hip-hop language is difficult
and I run out of ideas
therefore
I'm going to stop here

Although the poem isn't "gangsta"
I try to do my best

Epic Language

The bell eventually chimes, like that last section of G surprise, arises me from the llulaby of slumber. Students get ready with their package, prepare to tramp over hills and dales, and reach sweet refuge. However, the sky seems sorrowful, tears with a string of pearls swiftly, I wonder who incurs the sky. Standing under the roof, lonely and desolate, seeking for familiar backsides. A horde of buzzing bees concerns their children in a swivet, are worried that they may be pour by the tears. Looking at them, a warm hand holds another tender hand, with unlimited satisfaction emerges on their faces, my jealousy started to linger in my chambers of  heart. It seems perpetual to wait for a familiar face, perpetual to wait for a wonder, my eyes start to full with worries, is willing to bear but runs out like a stream, enough me to swim. The time seems to freeze at this moment, however, it breaks down when the sun struggles to come out. She asks me: "Did you wait for a long time"? Yes, she is the backside that I keep seeking, the backside that I anticipate to look for a wonder. She is my mom. Holding her hands, we walk slowly back to my sweet cabin, a place I always take refuge. After the sky become brisk, the rainbow emerges in a way that encourages me. Waiting, is not always eternal and bad, it may conceal another starting.

The Epic Hero

Epic poem is a narrative poem that contains details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Since epic poem relates in an elevated style, it often exaggerates the quality of heroes. The most famous example would be the ancient Greece epic, Iliad, written by Homer. It is oldest extant work of literature in the ancient Greek language, as the first work of European literature. It talks about great courage and intelligence of Agamemnon, king of Mycenae. He is a successful warrior who eventually led the victor of Greece. There is another epic poem which is made in ancient Mesopotamia-Epic of Gilgamesh. He is a king who has become frustrated by his rule, and decided to battle the frightening monster in the forest. He then slew the monster and became a famous hero in his kingdom. Compares with "Beowulf" and "Casey at the Bat", they are similar since Beowulf is praising the bravery and honor of the hero, and use elegant language in order to look important. On the other hand, mighty Casey seems to be mocked and scoffed as a successful batter. Though it's only a minute and unimportant baseball game, audience seems to anticipate a good score and Casey's significant bat wielding. Though people are disappointed, the readers did enjoy the mocking. 

Adjectives

Abustle
Quiet
Bright
Playful
Joyful
Interesting
Delicious
Multifarious
Enthusiastic
Sportive


crisp
delicate
thin or thick
chocolate
syrup
grillwork-like
exotic


fluffy
cute
warm
intimate
fragrant
treasured
accompanying
stuffed
sincere
attentive


enthusiastic
yelling
delicious
high-heat
savoury
diligent
public
cooperated
saleable


exciting
joyful
sweet
smiling
beautiful
lovable
careful
exchangeable
retroactive
retrospective


chatty
talkative
cautious
considerate
coarse
respectable
encouraged

Experiences

I rode a bike, accidentally fell down by escaping from a dog, and broke my arm severely.
I collected a set of Hello Kitty magnets and hung it in bedroom.
I smelled the fragment of flowers and bamboos while I was hiking.
I sang in chorus with friends and won the competition.
I read fantasy novels which enjoy me.
I played pokemon games in NDS happily and thought about the pokemons sincerely.
I cried for most movies since I was always sensitive to the plots.
I learned to make desserts in cooking club and tried the recipe at home.
I wrote handwritten letters to my friends whenever I was sorrowful.
I solved problems by asking the teacher.
I practiced math questions every day when I was in local school.
I watered the plants that I sowed and tasted them when they ripened.
I blew the candles in my birthday party.
I crawled every day when I was a baby.
I play the piano every Saturday since I love music.

Triolet

A trace of golden stars shot through the sky
bears the grief, sighs the dreary
tears fill up in eyes
A trace of golden stars shot through the sky
The slave wonders why
limits in the cage, seeking to fly, breaks away from weary
A trace of golden stars shot through the sky
bears the grief, sighs the dreary

Limerick

Limerick

Once an angel fallen in love
expels heaven rides snowy dove
bleakly losses the ways
recollects the days
trace of Milky Way blocks and roves

Once a sparrow broke its slight wings
limits in cave but tries to sing
spiritless boredom
wishes to gain freedom
flutters its wings to prove the zing

Once a deer was tired of works
escaped Santa but roamed at fork
leapt the clouds along
listened angels' songs
pleased and put gifts inside the socks

List Poem

The dense, floating clouds

fluffy as the embroidered blanket,

long for the feeling

my mother wrapped me when I was a baby.

The boundless stretch of the azure sky

limpid as a mirror

reflect the images of my family,

but they fogged vaguely                     

my memory is losing in a labyrinth

rouses me to regain it

yet the time and space just tortuous

torment my mind

Is this the heaven?

Though my soul is here
my mind is still lingering among the world

I can’t leave it behind
I can’t abandon without revisiting my family and friends

Life is too short for me
The last goodbye

disappears when I haven’t said it out loud
The memories flash
I can barely remember

the happiness when my brother lived in my mom’s belly
the excitement when I played roller coaster in Disneyland

the inquietude when slow Internet speed with noisy mosquitoes
the disappointment when books out of stock
the fidget of scattered holes
the frustration when I can’t memorize the Spanish grammar

preterit and imperfect tenses with vocabularies

bother my mind even when I was sleeping

terrible French homework
misunderstand the meaning
English- Mr. McCool
prefixes with suffixes
disturb my leisure
However, they are the memories
gradually cover with veils
remote and vague
The memory that I want to regain
is my family and friends
wishing to look at them
wishing to embrace them
wishing to stay with them
My soul is wound by invisible hurt
it can’t back to the past
treasure the time

that I live with them
Right now,
it’s still waiting for reincarnation
to meet them.

Free Writing

  I was thinking about writing a reflection for Shiver at the very first moment, because it is my favorite romantic love story through a silent gaze of a yellow-eyed wolf and a girl for six years. However, I changed my mind after a series of cautious pondering. Since we underwent the medieval European competitions, I was so disappointed that I couldn't really do other works till this moment. I finally overcome the bottleneck and am willing to face the truth. Our group has spent a bunch of time to paint the castle or make the armor. We tried to camouflage as best as we can, anyhow, the fortune wasn't at our side--the teacher accidentally pointed out where the fragility was. As for other events, we were unlucky to get the prizes. We did try hard but we didn't gain any results. The feeling just like twisted and twined by a tense vine but without being capable to breathe anything, crashed into trembling void, lingering among the darkest night, without any lights. However, a sea of cold spreads upon my mind, I finally understand the things I should know earlier- we have other chances and wishes. No matter how life disappointed you, there is always another casement that god opens for you. Life will find its own way. I shall be optimistic, instead of wasting time to feel sorrowful, I shall stand up for myself, entertain a hope. After all, tomorrow is another day. :D

My List

308.
Mischievous gorillas who jump and roar every day,
madhouse which takes care neuropathic people,
Canadian who is friendly and smiles happily,
monks who have their heads shaved,
Sports day- relay race- cheers for victory,
forever pressure on grades,
stupid math genius- champion of IMO,
Yuan Gui Fei & 許純美 dramatic performance-ladyboy,
master of ceremonies; compere,
delicious sushi, apple water ice in spring fair--
Team spirit prize, the memory I didn't join

Poet's Choice

Myself-Cinquain

Sing chorus

forget worries

see the bright side while sings

though the off-key flutters through sky

try best

Friends-Diamante

Jenny

Energic, romantic

Smiling, singing, swinging

French, princess, English, elf

Reading, running, riding

Talkative, creative

Alyssa

Adult-Tanka

Straight hair; coarse, warm hands

Whenever I am depressed

encourage my way

Coarse hands because of housework

I’ll take care her forever

Haiku

Haiku is a poetic form and a type of poetry from the Japanese culture. It often revolves around nature and natural things in the universe. Haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. Haiku poets, which you will soon be, write about everyday things. Many themes include nature, feelings, or experiences. Usually they use simple words and grammar. The most common form for Haiku is three short lines. The first line usually contains five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line contains five (5) syllables. Haiku doesn't rhyme. A Haiku must "paint" a mental image in the reader's mind. This is the challenge of Haiku - to put the poem's meaning and imagery in the reader's mind in ONLY 17 syllables over just three (3) lines of poetry!

The pattern for Haiku is the following:
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables

Splendid Milky Way
trace of silver magpies' bridge
Cowherd waits Weave Maid

Round moon hangs in sky
dreary dark with sad howl
werewolves bear the pain

Dark, dense wings glitter 
falls swiftly from the heaven
angel arrives Earth

Tanka Poem

Misty, hazy sky

Gathers lonely, drifting clouds

Drips tears when it has homesick

Needs Nu Wa to weave the hole

Smiles when the sun shines the world

Modest and gentle

sways gracefully when wind blows

bowing with long hairs

stays with friends along the bank

greets merrily the boats pass by

- Willow

Red hat with white beard,

Ho!Ho!Ho! laughs happily

Climbs down the chimney

Brings wishes for good children

Ride the reindeer back to North

Cinquain Poem

Angel

Glitter halo

Extend flexible wings

Protect true love when screams and rings

Cherub

Fairy

Smiles cheerfully

Spreads magical powder

Not only tales cause dream will come true

Godmother

Friends

Sincere, truthful hearts

Dainty, warm hands hold me

Encourage to pass bottleneck

Buddy

Diamante Poem

Angel

exquisite, protective

flying, relying, guiding

glitter, halo, dark, powerful

falling, calling, holding,

mysterious, attractive

Fallen-angel

 

Heaven

Bright, gorgeous

Rive, rise, ride

Angels, gods, evils, punishment

Seek, shake, split

Deep, unlimited

Hell

 

Delight

Playful, colorful

Greeting, smiling, laughing

Fairy, elf, fragility, softy

Sighing, tearing, weeping

Painful, unstable

Sorrow

Acrostic

This is a special journal, because we're going to write an acrostic poem by our names.

A child likes to read stories
Never gives up daydreaming
Gradually improves her creativity
Enjoys her life happily
Loves to play in Disney
Always believes in fairies
Wants to make friend with Santa
Assumes to live in Toy Story
Needs to grow up eventually
Glitters in the future lately (for being the boss of playing-with-children company)
PS. I know this is very childish and immature, so don't blame me

Just wants to try her best
Often practices dancing secretly
Loves the applauds from the audiences
Idol in people's heart
Never shows her weariness
Treasures every chance to sparkle 
Singing beautifully with the birds
Always performs perfectly
Ideal model in my heart

Elements of Poetry

  Aside from "words", the elements of poetry are similar to the elements we find in fiction, such as plot, character, setting, figures of speech, conflict, and resolution. Plot is a series of ideas or incidents that related to each other. Poetry often has a plot that interests the readers. Character is the imaginary people in the story while characterization is a character's character. There are usually a main character and an opponent in poetries. Therefore, they might develop a conflict, which is a clash or sharp disagreement among character and character or character and setting. Setting is the place or location of the stories, the setting provides the historical and cultural context for characters. It often can symbolize the emotional state of characters in poems. If the setting is in the haunted house, at a dark night that we can't even find the stars, readers might assume that there may be scary things happen later. After all, there is a resolution, a way that story turns out, whether in a good way or bad way, readers will be curious how the story ends. There are often figures of speech in poems, because they make the words seem more interesting, such as simile, metaphor, personification. Ex. The fallen leaves are the designers, designing their clothes every season; the fallen leaves are the dancers, dancing ballet gracefully for a reason.

What Does Poetry Do?

  Poems are different from other forms of writing because they are pieces of writing that arranged in lines with a rhythm. Since most of the poems rhyme in a way that the words roll through our tongues smoothly, poems are considered to be another form of art. Although poems have only few lines, they can express the beauty of the words behind their meanings. Prose writing often follows standard rules in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. On the other hand, poems don't really have to follow those complex rules. Because poems tend to hear and respond to the sounds, rhythms, cadence and structure of language, it has a great deal in common with music. Therefore, the main destination of writing poems is to sound musical. I think poems have similarities with other writings, such as imagery. Both poems and proses can remain lifelike imageries in readers' mind, because the descriptions are vivid, they keep a sensory picture which touched the readers. Furthermore, odes are lofty and dignified lyric poems, which mean that they don't have to rhyme as regular poems. Consequently, they can also write in a story or song. The most famous type of poem that records the heros' deeds and achievements is epic poem, which we students are writing in history class right now. It is an example of a story that writes in poem. Poems are somehow affecting our lives, such as poetry contest. People will also write poems to express their feelings, cause they can enjoy the writing that only contain few lines but meaningful. However, poems are important elements in literature, too. 

Spring Break

 During Spring Break, most of the students in PAS went to the wonderful graduation trip-Bali. I was looking forward because this was my first time to travel with my friends in such a far distance. When we arrived to Taoyuan Airport, we even prayed to Buddha. I knew that I was over-excited and crazy, almost hard to inhibit my enthusiasm. I truly had a great time in Club Med, and learn some special skills ( actually, doesn't even count as a skill )~ I would be very happy to recommend the delicious meals in Club Med, and I even took some pictures. The meals there are exactly tasty, we have different kinds of food everyday. Therefore, we can taste foreign flavour, including Spain, French, and Italy.......The Bar is also very convenient to rest and have drinks there. I asked for the mixture of watermelon, pineapple, orange juice and vanilla banana milkshake ( I know I'm weird ); anyhow, I wondered why I didn't have stomachache :) In addition, I love rafting pretty much. It's so excited to raft, just like an adventure, though I fell down four time. As for snorkeling, I've tried in Taiwan before( but I'm not skillful, only playful ), but I still feel kind of fresh to play in the sea. Though I was allergic to some substances in the sea, I had a good time discovering the fish and corals. In the evening, we shop with Ms. Pattichi and she taught us how to bargain with the storekeepers. Since we are foreigners, they will raise the prices on purposely, in order to get a higher profit. However, the souvenirs are truly cheap there. I got a wood carving turtle for NT100, drums for NT90, and beautiful necklaces and bracelets for NT16........ Although it's kind of cruel to ask them vowing to their religion, ( that's why I get blisters ), getting a cheap price is so interesting. Overall, I DID have an excellent time in Bali, though  missed it sooo much right now and willing to fly back and stay there for whole year.

Exaggeration

  Exaggeration is a statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is. It is often used as an important element in literature. I love to use exaggeration because it seems to make things sounds more interesting, and describes the words with imaginings in our minds. People sometimes talk with exaggeration but seldom find out, such as "I've answered this question once, in fact, I've answered it a thousand times." The sentence shows the inpatient of answering the same thing over and over again, though the person might didn't answer it a thousand times. Another example is " Its action was so funny that I was overwhelmed with laughter". I won't be overwhelmed with laughter unless there is a water flood in laughter. Therefore, it's an exaggeration.  In addition, exaggeration is famous to write imaginative poetry. When a person exaggerates in a poem, he or she usually picks one characteristic of the thing and overstates it as wildly as possible. The crazier the exaggerations, the more exciting the poem is. Exaggeration emphasizes the action and overstates it unbelievably. It seems to be more absorbing cause we readers think the action is incredible, and it often makes the sentence lively and vividly.

Personal Reflection

  If I have to be completely honest to myself, I will evaluate my class performance as OK. It means that I didn't really do a good job, in the meanwhile, I didn't really do a bad job. Since I am too shy to raise my hand for answering or asking questions, it seems that I didn't participate so well. I tried to pay attention in every class, although I might attract by the beautiful scenery outside or daydreaming about novels. Since I knew that I had terrible memories, I usually take notes in every classes unless I thought that I could understand. I am the kind of student who won't estimate my time very well cause I knew that I still have time to play. Therefore, I sometimes finish my homework until the last minute. On the other hand, I will try to start my homework right away when I calculated that I might couldn't finish all of them. I will complete all of my assignments as soon as possible, though I might be late. I spend almost three hours a day (regular day) for studying, and much more time in the weekends. I often go to my teachers to ask for clarification or extra help after class, especially before tests. I took advantage of extra credit opportunities, because I knew that my grades wasn't really good. Every time I answer a question, I try to participate constructively in class. However, I'll try my best in classes.

Style

  In "Raymond's Run", Toni Cade Bambara, the author uses different kinds of styles, such as allusions, dialect, irony and imagery. The style that I am going to talk about are allutions and imagery. For instance, the other kids call Squeaky “Mercury” because she’s the swiftest. Mercury was the messenger of the gods and was considered the personification of speed. The teacher was an example, too. The kids call Mr. Pearson "Jack and the Beanstalk" because he is tall, clumsy, and stands out in the crowds. The imagery in the story appears in a way that deeply impresses me. Before the running race, Squeaky imagined that she was in a dream, flying over a sandy beach and kissing the leaves as she flied by. There is also the smell of apples and she used to think she was a choo-choo train. She became lighter and lighter as long as she was dreaming this. She then felt like she was a feather. The content is descriptive in not only the version but also the touch and sound. Studying the styles, I like the style that Toni Cade Bambara expressed, it is connotative, delineative, and ironic.

Brainstorming a poem

Linda is an important person in my life, I won't born without her, and I won't live without her. She is my mother.
Ten adjectives for describing her:
careful, sensitive, kindhearted, optimistic, thoughtful, virtuous, creative, humorous, industrious, righteous
Looks: She is beautiful but quite chubby, and she has brown, straight hair.
Sound: She sings softly and beautifully and laughs frankly and loudly.
Smell: She sprays perfume that smells like nature.
Taste: She likes to make mango pudding.
Touch: warm and soft
Verbs:
run, paint, sew, water, cherish

Poem:
Running through the mountains and oceans,
painting on the sky,
sewing and mending the holes that Nu Wa forgot,
( Nu Wa is a goddess in Chinese mythology )
watering the plants,
waiting for the vitality in spring.
She is my mother.

Beautiful,
careful,
and thoutful, 
though she is quite chubby,
still glitter in my heart.

Creative,
sensitive 
and always optimistic,
she is my best support. 

Humorous,
virtuous,
industrious,
and righteous, 
whenever I brawl with my brother,
she is my heroine.

Sings softly and beautifully,
laughs frankly and loudly,
the sound of her voice,
is always sweet and pleasing.

Around herself,
spray the perfume,
smells like yulan,
eases in nature,
cares the plants,
and cherishes children.

Busy in kitchen,
making delicious desserts.
strawberry pie,
chocolate chips,
and mango pudding,
all we can it.

Touches warm and soft,
hug me whenever I am sad,
support me in the first place.

My mother,
born me and rears me,
smiles like a blooming flower,
embraces me like a teddy bear,
sparkles in the sky forever.

End Game

  Since we have made great efforts in the board game, overall, I love our project. Although the game idea that I wrote on March 3 was almost totally different, I was sort of satisfied but wish that we have  improvement. Basically, the main plot of our board game is similar to what I have think of- a murder. Mysterious murder often attracts players as well, not only reach at the end, but also discover the murderer. There are even different murderers for each round, because it's decided by the counter. When I first considered about the board game, I was thinking that we can have both detective notes for players, and clue cards hidden in the ladders (for the passage way to 2 floor) and famous paintings(on the walls). There are even different weapons and rooms that each murderer may use to kill people. Therefore, we have to infer the murderer with variations. We can also compose with others once, so that they can exchange clues and share their opinions. Though our project is different from our scheme, we still came out new ideas, such as doubled floors, but the second floor need supports. However, this is project that I spent lots of time and effort, so I like it.

Slang

  Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's dialect or language. Since friends and friends love to call each other easier, they nickname people. I have a friend named 朱祺, because her surname is same as (homophone) piggy in Chinese, and part of the reasons is that she is pretty cute and kind, we called her piggy. I had another friend who called 劉亭宜, because the sound of her name is similar to orange in Chinese (柳丁), we called her orange. In addition, we sometimes make jokes of someone, and we'll nickname them, such as FI ( flower idiot ), because the girl ( a classmate of mine ) changed her mind toward the boys very fast. Furthermore, there are slangs in some novels, such as "you need to mellow out and enjoy your life" means that you shall calm down and relax. Slangs are somehow absorbing and interesting because they are common in only a group of people. I like slangs because they make me feel a stronger and steadfast connection between my friends, though they are far away.

Analogy

  My analogy for the journal entry is: Reading fantastic novels is like playing roller coaster, while enjoying the beautiful scenery before the peak, we are gradually climbing higher and higher; abruptly, we tumble down the track, and we might scream or marvel at the excitement; finally, we don't feel satisfied to end the play and willing to play again. Since I'm not good at writing analogy, I spent a while for thinking and pondering. Whenever I read an interesting novel, I always have those kinds of feelings. I didn't want to have an ending for a novel, and willing to explore more about this book. ( That's why I always spend lots of time searching the information of novels and watching book trailers, instead of doing homework ) Since I love the novel so much, I would read over and over again, study the details and try to figure out what the author wanted to say. When I was young, I didn't really like to read novels because the words are tiny and really hurt my eyes. (often play around and wander through the hallways) However, I gradually attracted by the wonderful, exciting, and romantic plots and willing to read more, especially YA novels. Therefore, I always encourage people to read novels.

Fighting words

  Since I hate tricky people who say bad words behind another person, depends on our relationship, I will definitively fight for people who I love. Because I'm a girl, I won't fight physically with martial arts, I would mince frankly and dissuade them from hurting my family or friends. Since I have experienced traumas, I could deeply understand how painful was that, especially hurt by your best friends. Sometimes, I have smiles on my face, pretend I am happy, assume I am jovial, because I don't want others to worry. Once, I've been fighting words with a classmate, because she sneered at my friend and hurt her feeling deeply. I usually speak as fast as machine gun in Chinese, especially when having disputes with others. I have to seize the advantage or not I might lose the chance. However, although I am fighting words for my friend, it still isn't a good way to solve problems. At last, the classmate and I were both called by the teacher. Since we lift disturbances, we are scolded by the teacher and punished by doing recycling for a week, though I still feel a thread of happiness.

OOPS!

 Everyone might experience a special incident that made you turn to grow up, whether it was a happy memory or a sorrowful wound, we did learn things through the event. When I was an elementary school student, I was innocent and naive. Of course, we have our own group, a group that we often stay with friends during break time. My best friend, ___, a cute girl who is talkative and good at dancing, loves to chat and play with me. We ran through the hallways every day, chasing and laughing, although I was somehow tired, I never felt bored nor weary. She once promised that she will become a national dancer, and I said that I'll accompany with musical instruments; we then perform at the exhibition. However, good time never lasts long. Unreasonably, she started to become estranged to me, I didn't have a chance to understand her explanation, and she just ignored me. Through a series of seeking and discovering the truth, I finally knew the cause-- grades. Till this time, I clearly knew the feeling of distress and suffering; I didn't hate her, but I hated my grades. I couldn't really understand why she cared the grades better than the friendship. From now on, my impression to her was broken, my friendship with her was severed, and my memory with her was murky and gloomy. I lost my supporting, and lost my friend. Anyhow, every problem has a solution. She apologized to me the day before graduation; we then reconciled and maintain our friendship again. After all, the trauma still scratches deeply in my heart.

Brelow the Surface

 The idiom said: We cannot judge a person by only his or her appearance as we cannot judge a book by its cover. Although we knew that clearly, people often cannot help but getting the first impression based on a person's appearance. Sometimes, it's an assertive fault, because you lose a chance to understand a new, sincere friend. Sometimes, it's an absolute truth, because it's just how shallow a person can act. If people didn't like someone's first impression, they might try their best to edge them out. This is the truth, the darkest part of humans' heart, ugly and callous. However, there are still exceptions. The first time I met my truthful, genuine, optimistic elementary old friend, I was in grade one. Since I'm innocent and naive, running through the hall ways and playing games while my friend was drawing every class periods, our relationship is parallel. We met by chances, such as the patches of drifting duckweed, tranquil and quiet. The next time we met, we are in fifth grade. We are still parallel but closer, because of an event of betrayal and love, you comfort me and admit me, being your best friend. Dear ____ , this journal is written for you, for your supports and encouragement, till the last letter I wrote to myself in elementary school, I still wrote to you. Although you might never see this journal, I still want to say: Happy Birthday and I Love You~

Deception

  According to our class novel, the Westing Games, the author leads us to a fake character, Barney Northrup, who even ever exists. I think that the author deceives us and built the plot in order to confuse the readers. Since this is a mysterious, creepy horror story...... sorry, I don't meant it...... I mean it's a exciting murder that require the readers to discover the truth. It makes illusions that increases our interests and willing to keep reading till the final truth. There is always a reasonable and rational explanation for those kinds of stories. Eventually, we readers often respect the intelligence of the author, amaze how incredibly thrilling that a person can plot a story and how dazzling that the author can daze us readers. Although the story truly confuses me at the beginning, I started to drawn by the murder when I keep going on reading. Not only the plot, but the portrayal of every character is delicate in the story. I could image a mysterious picture of the Sunset Towers with cheerful Turtle, snobby Mrs. Wexler, and sorrowful Angela. I think the plot is successful to draw the readers and the setting creates a creepy atmosphere while discovering the truth.

Quiz or Circle

  Since we have done different types of quizzes this year, I prefer online quiz personally. For the reading circle, most of the people are chatting unless they have highly concentration to keep going on solving the questions. Although it feels easier, we students can discuss the answers and share opinions, it spends much more time to study the questions deeply. The reading cycle takes long time despite Mr. McCool hastens us. As for hand written quizzes, it spends me much time to go through the questions, thinking the answers, and of course- writing on the paper while worrying about enough spaces. Erasing the answers and trying to keep my words clean and neat are really tired and exhausted, rather than reading the novels. Though I can finish the quiz that no one will disturb me, it is bored and spending time. However, online quiz is the easiest. Although the forms are quite annoying, I can actually search for the questions while comparing with the book and decide the answers. I love this way, especially when I can't get the questions. Online quizzes are easy yet I type the words slowly. Furthermore, the computer will help me to check the mistakes!

Your Game

 Basically, my idea for designing a board game is inferring the murderer because the plot is related to the Westing Games. To deduce the murderer, we need clues that contain super clue cards and detective note cards. Each clue would hide in different corners. The independent variables for this game are the numbers of characters, different types of weapons, and the rooms that the victim had been killed. Clues are collected by obtaining special counters, and referencing the number on this to a list of clues on the detective notes. Some clues will inform players of a super clue, and give its location (e.x. "There is a clue in the garden"). Two of the corners show COLORS which are associated with the characters, weapons or room. This information can be found in the Detective Note Cards. Each character, weapon or room therefore has a different secret code. Since the players might communicate and exchange information, there are only accusations among the players. When a player thinks he or she has discovered, by means of the information collected, they have to declare the following three things:
I) The murderer
II) The weapon used
III) The room where the crime was committed
Eventually, this is my design for board games~

Your Ending

  Since I the narrator confesses that he murdered the old man, I think that it is sort of wasting the mysterious plot. However, in my journal, the Tell-Tale Heart ends with a different way......As the narrator starts feeling he must scream or die!--and now--again!--hark!--louder!--louder!--louder!--louder! " Splash!"A radiated sparkle suddenly glittering in the sky-- the soul has been released in the old man's body. The aura around him is bright, glitter with holy radiance. I couldn't believe what I saw at the first time, and worrying about whether the police noticed the soul of the old man; but, he smiled warmly at me, such as the flowers blooming in spring. His pale blue eyes turned into azure eyes, such as the surging sea. Then, the song began ringing with peace. The voice communicated the deep feelings in my heart, though I didn't understand what's that. The beautiful song seemed to disembody my soul and bring it to a wonderful world. The police looked surprise to observe my changing. I started telling them what I saw few moment ago, but they were suspected unbelievably. Then there was the sound. " Dear suffering spirits in the world, wished angels bless you and broke the reincarnation; wished you  enlightened the real, accepted the truth,  and faced your future." An idea suddenly struck my mind. I teared up the planks, yet the corpse was disappeared--NONE of them remained in the floor. I abruptly understood what the soul was talking about, and I thought that he was the avatar of god who was enlightening my life. I told the story to the police but they thought I was insane. This time, I really understood--I'm not insane. The tell-tale heart was disappeared, because it's a real heart and it won't betray me, from now on till forever.

Summary of Tell-Tale Heart

  The Tell-Tale Heart is a story of an insane man who plotted a murder because a pair of pale blue eyes symbolizes as "evil eyes". It begins with the narrator claiming he wasn't insane ‘‘True!—nervous—very, very nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?’’ The narrator maintains that he is not mad. To prove his sanity, he says that he will calmly tell the reader this story. But, he has been so nervous that he jumps at the slightest sound. He can hear all the things on heaven, Earth and hell.  He tells the tale of how an old man lives in his house is kind and never wronged him. For an unknown reason, the old man’s cloudy, pale blue eye has evoked fear and madness inside the narrator. Whenever the old man looks at him, his blood turns cold. Thus, he is determined to kill him to get rid of this curse. For many nights, he crept into the old man's room to observe the old man in his sleep. Eventually, he stroked for kill. Though the old man sensed the danger, it was too late. He then decomposed the corpse and buried them under the floor. The police then came for examination and investigated the murder. Because he thought he heard the old man's hideous heart beating, he acknowledged his actions.

Hints and Foreshadowing

  According to the story "The Tell-Tale Heart", we could find the clue that prove the narrator is insane at the first paragraph. The foreshadowing are: 1. At the beginning of the story, the narrator insists that he is not crazy. He says that he can hear all the things in Heaven, Earth, and Hell. This is a delusion which is a sign of insanity. This is a sign that readers could find that the narrator is quite daft before we discover the truth. 2. The narrator planned every detail of the murder.  He was obsessed with the murder that he couldn’t think of anything else besides killing the poor, old man. 3. The narrator believed that the old man had an “Evil Eye”. This is a fairly common thing that people who are crazy think. They think that an Evil Eye can see everything, and causes people to get hurt or killed. 4. He says that he is not mad, only over-acute (meaning that he can see and hear things that other people cannot) 5. The most obvious reason-- he killed the old man, and even destroyed his corpse and hidden it. He cut the old man’s body to pieces and carefully hid it under the floor in the old man’s bedroom. However, it's extremely unreasonable for killing a person with only his "Evil eye". 

Narrator

 Since people's thinking is different and creative, their opinions are various. Particularly, people might have conflicts on various opinions, because they are somehow biased, but they thought that they were right. Though this kind of condition is contradictive, we people often make the mistake unwittingly. The writing style in “The Tell-Tale Heart” is contradictive but luring readers to discover why the narrator isn't worth to trust. The unreliable narrator in the story is haunted by his idea that the old man has an “Evil Eye”. At the beginning of the story, the narrator insists that he is not crazy. He says that he can hear all the things in Heaven, Earth, and Hell. This is a illusion that deludes the readers because he is sort of insane. Since I never heard the things in Heaven or Earth, in that case, I would like to visit my grandfather. He died when I was small so I couldn't even remember his expression. Furthermore, the narrator planned every detail of the murder. He was obsessed with the murder. Therefore, he couldn’t think of anything else unless the poor, old man died. The narrator also believed that the old man had an “Evil Eye”. This is a fairly common thing that people who are crazy think. They think that an Evil Eye can see everything, and causes people to get hurt or killed. Therefore, he has to murder the old man as quick as possible. However, I think that the narrator is truly unbelievable. The author creates a frightening atmosphere that attracts readers, and makes them willing to discover the ending.     

Scarry Stories

  I think that the necessary elements for scary and horror-like stories are suspense, sounds, setting, and any materials that create a suspectful atmosphere. For my personal horror, I am sort of timid and cowardly, but not totally. Since I love to challenge with haunted house, I have the courage to go inside, but I still scream loudly. Someone might feel curious why I have those conditions, in fact, I love the excitement, but not the fear. I'm scared of my imagination because I somewhat feel the sakados may crawl out from the television unexpectedly, the zombies jump stiffly through the sidewalks with no expressions, and the mummies will climb out the coffins and ambush in our houses........However, it's absurd and over creative. There is also another type of horror that I am always dread of it-- it is disappointed. When I thought that I tried so hard at some projects, but I eventually fail it, I would reprove myself and apologized to my group members. I felt so guilty because I DIDN'T want to encumber the grades for others. Friends are usually nice to me, so they forgive my mistake, pardon my collapse, and comfort me sincerely. Thanks to them~ Although I am scared of failing, I believe there are always people who support me and glad to take me away from the shadow.

Ode

  Because I'm not good at writing poems, anxious about the topics, and distracted from my favorite Chinese martial arts novels, I am sorry that I am late for this journal. After reflecting over and over again, I came up with a list of topics. First, I thought about nature. Since the breeze kissed my face, rippled the water made me imagined a beautiful scene which was romantic and touched, I was intoxicated in it. In addition, I thought about the trees. In summer, the trees were lush and dense; it blocked the burning sunshine, and even provide a shelter under its shadow. It placed a great position for people to relax. Next, I thought about some relationships.
Here is my ode:
Friendship
The flower in the vase,
reminds me the memory never rase,
cause it just like DNA ligase.

When I saw you the first sight,
my life was suddenly so bright,
the invisible thread tied us so tight,
cause I knew it was just right.

Your understanding,
decrease my suffering,
cause you are always supporting.

Though others are repellent,
you promised we're never dispellent,
you are the propellent,
solve troubles by expellent,
making my life more compellent.
..............
This is the start of my ode, because I am lack of creativity now, I think this is the end for the journal.

Lunar New Year

  Looking at the family picture in front of my desk, all of us are smiling splendidly; I can't help thinking how wonderful to have an amazing vacation in order to create another beautiful memory in my life....... During Lunar New Year, my family went to Southern Taiwan, although this is almost a formula that we celebrated Chinese New Year, we were still happy to travel. Along the way, we visited lots of temples and worshiped the gods by lightening incense sticks. Chinese people were believed that if we worshiped devoutly during Lunar New Year, we will have good luck for the new year. Therefore, it was pretty crowded in the temples, and the hubbub was loud enough to resound through the world, we had to be careful in order to avoid hurting by the incense sticks. ( but I wasn't the careful person )
In addition, I also join the gamebo ( not the one beside the temples ) , we take tickets as chips, not the real money, because I was poor. Though the game, Russian Roulette, was truly interesting, since I wasn't lucky that night, I lose all of my tickets!!! However, it was a joyful trip, but I was sick after I came back to Hsinchu.This memory will abide in my heart forever.

Prose or Poetry

  Personally, I prefer poetry better. Since the description is more concise and terse, I was so surprised that short words could be such meaningful, which fulls of romance and beauty. There are often special emotions and enlightenment hiding behind the words. It makes me associate a simple and elegant scenery, such as running water. Although I somewhat confused to get the message, I love the style very much. Furthermore, I love the feeling when I'm reading a poetry, smooth and fluent, which rolls down my tongue easily. Since the rhymes in the poetry are mysterious, I was amazing to find out the smooths behind the words. In fact, I have to admit that I preferred a prose better when I was small. Because the content is more interesting and easily to get the meaning, we could understand it and learn writing. When we start building our writing ability, we often learn to write a prose first. I think that writing is a way to express our feeling and opinions, not a pressure to chain us for writing in accurate grammar or perfect thinking. However, whether prose or poetry, I once love them before and present.

Outsiders Film v Book

 Outsiders is the first personal loyalty of brotherhood that interests me in a particular way. Since I was somewhat disliked the battles with blooding, it made me felt frightening and disgusting, I couldn't stand up for the image. ( because I'm a peaceful person ) However, I could truly support the steadfast friendship between the characters in the novel. They aren't the perfect students in school who always get high grades, in fact, they smoke and they fight. But, they fight for their self-respects. I love both films and novels for Outsiders, I feel better for the novels; parts of the reasons are that I haven't finished the film, parts of the reasons are that I feel quite tight for the film, though I had to spend more time on reading. Furthermore, there are some scenes that I feel quite differ from the novels, such as Darry was so agitated that he was almost exploded-- slapping Ponyboy. I think that the film presents so fast that I even feel that Ponyboy had ready to escape by turning his feet before Darry exploded.The film didn't capture the tension well, but it had released the emotion of characters by lively gestures. Anyhow, both the film and novel of Outsiders had truly interest me, and made me willing to think about the discrimination among different races; in reality, the story builds an exciting plot.  

Film v Print

   Both films and prints are my favorites, though they are quite different, they are both attracting me. Films are more easy to stimulate and excite our version, since they are made by gorgeous, special effect, and often need interesting plots to attract audience. Prints are described more exquisite and more elaborate by the authors. I could easier imagine the characters in the prints and created by imagination, but I might be disappointed when I saw the characters in the movies, because they might not be the style that I expected to look at.One of the con of prints is that the plot often gets twisted and is hard to live up to reader's expectation. I once have read a book, My Sister's keeper, which touched me very much and had changed the plots when it is shot into a movie. The movie changed the plot that the main character, Anna, was willing and volunteered to donate her organs for her elder sister; instead of accusing her parents '' consumed '' her body structures to safe her elder sister. ( Anna's body structures was totally the cloning of her sister, she was born for donating and keeping her sister's life )
However, whether films or prints, I was always looking forward to see or read.

Making a Choice

  Since this is the most difficult journal that I've ever written, I spent lots of time thinking what should I choose. Lingering among "killing three people" or "die together", I couldn't decide whether I should be selfish or kind; because everyone has his or her own life, own family, and people who love them very much would grieve the loss of them. If I choose to kill people in order to survive, I would feel sorry and being uncomfortable for my rest of life. Therefore, I would rather choose to die together. Although I knew that people didn't want to die without achieving their dreams and goals, dying together seems another kind of taste. However, it still depend on who you die together. If it was the last moment that I was alive, I would reminiscence the beautiful things in my life, whether a miss out of  smile, persistence of accomplishing goals, or the warmth of supporting and encouragement. I might lose something that I felt regretful and miss a bunch of things in the future that are exciting and interesting; however, I could forget all of the pain and tears in my life, looking forward for my next life and dying peacefully with so many friends. Anyhow, I still didn't want to die if there is a chance of living.  

My Stuff

  Unfortunately, one day, if I was suddenly trapped at a small place like Anne and her family, I might feel painful, scared, and grieved under the blanket for few days. However, I won't make my exterior to look like I wanted to escape impatiently, because I knew that it was helpless and agitated, the people who trapped us would just sense my feeling and became more careful. The first things that I probably needed to help me accompanying through difficulties were my favorite novels. Since I required spirited supports, I had to read something that could distract from the terrible trapping in order to calm down. When I was reading, I could develop my imagination and pretended I was living in a wonderful, safe place, and nobody would bother me, unlike being trapped ( actually, it was quite difficult ). Second, I might need my cellphone, so I could affect that I had a stomachache which required to go to the restroom, for the purpose of calling the police secretly. Third, I might need solid food and water to provide the energy of living. Since our bodies need carbohydrates and other nutrition for working, my brand could work only when it has enough energy, so that I could think the plans for escaping. Although I might still need other stuffs, such as a warm sleeping bag and first-aid case, in order to have a good dream and cure the wound or illness at the first moment, I think the top three things are my top choices. However, I wouldn't like to be trap with terror and concern lots of stuffs, probably also my afterlife. [ I don't want to join mummification :)  ]