雄风依在 Feng's Writing Portfolio

Introduction

2006-12-27T22:50:00.000-08:00

My name is Zhang Fengchi,you can call me feng.I am an Chinese boy,born in Shanghai.I think a good writer must be good at expressing his own opinions by means of several writing skills,meanwhile sharing his or her own stories with the readers. After joining Mr Ron Cario's class,I have learned how to write formal articles through criticizing several famous fictions.I believe it's a good chance for me to extend my writing ability so that I can write not only in Chinese but also in English.

Cover Letter

2006-12-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

Dear readers,
Welcome to my writing portfolio. I am so glad that you spare time to read my passages and if you can leave some comments, that would be quite great.

I have chosen the course Senior English Writing this term, our teacher Mr Ron Corio has brought his concept of writing to us. To write a good composition, first step is to learn how to criticize other people’s writings. In Mr Corio’s class, we have read many world-famous fictions. By the help of Mr Corio, we began to learn several writing skills by reading what the famous writers applied in their fictions.

I like writing. When I was in senior high school, I put more emphasis on Chinese, comparing with other subjects. Although I commanded several Chinese writing styles, the charm of English writing and skills in foreign languages seemed to be strange to me.

In my opinion, writing plays an important role in communication between the writer and his readers. In the past, this kind of communication was not bidirectional. Only the reader learnt of what the writer felt, what the writer wanted to tell, the reader may share the feeling with the writer and his imagination may come up by certain article, or the reader felt like that one writer was telling the same experience as his. A good writer, especially a novel writer, should tell a story which led to imagination, soul-searching, spirit restoring.

To be a good writer seems not to be so easy. We students all make our first steps to write, the most important thing for us is to learn different writing styles, to pick up element skills that will be quite useful for us to write in the future.

The last I must mention is the purpose to open this blog. I’m an green hand in English writing, so I desire for any comments and opinions toward my writings. After reading my passages, please take bother to leave your response, and that will be quite helpful for me, thanks.

Draft One for VILLAGE

2006-12-27T22:42:00.000-08:00

Estela Portillo portrayed a story about one American soldier ——Rico in her fiction Villiage”, who felt guilty and reject the orders to attack one village named Mai Cao in Vietnam, and even shot his sergeant’s arm to stop the fire. So in the end, he was jailed as a traitor, a maniac, but he felt relief. Portillo Trambley's short stories and plays were characterized by strong struggling to transcend traditional gender roles and gain autonomy within an oppressive, patriarchal society. And her stories were full of democratism and equalitarianism.

After reading the whole story of “Village”, I must say that “Rico was a hero standing for the peace than a traitor.” For he was the only one who dared to challenge the authority of American military to disobey the orders, and at the same time, he was fighting with the Bible of war—— killed or not be killed.

Draft Two for VILLAGE

2006-12-27T22:39:00.000-08:00

The War Against Vietnam broke out in 1951, and American military believed that the war would not last for quite a long time at first. But the truth made them feel disappointed. For the war was not so easy as the had wished. With the help of Chinese force support, the American soldiers didn’t have chance to go back home for the Christmas. On the other hand, the victims turned out to be too many in American army for the whole North Viet spared no efforts to guard their territory. Even an old lady was expert with the knife between her shoulders. And the war became a nightmare for both two sides.

Estela Portillo portrayed a story about one American soldier ——Rico in her fiction “Villiage”, who felt guilty and reject the orders to attack one village named Mai Cao in Vietnam, and even shot his sergeant’s arm to stop the fire. So in the end, he was jailed as a traitor, a maniac, but he felt relief. Portillo Trambley's short stories and plays were characterized by strong struggling to transcend traditional gender roles and gain autonomy within an oppressive, patriarchal society. And her stories were full of democratism and equalitarianism.

After reading the whole story of “Village”, I must say that “Rico was a hero standing for the peace than a traitor.” For he was the only one who dared to challenge the authority of American military to disobey the orders, and at the same time, he was fighting with the Bible of war—— killed or not be killed.

Rico is a hero because at least he saved the Vietnam villagers lives as well as the American soldiers’. For both sides of the war, neither side is the winner. The soldiers sacrificed in a war often remind us of the sorrow that it has brought to us instead of the happiness from a victory. If Rico fired to the huts, not to the sergeant, no doubt they would destroy the potential “stronghold” for Viet Cong. As a result, the inhuman attack may irritate the Viet. In Vietnam, even “toothless old women are experts with the knife between the shoulders”. The “pregnant women with machine guns and begging children with hidden grenades” were sure to avenge this slaughter for their compatriots. Killing people here and there would mean nothing except causing more and more innocent villagers taking arms to protect themselves by murdering American soldiers.

Rico is a hero because even in jail he believed that he was right. Blamed by Harry, a real soldier, his reply was simple and clear, without any regret. “I didn’t want people killed, that’s all.” After the incident on the front, Rico offended the sergeant and was sent to the back, under arrest. The final judgement and punishment to him——a traitor was waiting for him. But Rico felt released. He didn’t regret it any more, “I’m free inside.” That’s what he said to Harry.

Rico was a hero because he dared to challenge the author of the military to hold on “the feeling—a bond—people all the same everywhere”. Rico really felt conflicted inside before his shooting the sergeant. He tried to solve the problem in a gentle way. “We can get the people out of there. Help them evacuate…” But his head wouldn’t listen to him, no one would listen to him. He had no choice. Rico really knew “the combat bible” by heart—killed or be killed. All he had done was to protect the people he loved—both the villagers and his guys. He didn’t want “people killed”. But it seemed too naïve of Rico to think so because it’s a game that one side must be killed. So the point was that: Why did we like to solve the problem by endless fighting with each others? It seemed logical for one man to kill his enemy to survive, he kill just to keep his rights. In fact, he really have no rights to deprive other lives, even his enemy’s. So we can say that the war itself is a mistake. But no one in the platoon noticed this point except Rico. Further more, Rico not only noticed it, but also he tried his best to fight against it.

A soldier kill just to be alive, he kills not for honor, for a metal. “The wino, who had tried to pawn his metals to buy a bottle.” But “no way, they weren’t worth a nickle.” Most of the soldiers, I believe, must disgust the war. For joining the army to fight on the front means taking risk of losing their lives. Rico didn’t want to kill, of course not want to be killed. He walked his own way, “he turned his rifle at a forty-degree angle and fired at the sergeant’s arm.” The conscience from Rico’s soul, we can clearly see, finally leaded the way for him. He had saved the villagers, also he challenge the military to save all his guys. Only the hero dared to follow his own pace to benefit all the people.

“I didn’t want people killed.” Rico’s idealism led him to embarrassment that no one could understand him. No doubt, he was not a qualified soldier who should follow the instruction to kill. But Rico was a hero, he was a hero with wisdom to recognize what he would do and repel to it in his own way, despite the horrible Fate’s hands that he cannot escape from. So a hero was doomed to go to an tragedy, wasn’t he?

Draft Three for VILLAGE

2006-12-27T22:37:00.000-08:00

The War Against Vietnam broke out in 1950, and American military believed that the war would not last for quite a long time. But the truth made them feel disappointed. For the war was not so easy as anticipated. By the support of Chinese force, the American soldiers didn’t have chance to go back home “for the Christmas”. On the other hand, the victims turned out to be far more than the plan in American army for the whole North Viet spared no efforts to guard their territory. Even “an old lady was expert with the knife between her shoulders.” And the war became a nightmare for both two sides.

Portillo Trambley's short stories and plays were characterized by strong struggling to transcend traditional gender roles and gain autonomy within an oppressive, patriarchal society. And her stories were full of democratism and equalitarianism. In this story, Estela Portillo portrayed one American soldier ——Rico in her fiction “Villiage”, who felt guilty and reject the orders to attack one village named Mai Cao in Vietnam, and even shot his sergeant’s arm to stop the fire. So in the end, he was jailed as a traitor, a maniac, but he felt relief.

After reading the whole story of “Village”, I must say that “Rico was a hero standing for the peace than a traitor.” For he was the only one who dared to challenge the authority of American military to disobey the orders, and at the same time, he was fighting with the Bible of war—— killed or not be killed.

Rico is a hero because at least he saved the Vietnam villagers lives as well as the American soldiers’. For both sides of the war, neither side is winner. The soldiers sacrificed in a war often remind us of the sorrow that it has brought to us instead of the happiness from a victory. If Rico fired to the huts, not to the sergeant, no doubt they would destroy the potential “stronghold” for Viet Cong. As a result, the inhuman attack may irritate the Viet. In Vietnam, even “toothless old women are experts with the knife between the shoulders”. The “pregnant women with machine guns and begging children with hidden grenades” were sure to avenge this slaughter for their compatriots. Killing people here and there would mean nothing except causing more and more innocent villagers taking arms to protect themselves by murdering American soldiers.

Rico is a hero because even in jail he believed that he was right. Blamed by Harry, a real soldier, his reply was simple and clear, without any regret. “I didn’t want people killed, that’s all.” After the incident on the front, Rico offended the sergeant and was sent to the back, under arrest. The final judgement and punishment to him——a traitor, was waiting for him. But Rico felt released. He didn’t regret it any more, “I’m free inside.” That’s what he said to Harry.

Rico was a hero because he dared to challenge the author of the military to hold on “the feeling—a bond—people all the same everywhere”. Rico really felt conflicted inside before his shooting the sergeant. He tried to solve the problem in a gentle way. “We can get the people out of there. Help them evacuate…” But the senior wouldn’t listen to him, no one would listen to him. He had no choice. Rico really knew “the combat bible” by heart—killed or be killed. All he had done was to protect the people he loved—both the villagers and his guys. He didn’t want “people killed”. But it seemed too naïve of Rico to think so because it’s a game that one side must be killed. So the point was that: Why did we like to solve the problem by endless fighting with each others? It seemed logical for one man to kill his enemy to survive, he kill just to keep his rights to be alive. In fact, he really have no rights to deprive other lives, even his enemy’s. So we can say that the war itself is a mistake. But no one in the platoon noticed this point except Rico. Further more, Rico not only noticed it, but also he tried his best to fight against it.

A soldier kill just to be alive, he kills neither for honor, nor for a metal. “The wino, who had tried to pawn his metals to buy a bottle.” But “no way, they weren’t worth a nickle.” Most of the soldiers, I believe, must disgust the war. For joining the army to fight on the front means taking risk of losing their lives. Rico didn’t want to kill, of course not want to be killed. He walked his own way, “he turned his rifle at a forty-degree angle and fired at the sergeant’s arm.” The conscience from Rico’s soul, we can clearly see, finally leaded the way for him. He had saved the villagers, also he challenge the military to save all his guys. Only the hero dared to follow his own pace to benefit all the people.

“I didn’t want people killed.” Rico’s idealism led him to embarrassment that no one could understand him. No doubt, he was not a qualified soldier who should follow the instruction to kill. But Rico was a hero, he was a hero with wisdom to recognize what he should do and repel to the wrong in his own way, despite the horrible Fate’s hands that he cannot escape from. Rico himself was a tragedy, So a hero was doomed to go to an tragedy, wasn’t he?

Reading Log

2006-12-27T22:34:00.000-08:00

The evil man, an evil world

So many callous men, an illegitimate baby, a sentimental woman, consists a tragedy story.

In this story, only evil people can survive, Toshiko’s husband, showed no sympathy to his pregnant nurse, shut his eyes to the cruel treatment which the doctor ordered his assistant do. The bachelor in the forest of the Imperial Palace, who attacked Toshiko can survive, although his condition was not quite good, he can make it by violent means. Even the infant can survive, as long as he dared to “savagely stabs somebody with a knife” when he grew up.

A whole world full of violence, commitment, discrimination, conflicts, contains no virtuous people. Nobody should be blamed for this chaos, because every one just want to be alive. So in the end, Toshiko, the only person with sympathy, guilt and loving-kindness, who was considered “oversoft, oversentimental”, couldn’t have got rid of her doomed destiny. In suchi a dirty society, she was a stranger, who was surely discarded.

In the story “Swaddling Clothes”, Mishima Yukio showed us an evil world. And undoubtedly, Toshiko acted as a victim in this man-eating-man world. What a woman!

Timed Writing

2006-12-27T22:31:00.000-08:00

Timed Writing 2
Feng
November 30, 2006

What do you think makes a good teacher
Here’s a formula to describe what I think makes a good teacher: L+P+K+H= A Good Teacher.

The most important thing I think for a good teacher is his or her love for the students. For a teacher is to teach his or her students how to learn, being a teacher, in my opinion, is not just simply a kind of job, but something of a life style. It’s necessary for him or her to build up some kind of ties with the students so that they can share the happiness in their life with each other, caring for each other, and loving each other.

Then I will say, a warm-hearted man or woman can be a teacher only with passion for the job he or she works as. Human can be creative if he donates all his life to certain field and work for it. To be a good teacher is not an easy job, there must be obstacles on one’s way to the perfect terminal. I think only the one with passion for his teaching job can overcome whatever he encounters.

The third important thing I think for a good teacher is that he should be expert at the knowledge of his field. Anyway, a teacher can be a torchbearer, a student learns from his teacher, and then start to learn by himself. In china, there’s a saying “A teacher lead you into the door of knowledge, and you will learn further by yourself.” The first step to learn about knowledge is so fatal that it can even influence one’s whole life’s profession, which all depends on a good teacher.

Another word I must say about a good teacher is the sense of humor. A good teacher should command some ways to communicate with the students, so that his lectures will be effective. It is necessary for a teacher to find an efficient way to communicate with his or her students. Usually a humorous teacher is easily accepted by the students, and a teacher who never smiles is most likely to be a commander instead of a teacher.

The four points I mentioned above can be some parts of a good teacher, and usually a good teacher is not required to own all of these four qualities. The formula I suggest only shows that these four points can be quite important.

MY FAVOURATE TEACHER
The teacher in my high school I can never forget is our class teacher Mr gao. He was a tall man with a cool looking face, short hair, always wearing a big pair of glasses.

At that time, he worked as our physics teacher, the first class he gave us when we were in grade two attracted all of us. For his knowledgeable and sense of humor maked us realize another kind of teaching physics that we had never experienced before. Since he was our class teacher, he would care for our study as well as our life. After class, he always suggested that we went out to play basketball instead of keeping us all in class doing exercises. His instructions were always full of his particular kind of homor that we will never feel reluctant.

He was such a man, a good teacher I will remember in my mind forever.

2006-10-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

花自飘零水自流，我自雄风依在。
他自强来他自横，我自雄风依在。