The Devil Is in the Detail

Description writing is an art on its own. One can easily describe how something looks, but sight isn’t our only sense. For most people, there are five senses that are used to experience life, and as you do in this exercise, to describe an item.

Today we’re going to read a flash piece called “Bread” by Sandra Cisneros (from Woman Hollering Creek). Notice how Cisneros uses senses to create a rich scene.

Now let’s write your own. Here’s your task:

1. Pick an item, but DO NOT let anyone know what item it is. You need to describe it not only in detail, but in complete sentences. Use your senses to describe the item: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste.
2. Describe your perfect vacation spot. What does it need to have? Again, use your senses to describe the location: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

Speaking of Sandra Cisneros’ “Bread”, here is a short article about how senses affect memories.

Major Live Event

By Akira

Among many events that have influenced my life, studying abroad in the US and getting a college degree are the most influential ones because they shaped my life.

After I returned to Japan, I got a good job at an American bank where I met my wife and then, a few years later, we had two wonderful children who are now living their lives as adults.

Selma

This day, fifty years ago, almost eight thousand people (mostly black Americans, who were also joined by some whites, Asians, and Latinos) began the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. It was the third Selma-Montgomery march and is considered the most successful (and least bloody). These three marches made it possible for black American citizens to exercise their right to vote.

Photo by Associated Press

We’ve all experienced major events in our lives, although their scale is relative. An event that’s considered major by some people may be considered minor for others, and vice versa. In this class, let’s define a major event as something that changed your life, for example relocation, marriage, death, or separation.

That said, here are your tasks for the day:

1. List five major events that happened in your personal life
2. Choose one of those major events and describe what it was and why it happened
3. Write how it changed your life
4. If you could do it again, would you do it differently?

Today’s reading is supplied by NPR.

What’s Luck Have to Do with It?

Last week, we wrote about hard work and talent. We almost forgot about one aspect that needed to be taken into consideration: Luck.

The concept of luck has been known for millennia (that’s plural for “millennium”), from ancient Egypt to ancient China.

Some people dismiss luck as nonsense, a mumbo-jumbo. This is usually because relying on luck makes one lazy (“Why work hard when I have luck?”) and or delusional (“I don’t need talent! I’m lucky!”). However, luck is still prevalent. People still say, “Good luck!” and we still hear miracle stories about people that survive natural disasters and cheat death by not getting on fallen planes.

What about you? Do you have a luck story? Do you think you’re lucky? Do you even believe in luck? Or do you think you’re unlucky?

Treat of the day: Preposition Quiz!

What Am I Good At?

By Akira

Sometimes it is difficult to know what I am good at, because whatever I am good at comes naturally. For example, I played ping-pong with my colleagues after work last week. I haven’t played ping-pong for many years, but I still could play very well – better than most of my colleagues.

So they said, “Wow! You are good at it!”

To me, playing ping-pong is not a difficult thing to do. I played it a lot when I was a child. I didn’t practice it hard. I just had fun playing it. I played for many hours with friends, having fun. As a result, I turned out to be good at it. So, I think it is important to enjoy what you do. In another word, I must be good at what I enjoy.

I enjoy cooking, walking, reading, learning, and eating, and drinking. Therefore, I must be good at these things.

Hard Work Is More Important

By Grace

I am good at writing, but before I write something, I always need to read many novels, proverbs, and some best-known speeches, and try to write the sentences and fix them again and again until I am satisfied.

Although I have a little bit of writing talent, without hard work, it will be none.

So I agree that genius is 1% talent and 99% hard work, just like Einstein said.

Having a Talent vs. Being Genius

By Christopher Chao

For me, I think that talent is very important, no matter if it’s one percent or ninety-nine percent. If you don’t have the talent, then a hundred percent hard work will still lead you to a tragic end.

In my experience, I worked hard at baseball when I was in primary school, but finally I realized I didn’t have any baseball talent. So I gave up playing baseball. I still like to watch baseball games, though.

Genius Is 1% Talent and 99% Hard Work

We all know that Albert Einstein was a genius. His name is synonymous with the word “genius.” However, Einstein himself credited his achievements to hard work.

“Genius is 1% talent and 99% hard work,” Einstein famously said.

Still, many think that this is not the case. If you don’t have what it takes, a certain flair, a certain charm, a certain je ne sais quoi, if you weren’t born with it, then it’s probably a lost cause.

Today, we’re going to write about this debate.

1. First, find out what you’re good at. Is it math? Is it money? Is it the arts?
2. Then decide if you think it’s truly only 1% talent and 99% hard work? Is it 99% talent and 1% hard work? Or is it somewhere in the middle?

Now, you may be aware that some words are italicized. Can you guess what kind of words they are?

Here’s a link that will explain it to you.

What Makes Me Stand Out

By Cristina Amaral

I have no idea what makes me special, but I feel special to be part of my family.

For them, I give my best.

For them, I can move mountains.

For them, I breathe.

For them, I am thankful for all the days of my life.

What Makes Me Special

By Christopher Chao

When I still lived in Taiwan, February usually meant Lunar New Year, but not every year. This year, I learned that Koreans and Vietnamese celebrated this festival too. I got lucky and unlucky in February. For example, I have to pay the cellphone bill every thirty days. In February, I get extra two days. But my house rent needs to be paid every tenth day, so this month I lose two days.

For this special month, I’m feeling special little by little.