Holiday Plans

    Today is the last school day and also the last class before the Chinese Lunar New Year break. This time, the holiday is especially meaningful and important to our family because the whole family of five people could eventually gather together, which we haven’t done so for several years. As for result, I’m hoping to do something special during the one week holiday with my family. I would like to go to Flora Expo since this world-wide famous exposition is in Taipei, Taiwan, which is not far away from us.

   Also, I would like to go to Hualian and participate in aboriginal rituals because I once saw on the TV that these ceremonies were fun, and people even didn’t sleep for whole three days. I want to have this kind of crazy experience, too. In addition, I should learn more about the aboriginal culture, which is part of the Taiwanese society. Although I’ve been to KTV for many times, I’ve never been there with my family. In order to make the break special, I’m hoping to go to KTV with my parents and brothers and sing until I’m out of voice. Another big event would definitely be playing our traditional game-majong. Everyone in my family must know how to play majong, and I hope I can be an expert on it after the lunar new year. These are just my hopes, but if they really did take place in reality, I believe I would be thrilled and cheerful.

A Writer’s Material

   The quotation from John Gardner suggests about the topics that writers choose are the ones writers are interested in. I believe that people wouldn’t write something they’re lacking interest of because that would be a waste of time also meaningless. If writers write about materials that they don’t care at all, the essay wouldn’t be unique since writers fail to put their own ideas and feelings into the work. Thus, I think John Gardner’s quotation is pretty true. In addition, this advice can definitely help me to choose a topic for the next assignment-writing a causal analysis essay.

    I’m not a scientific fan, so I think my essay would combine both scientific and non-scientific approaches. I’m pretty concerned about the environment that humans are living now, so I might write about global warming. Moreover, global warming is a great topic not only because lots of causes contribute to this severe effect, but also global warming causes other natural disasters. In addition, I can reflect my own feeling and I believe I would have a lot to say because I really care about it.

    I can also write about ordinary, simple stuffs, and this can generate from observing people on streets. Why do people want to violate traffic rule? (walking when it’s red light; driving over speed limit; talking on the phone while driving….) Why do people listen to music when they’re doing art work? Why do people buy so many things during on sale time? All these topics can get to the psychology part, which is under scientific category again. No matter how ordinary things that one write, they can always revolve back into science, which is closely connected to our lives.

Choosing a Topic

   People learn about Biology, Physics, and Chemistry because these three basic scientific subjects are of great relation to our lives. Science itself is not only fun, but it also allows us to explore more about this world. In addition, by acquiring more scientific knowledge, we’ll be able to understand natural phenomena better and explain them more clearly. Natural phenomena happened every day in our lives; they range from small, microscopic thing such as the formation of water drop to large, macroscopic thing such as the moving of Earth’s crust. By paying more attention to things around us, we would find out that science and nature are too close to be separated.

    There are several phenomena that I think would be interesting to write about, such as “why do breads expand? what cause them to have such an effect?” “how does hot air balloon stay in air? What supports the balloon?” “why are green plants important to us?” “why are there earthquakes, tsunamis?” “why would water stay on our skin?” “what is the process of making alcohol?” “why is the climate getting weird all over the world?” “why are there so many kinds of people on Earth? what traits distinguish one from another?” People’s curiousness has no end. Thus, we would always be interested in science because we want to develop more in the world.

Focus on Effects

    The single action of cutting down trees isn’t as simple as one thinks; it could result in many severe effects. Trees are important for all species, especially human beings because they do photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of converting carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Moreover, it uses carbon dioxide and water to release oxygen as a waste product. Oxygen is vital for all aerobic life on Earth-nearly all species depend on oxygen as a source of energy either directly or indirectly. Photosynthesis can be further divided into two reactions: light reactions and light-independent reactions. In the light reactions, one molecule of the pigment chlorophyll absorbs one photon and loses one electron; in the light-independent reactions, the enzyme captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and enters the Calvin Cycle, which releases three-carbon sugars, and are later combined to form sucrose and starch. With more trees being cut down, the natural balance would be broken, and Earth would eventually become a planet no longer for human to live. With less trees to absorb our carbon dioxide, global warming would only become more serious, and human have to find other planets to live, which isn’t an easy thing. Everything, including technology, societies, development, etc, would only have to start all over again once natural disasters occur more often.

Focus on Causes

    The effect of getting drunk results from many causes such as own desire, peer pressure, dancing music, playing drinking games, drink too fast, drink mix alcohols, helping others to drink. When those never drink before have chances to drink for the first time, they would try to drink all kinds of alcohols because of freshness and wanting to test how much can they drink while not being drink. Peer pressure is the one that teenagers face the most, and we always do things that might contradict our conscience because we don’t want to be embarrassed and looked down. As for result, when friends tell us to drink, we would do so such that the fun atmosphere wouldn’t be destroyed. Some people can’t dance, can’t be totally relaxed without drinking, so they have to force themselves to drink in order to enjoy the music. Playing drinking games is one of the easiest ways to get drunk because when people have to drink whenever they lose, and the drinks are always of high percentage. Drinking too fast and drinking mix alcohols are two taboos for drinking, so people will definitely get drunk when doing these bans. Helping friends to drink can also get drunk because one’s drinking capacity has a limit, and once the limit is passed, then one enters the state of being drunk.

Causal Chain

   Once a causal chain starts, there will never be an ending to it. The story will only keep going and get longer unless being brought to an end. Here is an example of the causal chain: I gained confidence and bought many new clothes and pants because I lost weight. I lost weight because I went to the fitness center during summer. I went to the fitness center because my dad said I was too unhealthy and sent me there. The coach helped me to design a series of exercising and dieting programs because my mom asked him to do so. Mom asked him to do so because she wanted to see some results after paying so much money. Mom paid so much because I worked out at the fitness center of the Ambassador Hotel. I worked out at the Ambassador Hotel because mom was a member of the fitness center there.

     Here is another example of the causal chain: I stayed after school every day because I could do homework with friends. I did homework with friends because it was a more productive and faster way. It was a more productive and faster way because people exchanged their ideas. People exchanged their ideas because they had different opinions. People had different opinions because their thoughts weren’t the same. Nobody had same thoughts because everyone was unique. Everyone was unique and special because we were born this way.

Lightning

   In the photograph which is shown on page 712 in the textbook, I see a striking image of a lightning. There is definitely a cause and effect relationship shown in the photo. In addition, more than one example of this relationships can be found. The friction between hot air and cold air combine with chemical reaction cause the lightning, which hits the tallest tree on the ground, thus causing the smoke and the tree to burn.

   In this picture, the color is strongly contrasted: the sharp bright light from the lightning compared to the rest of the empty space which is dark blue. When first looking at this photo, my eyes are drawn to the lightning because it’s the only focused and clear image. It’s the one that stands out most, which results in my attention being first paid at it. Only when looking closer at the image, I can see there are other things, such as: trees, houses, and fencing. Other than this technique, there is also the usage of relative sizes of objects in this photograph. In proportion, the huge lightning is contrary to the small houses. Also, the photographer uses the empty space to imply the endless power of the lightning.

What I think

   I interpret the quotation as “if you don’t write down what are your thoughts, then you wouldn’t be able to know what are you thinking about.” Human brain’s thinking process is fast, complex, instant. Sometimes, if we don’t jot down our ideas, we would forget them the next moment. In the AP European class, we take notes of everything Mr. Jones said. Although he talks pretty slow, there are always lots of materials we need to copy down, so I have to write fast. Sometimes, I would have questions about stories he talks about, but I don’t have enough time to ask him. If I don’t write down what I’m going to ask, it takes me a long time and much effort for trying to remember my questions. What’s even worse is that after thinking for so hard, I still can’t retrieve my memory.     I think that writing definitely helps me to clarify and understand my own thoughts. Sometimes, what we think in our brain as reasonable might seem not logical anymore after we write them down. When solving math problems, I go through all my thoughts and think that I can get the solution. However, when I start writing the steps down, I get stuck and can’t move on anymore. Thus, it’s important to see our thoughts.

Winter Break

       Although I don’t have lots of parties during the two weeks winter break, it’s still memorable. In the first week, I spend most of my time doing homework. The only big event is the Alumni Party, and I meet lots of old friends again. I hear from graduated students talk about their experiences in universities, chat with friends, and enjoy the delicious food.

        My second week is busier than the first week because I’m starting to do the college online application stuff and there is a New Years Eve Party. I come to school several days to discuss with Ms. Pamela about the college application information, and she lists out lots of things that I have to do before she leave for college visit. Also, she hopes I can send out everything before January 10.

        The New Years Eve Party is special because it’s my first time celebrating new years eve at friend’s house. The party takes place at Antony’s house, which is near Mirama shopping mall. I spend the whole day of December 31 in Taipei, and I go shopping and eating. I buy 5 pants and 3 jackets at the Wu-Feng Po shopping center, which is famous for its variety and cheapness. At night, I go to Shih-Lin night market and have lots of famous Taiwanese food.

        Antony’s house has a great view of seeing the fireworks from both Taipei 101 and Mirama. However, we lost enjoying Mirama’s fireworks because we are focusing on that of Taipei 101. When we rush to the back balcony and are ready to see Mirama’s firework, it’s already done, which is kind of a pity. I really want to see how is Mirama’s firework like, and I would have run back and forth all the time if I could.