Friday, May 21, 2010

The Ninemile Wolves by Rick Bass

I would preffer talk about what strategies the writer has used to encourage readers to follow and support him.

Rick is a science background writer though he never emphasize it overly. Instead, he comes up with credible resources and quotes from others to make him reliable. I believe this is a perfect way to persuade readers without letting them dislike a strong argument. For example, he used the sentence like " it's been theorized that". And Also quote from others."wolf biologist diane boyd has documented wolves leaving the.."

Another strategy he used in the beginning of the essay is he tried to be closer to readers "I gave up science badge a long time ago."

50-word "snapshots"

Ames

I have a second hometown,
Where people call it Ames.
While, I prefer to call it
The love city.

It is a dreamful and hopeful place
Where I fall in love,
On my new future.
It is a peaceful and beautiful place
Were I fall in love,
At my first sight.
It is a charming and moving place
Where I fall in love,
With my unique soul mate.



Sea

When I was Young,

Mon told me that

Ocean is my home.

Birth in ocean, grow in ocean.

Ocean is where I live,

Wind blowing and wave streaming.

The follow me knocking about the world.

Ocean is like mom,

Even I am at the edges of the world,

She is always behind me .

Ocean, you are my home.



Yangtse River

You walk from snow mountains,

the torrent of spring are your mien.

You go east to the ocean,

raging waves are your spirit.

You use your sweet latex,

feeding sons and daughters from all ethnic groups

You use your strong arms,

pull up mountains and oceans

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Map Assignment

English 250A
Instructor: Brenna Dixon
Yinfei Liu
May 19th 2010
Map Assignment

What aspects of the place does your map capture? What's left out? Why? Would you represent it differently? If so, how?

The map I find is the campus map of Iowa State University printed on the Cyride Bus Route Map. It basically captures the sight aspect which is one of the five major ways to create a map. Rest of them are smell, sound, touch and taste. The map appropriately indicates 6 different bus routes on campus by presenting them by different colors. At the same time all buildings are colored black with a name listed. There are also lake, river and railway on the map.

However, I believe some additional factors could be added to the map. For example, the campus should be divided to different functional areas since most people who read the map are not familiar with the campus. A highlight in dining area and living area will be helpful for new students. Meanwhile, admission departments and major libraries should also be marked smartly because it will help visitors. If I get a chance to represent the map, I would give dining area, living area and public services area various colors instead of drawing them all in black. If the cost can be covered, I would also suggest make the map touchable which means people who can not see a map could use his or her hand to get their ways.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Reading Like A Writer

Q: Look at the transitions between paragraphs or between sections. How does he or she make these transitions? What effect do they have on the forward momentum of the piece?

A: The transitions between paragraphs or between sections are used very well by Terry Williams. Usually, Terry started a new paragraph with a transition sentence which could be appropriately related to the former paragraph. For example. On page 740, the 4th paragraph begun with that " The experiment continued: we let the plate and cup of water stand side by side on the window sill." Similar methods of starting a new paragraphs could be found throughout the entire essay. It is often to see Terry starts a new topic or paragraph with a great starting sentence.

At the same time, we can also see Terry was keeping on using others' voices in the essay to continue the stories. It is a great way to keep readers focusing on the essay without feeling bored. If an author continued saying I I and I, readers will be driven crazy. And those voices from others can perfectly help Terry's essay go on.

100 word photography

English 250A

Instructor: Brenna Dixon

Yinfei Liu

May 18th 2010

100 word photography

The black and white picture “Buffalo skulls at Michigan Carbon Works” portrayed a miserable and appalling scene of skulls of buffalo, which is in sharp contrast with the people who posed complacently. In the center of the picture, the tremendous amount of buffalo skulls piled up a hill with a height of more than 6 adults. The hill of skulls stretched away into the distance. On the top of it, a worker who carried a skull was looking at somewhere. Another worker facing the camera stood on the ground in front of thousands of skulls. He put his right hand on those skulls and stepped his left foot on a larger skull. He also placed his left hand on his left knee, indicating that he thought himself a victor.



Reference

Buffalo skulls at Michigan Carbon Works, a Detroit charcoal and fertilizer factory (c1880), Picutre 14 in American Earth, edted by Bill McKibben 2008.