Welcome to my writing portfolio, where you can see the works of an enthusiastic writing learner exploring the literature world and exploiting the potential of words. Treat a writer as an artist and treat writing as creative work. This is my attitude towards writing and the spirit of this writing portfolio. I believe that the value of a work is determined by its originality in content, form, style etc. So if you pursue creation and innovation like me, you will enjoy your stay in my portfolio.
It concludes six parts: this cover letter, three drafts of an interpretive essay, final timed-writing and a reading log.
The interpretive essay is on the Americanization of Shadrach Cohen by Bruno Lessing, talking about the clash of ideologies in a typical Jewish family in New York. At the first glance of the story, I was inspired by the protagonist’s courage to hold his roots, follow his tradition and keep his religion facing the opposition of his sons in a whole-new environment, as I have been confused by the westernization of China and the trend of globalization. Impelled by my urge to express my emotional approval and admiration for the character, I chose the essence of Americanization as my essay topic, which I found hackneyed soon after several trial drafts. Reading the story daily for a week, I discovered that the fundamental factor determining the relationship within the family is utilitarianism. The uniqueness of this perspective made me so excited that I promptly started writing my first draft. The second draft is my first one plus my peers’ advice. Nicole and Ethan helped me think more comprehensively about my points. There is a great disjunction between my second draft and the third one. Thanks for my teacher, Ron, who pointed out that my second draft was a summary rather than analysis. I read the textbook thoroughly to learn how to select evidence, cite quotations and do analysis. I realize that creativity depends on the mastery of basic skills. In the three drafts can you see my efforts to be creative.
Timed-writing is an exam writing task. Although time is limited, I also try to impart a new form to my writing each time, making an analogy between specific events and abstract ideas in my final timed-writing and comparisons of characters in previous ones. Besides all my timed-writings have a consistent and incoherent theme, to find one’s own identity, which I find is the similarity of the five articles I was required to read by Ron.
The reading log is my favorite. It is brief, simple, elegant and thought-provoking. A good art work is the perfect combination of emotion and ration. The reading log catches the fresh tenderness of my feeling and the intricate graveness of my meditation.
I hope that you will like my writing, appreciate my passion, most of all, do some creative writing yourself . It is creation that makes life beautiful. It is creation that makes world colorful. It is creation that makes you yourself.
