Journal Entry 4 - How A Story Is Told

How a story is told is definitely significant, because only by telling a story the expressions and emotions in the texts can emerge. On the other hand, if one only read through the texts in the article, one actually did not receive the potential meanings.

            In addition, a summary is insufficient because it usually includes the vital points. However, a summary cannot represent the whole story. A story not only contains plots, moods, and characters, but it also covers miner descriptions and feelings. Therefore, a summary will not be able to covey the emotional weight of the tale.

Sometimes, a storywriter often adds a few things in a tale. Besides character, plot, or mood, a writer also uses splendid depictions in order to portray the emotions of characters or the background settings.

Thus, people usually prefer to read the whole tale rather than scan through the summary or synopsis. The reason simply is the summary or synopses often eliminate the details, which author originally added in. In other words, the voice of the story has been removed because the story’s primary meaning has been deleted.

In conclusion, the way a tale presents is influential. The story’s real meaning and value can be altered if the story is told differently.

Journal Entry 3 - Writing as Self Discovery

           Actually, life and writing are not alike. How so? Life can contains variety different things, such as your personal experience, family, or education, etc. However, reflective writing is a tool that people can use to record a memorable period of time or a special event. To be specific, reflective writing can divide in to science fiction, autobiography, poetry, textbook, novel, and journal. In fact, people do use reflective writing as a vehicle of self-discovery, and these are the types of reflective writing they might use. As for me, I have been taking journals since school started. Although I write diary every day because it is some of my courses requirement, I then realized that it not only could improve my writing skills continuously, but also record significant events every day. Moreover, before I start writing my journals, I used to live day by day and never recall what happened yesterday. Nevertheless, after I start to write diaries, I start to remember every detail. Also, by looking at my journals, I actually understand more about myself, because my expressions and emotions had also been put in the diaries. Therefore, my characteristics could appear in my journals. In additions, reflective writing can help people appreciate more about themselves, and display their personalities in the writing.

Journal Entry 2 - Person in Place

The person I described last time is usually appears in my house, which is located in the village called Yi Pin Da Guan. Since this person is my mother, so everywhere in the house is available for me to contact with her. However, there is a place she does most activities, which is her room.

            Inside my mother’s room, there is a soft bed with a blue sheet, a huge television hang on the wall, a white reading desk, and a spacious bathroom. The room smells a little bit like vanilla; makes me feel joyful and relaxed. Blue and white are the main color in the room. She usually watch soap opera on the television when she feels bored. Sometimes she will ask me to watch it with her. The soft bed is where she rest every day. In addition, the spacious bathroom is the place she can take a shower and release stress she received from her lengthy and tiring workday. Moreover, the white reading desk is the only place where she studies magazine, newspaper, or documents.

            Apparently, the room and my mother cannot be separate. That is the place she does all the thinking, working, and entertainment. Every time I enter her room, comfort and harmony are the feelings I received. This is the place I meet the person who influenced me most frequently.

Journal Entry 1 - Important Person

        This person is a woman; she is not as tall as me. This woman acts gently and generously. Her voice is pretty soft. The relationship between her and I is really close, like blood relative. Diligent, optimistic, and considerate are the characteristic I admired her.

        Since I was born, I am always a slow learner. Almost everything, as long as it is new, I need others’ double amount of time to acquire it. However, this person acts like an assistant who disregard the hard works and willing to spend time to teach me anything I had difficult with. Indeed, this person is my mother.

        The most important lesson she taught me is “Attitude decides everything.” This simple idea influenced the way a study later on. Due to my poor achievements on academic, there was a time that I refused to put any effort on my school works. Nevertheless, my mother told me that learning was more important than outstanding academic results. In the beginning, I did not understand what she meant. Gradually, I understand that it means I should gain knowledge from learning, not from test papers.

        The concept my mother gave me totally replaced the neglect attitude I used to have. This lesson changed my point of view about everything, not only in the area of academic in school, but also everything I will involve in the future.