Writing task 3

Outline

Title: A Reflection of Commencement Speech by Steve Jobs

Introduction

I.           Hook: This is the most touching commencement address I’ve ever heard.

    Background: It was given by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005 at Stanford University. Steve recounts his personal stories about connecting the dots, love and loss, and death to advocate and encourage the graduates to follow your heart and do what you love.

II.        Thesis statement: There are some key points I want to share-finding your interest, catching up time as possible as you can, and accepting the unexpected life challenges positively.

Body Paragraph 1

I.           Topic sentence: Finding out what you are truly interested in is essential.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Uneasy thing to find out what we enjoy it

                  ii.                Trying and taking part in different activities

                iii.                Keeping looking instead of settling

Body Paragraph 2

I.           Topic sentence: Time is so limited that we need to catch it up as possible as we can.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Changeable life

                  ii.                Nothing left in the past→ doing meaningful things and creating the own value

                iii.                Noise of other people’s opinion→ ignoring the inner voice→follow the heart and intuition

Body Paragraph 3

I.           Topic sentence: I hope I can have positive attitude to accept unexpected life challenges.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Facing some obstacles or changes→clouded by worries and fears

                  ii.                Good, hopeful and confident belief

Conclusion

A Reflection of Commencement Speech by Steve Jobs

This is the most touching commencement address I’ve ever heard. It was given by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005 at Stanford University. Steve recounts his personal stories about connecting the dots, love and loss, and death to advocate and encourage the graduates to follow your heart and do what you love. There are some key points I want to share-finding your interest, catching up time as possible as you can, and accepting the unexpected life challenges positively.

First of all, finding out what you are truly interested in is essential. Just like Steve says “You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers.” That means you need to have passions in the work even in the life as well. However, it’s uneasy thing for us to find what we really enjoy it. For example, I still have no idea what I want to do with my life; I am confused about whether going to college could help me figure out something or not. Nevertheless, I still have to keep looking forward. By trying and taking part in different activities such as planning contests, student camp, or volunteer services, these experience help me to know which things are what I am good at and love to do. This is an ongoing process, and just keeps the trust in mind that we will get better and better as time goes by. Thus, don’t settle, and keep looking until we find it.

In addition, time is so limited that we need to catch it up as possible as we can. Also, life is changeable, and we don’t know when we will leave the world. According to Steve’s speech, he mentions” Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.” It makes me recall what I have done in the past; it seems that nothing left but just fragments. Apparently, it’s time to begin to do more meaningful things and create the own value for myself. However, there are some noises of other people’s opinion that make us waste time to live in their thinking and ignore the inner voice in mind. Consequently, don’t trap in that people’s thinking. Time is pretty precious; all we could do is follow the heart and intuition to take pleasure in it.

Last but not least, I hope I can have positive attitude to accept unexpected life challenges. When facing some obstacles or changes, my old thinking has been clouded by worries and fears, so it makes me build up a wall against the changes. I don’t take notice that “Change happens all the time”. I used to think more about that it would get worse rather than get better. In fact, change just relies on what you think; it might harm you or help you embrace the situation. And just like Steve says “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.” As long as we have a good, hopeful and confident belief, nothing can destroy our mind. As a result, whenever confronting difficult situations, just keep three steps in mind-first having  open-minded attitude to accept, then using wisdom to deal with, and finally adapting yourself in that environment in time.

Steve’s wonderful speech gives us the inspiration and encouragement. His words brings a power that triggers me to find out the interest, catch up time as possible as I can, and accept the unexpected life challenges positively. Just listens to your heart and follow it, chose the life way you want, and that’s worth it!

Writing Task 2 (Final draft)

Outline

Title: The Positive Effects of Peer Pressure

Introduction

I.           Hook: When we spend time interacting with peers, we probably face peer pressure.

    Background: Peer pressure is the pressure that pushes us to behave in a manner similar to or acceptable to the group of members we are engaged in.

II.        Thesis statement: It is also the power that brings several positive effects to us. Peer pressure can give us encouragement, shape our personality, and take a closer look at our future.

Body Paragraph 1

I.           Topic sentence: Peer pressure can give us encouragement because of peer’s behaviors.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Peer’s ambition and diligence→push ourselves to follow

                  ii.                Confronting challenges or making mistakes→peer‘s support or suggestion, and teaching

Body Paragraph 2

I.           Topic sentence: Peer pressure can shape our personality.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Sharing upbeat values from friend→constructive thinking, healthy mind, brave, and self-confidence, feeling of comfort and energy, active learner

Body Paragraph 3

I.           Topic sentence: Peer pressure makes us take a closer look at our future.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Exploration, analysis, and contemplation

                  ii.                Looking at what others do and analogizing our future

Conclusion

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The Positive Effects of Peer Pressure

When we spend time interacting with peers, we probably face peer pressure. Peer pressure is the pressure that pushes us to behave in a manner similar to or acceptable to the group of members we are engaged in. It is also the power that brings several positive effects to us. Peer pressure can give us encouragement, shape our personality, and take a closer look at our future.

     Peer pressure can give us encouragement because of peers’ behaviors. When peers have a strong desire to fulfill a task or a goal, subconsciously they will give us desire to do the things well. For instance, when we are involved in working within a group of members who always shows their ambition and diligence to achieve the goals we set, we will push ourselves to take action to follow them and achieve the goal. Besides, whenever we confront challenges or make mistakes, they give us support or suggestion instead of discouraging us. They teach us to learn the lesson, look at the bright side, and accompany us to overcome the difficult situations. As a consequence, peers really encourage us to become a strong man.

     In addition to encouragement, peer pressure can shape our personality. Some of peers are our closed friends; they persuade us to bring about positive changes in the character. For example, several of my friends are always optimistic about everything, and enthusiastic about learning. They not only share the upbeat values with me but also make me have a constructive thinking and healthy mind to face everything. Gradually, they help me to build up the brave and self-confidence and give me a feeling that I am capable of achieving my goals. Therefore, I feel comfortable about whom I am, and I feel energetic to do any mission. They are just like a musician to help me become an active learner. Because of them, I enjoy participating in different activities, and start being enthusiastic about learning new information. It is they that help me generate optimistic and confident personality.

Finally, peer pressure makes us take a closer look at our future. It helps us contemplate on the ways of life and explore and analyze what we really want. For example, some of my friends are senior students who will soon graduate from college. Observing and listening to their plans for the future, we think about what we really want to do. Their experience guides us to get on the right track so that we can avoid having trial and error. As a result, owing to peers, we can evaluate ourselves constantly. Without peers, we can’t have a career guide to make us go to the road to success.

It is favorable for us that peer pressure gives us encouragement, shapes our personality and takes a closer look at our future. If we have the ability to distinguish and choose the right friends who are better for us from the peers, we will keep these valuable benefits forever.



100/05/02 Writing Task 2 (second draft)

Outline

Title: The Positive Effects of Peer Pressure

Introduction

I.          Hook: When we spend time interacting with peers, we probably face peer pressure.

    Background: Peer pressure is the pressure that pushes us to behave in a 

    manner similar to or acceptable to the group of members we are engaged

    in. It is the power that changes our attitudes, values or behaviors because

    we want to be part of a group.

II.        Thesis statement: Peer pressure can have several positive effects on us. It can give us encouragement, shape our personality, and take a closer look on our future.

Body Paragraph 1

I.          Topic sentence: Peer pressure can give us encouragement because of peer’s behaviors.

II.        Supporting details:

                i.              Peer’s ambition and diligence→push ourselves to follow

              ii.              Confronting challenges or making mistakes→peer‘s support or suggestion, and teaching

Body Paragraph 2

I.          Topic sentence: Peer pressure can shape our personality.

II.        Supporting details:

                i.              Sharing upbeat values from friend→constructive thinking, healthy mind, brave, and self-confidence, feeling of comfort and energy, active learner

Body Paragraph 3

I.          Topic sentence: Peer pressure makes us take a closer look on our future.

II.        Supporting details:

                i.              Exploration, analysis, and contemplation

              ii.              Looking at what others do

            iii.              Trial and error

Conclusion

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Positive Effects of Peer Pressure

When we spend time interacting with peers, we probably face peer pressure. Peer pressure is the pressure that pushes us to behave in a manner similar to or acceptable to the group of members we are engaged in. It is the power that changes our attitudes, values or behaviors because we want to be part of a group. Peer pressure can have several positive effects on us. It can give us encouragement, shape our personality, and take a closer look on our future.

     First of all, peer pressure can give us encouragement because of peer’s behaviors. Peers give us desire to do the things well. For instance, when we are involved in working within a group of members who always shows his or her ambition and diligence to achieve the goals we set, in a sense, we will subconsciously push ourselves to take action to follow the goal. Besides, whenever we confront challenges or make mistakes, they give us support or suggestion instead of discouraging us. They teach us to learn the lesson, look at the bright side, and accompany us to overcome the difficult situations. As a consequence, peer group really encourage us to become a strong man.

     In addition, peer pressure can shape our personality. Some of peers are our closed friends, they persuade us to bring about positive change in the character. For example, one of my friends, she is always optimistic about everything, satisfied what she has, and enthusiastic about learning. She not only shares the upbeat values with me also makes me have a constructive thinking and keeps healthy mind to face anything. Gradually, she helps me to build up the brave and self-confidence and gives me a feeling that I am capable of achieving the goals. Therefore, I feel comfortable about whom I am, and I feel energetic to do any work. Furthermore, peers are just like the musician that helps me become an active learner. All I enjoy participating in different activities, all I am enthusiastic about learning new information. Therefore, peers generate the abundant characters such as optimistic, capable, confident elements for me.

     Finally, peer pressure makes us take a closer look on our future. It helps us explore and analyze ourselves and contemplate on the ways of life. For example, senior students will soon graduate from college. What can they do for the future?   So they look at what group of members do, and then think about what they really want to do for the better future. In addition, we should keep trial and error so that everyone can find the different method that is suitable for individual. As a result, owing to peers, we can evaluate ourselves constantly. Without peers, we can’t have a career guide to make us go to the road of success.

     In a conclusion, it is favorable for us that peer pressure gives us encouragement, shapes the personality and takes a closer look on our future. If we have the ability to distinguish and choose the right friends who is better for us from the peers, we will keep these valuable benefits forever.

Writing Task 2 (first draft)

Outline

Title: The Positive Effects of Peer Pressure

Introduction

I.           Hook: When we spend time interacting with peers, we probably face peer pressure.

II.        Background: Peer pressure means we are affected by a group of members that changes our attitudes, values or behaviors to get norms. This is because we want to be part of a group and feel like we belong in the community; it makes us behave in the ways that our peers accept.

III.     Thesis statement: Peer pressure may not be a bad thing; instead, it can have several positive effects on us. It can give us inspiration, shape our personality, and reflect on our lives.

Body Paragraph 1

I.           Topic sentence: Peer pressure can give us inspiration because of peer’s behaviors.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Peer’s ambition and diligence→strong aspiration and determination

                  ii.                confronting challenges or making mistakes→peer‘s support or suggestion, and teaching

Body Paragraph 2

I.           Topic sentence: Peer pressure can shape our personality.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Same upbeat values→constructive thinking, healthy mind, brave, and self-confidence

                  ii.                Feeling of comfort and energy

                iii.                Active learner

Body Paragraph 3

I.           Topic sentence: Peer pressure makes us have a reflection toward our lives.

II.        Supporting details:

                    i.                Exploring, analysis, and contemplation

                  ii.                Looking at what others do

                iii.                Trial and error

Conclusion

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Positive Effects of Peer Pressure

When we spend time interacting with peers, we probably face peer pressure. Peer pressure means we are affected by a group of members that changes our attitudes, values or behaviors to get norms. This is because we want to be part of a group and feel like we belong in the community; it makes us behave in the ways that our peers accept. Peer pressure may not be a bad thing; instead, it can have several positive effects on us. It can give us inspiration, shape our personality, and reflect on our lives.

     First of all, peer pressure can give us inspiration because of peer’s behaviors. Peers give us desire to do the things well. For instance, if we are involved in working within a group of members who always shows his or her ambition and diligence to achieve the goals we set. In a sense, we will subconsciously push ourselves to take action to follow the goal. Peers make us have a strong aspiration and determination to satisfy the goals. Besides, whenever we confront challenges or make mistakes, they give us support or suggestion instead of discouraging us. They teach us to learn the lesson, look at the bright side, and accompany us to overcome the difficult situations. As a consequence, peer group really inspire us to become a strong man.

     In addition, peer pressure can shape our personality. Peer group persuade us to bring about positive change in the character. For example, when peers have the same upbeat values, his or her belief makes us have a constructive thinking, and keeps healthy mind toward everything. Similarly, peers build up the brave and self-confidence to give a feeling that we are capable of achieving the goals. Gradually, we feel comfortable about whom we are, and we feel energetic to do any work. Peers are just like the musician that helps us become an active learner. All we enjoy participating in different activities, all we are enthusiastic about learning new information. Therefore, peers generate the abundant characters such as optimistic, capable, confident elements for us.

     Finally, peer pressure makes us have a reflection toward our lives. It helps us explore and analyze ourselves and contemplate on the ways of life. For example, we look at what others do, and then think about what we really want to do for the better future. Furthermore, by trial and error, everyone can find the different method that is suitable for individual. As a result, owing to peers, we evaluate ourselves constantly. If without peers, we can’t have a life guide to make us go to the road of success.

     In a conclusion, it is favorable for us that peer pressure gives us inspiration, shapes the personality and reflects on our lives. If we have the ability to distinguish and choose the right friends who is better for us from the peers, we will keep these valuable benefits forever.

Writing Task 1--- My New Semester Resolutions (final draft)

It’s another New Year, also the new spring semester. That means we should review or reflect the previous semester achievements or failures and turn over a new leaf to learn more in school. Setting up some goals is not only for the study but also for the future. So I am determined to make some goals to keep learning. These goals include enhancing English ability, reading plenty of books, and staying healthy lifestyle.  

First of all, I really hope that I can enhance English ability after this semester.  At least, reach a certain level that between intermediate and advanced level. So that I can have fluent communication with anyone, have accurate academic writing skills, and read English book or paper more easily. Therefore, I have decided to attend the TOEIC test in March. In order to get above 800 score in March TOEIC test, I practice it every day. For example, listen to English programs and do lots of reading exercises. Moreover, by every week’s assignment and practice, I believe I can acquire more writing skills from the Intermediate English Writing class. Besides, keep the saying” You speak more, you learn more” in mind, and try to make myself have higher participation in related-English courses. In other words, every class I need to have some opinion or question to interact with teachers and classmates so that my speaking ability will be better and better. The more I learn, the more my English ability improves.
       Second, in addition to enhancing English ability, I also want to read extensively. That means to read plenty of books. Reading has lots of benefits such as having different ways of thinking or enhancing logical ability, but it doesn’t become the part of my hobbies yet. I am lazy to read so many words that I am lack of having interests in books. However, if I don’t read anymore, maybe someday my knowledge, common sense, and logical thinking ability would be faded away. Similarly, I probably can’t keep up the trends in the world, or even lose competitiveness. For these reasons, I need to read newspapers or magazines at least three times per week and read four books in the semester. After I achieve this goal, I hope I can have more topics to talk with anyone.

Furthermore, staying healthy lifestyle is also important. We know that healthy lifestyle has lots of benefits to our body. It includes making our body stronger, decreasing the risk of chronic disease such as heart disease or hypertension. Thus, I decide to put healthy lifestyle into action. By doing more exercises, it relieves the pressure from daily life, gives me happier mind to face any challenges, keeps healthy body, and stays good shape. Now, I am looking forward to seeing the upcoming spring and summer because of sunny and warm weather. It implies that I can go brisk walking and go jogging every day！
       In conclusion, it’s just the start of the new semester. I should cherish and hold every minute every second I have. Be persistent and diligent to do the resolutions-enhancing English ability, reading plenty of books, and staying healthy lifestyle. Live while I am alive and talk to myself” just know what I do is I really love to do and enjoy it.”  That’s worth it！