21st Century Reading Notes

Comparing Notes

Lucy 2013-3-12

21st Century Reading Notes

• This morning I spent about 3 hours reading the 21st Century English newspaper, eagerly and enthusiastically. I have to say I like reading every page of it, enjoying the overwhelming flow of information it pours into my mind. I've learnt a lot, reflected a lot and associated a lot, all of which triggers my hunger for more reading and more thinking. And I think you students might feel the same. We're all sitting in an ivory tower where everything seems to be theoretically delicate and practically vague. Now and then, I feel I'm in the dark. All of sudden, a piece of newspaper flies over the campus, perching on the top of our classroom building and trying to open the doors and the windows to the outside world. How bright and how exciting!

• A good idea hit me strongly: why not we compare our reading notes with each other here on the net class, the convenient communication platform. You know we do this in class, 2 students each week giving presentations on newspaper reading, but the class time is limited and I'm sure there're a lot more we want to share with each other. So every week you can write here about your newspaper reading. We can also discuss a certain topic together. I hope this net writing works well. Let's do and see.

• How the Internet is changing teaching and learning! 

P2. Wen’s last NPC report (My Reading Notes)

1. It sums up what China accomplished in the past five years and outlines the goals for 2013.

2. Economic growth (context)

set the target for…. at (goals)

rein in inflation by …

lower the consumer price index to about …

create … urban jobs

keep the … rate at / below

3. Environmental protection (context)

… has become a growing public concern (question)

… were repeatedly hit by smog

… adopt effective measures to … in response to citizens’ expectations of… (solution)

sss

P2. Wen’s last NPC report (My Reading Notes)

I’m especially interested in the report because it is the government’s goals for this year. The economic growth concerns every people, with the target set “at about 7.5 percent” and consumer price index increase lowered “to about 3.5 percent” to rein in inflation. The most encouraging goal is “the creation of about 9 million urban jobs.”

I think I’ll check the report by the end of this year to see if these goals are realised.

Economic growth is important whereas environmental protection is more important as the present situation is concerned. Recently I dare not open the windows in my apartment for fearing the polluted air. And I also cancel my morning walk downstairs for fearing inhaling the “smog”. But to my disappointment, the report deals with this issue very generally. Hopefully, more concrete goals and policies will come into being.

As for food safety, it’s really a shame for China and for its government. Read the short piece on the right “baby formula limits,” and reflect on the current food safety in China. What has been the government doing all these years when it cannot even ensure a good quality for milk powder? The report mentions that “food safety is within the purview of a number of government agencies” and that a single government agency “will help realize seamless supervision of food safety.”I do hope these are not just vague promise.

Talking about “purview,”I think many governmental functions are within the purview of a number of government agencies, which means low efficiency and passes the buck. 扯皮，推诿责任 It’s high time the government reform its structure and do its duty.

P11 special: PS vs application Organizational Frame presentation

Effective

Writing

Writing for university applications

What? Be adventurous!

How?Why?

But not try to write “why I deserve to study abroad”

Writing Topics

1. Women speak up (7)

2. Wen’s last report (6)

3. Where will you study? (5)

4. How the Internet is changing friendships? (3)

5. ‘Wuxia’ is not dead yet (3)

6. Killer robots become a billion-dollar industry (2)

*****

Cubing

1. Describe it1. Describe it

2. Analyze it2. Analyze it

3. Compare it3. Compare it

4. Argue for/against it4. Argue for/against it

5. Associate it5. Associate it

6. Apply it6. Apply it

My Personal Statement

• Directions: write your essay in about 200 words.• 1. Introduce yourself generally.• 2. Evaluate a significant experience you have

taken.• 3. Restate your major point.