Hi,

My name is Jun Lu. I was born in the nice tropical province Guangdong in southern China, and Cantonese is my native language. I left my home town two years ago and came to shanghai to study. Now I am a junior in Fudan University, majoring in Macromolecular Science.

I learned to write in fourth grade and started to write formally in fifth grade. In high school, I had to do a lot of writing, basically in Chinese. But those were mostly homework or for examinations. I was required to write about various topics, but I didn’t like that because I could not express myself freely and truly. It was more like making up stories to me. After I entered the university, I hardly wrote due to my major.

Technically, I started to writing short essay in English since eleventh grade. But those writings were very simple, as I was usually just required to describe several pictures. In the first two years of my college life, I took some English courses, but none of them focused on improving one’s writing skills. This writing course stirred up my interest again, and I enjoyed the learning and the writing in the class very much.

I will get a bachelor degree in 2008 and I am planning to go to Paris, France for further study. I prefer France because there is an intriguing program alleging to cultivate 50 brilliant Chinese engineers each year .Now I am working hard to get selected. Though I may not use English very much in the future, I still want to master it because I always like to learn different languages and English is the most important lingua franca.  ¶ 4:59 AM 0 comments

  December 26, 2006

Dear Portfolio Reader:

I would like to thank you first for taking the time to read my selected works for my portfolio, in which an essay, a reading log and a timed-writing are included. I think they can demonstrate how I grow to become a writer in English.

In the latter part of the semester, I have been working on the essay “No Hero but a Stupid Soldier”. In this essay, I analyzed the main character in the story “Village” by Estela Portillo Tranbley. Unlike that many people see him as a humanity hero, I have my own interpretation. I always like to view problem in another respect the majority would neglect, so I chose to argue that “Rico was unwise to follow his heart”. This topic is more controversial than the character himself. But I think it is challenging and I would learn more and faster. It is like trying to learn swimming without a life buoy, but by risking one could learn faster.

Of course, it is easier said than done. As I started my trial draft, I found it was much more difficult than I had imagined. I did take Mr. Corio’s advice to sketch an outline first. And I found my thought did not come out as they were in my head. As you can see I was summarizing rather than proving my thesis in the trial draft. If Mr. Corio did not point out that problem in his comment, I would still think I have done a pretty good job. Later, I found that some of my supporting points were not strong, which caused me to quote as much as possible to prove my thesis. Thus I was lost in the quotations and the draft turned out to be a summary.

After identifying the cause of failure, I used the outlining strategy again before I wrote draft two. But this time I wrote down any supporting reasons that came into my mind, and integrated them to three main strong points. As it was shown in my draft two, I did analysis. But still there are some minor problems such as grammatical errors and some wrong-typed words.


Draft three is the final draft and it could be called the revised version of draft two. During the editing process, I discovered that I usually neglected the errors since I was attached to my own work. So I used the peer review technique and my friends pointed out some problems I ignored. Taking others’ criticisms I perfected my essay.

I wrote six reading logs in total, since I was required to write a log for each story I read. I decided to present the first one related to Kate Chopin’s “The story of an Hour” because it was a jumping-off point where I began this writing journey. In this reading log I showed my potential in writing because I analyzed some cryptic symbols and sentences. For example, I noticed that “Mrs. Mallard’s first name is a riddle until she feels [the freedom]” and I understood its deeper meaning is that “before that, she is not an independent human being but just part of her husband’s property”.

I also did three timed-writings in the class. Here I pick the last one, because I think it will give you an insight into how my writing skills have developed after a semester and what’s more, how well I wrote facing pressure. I could get extremely nervous during an exam, but those writing skills I have learned in the class make me more confident, thus I produced a logical work and received positive comments.

I did not take any writing class in English before, and this is the first time I am taught systemically how to write in English. I have learned totally different writing skills such as free writing and outlining. And the idea that writing is a progress is absolutely opposite to what I have been told in the high school, where I was trained to write for exams. I think this idea is much better as it indicates writing is a journey and learning to write is enjoyable. Though the class is finished, but I still have so much to learn that I just feel like this is just the beginning of my long voyage. I believe what I learned in this class will be beneficial all through my life.

At last, I would like to thank those who gave my advice and of course, many thanks to my professor, Mr. Corio.  ¶ 8:56 PM 0 comments

 
War is always the theme of the human history. As a super country, America has fought in many wars. One is the famous Vietnam War, in which the story “Village” takes place.

(Being a Latino herself, Estall Portillo Trambley understands quite well how the intuition and feelings affect one’s judgment.)In her story, Trambley described how a Mexican –American soldier made his own choice after intense mental struggle. The main character Rico, a soldier struck by his inner emotion, sabotages the special mission by shooting his superior, in order to save the Mai Cao villagers whom he believes to be innocent. Despite the fact that he saved many lives, it was unwise of Rico to follow his heart.

In the beginning of the story, Rico is presented as a sensitive and sentimental man. Standing on top of a bluff, looking down upon Mai Cao, the peace and the special kind of stillness him of the village arouse his memories of “the same kind of stillness that was part of him back home.” Being in a foreign country that is totally different from one’s motherland would easily make one homesick, take Harry for example. But Rico is actually connected his barrio to this Vietnam village. The peaceful picture he is enjoying stirred up “something deep”, “something beyond the logic of war and enemy”.

While he tries to make it clear, Rico catches a young mother with child walking out of the hut to the stream in sight; the scene reminds him of his mother. He feels it again, stronger and more clear, “a bond---people all the same everywhere”,”the village of Mai Cao was no different than Valverde.” Obviously, Rico begins to be influenced by his emotion. Instead of hardening his heart, resisting the personal emotional affection as a soldier, he lets go of these feelings to control him. What is worse, he is an Indian, the son of a Tarahumara chieftain, he thinks “[i]t was a discord not to be believed by instinct or intuition.” Deep in his heart there was the thought that these people are innocent, “every human life in the village mattered”.

Rico begins to doubt the warning from the wounded soldiers. Those are bloody lessons, faithful advice, but he sticks to what he thinks. He could have wakened up from his own imagination when Sergeant Keever commands him just to follower the order. Even Harry tells him to “shut up”. But he does not grab the chance, for he is in fact very irrational now, readers can easily tell that since his voice becomes “harsh and feverish”. He forgets that he is a solider, and a soldier should take the order and discharge his duty. He is, in some degree, crazy, because there is only one thing in his mind at the moment: “[G]et the people out of there. Help them evacuate”.

He knows the consequent of what he done, but he still let his heart to him to where it goes. His treacherous action makes him a prisoner. He realizes that “he was a traitor----a maniac” after he has been taken down by his company, however, he feels no shame or regret, even there is no one understands him. Though he tells Harry that he doesn’t care the penalty he will face, and claims that he will be “free inside”. Yet the truth is one can gain real freedom when one is imprisoned, since the physical freedom is the base of mental freedom.

When he decides to take action, he has no idea whether he could save those people or not, even Sergeant Keever was shot by him, and the villagers were alerted, they could continues to carry out the mission by those heavy killing weapons. Not until Harry comes to visit him weeks later does he get informed that the mission was finally abandoned.

Last but not least, by doing so he could put his company into great danger. He just got the conclusion that those villagers should be evacuated through his every own crazy fantasy. He does know if there are real Viet Cong soldier dressed up like normal villagers there.

War is the cruelest thing invented by human. Trambley intended to tell readers that even in the most ruthless thing, humanity still shines. But she neglects a very important fact: War is not a game! In a battlefield, one has no choice, kill or be killed. A soldier breaking the order can result in serious failure .Rico may be viewed as a righteous real hero by many readers in moral. But he is absolutely an unqualified soldier, for a real soldier would not make an unwise choice just by his own heart.  ¶ 3:31 AM 2 comments

  Jun Lu
November 28, 2006
Draft Two

Fighting is the nature of human being as war is always the theme of the human history. As a super country, America has fought in numerous wars. One is the famous and controversial Vietnam War, in which the story “Village” takes place.

Being a Latino herself, Estela Portillo Trambley understands quite well how the intuition and feelings affect one’s judgment. In her story, Trambley described how a Mexican –American soldier made his own choice after intense mental struggle. The main character Rico, a soldier struck by his inner emotion, sabotages the special mission by shooting his superior, in order to save the Mai Cao villagers whom he believes to be innocent. Despite the fact that he saved many lives, it was unwise of Rico to follow his heart.

One could not make a wise choice before serious and rational consideration. But the fact is that Rico is not calm at all through the whole event. At the beginning, he is stirred up by “a special kind of silence” (176) in the peaceful atmosphere. And the feeling is stimulated to become stronger and more intense after he sees a local women with a children on her should that “it [strikes] him” (177).He convinces himself that “people [are] all the same everywhere” (178), which leads him to a hallucination that “Mai Cao [is] no different than Valverde” (177) and these people are the folks in his barrio. What is worse, being an Indian makes him to trust his instinct and intuition. He names himself a savior and he thinks he has the responsibility to protect these villagers from being harmed since they are his people in his eyes now. Seeing the death approaching to his people is a great torture to him, which as a matter of fact, drives him to a maniac state as his “voice [is] harsh and feverish”(179) .Not being able to think up a wiser choice, which actually is impossible as he is frantic, he shoots Sergeant desperately.

For a soldier in a battlefield, the basic requirement is to obey the orders. Rico has been“transformed into a soldier”and received training to “to kill the enemy”(177).Thus the mission is just merely a more real practice of what he learned in the boot camp. He should just receive the order and carry it out with his company instead of questioning and arguing. Obviously, he forget his very identity-----soldier. He is an American soldier with a mission to be discharge but not a humanity hero to rescue the potential enemies. And even after being reminded and warned for several times, he is still immersed in his own illusion. It is alleged that “‘Mexicans are real fighters’” (179), and Rico could have a bright future in the army, but by sabotaging the mission, he ruins the chance and ends himself up in the jail, entitling himself a traitor.

Last but not least, his choice is so immature that by doing so he could put his company into great danger. He does know if there are real Viet Cong soldier dressed up like normal villagers there. There is a vivid warning from the wounded soldiers:



Watch out for pregnant women with machine guns. Toothless old women are experts with the knife between the shoulders. Begging children with hidden grenades, the unseen VC hiding in the hootches----village people were not people; they were the enemy.



This is bloody lessons learned by his brethrens, it is no kidding. But Rico would rather stick to his unproved thought that the enemies are “hundred of miles away” (178) than keep these words in mind. The war is not a program, everything will not work as one intends. He risks his fellows for an uncertain result, as he is not sure whether save those villagers or not until Harry told him the answer. What if these people turned out to be military and not as innocent as they seemed? Then he is the one who killed his own company, and this failure may affect the whole situation of the war.

War is the cruelest thing invented by human. Each side engaged fights for its own interest by all means. At a crucial moment in the battlefield even a hesitation would bring a great loss. Trambley shows her protest against the American government’s involvement in the Vietnam War. She intended to tell the readers through the example of Rico that even in the most ruthless thing, humanity still shines. But she neglects a very important fact: War is not a game! There is no logic in a war but rules and orders. In a battlefield, one has no choice, kill or be killed. And since a soldier would not act alone, an individual breaking the order to follow his own will can result in serious failure. Rico may be viewed as a real righteous hero by many in moral. But he is absolutely an unqualified soldier, for a real soldier would not make an unwise choice just by his own heart.  ¶ 11:55 PM 0 comments

  Jun Lu
December 27, 2006

Following Intuitions or Orders

Fighting is the nature of human being as war is always the theme of the human history. As a super country, the United States has fought in numerous wars. One is the famous and controversial Vietnam War, in which Estela Portillo Trambley’s story “Village” takes place.

Being a Latino herself, Trambley understands quite well how the intuition and feelings affect one’s judgment. In her story, Trambley described how a Mexican –American soldier made his own choice after intense mental struggle. The main character Rico, a soldier struck by his inner emotion, sabotages the special mission by shooting his superior, in order to save the Mai Cao villagers whom he believes to be innocent. Despite the fact that he has saved many lives, it was unwise of Rico to follow his heart.

One could not make a wise choice before serious and rational consideration. But the fact is that Rico is not calm at all through the whole event. At the beginning, he is stirred up by “a special kind of silence” (176) in the peaceful atmosphere. And the feeling is stimulated to become stronger and more intense after he sees a local woman with a child on her shoulder. He convinces himself that “people [are] all the same everywhere” (178), which leads him to a hallucination that “Mai Cao [is] no different than Valverde” (177) and these people are the folks in his barrio. What is worse, being an Indian makes him to trust his instinct and intuition. Thus he names himself a savior and he thinks he has the responsibility to protect these villagers from being harmed since they are his people in his eyes now. Seeing the death approaching to his people is a great torture to him, which as a matter of fact, drives him to a maniac state as his “voice [is] harsh and feverish”(179) .Not being able to think up a wiser choice, which actually is impossible as he is frantic, he shoots Sergeant desperately.
  ¶ 9:01 PM 0 comments

  Jun Lu
September 13, 2006
Reading Log

As I am not very familiar with the western culture and American literature, I didn’t get the story the first time I read it. But when I calmed down and read it carefully again, things became clear.

“When the storm of grief [has] spent itself” (7), Mrs. Mallard goes back to her room alone. From her window, a lively spring view could be seen. “The new spring life”(7), is that a hint telling us that a life Mrs. Mallard has been dreaming for finally came after her husband’s death? I was confused. Does not her husband love her or even worse, maltreat her? Is she actually happy at her husband’s death? Are those tears just a cover of an unfaithful wife? As I read on, I got the answers. She does suffer at the horrible news, and her husband does love her.

“Free! Body and soul free! ” (8). It is freedom that makes her joyful and even excited when she pulls herself out of the sadness. “[She] would live for herself.” (8). I think Chopin was actually shouting out her opinion here; she wanted to awake the women at that time: Live for yourself. Mrs. Mallard reminds me of Carmen (a character of an opera); a woman prefers to die free rather than being the slave of so called “Love”. But Louise is doomed; she can’t taste the delicious freedom more than one hour. The last sentence is very ironic, “of joy that kills”(8). I know that’s not the case here while those doctors, undoubtedly men, got that conclusion simply. But I still wonder what does Louise feel at the sight of her husband? Maybe she indeed feels a little bit happy, but more is shocked, disappointed or even angry?

The author kept trying to give us the insight into the story through details and vivid descriptions. Notice that Mrs. Mallard’s first name is a riddle until she felt “body and soul free” (8), but before that, she just has the identity----Mrs. Mallard, in other words, Brently Mallard’s wife. She is not an independent human being but like part of her husband’s property.

Nowadays, there are still a bunch of “men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow -creature” (8). I see Chopin more than a feminist but a pioneer asking for equal rights and respect between each other.

Cool story!


Work Cited

Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.”1894.Rpt. in The International Story: An Anthology with Guidelines for Reading and Writing about Fiction. Rush Spack.
New York: St.Martin’s, 1994.6-8.  ¶ 9:05 PM 0 comments

  Jun Lu
December 21, 2006
Timed Writing Three

How is your country becoming more similar to other places in the world?

Thanks to the development in technology, the communication and transportation between countries are more and more frequent .As a result, people’s minds are affected seriously by the impact coming from abroad, thus the society changes.

First of all, people’s lifestyle is changed. Twenty years ago, you could not find any clubs or bars in the mainland, but now you look at the modern cites like Shanghai and Beijing, there are bars and clubs everywhere. People especially the youths would not stay at home watching Television but rather go to have fun with friends in those places after work. Revolutionary concepts are introduced too. The Chinese used to be ashamed of talking about sex, but now they tend to think sex is not dirty and secret and they are talking more about it boldly. Homosexuality is a hot issue here too, people begin to look at it objectively and the gay people are coming out to fight for their own rights.

Second, the culture of the society has been changed a lot. People used to watch local movies and television programs only and just a little more foreign things produced by the “allies of the communism”. These days, if you look at the newspaper and you will find surprisingly how the taste of the entertainment is changed. You could find pirated DVDs of “Desperate Housewives” or “Prison Break” in the peddlers at the streets. College students would ask questions like this:” Do you know that when the new episode of DH will come out?” And the youth would act crazily at seeing their idols elected from shows like “Super Girls” (I would say it is the Chinese female version of “American Idols”). It could probably make you feel like being at home if you are from the United States.

Last but not least, if you are from other countries and traveling around China, you may be disappointed. If China is the mystic oriental country in your mind, that means you are out of date! People’s aesthetic taste is completely different. Take Shanghai for example, tall western-style buildings are everywhere, and there is no way for you to find a house built in the traditional Chinese style. And you won’t see any girls wearing Qipao( a traditional dress for female)in the street. They don’t like their traditional things, abandon their own festivals and celebrate the western ones. And since there are many foreigners living in shanghai, waking in the downtown just give you the wrong impression that you are in New York or Singapore.

In one word, in the fast developing modern world, China is becoming less and less Chinese and its people are losing their true identity while gaining the citizenship in the “Global Village”  ¶ 9:07 PM 0 comments