Liudichen's Writing Portfolio

Liudichen Liu

June 20, 2007

Cover Letter

 To Whom It May Concern:

First of all, thank you for your viewing my blog. There are several portfolios in my blog to show what I have learnt in this semester. And I would like to lay out the great shift in my writing ability. After attending this class, I have read a large amount of essays and articles that may help me in my composition. As we all know, the way of writing an article varies in China and in the Western world. If we want to be familiar with the English way of writing, we had better learn about their way of think. And in this class, we know this technique in details. This helps a lot of people who intend to acquire real means of composition facing the same kind of problem. Here I have chosen three portfolios to share with you to support my idea.

For the past years, I learnt writing just for one goal: passing the university entrance examination. As a result, what I acquire is writing a typical Chinese English essay, which can meet the needs of the teachers who give grade. But now with the help of Mr. Ron, I begin to open my eye to see the outside world. The technique of writing is useful because we write in our daily life. It occurred to me that we write due to we need to. After reading the articles and essays in the book, I know in details how I can write a composition and how I can think as a native speaker. At the same time, I tried to understand other’s idea and I also make up for my weakness by receiving comments from my classmates. In this semester, we learnt a lot. We have been able to understand other’s idea before we try to make out our own. Writing is a process that we need to read as well as to write. Because of the lesson, I have a more broad view than before. So here I want to show my gratitude to Ron for his help in this semester. All in all, after the study of academic writing for a semester, I make great progress in my writing skill, for example, more critical and so on.

The four stories we have read in our lessons are really interesting and not to be sneezed at. So it is a nice idea to change them in to film. In the “Time-writing Three”, we attempt to make a film trailer for them. We select “The Grass-Eaters” as the source of the movie. In the essay, I manage to find out the right scene to represent the theme of the movie. For me, I decide to use the great contrast that Ajit Babu and his wife are tolerably satisfied with they life, although they live in the tough condition. What’s more, I describe how to make the advertisement in my article as the last part. This type of writing is quite fresh for me, and I hope that it will give you something new as well.

The three drafts are articles about “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” given by the American author Bruno Lessing in 1903.  In the essay, I deal with the secret of winning respect. We have read the story before, so, with some of my classmates, I discussed the key for Shadrach to winning his sons’ respect. However, certain of them hold the opinion that Shadrach succeed in the end because he sticks to his religious belief all the time. I do not quite agree with them. From my point of view, Shadrach’s firm belief plays such a tiny role in the story that his sons do not realize the importance of him and his belief. Shadrach turns in the story; as a result he wins the respect. The secret of his victory is his business skill. In my essays, I try to analysis why it should be his business skill instead of his firm belief that gives him the respect and dignity he deserves.

And the rest part of my blog is reading log, which has something with regard to my first impression of the story. Among the four stories we have in this semester, I like “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” most, because I think this story has something positive. In the context, what made me puzzled has been listed. If you read it, you may probably know how I felt about the story the first time I read it. It will bring you the rough picture of the story.

Thank you for reading my letter.

Sincerely,

Liudichen Liu

June 20, 2007

LiuDichen Liu

June 9,2007

Draft Three

The Secret of Shadrach’s Success in Winning Respect

“The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” written by Bruno Lessing is a story about a new landed Russian Jew Shadrach Cohen, who has conflicts with his sons because of their Americanization, with his unswerving endeavor, wins his dignity and his sons’ respect by keeping his belief and living with his own life style.

In the context, Lessing suggests that Shadrach sticks to his religious belief all the time, but his sons do not give him full respect until he changed his attitude towards them and achieved great success in his business. They are just accustomed to the Jewish belief because their surroundings.

It is Shadrach’s business skill, rather than his persistent in religion that be the key factor to his success. The reasons are as follows.

Lessing has told us that, before Shadrach moved to United States of America, he is a successful businessman. At that age, when Russia Jews landed in the United States of America., for the first time, most of them were so poor that they had to live in ghettos. So, compared with them, Shadrach has money in abundance. To give to his sons for opening new store in U.S., that is a clue that he might be good at business. “For reasons that only business men would understand” his sons conducted the store in his [Shadrach] name (p46) should be a proof that he enjoys a good reputation among businessmen and his business skill is nice. It reflects the fact that he did have his sons’ respects before he came to America. In mercantile society, the businessmen will not value a person just because he is a typical Jew with firm religious belief. So at the beginning of the story, Lessing has suggested that Shadrach’s business skills pay for his respect and dignity. And Shadrach, well known in Russia, is in high position in his sons mind. 

After Shadrach moved to U.S., his Americanized sons had tried their best to make him look more like the people of his age in America. However hard they tried, they could not change their father’s idea. At first Shadrach’s perseverance in his regions belief did not make his sons respect him, and what’s more, they felt despair. Shadrach is “clinging to the habits and customs of his old life”. When his sons tried to persuade him to accustomed to the life in America, he does not say anything, he just do the same (p47) He kept his belief and life style, however, what he did, in his sons’ mind, was just the obstacle preventing him from Americanization. At that time, his sons seem to respect him, but after they get his money, they start to complain that he should learn to live in U.S.

Due to a direct conflict between Shadrach and his sons, he changed his attitude towards his sons and their life style. And his managed to take the control over the shop they had. And then his run the shop events in his own way with his wisdom.Since the business of the shop began to grow, Shadrach’s sons started to realize that there was a great gap in business ability between their father and themselves. (p49) Shadrach turned suddenly, and after that he had control over the shop his sons run, he ran the business with the wise of Jew. Due to his diligence and wisdom, their shop has more income than before. When this idea occurred to them, they began to change their attitude towards Shadrach. Lessing indicated that this kind of change take place gradually, with nothing concerning about Shadrach being “a perfect type of the immigrant” and his steady belief for the God. Abel and Gottlieb, compared with their father, are just like “children”, which show the status of Shadrach in their mind began to grow at that time. The success in business instead of the belief led to this change.

When the business of the shop “increased”, Shadrach’s sons respect increased at the same time. (p50)For the first time, Lessing suggests that Abel and Gottlieb “begin to look upon their father [Shadrach]”.This symbolizes the fact that apparently, they do not think highly of their father before. It is a hint that Shadrach does not own the deference of his sons in spite of the fact that he has decisive gospel. The respect is the fruit of Shadrach’s outstanding business skills.

In the story, Lessing tells us that “their [Abel and Gottlieb] admiration for their father increases” (p50) as the result of the “deference and respect” the businessmen give to their father. The merchants, who Abel and Gottlieb admire and think highly of, probably have never evinced their reverence to the sons, as Lessing suggests here. The only reason why business men respect Shadrach could be nothing but his business skills. Because Lessing does not describe what Shadrach does related to his gospel in his business activity.  We can hardly see any relationship Shadrach’s clinging to belief had with the respect of the other business men as well as on his sons.

In addition, Lessing provides a palpable hint to show that Shadrach succeeds in the end owing to his business skills: “they [Abel and Gottlieb] promptly yield to the shrewdness of his brain” though they do not “yield” to his noble character and heart. So they respect him only for his distinguished business mind.

According to Lessing , Shadrach’s sons cling to their belief because life is “earnest “rather than their father’s stick to religious belief.(p50) Before Shadrach changed his attitude, even though he stuck to his reglious belief all the time, he never made his sons be faithful to the god. All he had done seemed to have no impact on their religious belief.

Judging from the evidence there, the conclusion is that the direct reason why Shadrach won his sons’ respect is his business skills not his religious belief.

Bruno Lessing.  “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen.”  1903. Rpt in The International Story: An Anthology with Guidelines for Reading and Writing about Fiction. Ruth Spack. New York:St.Martin’s,1994. 45-51

LiuDichen Liu

May 18, 2007

Draft Two

Title

“The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” written by Bruno Lessing is a story about a new landed Russian Jew Shadrach Cohen ,who had conflicts with his sons because of their Americanization ,with his unswelling endvaour ,won his dignity and his sons’s respects by keeping his belief and work with his own life style.Rather than Shadrach’s persistent in religion , his business skill should also be the key factor to his success.

He stick to his religious belief all the time ,but his sons didn’t give him full respect until he changed his attitude towards them and achieved great success in his business. They just accustomed to the Jewish belief because their surrounding

Evidence 1 For reasons that only business men would understand they conducted the store in their father’s name(p46)

From the context of the story we can get the idea that when Russia Jews new landed in the United

States of America., most of them are so poor that they had to live in ghettos. So compared with them,Shadrach had enough money to give to his sons for opening new store in U.S.,that is a clue that he might be good at business. His sons coducted the store in his name should be a prove that he had a good reputation among business men and his business skill is nice. It reflects the fact that he did have his sons respects before he came to America.

Evidence 2 :after a few months, that their father was clinging to the habits and customs of his old life with a tenacity that filled them with despair(p47)

Af first Shadrach’s perservence in his reglious belief did not make his sons respect him.,and what’s more,they felt despair.He kept his belief and life style ,however ,what he did ,in his sons’ mind ,was just the obstacle perventing him from americanization.

Evidence 3:To the amazement of Abel and Gottlieb the business of Shadrach Cohen began to grow Slowly it dawned upon them that in the mercantile realm they were as children compared with their father(p49)

Since the business of the shop began to grow, Shadrach’s sons started to realized that there was a great gap in business ability between their father and themselves. When this idea occurred to them,they began to change their attitude toward Shadrach.The fact in business instead of the belief made this change.

Evidence4:And gradually ,as the business of Shadrach Cohen increased, and even the sons saw vistas of prosperity beyond their wildes dreams,they began to Look upon their father with increasing respect.(p50)

It was the first time in the story that the author used respect to express Shadrach’s sons relationship with their father.It shows that the direct reasons why Shadrach won his sons’ respect is his business skilll not his religious belief.

Evidence 5:And  as his sons began to perceive that all these business men whom, in former days they had looked upon with feelings akin to reverence, seemed to show to their father an amount of deference and respect which they had never evinced toward the sons , their admiration for their father increased.(p50)

The sons amdire their father because the businessmen repected their father.The only reason why business men respect Shadrach could be nothing but his business skills.We can hardly see any impression Shadrach’s clinging to belief had on the other business men as well as on his sons.

Evidence 6:When life became earnest , and we feel its burden growing heavy upon our shoulders they we welcome the consolation that religion brings and we cling to it (p50).

In conclusion, Shadrach’s sons clinged to their belief because life was earnest instead of beacause their father’s stick to religious belief.Before Shadrach change his attitude, even though he stick to his reglious belief all the time,he never made his sons be faithful to the god.All he had done seemed to have no impact on their reglious belief.

Conclusion: It shows that the direct reason why Shadrach won his sons’ respect is his business skilll not his religious belief.

LiuDichen Liu

May 6, 2007

Draft One

Title

“The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” written by Brun Lessing is a story about a new landed Russian Jew Shadrach ,who had conflicts with his sons because of their Americanization ,with his unswelling endvaour ,won his dignity and his sons’s respects by keeping his belief and work with his own life style.Even though Shadrach’s persistent in religion played an important role in his victory for his sons’s respects,his business skill should  also be the key factor to his success.(He stick to his religious belief all the time ,but his sons didn’t give him full respect until he changed his attitude towards them and achieved great success in his business.They just accustomed to the Jewish belief because their surrounding)

Evidence 1 For reasons that only business men would understand they conducted the store in their father’s name

From the context of the story we can get the idea that when Russia Jews new landed in U.S., most of them are so poor that they had to live in ghettos.So compared with them,Shadrach had enough money to give to his sons for opening new store in U.S.,that is a clue that he might be good at business.His sons coducted the store in his name should be a prove that he had a good reputation among business men and his business skill is nice.We might even see that he did have his sons respects before he came to America.

Evidence 2His sons clinched their fists behind their backs and smiled at his amiably.After all, he held the purse-strings.It was best to humour him.

Shadrach’s Americanized sons were not quite satisfied with his life style and his religion,but they could not say anything just because they wanted his financial support..The money kept them shut up ,but the reglion had no influence on them.Shadrach’s adherence to his religion just turned to cause the conflicts with his sons.They hoped that he be more Americanized ,just like people of his age in America ,while Shadrach was proud of being a Jew from Russia.

Evidence 3 :after a few months, that their father was clinging to the habits and customs of his old life with a tenacity that filled them with despair

Af first Shadrach’s perservence in his reglious belief did not make his sons respect him.,and what’s more,they felt despair.He kept his belief and life style ,however ,what he did ,in his sons’ mind ,was just the obstacle perventing him from being Americanized.

Evidence 4:It is just as I expected.You have both been making as complete a mess of this business as you could without ruining it.

Before I read this,I used to think that Abel and Gottlieb run the business not that bad.They might be kind of success,but their father’s comment told us the truth.It reflects the fact that compared with their father,Abel and Gottlieb are freshmen in business.

Evidence 5:To the amazement of Abel and Gottlieb the business of Shadrach Cohen began to grow Slowly it dawned upon them that in the mercantile realm they were as children compared with their father

Since the business of the shop began to grow, Shadrach’s sons started to realized that there was a great gap in business ability between their father and themselves.When this idea occurred to them,they began to change their attitude toward Shadrach.The fact in business instead of the belief made this change.

Evidence6:And gradually ,as the businessof Shadrach cohen increased, and even the sons saw vistas of prosperity beyond their wildes dreams,they began to Look upon their father with increasing respect.

It was the first time in the story that the author used respect to express Shadrach’s sons relationship with their father.It shows that the direct reasons why Shadrach won his sons’ respect is his business skilll not his religious belief.

Evidence 7:And  as his sons began to perceive that all these business men whom, in former days they had looked upon with feelings akin to reverence, seemed to show to their father an amount of deference and respect which they had never evinced toward the sons , their admiration for their father increased.

The sons amdire their father because the businessmen repected their father.The only reason why business men respect Shadrach could be nothing but his business skills.We can hardly see any impression Shadrach’s clinging to belief had on the other business men as well as on his sons.

Evidence 8:When life became earnest , and we feel its burden growing heavy upon our shoulders they we welcome the consolation that religion brings and we cling to it .

We can conclude that Shadrach’s sons clinged to their belief because life was earnest instead of beacause their father’s stick to religious belief.

Conclusion:It seems that Shadrach’s great business skill rather than his firm religious belief is the direct factor that helped him win his diginity and other’s respect.

0518086

Liudichen Liu

June 21, 2007

Time-writing Three

Directions: If you were to create a filmed advertisement (a “trailer&rdquo for a movie based on The Grass-Eaters, which scene would you select? Why? Discuss ways in which you might film the scene (100%)
If I want to create a filmed advertisement, I want to use the final scene of the story. Ajit Babu comes out to pick up some coal and grass with his wife with in worn-out clothes .When in the pipe, Ajit Babu and his wife cook the meal with the grass as the staple seasoning with pepper and salt , there are smile on their face.

I choose this scene because the film’s name is Grass-Eaters. When the audience see the scene, they may immediately know why the film is named Grass-Eaters as well as what the film is talking about. I think this scene should be the most impressing scene in the story. With the help of the great contrast between the pleased smile on the characters’ face and the poor situation they stay at, the audience should be touched and begin to be interested in the film. In addition, when the trailer comes into spectator’s eye, the spectator may start to think about their life. Ajit Babu and his wife, although live in such a poor life, they did not give up. We will have a lesson due to their positive attitude and the spirit of never give up.

In the advertisement, I want to people to see the scraggy legs of Ajit Babu and his wife at first, so that they will learn the fact that they live a tough life. And then the camera moves on to their clothes which is almost decrepit but quite clean. They try their best to find out the coal on the track and pick up the grass carefully. The expression on their face is so earnest that whoever sees they do so will not laugh at them. Then we shift the scene to their home. They are cooking their dinner. Ajit Babu adds some salt into the boiler while talking to his wife. He seems to talk some jokes because his wife similes. Their life seems to be simple but happy.Then the visual angle moves up to let the audiences know what is in the boiler. It is the grass. Then the visual angle moves around to show what kind of home they stay in. The camera moves out of their home and people can see that they live in a pipe. The music of the movie should be traditional India music which may lead people to imagine a picture of daily life and also the rhythm should be convivial. At last, we will show the movie’s name.

 The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen

I have to say that the first line of the article caught my eye when I read the story for the first time. Although the sentense has been explained in simple words before, I felt confused at first. Does it mean that if you want to win other's respect,you have to lose you temper? With the question in mind, I read the story for several times,but still can't understand it quite well.

And then, in my opinion, it's a well-written story.I like the line"Not another word.To bed!Go to bed at once."It's just certain simple short words,but I was able to share the feeling of Shardrach. He was angery but also sad about what his sons said and did. In Chinese traditions, there is a sayting that never can the son be ashame of his mother's poverty.In the first part of the story,the only link between Shardrach and his sons seems to be nothing but money. I felt sorry for him.

I apperciate the ending of the story that not only had Shardrach made himself more flexible,but also his sons had realized the importance of respecting their own culture.In China, many younsters pay little attention to the history and traditions,so when I want to share my view on a certern historical character with someone,I seldom get reply.I'd like to say that,as a citizen of an ancient country, we have to learn something about history and tradition,because it's the soul of our culture.