Description-- a Basic Skill in Writing Every Kind of Essays

     Almost every kind of essays employs the skill of description. Using description, we can give the audience a word-picture of people, places, objects, and emotions. In this chapter, the author first taught us how to write effective description, and then illustrated the problems to avoid

.

Before we start to write a description, we need to recognize our purpose, to see whether we want to inform, clarify, persuade, or create a mood. We may want to show either an objective description to tell a fact or a subjective one to give a certain impression. Also we want to describe clearly, using specific details. For example, if we say, “Larry is a sloppy dresser.” It is too vague. We can’t tell how sloppy he is. However, if we say, “Larry wears dirty, baggy pants, shirts too small to stay tucked in, socks that fail to match his pants or each other, and a stained coat the Salvation Army rejected as a donation.” This description is more in focus and gives us a clear image.

While using specific details, we need to select only appropriate details, those that advance our descriptive purpose, and omit those we consider unimportant or distracting. Finally, we can make our descriptions vivid by using sensory details and figurative language. By appealing to the readers’ senses, we better enable them to imagine the subject we are describing. Figurative language includes simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, understatement, synecdoche, and allusion. Nevertheless, as the author said in the book, if we couldn’t use figurative language properly, sometimes the effect will worse than we use plain language. I found it difficult to use figurative language myself, and I admire the writers who use figurative language beautifully. For example, Virginia Woolf used personification to describe air in her To the Lighthouse, “…airs, …crept round corners and ventured indoors.” She used “crept” and “ventured” these two verbs, successfully creating a gloomy atmosphere.

     There are some problems to avoid when writing description. First we have to remember our audience. Sometimes the thing we want to describe is so clear to us that we forget our audience don’t see as clear as we do, and thus will be puzzled when they read. Next, we have to avoid an erratic organization of details. The author suggests that we can select a plan that will arrange our details in an orderly fashion, i.e. from top to bottom, left to right, front to back, and so on. A second plan is to present the subject’s outstanding characteristics first and then fills in the lesser information. The third plan is to present details in the order we see them approaching. At last we have to avoid any sudden change in perspective, for example, a sudden, confusing leap from a front to a back view, or from outside to inside.

     The author uses simple and clear language to illustrate how to write effective descriptions and provides ample examples to explain his points explicitly. The author also points out the common mistakes that almost all the students will make when writing essays. After reading this chapter, some of my confusions are solved. I really appreciate this book. 

Reflection (2)-- Taiwan's Future in Political Field

     In my last annotation, I found an article talking about Taiwan identification. According to the article, it seems that there is a growing tendency for Taiwan identification in the new generation. The younger generation identified themselves more with Taiwan this island, and think they are different from Chinese, because they grow up in Taiwan, sharing no common memory with those elders who came from mainland China with the Chinese National Party. Therefore, the identification is no longer a primary obstruction of whether Taiwan should be an independent country. I should try to conclude my issue paper from other aspects.

     Whither Taiwan should be an independent country is an issue too big and too complicated. If I try to discuss the issue from political aspect, I should briefly introduce the definition of politics. “The word comes from the Greek word from which the title of Aristotle's books Politics (politika) derives: "affairs of the cities", a dissertation on governing and governments.”(Wiki) H.D. Lasswell, a leading American political scientist and communications theorist, claimed that “The study of politics is the study of influence and the influential.” David Easton, a political scientist, said that “Politics is the authoritative allocation of values for a society.”

     In the situation of Taiwan and China, both the presidents of ROC and PRC are influential. Both governments seek for an international legitimate status since their division in 1949. From 1949 to 1987, there was no official interaction across Taiwan Strait. Some small-scale wars had occurred in this period, showing the resolute attitude of both sides. After Korean War broke out, Taiwan gained the military support from the U.S., the sole hegemony acknowledged at the time. Therefore, even Taiwan is not influential and powerful enough to hold its stance at the time, with the assistance of the U.S., Taiwan resisted the invasion of China. However situation changed after ROC withdrew from UN. Losing the support of the U.S., Taiwan’s international status became weaker and lost its influence to other countries. On the other hand, China became more powerful and seemed to have caught up the U.S. In terms of politics, China is the influential one now and Taiwan could not expect the other influential country, the U.S., to help us.

     When dealing with Taiwan problem, China government emphasizes the four principles: One China, Two systems, Autonomy and Peaceful negotiation. One China means that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is the sacred and inseparable part of China. Two systems: in the premise of one China, China’s socialism and Taiwan’s capitalism could exist together. Autonomy: Taiwan is a special administrative region, possessing high autonomy. Peaceful negotiation: in order to achieve unification, Taiwan and China should be in touch and negotiate as soon as possible.

     Taiwan’s situation is not optimistic in the foreseeable future. Confronting the rising China, Taiwan doesn’t have much advantageous chips to bargain with. Taiwan’s future depends on Taiwanese’ decision and the government’s wisdom. Different leaders have different idea and goal, but it seems at least both KMT and DPP don’t view Taiwan as part of China. Whoever achieves most of their goal and lose less should be the winner in the political field.