3.       Draft One: It Is Love That

Spans the Generation Gap
4.       Final Time-writing              
5.       Reading Log                              

June 20, 2007

To Whom It May Concern,

I am heartily grateful that you take time to read my works in the portfolio. As is listed above, there are five works in my portfolio, including draft three, draft two and draft one, the three of which are essays towards The Americanized of Shadrach Cohen by Bruno Lessing, as well as my final time-writing and the best reading log out of the four I have written in the Academic Writing Class this semester.

The Academic Writing Class ---- my first class by foreign teacher in the past two years’ university study, really helps to improve my English writing skills a lot and realizes my wish to learn from foreign teachers. My teacher Mr. Corio, a kind casual styled uncle with smiles around his mouth all the time, gets the class proceeding orderly and gives detailed comments to our assignment every time, imparting formal writing skills and instructions to us through his comments and the teaching materials. After attending university, I have much less English assignment than in high school, which was the main reason why I felt a little painful at the beginning for its homework after every week’s class. But speaking frankly, obvious effects appeared soon. Instead of hesitating for about an hour before my first word, I had clear ideas just a few minutes after I understand the story thoroughly. As I was writing, many splendid types of sentences rose in my mind and my train of thought continuously gushed forth. Not only do I find back the writing inspiration but I learn a lot of skills and rules in formal writing, which I have never got in touch before. For instance, the normative usage of upper and lower case, the expression of numbers and processes of academic writing, etc. It is such an extraordinary and helpful experience for me that I will treasure and benefit from it all my life.

The third draft of my final essay is the first work that I place in my portfolio presented. It is the longest English essay I’ve ever written and by far the best I think. It presents my writing skills along with my structured ideas best. For about two months I have been working on the essay about my viewpoint towards The Americanized of Shadrach Cohen, and I have written three drafts in all. From draft one to draft three, I made a lot changes according to my teacher and my peer group mate’s opinions as well as my more and more profound understanding of the story. The changes I made involved different aspects, such as the usage of phrases, the arrangement of paragraphs, the frame of the essay, the format, and so on. Certainly there are still some weaknesses in my final draft, and different voices are welcomed from the bottom of my heart here.

Besides the three drafts, my 45 minutes’ time writing and a reading log which is also towards The Americanized of Shadrach Cohen are also posted. Assumptions of Mathilde’s (heroine of The Necklace by Maupassant) new life if she had not lost the neck are told in the time writing. Actually words in this time writing are the most of three, which witnessed the progress I have made. Last but not the least, my reading log, which actually can be called the rudiment of my essay, expresses my original thought toward The Americanized of Shadrach Cohen. Contrasts can be made between my drafts and the reading log, and I do believe that advancement is obvious.

Thanks for taking time to read my works. Hope you will enjoy them and get what I learned in my class. Of course, I am quite anxious for your comments.

Sincerely,
Sophia

19.6.07 16:03