Olé

Tuesday

Tiramisu---A Symbol of Love (Final Version)

What kind of dessert do you like most? Do you know how to make it? Or do you know the origin of it? My favorite dessert is Tiramisu. I always feel cheerful and delighted when I taste it. There are several versions about the origin of Tiramisu. Here is a sentimental and warm story I like the most. During the World War II, an Italian soldier had to leave his homeland for battle, his wife wanted to prepare some desserts for him. However, there was little food in their house so she had to make a dessert using the remainder biscuit, bread and coffee, folded them one layer by one layer and named this simple but full of love dessert “Tiramisu”. In Italian, Tiramisu means “pick-me-up” for highly energetic products like sugar and eggs with the caffeine of espresso coffee; there is also another explanation “take me away” which means taking away not only delicious, as well as love and happiness. When the soldier had a taste of Tiramisu, he would think of his hometown and his beloved wife. He took away not only Tiramisu, but also the deeply love from his wife.

In U.S.A., Tiramisu started becoming popular in San Francisco. Now, as a fashionable dessert, Tiramisu can be found in coffee shops, bakery outlets and restaurants throughout the nation. You may not understand Italian, but you must remember the word “Tiramisu”, because it is associated not only with dainty but also with love. That is why a lot of couples prefer to order one in the pastry house. The amazing taste mixing with coffee, cookies, egg, cheese and chocolate is just like the sweet feeling of love that once tasted, leaving an unforgettable experience. With its gorgeous taste and charming appearance, Tiramisu has been prevailing all over the world.

Tiramisu is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a blend of eggs and cheese, flavored with liquor and cocoa and decorated with chocolate powder. The combination of coffee, chocolate and cream is the main feature of Tiramisu. It contains not only sweet but any feelings associated with sweet that evoke all kinds of warm experience. For me, Tiramisu is not only an amazing dessert with unbelievably fantastic flavor but a wonderful memory in my childhood. I used to have a cup of Tiramisu with my mom in a lovely café. It was like a secret place where we could enjoy a wonderful afternoon teatime. I was totally obsessed with Tiramisu when tasting it at the first time. It creates a multiple and exotic flavor mixing the soft ladyfingers with the bitter of expresso, the smooth of yolks, mascarpone and cream and the unique-smelling of mellow of wine and sweet chocolate. Tiramisu had conquered my mind. For me, Tiramisu was an extremely luxurious dessert and I was fully addicted to it because of its strong attraction and unique flavor. It seems that Tiramisu has a magical power that can cheer me up. Whenever I taste it, I feel like admiring a beautiful symphony which can wash my negative emotion away.

A few years ago, the café was shut down. I’ve tried numerous Tiramisu in other cafés but never found the one I tasted. None of them has the same unique taste. I realize that it is impossible to find an exactly same one. The great taste may disappear while the memory will last long and the meaning of picking me up will be right here in my mind forever.

The Handicap of Definition

Organization and Ideas

1. In paragraph1 to paragraph4, the author points out that black people have to face a problem that is the handicap of definition: the question of what it means to be a black. In paragraph5 to paragraph7, he revels that what kind of thing is regarded as “white” and what kind of thing is regarded as “black”. In paragraph8 to paragraph 11, he talks about the importance of developing positive ethnic tradition.

2. The author's point is that a definition of black is often too narrow. If this kind of situation still exists in the society, black children will be failures---by definition.

3. A definition of what is black is often too narrow. Only by developing a positive ethnic tradition, can those blacks be physically and mentally successful.

4. I think he doesn’t try to make "black" better by making them white. He just wants people with discrimination to change their thought. Let black and white have equal opportunities. Let black’s ability and effort be seen and be commended.

5. No. the author just wants to show how people usually connect black with sex and this is
also one of the misunderstandings that the author wants to change.

Getting Angry Can Be a Good Thing

Organization and Ideas

1. She points out that outrage can push people to achieve something. In paragraph 3, she mentions that how her good friend said something offended her and she turns her anger into the motivation of her life, fighting for other immigrants’ civil rights.

2. I think she uses both chronological and particular to general. At the beginning of paragraph, she was 17 and then she revels how her anger becomes the power of her life and makes her devote herself to other immigrants’ rights.

3. Outrage means negative emotion or the strong feeling that you have when something has happened that you think is bad and unfair, however, the author turns this words into something positive that can make people reach their goal.

4. It is believable because she talks about her own experience. She feels that outrage give her power to fight for people’s civil rights but at the same time hollow her mind. Thanks to her family and something strong and good around her, outrage hasn’t occupied her completely.

5. I think "I believe that a little outrage can take you a long way" is the thesis statement because she describes how her anger became the motivation of her life and make her fight for others.

Monday

Tiramisu---A Symbol of Love (Second Version)

What kind of dessert do you like most? Do you know how to make it? Or do you know the origin of it? My favorite dessert is Tiramisu. I always feel cheerful and delighted when I taste it. There are several versions about the origin of Tiramisu. Here is a sentimental and warm story I like the most. During World War II, an Italian soldier had to leave his homeland for battle, his wife wanted to prepare some dessert for him. However, there was little food in their house so she had to make a dessert using the remainder biscuit, bread and coffee, folded them one layer by one layer and named this simple but full of love dessert “Tiramisu”. In Italian, Tiramisu means “pick-me-up” for highly energetic products like sugar and eggs with the caffeine of espresso coffee; there is also another explanation “take me away” which means taking away not only delicious, as well as love and happiness. When the soldier had a taste of Tiramisu on the war, he would think of his hometown and his beloved wife. He took away not only Tiramisu, but also the deeply love from his wife.

Tiramisu is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a blend of eggs and cheese, flavored with liquor and cocoa and decorated with chocolate powder. The combination of coffee, chocolate and cream is the main feature of Tiramisu. It contains not only sweet but any feelings associated with sweet that evoke all kinds of warm experience. For me, Tiramisu is not only an amazing dessert with unbelievably fantastic flavor but a wonderful memory in my childhood. I used to have a cup of Tiramisu with my mom in a lovely café. It was like a secret place where we could enjoy a wonderful afternoon teatime. I was totally obsessed with Tiramisu when tasting it at first time. It creates a multiple and exotic flavor mixing the soft ladyfingers with the bitter of expresso, the smooth of yolks, mascarpone and cream and the unique-smelling of mellow of wine and sweet chocolate. Tiramisu had conquered my mind. For me, Tiramisu was an extremely luxurious dessert and I was fully addicted to it because of its strong attraction and unique flavor. It seems that Tiramisu has a magical power that can cheer me up. Whenever I taste it, I feel like admiring a beautiful symphony which can wash my negative emotion away.

A few years ago, the café shut down. I’ve tried numerous Tiramisu in other cafés but never found the one I tasted. None of them has the same unique taste. I realize that it is impossible to find an exactly the same one. The great taste may disappear while the memory will last long and the meaning of picking me up will be right here in my mind forever.

Sunday

Tiramisu---A Symbol of Love (First Version)

There are several versions about the origin of Tiramisu. Here is a sentimental and warm story I like the most. During World War II, an Italian soldier had to leave his homeland for battle, his wife wanted to prepare some dessert for him. However, there was little food in their house so she had to make a dessert using the remainder biscuit, bread and coffee, folded them one layer by one layer and named this simple but full of love dessert “Tiramisu”. In Italian, Tiramisu means “pick-me-up” for highly energetic products like sugar and eggs with the caffeine of espresso coffee; there is also another explanation “take me away” which means taking away not only delicious, as well as love and happiness. When the soldier had a taste of Tiramisu on the war, he would think of his hometown and his beloved wife. He took away not only Tiramisu, but also the deeply love from his wife.

Tiramisu is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a blend of eggs and cheese, flavored with liquor and cocoa and decorated with chocolate powder. The combination of coffee, chocolate and cream is the main feature of Tiramisu. It contains not only sweet but any feelings associated with sweet that evoke all kinds of warm experience. For me, Tiramisu is not only an amazing dessert with unbelievably fantastic flavor but a wonderful memory in my childhood. I used to have a cup of Tiramisu with my mom in a lovely café. It was like a secret place where we could enjoy a wonderful afternoon teatime. I was totally obsessed with Tiramisu when tasting it at first time. It creates a multiple and exotic flavor mixing the soft ladyfingers with the bitter of expresso, the smooth of yolks, mascarpone and cream and the unique-smelling of mellow of wine and sweet chocolate. Tiramisu had conquered my mind. For me, Tiramisu was an extremely luxurious dessert and I was fully addicted to it because of its strong attraction and unique flavor.

Friday

The Best Life Experience I Have Ever Had (Final Version)

We gain knowledge in class; however, the vital experience that we have had through our life can probably take place out of classroom. We can acquire knowledge that we value or get an unforgettable experience that we treasure by taking a part-time job, participating in an extracurricular activity or being responsible for someone. The best life experience I have ever had was to participate in a speech contest when I was in junior high school. Through this valuable experience, I conquered my fear to face the crowds, to have a faith in me and know the importance of never giving up and, moreover, I realized the meaning of learning that knowledge can be acquired not only in class but in life.

I used to be afraid of speaking in public and since it was my first time to participate in a speech contest, I could not but feel very nervous. I noticed people practicing during the break, which made me feel more strained. Participants coming from other classes tried their best to win the contest. I felt very nervous and my body was tense so I had to keep telling myself that I could do it and tried not to be distracted by others. When it was my turn, I calmed down and took my time and tried my best to finish it.

To my great surprise, I won the first prize. As the saying goes, “Opportunities always favor those who are prepared.” I was really proud of it. I deeply appreciated my advisor’s help. She not only gave me a chance to discover my potential but also encouraged me when I wanted to give up. She always said, "Never give up easily". I keep it in mind and make it as my motto to remind myself not to shrink back but to face it bravely when encountering difficulties or something unfamiliar to me.

Also, I learn that having faith in myself is the first secret of success. I used to get nervous easily and have no confidence in myself when I spoke in public. I was afraid to face the crowds and often spoke so fast that people could hardly understand what I was trying to express. However, after participating in the speech contest and winning the first prize, which gave me courage and confidence to express my thoughts, I don’t feel so nervous when speaking in public anymore.

By participating in the speech contest, I learned something valuable that I couldn’t know in class and in the score-driven education here in Taiwan.That’s the reason why I think participating in a speech contest is the best life experience I have ever had.

Sunday

I Was a Member of the Kung Fu Crew

Organization and Ideas

1. In paragraph 1, the author talks about his Kung Fu Crew and the amazing story that how his grand master messed up a horse’s internal organs with qi-gong. From paragraph 2 to 4, the author says that he had a good shape and pretty good physical strength when he was in eighth grade. He also mentions that kids from Chinatown can fall into a few categories. In Paragraph 5, he describes the hairstyle in 80's in a very detail way. From Paragraph 6 to 8, he shows that besides hair style, assessing pants is another factor in determining one’s order on the street. Finally, from paragraph 9 to 13, he states their current lives, and how much Chinatown means to him.

2. There are pale-face nerds who study all the time, trying to get into ivies. There are recent immigrants with uncombed hair and crooked teeth who singing karaoke in bars. There are the punks with high-lighted hair who cut school, and the gangsters, whom everyone avoids. The Crew fits between nerds and the punks. They work hard like the nerds but identify with the punks.

3. What kind of pants they wear and what kind of hairstyle they have are all important for Chinatown kids in determining their “social status” on the street. It shows that they need assurance from others of their own worth, whether their friends or their peers.

4. The author moved away from Chinatown probably because he had to pursue a better life, get a better job and to make a living. But he has never forgotten his hometown, Chinatown, as he wrote in the last paragraph “For most of us, our homes used to be here and our world was here in China Town.” which shows how much Chinatown means to him. Everywhere and everyone in Chinatown remind him of his childhood and the good old days. It is a one of a kind place to him and his spirit will always be there.

5. From the beginning and the last paragraph, we can see his thesis is explicit. Chinatown is ghetto, he is ghetto and his friends are ghetto as well. But he still has a strong feeling toward his hometown and is proud of his costume.