Portfolio: Second Semester

Student ID: 07104

Until December 22

Portfolio for Writing IV,
Section 1a


(See: Note 1, below)

0.0. Overview

Reviews, Posts, Words, and More

(See: Note 2, below.)

1.0. Essays

(See: Note 3, below.)

Please complete this table with data gathered from essays on your blog. See the Key (below) for definitions of the symbols in row one, and complete columns four through nine with numerical values (0, 1, 2, 3, ...).

1.1. Showcase	Short titles with links	Dates yy.mm.dd	¶	W	C	L	P	M
Website review 08.09.29 (375+ words)	Website Review: Let's take in Fresh English！	08.09.27	6	380	6	1	0	0
Favorite place(-s) 08.10.20 (450+ words)	Essay: ～～ my second home ～～	08.10.11	4	493	0	0	0	0
Mrs. Doubtfire 08.11.04 (500+ words)	MR2-01: "Mrs. Doubt" ― Live with Love and Humor ☆	08.11.01	5	452	4	0	0	0
Community life 08.11.17 (default length*)	Essay2-02: ~Walk in line~ (Community life)	08.11.16	6	610	0	0	0	0
Kumamoto's best-kept secrets 08.12.01 (5+ ¶¶)	Essay2-03: ○●Secret of Kumamoto●○	08.11.30	4	434	0	0	0	0
Learning with computers 2008.12.15 (6+ ¶¶)	Essay: Learning with computers!	08.12.12	7	503	0	0	0	0
Totals	---	---	32	2872	10	1	0	0

Key:

¶: number of paragraphs five (5) or more sentences in length

W: number of words

C: number of comments

L: number of links

P: number of photos or other graphics
M: number of other media included in post
*: "long enough to cover the ... [communities] you choose," Writing Studio Blog, Preparation for Next Essays, 2008.10.29)

1.2. Best Essay

Selection and Assessment: Which of those six assigned essays do you feel is the best that you've written this semester, and why? Remember that a complete answer is better than a short answer, focus on your writing, and give at least two reasons to support your assessment.

• I think the best essay in this semester is "Essay2-02: ~Walk in line~ (Community life)". It is because it shows the main points so clearly. Besides, it has a good conclusion paragraph. The readers can feel the march of time.

2.0. Comments

Showcase	Titles of posts with links	Dates of comments yy.mm.dd	Numbers of words in comments	Qualities of comments**
2.1. Your first comment on your instructor's blog*	0	-	-	-
2.2. Your best comment on a classmate's blog*	Mrs.doubt fire essay	08.11.04	88	"You share a great analysis especially in the third paragraph!" Specific praise
2.3. Best comment by a classmate on your blog*	MR2-01: "Mrs. Doubt" ― Live with Love and Humor ☆	08.11.05	88	"Which is more important for you, humor or love?" An interesting question.
2.4. Most comments on:	Titles of posts with link	Dates of posts yy.mm.dd	Total number of words in comments	Qualities of comments**
2.4.1. Any one of your essays*	Website Review: Let's take in Fresh English！	08.09.27	131	"The BBC site you elected is good and it's one of way to build up our English skill.It's nice idea,jam!" Friendly!
2.4.1.1. When did you respond to those comments?	---	08.10.01	---	---
2.4.1.2. How did you respond to those comments?	---	---	97	"Thank you for your all comments!" and answered all questions. Thankful and informative
2.4.2. Any of your other posts*	MR2-01: "Mrs. Doubt" ― Live with Love and Humor ☆	08.11.01	154	"your essay is really easy to read because first paragraph tells me what you want to write below paragraphs." So specific comment
2.4.2.1. When did you respond to those comments?	---	08.11.12	---	---
2.4.2.2. How did you respond to those comments?	---	---	46	"I...think...love is more important. Everything does have no meaning without love!" (answered a question and shared my opinion) Informative and thankful

----------
* Current semester comments on essays and other posts
** Please list the most important qualities of comments on each type of blog post. That is, explain briefly what makes them good comments.

2.5. Recent comments display

Does your blog display recent comments from blog visitors in a prominent location, for example, in a sidebar, header, or footer widget? Where, or why not? Please explain.

• My blog displays them at the top in a sidebar. It is because I want them to be encouragements for me that others look into my blog!
  

2.6. Additional reflections on comments

• I appreciated the comments which shows specific advice.
• The comments which refer to good points concretely became encouragements for me.
  

3.0. Book Reviews

3.1. Showcase	Short titles with links	Dates (yy.mm.dd)	Words	Comments
Example:	Vampire Killer	07.05.16	39	1
2-01	BR2-01: The Joke Machine	08.08.01	147	0
2-02	BR2-02: Roman Adventure	08.08.05	133	0
2-03	BR2-03: Submarine Adventure	08.08.05	210	0
2-04	BR2-04: Chinese Adventure	08.08.08	161	0
2-05	BR2-05: Flood! ) -:	08.09.28	151	0
2-06	BR2-06: The Three Little Pigs （－：	08.09.28	108	0
2-07	BR2-07: The Fox and the Crow ( -- :	08.09.28	124	0
2-08	BR2-08: The Hare and the Tortoise ( - :	08.09.28	108	0
2-09	BR2-09: The Blue Eye ( - :	08.10.07	172	0
2-10	BR2-10: Superdog	08.10.19	194	0
2-11	BR2-11: Sara Says No!	08.11.14	245	0
2-12	BR2-12: The Umbrella	08.12.06	306	0
2-13	BR2-13: The Barcelona Game	08.12.17	444	0
2-14	BR2-14: Photo Finish	08.12.18	140	0
2-15	BR2-15:Shooting Stars	08.12.18	120	0
2-16	BR2-16: In the Frame	08.12.18	129	0
2-17	BR2-17: The Big Bag Mistake	08.12.20	156	0
2-18	BR2-18: THE LAST PHOTO	08.12.21	194	0
---	---	Totals:	3242	0

Note: Please calculate and list book review Totals for words and comments without including those from the example (above).

3.2. Best Book Review

Selection and Assessment: Which of those book reviews do you feel is the best that you've written this semester, and why? Remember that a complete answer is better than a short answer, focus on your writing, and give at least two reasons to support your assessment.
　　　　

・I think my best book review is "BR2-18: THE LAST PHOTO ". It is because it includes my opinion and questions, instead of a long story plot. Besides, it is so easy to read.

4.0. Blog Layout, Labeling, Linking, & Media

Showcase	Yes	No
4.1. Does your blog display an archive?	○
4.1.1. Does the archive display the titles of posts?	○
4.1.2. Is the archive organized by month?	○
4.1.3. Is the archive at or near the top of the sidebar?	○
4.2. Does your blog have labels displayed in sidebar?	○
5.2.1. Do your labels include these required labels (typed accurately):	---	---
"books" (plural) AND "reviews" (plural)	○
"essays" (plural) AND "portfolios" (plural, without "proto-")	○
"quickposts" (plural, with no space between quick and posts)	○
"links" (plural) AND "media" (plural)	○
"movies" (plural) AND "websites" (plural)	○
"brainstorms" (or "brainstorming"), "essay prep.," AND "free-writing" (or "free-writes")	○
4.2.2. Does your sidebar display other labels?	○
How many other labels have you attached to three (3) or more posts? _24_ other labels attached to three or more posts	---	---
Which labels, and to how many posts each? Please list those labels instead of www, xxx, yyy..., and list numbers of posts instead of n, m, o... (in parentheses), below. abroad (41) classes (20) everyday (75) exercises (7) families (20) favorites (7) foods (31) friends (13) hobbies (5) Holidays (15) introduction (3) Japanese (7) languages (25) leisures (3) lists (8) memories (5) opinions (20) outlines (4) people (6) photos (50) seasons (14) speaking (5) studies (28) tests (6)	---	---
4.3. Links & media	---	---
4.3.1. Does your blog include photos or other graphics?	○
Does your blog profile include a photo or graphic representation?		○
How many of your blog posts this semester include photos or other graphics? _31_ posts including photos or other graphics	---	---
4.3.2. Does your blog include posts with multiple links?	○
How many of your posts this semester include three (3) or more links? _1_ posts including three or more links (including this portfolio!)	---	---
4.3.3. Does your blog include other media?	○
How many of your blog posts this semester include other media? _2_ posts including other media	---	---
What kind(-s) of media have you included in posts this semester? Please list the kinds here: YouTube	---	---
What media content that you originally produced, if any, do your blog posts for this semester contain? Please list and explain each item briefly, and add short links and dates (yy.mm.dd) for reference. I'm sorry, but I produced none.	---	---

4.4. Overall presentation

What have you done to enhance the overall presentation of your blog? List and explain the three most important content, display, formatting, layout, or other presentation changes that you have made on your blog this semester.

1. To emphasize particular words related to the main points in each post, I changed the size and colors of those words.
2. I always tried to share my own opinions on book reviews' posts.
3. I included more space in each post than before, in order to make them easy to see.

5.0. Additional reflections on your blog and your writing on it

Please feel free to include reflections on both spring and fall semester work, as well as on the content of this portfolio (proto-portfolios, showcases, and reflections).

• Sudden homework(essays) was a little tough to complete by the due, after we were told about those essays just on Wednesday.
• The set number of posts in a week seemed to be too many.
• However, I was used to working on my blog in fall semester!
  

6.0. Advice and suggestions for yourself, your peers, and your successors

• To reach the norm of 15,000 words, the key is your efforts during summer vacation!
• You had better use easy phrases, so that others can understand what you write.
• To make your blog interesting and informative, it is a good idea to write about your opinions or the unique traditions and culture of Japan.
  

____________________
Notes:

1. This portfolio template derives from the templates for Writing IIIc and Writing IVc portfolios (2007-08), and Writing III, §§1a & 1c (Fall, 2008).
2. Please use the same code in section 0.0 that you used to embed your proto-portfolios (PPFs) in the footer of your blog, which you should already have revised to display your 2nd (fall) semester PPF first.
   
3. The essays section (1.0. Essays, above) derives from Proto-Portfolio 2-02 (2008).
   

____________________
License:

This portfolio template is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Please attribute to "the Writing Studio Blog" (without quotation marks).

///// End of template (copy from here to "Beginning ..." [above]) /////

○ First mochi this winter! ○

In November, I had mochi, Japanese style rice cake for the first time this winter! I really love mochi!

We have a home bakery machine at home, and we usually make bread with the machine and have the bread for breakfast. It is really hot from the oven and too delicious to describe with words!

Furthermore, we knew the machine could make mochi too. How convenient and pleasant it is! We ate mochi with Japanese taste. For example, anko(bean paste), kinako(soybean flour), syouyu(soy sauce), and nori(laver). Mochi is almighty and can be delicious whichever it flavored with. It is good for breakfast and as sweets. I am really looking forward to having it this winter too!

However, you have to be careful about your weight. It is because mochi is made by crushing rice and you will not know how much rice you had. It seems to be less than fact.

Anyway, when you eating mochi, just enjoy the Japanese taste and natural sweetness!

[168 words]

○●たいやき●○

I had a delicious taiyaki!! One of my friends gave it to me. Taiyaki is a sweet with bean paste inside, and it is like a bream in shape. I think it could be said to be one of the Japanese tradition.

That taiyaki tasted so nice and so impressive! It smelled so nice too. I did not like taiyaki so much, but I was fascinated completely.

I heard that the name of the shop of the taiyaki is "sekai-ichi umai taiyaki". It means the most delicious taiyaki in the world, and I agree that!!

The common taiyaki in Japan include black bean paste, but they have not only taiyaki with black paste but also with white bean paste. Their taiyaki is 150 yen, and I think it is worth the price.

I will do try again!!

[138 words]

Tender Chicken with sauce!

I have forgotten to share a recipe that I like! I made a chicken saute with mayonnaise sauce. One of good points about this recipe is that this dish can be made of breast meat of a chicken, so it is so economical. Besides, this part of chicken with low fat helps you, when you want to eat meat while you are on a diet. Further more, this recipe is easy enough to make when you do not have time.

The ingredients are breast meat of chicken, starch, salt, pepper, mayonnaise, milk and wasabi.

First, cut the meat into the proper size and season the pieces with salt, pepper and starch. In this phase, the efficient way is to do in a small plastic bag. You can dust those seasoning successively.

Then, broil the meat in a pre-heated frying pan. Please cook the meat well-done. The point is putting the lid until the meats get well-done. Then, take the lid off and broil into the color of brown. The cooking of meat is finished.

As to the mayonnaise sauce, you can make it while you broil the meat. Put mayonnaise and wasabi in a small container. Then, mix them. If you would like, add a little milk and make the sauce smooth and mild.

Put the sauce on the meat. You must get hooked on the tender meat! Please try it!

[234 words]

Japanese Cuisine!

Hi, everyone. Today is the last day in this week! The weekend is coming!

Recently, I give vent to stress by eating. I know that it is not good for my health, so the least I can do now is trying to do some exercise twice a week. Today was one of those exercising days.

However, I think it is still important to care about meals. I think of Japanese cuisine as the best and the most healthy meals for Japanese people.

Today's dinner was Japanese dishes. The main dish was grilled fillet of the mackerel, and it was in pride of grease. We also had some food boiled and seasoned, and the dishes included something like toufu, pieces of konjak(konnyaku), napa cabbage, taro and some beans. It was seasoned with soy sauce.

Besides, we had rice, and brown(unpolished) rice. What a healthy food! It includes dietary fiber so much. Mo mother boiled it in a pressure cooker, not in a rice-cooker. This is important, I think!

Anyway, we had a good dinner and a good time. Besides, tomorrow is a holiday. I am really happy!

[190 words]

Our Doorkeeper ( - :

Hello, everyone! Are you enjoying your weekend? Well, I am enjoying, and I feel good. I would like to talk about our doorkeeper in today's post!

With the words "our doorkeeper", I mean my dog, Lovely. I think she is really sweet and cute, and the one reason is in this point. She always knows who is missing in the house. For example, when only my mother and I are in the house, she knows my father is missing.

She really like when everyone are at home together. When somebody is missing, she keeps waiting the person's coming home. She is seemed to be really sweet then. The every time she is doing so, I think I have to come back home as soon as possible after school. Do you see what this parental love for her is like?

[141 words]

□■Rasks■□

I has forgotten to talkk about rasks of our bakery! If you are a university of KGU, you must have tried rasks. One pack is only 50 yen. It is suitable to your a little hungry.

There are various kinds of them. I think it depends on what kinds of bread left unsold, though I am not sure about it. But I think they did not buy those rasks before. In my opinion, it is very economical and environment-friendly... good thing, anyway. Many of them are made from French bread, but the one I tried last week is made from chocolatechip melon bread. It was delicious! The chocolate smell was good.

I want to say you to try them, but it depends on the timing, in fact. I'd like to have it again!

[135 words]

Diary 29: Tue, September 16th = Travel Review 2-01

Now, I am on a plane bound to Narita airport in Japan. I had been staying with a Japanese woman for these 4 weeks, and she saw me off at LA airport. I had been thinking that it would be a good-by with tears, but actually, with great smiles. It was because we talked about next plan last night. Next time, I will go to some language school. I'm not sure when it'll be, but I'm sure I will do! That's why I didn't cry at the moment of the farewell. We did never say good bye, because I was already looking forward next time. I was thinking of backing there and staying again!

Remembering this stay, I'm really satisfied. I enjoyed! I stayed at the city near to San Diego. It is placed on the west coast. I was fascinated with a wide view of Pacific Ocean from beaches every time. CA is the place where blue sky and ocean are beautiful. It is a kingdom of the sun! I think I have sunburned. I may dislike it in Japan, but now I like it as the mark of coming to CA. I love it, because it is also a California color! Ha ha!

Although there is not a great progress in English, one of the important points I got this time is the change of my way of thinking. I learned the importance of positive thinking through meetings with new friends here. I had been always brooding on my failures, but it was only the wasting of time!

Besides, it gave me a confidence that I could come far by myself. I would like to challenge various things from today! Besides, my sense to living in other country have changed. I had had some idea that it is the best thing for me to live in Japan, although I like traveling to other countries. However, I had lived a normal life there for a month, and now I think it great to live here. Anyway, my view has become wider than before.

Also, I felt I had to change my way of learning English. By next time for going back, I'll try my limit!! This stay taught me many important things, and it has a great meaning to my life!

I think I could enjoy it because of my new friends. I 'm most grateful to those friends, and I will keep in touch!

　[414 words]

Total here = 2366 words

Diary 28: Mon, September 15th

Ooh~ this is my last day here!

Today, I cleaned up my room with my appreciation. I packed my suitcase and cleaned inside of every shelf. We had a nice dinner made by her. The main dish is delicious bacon! I loved it!

After that, one of my American friends came and presented me two T-shirts! One of them was a navy one with logos of "SAN DIEGO", and the other was a beige one with the logos of "Oceanside". I was really glad!

At night, my host mother and I visited the PIER of Oceanside again, wearing the navy one. I visited there at night for the first time, and it was really beautiful. The ocean was dark, but the light from street lamps was so memorable for me. It was the great night as the last day of this stay.

[143 words]

Diary 27: Sun, September 14th

Today, I tried Thai cuisine with my American friend. I think I had not tried Thai dishes before. This might be my first time, but I liked it. It was a good choice. I also had a glass of cranberry juice, but it was too sweet for me. As to dishes, however, I ordered the rice, soup, and fried pork with garlic and basil. I thought Thai cuisine is good for Japanese people. Please try it! You will like it. I had good chances to challenge dishes from various countries. It might be one of good points in this stay.

[100 words]

Diary 26: Sat, September 13th

I went LA JOLLA and Coronado island again with my friends this time. At first, we had lunch at Hodad's. It is a hamburger shop with energy and big sounds! The wall is covered with many number plates of cars! Its hamburger is really big and heavy! Even French fries are so thick! Ooh~~~what a BIG lunch!!

After that, we walked on a PIER of the ocean in LA JOLLA. The time for sunset was coming, and my friends showed me a great view from the top of a cliff. It was a little cloudy, but it was a great view!

After the sunset, we moved to night's Coronado island. Last time I visited there was daytime, so it is my first time to visit the night's Coronado island. It was a nice night scene so that I was fascinated.

At last, before we went back home, we dropped by Rubios and had Mexican foods. It was dinner, though it was almost 10:00 p.m. Anyway, I really enjoyed my friends' company this time too.

[180 words]

Diary 25: Fri, September 12th

I will talk about the restaurant in Coronado island♪ It was a great experience for me.

What a nice view and What nice dishes! I was impressed! We ordered a tortilla of chicken and a dish of Angel hair(spaghetti). My order was angel hair, and it was with so much tomatoes and cheese. What a surprise, she told me that I can order more extra cheese. Of course, I did it. A waitress brought heaped cupful cheese! (I tipped the waitress.) I really enjoyed angel hair with rich cheese. Her tortilla came with french fries, and they were different from those of other fast food's restaurant. Really crispy. How delicious everything was! I want to go there again next time!

[122 words]

Diary 24: Thu, September 11th

My host mother and I started in early morning today. It was a sightseeing day that we were looking forward! We visited SAN DIEGO. At first, we used a COASTER about an hour, and it was a really comfortable ride. We got off it and bought one-day tickets for the trolley. The fare was 32 dollars per person. Using the trolley, we go around SAN DIEGO. Its root was a one-way traffic, and it caused a problem, but we could visit Old town, Seaport Village, Horton Plaza, Coronado island and Balboa Park. We just went through in front of SAN DIEGO ZOO, which is famous world wide. It was an interesting sightseeing. I especially enjoyed Coronado island with lunch. I will talk about the restaurant on next post.

[130 words]

Diary 23: Wed, September 10th

＊Today's notice＊

I found that Japanese dishes are also popular in USA. For example, some of my American friends love sushi. The word "sushi" is said to be used in the world. Of course, I think sushi is delicious, but I wonder why sushi is so popular especially. What do you think, everyone? I sometimes see shop signs of sushi. It is interesting. I hope more and more people enjoy Japanese dishes!

[73 words]

Diary 21: Mon, September 8th

Today, I went to WAL MART★ and enjoyed shopping a little bit. It is a chain store, and it has sundry goods in much lower price than other stores. I bought in chewing gum, snacks and thank you cards. Chewing gum is for my friends and me, and I bought thank you cards so that I can leave messages to my new friends when I leave here. I think it is important to express my appreciation, but even just I think about leaving here, I feel... I want to stay here more longer! I thought. Anyway, there is one week left. I 'll enjoy and make great use of this stay!

[111 words]

Diary 20: Sun, September 7th

I forgot talking about hamburgers of IN-N-OUT! I tried there at the first time the day before yesterday. Its hamburgers and french fries are natural taste, and they use fresh potatoes for the french fries. I am sure that Japan should introduce this hamburger chain! They have only three kinds of hamburgers, that is, Hamburger, Cheese burger, Double hamburger. However, it has a supreme popularity in CA! In the long run, I had the hamburger twice in this stay. If you visit CA, you had better try IN-N-OUT! I am sure that I will have it again next time too.

[104 words]

Total here= 989 words

Diary 19: Sat, September 6th

I went to Six Flags with my friends today! How exciting! When I remember that day, I get excited even now! It was a three- hours drive from my home, so we started at 6:30 in early morning. We(12 people) really enjoyed coasters and screaming☆ There are many roller coasters in 'Six Flags', and most people who visit there are teenagers. We tried all of scaring ones. "GOLIATH" is said to be scary, but we rode it many times. We stayed there at the time for close, 10:00 p.m. We dropped by a McDonald, and we went back home. I got back at around 2:20 a.m.! I would never do such a thing in Japan! But, there was CA! I was really excited, so I couldn't fall asleep. Even on the bed, I felt as I still on a coaster. Strange, but enjoyable feelings. I'll never forget this exciting leisure!

[158 words]

Diary 18: Fri, September 5th

＊Today's notice＊

I think I talked to you about my bus trip to LA JOLLA. Now, I would like to share the information about the fare system. Where I was staying is called "North county", and there are excellent transportations, like BREEZE(buses) and COASTERs. I used buses when I visited LA JOLLA. The fare for one way is 2 dollars, so if I just go and back, it costs 4 dollars, you know. However, a one-day pass is only 4.50 dollars, and this is so reasonable. I bought a one-day pass, and I could get off the bus at places where I want to visit. I think the fare system in a regular price was very helpful and practical for me.

[126 words]

Diary 17: Thu, September 4th

＊Today's notice＊

One of my friend and I had tacos for lunch today. TACO BELL is a chain restaurant of Mexican foods. I tried taco, and I loved it! Its spicy taste must be loved by so many people. I really enjoyed "each bites"!

Here are a lot of chain stores and fast foods restaurants. I found KFCs, McDonalds, Starbucks coffees, Family marts, Seven Elevens, and so on. However, I'm sorry that we don't have TACO BELL in Japan. I also hope that we will have IN-N-OUT, a hamburger chains, in Japan. I will share about the hamburger after a while.

[106 words]

Diary 16: Wed, September 3rd

＊Today's notice＊

I think I have to talk about the wide roads here! That point is also a bug difference from Japan. The roads and high ways has a few lanes and are really wide. There are so many free ways too, and it means there are not traffic signal on free ways and people do not have to stop. Those free ways have many lanes from 4 to 6. Anyway, my impression is... "How wide!" Besides, cars run with 55 miles, that is, about 90 kilo meter, but I did not feel the high speed, because the ways are so wide.


On wide roads, cars run fast, but we do not feel the high speed. Because of it, the sense of distance does never work rightly. At first, I was surprised with the long distance on foot, which takes only a few minutes in a car.


American people often use free ways, and they are essential for American life. I feel how large USA is!

[167 words]