READING

The Scars of Love 爱的伤疤
Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.
几年前的一个炎炎夏日，在美国佛罗里达州南部，有个小男孩为贪图凉快，决定去自家房子后面一个形成已久的深水潭中游泳。

In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother - in the house was looking out the window - saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.
因为迫不及待地想投入到清凉的水中，他飞快地从后门跑了出去，边跑边脱掉鞋子、袜子和衬衣，把它们随手抛在了身后。

他一头扎进了水里，丝毫没有意识到自己游往潭中心的同时，一只美洲鳄也正在朝岸边游来。

小男孩的母亲当时在屋子里透过窗子向外看着，发现那只美洲鳄正向她的孩子步步逼近。

她极度惊恐起来，一边迅速奔向水潭，一边声嘶力竭地朝自己的孩子呼喊着。

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a return to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.
听到她的呼喊，小男孩才猛然意识到了危险，立即掉头向岸边的母亲游去。

可这时已经无济于事。

他的手勉强刚够到他的母亲，鳄鱼也已经接触到了他。

From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
母亲在岸上拼命地拽紧儿子的手臂，而此时美洲鳄也死死地咬住孩子的腿不放。

为了争夺小男孩，母亲和鳄鱼之间俨然展开了一场让人难以置信的拔河较量。

美洲鳄的力气显然要比母亲强大得多，但是母亲挽救儿子的坚定信念让她无论
如何也绝不放手。

就在这万分危急的关头，一位农夫恰巧驾车经过，一听到孩子母亲的尖叫便飞速从卡车上跳下，瞄准鳄鱼并开枪将其射杀。

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal and, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
值得庆幸的是，经过在医院数周的抢救治疗，小男孩居然存活了下来。

鳄鱼凶残的袭击在他的腿上刻下了触目惊心的伤痕。

不仅如此，他的双臂上也留下了深深的抓痕，那是在生死关头母亲为了牢牢抓住挚爱的儿子，以至于手指甲都掐入了儿子的肉中所留下的。

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter. But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn't let go.
事后，这位死里逃生的小男孩接受了一位报社记者的采访。

当记者问他是否愿意让大家看看他身上的伤疤时，小男孩挽起了自己的裤腿，腿上深深的疤痕暴露无遗。

紧接着，他满脸自豪地告诉记者，“大家还是看看我的手臂吧，我的手臂上也有好多伤疤呢。

这是妈妈不放开我，在救我的时候留下的。

”
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret.
看了这个小男孩的故事后，人们都能感同身受。

其实我们每个人身上都有伤疤。

只不过并不是被鳄鱼咬的，或任何如此戏剧性事件所造成，而是过往的痛苦经历所留下的。

那些伤疤是如此难看，让人深感懊悔。

But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
但是，我的朋友，你可曾想过有些伤口是一些不想放弃你的人造成的。

在你挣扎的过程中，那些爱你的人为了拉住你，才在你身上留下了这些伤疤。

Holding the hands of time
牵着时光的手
Blow-off vision of the rain, so that you are left with a brilliant rainbow. time in my fingers, without any regrets, open stemmed bloom ripples. Blunt rolling thick liquid eternal, but you and I, were dispersed in which period of Acacia leaves.
吹断目光的雨，让虹的光辉带你离去。

时光穿梭在我指间，无悔地绽放开朵朵
涟漪。

钝厚的流质绵延永恒，而你我，被冲散在其中，相思无绝期。

Inexplicable always feel like the time within the next few precious memories will be stripped from me, more than once dreamed that his standing in a dark empty space, only one track at the foot stretch into the distance, such as the long past your time and ultimately disappear In my field of vision at the end.
总是会莫名地感到时间在抽丝剥茧般的将宝贵的回忆从我身上剥离，不止一次
梦见自己站在一片空旷黑暗的空间里，脚下只有一条铁轨伸向远方，冗长如过
往的光阴，最终消失在我的视野尽头。

I am afraid to lose, I fear this time, and I love it but memories. I could not forget the sweat on the pitch with the sway of the brothers, forget accompany me cry close friend, and forget the bright Star of that every night, and those words have touched me deeply.
我害怕失去，我对时间如此的恐惧，而我却又那么的热爱回忆。

我忘不了球场
上一起挥洒汗水的兄弟，忘不了陪我一起哭泣的知己，忘不了那一夜夜璀璨的
星空，和那些令我感动至今的话语。

Those people, those things, such as bursts of light rain in the lake left ring Watermark four dispersed to each other to melt each other's impact; if the horizon is still experiencing Qianwanyinian quiet shining star, not very bright, but clearly made . - They do not know how much to spend with me during the day bright and silent night.
那些人，那些事，如细雨在湖面留下的阵阵环型水纹四散开来彼此消融，彼此
撞击;如经历千万亿年仍在天边寂静闪光的星，不甚明亮，却又清晰无比。

——它们陪我度过不知多少明媚的白天与沉默的夜。

In my memory, the third year is not gray, because I remember those blessings are not what love is bearing fruit, I still remember holding a lot of my friends and I hope to see sunrise and sunset, finally it is yellow everywhere.
在我的记忆中，高三不是灰色的，因为我记得那些不被祝福的爱情是怎样的开花结果，还记得我与朋友抱着一大堆的希望看日出日落，最后却是黄花遍地。

Youth is the eye lotus spring, third year is that this eye expansion of bubbling spring season. I, however, a strong smell in the bubble years of the Problem taste. I do not exclude these, but too much pressure to do away much fun. Unfortunately, after the college entrance examination, even the pressure would become the memories, be my third year living memory of the dead evidence. In the time before we are so powerless, the only left on just the eye springs, and we have no regrets of the oath, I hope day after day, year after year, when I re-turn to this page , people still.
青春是眼忘忧泉，高三是这眼泉水膨胀冒泡的季节。

而我却在泡泡里嗅到了浓厚的习题的味道。

我并不是排斥这些，但过大的压力确实带走了不多的乐趣。

只可惜，高考过后，连压力也会成为回忆，成为我缅怀逝去的高三生活的证据。

在时间面前我们是如此的无力，唯一能留下的，就只是那眼泉水和我们曾经无悔的誓言，但愿日复一日，年复一年，当我重新翻到这一页时，人心依旧。

I have seen one another chilling words: Some people say that once you start like the memories of those people will get old. I only admit mature, do not believe they have been growing old. My friends are growing up day by day, and was young and the mature, how can I not had time to grow on the outline of the first to hoary?
曾经看过一句另我毛骨悚然的话：有人说，一旦开始喜欢回忆，那人便老去了。

我只承认自己的成熟，不相信自己已经老去。

我的朋友们正在一天天地长大，成熟并且风华正茂着，我怎么可以没来得及成长就率先苍老了轮廓?
"Heaven Rain in green and so on, and I am waiting for you, the moonlight was recovered, the faint opened the outcome." Jay melancholy voice has been completely different from the business for the time Sentimental, Bard will be the years the pace of a camel inscribed into the blue and white porcelain in that respect.
“天青色等烟雨，而我在等你，月色被打捞起，晕开了结局。

”杰伦忧郁的嗓音已经完全不同与刚出道时的青涩，吟游诗人般地将岁月的脚步镌刻进那一尊青花瓷器。

Our future? Friends ah, I will time the other end, waiting for you.
我们的未来呢?朋友啊，我会在时间的另一头，等你。

国际英语新闻:Obama Hopes to Build on G20 Progress
After the two-day G20 economic summit in France was dominated by the debt crisis in Greece, President Barack Obama says he will keep pressing for quick action to solve the crisis. The president also vows to continue his push for legislation that would help create jobs in America.
President Obama left the French resort city of Cannes Friday, expressing optimism that Europe can solve its economic problems, a key step toward boosting the world's economic recovery.
But he and other non-European G20 leaders want swift action on the spreading European debt crisis. “Having heard from our European partners over the past two days, I am confident that Europe has the capacity to meet this challenge. I know it isn’t easy, but what is absolutely critical, and what the world looks for in moments such as this, is action," he said.
European G20 leaders resolved to attack the debt problem. But the immediate action the Obama administration had hoped for did not materialize.
Mr. Obama offered further advice and encouragement to his European counterparts, but no U.S. financial help.
Still, the president said some progress was made in Cannes. Italy, a top European economy, may have prevented problems similar to the ones in Greece by allowing the International Monetary Fund to monitor its economy. And G20 leaders agreed to give the IMF more resources to fight financial crises.
"Europe remains on track to implement a sustainable path for Greece. Italy has agreed to a monitoring program with the IMF, in fact, invited it. Tools have been identified that will better enable the world to support European action," he said.
The concerns of other G20 countries about the state of the U.S. economy were underscored by the release of more figures showing lackluster job creation last month.
Mr. Obama used the occasion to again call on Congress to pass his $447 billion jobs legislation, saying his economic program is making some progress. "Is that good enough? Absolutely not. We've got to do more. And as soon as I get some signal from Congress that they're willing to take their responsibilities seriously, I think we can do more," he said.
The president and Republicans in the House of Representatives are offering separate and quite different bills on job creation.
Some other G20 leaders praised Mr. Obama's plan, and he will spend the next few days promoting it to the American public.
While most of the summit in Cannes focused on Europe's economy, China agreed to speed efforts to raise the value of its currency, the RMB, which President Obama had been planning to call for. "In addition, we welcome China's determination to increase the flexibility of the RMB. This is something we've been calling for for some time, and it will be a critical step in boosting growth," he said.
The U.S. and other countries welcomed China's stated intent to open its markets to more imports. Obama administration officials say the Chinese announcements reflect concern in Beijing about risks to its economy from Europe's financial troubles.
The most urgent non-economic item covered in Cannes, Iran's nuclear program, will be raised again in the coming days. An International Atomic Energy Agency report due soon is expected to show that Iranian scientists are making progress toward learning to build a nuclear bomb.
Iran has repeatedly denied that its nuclear program is for military purposes.
Meanwhile, in the coming days, Mr. Obama will campaign for his jobs program, before leaving for the next series of international meetings.
He will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the North American leaders' summit in his home state of Hawaii. He will go on to visit Australia, then to the Indonesian resort of Bali for the East Asia Summit.
“Opinion” is a word that is used carelessly today. It is used to refer to matters of taste, belief, and judgment. This casual use would probably cause little confusio n if people didn’t attach too much importance to opinion. Unfortunately, most to attach great importance to it. “I have as much right to my opinion as you to yours,” and “Everyone’s entitled to his opinion,” are common expressions. In fact, anyone who woul d challenge another’s opinion is likely to be branded intolerant.
Is that label accurate? Is it intolerant to challenge another’s opinion? It depends on what definition of opinion you have in mind. For example, you may ask a friend “What do you think of the new Ford cars?” And he may reply, “In
my opinion, they’re ugly.” In this case, it would not only be intolerant to challenge his statement, but foolish. For it’s obvious that by opinion he means his personal preference, a matter of taste. And as the o ld saying goes, “It’s pointless to argue about matters of taste.”
But consider this very different use of the term, a newspaper reports that the Supreme Court has delivered its opinion in a controversial case. Obviously the justices did not shale their personal preferences, their mere likes and dislikes, they stated their considered judgment, painstakingly arrived at after thorough inquiry and deliberation.
Most of what is referred to as opinion falls somewhere between these two extremes. It is not an expression of taste. Nor is it careful judgment. Y et it may contain elements of both. It is a view or belief more or less casually arrived at, with or without examining the evidence.
Is everyone entitled to his opinion? Of course, this is not only permitted, but guaranteed. W e are free to act on our opinions only so long as, in doing so, we do not harm others.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the author?
A) Everyone has a right to hold his own opinion.
B) Free expression of opinions often leads to confusion.
C) Most people tend to be careless in forming their opinions.
D) Casual use of the word “opinion” often brings about quarrels.
2. According to the author, who of the following would be labored as intolerant?
A) Someone who turns a deaf ear to others’ opinions.
B) Someone who can’t put up with others’ tastes.
C) Someone who values only their own opinions.
D) Someone whose opinion harms other people.
3. The new Ford cars are cited as an example to show that ________.
A) it is foolish to criticize a famous brand
B) one should not always agree to others’ opinions
C) personal tastes are not something to be challenged
D) it is unwise to express one’s likes and dislikes in public
4. Considered judgment is different from personal preference in that ________.
A) it is stated by judges in the court
B) it reflects public like and dislikes
C) it is a result of a lot of controversy
D) it is based on careful thought
5. As indicated in the passage, being free to act on one’s opinion ________.
A) means that one can ignore other people’s criticism
B) means that one can impose his preferences on others
C) doesn’t mean that one has the right to do things at will
D) doesn’t me an that one has the right to charge others without evidence
1.A
2.B
3.C
4. D
5.C
Alvaro Cogollo uses popular music to entice Colombians to love
nature
文章来源：
/World/Making-a-difference/2012/0103/A lvaro-Cogollo-uses-popular-music-to-entice-Colombians-to-love-nature Biologist Alvaro Cogollo draws on Colombia's native vallenato music to inspire a love for his country's biodiversity.
By Autumn Spanne, Contributor / January 3, 2012
MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA; AND NEW YORK As a boy growing up on a farm near the Caribbean coast of Colombia, Alvaro Cogollo loved the forest. His grandfather taught him the common names of the plants, trees, and animals, and Mr. Cogollo would disappear for hours with a notebook, recording the explosion of life he found there.
After long days harvesting cotton and corn, Cogollo's laboratory was the forest. And vallenato, the traditional music of the region, with its upbeat accordion, distinctive rhythms, and poignant lyrics, was his
soundtrack.
Plants and vallenato have been lifelong passions for Cogollo, now the scientific director of the Medellín Botanical Garden. His Spanish teacher,
a folklore enthusiast, encouraged an early interest in the
music.
Later, as a biology student in the 1970s, Cogollo studied plant taxonomy by thinking of all the plant references he could remember from classic vallenato songs. He has since traveled around the country to document its rich botanical heritage and, informally, studied the music that tells an important story of Colombia.
"We were colonized by the Spanish; later, Africans were brought as slaves to exploit gold mines; and the indigenous peoples were [already]
here," he says. "That is what authentic vallenato represents with its three instruments: the accordion, from a European origin; la caja [drum], which is of African origin; and la guacharaca, a percussion instrument made from a palm trunk, [which] is from [indigenous] American origin."
Over the course of his nearly four-decade career, Cogollo has discovered more than 150 new species of plants, 17 of which bear his name. He has won numerous awards for his research and mentored many
young biologists.
"Working with him is really incredible because he can just stop and talk about a plant, how it grows, the distribution, the ecology, the uses, the names – he's a real bible for botany in Colombia," says Saúl Ernesto Hoyos Gómez, a botanist who directs a Colombian conservation organization called Fragmento and who first worked with Cogollo as an undergraduate biology student. Mr. Hoyos Gómez still reverently calls
Cogollo el profesor.
Although Cogollo never earned a PhD, his colleagues say he's made invaluable contributions to knowledge of Colombia's flora at a time when deforestation poses a grave threat to the country's biodiversity.
"My opinion is that he is probably the best field botanist there is in Colombia right now," says Enrique Forero, a member of the Colombian Academy of Sciences who has known Cogollo for 25 years. Research and environmental protection have never been priorities for a country mired in battling armed groups and extreme income inequality. Governments have focused on trying to move the country out of poverty and conflict through exploiting its natural resources, not through
sustainable resource development.
Cogollo sees things a different way. By making a thorough inventory of Colombia's flora, educating the public about alternative uses for the land, and researching plants' potential uses – including as pharmaceuticals, foods, and sustainable bio-fuels – Colombia could improve its economy and quality of life without neglecting conservation, Cogollo says.
"He's always trying to make people understand that the biodiversity can be used in a sustainable way and as income for the community," Hoyos Gómez says.
Cogollo's vision involves creating a more equitable economic system for poor, rural people who depend on forests. John Pipoly, an American
botanist who began collaborating with Cogollo in the 1980s, says he always employs local people on expeditions, exchanging knowledge with them about traditional and potential new uses for indigenous plants.
"Cogollo's approach is, 'Let's figure out how to help these people be sustainable,' and asking what returns will people see on investment of working with us short- and long-term," Dr. Pipoly says.
Cogollo's other major achievement has been the transformation of a neglected botanical garden in a downtrodden Medellín neighborhood into a renowned center for research, environmental education, and community gatherings. What had been an exclusive club mainly for wealthy orchid enthusiasts now offers free admission and attracts rich and poor alike.
The success of the botanical garden has in turn contributed to the transformation of Medellín. Once paralyzed by violent turf wars between armed groups, the city has embraced civic improvements that include better public safety, tougher pollution controls, a modernized public transportation system, and the creation of green spaces.
The botanical garden is a centerpiece of efforts to "green" the city.
Today, Colombians are beginning to develop an environmental consciousness, Cogollo says. But there are huge disparities between environmental conditions among wealthy and poor communities.
And that's where he has focused his latest efforts, teaching Colombians from all social classes and backgrounds about the importance of biodiversity and conservation through a shared musical heritage.
"The fact that ?lvaro's been able to give ... talks to audiences filled with all kinds of people is very important, and that's what happened in Medellín the first time [he talked about vallenato music]," Dr. Forero says. "People sitting there had no idea of the [science], and then they did."
Stieg Larsson shared details on his fourth "Dragon Tattoo" novel 文章来源：
/Books/chapter-and-verse/2011/0329/S tieg-Larsson-shared-details-on-his-fourth-Dragon-Tattoo-novel
Stieg Larsson died before the overwhelming global success of his "Millennium" novels –but not before sharing a few details about the fourth book in the series.
At least for now, all we have are the wildly successful first three books: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "The Girl Who Played with Fire," and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest." But Swedish journalist-turned-novelist Stieg Larsson had actually intended that his "Millennium" series would include at least five books, a plan cut short by his death in 2004.
Now, however, friends of Larsson's have come forward with details about what they say is a partially complete fourth book by Larsson. Larsson pal Kurdo Baksi is reported to have told Swedish newspaper Expressen that the fourth novel is set on the Banks Island in Canada– an intriguingly remote spot said to be home to more musk-ox than people –and features heroine Lisbeth Salander's twin sister Camilla. (So far Camilla has only been seen briefly in "The Girl Who Played with Fire.") Last summer John-Henri Holmberg, another friend of Larsson's, also told the press about the setting of the fourth book in northern Canada–something he said Larsson discussed with him by e-mail.
"Millennium" mystery: Will there be a fourth Stieg Larsson novel –or not?
For now, however, such details are nothing better than teasers to Larsson's many fans. Larsson's long-time partner Eva Gabrielsson is locked in a bitter battle with Larsson's father and brother over the rights to his literary estate. Gabrielsson says she has the manuscript of the fourth book and can finish it –but it cannot be published without the consent of the author's family, which does not seem to be forthcoming.
For the moment, the only sure bet that Larsson fans have to look forward to is the December, 2011, release of the American film version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig.
"Millennium" mystery: Will there be a fourth Stieg Larsson
novel – or not?
Stieg Larsson's partner says in a memoir that she will finish his fourth "Millennium" book, but his publisher says no.
Stieg Larsson fans may be feeling very confused. First, they were assured that they hadn‟t heard the last of fictive protagonist Lisbeth Salander. Eva Gabrielsson, longtime partner of the Swedish journalist-turned-crime novelist, said she plans to finish the fourth novel in the "Millennium" series that Mr. Larsson left uncompleted upon his death.
In a new memoir released this week in France, Norway, and Sweden, Ms. Gabrielsson shared her plans to secure the rights to complete Larsson‟s fourth novel. According to Agence France-Presse, which obtained a copy of the memoir, Larsson had already written some 200 pages of the fourth novel before he died unexpectedly in 2004.
In fact, Larsson died before any of his three "Millennium" novels featuring Salander –“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Girl who Played with Fire,” and “The Girl who Kicked the Hornet‟s Nest” – were published. His books have since become an international phenomenon. More than 46 million copies have sold worldwide, the books have been translated into 44 languages, and a Hollywood adaptation of his first book, starring Daniel Craig, is in the works.
In her new memoir, “Millennium, Stieg and Me,” Gabrielsson says she was inspired to finish the fourth novel because “Stieg and I often wrot e together.” She refuses, however, to share any details about the forthcoming novel, saying only, “It is not my intention to recount here the plot of the fourth volume…. On the other hand, I want to say that Lisbeth little by little frees herself from her ghosts and her enemies.”
But because Gabrielsson and Larsson never married and Larsson never left a will, the author‟s estate and assets were bequeathed to his family, under Swedish law. Gabrielsson has been locked in an extended dispute with Larsson‟s family over the proceeds from the book and the rights to Larsson‟s Millennium brand. Further complicating the legal morass, Gabrielsson says she will only finish the book if and when she gets rights to her late partner‟s works from his family.
And Larsson's publisher has now seemed to throw cold water on the notion that that day will come anytime soon. “There is n o fourth book from Stieg Larsson on the horizon,”a Knopf spokesperson told the press.
“Only the estate, controlled by his family [Joakim and Erland Larsson], can authorize publication of a fourth book, and they have no intention of doing so at the moment.”
For now, fans will have to be satisfied with the rare glimpse into Larsson‟s personal life offered by Gabrielsson's memoir “Millennium, Stieg and Me.” In the 160-page book, which is to be released in the US later this year, Gabrielsson chronicles how she and Larsson met and explores the creation of the megahit crime series. She recounts Larsson‟s struggles at Expo, an antifascist publication he founded in 1995 as the extreme-right was gaining popularity in Sweden. Larsson, Gabriel sson, and the Expo staff “moved around constantly to escape the Nazis who were harassing them,” because of the publication, she writes.
Gabrielsson also expresses concern at the way Larsson‟s family is handling his legacy and the Millennium brand. “I don‟t want to see coffee mugs and other …Millennium‟ merchandise; I want to see the real Stieg respected,” she writes.
In spite of Gabrielsson‟s concerns,news of the forthcoming Hollywood adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (which, according to early reports, differs significantly from the novel) is sure to drum up publicity for the memoir and – should it ever appear – the fourth and final novel.
One way or another, it would appear that the last chapter of the saga of Larsson's life and legacy has not yet been written. Stay tuned for more.
If computers can write, why not students?
文章来源：
/Commentary/Opinion/2012/0113/If-computer
s-can-write-why-not-students
Computer software can now generate interesting short news stories –if only America's students were so skilled. What the country needs is
a new way to teach writing. Forget the academic and unnatural
"five-paragraph essay." Go for the rhythm of storytelling.
By Jim Sollisch / January 13, 2012
In a world where your iPhone comes with a woman who answers your questions, reads your texts aloud, and gives directions, it may not seem like a big deal that computers are now writing stories.
But it is. Because storytelling is one of the activities that distinguishes humans from other species. Only we tell stories to remember history, impart values, and entertain ourselves.
Without stories, there would be no religion. And there would be no drama, which to the ancients was the highest form of art and the mother of the novel and the film. Without stories, history would be a long list of events, and kids would never go to bed. To tell a story is to participate in
the act of being
human.
Enter Narrative Science, a software company that has essentially taught computers to write short news stories through artificial intelligence. Some of their first clients are sports networks that use the software to write short recaps of games. The program analyzes events to pick the best leads and angles upon which to craft the narrative: the comeback, the team effort, the individual as hero, the drama of the streak.
If we can teach a computer the elements of story telling, why can‟t we teach our students the same thing? (I taught college writing for eight years and now I hire writers – and believe me our educational system clearly doesn‟t teach kids how to write so that a reader will want to follow along). We can do better, but we need to reinvent the way we
teach writing.
Remember THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY? It‟s still around. Still being promoted as if it were a literary form. The sonnet is a literary form. The FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY is an unnatural invention, one that must have been conceived by academics who don‟t write much
themselves.
Writers engaged in the act of trying to say something on paper don‟t write artificial thesis statements, followed by three explanatory paragraphs and
a conclusion that restates the thesis statement.。