Critical Thinking / Entry 1/ Week 4 Name: Pham Minh Hang Group: 08 E3

PORTFOLIO ENTRY 1
A. A PICTURE

1. Description: As you can see in the picture, there are six people holding other peoples hands in the first line at the top of the picture. It seems that they feel sorrow and disappointed. Five people in the second line spilt into two groups are fighting for one oil tank. As for the third line, there are two men wearing hats named Sunni and Shia the two biggest ethnic minorities in Iraq. They are angry with each other, so the violence may be sure to occur. Meanwhile, in the forth line, the parties are fighting for the power of the government. And there is only one person represented for the police of Iraq in the last line. Moreover, he is riding a one-wheel bike, which is very dangerous and not stable. All people lined make a triangle upside-down. The British and the American are about to leave their hands out of the triangle. The writers aim: There are still three big problems in Iraq such as the fight for oil, the discrimination of two biggest groups and the fight in the government. Besides, Iraq people do not hold their hands to solve these matters. It seems that the challenges ahead come after the UK and the US end up their combat operation. 2. Rhetorical Devices - Paradox: In the picture, the number of people decreases, and there is only one person who takes charge of security while there are such people fighting against each other. 1

Critical Thinking / Entry 1/ Week 4 3. Reasons why I choose the picture First, the situation of Iraq now is one of the most important issues for not only Iraq on its own but also the international community. There are so many violence and deaths everyday. People find it hard to stop them, and no one or no government is responsible for these situations. So many people are interested in what Iraq will be after the end of the US combat operations. I am, too. Second, a long time ago, I completely disagreed with the war which the US had started. I dont know why they did that, though there are some unknown reasons. As for me, its the most stupid George Bushs Governments decision. B. A SHORT STORY Vin Quan Trng (Chicken Soup for the Soul) Ngy cn hc lp qun tr kinh doanh, ti c hc mt bi hc khng th qun t ngi thy ca mnh. l tit hc v qun l thi gian. Thy t ln bn mt chic bnh ming rng v nhng vin to c nm tay. Sau , thy cn thn t tng vin vo trong bnh cho n khi khng th b thm c na, thy nhn c lp v hi: - Ci bnh y cha? Mi ngi ng thanh p: - y ri. Thy li hi Tht khng? ri ci xung bn ly ra mt ti si. Thy b mt vi vin si vo nhng khong trng gia cc vin ln ri hi mt ln na: - Ci bnh y cha? Ln ny, c lp bt u hiu thy. Mt bn tr li c l ci bnh cha y. -Tt lm! - Ni ri, thy ly ra mt x ct v bt u ct vo bnh lp y nhng khong trng cn li gia v si. Ln ny, thy cha kp hi, c lp ln ting: - Tha thy, cha y. Ci bnh vn cha y. Mt ln na, thy khen: "Gii lm!" v li ly ra mt bnh nc. Thy bt u nc vo bnh cho n khi y ti ming bnh. Cui cng, thy ngc nhn c lp v hi: - ngha ca nhng cng vic va ri l g? Mt bn nam ngi cui lp hm h tr li: - Tha thy! Theo em hiu, d thi gian biu c bn rn n my i na, nu thc s c gng, chng ta vn c th lm thm c mt s vic khc. - khng phi l iu thy mun chia s vi cc em. Thc t t v d trn cho thy rng nu khng 2

Critical Thinking / Entry 1/ Week 4 xp nhng vin ln vo trc, chng ta s khng th t thm cc th khc vo c na. Mi ngi trong chng ta u cn phi xc nh nhng vin tng quan trng ca cuc i mnh. Hon thnh mt chng trnh hc m mnh mun? Tm c ngi m mnh yu thng? C c mt cng vic m mnh thch?... Hy la chn, cn nhc tht k iu g l ph hp vi mnh nht trong tng giai on v t vo chic l ca mnh nhng vin quan trng trc ri hy ngh n v thc hin nhng vic khc tip theo. 1. Description The story is about a lecture on how to manage time effectively. The lecturer first brings an empty can, and puts big rocks into it. Every student thinks all it is full. However, the lecturer approves it wrong when he continues fulfilling the can with smaller rocks, sand and water in the end. In one students opinion, the lectures aim is to teach that people may do more something else while being busy if they have good time-management. Nevertheless, it is not an important meaning. It is the fact that the lecturer wants all his students to know how to control their lives well. The lesson is that you should decide big targets of your life, and make step by step to become successful. In each situation or each period of time of the life, you need to choose which target is the most suitable for you, and do all your best. 2. Rhetorical Devices - Metaphor: the lecturer in the story uses the image of an empty as the life. People put big targets into it, and make efforts like the fulfillment of the can with rocks, sand and water. - Repetition: the lecturer makes a question Is the can full? three times in order to make curious readers attend the lesson, brainstorm and guess whats next. 3. Reasons why I choose this story First, the story is easy to read but not easy to make inference. Truly, at first, I have the same idea as the student who shows his thoughts about the lectures aim. In my opinion, he is not wrong. When people are busy, they may still do something else if they manage time well. However, this is only a part of the lecturers aim. That people choose the right main target in each situation or each age is much more important, even time-saving, than doing more things when busy. Second, the story came to bring me back, for at that time I felt stressful. I did not know what to manage time effectively, how to deal with my life well or what my targets are. Therefore, I felt lonely and useless. This story is really like an arrow which helps me doing the right way. C. A POEM Mi Qu Trng (ca dao Bnh Tr Thin) Thng ging, thng hai, thng ba, thng bn, thng khn, thng nn i vay i dm, c mt quan tin 3

Critical Thinking / Entry 1/ Week 4 Ra ch K Din mua con g mi V nui ba thng; hn ra mi trng Mt trng: ung, hai trng: ung, ba trng: ung, Bn trng: ung, nm trng: ung, su trng: ung, By trng: cng ung Cn ba trng n ra ba con Con diu tha Con qu qup Con mt ct xi Ch than phn kh ai i! Cn da lng mc, cn chi ny cy 1. Description The poem is about the bad luck of poor farmers. It is so difficult to buy a hen, so it is much happier when it lays 10 eggs. Though seven eggs are rotten, there are still three eggs which become three chicks. However, one is taken by a hawk, one taken by a crow, and one died. Therefore, there is none left. At this situation, they are rather poorer than they used to, and they maynt end up their poverty. Nevertheless, they do not lose hope for the bright future. The poems meaning: people should always keep their hopes though they meet bad luck. 2. Rhetorical Devices - Rhyme + Assonance: because it is a traditional folk, its rhyme is very clear to see such as tha qu, qup - ct, xi i. The rhyme makes the folk more melodious. - Repetition: that the writer lists how many eggs are rotten increases the level of disappointment. This repetition creates more emotions of readers to farmer at this situation. - Climax: climax appears when there is none left. People seem to lose their worth belongings. And readers are attracted to see whats next. 3. Reasons why I choose this poem First, this poem is very easy to remember and learn by heart. It also hides many meanings inside. Besides keeping hopes, the writer wants to raise the question about the feudal government. No one knows the miseries of farmers, so no one gives his hands. The farmers would still poor, maybe poorer, not to be rich. Second, I want to emphasize the Vietnamese hope that never loses under any circumstances. They always think about the bright near future. They believe that their efforts and character hard-working may help them improve their lives well. They keep going on in order to overcome challenges they are facing with. I do appreciate this characteristic.

Critical Thinking / Entry 1/ Week 4