Writing a Draft of Creative

Nonfiction
LESSON 3
 “The beautiful
thing about
learning is that
nobody can take it
away from you.”
B.B.King
Activity 1: Identify the place
where each landmark may
be found.
TAJ MAHAL
MT.FUJI
STATUE OF
LIBERTY
 SACRE
COEUR
SYDNEY
OPERA
HOUSE
 1. To see it with my own tantalizing eyes -
Activity 2: Read here was the mystical Japan of the East.
the statements a. tempting c. solitary
below. Identify b. enticing d. both a and b
the meaning of 2. I witnessed that there were no excuses for
the italicized mediocrity, no stepping out of line even down
to the little rules.
word on each
a. poor quality c. sturdy
number.
b. high quality d. both a and b
 3. Broken and torn from World War II, this
Read the resilient race, hand in hand, slowly rose up to
become the major world power the country is
statements today.
below. Identify a. flexible c. brave
the meaning of b. hard d. both a and b
the italicized 4. Japanese people have a strong spirit of
word on each innovation.
number. a. truthfulness c. technology
b. new idea d. both a and b
Read the 5. I recall our own universities and schools
statements back home – it brings more than one wistful
below. Identify thought to mind.
the meaning of a. full of yearning with melancholy
the italicized b. b. happiness
word on each c. sad
number. d. gay
 Hope Springs Eternal
By: Joshua Miguel C. Danac
This travelogue was published in the Features Section of the
Central Scholar, the official student publication of Philippine Science High
School Central Luzon Campus. It won Third Place in the 2015 National
Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Taguig City.
Japan, for most of us, invokes the image of greener pastures, a
future we could only hope for in the present- the land of the rising sun of
our hopes and dreams, so close yet tantalizingly out of reach. To see it
with my own eyes and step on its ground with my own two feet-here was
the mystical Japan of the East, of the famed anime characters my friends
so loved, of sushi and sashimi and all those Japanese flavors renowned
throughout the world, of technological advancements I could only dream
of – and there I was.
 There were eleven of us in this foreign land, a teacher
and ten students, to spend a week of cultural immersion and
an exchange of knowledge and perhaps a little sightseeing last
August 3-8. The Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in
Science, or simply the Sakura Exchange Program, was a week-
long affair for high school students from nearby Asian
countries – the Philippines, Mongolia, Korea, Vietnam,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand- to experience
Japan up close.
 What struck me first was just how orderly everything was.
Coming from a country where the concept of “Filipino time” ran
unabashedly rampant, the mere orderliness of it all was a welcome
change. I witnessed that there were no excuses for tardiness or
mediocrity, no stepping out of line even down to the littlest rules. It
seems strict, and it is but it is how Japan works. The Japanese are very
conscientious, always mindful of themselves and more so of their
guests: always ready to help, with a smile and a bow, from our
facilitators and guides down to random people on the street whom we
asked for directions. They took great pains to make sure we were well
cared for, and their meticulousness still brings a smile of gratitude to
my lips whenever I recall it.
 The Japanese are even more
commendable for their stunning
progress. Broken and torn from
World War II, thus resilient race,
hand in hand, slowly rose to become
the major world power the country is
today. We were treated to their
amazing developments. The
Japanese have revolutionized life
across all fields of knowledge –
submarines to probe the depths of
the seas, novel healthful cosmetics,
sensors to detect earthquakes from
miles away, energy from microalgae,
powerful supercomputers simulating
the Earth – these are testaments to
their skill, proof of the enduring
Japanese spirit of innovation.
 Another focal point of our trip was visiting Japan’s universities
in and around Tokyo. They are sacred halls of learning, where modern
technology meets age-old knowledge. Seeing Filipino exchange
students biking throughout the lush campuses, students using
advanced laboratory equipment and enjoying the Japanese life
outside school, I recall our own universities and schools back home- it
brings more than one wistful thought to mind.
 One more highlight was the
chance to hear talks from leading
minds in the scientific community. Dr.
Akiko Arima and Dr. Toshihide
Maskawa, both renowned physicist-
the latter even received the 2008
Physics Nobel- shared with us
students their discoveries, and their
reflections on science and education
and life. It was an experience that was
truly once- in-a-lifetime.
 By day, we toured museums and
universities, but by night, we saw Tokyo for
ourselves. The bustling city is a modern
Manila: with vending machines on every
corner, city lights bright in the night sky,
people going about their business with
Japanese diligence. It was hard to see how
such a large city could be so neat, but so it
was, running with Japanese clockwork. The
chance to eat at an authentic ramen bar, to
see the local malls and shops, to visit the
city’s mystical temples- it was an immersion
of culture that could only happen in such a
place bursting to the seams with history and
diversity.
However, seeing how in Japan,
ancient culture does not give way nor resist
but instead beautifully melds with modern
progress, I am filled with hope that someday,
our own sun will rise in a brilliant dawn.
Activity 3: Answer the
questions briefly.

1. What things amazed the

author during his cultural
immersion to Japan?

2. How do modernity and

culture blend in Japan?
What is a travelogue?
A travelogue is a piece of
writing about travel; a talk or lecture
on travel usually accompanied by a
film or slides; a narrated motion
picture about travel.
The travelogue may be
classified as:
fantasy described or given as exposition
of fact,

literature of recorded fact, and

literature of artistic presentation of

recorded impressions and feeling during
travel.
An interesting travelogue includes
factual information about the history,
culture, geography, cuisine, people,
and language of the place you visited.
However, these facts must relate to
the theme of your travel article. This
means to say that you must observe
originality in presenting the facts in
your travelogue.
 Show the readers what you
experienced in the travel by scene-building.
Describe the place using vivid words and
sensory details. Describe sights, smells,
tastes, sounds, and feelings -- literally and
figuratively.
Dialogues, anecdotes, and
storytelling can also help highlight the
actions and build important scenes of your
travel. Your attitude towards the place you
visited will affect the tone of your
travelogue. Use humor and irony to
maintain light tone. Emphasize the joy of
traveling the place by presenting valuable
lessons and insights you gained from your
travel.
Key Points to Consider in writing a travelogue:
1. A description of nothing but places you’ve visited and exotic food
you’ve eaten will most likely be perceived as a boring travelogue rather
than an interesting read.
2. A travelogue needs a central idea, which will be the backbone of
your whole piece of writing. Life lessons you’ve learned during the
voyage, your reflections about the differences between the places
you’ve visited, or at least some historic theme could serve as such a
backbone.
Key Points to Consider in writing a travelogue:
3. Deviate from the common tourist routes and make explorations of
your own. This way, you can add lots of interesting, distinctive places
into your descriptions, which will definitely add value to your
travelogue.
4. Keeping a travelogue within the structure of an essay is a sound way
to present your material.
5. You don’t necessarily need to write only about the attractiveness of
the place you’ve visited.
 a. Language use: Is it too formal, too informal,
Things that or, just right?
you should b. Is the tone that you use in writing the story
and choice of words appropriate?
consider in c. Are there enough evidence to support your
evaluating if arguments?
your story or d. What kind of evidences are provided?
(anecdotes, quotes, articles or books). Are the
article has evidences that you provided appropriate?
achieved its e. Are there sections in your story that are
confusing or unclear?
goals. f. Is the right genre used in writing your story?
ACTIVITY 4:
A. Write your own travelogue. Recall the place
where you have travelled and which you
consider as the best place you have been to.
Be able to apply things and the techniques
that you have learned in the discussion.
Refer to the rubrics below on how your work
shall be assessed.
B. Attach picture/s about the place in your
travelogue write-up. Write a short caption
about it. Refer to the rubrics below on how
your work shall be assessed.