MY ESSAYS IN ENGLISH
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Selected coursework at Yale University: |
 How Real Are Latecomer Advantages?
(Paper)
(Spring, 2003) | This is the final paper for my Urban Environment and Management in Asia class at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Written based on my own presentation. See below. |
How Real Are Latecomer's Advantages? (Powerpoint Presentation)
(Spring, 2003) | This is the powerpoint presentation of the draft of my final paper for the Urban Environment and Management in Asia class. I like this class. I like my presentation. Good art work as well. ;-) For the paper, see above. |
The Role of Local Municipal Government in Urban Environmental Government
(Spring, 2003) | Midterm short paper for the Urban Environment and Management in Asia class. Taught by Professor Bai Xuemei. |
Reading Response to Stock Fever
(Spring, 2003) | My reading response to an article about the Stock Fever in Shanghai around 1992. For my anthropology class Culture and Political Economy. Taught by Professor Helen Siu. Anthropology is a different branch of social science... |
Qualcomm's Strategy in
China Wireless Telecom Market (Fall, 2002) | Final paper (in partnership) for my School of Management (SOM) class Business, Government and Globalization. In this class, we played as QUALCOMM in the strategic game of Chinese Wireless Telecom Market. The game was interesting though somewhat disorganized. Anyway in general, I like this class. Prof. Bracken seemed rather lenient as I was dramatically late for class for several times, hehe. Our QUALCOMM did a not-too-bad job and my partner got her first baby at the same time!
:-D |
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT: Strategy for Northeast Asia
(Fall, 2002) | Final paper for my Political Science class U.S. National Security by Professor William Odom. This class was from the angle of US National Security Council Staff, so so different from my usual perspective as I am Chinese! This short paper is a policy memo for the US President on Northeast Asia Strategies. In taking this class and writing papers for it, I have learned to view things with even more detachment, which is one of my goals at Yale or in my life. Meanwhile, I have become more realistic: every country has the right to pursue and defend its own interests in the game of power. After all, this world is not idyllic. C'est la vie. This realization is not such a happy one but I am glad that I have come to it. Initially I just took this class to fulfil my comparative politics requirement, but apparently it went way beyond my expectation. |
Kosovo War: US Performance Review (Fall, 2002) | After reading Winning Ugly by Daalder and O'Hanlon on the Kosovo War, we were asked to comment on the key figures on the US part. Yes, this is the war where US bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade "by mistake". And I had thought Milosevic was simply so heroically and tragically cool in his defiance in the court. Other than these, I knew/cared little about this war. Now I know a lot more and see things in context...(Class: ditto) |
President Bush's War on Terrorism from Clausewitz's Perspectives (Fall, 2002) | Terrorism, terrorism, terrorism...What a sad buzzword! We were asked to comment on Bush's anti-terrorism war with some of Clausewitz's famous quotes. Clausewitz's On War is such a huge book!! (Class: ditto) |
Electronic Commerce, International Trade and Developing Countries (Spring, 2002) | This paper is for my International Trade Policy and WTO class by Professor Brian McDonald. He was a very good Irish(?) man with red complexion. He also gave me advice on looking for an internship. Finally, coincidentally enough, I interned at the E-commerce branch in UNCTAD (Geneva) that summer. He must have liked drinking because after the whole course was over, he invited us to his office to drink wine!!! |
Volkswagen - China Strategy (Spring, 2002) | This final paper is for my SOM class International Strategy and Competition by Professor David Collis, done in team. This British professor had British humor, sometimes making fun of the Americans, hehe. His class was interesting and he sometimes would make wise observations on life and time. In one of the last classes, his advice to the graduating students was so touching...Now he is back in Harvard. With a wife from New Zealand, he liked to talk about sheep, which added to his charm in my eyes, hehe. |
Resistance and Adaptation: Huang Zongxi's Yimin Identity in the Dynamics of Ming-Qing Transition (Spring, 2002) | I took a Topics in Ch'ing Intellectual History class by Professor Ann-ping Chin. This seminar was demanding but thought-provoking. I experienced the pain as a historian in writing this paper. Furthermore, Ii think what I wrote about has contemporary relatedness: the resistance and adaptation in one's values in a new environment. Anyway, I was very into this topic. I was impressed by Ann-Ping's passion toward history (but her undergraduate major was maths!!) She kindly invited us to her house to present our final paper outlines. I still remember the beautiful spring flowers along our way there. After our presentation and discussion in her book-laden study, she cooked nice dinner for us and we chatted with her and her family. (Btw, her husband is the famous and much admired Professor Jonathan Spence, with whom I studied in the previous semester.) |
Nestle, Agnellis Over Perrier (Spring, 2002) | This powerpoint presentation about a takeover case is for my SOM class International Corporate Finance and Strategy, done in team. The class was adequately interesting. I made a big contribution to the presentation, hehe. Furthermore, I think it is very aesthetically appealing...that is because of my good taste!!! |
Terrible Rumors about Christianity and the Missionaries in Late Qing: What and Why? (Fall, 2001) | I took Qing and Republican China history class with Professor Jonathan Spence, the famous historian on China. My attention was drawn to the terrible rumors about the missionaries made up by the average Chinese in late Qing when the Westerners brought in opium, gunpowder coercion ad religion altogether. |
Chen Duansheng and Meng Lijun: The Woman Author and Her Heroine Ahead of the Time (Fall, 2001) | I was so much fascinated by this story: An ancient Chinese woman, dressed as a man, worked her way up to the prime minister because of her talents and capabilities. She challenged the rule of man. But ironically, her authority to challenge came from her identity as a MAN of high status instead of a woman as she was. After all, she was not able to break away from the social confinement. I also compared the female author's life to this heroine. Hehe, since my major at Fudan was literature, this was exactly what I could do and what I liked to do. Rebellion, confinement, self-imposed limitation, human condition, tragedy, et cetera. (Class: ditto) |
Cultural and Social Context of the Litigation Masters in the Qing Dynasty (Fall, 2001) | My first paper on Chinese history (subject: primal form of lawyers in China). I was not too sure of it. But I am glad that I made a start. So amazing, I studied Chinese history in depth in America...(Class: ditto) |
Selected coursework at Fudan University and other random writings: |
Why Do We Chat Online? Version 3.0
(English and Scholastic) | This article is based on my essay published in September, 2000, in IT section of Xin Min Evening. It invited much discussion from the readers in the following month until the editor said "enough!". It is intellectually exciting to see in the newspaper that so many people frankly put forward their opinions and wrote about their own experience, all somewhat initiated by me. In this English and longer version, I would like to explore this topic further. |
| Sports and Violence | These days the Olympics are going on, I found this essay, though not written now, somewhat relevant. About the motivation of violence in sports. |
| Buses vs. Private Cars | Which should be developed with priority in Shanghai? From a view of economy which I was studying at the time of writing (1998). But actually this is an English writing course test with no materials at hand finished in class. Got me an A. |
| On History | My understanding of history and the proper attitude toward history. |
| A Dream of Mine | This is a real dream sometime around 1998. A very fresh angle to reflect the two themes of the world: Peace and Development, and their relationship with me. |
| My undergraduate thesis, exploring the novel of this Jewish writer from 2 angles-- Biblical influence and Existential influence, comparing it with Jewish history, the story of Job, St. Francis of Assisi, Crime and Punishment etc., got an A :-) |
 An Exploration into Euphemism
| Explore the motivation and phenomenon of euphemism from Freudian point of view |
| Human beings, infinity, universe, the relationship between them |
| On this Indian poet's role in the cultural exchange with China, got No. 2 in an essay competition sponsored by Consulate General Of India, Shanghai |
| Animals are mute. But I by no means expect them to talk to me since language is sometimes such a futile way of communication. |
| Hey, how is your university life compared with mine? Guess you will smile after reading. |
| Well, it is complicated issue. But it doesn't prevent me from discussing it here. |
| Yes, you read correctly. Obviously, I didn't succeed anyway or else I won't be here. Don't expect to read a dark and moody piece, it's kind of funny experience instead. |
Disobedience:A High School Episode | Have you watched the cartoon series Beavis and Butthead? Our American professor asked us to make up a story in similar light. Hope you find it funny and ironic. |
| The self-comment on Disobedience:A High School Episode, focusing on the satirical elements that I intend to put in this story. |
| Faith | On this abstract concept of faith, how concrete can I be? |
| Insouciance is an essay of D.H. Lawrence. Let me comment a little bit. |
| My English Learning Autobiography | I happen to have English as my undergraduate major. But this autobiography covers much more than English-learning. Rather, it primarily deals with the growth of my youth personality. |
| Why I Write | Maybe you will think this topic is improper for me. I agree. However, in writing this, I have explored myself in terms of psychological motivation. It is somewhat funny. |
| Narcotization: What the Pets Have Done to Us | Some thoughts about pet-keeping. Hope it is not offensive to you if you happen to be a pet-keeper. |
| Munching the Barbecue | We went to an island and had a barbecue. But this essay does not just stop there. I discussed about a trend of nostalgia and even modern human condition. |
| College Pleasures | Our professor asked us to write about college pleasures after we read an essay tattled "College Pressures", describing the condition of some US famous Universities. An interesting essay and interesting comment from the teacher. |
| 1997, A Special Year | What did 1997 mean to average Chinese? Hong Kong's return must be a buzz word. This is the script of my speech for Professor Anna Lincoln English Speech Contest in May 1997, which won me Third Prize. |
| An Aspect of the Human Existence: The Theme of Eveline | We were asked to write an analysis of the short story "Eveline" without being told the author was James Joyce. We were expected to write independently. I like this story and got an A. |
A Disabusal of a Dulcet Notion | "One citizen is as good as another"--I really cannot agree to this opinion. Equality is too ambiguous and abstract. Why do we so breezily say it when it is almost impossible to achieve? |
| On Disability | Some of my thoughts about disability especially in developing countries. |
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