We're always looking for well­written reviews of books， music， movies， television shows， websites， video games and other products. When writing a review， concentrate on exactly what you liked or didn't like. Give examples of strengths and weaknesses，be descriptive and provide background information on an author，director，actor or musician，if possible. Find professional reviews in magazines or newspapers and see how reviewers deal with their topics，but be sure to express your own voice in your review.

    Grammar Hint for Reviews：When describing a book，movie， album or anything else，use the present tense.

Book Reviews

    Discuss an author's technique，strengths and weaknesses instead of focusing on the plot. Does the story flow？ Is there a strong sense of character and place？Did you stay up until dawn to finish it？Is it good reading for teenagers？What influence did it have on you and why？If you've read other books by the same author， discuss how this book compares.

Movie Reviews

    Think of the major Oscar categories and consider the performances， music， lighting and setting， etc. Do these work together？ Did some hold up while others didn't？ If the movie is based on a book， discuss whether one is better than the other and why. If the movie is a remake， compare the film to its original.

    Remember that a well­written movie review should discuss strengths and weaknesses. Some readers may not have seen a movie yet， so don't give away an exciting scene or the ending！

College Reviews

    Begin by providing an overview of the college，including location，size and a description of the campus and/or dorm life. Think about all aspects of your college visit. What academic，athletic and after­class programs are available？ What are the students like？ What makes the college different from others？ Every school has strengths and weaknesses. Be objective. Consider what the school has to offer and who might enjoy or benefit the most from attending there.

    Soft winds blew throughout the Windy City today. We welcomed the winds, as it was another hot day in Chicago. The wind blew, bringing us some coolness—and making the weather not that hot. But it was a beautiful summer day with a blue sky.

Chicago is a great city for eating, and we have enjoyed tasting the different foods. Last night, we tried one of the city's most famous foods: deep-dish pizza. Chicago claims credit for the rich and cheesy thick-crust pizza, covered with a sweet tomato sauce. We topped it with olives and green peppers.

       We were touring the city, mainly looking for delicious local foods. Today, we enjoyed a Polish specialty at lunch: Pierogis, an Eastern European dumpling-like dish, filled with foods like potatoes, cheese, mushrooms, cabbage and meat. Polish immigrants started settling in Chicago in the 1850s, and the city has one of the largest Polish communities in the U.S.

    We took a break from exploring the city to talk with some of you! Ashley and Caty logged onto the Internet for an on-the -road version of TALK2US. We spoke to an English teacher in Tokyo, Japan, and a graduate student in India.

Meanwhile, Adam searched for some locations around the city to shoot some video. He chose a spectacular spot: Navy Pier, Chicago's most-visited attraction. The winds from Lake Michigan keep visitors cool, and the view of the Chicago skyline never fails to impress. In fact, the view made all of us head over heels!

    Our time in Chicago has come to an end. Tomorrow, the true journey begins, as we pass through Illinois and into Missouri via Route 66. Springfield, the home of Abe Lincoln, and St. Louis, the “gateway to the West,” wait for us.

    Tang Dynasty poets sang for about three centuries in different tones. There were many famous poets living in the Tang period such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi and Li Shangyin. Poems of the Tang Dynasty edited in the Qing Dynasty is a collection of about 48,900 poems that were written by over 2,200 poets. But it didn't cover all the poems of the Tang Dynasty.

    During the Tang Dynasty, poems were recited when lovers walked under the moonlight. Poems were also recited when soldiers fought on the battlefield. People recited them in the open air or at temple fairs.

    In the Tang Dynasty scholars had to be poets. Their readers were not only people of high social position but also common people. Poets recited poems; women singers sang poems and other ranks of people, including old women and children, read Tang poems. This atmosphere affected foreigners who visited the country at that time. As a result, Tang poetry was introduced to some adjacent countries, like Japan and Vietnam.

    Tang poetry is a most brilliant page in the history of ancient Chinese literature. It's a miracle in the cultural history of mankind. The Tang Dynasty was a powerful empire with a vast territory. It inherited Chinese civilization that went back to ancient times, and was combined with the best of other cultures and adopted the benefits of other nations in the world. Tang poetry wasn't the only spiritual wealth created by the Tang Dynasty people. Philosophy and religion, handwriting and painting and music and dance all gained new peaks of development. Tang poetry, however, was the jewel in the crown and its greatest achievement.

    Garden of the Drunken Bai Pond

    With a history of more than 300 years, the Pond of the Drunken Bai, a classical garden in the style of Ming Dynasty, is among the Five Classical Gardens in Shanghai. "Bai" is said to be Li Bai, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty. However, some believe that "Bai" indicates Bai Juyi, another well-known poet in the Tang Dynasty.

    Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

    Located at the bank of the Dianshan Lake in Qingpu District, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, with a history of over 1,000 years, has been known as "Venice of Shanghai" for its simple but attractive appearance. Inside the own are rivers and bridges, giving tourists a sense of the ancient time.

    Upside-down House

    In China, the upside-down house is a new thing, but in foreign countries, it is getting more and more popular in recent years, especially in Poland. As is name suggests, the house is built inverted（倒置的）. Inside it, all the furniture and household items are placed upside down. People will feel the magic of a disorder space when walking in the house.

    Chenshan Botanical Garden

    The garden covers a total area of about 206 hectares（公顷）. Its theme is "plant and Health", combining research, education and landscape appreciation. It opened to the public in April, 2010, and is expected to be the largest one in Shanghai.

Tickets: 40 yuan per person; children under l.2m: free of charge if accompanied by an adult.

Volunteer with ICS and make a difference in 2019

    Raleigh International are looking for young people to volunteer overseas with ICS, development program which is fully funded by the UK Government, ICS aims to bring about three things: project impact, volunteer personal development and the creation of active citizens.

    •Aged 18-25 Apply as a volunteer. Placements last 10 weeks.

    •Aged 23-35 Apply as a learn leader. Placements last from 14 weeks to 8 months.

    Your impact

    •With Raleigh ICS, you will focus on improving people's access to water and health care, or supporting women and young people to set up small businesses in order to improve community development.

    •You will contribute to sustainable development and make a real difference to the lives of people living in poverty.

    What's in it for you?

    •It won't cost you a penny.

    Your flights, visas, vaccines, training,food, medical insurance and accommodation are all covered.

    •You'll have a completely unique experience.

    Living with a host family for 10-12 weeks, experiencing a new culture and working with local volunteers, you'll be part of the community.

    •You'll be more employable afterwards.

    •You'll gain teamwork, leadership and communication skills, which will make you stand out and set you up well for whichever career you choose.

    Interested? Apply online today.

    Requlrements

    •You'll need a positive attitude, commitment, and drive to make a difference.

    •You must be a UK or EU/EEA citizen and have lived in the UK for at least 12 months.

    •You'll be asked to raise a minimum of £800 to demonstrate your commitment to the program.

Westwinds Farm Campsite

    Open April - September

    (Booking is advised for holidays in July and August to guarantee a place.)

    Jim and Meg Oaks welcome you to the campsite. We hope you will enjoy your stay here. We ask all campers to show due care and consideration whilst staying here and to observe the following camp rules.

    Keep the campsite clean and tidy: dispose of litter in the bins provided; leave the showers, toilets and washing area in the same state as you found them; ensure your site is clear of all litter when you leave it.

    Don't obstruct rights of way. Keep cars, bikes, etc. off the road.

    Let sleeping campers have some peace. Don't make any noise after 10 o'clock at night or before 7:30 in the morning.

    Dogs must be kept on a lead. Owners of dogs that disturb other campers by barking through the night will be asked to leave.

    Disorderly behavior will not be tolerated.

    The lighting of fires is strictly prohibited.

    Ball games are not allowed on the campsite. There is plenty of room for ball games in the park opposite the campsite.

    Radios, portable music equipment, etc. must not be played aloud.

    The management reserves the right to refuse admittance.