In this modern age when relaxing meant going to spas or gyms or spending a hefty sum of money on a hobby, the art of writing book reports have been ignored. You, just like Calvin, might think that book reports are merely written assignments students need to submit and can only be enjoyed by those who love to read. As it seems, book reports are nothing more than arduous obligations imposed by teachers to every student, regardless of his interest or intellectual capacity. Well, I think your attitude has kept you from experiencing something wonderful and it simply needed to change.

For starters, try reading a short story. It is an effective way to help you discover why reading is possibly the best way to relieve the stress of modern everyday life. The simple act of sitting down in a tranquil place and taking one’s imagination to different periods and places is an inexpensive yet a very satisfying stress buster.

If you are about to write a book report, whether it’s obligatory or a well-intended attempt, I suggest that you first learn to appreciate the book. Do this by settling in a quiet place that has no distractions, a place where you can be freely transported to the world of the book. The book does not have to be finished in one sitting, though many people prefer this, it can be read over a number of days. You can read the book per chapter or by a set number of pages. The key here is finding your limitation and pace, which will make the experience enjoyable. Read to the point where it is still comfortable. When the eyes already feel heavy and the mind can no longer absorb the story, it’s time to put the book down for some other time.

When your book report is assigned by the teacher, as always seems to be the case with Calvin, you have no other choice but to appreciate the assigned book. If, however, you have the freedom to choose, you must decide whether to read a fiction or a non-fiction. This is an important aspect to consider, otherwise problems will arise. Writing about a book you don’t like will only produce a book report that is filled with negativity. Such work is a turn off to professors and readers.

Knowing the basic steps on how to enjoy a book produces book reports that are well written and more engrossing to read.

I remember back in high school, when I had to write an essay on a topic I have no full knowledge of, I would make a brave effort to impress my teacher by submitting a work based on my shallow personal interpretation. The result…well, though it doesn’t look anything near the gibberish words Calvin used to explain Newton’s first law of motion, it still failed to fulfill its purpose. My teacher, as I recall, gave me a C for my misguided effort.

Students today have a better way to avoid the dreaded written assignment. Through companies offering custom essays, they can have a well-written material without exerting any effort, except maybe from logging on the internet and reaching inside their pockets. Essay providers are immensely in-demand because only a handful of students, whether in high school or in college, are willing to spend their Saturday nights in front of the computer instead of partying.

The convenience these providers can offer is so tempting that even students who fully know their assigned topic prefer to take the easy road. After all, with a pool of writers that specialize in different fields of study, essay providers are better equipped in writing about subjects or issues one could think of. Knowing this crushes my spirit; I can only imagine the disappointment teachers and professors feel when their students lose the opportunity to learn valuable lessons that can only be gained through essay writing.

As I study legitimate providers and compare them to bogus ones, I discovered that their intention is not really to promote laziness among students. Their desire is to give students a material that can be used as a research resource. Sadly, however, reputable providers admit that their products are open for abuse, and they can only do so much to prevent it.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to promote essay providers, for I will always be a staunch supporter of old-fashioned essay writing. I’m completely aware that by acquiring the product of an essay provider, regardless of how I’ll use it, will keep me from gaining skills, knowledge and character that are essential to help me attain professional success in the future. My only hope is that regular clients of essay providers will see the devastating effects of loopholes on their academic and even professional life, and that they would realize the beauty of writing their own essay.

Funny how we often find ourselves having nothing to write when the world is actually brimming with topics we can praise, defend or ridicule. Inspiration for literary pieces is everywhere; it can be in the environment, music, politics or personal experiences. By searching deeply, we will realize that we are never too short of a good subject to discuss. If, however, you’re still not getting anything out of your head, like in my case sometimes, try asking yourself these questions.

What is something you dislike about yourself?
What is something you do well?
What is your favorite time of day?
What is the best advice you ever received?
What is your favorite book and why?
Where would you go if you can fly? When would you use your ability?
What would happen if people can live in space? What type of houses would they live in? What type of clothing would they wear?
What will you do if you have the power to become invisible?
What are the characteristics of a real friend?

These are just few of the questions I ask myself when my mind goes blank. If you have more to add to the list, please let me know. Who knows, one of your query might inspire the next Pulitzer Prize.

Suffering a mental block is undoubtedly one of the most dreadful afflictions any writer goes through once in a while. I should know, for I can recall several moments when my mind cannot come up with a topic to write about. Normally, taking a short rest and reading will help, but there are just times that nothing seems to be powerful enough to remove the great big block that prevents my creative juice from flowing freely. I can always result to what other people do just to find an immediate remedy; and that is to write about topics many people would love to read over and over again, like fashion, celebrity news, and gadgetries. There is nothing wrong with these topics, but it will not satisfy my desire to open the minds of readers to subjects with more substantial value.

As I struggle with my affliction, I realized I failed to consider my family and friends as a source of help. With their rich life experiences, they can provide me with subjects that can inspire and even possibly change the lives of readers. I suggest that students who are searching for an original topic for their essay or thesis should first approach those people closest to them for ideas. They will discover, just like the way I did, that the most amazing subjects for any writing work come from those who truly care for them.

This strip reminds me of the time when I first did a book report. We were nearing the end of our last semester in seventh grade and as a final project, our English teacher assigned each student a book that needs to be read and evaluated within a week. My book was Dracula by Bram Stoker. Back then, I wasn’t really a big reader. The only time I read was when I had to study my lessons; other than that, I shun away from books. “How can I possibly finish a 300-page book when a three-page essay already bores me to tears?” I asked myself. I just knew that with my lackluster attitude towards reading and my pitiful reading rate, I could never submit a respectable book report after a week. So to solve my quandary, I skimmed the first few pages and based my whole book report on the summary page of my paper back. The result? Well, amazingly, I got a B or a B minus. Not bad for a non-reader.

I wasn’t aware that by flipping through a few pages of Dracula a seed had been planted in me. If given the chance, I’d thank my English teacher for introducing me to a world that’s only limited by one’s imagination. Without her final project I would not have learned to love reading and, most especially, writing.

Well, yeah, Calvin’s purpose for writing may be a little perverse, but he’s still worth commending for recognizing the importance of practice in writing. Successful authors both now and before, regardless of how destructive or inspiring their books are, reached their lofty status because they never stopped developing their craft. More often than not, they are the typical campus figure who consistently aced essays and book reports, and are members of exclusive clubs for writers or have a job in the school publication. CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien for instance were members of a literary discussion group at Oxford University that honored fiction and encouraged the writing of fantasy. Stephen King, one of modern-day’s most prolific writers, wrote a weekly column back in college. Anyone who enters college and desires to pass every written assignment with high marks must find ways where he can regularly practice his writing skills, just like what these magnificent writers did.

Calvin may not have the workings of the next Charles Dickens, but if he never stops practicing and, hopefully, develops a more noble reason for writing, his name might be placed side-by-side with the names of history’s greatest writers. Many students, however, no matter how attracted they are to writing simply do not know how to start. How can one deepen his appreciation for writing? How can one define a purpose? What’s the best way to practice writing? Students are bombarded with weighty questions that stop them from setting off.

Thankfully, help is available. And students sometimes fail to realize that their best source of help is only within their reach. Professors and instructors are just waiting in their rooms hoping students who have a passion for writing will visit and ask for their guidance. Help is available even outside the confines of the University walls. The internet is full of online courses and freelance professionals that can effectively train an individual become an excellent writer. Whether inside or outside the classroom, students have all the available resources they need to practice their craft and to find purpose in writing truly powerful book reports, essays, or any other written assignment.

Would it be great if we can just ride an F-15 and blow our problems away? I could think of a few people that I strongly feel should be erased from the face of the planet. There is my litterbug neighbor who doesn’t give a hoot if her trash extends to our front lawn, or my other neighbor who keeps me constantly awake and irritated by his crude behavior and television. My list can probably extend to the corner of the street. There are just too many people and events in my life both now and before that I want to eradicate from my memory. My list also includes undesirable circumstances I’m facing presently that I wish to skip.

Thankfully, as I delved into the issue of pain and hardship I have learned that many unpleasant circumstances in our lives are necessary for our growth. It’s like going to school. When I was a kid I remember several instances when I just want to curl up in bed and wish I never had to attend class ever again. If my parents allowed that, I don’t think I’d be here typing my thoughts away. My talents and skills would never have been put to good use. To reject many of our hardships and trials in life is denying ourselves the opportunity to grow and become better people. In reality, what many people need to annihilate from their lives is their being bratty and disinterest to grow up.

In this comic strip, we see fearless Calvin refusing to accept the lesson his teacher is trying to impart. Actually the lesson has not even started yet – as the blank black board suggests – when Calvin butts in to express his disinterest. Mr. Wormwood must have felt a little kinder that day to allow the little tyke to spend the whole day in the playground. I can only imagine how Calvin must have felt when Ms. Wormwood just let him off without any question or the usual scolding. “I can do whatever I want,” Calvin must have thought while using school hours on the swing.

On a bigger scale, this comic strip reminds me of how we spurn the teaching of our parents or of God. We do have the freedom to disobey, heck we even have the option not to care, but we do not have the liberty to choose the consequences of our decisions. Being defiant or indifferent may appear independent or chivalrous, but its retribution is catastrophic. We must learn to accept the age-old lesson our parents and God himself is trying to inject in our noggin: Everything in life has borders. The sky has the mesosphere and troposphere to protect the earth from the sun’s radiation. Engineers have blueprints or manuals as guides to keep their project from collapsing. And we human beings have a set of moral standards to follow that will keep us from earthly and eternal trouble.

Calvin may have found it fun to reject his teacher’s lessons, but if he continuously insists his wants in class, I don’t think the rest of his life will be as fun. In life, everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.

When a cyclone swept through Burma last May and left millions homeless and hungry, several organizations immediately took action to provide aid. Thousands have already been saved and cared for, but thousands more are left hungry, sick and without a home. The supply of food, clothing and medicines that keeps on coming in is still not enough to meet the demand of the massive crisis. More help is needed.

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Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes has been a worldwide favorite among the young and old since its introduction in 1985. The strip follows the humorous capers of Calvin, a six-year old tyke, and Hobbes, his trusty and often sardonic stuffed tiger. Whether tackling serous issues about life, playing war games at the tree house, or playing a prank on mild-mannered classmate Susie, Calvin and Hobbes never fail to delight readers. To date, more than thirty million copies of the eighteen Calvin and Hobbes books have been printed.

Calvin and Hobbes immediately captured my attention the very first time I read one of its books. I just couldn’t put it down. It is one of those comic strips that is both funny and smart. A real work of art and an excellent piece of writing that outclass and outsmart many comic strips published today.

My fondness for Calvin and Hobbes actually go beyond their capacity to make me laugh, I simply adore them because of what they can teach me. Calvin, in particular, has asked so many questions that made me think about life and faith. I remember once when I was looking for lectures of my favorite author/philosopher on the Internet when I came across a site that used one of Calvin’s quip as his guiding question to prove the existence of God. The seemingly innocent remark suddenly became a profound question that left me pondering. “Remarkable”, I thought.

Moments when Calvin is at school or at home desperately trying to do his homework also offers great hilarity and learning. Bill Watterson was right when he said that six-year old kids are like little grown-ups. Whenever Calvin and Hobbes join force to finish a single essay reminds me of myself when I was still studying and when I began working and couldn’t think of anything to write. My fascination to Calvin’s witty ways of coping with life’s unexpected lessons and my love for writing are my reasons for creating this blog. May the contents of this online journal inspire and teach more people in ways that have made my personal and professional journey as a writer more enjoyable.