Help with 散文 topic

[fatmermaid]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here, and I'm so glad I found this site! It's been so much help.

I'm studying Chinese at the moment, and we have to write a 散文.

(An essay inwhich you express your feelings about a topic?)

Could someone help clear up what exactly is meant by a 散文 ?

And the topic we are given is 合从连横 (hezong lianheng).

I know the story behind that term...but we have to apply that concept to everyday terms..can anyone help??

Thanks so much.

[skylee]

I suppose it should be 纵, not 从 (纵, vertical, being the opposite of 橫, horizontal).

I would say 散文 is a general term for essays/articles written in prose to express what one thinks or feels. IIRC, poems etc are called 韻文.

If you are required to write an essay on this subject, I guess your chinese is quite good. I wouldn't know what to write if I were given this subject. For example, do I comment on what happened during the Warring States period? Or do I comment on a specific case citing it as an example of the tactic? Or do I describe how a situation can be solved using this tactic? Or do I comment on the pros and cons of the tactic? Since the tactic is usually used in politics and business, the issue can be quite grand.

[fatmermaid]

thanks skylee!!

and yes, its meant to be 纵 not 从。 my mistake sorry! yeah the example we were given was in business terms... but my chinese isnt that good! so i'm having a hard time writing about this.

but we are allowed to write about either 合纵 or 连横.

is that easier? are there any specific examples related to either of these?

thankss again.