A picture of Mo Yan, the winner of last year’s Nobel Prize for Literature, along with students of Futian High School were printed on the cover of the school’s notebook for writing composition. The notebooks were handed out to students as the new semester commenced last week. Traditional notebooks of this kind usually include only basic information such as the students’ names and classes.

    According to the principal of the school, Guo Qijun, the picture was taken a few years ago when Mo was invited to give speeches to the school’s literature club. The notebook’s second page is printed with Mo’s speech at the Nobel awards ceremony. The main theme of the speech was the commemoration of Mo’s mother. The purpose of the design was to increase students’ sense of gratitude, according to the school.

    The second and third pages of another kind of exercise book contain Chinese-American scientist Steven Chu’s graduation speech at Harvard University, whose theme is the importance of enthusiasm and persistence in study. The English exercise books’ second and third pages are a list of the world university rankings released by British newspaper The Times in 2012.

    Many students said they were suprised after receiving the specially designed notebooks. (Zhao Jie)

    (Zhao Jie)