kumin's Blog

Re: Independent Writing Task 5

Imagine you have to attend a national service at young age. Until then you have studied about your country at a school. Without real experiences as a supporting member of national activity, how can you really understand about your own country and love it? I personally agree with the assertion that all young adults should be required to do some sort of national service for their county.

To beginning with, I believe that young people will learn patience through national services. Usually people tend to choose an easy way than good and hard way when they face to a difficulty. Consider, for example, young people like many attractive things around them such as a party, hanging out with friends and watching TV and put aside important things. If they have to attend a national service as their duty, they also have to put up with such attractive activities. National services are not enjoyable and are mostly hard works, because it is to support people in a country. Once young people learn to be patient, it becomes easier to find what is necessary for them and they can prevent from wrong choices in their lives.

In addition to the issue of acquiring patience, I think that young adults can learn how to behave well in a society through a national service. Military service or activities to help people and environment in a country are good opportunities to bring people awareness about their society for young adults. Of course, in some cases, young people can acquire good behavior without national services, but mostly it is hard for them to realize the importance to care other people. For instance, in military service, they spend their time in a group with hard trainings and strict rules. They must learn to follow a rule and help each other during the service. After that they will understand what role they should play to make a group better in a work, community and family.

Finally, in combination with patient ability and sociality, I feel that attending national services will inspire young adults to study about their own country. If they see people who are poor or suffered from disease or disability with their own eyes, they would eager to change their political system to improve their situations. They would realize there are many things in real world that their schools didn’t teach them including their country’s history, politics and relationship with other countries. For example, military has to protect their citizens in a dangerous situation such as an attack from another country or natural disaster. Sometimes people of Military would be dispatched to a war or supporting activity in another country. In such a situation they will want to know about their country’s position in the world

In considering national service for young adults, I have explored issues such as getting patience; learning social behavior; and interest about their country. These functions lead me to agree with the idea that people should attend a national service of their country while they are young.

Re: Integrated Writing Task 4

The reading passage presents characteristics about the theory of Carry Capacity. Based on the information, the professor explains its details using an example of the relationship between populations of wolf and rabbit in the Big Horn Forest.

To begin with, the professor points out that the number of wolf was rising when there were many rabbits in the forest which is the primary resource for wolves. The number of rabbits was also rising when there were abundant plants in the forest. On the other hand, wolves died of starving or left from the forest when the number of rabbits was low there. This supports the point in the reading passage that all organisms can live within wherever they can get all necessities including food.

The reading passage also asserted that a population of organisms keeps rising or falling in the long term depending on amount of their resources. He supported this point. He explains that in twenty years the population of wolf in the forest were increasing and decreasing repeatedly. He states that the populations of wolf were always contrary to the ones of rabbit at each point, 5, 10 and 20 years ago. The number of wolf was controlled by how many rabbits there were in the forest because rabbits are food of wolves.

Re: Independent Writing Task 4

Usually people think that a university is a place where students get specific knowledge or education. However, when students go to a school to get a good career, it should be a place to prepare for working professionally. An internship or work experiences are good training opportunities for students who haven’t worked before. I personally agree with the assertion that a university education should always include an internship or some type of work experience.

To begin with, I believe that some work experiences as a school curriculum would make students interested in their specialized classes. While students don’t understand how a subject is related to real business situation, they might just study for a degree or examination. As long as they are not interested in a specialized subject, their knowledge would be temporal. If students have work experiences, they would fully understand the necessity of study. From my experience, I have no experience of internship or work experiences. So, I often needed to look into the text books that I used in my college whenever I had difficulties in my work. I found that I didn’t have enough knowledge to start working because I had always studied to pass a examination.

In addition to interest for study, I think that students will find a firm goal by meeting professional people or other interns through a work experience. Consider, for example, if a school has a curriculum of internship, students could have internships relating to their major. People who work at the companies could be a role model of students or give them advice. Especially people who are working professionally must know a best way to build a good carrier from their experience or connection. Without internship, students have few chances to meet someone who is working professionally in their field. It is difficult for them to get know potential carrier options by themselves.

Finally, in the combination with interest to study and finding a goal, I feel that internship or work experiences will bring students good opportunities to find a job. If students have work experiences, they could get basic social rule and vocational skill. Students also could make an opportunity to get a position in their host companies or related companies during their internship. According to my experience, when I looked for a job after graduation, I had to send my resumes to a lot of companies and had few interviews. I really had hard time to find a job. I wished that I would have had connection for a job at that time.

In considering work experiences for students, I have explored issues such as their interest for study; having a clear goal; and good opportunities for a job. These factors lead me agree with that students can get benefits with university education including an internship or some type of work experience.

Re: Integrated Writing Task 2

The reading passage talks about the diversity of language in popular culture and provides two points. In the response of it, the professor agrees with the idea and supports each point.

To begin with, the professor states that a movie influence languages that people use in a certain era. He explains that the phrase, “May the force with you”, came from Star Wars which is a movie released in 1977. He also says that people used this phrase in 80’ and don’t use it any more. You might feel this expression is for old generation. This supports the point in the reading passage that language made by popular culture is different depending on generations.

The professor also asserts that language from popular culture differs depending on places. He says that some phrases are very popular in Canada because that they were created by a Canadian comedy TV show. He states that these expressions can have meaning in Canada, but they don’t mean anything in Britain or Australia where people speak English. This point agrees with the point in the reading passage that geographical different areas have different languages from popular culture.

Re: Integrated Writing Task 3

The reading passage explains Michelangelo is the most famous artist in the renascence and provides two reasons. However, the professor doesn’t agree with the idea and disputes these arguments.

To begin with, the professor points out that the Statue of David is the work sculpted by not only Michelangelo but also some artists. He states that the first inspiration of this statue came from another artist and that he just completed the work which another sculptor didn’t finish. This casts doubt on the point in the reading passage that this statue is his masterpiece he created for three years.

The reading passage also asserted that Michelangelo painted the ceiling and created other works in the Sistine Chapel as his work for forty years. However, the professor disputes this point as well, pointing out that thousands of artists contributed the decorations in the Chapel. It means that these are not only his works. He also states that the fact that these artists could work very well showed his talent to manage working people. 

Re: Independent Writing Task 3

Beyond doubt, art contribute our society. Great music or paintings, movies could heal people when they have heart breaks or big stress. Children could develop their artistic ability by looking at or listening to works created prestigious artists. However, I personally agree with the assertion that scientists make the most important contributions to society.

To begin with, I think that scientific invention or research could help people. Especially in medical field, scientists have developed many medicines, medical devices and diagnosis. They have made it possible to find a cause of disease in early stage and made many options to treat patients. The medical development has saved many patients every moment who were supposed to lose their lives some years ago. For example, there were many kinds of infectious disease including tuberculosis or influenza in human history. Many people died of the diseases in the past. However, after scientists invested many types of vaccine, the mortality of infectious disease decreased rapidly.

In addition to medical contribution, I believe that science can make our lives more convenient. In modern life, we use many convenient tools such as a car, refrigerator and computer. With these modern technologies, we can go anywhere quickly, communicate with people all over the world and eat what you like every day. For instance, people didn’t have cell phones a few decades ago. At that time, they couldn’t get contact with someone whenever they want to after going out. They always had to look for a public phone. This situation used to bring them troubles for an appointment or schedule. These days a cell phone solved these problems in such an irritating situation.

Finally, alongside the issues of development in medical field and modern technology, I feel that people can keep their lives safe thanks to scientists. You must have seen or been examined body check with a machine at an airport when you flied to another country from your county. Dangerous chemicals or guns, knives could be found without being looking at inside of a suitcase or pockets. If custom officers find someone who has powder, they can find out whether or not it is illegal drug quickly. These cases don’t allow dangerous people to enter to your country using scientific technique. Scientific proof can identify someone who is against low and helps you stay away from dangerous environment.

In considering the issue of science and its contribution, I have explored factors such as medical effect, modern technology and safe environment. These considerations lead me to agree that scientists give our society more important contribution than artists do. 

Re: Independent Writing Task 2

Some people might like having many casual friends. While you hang out with such friends, you could share many perspectives with different friends and enjoy many activities or sports, music. A lot of friends could bring you useful information with their network. However, I personally agree with the assertion that it is better to have one or two friends than a large number of casual acquaintances.

To begin with, I believe that only close friends help you and give you their time when you really need help. In your daily life, you often have a difficult situation. Nowadays people are very busy to take care of themselves or their families and cannot care about other’s problem. Only close friends care about you without any rewards. From my own experience, a close friend helped me when I was sick and had to stay alone in my apartment. At that time, I couldn’t move from my bed at all, but my best friend visited me with fruits, nutritious food and medicine. I really appreciated her consideration.

In addition to help from close friends, I think that you can’t find real friendship among a lot of casual friends. When you have a few close friends, you would hang out with them most of the time. And then you would talk about many private things with them such as your boyfriend (girlfriend), family, work and school. Such friends understand you very much because of your detail private information. When you have a problem, they could give you good advice so that you can get over it. Real friendship must be built among close friends while they can share many things including difficulties.

Finally, alongside of the issues of help and real friendship of close friends, I feel that you can keep touch with only a few close friends for long time even when you live away from the friends. While people are spending time together in same situation such as a school, work, club activity and dormitory, it is easy for them to stay as friends because they often see each other. After leaving the same situation, they could keep only close friends. Of course, in some cases, people can keep touch with many friends with internet tool such as facebook or blog. However, according to my experience, I have been able to keep touch with only good friends. When I was a college student I lived with three students in a school dormitory. We were very close and always talked together until late night. They are still good friends for me now even if we are living and working in different areas.

In considering how many and what type of friends you should have, I have explored such as issues; help from close friends; real friendship; and long term friendship. These factors lead me to believe that there are more advantages while people have a few close friends rather than a lot of many casual friends.

Re: Integrated Writing Task 1

The reading passage states that wind power has some serious disadvantages in spite of its benefits. However, the professor claims that the points are not problematic and refutes the author’s reasons.

To begin with, the professor explains that once a generation of wind power starts running it can pay back the cost of its set up within nine months. This casts doubt on the point in the reading passage that the wind power spends a lot of energy for manufacture and transport in the stage of setting up wind farms.

The reading passage also claims that wind turbines threat to migrating birds or bats. However, the professor explains that the number of birds or bats being killed by them is not serious. He says that more birds are killed by cars, buildings or pollution rather than by wind turbines. He asserts that according to a study in Denmark, this kind of birds or bats can avoid the threat in the area of power farms and off shores which have many wind firms doesn’t do harm to bats.

In addition, the professor states that off shores having wind turbines are stretched and requires only a little land use. He claims that the power farms can be utilized for agriculture and grazing. This point would seem to cast doubt on the argument in the reading passage that wind farms require large amounts of land to generate effective wind power.

The professor finishes by asserting that wind farms are usually away from the area where people live. He explains that even if there are wind farms in people’s living area, in a study by British researchers 70 % people don’t mind a wind farm in their community. This point disputes the reading passage that wind turbines give negative visual impact where people live.

Re: Independent Writing Task 1

Some people might think that television does harm to children because they like television and tend to watch it for long hours instead of conversation with family. In addition, you might find a violent or sexual program which you don’t want to show children. However, I personally disagree with the statement “watching is bad for children”.

To begin with, I think that television could be good educational tool for children. Nowadays, there are many educational programs in a variety of fields such as science, history and foreign languages. They are usually designed well by professional TV stuff so that children can understand many things easily. In the programs, you can find different approaches to give children a valuable lecture visually including video made by computer graphics, short drama or scientific experiments. Not only educational programs but also regular programs could offer educational information through a quiz show or a historical story. For example, when I was a child I used to watch an animation program based on the story about French revolution every week. Thanks to the program, I understood what happened in France at that time and I got interested in European history very much.

In addition to educational factor of television, I feel that children can communicate well with their friends about common topic. Consider, for example, when a very popular program for children is on air, many children must watch the program at home and then they would talk about it in their school on the next day. They could get know a new story of a drama or popular songs by watching television and would find favorite actors or songs. Children can share common topic with their classmates. It makes children get closer to their classmates and they can build friendship. Television offers many kinds of program and people are interested in a different program depending on their age. Children in same age would be interested in a same program which they can share topic about.

Finally, alongside educational aspect and building friendship among classmates, I believe that children can find admire profession by watching television. You often find a drama or documentary based on a story of professional worker like a doctor, lawyer and police. Usually a professional person in a program is depicted as a hero who can solve a difficult problem or help people in need. It is true that the kind of story is very different from reality, but such a successful story would inspire children to have a goal and study hard to become an ideal profession. According to my own experience, there was a popular drama about a story of middle school teacher in my childhood. The story had problems made by different students every week and the teacher always solves the problems. I really admired him and started studying hard to become a teacher.

In considering about watching television for children, I have explored issues such as educational programs; better communication with friends; and setting of future goals. These factors lead me to disagree with the assertion that watching television is bad for children.