"A Hanging" by George Orwell
Recall a time you witnessed someone being punished and the circumstances of the offence.How did the incident affect you and your understanding of the purpose of punishment?
My face was hidden behind a storybook and I tried to indulge in it, yet I was unable to concentrate. My ears were filled with the rumbling noise of a group of people sitting two seats away from me. I managed to overhear something obscurely.
“Have you all heard that Jason made Henry cried just now?”
“Yes.”
“He is going to be punished by Miss Lee.”
“Why? I thought the rumor was that Henry touted his results in front of Jason and mocked him because he failed his Chemistry test.”
“That’s true but you need to know that Henry is Miss Lee’s only child. She loves him a lot.”
Suddenly, a student rushed into the classroom and announced the imminent arrival of the teacher. Everyone quickly return to their respective seats. There was then total silence in the classroom. A few seconds later, Miss Lee walked into the classroom with heavy footsteps. She slammed the door behind and a loud creaking noise could be heard. The atmosphere was dreadfully tense.
The usual joyous expression was absent from her face. Her menacing eyeballs were sweeping around the classroom, searching for their little prey. Then, a loud croaky voice broke the silence.
“Jason Tan, can you please come to the front?”
Scornful glances now fell onto Jason. He looked very anxious. Curling up his arms and shoulders, he walked slowly to the front. His legs were reluctant to push him forward. When he reached the front, he was already panting nervously. I kept noticing him rubbing his hands towards one another.
“Are you going to admit that you hit Henry this morning until he fell onto the floor and suffered serious injuries?”
“B..b..but it wa……s Hen…..ry who pro…….voked the fi….i…ght.”
Jason voice wavered tremendously and it was virtually impossible to hear what he was talking about.
“I just want to know whether you hit him.”
“Y….eeeee…s”
“Then, the problem is solved. I am very happy that you are bold enough to admit your misdeed. Unfortunately you deserved to be punished.”
After finishing her last sentence, Miss Lee brought out her favorite weapon, the long thin cane, normally used to treat students who are naughty.
“Lift one of your palms, please.”
Jason closed his eyes tightly. His hands were shaking violently. His fear was so conspicuous that I could sense it from behind. Miss Lee tweaked his fingers slightly, intending to search for the best position. She then flung her cane forward and dealt a serious blow onto Jason’s palm. Instantaneously, his fingers crumbled together. Tears could be seen flowing out of Jason’s eyes while he wept.
“Again.”
The memory of this particular incident is still clearly embedded in my mind as it has completely changed my understanding of punishment. I understand that punishment is carried out to teach those who have misbehaved a lesson. Jason did fight with Henry and injured him. He did not think rationally but let his emotion took control of him. Therefore, he deserved to be punished as inflicting harm to other people without a reasonable reason is totally unacceptable in our society. However, I felt that punishment is sometimes administered unfairly. It depends on the preference of the person who carries out the punishment. Henry roused the fight in the beginning but did not receive any reprimand. This was totally ludicrous. I realized that relationship between the culprits and the person who perform the punishment can affect the way punishment is carried out.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Extensive Reading Programme
"A Hanging" by George Orwell
Recall a time you witnessed someone being punished and the circumstances of the offence.How did the incident affect you and your understanding of the purpose of punishment?
My face was hidden behind a storybook and I tried to indulge in it, yet I was unable to concentrate. My ears were filled with the rumbling noise of a group of people sitting two seats away from me. I managed to overhear something obscurely.
“Have you all heard that Jason made Henry cried just now?”
“Yes.”
“He is going to be punished by Miss Lee.”
“Why? I thought the rumor was that Henry touted his results in front of Jason and mocked him because he failed his Chemistry test.”
“That’s true but you need to know that Henry is Miss Lee’s only child. She loves him a lot.”
Suddenly, a student rushed into the classroom and announced the imminent arrival of the teacher. Everyone quickly return to their respective seats. There was then total silence in the classroom. A few seconds later, Miss Lee walked into the classroom with heavy footsteps. She slammed the door behind and a loud creaking noise could be heard. The atmosphere was dreadfully tense.
The usual joyous expression was absent from her face. Her menacing eyeballs were sweeping around the classroom, searching for their little prey. Then, a loud croaky voice broke the silence.
“Jason Tan, can you please come to the front?”
Scornful glances now fell onto Jason. He looked very anxious. Curling up his arms and shoulders, he walked slowly to the front. His legs were reluctant to push him forward. When he reached the front, he was already panting nervously. I kept noticing him rubbing his hands towards one another.
“Are you going to admit that you hit Henry this morning until he fell onto the floor and suffered serious injuries?”
“B..b..but it wa……s Hen…..ry who pro…….voked the fi….i…ght.”
Jason voice wavered tremendously and it was virtually impossible to hear what he was talking about.
“I just want to know whether you hit him.”
“Y….eeeee…s”
“Then, the problem is solved. I am very happy that you are bold enough to admit your misdeed. Unfortunately you deserved to be punished.”
After finishing her last sentence, Miss Lee brought out her favorite weapon, the long thin cane, normally used to treat students who are naughty.
“Lift one of your palms, please.”
Jason closed his eyes tightly. His hands were shaking violently. His fear was so conspicuous that I could sense it from behind. Miss Lee tweaked his fingers slightly, intending to search for the best position. She then flung her cane forward and dealt a serious blow onto Jason’s palm. Instantaneously, his fingers crumbled together. Tears could be seen flowing out of Jason’s eyes while he wept.
“Again.”
The memory of this particular incident is still clearly embedded in my mind as it has completely changed my understanding of punishment. I understand that punishment is carried out to teach those who have misbehaved a lesson. Jason did fight with Henry and injured him. He did not think rationally but let his emotion took control of him. Therefore, he deserved to be punished as inflicting harm to other people without a reasonable reason is totally unacceptable in our society. However, I felt that punishment is sometimes administered unfairly. It depends on the preference of the person who carries out the punishment. Henry roused the fight in the beginning but did not receive any reprimand. This was totally ludicrous. I realized that relationship between the culprits and the person who perform the punishment can affect the way punishment is carried out.
Recall a time you witnessed someone being punished and the circumstances of the offence.How did the incident affect you and your understanding of the purpose of punishment?
My face was hidden behind a storybook and I tried to indulge in it, yet I was unable to concentrate. My ears were filled with the rumbling noise of a group of people sitting two seats away from me. I managed to overhear something obscurely.
“Have you all heard that Jason made Henry cried just now?”
“Yes.”
“He is going to be punished by Miss Lee.”
“Why? I thought the rumor was that Henry touted his results in front of Jason and mocked him because he failed his Chemistry test.”
“That’s true but you need to know that Henry is Miss Lee’s only child. She loves him a lot.”
Suddenly, a student rushed into the classroom and announced the imminent arrival of the teacher. Everyone quickly return to their respective seats. There was then total silence in the classroom. A few seconds later, Miss Lee walked into the classroom with heavy footsteps. She slammed the door behind and a loud creaking noise could be heard. The atmosphere was dreadfully tense.
The usual joyous expression was absent from her face. Her menacing eyeballs were sweeping around the classroom, searching for their little prey. Then, a loud croaky voice broke the silence.
“Jason Tan, can you please come to the front?”
Scornful glances now fell onto Jason. He looked very anxious. Curling up his arms and shoulders, he walked slowly to the front. His legs were reluctant to push him forward. When he reached the front, he was already panting nervously. I kept noticing him rubbing his hands towards one another.
“Are you going to admit that you hit Henry this morning until he fell onto the floor and suffered serious injuries?”
“B..b..but it wa……s Hen…..ry who pro…….voked the fi….i…ght.”
Jason voice wavered tremendously and it was virtually impossible to hear what he was talking about.
“I just want to know whether you hit him.”
“Y….eeeee…s”
“Then, the problem is solved. I am very happy that you are bold enough to admit your misdeed. Unfortunately you deserved to be punished.”
After finishing her last sentence, Miss Lee brought out her favorite weapon, the long thin cane, normally used to treat students who are naughty.
“Lift one of your palms, please.”
Jason closed his eyes tightly. His hands were shaking violently. His fear was so conspicuous that I could sense it from behind. Miss Lee tweaked his fingers slightly, intending to search for the best position. She then flung her cane forward and dealt a serious blow onto Jason’s palm. Instantaneously, his fingers crumbled together. Tears could be seen flowing out of Jason’s eyes while he wept.
“Again.”
The memory of this particular incident is still clearly embedded in my mind as it has completely changed my understanding of punishment. I understand that punishment is carried out to teach those who have misbehaved a lesson. Jason did fight with Henry and injured him. He did not think rationally but let his emotion took control of him. Therefore, he deserved to be punished as inflicting harm to other people without a reasonable reason is totally unacceptable in our society. However, I felt that punishment is sometimes administered unfairly. It depends on the preference of the person who carries out the punishment. Henry roused the fight in the beginning but did not receive any reprimand. This was totally ludicrous. I realized that relationship between the culprits and the person who perform the punishment can affect the way punishment is carried out.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Commentary......
Can anyone tell me who does not own a cell phone in this modern society? Without doubt, the answer is obviously a "no". Every generation of young people has seen the rise of the new technology and the social changes that it stirs. In our generation now, it is also the same. The advent of the Age of Technology has sent millions of youngster into a highly interconnected realm of life with some music to fill their boredom and loneliness. Nowadays, cell phone and iPod have become the most ubiquitous tools in our society. Instant messaging and listening to music on iPod are phenomena that are developing in a revolutionary speed. Life without these devices is said to be monotonous. Though, I agree with the articles that being too obsessed with these modern gadgets will inevitably lead us to danger, be it on the road or even on our health. We should stop the excessive and abusive use of these devices and practice responsibility.
Even though cell phone and iPod have so many advantages that grasp our attention so much, they will actually pose dire consequences to us if we do not use them scrupulously. When we are too engrossed in texting or listening to music, we will tend to neglect our surroundings. The experiment by The Straight Times' reporters has proven this argument. The reporters did experiment on 60 people who are listening to the music or texting away all the time. From the experiment on 30 people listening to the music, 12 failed to hear bicycle bell behind them, while 21 of them had their audio player volume at more than 50%. On the other hand, from the 30 people who were sending messages, five bumped into the reporters, six dodged them only at the last minutes. In other words, listening to music or texting is very dangerous if we are unaware of our surroundings.
Being asked by the reporters about this issue, one of the experimented teenagers told them, "It is the driver responsibility to look out for us." This type of mentality is totally wrong. This is because even when the driver is trying to look out for them, they might not be able to avert them or stop on time. On top of that, some ignorant teenagers have their ears isolated with ear-phones that can cancel 100% of ambient sound from their ears. Therefore, when the driver is trying to warn them by honking at them, they will not be able to hear it. In addition, the driver might have the same thinking as the "plugged-in" teenagers and listen to music or texting while driving. In fact, the number of summonses has increased from 2505 in 2007 to 2583 last year. Consequently, accident will occur. This mentality arises because people are too addicted to their cell phones or iPods. Therefore, they are to be blamed.
"Mom, listening to music sets my mood, it helps me concentrate". Does this sound familiar? Skeptics might argue that listening to music while doing something else improves a person concentration. This is utterly wrong. It is true that some people can chop onions while watching a movie or can walk down the street while absorbing in a deep conversation. Nonetheless it does not justify that our alertness to the surroundings will increase. Pundits have said that "highly practised skills", like walking or chopping an onion, can be easily done while thinking about other things. However, it is virtually impossible for anyone to stay alert when looking out for cars or bicycles, while texting or listening to music. If a person were to claim that he can, he is being a liar.
Are you dare to discard the use of your cell phones or listening to your music players for a whole day? I am not implying that listening to music or texting are bad for us. Though, we should hold responsibility for all our actions. We should not be expecting everyone to be looking out for us. We should know when is suitable to use our cell phones or music players and when is not. To put it in a nutshell, these high-tech gadgets do serve as a useful tools for us but if use wrongly, they will bring us troubles.
Even though cell phone and iPod have so many advantages that grasp our attention so much, they will actually pose dire consequences to us if we do not use them scrupulously. When we are too engrossed in texting or listening to music, we will tend to neglect our surroundings. The experiment by The Straight Times' reporters has proven this argument. The reporters did experiment on 60 people who are listening to the music or texting away all the time. From the experiment on 30 people listening to the music, 12 failed to hear bicycle bell behind them, while 21 of them had their audio player volume at more than 50%. On the other hand, from the 30 people who were sending messages, five bumped into the reporters, six dodged them only at the last minutes. In other words, listening to music or texting is very dangerous if we are unaware of our surroundings.
Being asked by the reporters about this issue, one of the experimented teenagers told them, "It is the driver responsibility to look out for us." This type of mentality is totally wrong. This is because even when the driver is trying to look out for them, they might not be able to avert them or stop on time. On top of that, some ignorant teenagers have their ears isolated with ear-phones that can cancel 100% of ambient sound from their ears. Therefore, when the driver is trying to warn them by honking at them, they will not be able to hear it. In addition, the driver might have the same thinking as the "plugged-in" teenagers and listen to music or texting while driving. In fact, the number of summonses has increased from 2505 in 2007 to 2583 last year. Consequently, accident will occur. This mentality arises because people are too addicted to their cell phones or iPods. Therefore, they are to be blamed.
"Mom, listening to music sets my mood, it helps me concentrate". Does this sound familiar? Skeptics might argue that listening to music while doing something else improves a person concentration. This is utterly wrong. It is true that some people can chop onions while watching a movie or can walk down the street while absorbing in a deep conversation. Nonetheless it does not justify that our alertness to the surroundings will increase. Pundits have said that "highly practised skills", like walking or chopping an onion, can be easily done while thinking about other things. However, it is virtually impossible for anyone to stay alert when looking out for cars or bicycles, while texting or listening to music. If a person were to claim that he can, he is being a liar.
Are you dare to discard the use of your cell phones or listening to your music players for a whole day? I am not implying that listening to music or texting are bad for us. Though, we should hold responsibility for all our actions. We should not be expecting everyone to be looking out for us. We should know when is suitable to use our cell phones or music players and when is not. To put it in a nutshell, these high-tech gadgets do serve as a useful tools for us but if use wrongly, they will bring us troubles.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Spiced-Up Intro..
Have you ever wonder when will the future of our medical field be like? For me, I think it will be massive usage stem-cells to cure many diseases. The research on the stem-cell in the past few decades has evoked interest of many scientists. This is solely due to the reason that stem-cells have the potential to evolve into almost all types of cells in our body. As a result, their impact on the field of medicine is enormous as the lack of certain cells in our body can be reinforced by these stem-cells. Even though the benefits of stem-cell research is tremendous, it faces its first hurdle in 2001 when President Bush, one of the most religious president in the history of United States denied funding for stem-cell research for ethical reason. Though recently, President Obama passed a new law that will allow government funding back to the scientists and research laboratories. Glimmers of hope has aroused and debate of the ethical issue of the research has surfaced again. One school of thoughts think that destroying embryonic cells for the sole purpose of extracting the stem-cells is considered as first-line murder as the embryonic cells containing DNA and are considered as human beings. On the contrary, the other group of people thinks that extracting the stem-cells from the embryonic cells is completely normal because the embryonic cells do not possess brain, hands, legs, or other entities that a typical human being should have. The essence of the debate is mainly about whether embryonic cell is a human being. Though I personally agree with President Obama that the research in the stem-cell is the correct path to take, albeit the huge controversy.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Comments On Stem-Cell Research
The research on the stem-cell in the past few decades has evoked interest of many scientists. This is solely due to the reason that stem-cells have the potential to evolve into almost all types of cells in our body. Even though the benefits of stem-cell research is tremendous, it faces its first hurdle in 2001 when President Bush, one of the most religious president in the history of United States denying funding for stem-cell research for ethical purposes. Though recently, President Obama passed a new law that will allow funding restorement backed to the scientists and research laboratories. Glimmers of hope arise and debate of the research again surfaces. One school of thoughts think that destroying embryonic cells for the sole purpose of extracting the stem-cells is considered as first-line murder as the embryonic cells containing DNA and are considered as human beings. On the contrary, the other group of people thinks that extracting the stem-cells from the embryonic cells is completely normal because the embryonic cells do not possess brain, hands, legs, or other entities that a typical human being should have. The essence of the debate is mainly about whether embryonic cell is a human being. Though I personally agree with President Obama that the research in the stem-cell is the correct path to take, albeit the huge controversy.
First of all, the benefits of stem-cell research are too immense for anyone to deny. Anyone with nervous diseases can be cured by injecting the stem-cells into our body. They will the evolve into the nerve cells that we need. Even though, scientists are not sure whether there will be any side effects for the usage of stem-cells on human beings but most of them have unanimously agreed further research into the subject will be able to unveil ways of using it on human beings. As a result, in near future, a person who is in dire need of certain cells might be saved if she were to be given the stem-cells. She will irrefutably abhor the people who deprive her from this prestige. Indirectly, it is also an act of killing, isn't it?
Is destroying a human embryonic cell really an unethical act of murder? In my opinion, this is certainly not. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, embryonic cell does not qualify as a human being that we normally know. Having no ability to think which is our superiority over other animals render the embyonic cell "useless" and can only be considered as an animal. Perceiving that we have killed so many animals in our day to day lives for food, I think killing embryonic cell is perfectly acceptable. On top of that, our society actually wants people or entities which can benefit the society. For example, criminals in our society are normally executed because they are seen to be hopeless and impossible to be brought back on track. Soldiers sacrificing themselves during war time also do not get objected. Therefore, having only the ability to benefit the society by sacrificing itself, destroying embryonic cell to extract its useful parts should be justified.
People who oppose this research might say that human embryonic cell contains human DNA, and so is a human being. Nonetheless I perceive this as a crap. If any cell that contains DNA is considered as a human being, then all of us must somehow in sometime of our lives have committed a murder. Every day, when someone accidentally cut him/herselves, blood will be gushing out and so he or she will be a murder. Can you imagine a society like that, everyone being guilty of something? Are we all supposed to be sent to jail now for committing such a unfathomable crime?
To put it in a nutshell, I think stem-cell research should be advocated and the advantages that it will bring to mankind is pretty revolutionary. I visualize that the future of our medical research will undoubtly be characterized by this research as its potential is too great and still far from being understood by us. All of the opposing point of views will only cause human beings to go backward in terms of scientific discovery. It represents a spurious and simplistic misunderstanding of human beings. Therefore, stopping the stem-cell research is definitely the wrong way to head.
First of all, the benefits of stem-cell research are too immense for anyone to deny. Anyone with nervous diseases can be cured by injecting the stem-cells into our body. They will the evolve into the nerve cells that we need. Even though, scientists are not sure whether there will be any side effects for the usage of stem-cells on human beings but most of them have unanimously agreed further research into the subject will be able to unveil ways of using it on human beings. As a result, in near future, a person who is in dire need of certain cells might be saved if she were to be given the stem-cells. She will irrefutably abhor the people who deprive her from this prestige. Indirectly, it is also an act of killing, isn't it?
Is destroying a human embryonic cell really an unethical act of murder? In my opinion, this is certainly not. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, embryonic cell does not qualify as a human being that we normally know. Having no ability to think which is our superiority over other animals render the embyonic cell "useless" and can only be considered as an animal. Perceiving that we have killed so many animals in our day to day lives for food, I think killing embryonic cell is perfectly acceptable. On top of that, our society actually wants people or entities which can benefit the society. For example, criminals in our society are normally executed because they are seen to be hopeless and impossible to be brought back on track. Soldiers sacrificing themselves during war time also do not get objected. Therefore, having only the ability to benefit the society by sacrificing itself, destroying embryonic cell to extract its useful parts should be justified.
People who oppose this research might say that human embryonic cell contains human DNA, and so is a human being. Nonetheless I perceive this as a crap. If any cell that contains DNA is considered as a human being, then all of us must somehow in sometime of our lives have committed a murder. Every day, when someone accidentally cut him/herselves, blood will be gushing out and so he or she will be a murder. Can you imagine a society like that, everyone being guilty of something? Are we all supposed to be sent to jail now for committing such a unfathomable crime?
To put it in a nutshell, I think stem-cell research should be advocated and the advantages that it will bring to mankind is pretty revolutionary. I visualize that the future of our medical research will undoubtly be characterized by this research as its potential is too great and still far from being understood by us. All of the opposing point of views will only cause human beings to go backward in terms of scientific discovery. It represents a spurious and simplistic misunderstanding of human beings. Therefore, stopping the stem-cell research is definitely the wrong way to head.
Monday, March 30, 2009
School Promotes “Correctness” over “Creativity”.
I certainly do not agree with this statement. First, I would like to justify the two key terms "correctness" and "creativity". For "correctness", basically it means to get everything corrects, which implies getting perfect score in the exam. For "creativity", I mean the ability to invent something new, be it an idea or an invention. It contains the element of innovation. Nowadays schools often instil in students the mindset that we need to get everything correct to be successful in life. Failing in the exam would mean that a person is stupid and useless.
Though, in this modern society, people no longer think that scoring perfect score in the exam, which justifies "correctness", is the best thing to do. This is because there are far too many people who obtain this perfect score. If you are an interviewer for a prestigious university admission, you would definitely not judge the students' ability by examining how many correct answers they achieve in the exam as this will eventually cause your university to be filled with tonnes of new students. Modern people often stress the important of creativity over correctness. Anyway there is no definite correctness in this world. What we think is correct today might be doubted by people centuries later, like the Geocentric Theory, an old ideas of science being overthrow by Heliocentric, a new ideas of science. Therefore, school should equip students with the ability to think using their reason, instead of accepting blindly whatever that is dubbed "correct".
Creativity is one of the main driving force behind many new ideas of science and invention. Very long time ago, it was mere creativity which allowed Democritus to proposed the atomic therory. He did not have any prove for that, nor did he observe the atoms by his eyes. Though reason incited him to think and creativity aroused which caused him to devise the atomic theory. This causes many of his successors to research on the atoms, which ultimately lays foundation for the chemistry that we study today. The successes of many multi-millionaires such as Bill Gates and the rising prodigy Mark Zuckerberg are also based on the creativity that they possess. Bill Gates did not learn about Windows in school. Mark Zuckerberg did not get the ideas of Facebook in school either. It was the creativity that propelled them to develop something revolutionary to the world, such as the Windows and the Facebook. Western countries are started to realize the importance of creativity in the society. Their education systems, especially the United States stress the students' ability to come out with their own ideas, instead of following the textbooks all the time. Their exam is seen by us to be relatively easier compared to the Asian societies. Though, why successful people mostly arise from the West? This is because "correctness" does not work anymore in this modern world. Society can only improve when people doubt the authority. This term seems to be a bit harsh but it is true. Nothing in this world is totally correct. We just assume something to be "correct" in our everyday life because everyone thinks so. On the contrary, having creativity does not necessarily mean we need to get everything to be correct but just something useful to ourselves or the society.
Hence, I think school should promote "creativity" over "correctness".
Though, in this modern society, people no longer think that scoring perfect score in the exam, which justifies "correctness", is the best thing to do. This is because there are far too many people who obtain this perfect score. If you are an interviewer for a prestigious university admission, you would definitely not judge the students' ability by examining how many correct answers they achieve in the exam as this will eventually cause your university to be filled with tonnes of new students. Modern people often stress the important of creativity over correctness. Anyway there is no definite correctness in this world. What we think is correct today might be doubted by people centuries later, like the Geocentric Theory, an old ideas of science being overthrow by Heliocentric, a new ideas of science. Therefore, school should equip students with the ability to think using their reason, instead of accepting blindly whatever that is dubbed "correct".
Creativity is one of the main driving force behind many new ideas of science and invention. Very long time ago, it was mere creativity which allowed Democritus to proposed the atomic therory. He did not have any prove for that, nor did he observe the atoms by his eyes. Though reason incited him to think and creativity aroused which caused him to devise the atomic theory. This causes many of his successors to research on the atoms, which ultimately lays foundation for the chemistry that we study today. The successes of many multi-millionaires such as Bill Gates and the rising prodigy Mark Zuckerberg are also based on the creativity that they possess. Bill Gates did not learn about Windows in school. Mark Zuckerberg did not get the ideas of Facebook in school either. It was the creativity that propelled them to develop something revolutionary to the world, such as the Windows and the Facebook. Western countries are started to realize the importance of creativity in the society. Their education systems, especially the United States stress the students' ability to come out with their own ideas, instead of following the textbooks all the time. Their exam is seen by us to be relatively easier compared to the Asian societies. Though, why successful people mostly arise from the West? This is because "correctness" does not work anymore in this modern world. Society can only improve when people doubt the authority. This term seems to be a bit harsh but it is true. Nothing in this world is totally correct. We just assume something to be "correct" in our everyday life because everyone thinks so. On the contrary, having creativity does not necessarily mean we need to get everything to be correct but just something useful to ourselves or the society.
Hence, I think school should promote "creativity" over "correctness".
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
What is an Exposition?
Exposition is basically a type if essay where the author set forth facts or ideas. It should expound detailed explanation. The aim of this type of essay is to convince people to support a specific idea or opinion. It is also to inform people about certain facts or new knowledge or to explain certain processes. The style of the essay is more like talking to the reader rather than a piece of normal writing. Hence, an expository writing is very powerful if it is written well and can have effects in our society. The structure of an expository essay should have an introduction which states what the author stance is and the idea should not be too broad or too specific so that the it can be developed effectively. There are a few type of methods of development of the essay:
1)Compare and Contrast-This is to juxtaposition a few ideas so show the reader which one is
better.
2)Cause and Effect-This is to show the consequences of certain ideas to show that whether it is
good or bad.
3)Classification-This is to classify all your ideas accordingly and in chronological order so that it makes sense and engages the reader.
Every paragraph in the expository essay which constitutes one argument should be supported by examples and evidence and in the end link back to the main idea which is the author's stance. Therefore, expository writing is actually a piece of argument. The author's point of view can be wrong but he argues well, it will be a good expository essay.
1)Compare and Contrast-This is to juxtaposition a few ideas so show the reader which one is
better.
2)Cause and Effect-This is to show the consequences of certain ideas to show that whether it is
good or bad.
3)Classification-This is to classify all your ideas accordingly and in chronological order so that it makes sense and engages the reader.
Every paragraph in the expository essay which constitutes one argument should be supported by examples and evidence and in the end link back to the main idea which is the author's stance. Therefore, expository writing is actually a piece of argument. The author's point of view can be wrong but he argues well, it will be a good expository essay.
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