Jit Sharma – Page 9

Young people today no longer appreciate the simple pleasures of life. Discuss.

The spread of modern technologies linked to the digital world has created a new type of environment for young people. Reality has become synonymous with virtual reality, and almost every action in the real world has its correspondent in the virtual one. It is easier than ever to become immersed in the digital media, and children are born and raised surrounded by these technologies and by parents who use these technologies.

This scenario has created other types of desires and pleasures, the likes of which were not known to people in the past. Before the spread of modern technologies, young people were used to playing outdoors, engage in physical activities and reading books. There were no alternatives to spending their free time in a fun way. Today, almost all activities are done via a computer or mobile device, connected to the internet. Instead of playing football, young people download the latest FIFA video game and play it in multiplayer, with people they do not even know.

3D movies and video games do not stimulate young people’s imagination, the way in which playing outdoors, physical games with friends did in the past. These entertainment methods have slowly decreased the appetite for the simple pleasures in life, creating artificial desires and encouraging them for the simple purpose of mass consumerism. Every single toy nowadays has to be as shiny, interactive and costly as possible. Interactivity is a term that seems to gain more and more importance and value today. However, people forget that books and social games are also interactive entertainment activities – although they do require more imagination and role playing from their “users”.

Capitalism has evolved greatly in the past decades, and has lead to a decadent lifestyle, in which pleasure can only be derived from and is equal to the amount of money that is spent for it. A simple piece of wood can be used creatively by children in their games, but today, parents and children alike seem to have forgotten that. It is more convenient to buy expensive toys and digital devices for a child than it is to read him a bedtime story. And it is also more convenient for a child to play a complex role playing video game such as World of Warcraft than it is to actually go outside and create his or hers own story and role play.

This situation only seems to aggravate in time, as yesterday’s children, who did not have all of the immersive technologies, have raised their children with these technologies from a very young age. The mass media encourages this behavior too, and there seems to be a tacit consensus regarding the negative impact these technologies can have on young people. The old Roman saying, “Mens sana in corpora sano”, seems to have been forgotten. It is no wonder that more than two in 3 adults are considered to be overweight or obese, since they are immersed in the digital world from their youth.

If this situation is to be changed in the future, parents need to pay extra attention to the activities of their children. They need to teach their children how to enjoy the simple things in life, how to play in the physical world and how to use their own imagination. This does not mean that modern technologies are bad in themselves; they can be useful, but only if they are balanced with traditional games and methods of entertainment. There has to be a balance between the time a young person spends online and offline, between the time they spend in the digital world and the time they spend in the physical world.

Also, young people have to learn, as soon as possible, that money value is just another type of value, and not at all the only type of value that exists. There are also spiritual values that a person has to take into account, if they want to enjoy the true pleasures in live. The simple pleasures are not just cheaper in terms of the required capital, but also necessary.

There are hardly any worthwhile role models for young people nowadays. Discuss.

Written using an unconventional structure.

The idea that there are fewer positive role models in our contemporary society is based on a fallacy. There are actually more positive role models today than ever before, and it is very easy to get to know them through the new media. We live in an age where people from opposite sides of the planet can easily communicate and share information in real time, and thus greatly influence each other.

This means that young people do not have to limit their popular culture needs to the place where they live. There are thousands of other places that they can find about on the internet, and they can access the internet anywhere, anytime, even on mobile devices. However, the same technologies that can help them in this regard is also the main roadblock in their path to finding positive role models, because the new media mainly promotes negative models, since positive ones have a smaller public impact, while negative attitudes sell better.

This is the reason why many people consider that there are fewer role models for young people nowadays: because they only look at what is promoted on popular TV stations, magazines and websites. However, there are still a great number of publications that focus their attention on educational aspects, which follow a strict deontological ethic and do not care only about their budgets.

Also, individuals can search for role models on their own, without the help of large publications. Of course, parents can also guide their children and teach them where and how to find useful and positive information, without forcing them to learn about things they do not care, but encouraging them to find good models on their own.

Magnus Carlsen, aged 24, is a child prodigy and the world’s chess champion. Unlike other chess prodigies in the past (Bobby Fischer being the best example), he is a very optimistic, cheerful and charismatic person. He lives a healthy life, engaging in various other sport activities. He always smiles and loves what he is doing. Carlsen is the living proof that people can succeed if they work hard, love what they are doing, remain focus and have a healthy lifestyle. It is now easier than ever to follow Carlsen’s work and his personal life, through most of the popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and even on his Youtube channel.

Unlike in the past, there are no major media publications that mediate this relationship between Carlsen and his fans, which means that admirers can have direct and immediate access to Carlsen’s determination and words of wisdom. There are thousands of other positive role models who can be found in sports, music or films, although they are not as promoted as the negative ones are. Adolescents can easily reach them if they balance mainstream media with traditional and independent media sources. Just as always, it is just a matter of knowing where and how to search for good information and role models.

While it is true that the media has changed, and that this change brings about a bad influence to young people nowadays, it is also true that, with a little effort, young people can use the same media to their advantage. Although there are more negative than positive role models nowadays, there are still more than enough positive ones to choose from. The new media, the process of globalization and instant access to information worldwide makes it easier for adolescents to find people who have succeeded in domains that interest them. It also makes it easier for them to understand how and why these people have succeeded, and thus to learn from their successes. Most people are however blind to these immense opportunities and this blindness is a form of ignorance, the same ignorance that makes other people blame technology for their own failures. Violence, sexism and hate are a major theme of our contemporary world. It is however up to each and every one of us to choose our goals and ideals in life. Everyone will choose the thing that best fits their own character and desires. Neither schools nor parents can impose positive role models on young people. They can however guide adolescents and help them make the right decisions. This decision has to ultimately come natural to them.

Quality of life is more important than longevity. Discuss.

Good essay that scored very well for prelim but has an excessively long introduction and conclusion. If it wasn’t so well written, the author would have been penalised for writing more than 800 words.

Conjecture science empowers mankind to be immortal, what will one then do for infinity? The great yearning at present is to prevail to a hale and hearty mature age but such questions help place into standpoints just what is gratifying as regards to life. This scepticism furthermore brings to the fore that humans would not crave to reiterate homogeneous measures in production-line approach. An ilk of Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative quizzes, “what does what we are doing achieve?” On assumption that we function as infinite beings notwithstanding forming slight and superficial merits, Man may wish to reassess the significance of permanence and construct an enhanced quality of life. It is commonplace to evaluate longevity against quality of life which refers to the general well-being of individuals and societies. The rapid pace of technological advancements in science and medicine in the 21st century suggests that mortals can look forward to living pleasantly in their extended senior era. However, with a societal fixation on length of life, it appears that quality of life is still less critical despite the latest developments.

Every individual of the human race aspires to extend their lifespan and this hope is being met by scientific innovations in medicine. Latest developments in science and medicine includes a technique that radically ameliorates the efficiency of crafting stem cells from human adult tissue without the exploitation of embryonic cells hence forging momentous strides in addressing a major challenge in the progress of stem-cell-based medicine, production of vaccine for cervical cancer, and advanced findings about brain proteins imply a promising novel tactic against Alzheimer’s disease. Average length of life is increasing on a global scale which results in impending challenges. By the year 2050, a quarter of the universe’s population will be over 60 and it is to be expected that these people will be afflicted with chronic illnesses in relation to geezerhood that will necessitate relentless care. A rampant and relevant apprehension is that science and medicine offer short-term assuaging for sustained breath but may fail to result in a fitter life. Already, there are intense ethical disputes over euthanasia, whether patients in terminal stages of their ailments and in constant misery should be permissible to bring forth the conclusion to their life expectancy. Thus, irrespective of the latest developments in science and medicine, quality of life has more bearing as compared to a wearisome and distressful but drawn-out lifespan.

Given that the latest developments in science and medicine are projected to protract longevity, countries worldwide can envisage aging populations. An extended length of life hence may adversely impinge on quality of life, which comprises nine factors founded on The Economist Intelligence Unit’s quality-of-life index to be exact, material interest, life expectancy at birth, political stability and security ratings, domestic life, community activity, climate and geography, job security or unemployment rate, political autonomy, as well as gender equality. An aging population however indicates that the economy has fewer productive human capital but faces rising expenditures such as social welfare and healthcare services. Therefore, a lengthened lifetime because of scientific betterment in medicine pales in review of a superior quality of life which is a more comprehensive evaluation of value of existence.

On the other hand, while the existence of life may be observed objectively, its quality can only be weighed up intuitively. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s quality-of-life index is primarily grounded in the western hedonistic tradition but there are no collectively agreed norms for quality of life, for each person confers disparate significance to the myriad aspects of life and even this metamorphosis with varying circumstances. The notion of averaging out people’s heterogeneous assessments to form a conglomerate metric of quality of life ignores its fundamentally contextual nature and its intrinsic subjectivity. Since quality of life is extremely capricious to employ in shaping clinical decisions, all we can reasonably do is to muse on the tangible and the measurable, to prolong the physiological homeostasis as long as we are able to with the latest development in science and medicine.

It is rational to desire to survive for a lengthy lifetime but not with the sacrifice of a fulfilling existence. There are people who have led fleeting satisfactory lives whereas others may clock up the years with the support of science and medicine yet experience meaningless continuance. Lord Byron was merely 36 when he breathed his final. Nonetheless his poems remain widely peruse and influential even in this generation, both in the English-speaking communities and afar. Similarly for Vincent van Gogh, who aged 37 when he died, his fame grew in the years after his demise. Nowadays, he is broadly respected as one of history’s finest painters and an imperative contributor to the tenets of contemporary art. Although their premature mortality could have been probable to avert with modern science and medicine, it comes across that they have experienced several periods in one which is what in actuality matters. Conceivably, Woody Allen summed it up most aptly concerning latter-day society’s unwholesome obsession with prolonged longevity in his quote, “I don’t want to live forever through my work; I want to live forever by not dying.” Quality is of greater magnitude than quantity therefore people should not pin disproportionate optimism on the latest developments in science and medicine. Instead, strive for an enriching experience and there are likelihoods of a fuller life beyond death in which there are prospects for the soul’s development. (901 words)

The growth of tourism is a threat to the environment. Discuss.

Tourism is an activity with roots that can be traced as far as people visiting the Roman baths, becoming a fashion in Europe since the 17^th century. Today, tourism represents more than an activity or a fashion, it is an industry which brings great contribution or even keeps alive certain economies. In the age of cultural diversity, any country can allow the world to become familiar with their roots, traditions or beliefs. Much alike the case of natural resources, tourism is regarded mainly from one perspective, that of financial income for the hosts. In a time when technological development marks every corner of the world, the wide-spread touristic activities are enclosing the natural habitat until it reaches the confines of a windowed room, for the leisure of innumerable individuals.

Tourism determines the need to expand over natural environment. In the field of tourism, the most important aspect is to have impeccable services, which means that enough accommodation must be provided, as well as infrastructure for access to the area as well as recreation facilities. All of these are necessary in order to keep a constant income of visitors, while ensuring that a good deal of profit is being made. For instance, accommodation facilities and recreational areas in the case of ski resorts imply massive deforestation, severely altering the trophic chain of the surrounding forest. Furthermore, the extensive paving required by infrastructure access and travel related building such as airports amount up to an alarmingly high portion of the natural habitat. These inherent, compulsory factors brought about by the progress of the tourism industry eventually end up dominating the environment and turning it into a man-made, artificial one.

The pressure exercised by the tourism industry does not, however, resume itself to limiting and confining nature. Another grave issue is represented through the enormous resource consumption, pollution and waste that result from the millions of visitors. For instance, in the case of Cyprus, in 2009 the government has approved the touristic development of 14 golf courses. Considering the amount of drinkable water that is already scarce in the region, the annual required volume to maintain the golf-courses sums up to more than a third of the population’s need of potable water over a year. What is more, any form of transportation employed by tourism is, unavoidably, air polluting, bringing a massive contribution to the process of global warming by the means of carbon dioxide emissions. All factors considered, being one of the fastest growing industries around the world, tourism poses one of the biggest threats for the environment and for the preservation of natural habitats, causing a tendency in people to put a price-tag on everything that can be considered exotic by someone else.

On the other hand, there are also advantages determined by touristic development because of the world-wide advertising this industry can bring to a remote area or potential investors. Therefore, tourism is beneficial because it contributes to key-areas such as raising environmental awareness, the protection and preservation of certain ecosystems and endangered species within protected natural parks. For example, in Congo, the coverage provided by tourism has led to investments to protect the mountain gorillas, one of the most endangered great ape species in the world. One other positive example is the Grupo Punta Cana resort, located in the Dominican Republic. In this case, over 10,000 hectares of natural habitat have been set aside for the preservation of biodiversity and 11 fresh-water springs are maintained for the same purpose. The resort truly combines luxury with utility, also having created a biodiversity laboratory run by the Cornell University. These facts serve but to emphasize that with the proper responsibility, care and attention to the nature which protects humanity, the environmental issues can easily be solved by means of sustainable development.

As it is the case with most rapidly growing industries, exercising control and regulatory standards is close to impossible on a global level. The lack of environmental awareness and education has brought humanity to the paradox of wanting to travel in order to visit and appreciate a unique place on earth, while destroying it. Awareness for the ecosystem in which people live, should be a part of the common consciousness. Ethical principles should be applied to man’s relationship with his habitat, so that the few positive examples are followed, turning a strictly financial business into a life-giving one, both for people and for the Earth.

Can green efforts be anything more than token gestures?

From green technology to the Kyoto protocol, one would deem environmental issues to be a solution to international relations, rather than a global problem. In the era in which many are well aware of the environmental problems which plague us, such as global warming and pollution, one can be rest assured that there has been a large demand for countries to seek more sustainable measures in the usage of finite resources. While many argue that green efforts have been meaningful as more countries realise the pressing environmental challenges which surround them; taking a realist view, this essay asserts that such green efforts are mere token gesture, as countries exploit them to enhance their stature and prestige.

It has been known that many politicians have used environmental issues to gain personal prestige or political clout rather than be concerned to solve them. In an era in which the world has a greater awareness of the environment, there is a larger pressure from environmental enthusiast for political action to occur in a bid to save the environment. Realising such a need, many politicians attempt to make empty promises in a bid to win voters during elections. As those who willingly deal with environmental issues through brave endeavours have been deemed to have taken the moral high ground, their actions tend to be more popular with the people, especially budding environmental enthusiasts. However, most of such promises are left broken and are nothing more than a manner in which politicians gain prestige. For instance, in the case of Barrack Obama, he was known to have advocated for green energy in the US, having encouraged the implementation of two thousand wind turbines to harness a sustainable form of energy. Such an action had gained the approval of many people, resulting in the massive lead he held during the 2008 presidential elections. However, such tree hugging intentions did not sustain long in the US, as it was known that Obama had instead taken a less environmentally friendly approach during his period in government, with the dropping of all environmental plans in 2011.

Still, one could argue that in spite of such politicians which make use of environmental issues to enhance their political clouts, there are politicians who do see the pressing need for green efforts. Such is the case of the ex US vice president, Al Gore, who was known to have done the documentary, “An inconvenient truth’ which strongly advocates for the need to solve environmental problems. It is with politicians such as Al Gore in which one would realise that such environmental efforts are not just based only on personal gain, but instead on one’s true belief that change is necessary in order to save mother Earth.

However, such altruism seems aimless, as even Al Gore himself has not proposed an effective plan which could save the Earth from its impending doom. While many brag of the amount of environmental conservation they would do for their countries, the lack of a well planned scheme for the environment has been unsettling. Given the nature of most protocols being non-binding, there has not been any decisive action taken towards the environment, resulting in the abandonment of many green efforts, deeming efforts to be ineffective.

Similarly, green efforts can be dismissed as mere token gestures, as countries only deal with their environmental issues when they seek diplomatic ties or funding internationally. As countries are given certain incentives if they were to invest in green technologies, many countries have embarked on the green approach. China, for instance, has spear headed the global green movement by investing two billion dollars into it’s green technology sector. While this may be a hefty sum in the short run, China stands to gain cheaper costs in harnessing energy through subsidies as well as deepening diplomatic ties with other like-minded nations. Therefore, as environmental concerns are only pursued with an ulterior motive, one could dismiss them as mere token gestures.

However, it is only through such incentives that some countries are able to gain greater environmental awareness amongst its population. With more countries embarking on such projects, their citizens would then become more aware of the environmental concerns as it now concerns their own lives. This in turn would mean the potential for greater pressure on their governments to further embark on other green efforts. Such can be said in the case of the US, which was pressured to sign the Kyoto protocol. Having signed the protocol, there was an increase the amount of people and lobbyists for the green movement, eventually leading to the strong demand for environmentally friendly governance. Through such a mechanism, one would realise that these green efforts are not merely token gestures but also ways to bring about education to the public on environmental issues.

In conclusion, one would view that green efforts while noble, have mostly been reduced to that of token gestures amongst nations and politicians. One personally would think that to make such efforts effective, individual folks should not merely rely on the government but also actively play their part. By simply switching off the lights after leaving the room or using public transport, green efforts would not have to be relied upon the governments, which may view environmental causes to be secondary issues. Therefore, in order for green efforts to progress to be more than token gestures, each and every citizen of this planet would have to do his bid to save mother Earth.

Is science a master or servant?

Science has always served as a primary impetus that powers and accelerates human development. Living in this highly industrialised and commercialised world, the influence science exerts on us is so profound that it might be beyond our expectation or even control. Ranging from ubiquitous access to the internet to the development of controversial scientific fields such as nuclear power and genetic engineering, science seems more like a master who dominates our daily life as well as our future, rather than a faithful servant as we assume and expect.

“I think, therefore I live.” Man used to proudly regard the ability to think as the fundamental difference between human beings and other animals. Yet, we are deprived of such ability due to our overreliance on modern scientific inventions that we developed. With the instantaneous access to the Internet, people no longer need to sit in libraries all day long, looking through piles of books in order to get pieces of information. Such tedious selection process can now be easily performed by the computer at a click of button, which is indeed more convenient and efficient, yet the ability of analysis and critical thinking is less appreciated and valued. This can be evidenced by the increasingly frequent occurrence of plagiarism in both students’ essays and professionals’ research papers. Put the moral issue aside, the act of plagiary clearly shows that people are so indulged by the convenience of the Internet that we seem to be its slaves – it is doubtful how we are going to rely on our deteriorating thinking skills to distinguish right from wrong, the significant from the spurious.

Even though Hiroshima and Nagasaki are by far the only two places that have experienced massive destruction due to nuclear weapons, the fresh and vivid memory of 9/11 and Iraq war only reminds of us how thousands of innocent lives can be easily taken away due to people’s avarice for power. While we concede that weapons play an integral part in national defence, this clearly does not provide us with a satisfying explanation to the gigantic amount of nuclear weapons stored in superpowers, which, if used at one time, can ruin the world for a hundred times. “We live in a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants”, General Omar Bradley once declared, implying the huge gap between man’s development of science and ethos. This is the reason why despite the existence of the numerous peace agreements between countries, many people are still fearful of the outbreak of the third world war.

Science might allow us to have a greater control over the environment, yet we cannot control our innate selfish streak. Genetically modified food promised us to create an abundant world where global hunger is eradicated permanently. However, the truth of the matter is that we presently already have more than enough food to feed the world twice over without the technology of genetic engineering. According to the Economist, world poverty can simply be ended by pooling together the resources of the world’s seven richest men and redistributing it. On the other hand, GM crops could cause long term disturbance to our biodiversity and ecosystem due to their cross-pollination with natural plants. We sacrifice the environmental sustainability of our future generations, yet fail to solve the problem effectively even though we have always had the solutions in our hands as mentioned earlier.

We are over-dependent on the Internet, horrified by the potential hazards of nuclear power, and threatened by the environmental implications of genetic engineering. It is poignant to witness how we have become slaves to things we developed. Governments are setting rigorous laws and regulations to prevent the rampant and volatile development of science. Still, at the end of the day, if we are not able to control our own laziness, avarice and selfishness, we can never claim to be the master of science.

Has man lost sight of the purpose of science?

This essay from 2012 is well written and articulate. But 2019 Cambridge marking scheme would have penalised the writer for an excessively long introduction,

The study of science in its disparate realms, such as medical, political, and agricultural, has indisputably percolated the history of Man. Science, in its exhaustive gist, refers to any systematic knowledge-base or prescriptive practices which is adequate to structure a projection or calculable outcome. It is a sustained effort to ascertain and foster human knowledge and intellectual capacity through disciplined research as means to improve the human condition by forging a superior quality of life for more individuals. This mindset remains rampant these days since scientists globally press on with developments and findings to existing ubiquitous challenges including climate change and poverty. However, it is facile to be cognizant of why some folks may remonstrate that Man has steadily overlooked the intrinsic worth of Science. Instead, critics suggest the humankind has transgressed perimeters, exploiting Science to a degree where its significance is corrupted. This essay aims to communicate that Man has not been inordinately myopic. After all, the intention of Science has propagated till today. Science has also heralded in a 21st century which is radically superior relative to the prior eras, with sanguinity and the makings for substantial advancement.

Civilizations’ annals may appear to endorse Man’s appalling background of our application, or more accurately, the abuse of Science. For instance, the breakthrough in analyses of nuclear energy pledged plummeting dependence on gradually depleting fossil fuels and natural gases. On contrary, it precipitated the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki of which its implications of the calamities on the Japanese society still spawn vulnerability in this day and age. The misuse of nuclear energy ushered in a time period of reciprocally assured ruination during the Cold War years as well as predominantly during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Thus, cynics asserted that the human race has lost sight of the rationale of Science long ago. They contend that Science was acutely exploited and wielded by those in clout for detrimental ends and egocentric pursuits as a substitute to its premeditated function in ameliorating quality of life.

In spite of an element of legitimacy in the detractors’ claims, they are but superficial and cursory evaluation. Beneath the exterior, there are plenty of world leaders and commoners alike who have stepped to the fore in rally critical of abuse of Science. This incited nuclear arms talks to preclude any additional demises from nuclear assaults between states. The signing of the primary internationally negotiated nuclear arms summit, the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963, was ascribed to worldwide pressure and communities such as SANE. Therefore, whenever Science’s bona fide relevance seems to be undermined formerly, Man has arbitrated to suspend its misuse and circumvent further manipulation.

Moreover, a number of individuals may point to the example of South Korean scientist Hwang Woo Suk, vilified for his sham allegations that he had determined an innovation in stem cell examination. Instead of employing Science to factually develop and expand accessible details on the function of stem cells, Hwang belied information thereby contravening the exact tenet all scientists adhere to which is every hypothesis structured has to be validated by perceptible and tangible support.

Regrettably to express, several scientists increasingly pervert results, arguing that “trivial” margin of error will not yield disparities. Hence, Man has lost track of the objective of Science in the rat race to emerge as pioneer, blinded to the system and regulations which lend scientific findings its cogency and ascendancy.

Science has been drawn upon for ethical and benign incentives, realizing its inherent merit and capacity. The case in point, Science in agriculture has considerably progressed in recent decades with the Green Revolution and new school practices of husbandry to meet the demands of the planet’s burgeoning population. The upsurge of automated farming by means of Science to discern precisely the pertinent environment sought for maximum crop growth has observed a contemporaneous rise in agrarian output in states as heterogeneous as Germany, Australia in addition to Africa. Therefore, Science has been channelled to increase the quality of life for Man in Third World and developed states similarly. The figure of campaigns against international food shortage and pro alleviating famine unmistakably attest we have not turned a blind eye to the indigent in industrializing states amidst growth.

Although Science has been manipulated and exploited by Man to serve cataclysmic mainspring sporadically, it remains a phenomenal reservoir of information for humanity. Man has harnessed Science to better understand the Earth as well as to improve our quality of life to an unparalleled height which was solely a vision of our forefathers. The movement for advancement and progress by means of Science is expected to continue unflaggingly in the foreseeable prospects thus Man is not sightless of the purpose of Science.

Movies and television can never replace books. Discuss.

An essay that needs A LOT of improvement.

Can books be replaced by movies and television? Books exist since the invention of writing systems and everyone owns one so the invention of books is much earlier than the invention of movies and television. Movies and television were invented after the invention of books. Movies and television give people variety of choices. Both provide sensory stimulation and excitement. However movies and television cannot replace books as books give readers a very personal experience and allow people’s imagination to go wild. Books keep the brains active hence it is my opinion to say that movies and TV can never replace books.

Cinema and television provide people with a variety of choices. There are millions of movies and television programmes that exist in the world now. People can choose on their own from the variety of choices. Instead of reading a book, people can watch a movie. However not only movies and television provide people with a variety of choices, books give people a variety of choices too. In fact, most of the movies and TV are based on books. For example, the famous book series, Harry Potter, the movies of Harry Potter are originated from books written by J.K Rowling. If movies and television provide people with a variety of choices, books do provide too as movies and television are originated from books.

Films and television give people sensory stimulation and excitement. These two have sound and visual effects to attract people. With the sound effects or background music, mov ies and television create tension that catches people’s attention. With fanciful images, catchy music and emotional acting, people have more appeal to moving images. However books give people a very personal experience while holding a book. When one is reading a book, the interaction is between the person and the book. This gives people a personal space while reading a book. Books allow people’s imagination to flow freely. Unlike movies and television which guide the viewers, books allow the readers to escape into their own world while reading. Books restrict the readers’ mind and ways of thinking. Therefore movies cannot replace books.

A lot of books are made into movies nowadays. People usually prefer to watch a movie before reading the book. Movies are shorter and can save time. An average length of a movie is about one and a half hours long. For example, comparing the people who have watched the movie, Twilight, and people who have read the book series, more people have watched the movie series than reading the book series. This is evident that people prefer books to movies. However without books, there would be no films. People get ideas from books to produce film. As books are invented before the invention of television, books are more original and can deliver the message of the authors more clearly.

In conclusion, books can never be replaced by moving images and fancy effects. Firstly books provide readers a more personal experience than films. Secondly books can provide people with a variety of choices. Thirdly books allow readers’ imagination to flow unlike programmes which control the viewers’ mind. Therefore movies and television can never replace books.

To what extent is formal education effective?

A really really terrible essay.

Education can exist in many different forms and variation. A parent communicating to a child and be considered as an informal education where life skills and values are being instilled in the child. Education in Singapore, as we know it, is mainly formal education whereby it is a classroom-based style of teaching provided by trained teachers in various institutions.

Formal education is effective because it is caters to the large majority of the population. Formal education allows for the easy implementation of new educational materials to the student body by the government and various institutions because of the coherence of materials taught in schools to these students. Rather than coming up with different measures and other forms of informal education to fit different groups of students in a different education system, the government and educational bodies can save on the administrative costs which can then be channeled into other government needs and concerns. There is no denying that informal education can be beneficial also but formal education provides a systematic way of organizing education materials to a large majority of the population hence allowing educational institutions to address the education needs of the population as a whole rather than individually which may be time consuming. In Singapore, the ministry of education (MOE), has used formal education such as the compulsory primary school education to the population at large to ensure that each student can

In a highly competitive world in which there is a stark difference between the rich and the poor, education can be said to be a great ‘leveller’ in the world. Formal education can be effective because it is cheap and cost efficient allowing for even low income earners to allow their children to study. Formal education in schools is normally implemented through a state-owned company instead of a private enterprise. Hence, the cost of education would be comparatively cheaper than those given by private firms or educational institutions. This would give a greater opportunity for the whole community of students to be educated rather than specialized forms of education tailored only for the rich. In the long run, there is a higher probability that formal education, because of the inclusiveness of even low-income family students, can improve the lives of these low-income families as well as remain cheap and competitive. In Singapore, education is heavily subsidized because it is seen as an important tool to build a knowledge base economy in the future. It is also compulsory to attend primary school for all students so that they have at least a certain level of education.

Furthermore, formal education is mostly standardized. This brings about benefits to not only students but also the economy as a whole. The system of formal education can be geared towards skills required by economy. In the past, focus on calculus and arithmetic in Singapore was important because capital intensive style of the economy which required engineers. In this modern day, science and math are placed of importance as our economy enters into a technological advanced world so as to allow progress to take place. Formal education provides a platform for governments to implement the education system across the country, making it fast, efficient and fair to the society. As such, formal education can be effective because it is standardized which allows easy implementation of policies to deal the economic progress of the country.

Formal education certainly provides a systematic platform for the governments to education the vast majority of the population. However formal education may have its limitations hence it may not be as effective in certain aspects. For one, formal education limits creativity in students. The standardization of the education system to fit the majority of the population may restrict students who are not used to the specific type of learning formal education brings. Learning can take place in different forms. These include audio, visual, kinestatic and tactile learning. More often than not, formal education tends to neglect some of these aspects that may hinder some students in their learning which may be a downside in the near future. In addition, formal education tends not to focus on the arts as much as math and science. Students who are artistically inclined in dance and music may not be able to cope well with the formal education system. They may not excel in school as a result because of the lack of opportunities in other areas that formal education brings. Although Singapore has opened up new colleges such as SOTA (school of the arts) and laselle college of the arts, every other school focuses on formal education which comprises of mainly math and science to educate students so that they can work to allow the economy to progress. Hence when dealing with creativity of this form of education, formal education may not be as effective.

Formal education may not be as effective because in the long run, students may not appreciate what they have learnt in schools. Formal education, in a way, conforms students to adapt to the idea of learning which is chosen not by them but by the government. This may not allow the students to fully appreciate the subjects which are taught to them and in future, there might be a possibility of forgetting the knowledge causing formal education not to be as effective. Also, talent, which could have been nurtured, may as a result be undeveloped in formal education where the child does not have the exposure to further his talent. As result, formal education can be limited and not as effective as it could be.

In conclusion, formal education is effective in many different aspects even outside the scope of this essay however we have to recognize that formal education can be limited in certain areas such as creativity as well as the appreciation of studying in general.

Can mathematics be seen as anything more than a useful too in everyday life?

Mathematics has always been used as a tool in our routine life, in its most basic applications of monetary exchange and transactions, estimating the travel time required to get to our workplaces so as to avoid being late, to its more complex deployment in the value-analysis involved in stock exchange in the global business market. Yet, the intrinsic value of mathematics is found not only in its concrete uses – being used as a mere tool – but more predominantly in its power to empower people and the world we live in. By taking a deeper and closer look into the power of mathematics, mathematics can effectively be seen as a language – a medium for interaction and communication. It can also be seen as a rich source of enhancement for the human mind, taking mental activity and capabilities to new heights. Most of all, mathematics should not be seen as a mere mash of numbers, questions and results, because by looking beyond that, we would see the large amount of information those “mere numbers” can tell us, where mathematics itself, can be seen as an entity, the engine that drives how we live and how we will live in the distant future.

By looking at the application of mathematics in our everyday lives, it is obvious that is used in extreme magnitudes in almost every aspect of our daily life. Because of this, mathematics is gradually seen as a form of language, with its basis of operation being the analysis and observation of sequential patterns, and the whole simple yet potent idea of counting. Studies over the years have shown us that the frequency of a cricket’s chirp over specific time frames is relative to the temperature of the surroundings at that point in time. Counting and identifying the sequence and patterns of clicks and beats have also given birth to the “MORSE code”. The whole concept of code-deciphering in various artifacts and transcripts is also based on pattern observation, a key component in mathematics. Taking into consideration that English, Chinese, French and Russian are languages that can only be used to communication by people who know them, since mathematics is something that lives among us in our everyday lives all over the world, there comes a possibility that mathematics could be the universal language of the future. Even during our daily conversations, there are instances where mathematically based observation is applied to allow us to arrive at certain conclusions. For example, too long a pause in between dialogue between friends can indicate either awkwardness, boredom or confusion. In the same light, panic or excitement can be observed when the pauses in between dialogue is abruptly cut off or too short, allowing us to conclude a certain level of anxiety and panic in the other party’s speech. All of such observations are again, also based on the mathematically-based concept of counting and speech-pattern analysis. Modern lie detectors in crime investigation sectors not only use heart rate and blood pressure as a gauge, but also the complex analysis of such speech patterns. Thus, it is undoubtedly clear that mathematics is not just a mere numerical tool, but a form of language that holds within it messages that we can uncover and allow us to arrive at various conclusions from a more careful observation of a simple string of patterns and numbers.

Moreover, mathematics is also seen as a source of enrichment to one’s mind. Because of the sometimes thought-stimulating aspects of math, the human mind is made to work more actively and process information at higher levels, thus familiarizing the brain with such demanding levels of mental activity and allowing individuals to attain a so-called “more intelligent mind”. The whole idea behind mathematics taking its place as a subject in educational institutes is not because of the direct usefulness of the various mathematical concepts taught. How often do we actually apply the mathematical concepts of the binomial theorem and Maclaurin’s series in our daily lives? With the modern day calculator at hand, none of those mathematical concepts are needed, and none of them would even prove to be useful in any way at all. Then why are students forced to learn such concepts of calculus if they are seemingly useless in today’s world? The reason is simple, and it is plainly because such concepts are supposedly difficult to grasp and questions pertaining to such concepts often difficult to answer, requiring deep thought and analysis in working towards the right answer. Based solely on this aspect, such mathematical concepts thus encourage the mental activity of the students, forcing them to think at higher levels and enabling them to grow more accustomed to high levels of thinking and the vital ability to think “out of the box”. With this accomplished, students would then grow into individuals with a higher mental capability, more prepared to tackle the many challenging problems and issues that they would most likely face especially in the working world, along their road to future success. Thus, mathematics is more than just a tool we make use of in the process of our daily lives but a form of “vitamin” that spurs us on to attain higher mental capabilities and a deeper understanding of how to go about solving problems and finding solutions whatever they may be, whereby such intellect is crucial to one’s success in the ever-changing world.

All in all, mathematics is not just a mere tool in our daily lives, but in actual fact the basis of all science and perhaps, all life. To provide a more absolute understanding of the value of mathematics, everything we live on has to do with mathematics, and everything around us functions by mathematical platforms, even us, as illustrated earlier. The houses we live in and every patch of man-made surface we set foot on, even the lights and air-conditioners we so conveniently turn on, are all constructed based on architectural analysis and measurements, as well as mechanical and electrical engineering which revolve around concepts found in mathematics. The computers and televisions we tend to seek daily entertainment from, even the electronic games we play and the computer applications we use to do work in the office, are all results of advanced and complex programming, another high level mathematical concept. In addition, processes crucial to the state of every country such as economic evaluation of market value and exchange rates, as well as statistical studies conducted to obtain relevant information from the population are also mathematical in nature. With so many things around us brought about by mathematics, and with so many crucial and important aspects functioning based on mathematical ideas, it would be foolish and naïve to still view mathematics as a mere tool, instead of something that empowers us with the many vital must-haves in life. With the sheer extent of benefits and promises brought to birth by mathematics, it can possibly be said to be the engine of our universe.

Mathematics shows us how to find logical paths to truth, how to unambiguously describe those paths to others, and how to recognize descriptions of faulty paths that lead in the wrong direction or in circles. With it in our arsenal, we are endowed with the ability to think critically, avoid error and derive solutions to any brain-racking issue. Mathematics enables us to communicate, to enhance our minds, and to develop the many things we find almost impossible to live without in our lives. Mathematics is not just a mere tool in everyday life, but an entity that brings about infinite possibilities.