What difficulties do you have writing in your university classes? How do you resolve these difficulties? How will you continue to improve? Use approximately 300 words.
1.I have encountered problem while brainstorming of ideas that are nedded in the writing. This may be due to the lack of reading of articles. This problem can be resolved by using the search engine to search for articles related to the writing. Hence, ideas can be generated after reading through these articles. Alternatively, I used the mind-mapping method to see how each small ideas can be linked/related to each other.
2.Another difficulty that I have encountered while writing is grammar. The questions that I will ponder are:
1.Which tenses should I use?
2.Which pronounce should I use?
I resolved this problem by checking through the writing to see if there is any grammar error that need to be corrected.
3.The third problem that I have encountered while writing is phrasing. Because of the limited vocabulary that I have, it is very difficult to think of the appropriate words to use and also how can I phrase it in a way that I want it to turn out to be. Furthermore, the problem turns even worst when I am thinking in chinese and need to translate it into english. Normally, I will resolve this problem by writing the translated phrase down and think it over again and again, to see if there is any improvement that can be make.
4.The last difficulty that I faced with while writing is the essay that I had written is not up to the word limits. I will resolve this problem by reading through the essay again and again, to check if there is any things that I can add into the essay.
I will continue to improve my writing by doing the pre-writing and proofreading.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Post #6
3 grammars mistakes:
1.Articles
Incorrect version
“For example, in the manufacturing of fishball, if the company spends a huge sum in purchasing these machines to replace manual production of fishballs, and if it turns out that the consumers do not like these machine-made fishballs, they have to switch to buying fishballs manufactured by another company.”
The mistake make in this paragraph is article. The word “company” is specific and countable, therefore should use ‘a’ instead of ‘the’. Another word “consumers” should not have inserted ‘the’ in front of it. Because “consumers” in this paragraph is plural countable noun, which is nonspecified.
Correct version
“For example, in the manufacturing of fishball, if a company spends a huge sum in purchasing these machines to replace manual production of fishballs, and if it turns out that consumers do not like these machine-made fishballs, they have to switch to buying fishballs manufactured by another company.”
2.Moda1
Incorrect version
“Lastly, some critics argue that since these technologies can help to analyze a person thoughts, and hence if everybody can use these technologies, it can helps reduce any incidents or mishaps from happening.”
The mistake make in this paragraph is modal. Modals do not take on –s as they do not indicate number of person. The word “helps” should not have –s.
Correct version
“Lastly, some critics argue that since these technologies can help to analyze a person thoughts, and hence if everybody can use these technologies, it can help reduce any incidents or mishaps from happening.”
3.Pronounce Reference
Incorrect version
“If there are more of these technologies, which can replace human labor, it will mean that more people are going to lose their job.”
The mistake make in this paragraph is pronounce reference. The word “job” should has –s, because it refers to “their”. A plural pronounce refers to plural word or phrase.
Correct version
“If there are more of these technologies, which can replace human labor, it will mean that more people are going to lose their jobs.”
1.Articles
Incorrect version
“For example, in the manufacturing of fishball, if the company spends a huge sum in purchasing these machines to replace manual production of fishballs, and if it turns out that the consumers do not like these machine-made fishballs, they have to switch to buying fishballs manufactured by another company.”
The mistake make in this paragraph is article. The word “company” is specific and countable, therefore should use ‘a’ instead of ‘the’. Another word “consumers” should not have inserted ‘the’ in front of it. Because “consumers” in this paragraph is plural countable noun, which is nonspecified.
Correct version
“For example, in the manufacturing of fishball, if a company spends a huge sum in purchasing these machines to replace manual production of fishballs, and if it turns out that consumers do not like these machine-made fishballs, they have to switch to buying fishballs manufactured by another company.”
2.Moda1
Incorrect version
“Lastly, some critics argue that since these technologies can help to analyze a person thoughts, and hence if everybody can use these technologies, it can helps reduce any incidents or mishaps from happening.”
The mistake make in this paragraph is modal. Modals do not take on –s as they do not indicate number of person. The word “helps” should not have –s.
Correct version
“Lastly, some critics argue that since these technologies can help to analyze a person thoughts, and hence if everybody can use these technologies, it can help reduce any incidents or mishaps from happening.”
3.Pronounce Reference
Incorrect version
“If there are more of these technologies, which can replace human labor, it will mean that more people are going to lose their job.”
The mistake make in this paragraph is pronounce reference. The word “job” should has –s, because it refers to “their”. A plural pronounce refers to plural word or phrase.
Correct version
“If there are more of these technologies, which can replace human labor, it will mean that more people are going to lose their jobs.”
Monday, March 16, 2009
Post 5
During the roundtable discussion, my group discussed on whether the institutions or governments should regulate the use of these technologies, which can be used to analyze the brain thoughts. Followings are the points discussed:
Should regulate
The first speaker, Jia Ru discussed that more researches should be done before these technologies can be used. Furthermore, she had also mentioned that if the governments or institutions did not regulate the use of these technologies, the problem of abusing may aroused.
The second speaker, Shuaixiang further elaborate on why more researches should be done.
The third speaker, Jian Feng mentioned that the use of these technologies invade others’ privacy. However, the opponent, Alicia counter-argued that permission has to be seek before these technologies can be used on the person, and that the user of these technologies should not see the patient’s face. The user and the patient need to be separated in order to keep the patient’s information confidential.
Should not regulate
The first speaker, Angela talks on the advantages of using these technologies. One of the advantages of using these technologies are it can help to detect diseases without having to suffer any pains. Furthermore, these technologies can be used for psychology and she had cited an example. In the recent NTU’S case, where a fourth year student stabbed his professor and committed suicide after that. Hence, if these technologies can be used, it can prevent such incident from occurring. However, the opponent, Jian Feng counter-argued that it is actually invading other’s privacy. What would happen if these technologies captured the thoughts of a person while he/she is thinking of his/her bank account number? Therefore, the use of these technologies is like “hacking” a person’s thought.
The second speaker, Alicia discussed that the use of these technologies can be used to control the robots and hence it can help both the able and disable in the or daily work.
Finally, the modulator, Nurul’ain concluded that the governments or institutions should regulate the use of these technologies.
Should regulate
The first speaker, Jia Ru discussed that more researches should be done before these technologies can be used. Furthermore, she had also mentioned that if the governments or institutions did not regulate the use of these technologies, the problem of abusing may aroused.
The second speaker, Shuaixiang further elaborate on why more researches should be done.
The third speaker, Jian Feng mentioned that the use of these technologies invade others’ privacy. However, the opponent, Alicia counter-argued that permission has to be seek before these technologies can be used on the person, and that the user of these technologies should not see the patient’s face. The user and the patient need to be separated in order to keep the patient’s information confidential.
Should not regulate
The first speaker, Angela talks on the advantages of using these technologies. One of the advantages of using these technologies are it can help to detect diseases without having to suffer any pains. Furthermore, these technologies can be used for psychology and she had cited an example. In the recent NTU’S case, where a fourth year student stabbed his professor and committed suicide after that. Hence, if these technologies can be used, it can prevent such incident from occurring. However, the opponent, Jian Feng counter-argued that it is actually invading other’s privacy. What would happen if these technologies captured the thoughts of a person while he/she is thinking of his/her bank account number? Therefore, the use of these technologies is like “hacking” a person’s thought.
The second speaker, Alicia discussed that the use of these technologies can be used to control the robots and hence it can help both the able and disable in the or daily work.
Finally, the modulator, Nurul’ain concluded that the governments or institutions should regulate the use of these technologies.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Post 4
Article 1
Ethics and mapping the brain
In this article, it touches on the disadvantages of using technologies to find out what a person is thinking and also the issues that may arise when these technologies are used. One of the disadvantages is the example given; the case of Nancy, a hypothetical airline pilot who was fired after her brain images show that she might develop schizophrenia. One of the issues discussed is access. When the image of everybody’s head is stored in a file, who will have the rights to access these information?
APA Citation
This article is extracted from the Washington Times, titled “Ethics and mapping the brain” and is written L. Marano, published on 3rd June 2003.
Usefulness
This article is very useful since it has stated the disadvantages and ethics issue that might arise when using these technologies.
5 relevant vocabulary words/phrases and their definition
1.pedophilia - sexual desire in an adult for a child.
2.Hypothetical – logical
3.Genomics - the study of genomes
4.Predisposition - tendency to a condition or quality, usually based on the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors.
5.Juggernaut - any large, overpowering, destructive force or object, as war, a giant battleship, or a powerful football team
Article 2
A computer that can ‘Read’ Your Mind
In this article, it discuss on how the researchers continue to develop more advanced computational modeling to analyze the brain’s patterns. An example is the use of functional Magnetic Resonance Imagining (fMRI). fMRI is used to detect the brain’s activity. Based on these data, the researchers developed a computational modeling which allowed the computer to analyze what the subject was thinking. A more advanced computational modeling was developed recently, to analyze the brain activation patters. This way of analyzing a person’s thought is quite accurate. Hence it can be used in the study of autism, disorders of thought.
APA Citation
This article is published by the National Science Foundation on 30th May 2008 and it was retrieved on 6th August 2008 from the website stated.
Usefulness
This article is not very useful since it only talks about the advantages of using biomedical equipment to analyze the brain patterns, it did not discuss on the disadvantages of using the technology..
5 relevant vocabulary words/phrases and their definition
1.Folklore - the traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc., of a people; lore of a people
2.Computational Modeling - a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system.
3.Frontal - of, pertaining to, or situated near the forehead or the frontal bone
4.Schizophrenia - a severe mental disorder characterized by some, but not necessarily all, of the following features: emotional blunting, intellectual deterioration, social isolation, disorganized speech and behavior, delusions, and hallucinations.
5.Semantic dementias - a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of semantic memory in both the verbal and non-verbal domains.
Ethics and mapping the brain
In this article, it touches on the disadvantages of using technologies to find out what a person is thinking and also the issues that may arise when these technologies are used. One of the disadvantages is the example given; the case of Nancy, a hypothetical airline pilot who was fired after her brain images show that she might develop schizophrenia. One of the issues discussed is access. When the image of everybody’s head is stored in a file, who will have the rights to access these information?
APA Citation
This article is extracted from the Washington Times, titled “Ethics and mapping the brain” and is written L. Marano, published on 3rd June 2003.
Usefulness
This article is very useful since it has stated the disadvantages and ethics issue that might arise when using these technologies.
5 relevant vocabulary words/phrases and their definition
1.pedophilia - sexual desire in an adult for a child.
2.Hypothetical – logical
3.Genomics - the study of genomes
4.Predisposition - tendency to a condition or quality, usually based on the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors.
5.Juggernaut - any large, overpowering, destructive force or object, as war, a giant battleship, or a powerful football team
Article 2
A computer that can ‘Read’ Your Mind
In this article, it discuss on how the researchers continue to develop more advanced computational modeling to analyze the brain’s patterns. An example is the use of functional Magnetic Resonance Imagining (fMRI). fMRI is used to detect the brain’s activity. Based on these data, the researchers developed a computational modeling which allowed the computer to analyze what the subject was thinking. A more advanced computational modeling was developed recently, to analyze the brain activation patters. This way of analyzing a person’s thought is quite accurate. Hence it can be used in the study of autism, disorders of thought.
APA Citation
This article is published by the National Science Foundation on 30th May 2008 and it was retrieved on 6th August 2008 from the website stated.
Usefulness
This article is not very useful since it only talks about the advantages of using biomedical equipment to analyze the brain patterns, it did not discuss on the disadvantages of using the technology..
5 relevant vocabulary words/phrases and their definition
1.Folklore - the traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc., of a people; lore of a people
2.Computational Modeling - a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system.
3.Frontal - of, pertaining to, or situated near the forehead or the frontal bone
4.Schizophrenia - a severe mental disorder characterized by some, but not necessarily all, of the following features: emotional blunting, intellectual deterioration, social isolation, disorganized speech and behavior, delusions, and hallucinations.
5.Semantic dementias - a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of semantic memory in both the verbal and non-verbal domains.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Post #3
After attending the lecture on 30th January 2009, following are the summary of what the three speakers had presented during the speech.
Speaker 1: Professor Andrew Palmer spoke on the topic of Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage technology and Politics. From the statistic shown by Prof. Palmer, it revealed that Carbon dioxide is increasing rapidly and one way to response to climate change is to capture and store carbon dioxide from fossil fuel so that it is not dumped into the atmosphere. He also suggested on how to capture carbon dioxide that diffuse into the ocean. Furthermore, in his speech, he had also mentioned on how everyone can play their parts in tackling climate change. For instance, individuals can give up owning cars and do not buy bottled water.
Speaker 2: Dr. Benjamin Sovacool spoke on the topic of Using STS to address energy (and Technological) Problems. In his speech, he covered cases: 1-Renewable Power and 2 - Electric Vehicles. For case 1- Renewable Power, it is about the use of renewable energy such as solar energy and wind energy. However, these alternative energy sources cannot be tapped easily because of constraints such as the market failures and barriers, political and regulatory obstacles. For case 2 - Electric Vehicles, there are also constraints such as the technical challenges and economic challenges to overcome. Although there are challenges encountered, yet STS methods provide a useful lens to evaluate these technologies.
Speaker 3: Dr Rajasekhar Bala spoke on the topic of Climate change: Assessment and Mitigation. In his speech, he mentioned on why the earth’s atmosphere is becoming warmer, effects of global warming, approaches and difficulties encountered while tackling global warming. The earth’s atmosphere is becoming warmer because of human activities such as the increase in population, increase in consumer’s product. It is because of these activities that cause the rise in the average global surface temperature, which then causes the change in rainfall patterns and sea level rises. Therefore, there is a need to deal with Climate change. One of the ways is to slow the rate of climate change by increasing energy efficiency and rely more on renewable energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emission. However, there are difficulties encountered while dealing with climate change such as changes can disrupt economies and lifestyles. Dr. Bala also mentioned a few solutions to global warming such as storing carbon dioxide by planting trees and switch to renewable energy resource.
After hearing what all the three speakers had said about the climate change, I find that it is interesting to note that carbon dioxide is the main causes of climate change. It make me wondered are there any other gases that can also cause climate change.
Speaker 1: Professor Andrew Palmer spoke on the topic of Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage technology and Politics. From the statistic shown by Prof. Palmer, it revealed that Carbon dioxide is increasing rapidly and one way to response to climate change is to capture and store carbon dioxide from fossil fuel so that it is not dumped into the atmosphere. He also suggested on how to capture carbon dioxide that diffuse into the ocean. Furthermore, in his speech, he had also mentioned on how everyone can play their parts in tackling climate change. For instance, individuals can give up owning cars and do not buy bottled water.
Speaker 2: Dr. Benjamin Sovacool spoke on the topic of Using STS to address energy (and Technological) Problems. In his speech, he covered cases: 1-Renewable Power and 2 - Electric Vehicles. For case 1- Renewable Power, it is about the use of renewable energy such as solar energy and wind energy. However, these alternative energy sources cannot be tapped easily because of constraints such as the market failures and barriers, political and regulatory obstacles. For case 2 - Electric Vehicles, there are also constraints such as the technical challenges and economic challenges to overcome. Although there are challenges encountered, yet STS methods provide a useful lens to evaluate these technologies.
Speaker 3: Dr Rajasekhar Bala spoke on the topic of Climate change: Assessment and Mitigation. In his speech, he mentioned on why the earth’s atmosphere is becoming warmer, effects of global warming, approaches and difficulties encountered while tackling global warming. The earth’s atmosphere is becoming warmer because of human activities such as the increase in population, increase in consumer’s product. It is because of these activities that cause the rise in the average global surface temperature, which then causes the change in rainfall patterns and sea level rises. Therefore, there is a need to deal with Climate change. One of the ways is to slow the rate of climate change by increasing energy efficiency and rely more on renewable energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emission. However, there are difficulties encountered while dealing with climate change such as changes can disrupt economies and lifestyles. Dr. Bala also mentioned a few solutions to global warming such as storing carbon dioxide by planting trees and switch to renewable energy resource.
After hearing what all the three speakers had said about the climate change, I find that it is interesting to note that carbon dioxide is the main causes of climate change. It make me wondered are there any other gases that can also cause climate change.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Second Post
(a)"How can policies of your governemnt either contribute or help to reduce the problem of global warming?"
In the recent years, due to the unpredictable climate change, global warming has been becoming more of a concern in most of the countries. Therefore, the government, including Singapore has been introducing policies to tackle this problem. These policies introduce by the governemnt help to reduce the probelm of global warming in two ways: reducing air pollution and reduce deforestation.
Firstly, the government has been setting up several Electronics Road Pric (ERPs) in several parts of Singapore. This does not only helps in reducing traffic congestion, it also encourages the people to use the public transport. Therefore, it can helps in reducing the number of crs travelling on the road, which then reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. This can helps to cut down on the amount of air pollution. Furthermore, the Resident Committe(RCs) has also been conducting annual planting of trees event, where the MPs of that district will also participate in. These events not only helps in fostering a stronger bond between the residents and the MPs, it also helps in the removal of carbon dioxide since plants give off oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide.
Secondly, the government has also installed new rubbish chute in the HDB flat. These rubbish chute are used only for items that are recyclable. Not only in HDB falt, there are also rubbish bins with different types of label such as "Paper", "Plastic" and "Metal" placed on shopping malls for the shoppers to throw their rubbish into the respective bins. Furthermore, the National Environment Agency has also been airing a programme on the television. This programme is meant to educate or remind the people on the various ways of saving the environment. hence, it encourages the people to constantly practise the 3Rs: Recycle, reuse and reduce. In this way, it can reduce the amount of trees being cut down.
However, not only is the government introducing policies to reduce the problem of global warming, organizations are also playing their parts. For instance, the NTUC Fairprice introduced a policy that states that every shoppers need to bring their own bag on every wednesday. Else tehy will have to donate some amount of money for each plastic bag that they need. Even schools are also adopting this policy, such as at the NUS Co-op. And the money collected will goes to charity. Thus this is like using one stone to kill two birds. It helps to save the environment and also those unfortunates.
In conclusion, to reduce global warming, it does not depends only on one person's effort, but it is curcial for evry person to play their parts. If each person conrtibutes a little, they will have a more conducive and better environemnt to live in. Else, the one who is going to suffer at the end will also be them; the human beings.
In the recent years, due to the unpredictable climate change, global warming has been becoming more of a concern in most of the countries. Therefore, the government, including Singapore has been introducing policies to tackle this problem. These policies introduce by the governemnt help to reduce the probelm of global warming in two ways: reducing air pollution and reduce deforestation.
Firstly, the government has been setting up several Electronics Road Pric (ERPs) in several parts of Singapore. This does not only helps in reducing traffic congestion, it also encourages the people to use the public transport. Therefore, it can helps in reducing the number of crs travelling on the road, which then reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. This can helps to cut down on the amount of air pollution. Furthermore, the Resident Committe(RCs) has also been conducting annual planting of trees event, where the MPs of that district will also participate in. These events not only helps in fostering a stronger bond between the residents and the MPs, it also helps in the removal of carbon dioxide since plants give off oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide.
Secondly, the government has also installed new rubbish chute in the HDB flat. These rubbish chute are used only for items that are recyclable. Not only in HDB falt, there are also rubbish bins with different types of label such as "Paper", "Plastic" and "Metal" placed on shopping malls for the shoppers to throw their rubbish into the respective bins. Furthermore, the National Environment Agency has also been airing a programme on the television. This programme is meant to educate or remind the people on the various ways of saving the environment. hence, it encourages the people to constantly practise the 3Rs: Recycle, reuse and reduce. In this way, it can reduce the amount of trees being cut down.
However, not only is the government introducing policies to reduce the problem of global warming, organizations are also playing their parts. For instance, the NTUC Fairprice introduced a policy that states that every shoppers need to bring their own bag on every wednesday. Else tehy will have to donate some amount of money for each plastic bag that they need. Even schools are also adopting this policy, such as at the NUS Co-op. And the money collected will goes to charity. Thus this is like using one stone to kill two birds. It helps to save the environment and also those unfortunates.
In conclusion, to reduce global warming, it does not depends only on one person's effort, but it is curcial for evry person to play their parts. If each person conrtibutes a little, they will have a more conducive and better environemnt to live in. Else, the one who is going to suffer at the end will also be them; the human beings.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
"The Expanding World of Engineers"
After having read the article, " The Expanding World of Engineers" by Professor Ramakrishna, I feel that indeed an engineer's training enables them to systematically analyze complex information and apply it to solve problems. But how do these trainings helps them to do so?
In my opinion, I think that it is the cirriculum that they undergo during their tertiary education that enable them to do so. Firstly, as an electrical and electronics engineer graduate from one of the tertiary institution, there were plenty of projects which helps me to develop systematic thinking to solve problems. I was taught the step-by-step approach on solving problems. For instance, when writing a C++ program, we need to understand, analyze, develop an alogorithm first, instead of going straight into writing the program because it will be easier to troubleshoot if there is any error.
Secondly, the industrial attachemnt programme, which is a two-month training programme in one of the companies that they were attached to, enable them to further practise those approaches that they were taught.
Thirdly, every engineer graduates have to be involve in the final-year project, where they were given minimum guidance by their mentors or supervisor. They will be involved in the whole process, from brainstorming to designing to developing and testing of the product(s). In the process, they actually got to learnt to be resourceful, that is they have to know where to source for and buy the components. Hence, the final-year project is a good opportunity for them to show off what they have learnt throughout their years of education in that institution.
To conclude, with such a well-structured cirriculum provided, they are equipped with the necessary qualities and knowledge that is required in the industries. Thus, it is no doubt that engineers are highly needed in the various sectors, including the banking sector and biomedical sector.
In my opinion, I think that it is the cirriculum that they undergo during their tertiary education that enable them to do so. Firstly, as an electrical and electronics engineer graduate from one of the tertiary institution, there were plenty of projects which helps me to develop systematic thinking to solve problems. I was taught the step-by-step approach on solving problems. For instance, when writing a C++ program, we need to understand, analyze, develop an alogorithm first, instead of going straight into writing the program because it will be easier to troubleshoot if there is any error.
Secondly, the industrial attachemnt programme, which is a two-month training programme in one of the companies that they were attached to, enable them to further practise those approaches that they were taught.
Thirdly, every engineer graduates have to be involve in the final-year project, where they were given minimum guidance by their mentors or supervisor. They will be involved in the whole process, from brainstorming to designing to developing and testing of the product(s). In the process, they actually got to learnt to be resourceful, that is they have to know where to source for and buy the components. Hence, the final-year project is a good opportunity for them to show off what they have learnt throughout their years of education in that institution.
To conclude, with such a well-structured cirriculum provided, they are equipped with the necessary qualities and knowledge that is required in the industries. Thus, it is no doubt that engineers are highly needed in the various sectors, including the banking sector and biomedical sector.
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