Independent life, dependent study

From the aspect of study, the biggest distinction is that in China students are usually independent on their study. They only rely on themselves to solve the problems. Study is regarded as an individual thing and hence we lack of a teamwork culture in our study. But in US, this way is not working any more. Group study is highly encouraged by professors. Because everyone has their own strength, exceling in different areas, it is a good learning opportunity to share opinions and knowledge with others. Therefore, when doing projects or problem sets, American students like working together to solve the problem. As Chinese saying goes, two heads are better than one. The wisdom of the masses exceed that of the wisest individual. If a student still works independently as what he/she did in China, he/she probably gets less result with twice or even more effort. Consequently, effective teamwork plays a vital role in US education.

In contrast, students are required to be more independent on life way. Especially international students who are used to being carefully protected by their parents, must start to do almost everything by themselves in US. However, the kids, born nowadays in China, are usually only children in their family due to birth rate control policy in China. Thus, the children are always severely spoiled by their parents. They don't need to worry much about the food, the money because parents will do everything they can do for only children. You live a life with everything ready. What you need to do is just concentrating on your study and what your parents only care about is your study. This kind of spoiling has produced negative effects on children’s growing. Many children lack of independent ability in social life.

What if?

If Napoleon had invaded North America, battle of waterloo which is one of the famous wars in history would not have existed. He might have chosen to attack Washington, DC instead. Among various factors why he was defeated by Wellington was the Waterloo position. It is a complicated battlefield that is hard to attack but easy to defend. But Washington is different. If he had launched an attack on Washington as a breakthrough point, he may have won at the battle, and the whole French history would have changed. After the victory of battle of Washington, he would have remained the president of France until his death. The official language of America would have been changed to French because America would have become the colony of France. Even after he had already occupied America, he would not stop invading other countries because he was characterized by his belligerence. People all over the world would not have been able to lead a peaceful life under his outrageous rule.

Bowling for Columbine Questions

1. Free gun.
2. Michigan.
3. National Rifle Association.
4. Militia.
5. To protect yourself.
6. TNT
7. You should protect yourself all the time.
8. Yes for both questions.
9. A small town in south of Denver, perfect location, full of sunshine.
10. A room with a heavy door.
11.
12.
13. To help students in school deal with anger.
14.
15. NRA
16. By making a cartoon.
17. Angry.
18. Marilyn Manson.
19. Music has no judgement.
The president.
20. Bowling class.
21. Japan, India, Germany, France, UK, Canada, Australia.
22. 1836.
23. 1871.
24. The news media want people to feel scared.
25. Two.
Yes.
26. A black male.
27. Kids in the suburbs.
28. Local TV.

Definition in Academic Papers

Education:

Education is an interactive communication. On the one hand, educators and schools develop a system of instruction designed to teach knowledge and methodology. On the other hand, students not only learn skills, broaden horizons, and develop personal character, but also interact with teachers by responding to teachers’ questions and raising their own questions during the learning process.

Bullying:

Bullying can exist on campus. School bullying now is one of the serious problems which cannot be ignored in school. In the times of information explosion, teenagers expose to a large number of both good and bad intermingled information. In addition, the vast majority of teenagers are easily influenced by what they saw and what they heard from television, films, and internet. Therefore, they may tend to imitate the behavior that threatens or harms other persons by verbal harassment, physical assault, or other more subtle ways.

Terrorism:

Terrorism is a unique form of crime, often encompassing elements of warfare and politics. Terrorists use various violent actions especially for political purposes, such as destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of States and destabilizing government and regime.

A Capacity for Joy

Play, which seems to be both a sign and a source of joy, has been increasingly studied in recent years. Play is definitely important to animals because joy often expresses itself in play, which many animals may indulge in all their lives. Some animals may play with objects. And in other animals, object play may become social play. In addition, animals sometimes find playmates across the barrier of species. However, to what extent animals playing games recognize implicit rules is not clear.

Summary of Columbine High School massacre

Columbine High School massacre is the fourth-deadliest school killing in United States history. On April 20, 1999, in a small Jefferson County, Colorado, two high-school seniors, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, enacted an assault on Columbine High School during the middle of the school day. The boys' plan was to kill hundreds of their peers. With guns, knives, and a great number of bombs, the two boys walked the hallways and killed. As a result, twelve students, one teacher, and the two murderers were dead.

In response to the massacres, schools across the United States instituted not only new anti-bully policies as well as so-called "zero tolerance" approaches to weapons and threatening behavior but also security measures including see-through backpacks, metal detectors, and security guards. Moreover, the shooting resulted in calls for more gun control measures. These were regarded as the Columbine effects.

Citation

Egendorf, L. K. (2002). School shootings. San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press.

Olweus, D. (1995). Bullying or peer abuse at school: Facts and intervention. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4, 196-200.

Hanson, M. K. (1994). A conflict resolution/student mediation program: Effects on student attitudes and behaviors. ERS Spectrum, 12, 9-14.

Olweus, D. (1995). Bullying or peer abuse at school: Facts and intervention. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4, 196-200.

Piaget, J. (1970). Science of education and the psychology of the child. New York: Viking.

Verbs and expressions

Effect on Biodiversity

There is a bacterium that is naturally toxic to certain beetles and insects. Scientists have taken the gene that produces the toxin in the bacterium and engineered it into potato and corn plants. Now the potato and corn plants produce the same toxin, so any of the beetles or insects that eat them are poisoned by the toxin in the potato and corn plants. As the plants produce their own insecticide, farmers do not need to spray them with conventional insecticide, with the result that there is less pesticide residue on these plants. In this sense, these GE plants are better for us. But they now contain a gene that produces toxins. Is this good for us?
As well as the target pests, many beneficial beetles and insects are killed. Monarch butterfly larvae died when they came into contact with pollen from GE corn. What will be the effect on beetles, mice, birds, etc. that eat the beetles and insects that have been poisoned by the toxin in the potatoes and corn? In other words, what will be the effect on the environment? Some fear that proliferation of GE crops may result in huge losses of biodiversity and all the dangers that entails.
The GE potatoes and GE corn just mentioned are meant to reduce the need for pesticide. Other plants are genetically engineered to withstand pesticide. A gene that is naturally resistant to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide has been inserted into canola. So a farmer can spray a field of GE canola with almost as much Roundup as he/she likes, and while the weeds will be killed, the canola will be unaffected. So herbicide-resistant GE crops may encourage farmers to use more pesticide. There would be more pesticide residue on these crops.
In some places, the bacteria needed for breaking down vegetable matter so that the soil is fertilized are being wiped out by excessive use of Roundup. The soil is becoming inert, and so much so that dead weeds do not rot.
When a farmer harvests a crop like soy, some falls on to the ground and may remain there till the following growing season, when it may grow spontaneously. If the farmer is growing a different crop, the soy is now unwanted, a weed, and the farmer may want to kill it with herbicide. Herbicide-resistant GE soy cannot be killed with ordinary herbicide and farmers in Argentina, for example, use a potent cocktail of different chemicals, including 2-4,D and, it is thought, Paraquat. This cocktail is causing environmental havoc. Some of the chemicals are blown by the wind on to neighboring fields, into streams and lakes, and on to people. It is causing skin blemishes on children, farm animals to be born deformed, bananas to sprout from the middle of the branch instead of the top, lakes filled with dead fish.

Substantial Equivalence

The biotechnology industry claims that genetic engineering is just like traditional breeding, i.e., GE plants are substantially equivalent to non-GE plants and, therefore, that they do not need any extra regulation. This is obviously misleading.
In traditional breeding, members of the same or very similar species are crossed to create offspring with some novel trait. This greatly limits the genes that can be combined. Furthermore, when different but similar species are crossed, their offspring are generally infertile, preventing inter-species gene combinations from propagating in the wild. For example, a donkey and a mare can make a mule, but the mule will be infertile, the end of the line for the combined genes.
Genetic engineering smashes these natural barriers. Using gene insertion, any gene from any plant, animal, bacterium, fungus or virus can be inserted into the DNA in reproductive cells of any other organism. If the resulting organism survives, it generally can pass on its altered DNA, along with and new traits, through normal reproduction. For example, genetic engineering enables scientists to create pigs which have human genes, genes which will be passed on to future generations.
So GE plants and animals are not substantially equivalent to non-GE varieties. But are they safe for us to eat? Do they need extra regulation?
There are indications that they may not be safe. An English scientist reported that rats fed GE potatoes developed cancerous tumors. The rats' brain size also decreased. The same scientist also fed GE tomatoes to rats. 7 out of 20 rats developed stomach lesions and died.
There are also problems within the Food and Drug Agency, the US agency with responsibility for regulating food. Because of inadequate legislation in the US, Monsanto's New Leaf Superior GE potato is not regulated. The potato has been genetically engineered to poison and kill the Colorado potato beetle. Because it produces its own toxin, the potato is registered as a pesticide. The FDA does not regulate the potato because it does not have authority to regulate pesticides. That is the Environment Protection Agency's job, but the EPA says the potato is a food.
The first GE crop to be commercialized, the Flavr Savr tomato, did not pass the required toxicological tests. Secret memoranda from the FDA reveal that the agency ignored warnings from its own senior scientists who pointed out that GE is risky. What is behind this situation? For one thing, there is a very close link between the biotechnology industry and the US government. The biotech industry has been well represented in President Bush's cabinet. Secretaries of Defence, Health, and Agriculture, the Attorney General and the chairperson of the House Agriculture Committee have had connections with Monsanto or the wider industry.
But would the manufacturer be irresponsible? Monsanto president has been quoted as saying, "Safety is the Government's responsibility."
So we do not know for sure if GE foods are safe. They may turn out to be harmful. There are many examples of new technologies hailed at first as great benefits to humankind, but later realized to be anything but a benefit. The effects of DDT were not known for decades. Likewise Thalidomide, which caused deformities in more than 100,000 babies. At the time of its approval in the EU and Canada, tests in laboratory animals showed no negative effects. Thalidomide's damage was revealed only over time, not in the drug's users, but in their children.
There is already at least one new disease linked to GE food. In 1989 eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) hit the US. 37 people died and 1,500 were permanently disabled. EMS was linked to the consumption of a dietary supplement called L-Tryptophan. The batch of L-Tryptophan implicated in the outbreak was traced to Showa Denko, which had recently introduced a new genetically engineered bacterium into its production process.

Resumptive, summative, free modifiers

1. Many different school systems are making a return to tradition education in the basics, education that emphasize particularly on fundamental skills.
Many different school systems are making a return to tradition education in the basics, a change that many educators anticipated five years ago.
Many different school systems are making a return to tradition education in the basics, shifting teaching ideas and methods.

2. Within the period of the last few years or so, automobile manufacturers have been trying to meet new and more stringent quality control requirements, requirements raised the standard to a high level.
Within the period of the last few years or so, automobile manufacturers have been trying to meet new and more stringent quality control requirements, a challenge that will be of benefit to human being.
Within the period of the last few years or so, automobile manufacturers have been trying to meet new and more stringent quality control requirements, increasing the efficiency of the production progress.

3. The majority of young people in the world of today cannot even begin to have an understanding of the insecurity that a large number of older people had experienced during the Great Depression, insecurity that people were devoid of at that time.
The majority of young people in the world of today cannot even begin to have an understanding of the insecurity that a large number of older people had experienced during the Great Depression, a failure that compelled people to become homeless.
The majority of young people in the world of today cannot even begin to have an understanding of the insecurity that a large number of older people had experienced during the Great Depression, living a poor life during the period.

4. The reasons for the cause of aging are a puzzle that has perplexed humanity for millennia, a puzzle that the experts haven’t worked out yet.
The reasons for the cause of aging are a puzzle that has perplexed humanity for millennia, a mystery that there is still no clear answer.
The reasons for the cause of aging are a puzzle that has perplexed humanity for millennia, requiring further research.

5. The successful accomplishment of test-tube fertilization of embryos has raised many issues of an ethical nature that continue to trouble both scientists and laypeople, issues that include morality, obligation, legality and other aspects.
The successful accomplishment of test-tube fertilization of embryos has raised many issues of an ethical nature that continue to trouble both scientists and laypeople, an event that is a milestone in development of human history.
The successful accomplishment of test-tube fertilization of embryos has raised many issues of an ethical nature that continue to trouble both scientists and laypeople, providing people new thoughts about life.

6. Many who lived during the period of the Victorian era were appalled when Darwin put forth the suggestion that their ancestry might have included creatures such as apes, the era that people are too conservative to accept non-traditional ideas.
Many who lived during the period of the Victorian era were appalled when Darwin put forth the suggestion that their ancestry might have included creatures such as apes, an event that totally changed people’s view of the world.
Many who lived during the period of the Victorian era were appalled when Darwin put forth the suggestion that their ancestry might have included creatures such as apes, treating his suggestion as paganism.

7. In the period known to scholars and historians as the Renaissance, increases in affluence and stability in the area of political affairs had the consequence of allowing streams of thought different kinds to merge and flow together, thought from different classes of the society.
In the period known to scholars and historians as the Renaissance, increases in affluence and stability in the area of political affairs had the consequence of allowing streams of thought different kinds to merge and flow together, a change that brought in a hundred schools of thought, and promoted debate.
In the period known to scholars and historians as the Renaissance, increases in affluence and stability in the area of political affairs had the consequence of allowing streams of thought different kinds to merge and flow together, tending to diversification in people’s opinions.

8. The field of journalism has to an increasing degree placed its focus on the kind of news stories and events that at one time in our history were considered to be only gossip of a salacious and sexual nature, news stories and events that were regarded as non-traditional ones before.
The field of journalism has to an increasing degree placed its focus on the kind of news stories and events that at one time in our history were considered to be only gossip of a salacious and sexual nature, a change that remained controversial for a long time.
The field of journalism has to an increasing degree placed its focus on the kind of news stories and events that at one time in our history were considered to be only gossip of a salacious and sexual nature, in order to attract readers’ attention.

9. In his documentary Bowling for columbine, Michael Moore has put the spotlight on the American penchant for violence, the spotlight that was easily seen by readers.
In his documentary Bowling for columbine, Michael Moore has put the spotlight on the American penchant for violence, a way to concentrate on the main point he want to express.
In his documentary Bowling for columbine, Michael Moore has put the spotlight on the American penchant for violence, especially focusing on the cause and effect chain of the event.

10. Al Gore has tirelessly urged world governments to develop policies in response to global warming, policies that would slow down the pace of global warming.
Al Gore has tirelessly urged world governments to develop policies in response to global warming, the opinion that was unfortunately ignored by world governments.
Al Gore has tirelessly urged world governments to develop policies in response to global warming, to preserve the ecological environment.

The Phenomena of Yao Ming

Since Yao Ming, the first player without any American basketball experience before, was selected by Houston Rockets as the 1st overall pick in the 2002 draft, the past five years have witnessed a sharp rise in basketball fever in China. People gathered around to watch Houston Rockets’ game and showed interest in Yao’s performance. Large number of Chinese teenagers dreamed that they can play like Yao Ming and enter the NBA league one day in future. Yao’s hard work led him to become one of the best players in the league. Not only did the mass media and many experts give him highly praise, like “Chinese Great Wall”, but also he was voted as the starting roster for the Western Conference in NBA All Star game by his millions of NBA fans votes. As a result, Chinese players are highly approved and attract many teams’ scouts’ attention because Yao, to some extent, represents Chinese players. Those with the title “the next Yao Ming” are eager to trace Yao’s success. Yi Jianlian and Sun Yue have been successfully picked by NBA teams this year and are ready to show their abilities in this highest level of league in the world. We can optimistically estimate that increasing number of Chinese players will performance in NBA in future.

The case of Martin

I think they should allow him to die. The reason is the situation of Martin now is hopeless and hard to improve, thus continuous treatment will be ineffective. Just relying on tube and respirator to keep him alive is not a long-term plan and the situation is exacerbating day by day. In addition, medical cost is a big problem. Although money is insignificant compared to human’s life, thousands of dollars a day is not only waste of money, but also a big burden on his family which is not very rich.

Paraphrase

Part 1: In many instances, anger and aggression probably explode when people are ostracized or rejected, especially their romatic desires are thwarted. Certain individuals, charaterized by their shyness or eccentricity, are more likely to be ostracized and ignored by their peers. For example, two teenagers who had been ostracized, taunted and bullied by other students before, commited a crime by attacking their peers after deliberate planning.

Part 2:



Part 3: Commericial pressures play a vital role in reshaping media content and even criminal justice policy.

Nature or nurture

The debate about "nature or nurture" never stops. Some people prodigies are born, but I think they are made by both their family and themselves.

Family education plays a vital role in prodigy growing. Parents are the first teachers to a child. It is commonly seen that those who gradually became musicians since borned in a music family. That is because they grow up in the specific environment with piano, music box or just melody every day even since they are born. Thus, children are easily influenced by what they constantly see and hear. Moreover, children have more opportunities to get to experts on the field or other resources than their peers due to parents’ social network, which will be catalyzes to the shaping of children. Therefore, family has inestimably great influence on the development of the abilities of children.

Individual effort, on the other hand, is also a factor to produce prodigies. Thomas Edison belongs to the class of genius. But when the public wondered the key to his success, he responded that genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Inspiration is essential, but only constitutes a very small part. Hard work is the most important thing for a successful person. Michael Jordan was characterized by his unparalleled physical attributes since he entered NBA. But inborn advantage cannot guarantee him one of the best basketball players in history. He kept practicing basketball every day. He was always the last one to leave the court after training. Therefore, hardworking cannot be simply ignored to produce prodigies.

Protection of ozone layer

Outline(a chain of causation):
Human activities—pollution—a hole in ozone layer—ultraviolet ray pass through--cause skin cancer—need sustainable development

For billions of years, the ozone layer, characterized by a layer of upper atmosphere, has been playing a vital role of protecting humans and other living things on earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays. In recent years, human activity, however, has contributed to the deterioration of the ozone layer. People used to produce various chemical products which affect and destroy the ozone layer. Moreover, a massive factory boom brought on serious air pollution. As a consequence a hole has been created and ultraviolet rays could pass through the atmosphere and burn human’s skin, in certain cases this could produce a chronic disease called cancer.

A damaged ozone layer leads to a number of serious health risks for humans. Therefore, some solving methods and policies, for example, sustainable development is in urge need. Sustainable development implies a broad view of human welfare, a long term perspective about the consequences of today’s activities, and global co-operation to reach viable solutions. People can achieve a sustainable future through the promotion of sustainable development stratergy, full integration of the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Human history has shown that if we continue to exploit our resources, particularly by destroying the air and water, we will ultimately harm ourselves.

Summary of “Small Wonders”

The article “Small Wonders”, written by Andrew Marshall, discussed factors affecting how and why prodigies are made. The ethnicity and geography are obviously irrelevant. Research shows that the drive comes from different functioning of their brain’s neural circuitry compared with other ordinary peers. Although there is no definite answer to the occurrence of difference, researchers and expects have came to an agreement that both nature and nurture have influences on giftedness. Moreover, prodigies should act their ages because they are still children.

Graph showing average daily use of D.C. Metro

The graph shows that the average daily use of D.C. Metro on different time. From 6:00 am, the number began to rise, and reached the 1st peek at around 8:00. After that, the number declined considerably. After slightly growing from 10:30, the number stabilized for a period. Subsequently, the number dipped sharply with reaching a bottom. At 18:30, the number reached 2nd highest level. The number, from then on, dropped steeply, and eventually remained relatively steady after 20:30. The graph shows that the number of people using metro changed dramatically during two periods because mass people were traveling to or from working in rush hours.

The consequences of an aging population

The major problem is that it will affect economic growth. Based on macroeconomics theory, output is a function of labor and capital input. When the number of the old becomes large, the effective labor input will certainly decline. As a consequence, output will be adversely affected that may slow the annual growth rate of national GDP.

The government, on the other hand, will face the pressure coming from aging population. Expanding health care costs for elderly people will be a big burden for government. Government will be required to ameliorate social welfare system to meet senior citizens' needs. More hospitals, more health services, and more programs designed for the aged are probably necessary.

The End of Suburbia

1. What's the documentary's main claim?
America has squandered its wealth in a living arrangement that has no future. Suburban life, the American dream, will collapse due to oil depletion.

2. What's the background of the problem?
After World War II, growing number of North Americans moved to suburbia with a massive housing boom and increasing dominance of the automotive industry.

3. What reasons does the film-maker provide in support of the claim? Which reasons do you find the most convincing? Which ones are not so convincing?
1. In suburban project, car is a key factor because people live far from city. But too many cars cause traffic jams.
2. Serious energy problems because supply falls short of demand. Use of nonrenewable resource is unsustainable. (most convincing)
3. Combination of energy materials cannot substitute for petroleum and natural gas. (not so convincing)

4. What evidence does the film-maker provide in support of these reasons? Which evidence do you find the most convincing?
First, a scene of the documentary show the streets were full of cars in rush hours and people could not move at all.
Second, the price of oil was soaring. Those who live in suburbia relied heavily on abundant and cheap oil. The end of cheap oil signaled the end of their way of life. (most convincing)
Third, the blackout of east coast power grid in 2003 and recent dramatic reduction of oil reserve forecasts by Shell Oil showed the red light on the earth's fuel shortage.

5. What counter-arguments does the film-maker deal with? (You should be able to name at least 3).
First, use hydrogen to produce energy.
Second, the hidden war of Iraq indicated Amerca's aggressive attempts to secure access to the remaining reverses of oil on the planet.
Third, I am sorry I just memorized the above two points.

6. What are some of the implications of the problem? In other words, what is the cost of inaction?
Global crisis deepens because we are going to run out all the natural gas and oil. Today's suburbia will become the slum of tomorrow.

7. Does the author discuss any solutions to the problem?
Much of what we are doing is helping reduce the crisis on fossil fuel: light rail, farmers markets, bike lanes, insulating houses, keeping tight urban growth boundaries, building housing in city centers. However, there is still a long way to go.

Computer use in K12-classrooms

The past several years have witnessed a sharp rise in computer use. Computers, characterized by a prevailing and convenient means access to various information around the world, also become increasingly popular in K12-classrooms. However, the debate about whether computers should be introduced to children at the elementary-school level is continuously heated as well. Different people hold different opinions.

In the one hand, computers have changed people’s daily life from many aspects. People can book a plane ticket, order household necessities and attend visual conferences even travel around the world on computers through internet connection. In addition, people do not need to go to library and look for books they want shelf by shelf. Instead people can simply type the key words in the searching engine. Computers will give you a great number of related information about your topic within only a few seconds. Life, to some extent, is becoming much easier with computers.
save time

It is certainly agreed that computers are useful. Nevertheless, the use of computer at an early age, in the other hand, is limited with regard to children’s general properties. First, children are too young to be introduced to computers until they reach physical and metal maturity. Health problems, such as myopia, or pain on wrist, neck, and backbone, may occur as a result of overusing computers. It will be of great harm to their healthy growing up. Second, children may lack of social skills because they seldom interact with real worlds. Psychological research found that children who spend too much time on computers are more likely to have problems in social communication. Last but not least, vast majority of them have no or low self-control ability. If parents or teachers didn’t give them timely guide, they would probably overuse or inappropriately use computers. For example, they may addict to computer games or internet that would waste a lot of time.

Ideal age access to computers

What do you think is the ideal age for a child to be introduced to computers? Why?

Child varies from person by person. With regard to individual diversity, different children have different ideal ages to be introduced to computers. However, the ideal age depends on whether children already have maturity to use computers for proper purposes and is able to distinguish useful and harmful information. When they are young, vast majority of them usually have weak self-control ability. If parents or teachers don’t give timely guide, they probably overuse or inappropriately use computers. For example, they may addict to computer games and spend too much time in front of screens which may cause some health problems including myopia, pains on wrist, neck, and backbone. Moreover, they will expose to mass mixed information from internet which may have negative effects on formation of their values of life. Children are still too young to make the correct choice due to lack of experiences. Until they grow up and gradually reach physical and metal maturity, it then will be the right time to introduce them to computers. Moreover, they must be able to understand that computer is a useful tool for study. It is not be just used to play games. Only when they reach the best age for using computer can they make best use of computers.

Q&A on p.15

1. The Alliance for Childhood cites "health concerns" as one reason shy young students should not have computers in the classroom. What might these health concerns be?

Children always have no or low self-control ability. Health problems, such as myopia, or pain on wrist, neck, and backbone, may occur as a result of overusing computers. It will be of great harm to their healthy growing up.

2. Read lines 27-30.Why do these parents have a "grudging guilt" about their children?

They kept children indoors to play computer instead of interaction with real worlds.

3. 3.Read lines 38-43. This paragraph states, "Various studies show different effects of
computer use in the classroom." According to this paragraph, what factor can determine how useful computers are in the classroom?

Depends on teachers and their teaching ways whether they can maximize the benefits of computers.

Summary of “Beyond Rivalry”

The article “Beyond Rivalry”, written by Elizabeth Stark, discussed complex relationships between siblings. Young adults may estrange from their siblings due to life stress from many aspects. However, as people grow older, they usually have more contact with each other. In addition, critical events, based on psychological study, can pose either positive or negative effects on their relationship. Another research found that more than a half people increase contact not only because external conditions, like more free time, are available but also it fills their emotional gaps. At last, the article discussed various factors affecting how much contact siblings will have and as well why siblings do not ask each other for help.

Summary of "State Lotteries are needed"

In the article “State Lotteries are needed”, the author claimed that government can collect funds for various goals through state lotteries. From historical experience, lotteries, as a tool used by government, have effectively contributed much to public benefits. Not only did they provide education funds, but also created more job opportunities. Moreover, states can profit from lotteries without raising taxes. However, effective administration is required because state lotteries may have failure risks if adults allocate their individual finances inappropriately.

Q&A about compulsive shopping

1. In your experience, do normal shoppers and compulsive shoppers behave differently when they shop? If so, how?
Yes. Compulsive shoppers are characterized by addiction to shopping. Shopping is become a habit. However, actually they often have no need for the goods they have brought home.

2. Do you know anyone who seems to be addicted to shopping? In this person's case, what do you think causes their compulsive shopping?
No.
They always have great obsession with fashion. In addition, there are too much time and money for them to cosume. So they target at local malls, department stores, or yard sales which are good places to kill time and money.

3. What effect does culture have on the way people shop?
Modern social culture always encourges comsumption in order to promote the development of national economy. People like discussing new arrival in local stores or the style of the latest Paris fashion show with friends. Under this situation, most people, especially compulsive shoppers, are more likely to succumb to surroundings otherwise they may be regarded as outdated.

4. How do advertisements affect the way people shop?
From early childhood, people are exposed to various ads urging them to buy.

Writing exercises

 Physical attraction is important for marital happiness.
Physical attraction is certainly important for marital happiness.

 Economic sanctions are ineffective.
Economic sanctions might be ineffective.

 Alcohol causes people to become violent.
Alcohol may causes people to become violent.

 Passive smoking causes cancer.
Passive smoking can causes cancer.

 Recycling is the best solution to the waste disposal problem.
Recycling seems to be the best solution to the waste disposal problem.

 Physical exercise lessens the severity of depression.
Physical exercise highly likely lessens the severity of depression.

 Great novels do not make great films.
There is a good possibility that great novels do not make great films.

 Private schools provide better education than do public schools.
Private schools usually provide better education than do public schools.

Hedging

The red fonts are hedging words.

Our analyses of cases of school violence since 1995 support the hypothesis that social rejection was involved in most cases of lethal school violence. Twelve of the cases involved an ongoing pattern of teasing, bullying, or ostracism, and at least six of the perpetrators had experienced a recent romantic rejection. In only two of the incidents did we find no clear evidence of rejection; Seth Trichey, who wounded four students in Ft. Gibson, OK, was an honor student that other students liked, his victims were randomly chosen, and he seemed unable to explain his actions. Even so, he did not appear remorseful (unlike, for example, the shooters in Fayetteville, TN, and Conyers, GA), which suggests either that he thought that the victims deserved their fate or that he was psychologically incapable of empathy. Victor Cordova, who killed a female student in Deming, NM, also had no history of rejection, but he had been deeply depressed for some time. These findings are consistent with those obtained by the U.S. Secret Service and reported in their Safe School Initiative. In their analysis of school shootings that have occurred in recent years, they found evidence for bullying, ostracism, and social rejection in over two-thirds of the cases [Vossekuil et al., 2000].

Several of the perpetrators explicitly explained their actions as a response to being mistreated by other students. For example, the perpetrator of the Pearl, Mississippi shooting said that he killed because ‘‘people like me are mistreated every day…. No one ever really cared about me’’ [Chua-eoan, 1997]. Similarly, one of the Jonesboro, Arkansas shooters had vowed to kill all of the girls who had broken up with him [Blake et al., 1998], and the Columbine killers’ rage appeared to come from their rejection and mistreatment by other people. Of course, a murderer’s stated reason for his behavior may reflect nothing more than a self-serving justification. However, independent evidence from other students and teachers corroborates the presence of rejection in most of the cases. It is also noteworthy that, to our knowledge, few of the perpetrators attributed their violent behavior to other equally plausible causes, such as disinterested parents, a broken home, child abuse, academic failure, or psychological problems.

Few individuals navigate their way through adolescence without being teased, bullied, or rejected in some manner, but the vast majority do not exact retribution on their classmates. Rejection may be frustrating, angering, even maddening [Buckley, unpublished data; Twenge et al., 2001], but it is rarely sufficient to provoke premeditated violence even if the victim feels like killing people. Thus, rejection alone, while a possible contributor, does not necessarily cause violence by itself. The information we collected regarding the three other risk factors offers hints regarding other contributors to school violence. In particular, most of the perpetrators displayed at least one of the other three risk factors (psychological problems, interest in guns or explosives, or fascination with death). Thus, we speculate that rejection, combined with one or more of these other factors puts an individual at higher risk to perpetrate aggression against peers.

First, a variety of psychological problems may be associated with an increased tendency for aggressive behavior. For example, certain personality disorders are characterized by aggressiveness, paranoia, low impulse control, lack of empathy for other people, and even sadistic behaviors, all of which may lower one’s threshold for violence [Millon, 1981]. Thus, some instances of school violence may reflect extreme manifestations of an ongoing pattern of antisocial and aggressive behavior. Many of the shooters had been in trouble previously for aggression against their peers, and two had allegedly abused animals. In addition, people who are depressed and perhaps suicidal may behave in desperate ways, feeling that they having nothing to lose by acting aggressively [Marano, 1998]. The Safe School Initiative report indicated that perpetrators in over three-fourths of the school shootings had either threatened or attempted suicide at some time in the recent past [Vossekuil et al., 2000].

Second, individuals who not only have access to guns but who are fascinated by firearms and explosives may be more likely to act on their aggressive impulses because they are comfortable dealing with instruments of destruction than those who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with guns and explosives, who do not have the means to perpetrate violence with firearms and bombs. Experience with guns is by no means necessary, however; the perpetrator of the West Paducah, Kentucky shooting had apparently not fired a gun before his rampage.

Third, people who are fascinated by themes of death, and whose identity is linked to Gothic, Satanic, and other ‘‘dark’’ lifestyles may find the idea of carnage less revolting than most other people do. It remains unclear whether death-rock music and other aspects of popular culture that glorify death cause otherwise peaceful adolescents to be violent or whether individuals who are already inclined toward aggression are simply more interested in death-related music and activities.

Previous theory and research has not adequately addressed the question of why rejection sometimes leads to anger and an impulse to aggress. Thomas [1995] suggested that the painful feelings of shame that often result from rejection may provoke anger and aggression, much in the same way in which physical pain (such as slamming one’s own hand in a door) can make people angry. Other writers have suggested that aggression may result from a desire to show that one is not a person to be trifled with [Nisbett, 1993] or to maintain self-esteem and buttress one’s positive self-concept after an ego-threatening event [Baumeister et al., 1996]. Without discounting other explanations, we believe that the primary motive in most of the school shootings seems to have been retribution, either for an ongoing pattern of ostracism and teasing or for an acute rejection such as a romantic breakup. In fact, many of the cases were characterized by both an ongoing pattern of rejection and a specific rejection experience, suggesting that the recent rejection may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. At the same time, however, the evidence suggests that at least some of the perpetrators were seeking respect as well. After killing three and injuring five in West Paducah, KY, Michael Carneal was quoted as saying ‘‘People respect me now,’’ and the Columbine killers fantasized that they would be famous and that movie directors would fight over making a movie of their story [Gibbs and Roche, 1999].

Of course, like all case studies, this one is open to the criticism that the mode of data collection is necessarily selective and uncontrolled. In particular, the evidence that we obtained about the episodes from press reports may reflect reporters’ implicit theories about the link between rejection and aggression; we may have found evidence of such a relationship because writers in the mass media selectively reported evidence consistent with their implicit theories. We cannot discount this possibility but find it noteworthy than only a few of our sources drew an explicit connection between the rejection that the perpetrators had experienced and their subsequent violent behavior. In most cases, information regarding the perpetrator’s relationships with other students was mentioned only in the context of describing the kind of person he or she was. Only after the Columbine shootings in April of 1999 did many writers begin to explore the role than ostracism or rejection may have played.

Furthermore, like all case studies, ours necessarily lacks an appropriate control group. Although we can document that most of the perpetrators of these school shootings had been subjected to teasing, bullying, or other types of rejection, we do not know for certain whether they experienced an exceptionally high level of mistreatment compared to other children and adolescents. Given that roughly 75% of elementary and middle school students are occasionally bullied at school [Kass, 1999], the perpetrators of the school shootings were by no means unique. Even so, from reading descriptions of their peer relationships, our sense is that most of the shooters had experienced an unusually high amount of bullying or ostracism that was particularly relentless, humiliating, and cruel. Furthermore, when an individual has psychological difficulties, an affinity for guns and explosives, or a fascination with death and gore, such peer mistreatment may evoke a catastrophic reaction.

Mimicry

Many animals have their own clever methods to protect themselves against predators. Mimicry, in which a species appears similar to its surroundings, is commonly a form of anti-predatory behavior. An example of this is that chameleons utilize mimicry to threaten or fool the predators. Chameleons are characterized by their ability to change different colors in terms of different environment. As a consequence, they are unnoticeable to the passers-by. Some Insects also use camouflage to make their body or one part of their body similar to other things. When they are inactive, they might look like a leaf, a twig, or a tree bark. Predators, no doubt, have more difficulty to see them. This kind of behavior provides evidence that some animals can avoid detection to protect themselves so they probably have a better chance of surviving in the nature.

Academic&Non-academic writing

Todays's topic is the difference between academic and non-academic writing.

First, academic issues are restrcited in terms of structures, words, and citations while non-academic writing is much more liberal. For example, academic writing requires formal and precise words. Non-academic writing , in contrast, is usually full of creative imagination, sometimes including humor words in order to attract their readers.

Secondly, the audiences are different. On the one hand, academic issues are always reviewed by professors or other experts in the field. On the other hand, non-academic writing is targeted at public readers.

Moreover, the subject of academic issues must be objective and logical. However, people have high tolerance for ambiguity when they read non-academic essays. It is commonly seen that no clear subject exists in non-academic writing.

Last but not least, when you are writing about an academic issue, you cannot just dogmatically state the truth or your opinions. Opinons require evidence. Thus, not only is it required to do some research to collect related information which supports the theme, but also you have to prove how the conclusion can be drawn from evidence. However, non-academic writing can merely rely on common sense or just your feelings. There is no fixed standard.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog.
I just opened my blog here, and this is my first time to post on it.
My name is Ted. I am a new graduate student of GWU, majored in economics.
Sometimes I am too shy to talk to strangers. But if we get familiar with each other, you will find that I am a quite easygoing guy.
I hope I can make friends with you.