Sunday, May 23, 2010
Draft2 - TV
Television has become a necessity to households nowadays. In developed countries, it is estimated that more than ninety per cent of households have at least a television set (Sharif 1999). Television has enamored its viewer, regardless their age (Leigh 2001). According to the American Time Use Survey (2003), American spends most of their leisure time watching television. They are glued to their favourite program all day and night. Hence, television is being blamed for causing viewers to have poor academic achievement, antisocial behavior problem and to be physically inactive. However, I strongly believe that television brings more good than harm as it provides an additional medium for learning, acts as an entertainment to relieve stress and encourages critical thinking.
Firstly, television acts as an extra dimension for learning. Auto-visual medium allows those boring subjects such as history and geography to be presented in a unique and interesting way. It catches the concentration of viewers and allows them to gain more information than those being merely read. Rutherford (2002) claims that by watching scientific program, children can work through the most complicated steps of scientific equation in an enjoyable manner. Television shows also allow young people to experience “eye-travelling”. They can watch the culture and beauty of other part of world and the natural scene of animal kingdom. It helps them to understand cultures of other countries and develop curiosity towards the world. Moreover, kids programs like ‘Sesame Street’ which use animation and puppets to make learning fun attract pre-schoolers. They recognize colours, numbers and alphabets before they begin school. Leigh (2002) states that these children also tend to have a larger vocabulary. In brief, television provides a wealth of information.
Also, television is an essential entertainment for the population as it can relieve stress. After a hard day at work or school, watching television is the best choice for relaxing. By being engrossed in a television show, adolescence can relieve their frustration which is caused by higher expectations that are placed on them. Young people need to forget about their stress for a short while to regroup and gain a more balanced view of problems (Rutherford 2002). It also enables the audience to refresh their mind and get themselves ready to focus on their studies and work. This claim is further proved by UK Time Use Survey (2000). It states that full-time workers choose to spend most of their leisure time on watching television rather than reading and playing games. Thus, television can certainly be solacing and assuasive.
Furthermore, television can help viewers to develop critical thinking. Critical thinking is an essential skill in both social settings and at school (Sharif 1999). Television acts as an engaging medium that encourage critical thinking about important issues on a wide range of human problems ranging from globalization to homelessness (Leigh 2001). For instance, by determining how conflicts are solved in television programs, families and friends can discuss whether or not better solutions are possible. This aids them to solve the complex situation in real life and won’t give up easily.
In a nutshell, television brings a lot of benefits such its role as a learning tool, a gadget to relax ourselves and promotes critical thinking. Somehow there are still having some people claim that television has the capacity to develop antisocial behavior and violence among the children. However, if the television is watched in moderation and suitable guidance is given, the advantages definitely overweight the disadvantages. Again, I would like to strengthen my stand that television brings more good than harm.
Friday, May 21, 2010
■你對事情的看法,是不是也反映出你內心真正的態度?
晚飯後,母親和女兒一塊兒洗碗盤,父親和兒子在客廳看電
■我們習慣以不同的標準來看人看己,以致往往是責人以嚴
有兩個臺灣觀光團到日本伊豆半島旅遊,路況很壞,到處都
■雖是同樣的情況,然而不同的意念,就會產生不同的態度
同樣是小學三年級的學生,他們將來的志願同是當小丑。中
■身為長輩的我們,不但要求多於鼓勵,更以狹窄界定了成
妻子正在廚房炒菜。丈夫在她旁邊一直嘮叨不停:“慢些、
■學會體諒他人並不困難,只要你願意認真地站在對方的角
一輛載滿乘客的公共汽車沿著下坡路快速前進著,有一個人
■有些人必須非常認真努力,因為不這樣的話,後果就十分
甲:“新搬來的鄰居好可惡,昨天晚上三更半夜跑來猛按我
■事出必有因,如果能先看到自己的不是,答案就會不一樣
張三在山間小路開車,正當他悠哉地欣賞美麗風景時,突然
■不要錯誤地詮釋別人的好意,那只會讓自己吃虧,並且使
小男孩問爸爸:“是不是做父親的總比做兒子的知道得多?
■權威往往只是一個經不起考驗的空殼子,尤其在現今這個
小明洗澡時不小心吞下一小塊肥皂,他的媽媽慌慌張張地打
■事情既然已經發生了,何不坦然自在地面對。擔心不如寬
一把堅實的大鎖掛在大門上,一根鐵杆費了九牛二虎之力,
■每個人的心,都像上了鎖的大門,任你再粗的鐵棒也撬不
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Television
Firstly, television acts as an extra dimension for learning. Auto-visual medium allows those boring subjects such as history and geography to be presented in a unique and interesting way. It catches the concentration of viewers and allows them to gain more information than those being merely read. Rutherford (2002) claims that by watching scientific program, children can work through the most complicated steps of scientific equation in an enjoyable manner. Television shows also allow young people to experience “eye-travelling”. They can watch the culture and beauty of other part of world and the natural scene of animal kingdom. It helps them to understand cultures of other countries and develop curiosity towards the world. Moreover, kids programs like ‘Sesame Street’ which use animation and puppets to make learning fun attract pre-schoolers. They recognize colours, numbers and alphabets before they begin school. Leigh (2002) states that these children also tend to have a larger vocabulary. In brief, television provides a wealth of information.
Also, television is an essential entertainment for the population as it can relieve stress. After a hard day at work or school, watching television is the best choice for relaxing. By being engrossed in a television show, adolescence can relieve their frustration which is caused by higher expectations that are placed on them. Young people need to forget about their stress for a short while to regroup and gain a more balanced view of problems (Rutherford 2002). It also enables the audience to refresh their mind and get themselves ready to focus on their studies and work. This claim is further proved by UK Time Use Survey (2000). It states that full-time workers choose to spend most of their leisure time on watching television rather than reading and playing games. Thus, television can certainly be solacing and assuasive.
Furthermore, television can help viewers to develop critical thinking. Critical thinking is an essential skill in both social settings and at school (Sharif 1999). Television acts as an engaging medium that encourage critical thinking about important issues on a wide range of human problems ranging from globalization to homelessness (Leigh 2001). For instance, by determining how conflicts are solved in television programs, families and friends can discuss whether or not better solutions are possible. By doing this, our critical thinking can be sharpened.
In a nutshell, television brings a lot of benefits such its role as a learning tool, a gadget to relax ourselves and promotes critical thinking. Again, I would like to strengthen my stand that television brings more good than harm if it is being used in moderation.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Final draft
Junk food is commonly used to describe any food that is perceived to be unhealthy and has low nutritional value (Smith 2005). Junk food is being blamed for the increase in childhood obesity, which can lead to further cases of heart disease and some cancer (Weekends News 2005). Junk food is also being blamed for health, litter problems and behavioral problems. However, sales of junk foods should not be banned in school canteen as junk foods are also a part of a healthy diet; it brings profit to the authorities and most importantly, the restriction could not change the eating habit of students.
Firstly, prohibition on the sale of junk food in school canteen will not change the eating habit of students. As we all know, the eating habit of every child is cultivated from home. For this reason, parents remain to be the primary guide of their kids for adopting healthy eating habits, eat and drink in moderation and do not have snack between meals (Cook 2005). Schools play an insignificant role. Apart from school canteen, students can easily get the junk foods from home or on the way to school. The eating habits of children between 12-14 years old at home that are shown in the Australian Nutrition Journal (2004) stated that only a small percentage of kids have their diet according to the recommended intake. In a nutshell, restricting choices at school is not the answer to the youth obesity problem.
In addition, a ban would reduce the profits earned markedly. By limiting the range of food, in particular the junk food, the profits earned gradually falls (School News 2005). Junk food, such as chocolate bars, crisps, and soft drinks are much cheaper than fresh foods and can help producers reap more profits. Most schools rely on profits from canteens to purchase and upgrade school’s facilities, equipments and software programs which are not covered by school fees. Sufficient profits which are earned from the sale of junk food can also be used to pay the salaries of canteen staff s as school can no longer rely on volunteer staffs. A ban would have a negative impact on education when the school facilities are not well up-to-date and adequate to foster a comfortable learning environment.
Next, junk food also plays an important role in promoting healthy diet. Junk food is not all bad. Pizza which is also considered as one kind of junk food can be nutritious (Cook 2005). Most of the sweets contain no fat can be part of a healthy diet as they are not fattening. Most dietitians agree that all food, including junk food, can become part of a healthy diet if eaten in moderation (Smith 2005). In other words, eating junk food in moderation would not harm and threaten the health of youths.In brief, consuming junk food occasionally is not a problem if we have a healthy diet at home.
In conclusion, junk food should not be banned as restricting the choices would not change the eating habit of kids. Junk food is part of a healthy diet and it brings profit to the authorities. Although it might cause obesity problem, but again, I would like to strengthen my stand on the side which allow the sale of junk foods in school as the students should learn on how to make the choice to have a healthy diet. Restricting the sale of junk food will never nib the problem in the bud.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Junk food - Draft 2
Junk food is commonly used to describe any food that is perceived to be unhealthy and has low nutritional value (Smith 2005). Junk food is being blamed for the increase in childhood obesity, which can lead to further cases of heart disease and some cancer (Weekends News 2005). Besides, junk food is also being blamed for health, litter problems and behavioral problems. However, sales of junk foods should not be banned in school canteen as junk foods are also a part of a healthy diet; it brings profit to the authorities and most importantly, the restriction could not change the eating habit of students.
Firstly, prohibition on the sale of junk food in school canteen will not change the eating habit of students. As we all know, the eating habit of every child is cultivated from home. For this reason, parents remain to be the primary guide of their kids for adopting healthy eating habits, eat and drink in moderation and do not have snack between meals (Cook 2005). Schools play an insignificant role. Apart from school canteen, students can easily get the junk foods from home or on the way to school. The eating habits of children between 12-14 years old at home that are shown in the Australian Nutrition Journal (2004) stated that only a small percentage of kids have their diet according to the recommended intake. In a nutshell, restricting choices at school is not the answer to the youth obesity problem.
In addition, a ban would reduce the profits earned markedly. By limiting the range of food, in particular the junk food, the profits earned gradually falls (School News 2005). Junk food, such as chocolate bars, crisps, and soft drinks are much cheaper than fresh foods and can help producers reap more profits. Most schools rely on profits from canteens to purchase and upgrade school’s facilities, equipments and software programs which are not covered by school fees. Sufficient profits which are earned from the sale of junk food can also be used to pay the salaries of canteen staffs as school can no longer rely on volunteer staffs. A ban would have a negative impact on education when the school facilities are not well up-to-date and adequate to foster a comfortable learning environment.
Next, junk food also plays an important role in promoting healthy diet. Junk food is not all bad. Pizza which is also considered as one kind of junk food can be nutritious (Cook 2005). Most of the sweets contain no fat can be part of a healthy diet as they are not fattening. Most dietitians agree that all food, including junk food, can become part of a healthy diet if eaten in moderation (Smith 2005). In other words, eating junk food in moderation would not harm and threaten the health of youths.In brief, consuming junk food occasionally is not a problem if we have a healthy diet at home.
In conclusion, junk food should not be banned as restricting the choices would not change the eating habit of kids. Junk food is part of a healthy diet and it brings profit to the authorities. Although it might cause littering problem, but again, I would like to strengthen my stand on the side which allow the sale of junk foods in school as the students should learn on how to make the choice to have a healthy diet. Restricting the sale of junk food will never nib the problem in the bud.