Blog Prompt Week 4

You probably have already heard that a Secondary Four student recently wrote a to letter the Education Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat, which generated much heated debate again about Singapore's much-discussed education system.

Read the article here:

http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/12/an-open-letter-to-the-education-minister-from-a-secondary-4-student/

What are your views? Read the article and give your responses to the following prompts:

1. To what extent do you agree with the issues that the student has raised here? Point out some issues of agreement and possible contention.

   
   
   In the letter, it suggests that the education system in Singapore limits the creativity of students. In neighborhood schools, teachers normally gives students model answers for students to memorize as said in the letter. Well, I partially agree with the statement above. With the model answers that teachers give, it makes a student less independent. Instead of the student searching for answers, the teachers are giving answers for them to memorize. Thus causing less student asking WHY. As we all know, there is more than an answer for a question, instead of giving answers, how about letting student to be more independent, searching and forming solutions and maybe, just maybe their answer may be better than present ones.
   
   
   However, why do you think there is an education system like this? While in today's society, O levels is considered very important. With good marks, one can go to a good junior college and thus leading to a brighter future. So, model answers and memorizing them is actually a good way to ace to O levels. Can the education be blame because it is trying to provide you with a brighter future?

2. Examine her tone and attitude in this letter. Do you think it’s a well-crafted letter with the appropriate tone?

   
   
   Her tone in the letter is rather demanding. As I said above, the education system is there for a reason, Even though she raise a good point in the education system like in the western country where independent, projects and the learning process is more important than the results itself. However, the letter is well-crafted, well structure and the use of vocabulary is amazing.
   
   

3. If you should write a letter to Minister of Education, what are some issues you would raise? Remember- your intention is to make the system better for society’s betterment via CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.

   
   
   If I were to write a letter to the Minister of Education, I would like to propose to reduce the mark percentage. Marks are not the main factor to study. I think that independent, learning process is a true meaning in learning. Mark may still be a factor to prove one's ability, but we should promote more in independent and the learning process itself.
   
   

Blog Prompt Week 3

In your opinion, is money important in relationships? Consider the "transactional" element observed in the relationships between the couples. Do you think there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities?

In my opinion, I think that money is important in a relationship, however valuing money over other qualities? This is just wrong. If one loves another for his/her money, the relationship will be one-sided and this will probably end up with a divorce.

In today's society, the quality of life is rapidly increasing, resulting in the increase in cost of life. So, money is important as it is very realistic. A marriage with a rich man/woman would give you a relaxing and luxurious life, in return the other half can give him/her caring and love. Moreover, a family that faced income problem will have difficulties and would argue over money. This would not create a good relationship. Thus money can be a factor in relationship.

However, if valuing the money over the qualities of a person, this would lead to a bad relationship. True love is when you love a person for his qualities and not his background. We can see that in Singapore, more and more people are valuing money more than his/her partner's qualities. This is due to the increasing in cost of living and people are being more realistic. But a relationship like this, would probably end up in a divorce and this is also shown statistically in Singapore.

In conclusion, money can be a factor in a relationship, but cannot be over weighted for one's qualities.

Blog Prompt Week 2

In your opinion, how has war evolved from the past to present? Please use examples to justify your opinions.

In my opinion, I think the difference between war from the past to the present is mostly the weapon used. In prehistoric times, weapon started with clubs made from huge bones. As time past, weapons like spear and arrows started to form by using rocks.

In the Greek wars, spear, swords, bow and arrows were used. With these weapons, soldier can prove themselves as it required skills and strategies in wars. One may have the advantage in the number of soldier but may be lost due to the lack of strategies.

As time pasted, gunpowder was introduced and this gave birth to a new generation of weaponry. Rifle and guns were created. These weapon were easily used and caused extensive damage to people. Aiming skills were also needed but not as much as the skills needed to master the art of bow and arrows.

In today's modern warfare, nuclear and atomic weapons are common in the battlefield. These weapon caused massive damage to both the country and the people in it, an example would the atomic bomb that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that created an amount of 100,000 death instantly and more due to the radiation and poisoning. Even though there is a ban in nuclear weapons, but these weapons are still seen in the world.

In conclusion, the main difference between wars of the past and the present are the types of weapon used. This also resulted in the skill needed to used these weapon. In the past, skill and strategies are the main key in a war, but in modern war, weapons is the most important key to a war, the more deadly the weapon, the more chances you have in wining the war.

Book Review 2

Well after reading book one of Percy Jackson, I felt fascinated and continued reading on, Book 2!

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson is finding his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson, a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any normal friends. But things don't stay quiet for long.

Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: The Bermuda Triangle.

Together with his friends, Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family, one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

After retrieving the Golden Fleece, it was used to heal the magical tree, a memorial for the daughter of Zues, Thalia, that kept monsters unable to reach Camp Half-Blood. However, an unexpected result was seen as Thalia walked out from the death.

What would be in Book 3 I wondered… …

Book Review 1

But if you recognize yourself in these pages - if you feel something stirring inside - stop reading immediately. You might be one of us. And once you know that, it's only a matter of time before they sense it too, and they'll come for you.

Don't say I didn't warn you."

During the mid-term holidays, I read a few books. I felt the books were interesting and would like to share it with all of you. The title of the book is “Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief”. Well, this is only book 1 by the way. I will be posting up more in the future.

Let’s get started shall we.

Percy Jackson is 12 years old. He is dyslexic. He has ADHD. He has a rep for getting in trouble and he is about to be expelled from Yancy Academy - his sixth school in as many years. But this time, with help from his best friend Grover and his favorite teacher Mr. Brunner (who are not what they seem), he finds out that there's a perfectly good explanation for all of it, that he's not a bad kid, and that he comes by everything quite naturally. See, his mom is a mortal, and his dad an ancient Greek god, Poseidon. That makes him a half-blood: a demigod made for reading Greek and doing hero stuff. That also makes him a target of monsters - him and all the other kids he meets at Camp Half-Blood.


Those monsters are the least of his worries. Zeus' thunderbolt has been stolen, and he thinks Percy is the thief. Zeus threatens a war that will tear apart Mount Olympus and throw the modern world into chaos if it's not returned. Everyone's only chance - is to complete the dangerous quest given him by the Oracle. His job is simple : find the bolt, return it to Zeus, and expose the thief, in 10 days. But Percy's quest is also personal, and not quite as simple - to win the favor of his Greek god father. And all the while, he wrestles with the Oracle's warning of a friend's betrayal which turned out to be the least expected for Percy – Luke, his best friend in Camp Half Blood who fell into the trap of Cronos, Lord of Titian.

In my opinion, I think that the book is very awesome and fun to read. I recommend it to all the teenagers out there. Have a nice day ! :D