journal 3

http://www.rd.com/content/thats-outrageous-no-mercy-kid/

Summary

This article is mainly about how the schools in the U.S.A deal with kids who they assume cause troubles at schools. In the article, we can find statements which says that these kids were punished because they are caught doing things which rose curiosity and uncertainty in which the schools’ authorities found threatening to the others; students, teachers, etc. However, those students didn’t get any chance to defend themselves because of the school’s policies.


Reflection

The purpose of this article is to inform and the tones include formality and anger.
In my opinion, this article is bias against the schools. We can see this through name calling as stated in the article itself- “ongoing madness” and “Schools nowadays are wildly overreacting”.
The schools authorities acted like that because the crime rate in schools, no matter whether it is elementary schools or high schools are very high. There were a lot of juvenile cases that involved students killing other students, students who bring weapons to school, etc. I also think that it’s kind of a way for the schools to reduce the crime rates in their schools. Furthermore, there are a lot of students in a school. So, the school’s organization couldn’t manage to concern on just one student. Thus, when there are students who cause troubles, they will be punished on the spot.
I think these students shouldn’t be treated like that because they have their own rights to defend themselves. Sometimes we need to search deeper whether the students are truly guilty or vice versa. I also think that this is the time the counselors should play their part in order to solve these problems in the most appropriate way, without jeopardizing the students’ future.

In-Class Assigment - Reflection-Blogging

Before this I’ve already had a blog but I’m not so active. I normally used that blog as my diary and also to upload my photos and share it with my friends. For me, I felt very comfortable and easier using that kind of way. I think it’s a very good idea to use blog in the reading class because I can easily post my assignment anytime (in the period of time) and anywhere that I want and I would recommend other teachers to use blog in their classes. The teachers also can respond to all their students and the communication between the teachers and the students will be very smooth. When the teachers use the blog as one of their teaching method, it will make all the works become easier for example, they can always check their students’ assignments anytime and anywhere and it also will decrease their burden of work. I think it does make our reading become better because we can read the other people’s blog and we also can give our opinion regarding what we think about their topic and they also can do the same thing to me. I think the most helpful feature in the blog is I can decorate my own page with own style (ada style lah.hehehe). When it comes to the most interesting activity is we can chat with our friends (just like in our reading blog.hehehe. sorry sir). I think the disadvantageous of the blog is when it comes to comment other people’s blog. Some comments have to be approved by its owners first and I think it’s very annoying. When we compare the blog environment to the regular classroom lessons, I think the blog environment is much much more calming and peace because everyone is busy to finish their own work in the period of time. All of my classmates felt that this method is very convenient when it comes to submit all the assignments and we can get all the notes from our lecturer easily and we don’t have to worry if we don’t note down all the notes during the lecture (say no to “menyalin”.hehehe). I don’t think I’ve any memorable experiences during the blogging activities (sorry…hehehe). I think I’ll continue using the blog to any purpose because it’s very convenient.

In-Class Assigment - Reflection - Critical Reading Skills

In my opinion (lah kan), I think all the skills (that had been stated) that had been taught in this subject are very convenient. For me myself, after I’ve learnt all the skills, it made all my works become easier especially when it comes to do my journal. The most tricky skill for me is the “main idea” thingy. Sometimes, it made me confuse whether it’s the main idea or the supporting details. The easiest skill for me is of course the “fact and opinion”. I think most probably I’ll apply the “main idea” because I’ll understand more what I’m reading at the moment although that skill is the most difficult skill for me. As I’ve said earlier, my weakness is the “main idea”. So, in the exam especially, I’ll read the whole passage again and again until I find the main idea. Critical reading need us to be more alert with the passage (that’s my opinion lah kan) and it needs us to think outside the box. Critical reading is very important for us as the university students because we have to work using a lot of article with very serious issues and at the same time we’ll become more mature. I think most of my journals, I’ve applied the “bias” skill.

JOURNAL 2

http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2007/3/25/education/17134721

When we read this article, I think most of you will start to remember all your sweet memories at your old school. Can you remember your old class, toilet and the most important area is the canteen. Actually, this article wants people to realize that the child obesity had been increased in our country lately. This problem occurred due to the increasing of the fast food advertisement in any media. When the reporters went to a few schools canteens in Selangor, the food that had been sold there was also unhealthy and lack of vegetables. Most of the food that had been sold there, we can also get it in any fast food outlets like burgers, nuggets, sausage, etc – it’s called “convenient food” which has been processed. Many parents complained their unsatisfactory regarding this matter. In my opinion, before we want to ban the fast food advertisements in order to decrease the number of child obesity cases or any other major medical problems, we, as their parents should check what our children had been eaten at their school’s canteen. The parents also should always be alert with the school conditions. If you love your kids, just sacrifice a little bit of your time checking and observing your children eating habits. The school also should play their part by observing the entire menu that will be selling in the canteen. The canteen should serve more vegetables and any other food that contains well balanced nutrients because it’s very hard to find children who love to eat vegetables nowadays.

Bias (In class assignment)

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0616_050616_nepalporter.html

What is the article about?
- The article is about how the author’s point of view towards the Nepalese porters. The author felt that the Nepalese is the most efficient haulers in the world.

Are there biases in this article? If yes, is the bias against or for someone or something?
- Yes. There are a few biases in this article. Most of the biases are the bias for someone, towards the Nepalese porters.

Explain the bias and provide examples.

1) “now suggests that the porters of Nepal are even more efficient at their tasks.”
- Bias for someone

2) "They literally run down the mountain," Heglund said. "They can get home in about two days."
- Bias for someone (stereotyping- too general even for the porters)

3) "It's quite impressive to see those guys walking with such heavy loads,"
- Bias for someone

4) “She added that the feat is particularly impressive because "they're [generally] not very well equipped [and] have very bad shoes."
- Bias for someone

Figurative Language (In class assignment)

http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=30996&pageIndex=0

Christmas Express
By Gary Sledge

1) Don Royston rolls out of a warm bed without missing a beat.
- It’s a metaphor. It wants to show how the person is moving up from his bed.

2) Santa's floppy hat is sewn into the wig so it won't blow off as the train whips down the track.
- It's a metaphor. The movement of the train is described by the word whip.

Fact or Opinion (In class assignment)

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Saturday/Columns/20070303093926/Article/index_html

1)IKON Malaysia sounded like a good idea.
-It’s an opinion. (because there’s a phrase “sounded like”)

2)Unlike other talent shows, this one would see established names in the industry vying for the title and subsequently compete at Asean’s level.
-It’s an opinion. (I think it’s the author opinion)

3)The new system would see a panel of professional judges responsible for 70 per cent of the score, while 30 per cent would be from SMS voting.
-It’s a fact. (it’s stated in the article)

4)If you ask me what was the best thing that happened to the industry, I would say it was Mawi. But he was also the worst thing that happened to the industry.
-It’s an opinion. (not all people think Mawi is a disaster)

5)Another industry player said having established artistes compete with the reality stars meant only one thing. That the organisers have blatant disrespect for "older’ artistes who have paid their dues in the industry.
-It’s a fact. (it’s stated in the article and it’s a general thing that happen in our industry)

6)"It’s bad enough that the young stars have no respect for their seniors. This will only perpetuate the problem.
-It’s an opinion. (not all young stars didn’t respect their seniors)

7)"In our industry, some young artistes — particularly those created by reality shows — who win awards actually think they are the best thing to happen to the industry.
-It’s an opinion. (some young artistes still remember their root)