Everyone was excited about the spring break that was approaching. Some planned to go back home, some planned to go shopping at Chicago, and some arranged a trip to other part of the states. I also originally planned to visit New York City. Touring one of the biggest cities in the world and seeing my high school friends would be a good way to spend spring break. But, after realizing that two midterms are approaching immediately after the break, I chose to stay at the campus and prepare for my exam. Therefore, while most people had an excited break, I categorize this break as the worst spring break because all I did was study, eat, and sleep.
Every day, I woke up near 2 p.m. and gather up few of my friends and ponder over what to eat for lunch. Since the cafeteria was closed, we had to eat every meal outside, and pondering on what to eat for every meal was irritating and financially burdensome. For several days, we went to different restaurants and ate foods from various countries: Korean, Chinese, Indian, and American. First, eating different dishes was delicious and fun, but soon, we became lazy and did not eat
lunch.
After lunch, we gathered at the ISR lounge and studied. As I already mentioned, I had two exams: Fin221 on Wednesday and Badm320 on Thursday, so I devoted most of the time studying. My other friends, on the other hand, were not as busy as I was. So they downloaded movies and TV series and watched them. For instance, one of my friends finished a Korean TV series during the break, and my other friend watched 2 movies per day. After studying for a while, I also began to goof off.
Dinner time was a period of agony. Every dinner, we had to gather up and discuss what we want to eat. When it was raining, we ordered Chinese food from the rainbow garden or ate Pizza, but when the weather was nice, we went to restaurants at Green Street. Eating at various restaurants was probably the best part of my break.
I initially planned to go to the CRCE and work out or play basketball, but the CRCE was closed so I did not exercised as much as I would like. Fortunately, the ARC was open so we walked to ARC, about 20 minutes of jogging, and played basketball once every 3 days.
Staying at the campus during the spring break was extremely boring, but I was glad that I devoted some time on studying. I hope I can get good grades on the midterm so that I feel my break was not wasted.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The benefits and drawbacks of wearing school uniform
In most East Asian countries, wearing uniform is a rule. This is not the case in America, however. As a student who experienced both American education and Korean education, I have spent several years wearing uniforms at school and the rest of my secondary school not wearing uniforms. When I wore uniform, I hated this rule and could list numerous reasons for not wearing it. But, as I attend American school, I perceived several benefits, and often missed wearing uniforms. Although there are reasons to not wear uniform, there are also reasons to support wearing uniform at school.
Wearing uniform can be financial burden. In Korea, uniform cost as high as several hundred dollars. To the riches, spending thousand dollars are not much burden, but this money can be burdensome to average household. On average, a family lives with two thousand dollars per month in Korea. So five hundred dollars of school uniform can be extremely burdensome for parents, and if a family has multiple children, they will need to spend much of the money on purchasing uniform. Also teens grow up quickly, so they often need to buy new uniform every semester. Then the financial pressure on parents is much more.
However, there are some advantages to wearing uniform. First, wearing uniform makes schools look more orderly. During a gathering, students wearing the same uniform will look more orderly than students wearing whatever clothes they want. And just by wearing same uniform, students might feel more united with classmates and might boost cooperation.
Also wearing uniform simplifies the school’s dress code. Generally speaking, schools without uniforms tend to have much complex dress codes. Students can wear anything they want as long as they do not offend others. To help students to understand what can be offensive, school set limitations on the dress code that takes up several pages. If schools have a set uniform, then they do not need to spell out the dress code. As a result, schools can save trees and also use the budget on other useful things such as buying better desks. Also wearing uniform can prevent fight between students caused by clothes that offended particular ethnic groups.
Therefore, even though wearing uniform can be financial burden, it can also be a good thing.
Wearing uniform can be financial burden. In Korea, uniform cost as high as several hundred dollars. To the riches, spending thousand dollars are not much burden, but this money can be burdensome to average household. On average, a family lives with two thousand dollars per month in Korea. So five hundred dollars of school uniform can be extremely burdensome for parents, and if a family has multiple children, they will need to spend much of the money on purchasing uniform. Also teens grow up quickly, so they often need to buy new uniform every semester. Then the financial pressure on parents is much more.
However, there are some advantages to wearing uniform. First, wearing uniform makes schools look more orderly. During a gathering, students wearing the same uniform will look more orderly than students wearing whatever clothes they want. And just by wearing same uniform, students might feel more united with classmates and might boost cooperation.
Also wearing uniform simplifies the school’s dress code. Generally speaking, schools without uniforms tend to have much complex dress codes. Students can wear anything they want as long as they do not offend others. To help students to understand what can be offensive, school set limitations on the dress code that takes up several pages. If schools have a set uniform, then they do not need to spell out the dress code. As a result, schools can save trees and also use the budget on other useful things such as buying better desks. Also wearing uniform can prevent fight between students caused by clothes that offended particular ethnic groups.
Therefore, even though wearing uniform can be financial burden, it can also be a good thing.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Opinion
Topic: School uniforms
Opinion: Wearing school uniform should not be a rule
Support 1: Everyone has enough clothes, so buying uniform is a waste of money.
Support 2: If students have to wear uniform, then teachers should also wear them.
Support 3: School uniform should be banned for diversification.
Opinion: Wearing school uniform should not be a rule
Support 1: Everyone has enough clothes, so buying uniform is a waste of money.
Support 2: If students have to wear uniform, then teachers should also wear them.
Support 3: School uniform should be banned for diversification.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Outline Cause and Effect
Outline Cause and Effect Essay
Thesis Statement: In spite of the multiple benefits, Internet brought some negative consequences by reducing the profit of newspaper industry, bringing difficulty to differentiate good and bad information, and taking away people’s privacy.
1st topic sentence: First, the traditional newspaper industry is suffering due to the Internet.
Supporting details:
- Because news on the Internet is easily accessible and quickly updated, people prefer reading newspaper article on the web than reading the similar article on the newspaper.
- Therefore, newspaper industry is losing profit in both subscription and advertising. For example, the Sun- Times Media Group reported that it lost $168.8million in the third quarter of 2008, and the advertising revenue and circulation revenue went down by 18% and 2% respectively.
- Newspaper industry tried to overcome the difficulty by charging fee on the articles online, but it did not contribute to rise in revenue because people have the perception of everything is free online.
2nd topic sentence: Secondly, Internet negatively affected the society by differentiating good and reliable sources from not reliable sources harder than ever.
Supporting details:
- There are basically no restrictions on posting information online, so people post anything on the web without any evidences.
- As a result, finding out what is reliable and what is not is very difficult.
- For example, Wikipedia provides the users with a wide range of information and is updated often. Consequently, people use it to find information instead of using the traditional encyclopedia believing that Wiki is just as reliable as the encyclopedia. Unfortunately, Wikipedia is unreliable because anybody without knowing anything on the subject can revise the information
3rd topic sentence: Lastly, Internet has contributed to losing privacy.
Supporting details:
- Copy and paste is very easy on the web.
- Users often copy and paste the information from others and pretend it is their own.
- For example, people download music without paying.
- Often, people find out that some of their private information is available online without their agreement such as social security numbers.
Thesis Statement: In spite of the multiple benefits, Internet brought some negative consequences by reducing the profit of newspaper industry, bringing difficulty to differentiate good and bad information, and taking away people’s privacy.
1st topic sentence: First, the traditional newspaper industry is suffering due to the Internet.
Supporting details:
- Because news on the Internet is easily accessible and quickly updated, people prefer reading newspaper article on the web than reading the similar article on the newspaper.
- Therefore, newspaper industry is losing profit in both subscription and advertising. For example, the Sun- Times Media Group reported that it lost $168.8million in the third quarter of 2008, and the advertising revenue and circulation revenue went down by 18% and 2% respectively.
- Newspaper industry tried to overcome the difficulty by charging fee on the articles online, but it did not contribute to rise in revenue because people have the perception of everything is free online.
2nd topic sentence: Secondly, Internet negatively affected the society by differentiating good and reliable sources from not reliable sources harder than ever.
Supporting details:
- There are basically no restrictions on posting information online, so people post anything on the web without any evidences.
- As a result, finding out what is reliable and what is not is very difficult.
- For example, Wikipedia provides the users with a wide range of information and is updated often. Consequently, people use it to find information instead of using the traditional encyclopedia believing that Wiki is just as reliable as the encyclopedia. Unfortunately, Wikipedia is unreliable because anybody without knowing anything on the subject can revise the information
3rd topic sentence: Lastly, Internet has contributed to losing privacy.
Supporting details:
- Copy and paste is very easy on the web.
- Users often copy and paste the information from others and pretend it is their own.
- For example, people download music without paying.
- Often, people find out that some of their private information is available online without their agreement such as social security numbers.
Outline Compare and Contrast Essay
Outline Compare and Contrast Essay
Thesis Statement: Even though Hyundai and Kia share similar traits, they are vastly different in dashboard light, suspension, and the emphasis to satisfy the different tastes of consumers.
1st Topic Sentence: Hyundai and Kia are sister corporations which share many parts.
Supporting Details:
- After Hyundai has M&A (merger and acquisition) with Kia, they became sister corporation under the chairman Chung Mong Koo.
- Since they are one corporation, they share many parts such as engine.
2nd Topic Sentence: Nevertheless, the two companies use different color for the dashboard light.
Supporting Details:
- Dashboard light is extremely important because it is important aspect of interior design and helps the driver to read the dashboard clearly.
- Hyundai used blue light for comfortable image.
- In contrast, Kia used red light similar to the Audi Company for strong image.
3rd Topic Sentence: Another difference is the characteristics of the suspension.
Supporting Details:
- Suspension is the part that connect automobile to its wheels. It is extremely important because it influences car’s safety and driving pleasure.
- While Hyundai prefers softer suspension to increase a sense of security, Kia prefers harder suspension to meet the taste of young driver who want sporty driving pleasure.
4th Topic Sentence: Last major difference is the different emphasis of two corporations.
Supporting Details:
- Kia emphasizes design. Kia hired Peter Schreyer as the CDO (Chief Design Officer) to distinguish it from other automakers.
- Conversely, Hyundai does not have a particular emphasis, it pursue an all-round strategy.
- Still in my opinion, Hyundai emphasizes in the engine. The recently created Tau engine has won 2009 and 2010 Wards 10 Best Engine Awards.
- Since Hyundai and Kia share the same engine, it is difficult to claim that Hyundai engine is better than the Kia’s.
Thesis Statement: Even though Hyundai and Kia share similar traits, they are vastly different in dashboard light, suspension, and the emphasis to satisfy the different tastes of consumers.
1st Topic Sentence: Hyundai and Kia are sister corporations which share many parts.
Supporting Details:
- After Hyundai has M&A (merger and acquisition) with Kia, they became sister corporation under the chairman Chung Mong Koo.
- Since they are one corporation, they share many parts such as engine.
2nd Topic Sentence: Nevertheless, the two companies use different color for the dashboard light.
Supporting Details:
- Dashboard light is extremely important because it is important aspect of interior design and helps the driver to read the dashboard clearly.
- Hyundai used blue light for comfortable image.
- In contrast, Kia used red light similar to the Audi Company for strong image.
3rd Topic Sentence: Another difference is the characteristics of the suspension.
Supporting Details:
- Suspension is the part that connect automobile to its wheels. It is extremely important because it influences car’s safety and driving pleasure.
- While Hyundai prefers softer suspension to increase a sense of security, Kia prefers harder suspension to meet the taste of young driver who want sporty driving pleasure.
4th Topic Sentence: Last major difference is the different emphasis of two corporations.
Supporting Details:
- Kia emphasizes design. Kia hired Peter Schreyer as the CDO (Chief Design Officer) to distinguish it from other automakers.
- Conversely, Hyundai does not have a particular emphasis, it pursue an all-round strategy.
- Still in my opinion, Hyundai emphasizes in the engine. The recently created Tau engine has won 2009 and 2010 Wards 10 Best Engine Awards.
- Since Hyundai and Kia share the same engine, it is difficult to claim that Hyundai engine is better than the Kia’s.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Outline Compare & Contrast
Thesis: Even though Hyundai and Kia share many similarities due to the same ownership, they are still vastly different automakers with distinct characteristics.
Main Point 1: Hyundai and Kia are sister corporations
1. They are under the same ownership
2. They are known for dynamic designs
3. They share many parts, especially the engine.
Main Point 2: Another major difference is the LED lights on the car.
1. Kia uses red lights.
2. Hyundai uses light blue lights.
Main Point 3: One of the main difference is different emphasis on automobiles.
1. Kia emphasizes design
2. Hyundai is more all-round
Main Point 4: The characteristic of the suspension is different.
1. Hyundai prefers softer suspension
2. Kia prefers hard and sporty suspension
Main Point 1: Hyundai and Kia are sister corporations
1. They are under the same ownership
2. They are known for dynamic designs
3. They share many parts, especially the engine.
Main Point 2: Another major difference is the LED lights on the car.
1. Kia uses red lights.
2. Hyundai uses light blue lights.
Main Point 3: One of the main difference is different emphasis on automobiles.
1. Kia emphasizes design
2. Hyundai is more all-round
Main Point 4: The characteristic of the suspension is different.
1. Hyundai prefers softer suspension
2. Kia prefers hard and sporty suspension
Monday, March 1, 2010
Compare and Contrast
Both of the clocks look quite similar, but the numbers on the clock are different. Even though Salvador Dali's clock seems to fly away, the picture on the left seems like melting. The clock on the right picture is on the box, yet the one on the left rests on a tree. Overall, both of them are good pictures.
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