in class essay 준비 분류없음2012/05/18 04:41
ARGUE
In
above memo, the author argues that virtual elimination of imported western
gazelles was due to the larger number of predators in eastern preserve.
However, the author presents too few evidences to prove its causal
relationship. First, the author commits a logical error in
comparison of predators’ effect between western and eastern area. The author
compares just the number of predators in each area, and this seems to be
meaningless. The author should present the number of predators “per unit area” on
each sites to verify the predators’ impact. It is plausible that the eastern
area is far larger than the western area; then, the predators in eastern preserve
are likely to being sparser than western. Consequently, a gazelle will be less
threatened by its predators in eastern preserve, indicating that the larger
number of predators cannot be the reason of the elimination. Moreover,
considering the phrase that the eastern gazelle is “a close relative of the
western gazelle”, the predators’ influences are expected to be applied equally to
the eastern gazelles. This argument would be strengthened if the eastern gazelle
population was also declined. Without specific statics mentioned above, this
argument would be not sound. Additionally, this argument absolutely lacks
of consideration of other plausible explanations. The author considers only two
causes: the lesser rainfall, and the larger number of predators. There are much
more various factors that can cause the gazelles’ decline. One of such
possibilities might be the “100 lions” that were imported together. It is
plausible that these lions had consumed a significant number of gazelles. For
another possibility, the condition of plants that feed the gazelles would be
quite different. These gazelles might have died from starvation. A contagious
disease, existing only in eastern preserve and innocuous to eastern gazelle, can
be suspected as a crucial factor. The author should take into account such
other factors, and remove out these possibilities to prove that the larger
number of predators is the main reason. I think it will be very helpful to
analyze the population of ‘eastern’ gazelles, in both cases below; if the
population had declined too, the reason can be found in the common factors of the
two groups; if the population had unchanged or increased, the reason would reside
in the differences between the two groups. In conclusion, the author should consider various
possibilities of the elimination and specify substantial statistics to leave “the
larger number of predators” as an only reason. Without these, this argument would
remain absolutely unconvincing.
ISSUE
In today’s highly educated society, it is debatable whether competition would be helpful to enhance the real quality of education. I disagree with above statement in that moderate competition is the most effective method for encouraging students.
Granted, it is undeniable that focusing only on academic performance underestimates the other values of learning and such competitive circumstances impose the students so much burdens, thereby limiting the quality of education in some degree. In the movie “Dead Poets Society,” the students and the movie watchers honor Keating as a true educator in that he delivered other values; enjoying their own life, discovering pleasure in poems, and cooperating each other. Keating showed us that the true purpose of education is not to acquire high grades and enter prestigious university. This is applied to not only the movie, but also the reality. For example, a considerable number of students in famous universities have committed suicide every year in Korea due to their low academic performance. These students might feel a deep frustration that they once fell behind at the race in which they participated for all their life. Many students in Korea complain about their burdensome life and get frustrated when they realize that there is no end of competition. In this situation, the excessive competition for high grades seems to limit the quality of learning.
However, I believe that we must adequately introduce competition to education. In the age of capitalism, after all, the current society works based on infinite competition. Such competition is the most effective method to motivate the members to do their best. In popular TV shows with auditioning or surviving format, the participants discover their potentiality through extreme competition, and then show remarkable performance. For the field of education, the case of Japanese education policy presents the significance of competition. The past ten-year education policy of Japan, so-called “Yutori(means flexible, leisured) Education,” emphasized the discretion of each student and provided less competitive circumstances on academic performance. However it had ended with poor grades in international student assessment and lacks of human resource for high technology industry. As in this case, without competition, the most students are not stimulated, and consequently inferior results would come out. If careful encourage for the losers of competition is accompanied, the competition is expected to enhance the quality of learning significantly.
As a summary, competition for high grades is not harmful in terms of educational quality. We can reap significant benefits from deliberate introduction of competitions.
