Reading fiction enhances our understanding of human nature?
(refering to the novels read by the author)
“Books are the window to the world.” A very well-known quote that many would agree on I believe. Be it fiction or nonfiction, reading will somehow benefit us in different aspects of life including, understanding human nature. Many would understand that reading psychological related or research-based books will be best to understand human behaviour. Others argue that fiction books could play the same role, though it could be ”wrapped” in a unique style and perspective. Each person will have their own say on this, my stance would be the reading of fiction will indeed enhance the understanding of human nature.
First and foremost, regardless of the genre, humanity is displayed in most fiction books, be it in a good or bad way, and it will allow readers to comprehend more on human’s attitude by relating it to the characters. Family, slice of life, romance, friendships, all these are common themes in fiction that may explicitly or implicitly portray human’s attitude. To exemplify this, the Indonesian novel, Hello Cello tells how the character Cello could change from a so called ‘bad boy’ to a person who is loyal to his partner. The book points out that as long as it starts from ourselves and with great dedication and commitment, then we too can change. This piece of advice is applicable to our real-life situations. Our parents would probably give a similar piece of advice when we are asking “how can we further develop ourselves permanently?”. Another point, Cello manages to convince Helga that she is pretty the way she is and there is no need for others to validate her beauty. In this modern era, many of us would want validation from others in order to acknowledge our worth. Oftentimes we forget that this life belongs to us and it is us who work hard for it, hence no one knows exactly a hundred percent the amount of effort we put in. So, why should we listen to their opinions that induce negative emotions in us? They do not have a say on us. The character Cello is like a gentle reminder which reminds us that there are people who appreciate us but some others will never. Thus, we should think wisely on who we should spend our energy with. It is evident that by these examples readers could further understand human’s attitude due to the humanity aspect taking part in the fiction books.
Furthermore, reading fiction could allow for new perspectives and illustrations of situations that readers may never get the chance yet to explore and experience. Those who have been living for 17 years will have far less experiences than those of 30 years. They usually have less encounters with different types of person and by reading fiction it could reasonably give new perspective to them. For instance, the all time favourite, Harry Potter. Since the first book untuk the fifth book many readers have possibly developed hatred towards the antagonist, Draco Malfoy. Him being the well-known bully, part of the arrogant Slytherin house and ridiculous Death Eater are few reasons why readers despise him a lot. Later on, in the sixth and seventh books it will be revealed that Draco is actually forced to do all those by his parents who are the loyal servants of Voldemort. Many readers start to emphasise on Draco because he did not really have any choice as a kid, except to follow his parents instructions. By referring to human nature, it opens a new perspective that sometimes the environment that we grow up in forcefully shapes our nature. Maybe if we grew up in a better environment then we will have better self-control or attitudes. For us to understand such a deep thing and relate it with the real world is like a room to be more tolerant and understanding with each other. Hence, even by reading fiction, we will be able to broaden our knowledge on how human nature could be formed in ways we may have not thought of.
On the other hand, most fiction is illustration based and it is too extreme to relate it with our real world. To illustrate, often in some romance fiction the guy is portrayed as the flawless, all-rounder, perfect boyfriend that any girl would want to date with. When we try to look at the nature of the boyfriend, which is not realistic at all, we tend to hope that we will end up with a person like him, the character Hilmy from Hilmy Milan for example. We forgot that this character is fictional and he does not exist in real life. This kind of too-perfect situation will not really enhance any understanding of human nature, instead it will make us “hallucinate” on such non-existent things. Therefore, it is important to notice that not all things that happen in a fictional story are directly related to real life. Sometimes it needs to be “processed” first before we could relate it to our real life.
To conclude, despite fiction being too perfect as it is mostly illustration based, there are actually some proper reasonings as to how it could enhance our understanding of human nature. The humanity aspect alongside with the new perspectives that fiction offers will always be relatable to the readers to a certain extend. It may be different for all but it sure will serve the same purpose of broadening the knowledge of human nature.
‘Technology does more to increase crime than to solve it’. Is this true?
‘Identity theft rising at an astronomical rate.’ ‘Computer hacking: an all-time high in 2022.’ ‘Data leak on Singaporean medical services.’ These headlines have been bombarding us in recent years, with more and more individuals, communities, and companies being under threat for crimes. Many have thought of a culprit for all these unwanted actions: technology. In the digital age where everything has gone on to become more transparent, people are getting more susceptible to face crimes, or to initiate those actions. Nevertheless, the advancement of technology has also opened up new avenues of security that could potentially protect society.
Undeniably, technology has only made it possible for crimes such as identity theft, data leakage, and computer hacking to be committed. A Brigham Young University study found that these so-called ‘digital’ crimes have accounted for 49% of all the crimes committed across three US states, including California, Washington, and New York. On top of common traditional crimes such as robbery, mass shooting or insider trading, law enforcement and the police department needs to deal with an even greater number of crimes. As a result, a new set of laws and regulations needs to be created and enforced for ‘digital’ crimes as well. This not only takes up the resources and time for policy-makers and the police department, but also steers away the focus on reducing traditional crimes in the actual and offline world. With this in mind, technology plays a crucial role in creating an upward swing of criminal actions.
In light of digital technology, more and more people are becoming more reliable to use it for data storage. While technology such as cloud storage or online databases reduces the need of printing records and makes it easier when searching for a specific type of data, people are in the risks of having their data stolen. Take the example of the Facebook data leak that occurred back in 2019, when 1.2 million users had their personal information leaked and sold to an information technology company, Oracle, for creating an AI-integrated social media marketing promotion. As a consequence of this action, several community groups across Instagram and Twitter have started boycotting the use of social media, a common form of technology. Additionally, facial recognitions have recently been introduced in smartphones and tablets by global technological companies such as Apple and Samsung. While it improves the security of the devices, facial recognition results in a greater number of identity thefts. CNBC News reported that more than half of facial recognition users were at risk of having their data stolen and sold.
On the other hand, technologies such as security cameras have made it possible for crimes to be recorded and reported. Usually known as CCTV, security cameras have been found not only in public areas such as office buildings, hospitals, or schools, but also in private properties. These cameras play an integral role in enhancing the security and protecting the community. An Oxford University study reported that security cameras are 11.2 times more efficient than having security officers in an office building. On top of that, reports on sexual harassment and catcalling, which are crimes that often happen in closeted areas, haveincreated in the United Kingdom, according to the NIH, thanks to the availability of security cameras. As a result, more than 130 sexual offenders have been caught. Security cameras not only made it possible for recent crimes to be reported more easily, but also has aided in catching people who committed crimes years ago. Take the example of the ‘Sword Man’, an Australian office worker who lived a double life as a sex offender. In the 1980s, he committed sexual harassment to a number of young women, including twelve teenagers. It took him 30 years to be caught as there were security camera recordings that were submitted by an Australian resident. Hence, technology such as security cameras plays a crucial role in catching criminals.
In addition, several forms of technology and applications have aided in catching and identifying criminals. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a new form of genetic technology, has become more commonly used in the field of forensic science when detecting the DNA of criminals. Through the use of this technology, the number of identified criminals who conducted killings and home robbery have increased exponentially, from 12% in 2004 to 78% in 2022. Also, applications such as GetContact have been increasingly used by common citizens to identify hackers and online shop frauds. Twelve American women, for instance, managed to stop a Rolex dealer who was selling counterfeit watches on Ebay. Henceforth, technology can be applied from professionals to ordinary citizens to solve criminals.
While there have been disputes as to whether the number of crimes has increased due to technology, one thing remains certain: it all roots from the mind of those doing it. In years to come, no technology will be able to keep up and hold off the minds of criminals/ The only solution is to educate and spread awareness about different forms of crimes to the society.
A head teacher has asked the students to produce a leaflet called Leaving Home. The leaflet will be aimed at older teenagers who are going to live in another town or city to go to university. The following text is a leaflet made by one of the students, and in the leaflet, it gives advice and guidance on how to manage living away from family for the first time. Write a reflective commentary on the leaflet, explaining how the writer’s linguistic choices contribute to fulfilling the task set by the head teacher.
So, congrats! You’ve aced your A levels, and now it’s the time you’ve been waiting for. Time to wave bye bye to your bro, sis, Ma, Pa and pet goldfish and head off for Universityville, Freedom County, zip code IND3P3ND3NC3. Yay! But before you pack your lifetime collection of odd socks and a year’s supply of chocolate, hang on a minute and have a look at some valuable advice from me, your friendly expert Uni Preparation Guide.
Tempted to squander? Try not to blunder!
Too posh to look after your dosh? Or in too much of a daze to save? At Uni, you’ll be in charge of your own money for the first time in your life. It may feel pretty amazing to have all that filthy lucre to manage. Keep a track of everything you spend so you don’t run out of cash when you’re going to need it most. Always make sure you’ve allowed enough for rent, food, books and travel before you’re even tempted to treat yourself to that extra-special customised Porsche.
JK! For that you’ll have to wait until you’ve graduated...
Eating like Einstein
We all know that students need brainpower, brains need food and food equals fuel, but what kind of fuel are you going to feed that thinking machine inside your head? Burgers? Fries? Ice cream? Cake? Uh-oh! Take-aways are super-high in empty calories and astronomical in cost. Instead, take time to select fresh fruit and veg to cook yourself; choose pasta for slow-release carbs. Eating healthily, you’ll feel good, learn more efficiently and you won’t be allowing unhealthy choices to chow down on your budget!
Tickety tock
No doubt having made all those new friends, you’ll be desperate to become the life and soul of the party, but late nights and disco fever can take their toll. Sure, use your planner to detail which nights you’re meeting your mates, league match fixtures and hot dates with the girl who sits on the front bench of the lecture theatre, but plot in your lecture timetable, seminar dates and assignment deadlines first. If you manage your time carefully, you won’t need to give your fave band’s next gig a miss because you’ve an essay to hand in the next day – you’ll have that essay proof-read and printed, smug as you like.
Good luck, peeps! And enjoy!
To start off, the purpose of the text is to inform the audience, older teenagers, who are planning to move to a different town or city for university. It also aims to give advice and guidance on how to handle living independently without the support of family members for the first time. The author uses the form of address "you" and "your", the second point of view, making the audience feel like they are conversing with the writer. The majority of this text is in future tense, indicating that this will be a part of the audience's future one day. The register is conversational as the language is chatty yet serious. This is because slang words and interjections were used, like "JK!", "yay!" and "uh-oh!", which helps reduce the age gap between the author and audience, creating a closer relationship. The author also uses many punctuations like exclamation marks and different types of sentences to grab the audience's interest throughout the text. Not only that, different types of sentences, ranging from simple to compound sentences, were used to add interest and help the writer to get their ideas across effectively. Furthermore, the author separates the text into sections, giving it a coherent structure, and writes sub-headings with catchy titles, which makes it easier for the audience to follow and to give the reader an indication of what the following information will be about. The tone is overall lively and humorous, creating a light-hearted and refreshing atmosphere for the audience.
The text starts off with a two-word fragment, "So, congrats!". This signifies that the author firstly wanted to express how proud the author is of them who have worked hard on their A levels before bringing up the main purpose of the leaflet, creating a fulfilled mood. The author continues congratulating them with jokes by using language devices like humorous neologisms ‘Universityville, Freedom County, zip code IND3P3ND3NC3’. This creative combination of the word ‘independence’ and number 3 to replace the letter E prevents the style of the text becoming a formal leaflet so that students will not stop reading mid-way - it already gives them a strong first impression. The author then ends the introduction using the language device metaphor ‘lifetime collection of odd socks and a year’s supply of chocolate’. Here, the author sarcastically describes what students do after the final exam is over - they relieve their stressful days by going on a vacation and eating as much as they want. This left the audience amused as they can relate to it but then continues to inform the audience of the overall impression of university life in a serious manner.
In the first section, teenagers are greeted with rhyming assonance in the heading ‘Tempted to squander? Try not to blunder!’. This directs the reader’s interest towards the next paragraph. In addition to that, the reader may pay attention to the use of the rhyming verb ‘squander’ and the noun ‘blunder’, this will evoke the reader to wonder what mistake might they make, which helps pique their interest even further. In the first sentence, the writer uses even more rhyming assonances as well as using rhetorical questions ‘Too posh to look after your dosh? Or in too much of a daze to save?’. The use of the rhetorical device suggests the reader participate in the text as if prompting them to answer the question so that they continue engaging in the text. In the next sentence, the writer starts using future tenses ‘you’ll’ which makes the reader imagine what the writer is describing. Because the reader is imagining what the writer is saying, the writer’s advice comes across naturally and this causes the reader to accept the advice, which helps the writer accomplish more of the purpose of the text. In comparison to the lengthy advising sentences before, the last sentence is a short casual sentence. It uses the abbreviation of ‘JK’ which is to remind the reader that they can resonate with the writer even after the writer gave them informational advice. Right before the paragraph, there is the use of ellipsis ‘until you’ve graduated... ‘, this allows the reader a pause before they continue to the next paragraph.
Moving on to the second section, the use of the alliteration in the heading ‘Eating like Einstein’ implies that the paragraph will be about smart eating. The writer used ‘Einstein’ as a substitute for the word smart, leading to the reader having to think what Einstein means, and after hooking them on the heading, the reader might want to know more and so it evokes them to read further. The writer now starts using the second point of view, to direct the reader or even trick them to agree with the writer’s opinion ‘We all know that students need brainpower’. Then the writer uses the noun ‘fuel’ and the noun ‘machine’, this is to compare the similarities between food as fuel and machines as our brain. The writer also uses more rhetorical questions like ‘what kind of … inside your head? Burgers? Fries? Ice cream? Cake?’. This makes the readers ponder for a while as they can reflect on the meals they usually consume and whether they are living a healthy lifestyle, creating a contemplative atmosphere. Lastly, the writer ends the last sentence with an exclamation mark ‘budget!’ to emphasize the point of the sentence and maintain the lively tone.
In the third section, the heading makes use of the onomatopoeia ‘Tickety tock’. The use of the term ‘tickety tock’ implies that a clock is ticking, this suggests to the reader that time is passing, and they must use it wisely. Again, this is used to hook the readers to continue reading. Then the writer continues to give further information of what’s to come in university using the idiom ‘life and soul of the party’ as well as the phrase ‘disco fever’. This helps the readers to visualize a vivid scene of them socializing and partying all day long with their friends, creating an astonishing feeling as it is very different from what they experience in college. Continuing the use of the second-person point of view, the writer is describing a future situation with ‘you’re’ future tenses and personal pronouns. Again, this gives the reader the effect of experiencing what the writer is describing as if the reader becomes a character in the story. The writer describes a hypothetical situation ‘If you manage’ and ‘miss out a gig’, which makes the readers reflect on the advice of the writer, thus helping the writer complete their purpose.
Finally, the writer ends the text by using short sentences with the punctuation of exclamation marks. With the interjection of ‘good luck’ and the slang ‘peeps’, the author ends the text with enthusiasm, and this attracts the reader’s final attention as it indicates the intimacy the reader and the writer can share. And the final use of ‘enjoy!’ reminds the reader that the author wishes them positivity and the use of the exclamation mark helps emphasize the writer’s cheerful feeling, creating a content atmosphere.
To conclude, the author achieves his/her aim of giving an impression of teenagers leaving their home for university by adding humor to lower the formality to capture and maintain the readers’ attention. Although it might be chatty, the author delivers the advice as meaningful information to the audience by giving hypothetical situations, giving them a moment to reflect. Hence, the author had a good balance of formal and informality in the text, which effectively accomplished the purpose of the leaflet, asked by the head teacher.
How can all this be related, you might ask? Meet the Po Bar, a Chinese-takeout restaurant that has quickly built its reputation with snake-long lines. Though it’s still new on the night-out dinner scene, it has become the talk of London. But why?
First impressions are everything—and Po Bar takes it to the next level. Upon entering the emperor-like door that resembles a snake, I was surprised to find out that there were only four tables in it. ‘Am I lost?’, I thought. Turns out I’m in the right place! As a way of building intimacy, Po Bar decides to only have four tables, embezzled in gold beads, which looks like something from The Great Gatsby.
Overlooking the ceiling, there were snake sculptures (yes, snakes all over again), that embodies the luck, the longevity, and the wealth of the restaurant. If you think four tables would make the restaurant dead silent, you’re wrong! Po Bar features an open kitchen, where you can have a peek of all the wok-banging magic happening.
What about the good, you might be wondering? For starters, I got the salted egg yoghurt parfait. At first, it might sound like something from Mars, isn’t it? But oh boy, did it live up to its hype! Even at the very first bite, I was taken aback. ‘No way!’, I thought. Moving onto the real deal—General Tso’s chicken. Bathed in crispy batter, this dish was oozy, salty, decadent—it had it all. If only my mum were here, we would go crazy on this!
Don’t get me started on the drinks. Right after devouring all that astronomically finger-licking goods, the chef turned up with a china-like glass filled with cereal-chicken latte. Yes, you read it right! Honestly, I was pretty sceptical at first. I mean, who wouldn’t, right? And again, everything in Po Bar passed my standard with flying colours. Even at the first slurp, you’ll be greeted with this odd texture, which is actually the cereal from the cereal chicken, and tasted nothing like your Starbucks order.
No matter how many times I passed by Po Bar, I would never ever forget all the goodness I had. Everything—the atmosphere, the food, the drinks—was just too good to be true. It was as if I was on a roller coaster ride, with all the fun! If you’re wondering where to go this weekend, Po Bar happily welcomes you. Have you made your reservation yet?
To start with, the review was written from a first-person point of view, which is supported by the use of pronouns like ‘I’ and ‘my’. Written in a chatty and colloquial style, the review is directed towards the younger audience, particularly teenagers or readers who are in their twenties. In terms of the form, the text started out with a shorter paragraph, before entering longer paragraphs filled with longer sentences in the body. This is done so in order to effectively capture the whole scene and experience of the restaurant. Throughout the test, a cheery feeling is maintained in order to keep the readers engaged as well as to entertain them. Hence the purpose of the text was not only informative, but also entertaining to some extent. In terms of the tenses, past and present tenses were used Both tenses are used in order to create the different timestamps of the author, one where they are writing the review, and one when they were in the restaurant, which allows the reader to have some sort of first-hand experience. Overall, the text is written with some humour in it, although there were some parts that might sound serious.
To start with, the text came out with a one-line paragraph—General Tso. Cereal chicken. Salted egg. Not only did this paragraph capture the attention of the reader, but also served as a hook, making the readers wonder why such foods are dropped in the first line. Then, in the next paragraph, the readers are directed to a clearer view, where the author promptly describes the big picture of the text, which was a review of the restaurant. In the second paragraph, rhetorical questions such as ‘How can all this be related, you might ask?’ and ‘But why?’ were used in order to engage the reader, making the text a two-way street between the author and the reader.
Several literary devices were used in the text. In the second paragraph, ‘snake-long lines’, which is a hyperbole, is used to show just how trendy and big of a deal the restaurant is. Allusions were also used in the third paragraph—The Great Gatsby—as well as in the first paragraph—Starbucks. The use of name-dropping well-known titles not only created a lively feeling to the text, but also allowed the author to express their interests of a different subject to their reader.
In the third paragraph, it all started out with a simple and short sentence. Yet when it is in the body of the paragraph, longer and wordier sentences are used, allowing the reader to have a full-on view of the dining experience. The inside thoughts of the author were also displayed in the text—’Am I lost?’, I thought—which shows that the text not only was some sort of review that highlights the external details, but also effectively serves as a window into the author’s mind. This makes the review to be more authentic and less advertisement-like. This is further supported with the text found in parenthesis—yes, snakes all over again—which reinforces the feeling that the review was genuinely and wholeheartedly written by the author. Group of three was also used in the paragraph—the luck, the longevity, and the wealth—to effectively describe what the restaurant stands for or believes in. Pronouns like ‘you’ could also be found in this paragraph, putting the readers in the author’s shoes, which again, allows the reader to give a first-hand experience. The adjective ‘wok-banging’, as well as the idiom ‘dead silent’ further supports the lively feeling of the text.
Onto the next paragraph, the author describes another point of focus, which is the foods of the restaurant. Even in the paragraph where everything seems to be all descriptive, the author still manages to capture and engage the reader’s attention with rhetorical questions. In this paragraph, shorter sentences were used, which shows that not much of a word can truly describe the foods of the restaurant, but also shows the excitement and the uplifting feeling of the author. ‘Taken aback’ highlights the author’s surprised feeling of the food, effectively making the reader wonder why such food could create that feeling. The author, again, displays their internal feeling—’No way’, I thought. The paragraph ended with an if clause, contrasting the other sentences while also showing a feeling of longing for the author.
The penultimate paragraph, which started with ‘don’t get me started’ shows how awe-struck the author feels about the food. While the phrase could be interpreted as a start of negative experience, it was the opposite. Again, the author effectively captures the highlight of the dining experience, in this case, the drinks. From the hyperbole used ‘astronomically finger-licking’ to the odd drink that was described, it made the reader wonder why such dining experience was this all about. Again, the author shares their internal thoughts about the odd drink with the phrase ‘pretty sceptical at first’. And then, the author engages the reader by snipping in rhetorical questions, which gives the reader room for interpretation. An idiom could be found in the paragraph—flying colours—which not only makes the text more lively, but also shows the various figurative languages used by the author.
In the closing paragraph, the author effectively exhibits their feelings and thoughts about the restaurant. Although descriptive adjectives were not used, it showed the author was impressed with the dining experience when they needed the first sentence of the paragraph with ‘never ever forget all the goodness I had’. Again, the author utilises a group of three in the paragraph, as well as metaphor, with the word ‘rollercoaster ride’. This just shows how the lively feeling is still well kept even at the end of the text. And then, the author shifts their focus to the reader, where they use rhetorical questions as well as the personification ‘welcomes’ to create an inviting feeling to the restaurant.
Overall, the text is written in a chronological manner, in which the author started out from entering the restaurant, to the drinks they had. This allows the reader to have a clear sense of time, which may be beneficial for those who are planning to visit the restaurant. Throughout the text, the author paces back and forth between their point of focus, to make the reader feel as though they were in the restaurant as well as to engage the reader by the pronouns ‘you’ or the use of rhetorical questions.
Breaking the Cycle: Examining the Impact of Imprisonment
Prisons, also known as correctional institutions, have always been an integral part of the criminal justice system, along with police and courts. Although it varies from country to country, the basic process is the same. When legal punishment is imposed on a criminal, they are usually sent to prison. Offenders are incarcerated for a variety of reasons, including justice and punishment, but one of the main reasons is public safety. However, others believe that incarcerated individuals may learn more effective crime strategies from each other. Therefore, the question arises, is it true that sending criminals to prison could be effective to reduce crime? There have been many studies debating and proving that sending criminals to prisons has both positive and negative effects.
There are some reasons to believe that prisons may prevent crime. As mentioned before, public safety is a consideration as prisons provide a place for putting people who have been convicted of crimes in prison, especially violent crimes, as a way to make society safer. They keep offenders off the streets and prevent them from committing crimes in the community, an effect that criminologists call “incapacitation”. Prisons act as a deterrent, as offenders are locked up, and it is also to ensure that the law is respected and upheld.
The experience of imprisonment could deter offenders from committing crimes to avoid prison in the future. Studies have found that incarceration decreases the probability that an individual will reoffend within five years by 27 percentage points and reduces the corresponding number of criminal charges per individual by 10 charges. Prisons might give offenders the chance to reflect on their actions and give them time to reform their behaviour. They provide opportunities to rehabilitate, such as intensive courses to overcome drug addiction, education, or counselling.
Yet, there are also good reasons to say that prisons may have the chance to increase crime numbers. Prisons are considered schools of crime. Incarcerated individuals learn more effective crime strategies from each other. The numbers of people in jails have indeed increased, but crime is still going up. One researcher argues that prisons are considered dumping grounds, meaning that people with mental health issues, drug addiction problems, homelessness, and illiteracy are considered criminals. The environment of the prison is harsh. This problem further contributes to low rehabilitation and high reconviction rates.
Likewise, prisons may often lead to resentment and a determination to get back at society, which means most prisoners reoffend after release and do not reform. Although they may have been advised, they have not changed because of possible environmental problems. This is also a waste of time and energy in rehabilitating them.
Above all, sending an individual convicted of a crime to prison is not a very effective way to deter crime. There are some aspects that need to be considered; prisoners may learn how to be better criminals from each other. They could take revenge on the community after release. Even so, it still could prevent them from committing crimes in society.
Different preferences are bound to be found in different people. Classic example is the option of living in a city or living in a rural area. Those who favour living in urban areas may say that it is more convenient, has better education, has better job opportunities, has faster advancement and many more. On the other hand, those who are inclined to live in rural areas may argue that it has lower living cost, less pollution, and lower crime rates. I believe both have their own advantages, but my stance would be that living in the city is more beneficial because of the overall advantages that it offers.
To start off, living in rural areas is known for its more relaxed pace of life. The sense of peace, refuge and comfort that rural areas provide is not something that you can find in the urban grounds, with its soothing natural landscapes all around, a mere glance out of the window and onto open fields or other green spaces can help lower stress levels. This makes them ideal for older people, parents raising young families, or simply those who want to live a more secure and health-conscious life, away from the hustle and bustle of the urban centres. As an illustration, people living in the city will have to start getting ready for work or school by 7am, while people living in the rural area are most likely enjoying their morning coffee or tea during that time. Not only are rural neighbourhoods quieter and more picturesque, but they’re also known for being safer, with less crime, pollution, litter and traffic. With lesser population density to resources ratio, the number of crime rates is are not as high as in the urban areas. For instance, in Jakarta the level of crime is moderate at approximately 55% while in Yogyakarta it is low at approximately 38%. Lesser people usually correlates with less traffic. If Jakarta was to be compared with Batam, there is a very noteworthy difference in terms of the traffic. To travel 30 km, on average would take 50 minutes for people in Jakarta but for people in Batam it could be as quick as a 10-minutes drive. Thus, rural areas indeed have a more flexible lifestyle contrasted to urban areas.
Moreover, living in rural areas requires less cost of living. Typically, moving to the countryside involves a lower overall cost of living. Property costs are lower, as are some resources and even retail prices. A clear example of this is the price of the famous Indonesian’s Nasi Goreng. The classic fried rice found on the side of the street in Jakarta costs about 18 thousand rupiah while in Tanjung Pinang it costs 10 thousand rupiah. The essentials such as 1.5L of mineral water in Jakarta would cost around 7 thousand rupiah while in Yogyakarta it only costs 4 thousand rupiah. Not to mention, accommodations in the city are comparatively more expensive than those in the rural areas although both provide equal quality in their services. It is evident that people can live in the rural areas with less amount of spending in comparison to living in urban areas.
On the other hand, one of the most substantial factors is that the city has more facilities for the people to be provided with. There will always be shopping malls, amusement parks, good transportation systems, delicious restaurants, and libraries around the city. For instance, MRT, Transjakarta, ferry and KRL are currently only available in Jakarta. Some rural areas like Papua and Kalimantan are still using traditional canoes to go from one place to another. The classic McDonalds are easily found in big cities like Surabaya and Jakarta but not one of them is found in Papua yet. Not to mention the advancement of the technologies in gadgets and in the medical field are far way better in the city. In rural areas, many of the people are still unfamiliar with smartphones and they still take traditional medicine even though modern medicine is far way more effective. Clearly, facilities in the city are way more preferable than rural areas which makes living in the city more worthwhile than in rural areas.
Furthermore, the city offers a higher quality of education and more job opportunities. The rapid advancement of technology alongside accessible facilities has significantly affected the education system and the job opportunities. More students are able to learn things based on their interest with the best curriculum provided. Since these young generations are well-educated, there is the tendency of more work in different fields being innovated. The variety in the interest of the people sparks the innovation of new aspects of jobs being discovered. For example, data analyst and data scientist, process automation specialist, digital transformation specialist, digital marketing and strategy specialist, and many more. The exponential growth in technologies has led to e-commerce as one of the new aspects being discovered. People used to go to offline stores and get what they needed but now many prefer to just open their smartphones and click on Tokopedia, Lazada, Shopee or BliBli to get what they need. Who would have expected this change 20 years ago? Adding to it, big business companies and industrial companies are mostly located in the urban areas which leads to more job offers as more employees are needed to run the companies. Hence, it is proven that great education as well as career opportunities are easily acquired in the city.
To summarise, I agree that living in the city is much more desirable than in rural areas. The vast opportunities and facilities offered are undeniably beneficial to the people. Besides, I believe that advancement of technology is playing a significant role in the lives of human beings and the city has the fastest improvements of technologies. Although living in rural areas is more relaxed and requires less cost of living, the amount of benefits in the city outweighs it. For this reason, it is more ideal for people to live in the city than in rural areas.
Assess the advantages and disadvantages of free health care for all.
‘Lung cancer is rising at an astronomical rate.' 'No way back to cure stroke patients.' 'Kidney transplants at an all-time high in 2022.' These headlines have been bombarding our lives for years, and many have thought of a cure to all these: free health care. Often mixed up with universal health care, free health care is the system of providing quality medical services to citizens of a country at no cost. While it may come in different forms, free health care shares the same goal: to ensure everyone has equal access to medical care. Despite coming at a significant expense, free health care is part of a basic human right that is vital in improving the lives of society as a whole.
Undeniably, free health care offers continuous medical coverage, regardless of a person's job, family status, income, state of residence, or age. In countries with free healthcare systems, medical expenses are covered by the government, allowing individuals to receive the necessary medical care without worrying about the cost. Finland, for instance, offers all permanent residents to different types of healthcare services, ranging from doctor check-ups, medical imaging procedures to complex operations. In this way, citizens are encouraged to seek early treatment before their medical conditions worsen. Thanks to a universal health care system, life expectancy at birth was 82 in Finland. A report by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies found that Finland has a high life expectancy, with an average of 81.5 years for men and 85.3 years for women. Another thing is, a 2016 medical report found that lung cancer is the most prevalent illness to be latest identified, with a death rate of 67% for individuals above 65. When a free health care system is put in place, members of a country would not have to worry about medical bills as the government will shoulder all costs associated with providing healthcare services.
In light of inflated private medical care, there is no competition between profit-driven health care providers and private agencies. Instead, the government has the power of regulating health care costs. This drives the cost of health care down significantly, eradicating the hierarchy of levels of care based on the ability to pay. In the United States, where competition between profit-driven healthcare providers and private agencies is high, healthcare costs are among the highest in the world. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the U.S. spends almost twice as much on healthcare per capita as other developed countries, yet has lower life expectancy and higher rates of chronic diseases. In contrast, Hong Kong's total health care expenditures have always been below 10% after implementing a free health care system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Hong Kong's healthcare system is ranked second in the world, after France, in terms of efficiency and quality of care. Without the pressure to maximize profits, healthcare providers can focus more on patient outcomes. With this in mind, a two-tiered system in the healthcare industry does not always promise quality care.
Though seemingly attractive, the concept of free health care also comes with its own set of problems. By opening up greater access to the health care system, there would be an influx of patients, resulting in an overburdened healthcare professionals. A Duryard University report found that emergency doctors are 34% more prone to making mistakes or performing badly under pressure. With healthcare professionals being forced to work for longer hours, serious issues such as improper medication administration and patient deaths could lead to medical malpractice lawsuits being filed against them. In the words of Tashi Riwash, a front-line nurse at Grayward Hospital, ‘free healthcare does not solve the problem of overcrowding in hospitals.’ In addition to this, with no financial incentive to turn down patients, healthcare professionals may decide to treat less serious cases instead of focusing on more severe ones. As a result, individuals who are suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiac arrhythmias receive inadequate treatment, increasing the chance of their condition worsening or even death. Despite its promises, free health care comes at the cost of strained medical professionals and longer wait times.
In terms of finances, a free healthcare system only leads to a cycle of 'eating' the citizens. Although services will technically be free, the enhanced use of medical resources imposes large sums of government investments, requiring the need to increase tax rates. One proposal for a free healthcare system published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) included options such as a 12.5% payroll tax in addition to a 2.5% income tax on all citizens. According to a 2019 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), countries with universal healthcare systems tend to have higher tax rates than countries without such systems. For example, the average tax-to-GDP ratio for OECD countries with universal healthcare was 34.5% in 2017, compared to 26.5% for OECD countries without universal healthcare. Additionally, in Canada, which has a publicly funded universal health care system, the tax burden for individuals is higher than in the United States, a country with no health care system. According to the Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy think tank, the average Canadian family paid $39,299 in taxes in 2020, while the average American family paid $29,884. Although imposing hefty tax rates may be feasible for affluent citizens, it is not possible for resource-constrained families who are already burdened with their day-to-day expenses.
While there are hazy lines drawn from different perspectives, the concept of free health care is worth pursuing as a global goal. With proper budget management and financial systems, it won't be long until a global chain of healthcare services is established. After all, free health care is more than just a luxury item; it is a right for everyone.
What would the world look like when there are criminals roaming around the street? Across the world, criminals are often seen as a problem that needs to be eliminated by locking up in prisons. A prison is a place where people are legally held as a punishment for a crime they have committed. For decades, policymakers have been weighing on the different options of punishing criminals, including compensation, fines, as well as judicial corporal punishment. While these alternatives may punish criminals, many argue they may not change criminals’ attitudes and behaviours.
To start with, imprisoned offenders are effectively kept away from the wider public, a detention method known as 'incapacitation.' By keeping offenders away from the general public, they can't commit further crimes while they're in prison, thus protecting vulnerable groups like children or women from predators such as paedophiles or serial killers. According to an analysis by a criminologist at Indiana University, serial killers may be responsible for up to 10 times as many U.S. deaths as previously estimated. This means that by locking up these kinds of offenders, potential victims are being kept safe. Another thing is, a 2015 report conducted by the Federal Assaults Foundation found that there were only 8 escapes during escorted journeys - that is journeys to and from courts or hospitals. This was down from 13 in 2011 to 2012. This shows that prisons generally succeed in keeping prisoners inside facilities and preventing further crimes from being committed.
Also, the focus on rehabilitation and re-education in prisons ensures that when offenders do leave prison, they do so better equipped to be productive members of society. Prisons offer rehabilitation opportunities such as drug and alcohol treatment, education, or counselling, which would not otherwise be available. Research from the University of Oxford reported that a 10-week counselling class improved prisoners’ mood, reduced their stress levels, and helped them perform better on a task related to behaviour control. In addition, prison architecture could positively affect inmates’ mental health. The Norwegian Halden Prison offers a good example of architecture that tries to create a safe and guarded environment where prisoners can learn or re-learn to be part of a society, care for themselves and have a purpose. What’s more, another study using Scottish data found that offering prisoners to sports or music classes and outdoor activities might also help to improve their self-confidence as well as encourage the improvement of verbal and written literacy skills. All this together motivates prisoners to distance themselves from crime in the future.
On the other hand, a prison sentence can also have punitive consequences for families outside prison. Commonly referred to as the ‘hidden’ or ‘invisible’ victims of punishment or crime, family members often experience financial distress due to the loss of a relative who was previously contributing to the family’s finances. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, financial strain on the families of the prisoners can be in two forms: by decreasing the household income and by increasing family expenditure due to costly visits and phone calls to their loved ones in prison. In addition, while offenders are stigmatised for their offence, their families often are too. Families are seen as guilty by association even though they are legally innocent and generally have had no involvement in the offence. This stigma, which is usually referred to as courtesy stigma, means that families are treated negatively by other members of their community, including their colleagues, peers, and even friends and family. Prison thus can exacerbate existing socioeconomic disadvantages.
In addition, the reoffending rate remains high due to the challenging circumstances prisoners face upon release. A Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report on recidivism rates, the frequency with which delinquent or criminal behaviour recurs, shows that seven in 10 incarcerated people released in 34 states in 2012 were rearrested within five years. Nearly half of prisoners released in 2012 returned to prison within five years for a parole or probation violation or a new sentence. People re-entering society after incarceration often face difficulty finding employment, affordable housing, and physical and mental health care, resulting in getting re-arrested a few years after release. According to a 2019 research conducted by the Prison Policy Institute, the average unemployment rate among formerly incarcerated people in the United States is 27 percent—5 percent higher than the average unemployment rate. This is due to the traditional view of companies to people with a criminal record as ‘unemployable’. Many assume that ex-prisoners will be unreliable, dishonest, and antisocial. As a result, most ex-prisoners are unable to find jobs and end up working menial jobs such as supermarket attendants, plumbers, or even morticians because of discrimination against them. Even some of them might have lost their professional licence during their sentences and need to work part-time in order to regain them upon release; some have also become de-skilled during their prison time, which keeps them from finding a job that suits their former qualifications. As stated by the Georgia State Pardons and Paroles, "prison punishes the offender but does not teach him or her how to get back into normal life."
In conclusion, while it’s not just the criminals who are affected by imprisonment, prisons serve an important role in society. They protect the public from dangerous criminals, and they offer a safe space for criminals to reflect on their actions. While there may be other, better ways to reform them, prisons are here to stay to protect both citizens and criminals.
“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way”, Frank Smith. Speaking, writing and reading are essential to everyday life, and language is the primary tool for expression and communication. There are roughly more than 7100 languages spoken in the world today, approximately 1.35 billion out of 7.8 billion inhabitants speak English and the majority aren’t native English speakers. Countries with native English speakers include New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and others. So far, besides being widely spoken, it is the most commonly learned foreign language in the world. However, there are some disputes that learning a foreign language is useless. Some said that mastering a foreign language could have more job opportunities while others thought learning a new language is costly and time-costing. Therefore, the question arises, is it important for us to learn of second language?
To start off, learning foreign language can improve the chances of getting jobs and better job prospects. In today’s business driven society, being bilingual or multilingual can give you a competitive edge when searching for jobs, or maintaining your current employment. Companies that are planning to expand or have expanded overseas and global, such as Allianz and Apple, are constantly looking for bilingual employees. They are well paid and have good benefits, because they will ultimately give the company a huge competitive advantage and performance. By learning a foreign language, you will be indispensable in your workplace as you can easily bridge the cultural gap between the two countries by understanding the needs of global customers, partners and suppliers. Hence, foreign language is beneficial for your career.
Furthermore, mastering one or more foreign languages could increase cultural awareness. Cultural awareness is being aware of and respecting the influence and role of different cultures. This enables us to communicate effectively and understand the intentions of the people from different backgrounds. A lack of cultural awareness may mislead crucial decisions. Apart from that, it helps us avoid misjudging people from different cultural backgrounds and allows for a better way of relating than having a conflict. The ultimate goal is to understand the differences between yourself and people from different countries and backgrounds, especially with unique attributes and values.
On the contrary, acquiring foreign language takes time and it’s costly. You can never succeed in any set of tasks without putting in enough time. Different languages have completely different systems of grammar, different alphabet and different sounds. Foreign Service Institute (FSI) research indicates that it takes 480 hours to achieve basic fluency in the first languages and 720 hours for second to fourth languages. Learning a language with cheap or free materials, such as YouTube videos, will never do you any good compared to the well-packed offered by recognized and expensive programs provided by educational institutions and experienced teachers. Unless you are not keen on mastering a language, you cannot learn without spending money.
Additionally, we will not necessarily have the opportunity to speak the language. If you haven’t travelled or aren’t interested in travelling, then you won’t have the chance to speak the language with natives. Even if you have the opportunity to travel, it’s easy to get around in many countries while speaking English. Knowing a foreign language may help in some careers, but it doesn’t help in many jobs. For example, a blogger or a truck driver.
To sum up everything that has been stated so far, learning a second is essential for people especially when they are looking for a job and also in their social activity. It is true that learning a second language cost time and money and it is possible for not speaking it up with the native but just simply knowing a new language could help us add skills to our own and there will be a time where you can speak up.
Experiencing music live is a wonderful thing. When you witness music live, you get to witness what I believe to be the closest thing humans can come to creating real magic. The speakers boom with guitar riffs and drum lines, the lights reflect off the walls, and vocals echo through the venue. However, while it sounds like a party of their life for some people, will it still be worth it when threats such as bombings and gunshots are happening in the area? Thus, despite there being fundamental flaws in live concerts, it leaves an extraordinary impression not only on the musicians’ hearts, but also the fans' hearts.
One of the most important advantages of having music live for both performers and audience would be being able to escape reality. On the internet, both may receive hate, disgusting and disrespectful comments - performers received backlash while some audiences experienced cyberbullying. Both performers and audience may sometimes feel like they are under a microscope or being treated like an object, which causes them to live in fear as a small mistake can escalate into a massive wave of hate. However, while receiving such threats can cause mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, meeting supporters or idols face-to-face during concerts can provide a sense of validation and joy. Performing live can be a rejuvenating experience for artists as they fully engage with their supporters in the moment. Additionally, live music has a strong emotional impact that allows audiences to connect with the music on a deeper level and experience cathartic release. Not even recording technology is capable of providing the same thrilling sensation as in the concert. When compared to recorded versions, the experience of listening to live music can evoke a distinct set of emotions in individuals, providing a sense of comfort and solace during difficult times. Therefore, having music live offers both performers and audience a chance to step away from their problems or disconnect from their daily routines and focus on the present moment, where they can experience the energy and excitement of the live performance in a direct contemporary time.
Another great advantage of having a live concert is being able to feel the feeling of success. Performers have trained for their whole life and sacrificed more than you think. Due to the long and hard training and exercise to sharpen their singing and dancing skills since they were so young, some of the performers like the Korean singers Minzy and CL from 2NE1 tend to have a different childhood from ordinary children, even some admit to losing theirs. Performers often find the adrenaline rush of being on stage and receiving feedback from the audience to be a form of validation that instills pride in their hard work and dedication. Sharing their talents and connecting with fans can also be an immensely gratifying experience as they get to share something they are passionate about. Likewise, for fans, watching their favourite artists perform live can be extremely thrilling and rewarding, especially after saving up money to afford the extravagant tickets. The ability to enjoy a special experience that they have worked hard for can be empowering as the energy and excitement of the crowd, coupled with the grandeur of the performance, creates an unparalleled feeling of elation and happiness that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Just like the saying goes, dreams do come true.
However, even with all the above-mentioned advantages, there is one thing that provokes both performers and audience during live concerts, which is the lack of safety. Despite having tight security breaches in the area, some can snuck in unauthorised items inside the venue, endangering thousands of lives, including theirs. Let the bombing incident of Ariana Grande’s 2018 Manchester Concert be an example for this, where many innocent lives were lost that day. To add, the 2004 Lampung concert of Sheila on 7, an Indonesian pop-rock band from Yogyakarta, had four young women killed and dozens fainted due to thousands of fans trying to enter the overcrowded venue. Because of this reason, both the performers and audience’s lives are at risk and experiencing such horrible moments may lead to trauma.
Furthermore, the concert may surprisingly be not what both performers and audience imagined. Both sides have worked so hard to get where they are, but sometimes results aren’t that satisfactory. For performers, they have worked so hard to make the concert possible, but if the audience is not active or only a few came to watch, they will feel awkward. Girl’s Generation, for example, first experienced a “black ocean” back in 2008 at the annual Dream Concert, only a year into their debut. A "black ocean" is an organized protest wherein the audience turns off their lightsticks as a way to show their lack of support or displeasure at a particular artist, leaving the venue in darkness. As a result, they may not have the same cheerful feeling or vibe when carrying out the next few songs due to questioning upon their careers, skills and popularity. For the audience, they paid a substantial amount to see the musician’s performance live, but if their vocals are unstable and have unhygienic surroundings like a muddy floor, they will feel unsatisfactory. As a result, performers and audience will feel like their efforts have gone to waste even if both sides get to meet each other.
In conclusion, even though they are more exposed to dangerous crime situations, musicians will halt the performances for the sake of the audience’s comfort. On the day of performances in Jakarta on November 4 2021, the 2016 best male rookie group in Korea, NCT 127, had to stop its concert midway due to a group of fans pushing and fainting. Since the pressure of the crowd was too great, the Korean idols and staff reacted quickly by giving the fainted ones water to hydrate themselves and instructing fans to not shove one another. Moreover, unlike hearing recorded music, which are often carefully crafted and edited, live performances offer a sense of spontaneity that can create a unique and memorable experience for both the performers and the audience. Stage performances give performers the opportunity to showcase their talents and to see firsthand how their music or art is affecting their fans. This can be incredibly rewarding to witness the emotional impact of their work on an individual level, and to see how their art is resonating with people in a meaningful way, which adds fuel to an artist's passion and drive. Additionally, the live setting can make the performance feel more personal and authentic for the audience, as they can witness the performer's artistry in real time, and can create a shared sense of excitement and enthusiasm among the audience from feeling the energy of the live performance. Therefore, it is important to have a live music experience for both performers and audience.
This earth is inhabited by many living things - humans, animals, plants and others. Each of them has their own important role to play here. Here, we give each other mutual support and benefits. For example, people hunting. Hunting has been a part of human existence since our earliest settlements. We have always been hunters and gatherers as a way to get food although now in modern days hunting may not be necessary. Nonetheless, there is still a lot of debate regarding hunting, particularly wildlife, today. Hunting is supported by certain individuals, nations, or states, but there will always be opponents.
Hunting can result in the wild animal population to deplete, which eventually leads to extinction. Based on researchers and scientists, from the past centuries, there were approximately 200 kinds of wild animals in the world that had become extinct, and the extinction rate of those endangered animals is accelerating. Wild animals, namely South China tiger and Asian elephant, are endangered animals. Not to mention, each species is an important member of the ecosystem, and through the relationship of the food chain, each species plays an interdependent and interlocking role. Once there is a problem in one link of the food chain, the balance of the whole ecology will be seriously affected. As a result, species that rely on other organisms for nourishment will starve to death.
Hunting has a reputation for being brutal and immortal. Without being hunted or murdered for entertainment, wild animals have the right to exist in their natural habitat. Animals are sentient beings with the ability to feel joy, pain and emotions. They are not an object that humans may use and exploit for our gain. It is seen as cruel and inhumane for animals that are frequently injured while hunting, allowed to deteriorate slowly, or cruelly slaughtered. From an animal view, they have the right to live in their natural habitat, untouched by cruelty and exploitation.
However, hunting can also be a method for managing wildlife, such as eradicating unhealthy animals or reducing overcrowding. Government wildlife biologists from each representative country examine ecosystems to ascertain the carrying capacity of integrated populations in certain regions. In order to manage animal populations in accordance with capacity, population numbers are monitored by examining observational data on animal behaviour and herd sizes. Fishing, for example, generally removes large species and matures reproductively individuals. This, in turn, favours the survival of smaller creatures that are able to reproduce. These management approaches might be more challenging to use if hunting is discouraged. Hence, there is no doubt that hunting is a way to maintain control of the local wildlife population.
Furthermore, hunting is one of the oldest interactions. It is a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. In some societies, there are generations of great hunters who are known to have caught some rare animal species. This becomes a motivation to continue hunting, either as a competition or a culture. However, while the earliest hunters were more interested in obtaining meat and a source of income than anything else, today’s hunters are more interested in obtaining trophies and awards. Therefore, if hunting is deterred, it could result in the extinction of cultural traditions.
In conclusion, hunting wildlife animals should be prevented for it may lead to the extinction of certain species. Due to the fact that wild animals have a right to exist in their natural habitat, it can also be viewed as cruel and unethical. It’s not wrong that hunting does bring some dominance toward some aspects. Therefore, hunters and the government should consider the benefits and limitations of hunting wildlife.
