Aug 26, 2010
Aug 23, 2010
Argument 45
Argument 45:
The following appeared in a Letter to the Editor of the Shady Village newspaper. "Commuters are complaining that the rush hour traffic on Blue Highway between Shady Village and Bright City has doubled their commuting time. Some commuters have asked that an additional traffic lane be built, but the recent creation of such a lane on nearby Green Highway apparently attracted more commuters, judging from the fact that rush-hour traffic jams actually increased there this past winter. To reduce rush-hour traffic on Blue Highway, a bicycle lane should be added instead of a traffic lane. This approach will succeed because many citizens of Shady Village are avid bicyclists; 75 percent of respondents to a recent questionnaire distributed there said they would like to bicycle more hours per week than they currently do."
My writing:
The conclusion of the letter is that building a new bicycle lane is a better approach to solve the traffic problem between Shady Village and Bright City. I find this conclusion questionable in several points.
To begin with, the letter claims that the traffic problem, which the commuters complained about, may be solved by creation a traffic lane because this seems effective on Green Highway in the past winter. The reader use this example to infer that there is a need of a new traffic lane. But I have a different interpretation. Just because the success on Green Highway doesn't mean that it will work on the Blue Highway. The environment, demography, and the terrain may be whole different.
Second, the reader suggests that a bicycle lane is better than a traffic lane because the population of bicyclists increased gradually. I have another point of view. It is one thing to have more bicyclists, but it is quite another to have less cars on the road in the rush hour. Bicyclists usually ride bikes to take a trip on the weekend, not go to office at all. Thus, if the government builds a new bicycle lane instead of a traffic lane, the problem may still remain.
Third, the suggestion uses the result of a recent questionnaire to support his idea that there are more and more bicyclists in Shady Village. But, I wonder how large the sample size is. If it is three thousand, then the 75percentage is significant. If it is only one hundred in a community, then the 75 percentage is insignificant. Therefore, the result of the questionnaire may mean nothing.
Conclusion, the claims of the letter is not a reasonable one. The best approach to solve the traffic problems may lie on the research to the communist and the traffic situation, the changes of regulations, and the more considerations.
some templates for arguments
Aug 22, 2010
Aug 19, 2010
The first try for writing an issue
1
"All nations should help support the development of a global university designed to engage students in the process of solving the world's most persistent social problems."
My writing:
While globalization is the current trend in many aspects of the world's affairs, we cannot ignore the local need in the society. The benefits of the globalization can never replace the local's, in fact, if a nation want to handle global matters, it must have a mature legislation, a peace society, a well-developed economy, and a high-quality education.
There are many needs and diverse levels in a society, so cannot pay attention only in education. The firm construction of a society is a premise of the advance of education. For example, National Taiwan University works hard for promoting the ranking among all the universities in the world in the past decade, but the president of NTU cannot only focus on the publishing and SCI. He also needs to drive the reconstruction of the old building, the reformation of the regulations, and the better quality of the facilities. The management of a school is complicated, just like a country. Therefore, having a well economy system, a sound health insurance, and the balance opportunities to work is crucial for the better education.
The goal of a university may not be solving the world's most persistent social problems. If we really have the point of global view, we may find out that there many options we can try to improve our world. For a doctor, an economist, a scientist, a businessman, or an officer, they have their different ways to concern the problems of this world. For instance, a scientist invents a new method to cultivate rice which can have more harvest; this is an approach to solve the food problem in many poor countries. So, the goal of a university should be board and diverse.
In consequence, we need to strengthen the foundation of our society and broaden our view in the education, and we can really solve the problems in the world.