Reflective Essay 2: The ENGLCOM experience

            Before our ENGLCOM classes formally started, we were asked to make an essay similar to this one. In that essay, I was asked about my advantages and my skills in the English language. I believe that during ENGLCOM, these skills were practiced and are now improved. These skills include reading & comprehension, writing, among others. Before I had my ENGLCOM class, I could only make mediocre essays. But after having my ENGLCOM classes, I could already make essays with depth and a more complex vocabulary. I was able to improve in these areas, as well as in using the correct punctuation marks and making sentences with proper structure.  ENGLCOM has not only helped me to improve in my writing, but as well in my reading. I was able to develop my skills in getting the main ideas of acquired information, and using these main ideas in my essays.

            Overall, I was able to improve in the English language, particularly in reading and in writing. I had achieved what I hoped for and expected at the start of the term because of this course. I am grateful for this course, for it helped me to improve and to achieve my goals that I had set out for myself. Through tireless essay writing, I was able to carve out a better me; one that is better and more proficient in the English language. 

Argumentative Essay: Space Exploration: Investment, or Money Down the Drain?

            “Space, the final frontier.” Any avid fan of the series, Star Trek, would know about this line. It is how they see space as the final destination of all living things. But it is not only they who see space in this light; scientists, and idealists, too, think that it is through the exploration of space and other celestial beings that we can truly discover the answers to life’s questions. But space exploration is very costly; about seven billion dollars a year alone is spent on space flight in the U.S. (Space Exploration, nd.). A contributing factor to the high costs of space exploration would be the errors in flight tests and experiments being done, which leads to a loss in effort, money, and time. Although space exploration does seem to be a waste in resources, space exploration is not a waste of money because: (1) it is not expensive, actually; (2) exploration is man’s nature; (3) new discoveries are made through space exploration.

            It is not expensive, actually. How much is seven billion dollars compared to the other expenses of the U.S government? How much is seven billion dollars, compared to the GDP of the U.S? Each year, 22 times the amount for space exploration is spent on alcohol, and over ten million dollars is spent in Iraq by the government each month. Compared to these two, the budget spent for space exploration is small, considering the fact that the U.S government earns trillions of dollars a year (Space Exploration, nd.). Is war and alcohol, then, a better way of spending/ investing the taxpayer’s money? Is space exploration, then, really a waste of money?

            Exploration is man’s nature. Ever since the time of Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and other great explorers, man has sought to discover his world and what lies within it. It is natural of man to be curious, to ask questions, to constantly search for answers to his questions. And so man explored the seas and discovered/unearthed/made known to others their findings. Now, in the 21^st century, space is being explored by man. But why explore space, when the earth itself is not yet fully explored? One incident would be about a “lost tribe”, which highlights the fact that we are not in contact with every indigenous tribe in our planet, and in a greater sense, with our own world (Space Exploration is a Waste of Money, nd.). This “discovery” is sufficient enough to show that we have to check again what we have overlooked in our planet. But space exploration would not be a waste of money since organisms found in space offer the same value to the scientific community (Space Exploration is a Waste of Money, nd.). We only have to look at it in a different perspective, and see that what is out there is equally important to what we have in earth. Money is not really wasted in the process of exploration; rather, it is invested into discovering new things, for the benefit of mankind.

            New discoveries are made through space exploration. The space exploration program has been around since the Cold War and it continues until now. Discoveries have been made that benefit man in a lot of ways. One major discovery would be GPS (Global Positioning System) that helps man navigate through land, air, and sea. Another would be in medicine. Nitinol is an alloy used to make braces. This alloy is used in space crafts. The benefits of exploration and are limitless, and all of which are beneficial to us all (Kanade, nd.).

            Space is a mystery, being big and borderless. No one knows how long we will be exploring space; all that we know is that we will be benefiting from it. It is not a waste of money because we ourselves reap its benefits. It is not a waste of money we can learn a lot from it, which the future generations will benefit from. 

Reference List:

1. Kanade, S. (nd.)., Space Exploration Benefits, Retrieval Date:                             August 18,2010;           

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/space_exploration_benefits.html

2. Space Exploration (nd.)., Retrieval Date: August 18, 2010;

                    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_space_exploration_a_waste_of_money

3. Space Exploration is a Waste of Money (nd.)., Retrieval Date:                          Aug. 18, 2010;

http://debatewise.org/debates/137-space-exploration-is-a-waste-of-money#point_694_headline

Reflection:

            I found it hard writing this essay because I had to defend topic that I didn’t really have much knowledge of. Also, it was hard finding pros as there were more cons to this topic. Although I am satisfied with how this essay turned out, I could have improved by defending my topic more, and giving less of the arguments of the opposition. 

Extended Definition Essay: FriendSHIP: Unsinkable

            “It is one of the blessing of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.” – Ralph Waldo Emmerson. This quote talks about friendship and how we can be comfortable, and be ourselves, with our friends because of the friendship that we share with them. Friendship, as defined in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, is the quality or condition of being friends. But I believe that friendship is more than that. To me, friendship is a relationship between two people, or among a group, that is intangible but can be felt by all in the relationship, wherein there is a special connection that each one shares with one another; it transcends all boundaries: time, money, space, emotions, among others.

            First of all, friends are not rivals. This situation mostly happens in a group of friends, wherein there are two dominant forces/personalities in the group. This may also be for friends who have been in a fight and cannot resolve their differences, shallow or complex. In a stable relationship, there would be no dominant/opposing forces or rivalries amongst members of the group; everyone should be at peace with one another. Friends also do not use other friends for their personal gain only. Friendship is true and honest and it is not conditional. Though friends may ask for favors, they should always remember to return the favor someday.

            They say high school is the best time of anyone’s life. This is true for a myriad of reasons. One example would be the friends that you gain from high school. From the first day, until graduation, through thick and thin, these are the friends you will be remembering for the rest of your life. Our high school valedictorian said in her graduation speech, “your friends in college know who you are, but your friends in high school will always know why.” This quote explains the kind of friendship formed through time. My first day in high school, I made a few new friends, which grew into a bigger group as I met more and more people; all of which I have a close relationship with. Whenever I had problems – in life, in my grades, in my romantic quests – I turned to my group of friends who had open ears , and sarcastic comments, that always helped me get through my problems. Without them, I think that I would be a more troubled person than I already am now.

            Friendship can lead to a lot of things, one of them is love. Friendship itself is a kind of love wherein one can feel free to talk about anything or, in simpler terms, can be more open with. Friendship can also lead to platonic love, a love that leads to happiness amongst friends. People showing this kind of love show care for each other and trust each other, no matter what. Friendship can lead to care for one another because they enjoy each other’s company and support one another in every endeavor.

            “I’ll be there for you, ‘cause you’ll be there for me too.” – FRIENDS theme song, the Remembrandts. It talks about the purest basis for any friendship. Friendship is a strong bond amongst people. They share a special connection that no one can break. Friendship is important because we cannot live without friends, for they are necessities in life.

Reflection:

            I didn’t really find it hard writing about friendship, since it was a topic that was close to my heart. What I did find hard was defining friendship in an even deeper sense. I’m satisfied with the outcome of the essay, as I was able to define friendship according to what know. I still could’ve improved the essay by making my thoughts more coherent and better constructed. 

Cause and Effect Essay: A.D.E.M. and Me

            Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory disorder very similar to multiple sclerosis (MS); both disorders cause deterioration of the myelin sheath surrounding the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord (Moore, 2007). The incidence rate is about 8 per 1,000,000 people per year. It happens mostly with children five to eight years old (ADEM, nd.). With that being said, I find it very amazing that I, a then 10-year old Filipino boy with no prior neurological case, caught this very rare disease, since it is more likely to happen in Africa. This paper aims to look further into the effects of Acute Demyelinating Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in terms of physical, medical, and personal aspects.

            What does ADEM do to someone? Medically, ADEM causes inflammation in the brain and spinal, particularly in the white matter (ADEM, nd.). the nerve cell coating (myelin sheath) is partially destroyed (ADEM, nd.). In simpler terms, the disease causes the brain and spine to be inflamed and the cover of the nerve cells to be destroyed. In effect, some functions of the brain are affected and the nerves of the person can be damaged beyond repair, causing them to be either sensitive or unresponsive. In my case, the left side of my brain was more affected than the right, which caused weakness to the right side of my body. This disease also caused me to be in a 10 – day coma, which also led to my paralysis for over a month. Furthermore, the disease caused me to lose some of my fine motor skills, muscle strength, and coordination.

            Since I was bed-ridden, and had been in a 10-day coma – for almost a month – the physical effects of ADEM already showed. My legs had undergone muscular atrophy. Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body (Atrophy, nd.). I could not even move my legs, let alone stand, due to the decrease of muscle mass in my legs. Another effect would be my slurred speech. This was caused by the shortening of my tongue. I could not speak for almost two weeks because of what had happened to my tongue. I could only communicate through texts because my handwriting, too, was affected. My hands were always shaking uncontrollably and I could not control it, even if I tried. The effect of this was bad handwriting and the loss of my talent (playing the piano).

            There have been many things that happened to me and my family because of this disease; most of them are too emotionally painful to mention. One example of a positive personal effect on me was that my will to succeed increased. I had undergone many months of rehabilitation with one goal in mind: to become normal again. I also become more religious since I realized that with God, I would not have survived the ordeal. I strived to become stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally, since I knew that only I could help myself for what had happened. Finally, I became more open to criticisms and observations, for I knew that the people who gave these were only trying to help.

            ADEM has caused me and my family a lot of problems. Sometimes, I believe that it was a curse that I had to live with, a speed bump in my otherwise smooth journey towards my goals and aspirations. But I also believe that this disease was a blessing in disguise, because my experiences from the sickness taught me to never give up, never surrender; rather than weaken me, it only made me stronger. It taught me to appreciate my family and friends even more because they give me their full support always. And most especially, I learned to appreciate God, because He kept me safe and gave me a 2^nd life, one that would give me the chance to do the things I never did and to succeed in my dreams and aspirations, hopefully.

Reference List:

1. Moore, E. (Nov. 3, 2007), Disseminated Encephalomyelitis,                     Retrieval Date: Aug. 4, 2010,

http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/disseminated_encephalomyelitis#ixzz0vdvjE

2. Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (nd.), Retrieval               date: Aug. 4, 2010

http://adam.about.com/reports/000096_1.htm

3. ADEM, (nd.), Retrieval date: Aug. 4, 2010,                                        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADEM

Reflection:

            The hardest part about writing this essay was not the finding the information and making a smart essay. For me, it was remembering all of the experiences that I underwent. Although I am satisfied with the essay I wrote, I could have improved it by not repeating my information. A topic such as ADEM calls for a lot explanation, as it is a complicated disease to diagnose and understand. I still could have added more information, or elaborated more on my experiences.

Comparison & Contrast Essay: Ain’t No Place like Manila/Davao

            Davao – the food basket of Mindanao. Manila – the place where everything happens, good or bad. Both are different and far apart from each other but which is truly better, Davao or Manila? The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast Davao City and the whole region of NCR, collectively known as Manila, in terms of getting around, traffic, crime rate, cost of expenses, and leisure spots.

            Getting from point A to point b is really a concern for people who are traveling or going somewhere. In Davao, everything is within five to ten minutes of travel, considering that it is the biggest city in terms of land area. Traveling is not really a hassle, since you just have to go North or South, and the occasional East for some. The districts in Davao are also easily identified, as well as its streets. In Manila, traveling is one of the hassles. NCR is divided into cities, cities to towns, towns to districts, among others. Though the cities are relatively small, the system of highways and roads makes everything complicated. Even if they were made to make life simpler, it seems that they just add more problems to the worsening situation in Manila.

            Davao has no 3-hour  traffic jams or “long parking lots” as they say. Being stuck at one place for five minutes is already considered traffic, since there is normally a smooth flow of vehicles on the roads. On the other hand, the traffic in Manila is one of the problems that its inhabitants face. Being stuck in a traffic jam is like waiting for paint to dry; it will take you a long time before you can finish.

            Crime – another problem that any city faces. In Davao, the criminals are afraid of the ever vigilant mayor that orders for security in almost every part of the city. You can even leave your things in one place; leave, and still come back for them. The only reports of crime are minor thefts and other such cases. In Manila, people are often afraid to leave their houses, in fear that they might be victimized by the criminals and delinquents that lurk on every corner. I, myself, have been a victim of a hold-up, which led to a theft, and left me traumatized.

            In Davao, 100 pesos can already get you a decent meal and a taxi ride home. Since it is considered as a rural area, things in Davao are cheap. Meanwhile, everything in Manila is expensive; 100 pesos a day would not last any person. The cost of living is also expensive compared to that of rural areas.

            In Davao, there are only 5 malls, 2 parks, and not a hint of Starbucks. Although Davao is big, investors do not like to make expensive establishments, since the people are not used to high prices. In Manila, almost every city has a park, 2-3 malls, and at least one branch of Starbucks. Manila is the best place for these kinds of things, since it is the center of trade and business.

            All-in-all, I believe that Davao is the better of the two, considering the terms that have been discussed. The comparison and contrast of Davao and NCR, in terms of getting around, traffic, crime rate, cost of expenses, and leisure spots is for those who would like to live in either of the two cities, or currently residing in one of them. Some people may like the bustling city streets, or bright lights of Manila, but I would much rather prefer the peace and tranquility that only Davao has to offer.

Reflection:

            I found it easy writing this essay since I knew about the two subjects by heart. It was easy to compare and contrast, since I have lived in both cities and have seen the differences between the two. Overall, I think that I wrote a good essay by making good comparisons and contrasts. I could have written a better essay if I gave more information about the topics being compared.

Static- Description Essay: With Friends Like These

          We were singing our alma mater song, Blue Knight Song, with fervor and enthusiasm, as it would be the last that we would all be singing it together. Finally, the last note was played and the graduates all cheered, for we had finally graduated from high school. Immediately, I ran, looking for my friends; for I wanted to spend this joyous occasion with them, having given me the happiest years of my life, from first year high school, until graduation day, and beyond.


          I finally saw them, and as I shook hands to congratulate them, I was both happy and sad at the same time. I was happy, because we got through all the challenges that high school gave us; and sad, because I knew that we would have to go our separate ways. Then we were told to go to the field, for it was a bigger space for taking pictures.

          The grass on the field was brown, for it lacked sufficient water supply and most of its moisture had been drained because of the heat of the sun. As I looked up, I saw the skies, cloudless and clear, and as blue as the oceans; it was a beautiful background to our picture. Since there were no clouds, nothing was protecting us from the blazing heat of the afternoon sun. Nonetheless, we, though absorbing the blistering heat of the sun, and wearing stuffy clothing underneath our already thick toga, were still able to crack happy and sincere smiles for the cameras. It was clear that us newly graduates were full of joy, excitement and enthusiasm on that day which we received our diplomas – symbols of our hard work and efforts for the four years of high school. And to show happiness and enthusiasm, we, though very and always impromptu, contorted our bodies and faces into silly poses and funny faces, respectively.


          Though high school did end on graduation day, our friendship remains strong and unwavering. My friends did give me the happiest, and the best, years of my life, and I hope they can continue to do so in the future.






Reflection:


          I found it hard writing this essay because I am not very creative with my descriptions. Although I did describe the scene, I wasn’t able to describe the emotion. I liked the essay that I wrote because I was able to write about my graduation day and my friends, an experience and people, respectively, in my life that made me happy. I could have made a better essay if I had described the event more creatively.

Process Essay: Time Management – Dean’s Listers Secret to Success

           Time management, according to my own understanding, is effectively dividing your time so that you will accomplish all the tasks you have set for yourself. A dean’s lister is someone who has garnered a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and above. The student may have his/her own strategies, but time management proves to be most effective. Before you can start though, you must classify your activities as beneficial or wasteful. Then you can start and see that effective time management is essential for one’s studies if the student is aiming for the dean’s list.

         The first step in effective time management is setting your priorities. The factors often being prioritized are the subjects/academics, major or minor, extra curricular activities, and the personal things the student need to tend to. These three factors are the priorities which matter most, and the order of priority varies from person to person, depending on the level of importance.

          The second step is identifying, and lessening, activities which consume and waste your time. Activities, such as surfing the net; watching television; and others (video games, parties, malling, etc.) have to be avoided so that more time can be allotted for priorities. Although it is alright to relax and enjoy sometimes, too much would be abusive and it may affect your studies negatively.

         The third and final step in effective time management is setting your goal/s for your priorities. It can be long term or short term and it depends on the level of priority.

            All in all, after closing the three steps, you have successfully divided your time for a certain period. Now, it is up to you to manage your time well; always remember the goals for your priorities and to avoid the time consumers that can restrain you from the coveted dean’s list.

Reflection:

            I found it easy writing this essay because I wanted to write about being a dean’s lister. I liked what I made although I could have elaborated more on the information about being a dean’s lister. Or I could have given more tips about the process.