The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost - The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

• I choose “the Road Not Taken”. It is a very famous English poem. I redeem that it has two significant implies; the uncertainty and lonely of life.Firstly, in this poem, the “different path” represents the different way of our life. We usually need to face different ways or objects to choose in our life. Who is the best partner for me? Which school or major is better for me? The different alternatives are similar to “two roads diverged in a yellow wood”. According to the experience in my life, I think the courage, perseverance and luck are the most important means to takes a certain road that is no turning back, such as the “the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear”, Frost said.
  

• The poem's last lines, where the narrator declares that taking the road "less traveled by" has "made all the difference," can be seen as a declaration of the importance of independence and personal freedom. However, I can smell the lonely from this line. Sometimes, I am lonely when I made unique choice; it is likely to “walk on less traveled road”. But I think the freedom of choice is the most valuable thing for human life even the choice is strange or unusual.

Dream Deferred

Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry upLike a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Langston Hughes

Question 1:about any stereotypes in American film or television

• Question 1:
  The film discussed how homosexuals were portrayed in film because they are arguing that showing homosexuals in a certain way makes people think they are really like that. If every gay person you ever see is in a movie and they are all mentally ill or crazy, you may think this is an accurate depiction of how gay people really are. This is how stereotypes are formed.
  Do you think there are any stereotypes that are common in American film or television in how Chinese people are portrayed? You can consider both positive and negative stereotypes.
• Answer:
• I think the Jackie Chen’s(成龍) movie is positive stereotypes of Chinese people. For example, in his movie “the Rush Hour”, Jackie Chen is a Hong Kong police officer who is assigned to help a Los Angles police officer to investigate a Chinese kidnaper. Jackie is a real hero. He is good at Kong-fu, smarter and gentler than his American partner. He solved all problems and save his partner’s life several times. All bad guys’ trickeries are handled by Chen in advance. Of course, he saves the hostage—a Chinese girl—at the end.

• The negative stereotypes of Chinese people are unusual in recent American movie. “Danny the Dog” gave me a deep impression. In this movie, Jet Lee(李連杰) raised into behaving like a dog, escapes from his captor to start a new life, who seeks to reclaim him because of his unnatural martial arts skills that are triggered when unleashed. Because Lee is a Chinese, his “dog” behavior in this firm is harsh to Chinese audience. Moreover, his captor and many other bad guys are Chinese. They are cruel, selfish and fool. I think it is an example of negative stereotypes of Chinese in some Americans’ thought.

Gays marriage

• Question:
• This article suggests that gays and lesbians in Taiwan are generally afraid to “come out” to their family. The article goes on to suggest that most families operate under a “don’t-ask, don’t-tell” policy. In other words, most families just don’t want to know if they have a gay son, daughter, brother, sister, and so on. In your opinion, do you think this is correct? This article is from 2004. Do you think the situation is any different now?

• Answer :

• I don’t think it is correct. Gays and lesbians are not criminals. They have their right to look for their love. “don’t-ask, don’t-tell” policy usually hurt and smear their reputation. This treatment is rooted in the callous attitude of Chinese culture towards homosexuality. Many people snub the gays and lesbians due to they regard homosexuality as sick. But it is wrong.
• In 2004, the government of President Chen Shui-bian included a provision allowing gay couples to "found a family and adopt children" in a broader human rights law that also calls for the gradual abolition of capital punishment. I think the provision to strengthen Taiwan's democratic and human rights. This legislation is helpful for gays and lesbians. Unfortunately, I don’t see any process in law and policy about this social movement of improving gays and lesbians treatment by current President Ma’s administration. So I think the situation is not different now.

Whale Wars

• 1. International treaties have banned the hunting of whales for food because of declining whale populations world-wide. However, every year Japanese fishing craft hunt and kill thousands of whales near Antarctica in violation of international treaties. They are able to do this because the law allows hunting some whales for scientific research. The vessels call themselves “research vessels”, but others say they illegally hunt and sell whales for food.
  
  Some environmentalists, enraged by the Japanese government’s hunting, decided to take matters into their own hands. They have bought boats and equipped them to scare whales away from hunters and forcefully challenge hunting boats. This results in frequent fighting and violent clashes between the two sides. Some people call these environmental activists terrorists. Some environmentalists call them heroes. The Japanese government calls them pirates. Both sides say that the law is on their side. How far is “too far” in defense of the environment and preventing the extinction of a species?
  What do you think? Respond to this question is at least two well developed paragraphs.

• Answer:
  
• According to Wiki, the debates over whaling have focused on issues of sustainability and conservation as well as ownership and national sovereignty. Since the International Whaling Commision (IWC) 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling, the value of lethal sampling of whales for scientific research in order to establish catch quotas has also been debated. Someone see the value of whaling to fisheries as a method of controlling whales' perceived negative impact on fish stocks is another point of debate.
  
• I think the whaling is needed to be banned. Firstly, several whales’ species were severely endangered. Although IWC use the quota to limit the number of whale every country catch per year, many countries had been systematically underreporting the number of whales it took. Therefore, the declining of whales’ species may be serious than we know. Moreover, many goods from whale have better alternatives. It is unnecessary for the human being to kill whale. Thirdly, the distribution of quota is not totally fair for every country. Most of countries don’t satisfy their respective quota, so they may catch more whales to compensate the gap between the quota and real need. So IWC’s quota system cannot to save whale. Only complete stop of whaling can solve all above questions.

Response Questions

• Response Questions:
• 1. It’s quite easy to get an emotional response out of people when we talk about how animals are treated. This is also true of animal testing for medical research. However, many would say that animal testing has led to many medical breakthroughs that have dramatically reduced human suffering around the world. After reading the two articles above, what do you think about medical testing? Is it justified and necessary?
• Answer:
• I think animal testing is necessary for human. But I think the methods of animal medical testing have space to modify to decrease suffering and panic of those poor tested animals.In fact,I am not agree with kill animals just for testing for medical. Eventhoug animal testing for medical research is necessary. But I think that Animals are equal to human. They should be treated fairly. Although the great universe has the rule of existence. I still think human shouldn't deprive animals' lives. It is too cruel. We can find another methods to test for medical research. Mankind thus cleverness, I think and we can find a better method to do a test, not sacrifice the life of animal.

• 2. After browsing the list of “cruelty free” companies, are there any notable cosmetic companies missing from this list?
• Answer:
• Loreal and Maxfactor.

• 3. What do you think of animal testing on cosmetics? Does it matter to you what kind of animals are used (whether it’s mice, rabbits, dogs, primates, ect?). Remember that without animal testing, cosmetics may end up much more expensive and possibly have greater risk to humans.
• Answer:
• I think of animal testing on cosmetics is cruel. I like rabbits due to its cute. Therefore, I can not tolerate to see the people use rabbits as samples to test cosmetics. I support to end the animal testing on cosmetics.

Lawmakers pass overhaul of law on animal rights

1. Because of public and international pressure, a new tougher animal cruelty law was passed in 2007. What is your response to this law? Is the penalty sufficient, too strict, or too lenient? Do you think this law is enforced or is it just for show? (in other words, how often do police investigate animal cruelty crimes?). Do you have any specific suggestions for how the system could be improved?

According to the news, it said the legislature overhauled the Animal Protection Act on December 14, introducing better protection of animal rights as well as tougher fines and prison sentences for those who abuse or abandon animals. According to the amendment, anyone who abuses or causes serious harm to animals may be fined between NT$100,000 and NT$500,000 -- double the fine before the bill was passed. I think the penalty is strict. The fine is high. But I think it is hard to investigate animal crimes. If the animals was suffer abuse by its master. They can't accuse who abusd them. It needs someone to accuse the crime of abusing or abandonment when the problem occurs. Also, if the crime didn't pay the fine or can't afford the fine.How can the police deal with the problem? Just send the crime to prison for a long period?It may waste a lot of unnecessry human resources.

In addition,I thought our already this formulation law protects the animal.The animals should by the equal treatment. We can't abuse the animals, even cause serious harm to animals or kill a dog or a cat. They have the right to live in the world and be treated well. We should treat the animals friendly. I think any law or amendment should be enforced. If the government just establish the law,but not enforce it. The law is no useful. The problem still occurs.I think the government should educate the people who want to raise animals. The animals should be mark their master name when the people buy it. For exmple, the government can give the animals an ID card. The ID card sould emblem their master who raise the animal. If the raiser don't got the animals' ID card, it may be an illegality of raising aniamls. It may be fine. In conclusion, I think this amendment is good. But it should enforce it.

Assignment--“cheating” or “not cheating”

Last week we looked at some penalties for cheating at universities around the US, and you have responded to various related topics on your blogs. But we’ve skipped an important step: we haven’t talked about what cheating is and isn’t. What’s acceptable and what’s not? Take this brief survey and give your opinions.
Survey Says: In your opinion, which of the following are cheating and against the rules (Hint: not all of them are!) Write “cheating” or “not cheating” after each one. Use a different color font for your answer, so it’s easy to find.

1. Copying a few pages from Wikipedia and turning it in as your assignment.

Cheating. We have to write the assignment by our own ideas.

2. Asking someone else to write a few paragraphs of your paper for you—but you still do most of it.

In my opinion, it is OK. We can refer to others idea but we have to make the change.

3. Asking someone to proofread your assignment and fix the grammar mistakes for you.

Not Cheating. It is similar to the teacher to help the student to change the grammar.

4. Having someone read what you wrote and tell you if they can understand it or not. You take their ideas and fix what you wrote.

Not Cheating. We can refer to others idea but we have to make the change.

5. Using an article from an English language learning website by copying it and turning it in.

Cheating. We can’t copy down from the website.

6. Finding an article online that says exactly what you were thinking, so you just turn that in.

Cheating. We can’t copy down from the website.

7. Reading an article that you found online, thinking about it, and then writing a response in your own words.

That’s OK. We can’t copy down from the website. But if we make the change. Writing a response in our own words. It is OK.

8. Doing a writing assignment for one class and then turning it in for two, three, or even more classes because you are too busy to do another writing assignment.

Not OK. It is not very good action. You will lose a chance of learning.

9. Finding some writing online, but changing some of the verbs and nouns before you turn it in.

Not OK. We have to write the article by ourselves.

10. Finding a paper online, but changing all of the verbs before you turn it in.

Not OK. We had better write the article by our own ideas and words.

11. Copying an article that you found, but you don’t get caught so no one ever knows about it.

Not OK. We can’t copy an article from other.

Assignment-Questions

• 1. In your opinion or experience, why do some students chose to cheat? What are some of the different reasons students give? Do you know people who cheated in high school or college? (you can respond generally. I am not looking for names).
• Answer:
• Because they hope to earn higher scores. The greatest majority of college and university students do not hesitate to cheat in examinations just to have good school reports. The reasons that students usually give are lacks of time, the range of exam too wide, and so on. Yes, I know people who cheated in high school.

• 2. In the US if you were caught plagiarizing assignments you would immediately be given a failing grade. You could also be immediately expelled from the university for “academic dishonesty”. Since the reason you were expelled would be written on your transcripts, every other university you applied to would know you once got caught cheating. What types of punishment are generally given for cheating on exams or class work in Taiwan? Do you think these punishments are a sufficient deterrent to cheating? What do you think the punishment should be?

• Answer:
• Some school will give a failing grade to who cheat on exam or class work. The other usually punishments are declare their names publicly and inform their parents. I think these punishments are a sufficient deterrent to cheating. On the other hand, I think the campus service is another good punishment.

• 3. You will have to think creatively for your answer here: Even with the threat of severe punishment, the readings above indicate that cheating is still a problem. One reason is because students naturally assume they will get away with it and won’t get caught. Therefore, severe consequences probably won’t be enough, by themselves, to stop students from cheating (if you don’t think you will get caught, it’s easy to ignore the possible consequences). What can be done? What real solutions should be tried? Are teachers and students in perpetual race to see who can get trickier?What other solutions can be tried to stop cheating? Be specific with your suggestions.

• Answer:
• I think the teacher need to design the lecture and exam to let student cannot cheat. The teacher can re-arrange seats of students in exam. The questions of exam should be astute to let students need to study harder.

Cheating

Cheating in examinations is too common in Taiwan. Because the students want to pass the examination or get higher scores. And they didn't want to be flunk in their examinations. So, in my opionion, cheating is a common things to see. But it is not a good behavior! We should be honest on the examination. Knowledge is a power, and cheating is fool act. We shouldn't cheat in examinations.

Assignment:Plagiarism

"Plagiarism"means a piece of writing that has been copied from someone else and is presented as being your own work. It is taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own.

1. What is the penalty for plagiarism at Stanford University?

Most cases of plagiarism are detected by a faculty member or TA because the “voice” of the paper does not sound like the “voice” of the student or the paper does not address the questions asked on the assignment. The standard penalty for a first-time violation of the Honor Code is a one-quarter suspension and 40 hours of community. If the student is in his or her final quarter of enrollment the standard practice is to convert the one-quarter suspension into a two-quarter delay in the conferral of the degree.

2. What are the six possible punishments you can get at the University of Washington for plagiarism? )

The six possible punishments are as the following:
(1) Disciplinary Warning: It used verbal or written notification that the student has not met the University's standards of conduct, and that a repeated offense will result in more serious disciplinary action.
(2) Reprimand: It was a written statement censuring a student for violating University regulations, and stating that another offense will result in more serious action.
(3) Restitution: It was a requirement that the student compensate the University or other persons for damages, injuries, or losses. Failure to comply results in canceled registration and a hold on future registration.
(4) Disciplinary Probation: It was an action that places conditions on the student's continued attendance at the University, including the statement that further violation of University policies will likely result in dismissal. The Committee fixes the term and conditions of academic probation.
(5) Suspension:It was a written statement notifying a student that his or her enrollment has been suspended for a specific period of time for violating University policy. The statement includes the terms and length of the suspension, as well as the conditions for re-admittance.
(6) Dismissal: a written statement notifying a student that his or her attendance at the University has been terminated for violating University policy.

3. Google the words "Fired for plagiarism". List three examples of people who have lost their jobs for plagiarism.

On Jan. 31, The Daily Toreador's editorial board was made aware by a Texas Tech faculty member of an instance of plagiarism.Columnist Ty McDonald took direct statements, ideas and content from "Plagiarism and intellectual loot," a post on Christiaan Briggs' Weblog located at http://last-straw.net for two of his articles: "A new way to think about thoughts" and "Plagiarism is not a sin."

Because of his actions, McDonald has been removed from his position with The DT. The policy of the editorial board for a plagiarism offense is immediate termination, a printed statement informing readers of the incident and a report of the violation being sent to Student Judicial Services.

--A CBS News producer was fired and the network apologized after a Katie Couric video essay on libraries was found to be plagiarized from The Wall Street Journal.
--A former journalism professor is getting fired for plagiarism.
-- A former professor of psychology and education at Columbia University’s Teachers College who was fired following allegations of plagiarism.

4. Read the following examples of plagiarism and the action that was taken because of it at one American university. Do you agree with the punishment in these cases? If yes, why. If not, explain why.

Plagiarism is a serious offense in any forum and is also a very serious problem within our society. I think we should punish the person who was plagiarize. If she or he are a student, we can gave him or her a disciplinary Warning. To do 40 hours of community service is ok. It can gave him or her a chance to improve a mistake. But if he or she still make a plagiarism, we can't tolerate their mistakes.

Question 3: How are women portrayed in these situations?

Women were portrayed as beautiful women in television shows. Sometimes, they are beautiful, have qualities and gentleness. And sometimes they are cute or sexy. If a woman is a model, she will be portrayed as a beautiful woman or a sexy woman. For example, when they are show on the advertisement. If the merchandise is silk stockings or pure lipstick, they will be portrayed as beautiful women. They may be dressed in a short skirt and wear long hairs. Also, their age may be young. And then they can show their sexy.

However, on the news reporter set, they are dignified. They will dressed in a suit and their age may not too young. It is in order to express their profession.

In many culture, women were portrayed as a thin and beautiful women. Men were portrayed as a strong men and gentlemen. It is also gender stereotyping!

Question2: About Sexual Stereotyping

• Question2: About Sexual Stereotyping

Why are their more women in language oriented classes but far fewer in math or science? Why are their far more women secretaries but so few women doctors or engineers? Why are flight attendants all female ? What can be done to solve this problem?

• Answer:
  In our society, many female serves as the secretaries, flight attendants or the department store attendants. The reason is due to sexual stereotyping.
  
  Gender stereotyping occurs in many areas, even in schools. Girl were expected to study literature,arts or music, not manages an engineering course, math or science. Also, many people consider that a woman are tender and careful. The major reason for it is stereotyping. However, the social expectations influences their views. Parents may influences their children, and teachers may influences their students.
  
  However, how can we solve this problem. In my opinion, we have to give up our prejudice! Men and women are equally to be treated.

Question1: About Human Rights

• Question1: About Human Rights

How do you think this situation came about? Are their historical reasons this has happened? Are their cultural reasons? Other reasons? What can be done to fix this problem? (keep in mind that it is often difficult to prove that you are being underpaid).

• Answer:

In greatly part of culture, the female has been a flock despised.In addition to outside few matriarchal societies, greatly part of powers are all concentrated in the male body.In some culture, the female has no status, position and right more.

In many prehistoric cultures, women assumed a particular cultural role. In hunter-gatherer societies, women were generally the gatherers of plant foods, small animal foods, fish, and learned to use dairy products, while men hunted meat from large animals.

In more recent history, the gender roles of women have changed greatly. Traditionally, middle-class women were typically involved in domestic tasks emphasizing child care, and did not enter paid employment. For poorer women, especially working class women, this often remained an ideal,specify as economic necessity compelled them to seek employment outside the home. The occupations that were available to them were, however, lower in prestige and pay than those available to men.

Second Homework: Study humanities are waste time or not?

• The Question:

Some people think the study of humanities (classes like literature, history, philosophy) are a waste of time to study because they have no direct market- place (business) value. Other people (and schools) think a humanities education is one of the most valuable educations you can get because it teaches critical thinking, analysis, and gives people a deeper understanding of the world. What do you think?

• Answer:
  Maybe some people think the study of humanities are a boring thing.They think they can not make a profit by that. I don't think so. I consider that learning the study of humanities are valuable .
  
  In my opinion, I consider that the study of humanities are very important. We can learn many things from the stdudy of humanities. The study of materials given to us for educational purposes. Ancestors invented many things and hand down. If we learn the history of humanities, we can learn the ancestors' wisdom. We also can learn the experiences by the literature, history, and philosophy. It teaches critical thinking, comprehension, and analysis.

Assignment:Second Life (2)

Second Life is an Internet-based 3D vitual world. According to Wiki, ''Residents are the users of Second Life, and their appearance is their avatar but may be of either gender, have a wide range of physical attributes, and may be clothed or otherwise customized to produce a wide variety of humanoid and other forms.”

• I hope our school has its second life space. This space can help us to expand our imagination and life experiment. Currently, most of us spend a lot of time in MSN. In MSN we can talk with our friend on computer instantly. But MSN is just dialogue between two persons or among persons. Through Second Life, we can do more things with our friends on computer. It is more bountiful and interesting than simple MSN activities.
  
  Meanwhile, we can play different roles in Second Life space. Therefore, we can learn to do another guy in this space. For example, I am a girl, but I can become a gentleman in this space. In real life, it is impossible for me. To impersonate another person is very interesting for the resident in Second Life Space. Maybe it can give me more chances to understand the others thoughts. It is very useful for me to understand and care my families, friends and colleagues. I redeem that is a major contribution of Second Life.

Assignment:Second Life

Before I watch this video, I don't know what is "Second Life". After I watched this video, I just already know that Second Life is a virtual videogame. I felt it is so magical in the virtual videogame.

"Second Life" is in a social networking site. The users can interact in these online worlds in real time. They can do many virtual things in this videogame.They can make friends,play games,join groups, communicate with other users in this videogame, and so on.

I consider it is very convenient. It can satisfy ourselves needs and give us pleasure. But we have to know it is virtual world. It is not appropriate to spend too much time in the videogame. We should come back to real world! We should treasure our real life!

The most important life is real life! We should spend our time to get along with our family, our friends. As a student, he or she should concentrate on his or her studies. We still can do what the videogame provide us. Second life just a virtual world. There are still other meaningful things we can spend on them.