W11T2 Ethical Issues Faced in Psychological Careers

I’d like to write about a career as a psychologist or therapist of mental health, because, in reality, I am fascinated by the psychological approach in other disciplines, such as statistical research, advertising and, most importantly, engineering design (including engineering system design and product design).

 

A mental health therapist’s job is simply treating patients with mental problems. Such mental problems could be as common as insomnia, or as serious as depression. Mostly, these kinds of diseases will not take people’s life, but will result in a really tough life (much tougher than NUS engineering students’). Usually, for any kind of mental disease, the patient and the doctor need to come to close contact for a span of a few months. As a normal practice, both of them will meet once a week or two weeks. In order to help the patient overcome his/her mental problem, comprehensive, deep conversations are needed. This is where the ethical problem comes out. The patient needs to “confess” everything to the doctor. Therefore, the doctor may be able to use his psychological knowledge to think of a way to prevent the patient’s condition from getting worse, and eventually overcome the problem. Here, it is essential for a doctor to be loyal to his profession. A responsible mental therapist will base all his diagnoses on the patient’s good, strictly, with no consideration of his own preferences of every perspective. Since this is impossible to restrict every doctor to following this kind of principle, in some cases, violation of ethics might happen. The only solution, in my opinion, lies in the previous education of such therapists and psychologists. In the colleges or universities, courses for psychology (and maybe sociology) majors should be carefully designed. A considerably amount of ethical education is vital in their four years’ study before they are able to go out and do practice work.

W9T2 Can you write?

It’s not easy for me, as an engineering student, to write articles.

 

First of all, bad handwriting always discourages me from writing with a pen. Therefore, the computer becomes the only tool for writing. This is probably a common phenomenon for most engineering students. You may find it surprising that we don't feel comfortable to use a pen anymore. That is very sad, isn’t it?

 

Bad handwriting could be easily solved by simply using a keyboard. There is no big problem with that. However, a more serious difficulty is how to write an article. If not trained, most engineering students may not have a clear concept of how to write an academic engineering essay. Because writing an academic essay is much too different from writing your blog diaries. When writing a diary, it would not matter if you are using the right punctuations, good transitional words or correct grammar (most of the time, broken English sentences and phrases are quite "fashionable" in blogging.). With these bad writing habits, there is no wonder why engineering students are not good at writing. In contrast, this is not the case for some other students (arts students). They also have their blogs, but these blogs are written in a different way. And their course requires them to do more in-depth reading and they might also be the type of person who likes reading and writing through out their education. (That’s probably the reason why they choose arts majors.)

 

In the future, as an engineer in real world, we do occasionally need to write different types of articles. It could be a disadvantage if we are not equipped with writing skills. You don't want to say: I am not a competent engineer because I cannot write. Therefore, the best solution is to study EG1471 and the subsequent EG1413 Critical Thinking and Writing with our heart even though it is more challenging to write an article than solve math problems. 

W7T1 Summary

Engineer the tools of scientific discovery (NAE, 2008) – summary

 

The public may draw a line between engineers and scientists. In their point of view, scientists are people who do their jobs, essentially, with their mind; in contrary, engineers, with their hand. However, the fact is, in almost every major research project, we can see scientists and engineers are working together.

 

In biological researches, the biologists have discovered very little about genes. The basic obstacle is the current imaging tools are not good enough to enable biologists to see clearly on the gene-scale. Engineers can help invent new forms of microscopes to sharpen biologists’ eyes. What’s more, the bioengineering discipline known as “synthetic biology“ may manufacture new generation of biological chemicals to be used in areas vary from fuel supply to medicines. In biological psychology researches, the engineers can integrate their engineering knowledge to produce a set of standard methods for studying our brain, perception, learning, memory, emotions and our thinking and reasoning skills.

 

In the exploration of the universe, the scientists even rely more on engineers. Engineers are responsible for building the spacecrafts capable of probing the cosmos, sending astronauts for long-distance space travel. These are all obstacles that engineers must be ready to face. Because of engineers’ efforts, scientists would be able to carry out space experiments, take measurements and do researches. However, the engineers’ work is never reaching the end. They will continuously be working on better, safer, and cheaper ways to explore the space.

 

Apart from exploring space, the ultimate physics question is whether there exists a single law that encompasses all physics in a unified mathematical framework. Engineers are trying their best to devise better atom smashers, with which physicists would be able to explore even wider realms that they have never reached before. Engineering and physicists are also collaborating to develop new quantum computers, which could dramatically change the world.

 

In conclusion, there is no line between scientists and engineers; they will be working together in order to make the world a better place. 

Reference

 

National Academy of Engineering (NAE). (2008). Engineer the tool of scientific discovery. Retrieved September 27, 2008, from http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/8965.aspx

writing assignment 1 - 4E

Writing Assignment 1

 

People resist new technology because it is expensive, unnecessary and difficult to use. First, the latest products are generally much more expensive than most people can afford. Take the 3G iphone as an example. Involving all the latest technologies, it is sold at $699 in Singapore. This is not affordable for most people, considering some people’s monthly salary is only $1000. On the other hand, other mobile phones’ prices vary from $200 to $400. During some promotions, customers can even get a good mobile phone for free. Thus, expensive new technology is not worth the price. Second, the new technology is unnecessary for the majority. For instance, the technologies involved in the latest mobile phones are 3G high speed networks, Bluetooth data transmission technology, high resolution imaging, and GPS. However, the essential functions of a mobile phone, namely, sending SMS and making phone calls, remain unimproved. Another new technology has been applied in laptops, which enables users to write naturally on the LCD screen. Apart from the fact that writing on the screen is actually very harmful to the screen itself, for most users, this natural writing technology is not necessary at all. The mouse and keyboard will still be the primary input tools in most circumstances. Furthermore, the price will increase again for the unnecessary technology. Third, to some extent, multifunctions also imply difficulty of use. For instance, as a result of multifunctions, some smart phones have up to 40 buttons on their key pad; this is probably twice as many as those on a conventional mobile phone. This compact key pad will definitely affect the convenience of using the phones. What is more inconvenient is that the customers will have a thick user’s guide to read before they can use the phones. Indeed, many new technologies are applied in the latest products, which turn to be more expensive and less user-friendly. Moreover, the technologies do not make most people’s life easier. As a result, people are not interested in using these new products.

W5T2: Sentence Fragments

I think one of the most common grammar mistakes that a Chinese English-learner tends to make is sentence fragments. Chinese and English are different, sometimes opposite, from many perspectives. The Chinese articles, especially literatures, contain fragments which are not considered as grammar mistakes, and they are tolerable. (People even say fragments could present the beauty of language from another perspective.) Besides, the meaning of sentence fragments is also defined differently in these two languages. While studying and writing English articles, we need to pay special attention to sentence fragments. Normally, we make this mistake when using the subordinators and coordinators to connect two related meanings. For example, “I am not going to play basketball tonight, because I need to submit my biodiversity essay tomorrow morning.” I tend to replace the comma with a full stop. Because it is perfectly understandable and it is not a mistake in Chinese. This is the typical circumstance that a Chinese student would make a mistake. Most of us understand clearly what a complete sentence is, but we should notice that when we join two complete sentences, the dependent clause is not longer a separate sentence. It must be connected with the main sentence by a comma. So, keep this in mind, whenever you are using a subordinator or a coordinator, don’t use period before words like because, but, although, since. Because this is possibly a sentence fragment!

I have found some relevant exercise on sentence fragments, which is attached below. 

The sentences below appeared in papers written by students. Act as their editor, marking a C if the sentences in the group are all complete and an F if any of the sentences in the group is a fragment. Could you tell these writers why the fragments are incomplete sentences?

____ 1. Then I attended Morris Junior High. A junior high that was a bad experience.

____ 2. The scene was filled with beauty. Such as the sun sending its brilliant rays to the earth and the leaves of various shades of red, yellow, and brown moving slowly in the wind.

____ 3. He talked for fifty minutes without taking his eyes off his notes. Like other teachers in that department, he did not encourage students' questions.

____ 4. Within each group, a wide range of features to choose from. It was difficult to distinguish between them.

____ 5. A few of the less serious fellows would go into a bar for a steak dinner and a few glasses of beer. After this meal, they were ready for anything.

____ 6. It can be really embarrassing to be so emotional. Especially when you are on your first date, you feel that you should be in control.

____ 7. The magazine has a reputation for a sophisticated, prestigious, and elite group of readers. Although that is a value judgment and in circumstances not a true premise.

____ 8. In the seventh grade every young boy goes out for football. To prove to himself and his parents that he is a man.

____ 9. She opened the door and let us into her home. Not realizing at the time that we would never enter that door in her home again.

____10. As Christmas grows near, I find myself looking back into my childhood days at fun-filled times of snowball fights. To think about this makes me happy.

____11. Making up his mind quickly. Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife. Hoping she would accept his apology.

____12. They were all having a good time. Until one of Joe's oldest and best friends had a little too much to drink.

____13. Although it only attained a speed of about twelve miles an hour. My old rowboat with its three-horsepower motor seemed like a high-speed job to me.

____14. With my brother standing by my side, I reached for the pot handle. Tilting the pot way too much caused the boiling water to spill.

____15. The small, one-story houses are all the same size and style. With no difference except the color.

____16. Being a friend of mine like he was when we first joined the soccer team. Together we learned a lot.

This exercise is retrieved from the this website:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_fragEX1.html

The answers are attached below:

F 1. Then I attended Morris Junior High. A junior high that was a bad experience. (dependent clause)

F 2. The scene was filled with beauty. Such as the sun sending its brilliant rays to the earth and the leaves of various shades of red, yellow, and brown moving slowly in the wind. (dependent clause)

C 3. He talked for fifty minutes without taking his eyes off his notes. Like other teachers in that department, he did not encourage students' questions.

F 4. Within each group, a wide range of features to choose from. It was difficult to distinguish between them. (no main verb)

C 5. A few of the less serious fellows would go into a bar for a steak dinner and a few glasses of beer. After this meal, they were ready for anything.

C 6. It can be really embarrassing to be so emotional. Especially when you are on your first date, you feel that you should be in control.

F 7. The magazine has a reputation for a sophisticated, prestigious, and elite group of readers. Although that is a value judgment and in circumstances not a true premise. (dependent clause)

F 8. In the seventh grade every young boy goes out for football. To prove to himself and his parents that he is a man. (dependent clause)

F 9. She opened the door and let us into her home. Not realizing at the time that we would never enter that door in her home again. (dependent clause)

C 10. As Christmas grows near, I find myself looking back into my childhood days at fun-filled times of snowball fights. To think about this makes me happy.

F 11. Making up his mind quickly. Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife. Hoping she would accept his apology. (dependent clause)

F 12. They were all having a good time. Until one of Joe's oldest and best friends had a little too much to drink. (dependent clause)

F 13. Although it only attained a speed of about twelve miles an hour. My old rowboat with its three-horsepower motor seemed like a high-speed job to me.

C 14. With my brother standing by my side, I reached for the pot handle. Tilting the pot way too much caused the boiling water to spill.

F 15. The small, one-story houses are all the same size and style. With no difference except the color. (dependent clause)

F 16. Being a friend of mine like he was when we first joined the soccer team. Together we learned a lot. (dependent clause)

W2T1: The Expanding World of Engineers

The Expanding World of Engineers

First paragraph:
In today’s world, systematic and critical thinking minds attract a premium. In the Singapore context, this is a direct result of an engineering tertiary education which, through its curriculum design and pedagogical approach, trains the mind to systematically analyze complex sets of information and to apply systems thinking in designing solutions.


It is a truth universally acknowledged that, in today’s world, systematic and critical thinking attracts a premium, especially, in engineers’ world.

People always think of engineers as skyscraper builder, cruise ship designer, and offshore tunnel digger. I would say that engineers are real-world problem solver. Whatever kind of problem occurs, the best solution is to hand it over to the engineers. That’s why systematic and critical thinking skills is a key part in engineering courses, which would enable engineers to quickly identify the cause and find the breakpoint from where the solution could be drawn.

Systematical and critical thinking skill is not to be taught directly (e.g. EG1413 Critical Thinking and Writing, etc), but, otherwise, gained through what we call interdisciplinary study.

Let’s take a look at the crisis that we are, or going to be, facing in the world: air pollution, rising of sea level, shortage of energy sources, and booming of population. These may not seem to be typical engineering problems (simply because no buildings or bridges are built), however, eventually, the measures which are taken to solve these problems are actually implemented by engineers. Suppose if the engineers, the implementers, do not have the basic background knowledge about the atmosphere, he does not even know the ratio of hydrogen and oxygen that he need in order to make a fire at the altitude of 8km. Science knowledge is required for engineers. There is a saying goes that two good engineers make a good scientist, which means, apparently, one engineer is half a scientist.

Still, possessing certain knowledge of chemistry, physics and computing is not quite enough for engineers in today’s world. More critical issues might pop up if they are not aware of ethical principles. As a good engineer, one should have completed personal value systems when he takes up this profession. Used oxygen cylinders are not to be discarded on Mount Everest, for example. A good value could always be used to testify the decision made. The justified value system, or ethical awareness, could be acquired in the process of learning and reading more humanistic books. (This is why I am so fascinated in psychology and philosophy.) Exactly, during the process of reading, more critical thinking would be inspired.