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)