Prep101 - Free Writing Sample Feedback (summer 2011)

[anitarama]

Score: 4.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): This was a well-explained and fitting example, though I would usually advise against using personal experiences and first-person narration unless you have to.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): This would have been a stronger essay had you used two separate examples.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Your resolution criteria was good.

 

When a one tells a lie to one’s enemy the lie is usually intended to cause harm. This liar will not care whether or not the enemy eventually realizes that they have been lied to because their relationship is not valued by either or them. However, lies between friends are a more complex issue. One may lie to thier friend in order to protect them from a truth. For example, my grandmother is 93 years old and is struggles with depression so my family and I do everything we can to keep her in good spirits so that she can stay healthy. Recently, one of her grandsons was injured in a car accident and was in critical condition for a period of time. It was difficult for us to keep her in the dark about what was happening with her grandson because she had a right to visit him, but we feared that in her mental state it would be unsafe for her to become upset. In my grandmother’s case the truth of her grandson’s condition would have been more harmful to her than the fact that we were lying to her.

 

Another complication arises when the reality of a lie is found out. After the grandson recovered, my grandmother eventually learned that we had not told her about her grandson’s condition and she was quite upset with us. She felt that we did not respect her enough to tell her and our relationship with her was weakened. The shortlived fear that she would have experienced had she learned that her grandson was in danger would have been harmful to her, but the long-term distrust that resulted between her and my family was a much greater harm.

 

Whether or not a lie between friends will be more harmful than the truth depends on whether or not the lie will be discovered for what it is. In general a between friends is done with good intentions and so a person will lie to keep their friend from being hurt by the reality of the truth. A family may lie to their grandmother about her grandson’s ill health because the shock could cause her health to decline as well. However, if a lie is revealed for what it is it usually harms the relationship between the liar and the person who was temporarily decieved. Thus a lie which is meant to prevent a friend from getting hurt will prevent harm only until it is discovered for what it is.

[anitarama]

Score: 5.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Very good introduction and example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): You have explained your examples well, but your essay would be improved if you used more specific and detailed examples rather than universal ones.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Solid resolution criteria.

 

Lies are often less harmful than the truth.

 

Describe a specific situation in which the truth might be less harmful than lies. Discuss what you think determines whether or not lies are less harmful than the truth.

 

Truth refers to conveying information in the most accurate and precise manner as possible such that it highly reflects the reality. In contrast, lie refers to distorting information such that it is not a clear reflection of reality. Truth and lies play a major role in our moral thinking. In most modern societies, it is believed that adults over the age of 18 are capable of proper moral judgment. As such, they are believed to be capable of making a distinction between lies and truth and are better able to choose the right course of action under certain circumstances. Moreover, some believe that lies are often less harmful than truth. This is especially true if it is told to help others or to minimize harm to others. For example, if a patient with psychiatric disorder is admitted to a hospital or institution and his/her family members refuse to visit, it may be in his/her best interests for the care providers to say that the family was busy rather than letting the patient know of their resentment towards him/her. It is also important to note that such a lie is told to ensure that the patient does not get depressed or lose the will to live, which would hinder his/her recovery. Furthermore, this lie is being told on a very small scale that only involves one individual and his/her family.

 

In contrast, at times, truth can be less harmful than lies. This is more explicit in the case of politics where it may be better for a politician to speak the truth and be transparent about important political matters. Politicians and other government officials play a major role of representing the voices of their constituents. As such, it is expected for them to be truthful to those they represent. Constituents expect politicians and government officials to be accountable, transparent and truthful. As such, constituents have the right to know about important political matters that will inevitably affect their lives. Thus, in order to ensure that optimal decisions are made within the field of politics, it is the duty of the politicians to inform citizens by telling them the truth. Therefore, by telling the truth to the citizens, it may be possible to come up with better solutions to the problem, thereby truth can be less harmful than lies. Such cases are quite apparent in most democratic countries like Canada and the United States where a huge significance is placed on the voices of citizens. Moreover, this is a situation with a large scope since it involves a huge group of individuals as opposed to the one explained in the example of the psychiatric patient.

 

In conclusion, lies are often less harmful when they are told with the intention to help others or to minimize harms to others and is one that is told on a limited scope (i.e. to one or a few individuals only). This was clearly illustrated by the example of a psychiatric patient admitted to a hospital or institution and her family not wanting to visit her. The lie that the family was busy rather than the truth that they do not wish to see this patient is appropriate in this case as it is being told only to one individual on the basis of good intention. On the other hand, truth can be less harmful than lies when it involves a large group of people and revolves around the situation where one is expected to tell the truth. This was clearly illustrated in the case a politician and other government officials who by the nature of their job are expected to be accountable and transparent to the constituents they represent. Truth in this case can be less harmful than lies as it can lead to better solutions to sociopolitical issues with the help of the citizens.

[anitarama]

Score: 4.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): This was a good example, but though you spent some time setting up the backdrop, it would have been improved had you further gone on to explain the benefits of the lie told.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Good example. Try to use more specific and detailed examples, such as a certain foreign aid situaton where his happened.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Strong resolution.

 

Lies are often less harmful than the truth

 

Lies have protective properties. Often, the rationale for telling lies is to protect loved ones, and preserve the trust and relationship loved ones have for the person telling the lies. For instance, countries experiencing states of deprivations such as famine and drought receive humanitarian aids from foreign non- government agencies. In most cases some of the workers representing these agencies are sent to these famine and drought stricken nations to distribute the donations to the most vulnerable people (children and senoirs) who need it the most. It is a usual occurrence for some of these subsidized aids to be snatched at gunpoint from these foreign workers on their way to deliver it the vulnerable people. In this case, the foreign workers returning empty handed to the vulnerable people may lie that the provisions had not yet arrived from their foreign suppliers and hope should be maintained for it will surely arrive.

 

On the other hand, lies can also present detrimental effects on people when selfish personal gains are the motive for the lies. An example is when officials assigned the task of distributing and allotting aids (shelter and food) to victims of a natural disaster such as earthquake and floods falsify reports by inflating the actual number of beneficiaries so that the excess supplies could be hoarded for sale at extravagant prices, permitting unlimited access to a favoured group of people or allowing access to donations in exchange for sexual favours. In this case the intended recepients who place their trust in these dubious officials stand a risk of starvation and health conditions resulting from the deprivation.

 

So, what determines harmfulness of a lie depends on whether they are told for selfless reasons for protecting the people the lies are made to or the illegitimate private gains of the persons fabricating the lie as in the selfish deceptive officials who curtailed access to donations to the intended victims. In the case of the foreign aid workers, though the beneficiaries and the humanitarian workers would wait longer for the next supplies to arrive, suspicions that the humanitarian workers hoarded the provisions for themselves and the consequent distrust and plausible chaos amongst the workers and beneficiaries is avoided due to their unawareness of the truth. But in the case of the deceitful officials, their lies fed to the suppliers of aids were for their own benefit rather than the interest of the victims.

[anitarama]

Thanks Anita! What is the difference between a 5 and a 6? What could I do to earn that extra 0.5? Is it the overall writing style?

 

I would say that getting a 6/6 is quite difficult and often times depends on the luck of the prompt you draw. Your essay would have to really stand out from the others not only in terms of the examples chosen but also the writing style.

 

The best advice I could give you is to try and come up with unique examples. When markers read so many essays in a row they like to see novel ideas rather than the same typical arguments to prove the point in the same way.

 

The difference between a 5.5 to a 6 is not all that substantial, so I would not worry about it too much.

[anitarama]

Thanks so much Anita! Just a question, how does the 6-point scale translate to the MCAT letter grade? What would a 4.5 be? Around an O/P?

 

I beleve a 4.5 would be around a P or Q.

[anitarama]

Once again, I apologize for the delay this week.

 

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Describe a specific situation in which a popular television show might not reveal more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper would. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Instructions

In 30 minutes, write an essay for the prompt and instructions above and post your essay in this thread.

 

Use the Notepad accessory on your computer so word processing functions are turned off.

 

Note: Do not read other essays replying to this prompt on the Forum until after you have written and submitted your own essay.

 

Scorer

Anita Ramakrishna is a medical student at McMaster University

 

Deadline

11:59pm Thursday August 18.

 

Essays posted after the deadline will not be scored but a new Prompt will be posted on Friday August 19.

[ecobeco]

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Describe a specific situation in which a popular television show might not reveal more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper would. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

"Get crazy! Get wild! Let's do it get loud! If you wanna have fun let's do something crazy!" This is the opening theme to the television show that is sweeping the nation "Jersey Shore". Based on the lives of eight Italian-Americans, the show documents their wild escapades at various nightclubs during the summer. It is surprising that it has received such high ratings and has become MTV's most popular show in history. Seeing as there are a plethora of reality TV shows today, this is no easy feat. It's popularity among TV viewers across the nation stems from the fact that it deals a lot with partying and getting intoxicated - a rather common occurence among the young adults of today's society. It is rather shocking that so many people on the street can reiterate the details of the previous episode, but cannot, for the life of them, speak about the recent atrocities committed in Oslo which resulted in over 80 people being murdered. Violence has become so commonplace and desensitization has reached the point where people are no longer focused on events happening around the world. Instead, many youths today, which represent the majority of the population, choose to stay ignorant of such topics as the approaching oil crisis or the slow withdrawal into yet another recession. Events occuring on another continent may just as well occur on another planet as far as the majority of today's youth are concerned. Simply stated, if it does not directly concern or coincide with one's interests, people today merely ignore the world around them. There has been a slow shift in recent years academically; less students are going to university and pursuing higher levels of education and more students are dropping out with just a high school diploma. Jersey Shore serves as the perfect example as to where the interest of the nation's youths lie and can show an outsider just how much priority drinking and partying takes over knowledge and interest in world news today.

 

Although the minds of many young people today revolve around partying, there are quite a handful of people who still dream of achieving success and pursue their careers with the utmost determination. The effects of TV shows such as Jersey Shore are not so apparent in European countries where the goal of many young students is to gain admission to esteemed universities in order to make a living. The recent outbreak of riots across England have shown the world just how much people desire to get an education. Many rioters are in fact students who have either been denied admission to school or who simply cannot afford to pay for further education at the post-secondary and graduate levels. It would be quite safe to conclude that the primary concern of these students is not the pursuit of pleasure, but rather more rewarding aspects of life such as receiving a quality education. That is not to say that people in England do not watch Jersey Shore but this reflects the fact that students overseas treat reality TV shows as just that - something to watch to pass the time on their break from studying.

 

Whether or not a popular TV show reveals more about a nation than the newspaper in that nation can be determined by the mindset of the people who watch that show. Viewers in North America have reacted to Jersey Shore in such a way that it dictates a lot of the decisions that they make. For example, it is very easy to find people on social networking sites, such as Facebook, who have named theirselves after the characters of Jersey Shore and developed the mindset of the show - going clubbing every night and drinking - when there are far more rewarding activites to take part in. Many residents in Italy are probably shocked to see their compatriots make utter fools of themselves on nation TV. One can find articles in the Italian gazzeto that ridicules such TV shows and this goes to show that despite the popularity of Jersey Shore, the Italian people remain steadfast in their values and morals and emphasis is still placed upon doing well in school and maturing into a hard-working citizen.

[tsuki_123]

Thank you for your insight towards an ideal score, Anita! Here is my next essay.

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Task 1:

 

Let us take a moment to consider what defines a nation. The possibilities from where we can begin are endless, but in order to assess the above statement, what should be revealed about a nation shall be defined by its issues or its physical appearance. The above statement urges that popular television shows may reveal more about a nation than that of a newspaper. This statement is agreeable in an aesthetic sense. In “How I Met Your Mother”, an extremely well-recognized American television show, the main character Ted experiences much of the life a regular American would experience as they journey through college. There goes a famous saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Motion pictures, then, must be worth millions. The act of filming the scenes in television shows such as How I Met Your Mother definitely reveal not only the lifestyle of the individual in the story, but also gives the viewer a breath-taking peek into the scenery of the American territory. Hence in this situation, a popular television does reveal much more about a country’s culture than a newspaper, which may describe a nation in words but is rendered less effective for this example.

 

Task 2:

 

Nonetheless, television shows do a great job in replicating the lifestyle of an American as well as showcasing the country itself, but the shows are less effective in revealing the less tangible elements of a nation. The New York Times, for example, has their own editorial column of which many authors display their opinions on recurring issues. An example would be a column designated specifically towards politics and how President Obama is coping with the economic downfalls in the U.S. The method through which newspapers convey their ideas is through effective word usage by a genuine viewpoint of an individual. Hence, the level of genuineness in an editorial column of a newspaper such as the New York Times reveal more about America’s viewpoints on political, economical, and social issues than a less-real television show. The opinions of Ted in "How I Met Your Mother" may be true, but are nonetheless fictional and stated from a written script. The “real deal” can only be provided through real opinions and real people when the values in question are intangible. Therefore, in some situations television shows are less revealing about a country’s cultural values, especially when considering the level of genuineness.

 

Task 3:

 

Whether an idea about a country is conveyed through showcase or through opinion-conveyance, it all comes down to the same element. Both methods seek to portray a country and its regular means of operation, but do so in very different ways. Hence, in situations where revealing the aesthetic elements or immediate lifestyles in a country are of importance, television shows are much more effective in doing the job. In situations where serious issues regarding the nation are debated, a television show is less effective than a newspaper to convey the message. Nonetheless, both are methods through which a foreign audience can seek to learn more, whether it be about a country's aesthetics or about their underlying issues.

[pacemaker]

Thanks Anita!

 

I always seen to have problems coming up with specific examples for prompts that are moral or ethics related since it is a more personal/individually varying topic. Do you have any tips for that?

 

Score: 5.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Very good introduction and example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): You have explained your examples well, but your essay would be improved if you used more specific and detailed examples rather than universal ones.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Solid resolution criteria.

[gotlactose]

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Describe a specific situation in which a popular television show might not reveal more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper would. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Although the media serves to entertain and inform the population, it is also a representation of the population that is serves. The general values, goals, and beliefs shared within a population can be seen through the various outlets of media, such as television shows, newspapers, radio shows, etc. Under certain situations, some forms of media better portray the the values of the population better than others do. For example, the popular television show American Idol is a televised game show that narrows out one individual from a large pool of candidates as the singing idol of the audience. The popularity of the show reflects the emphasis of values that the target audience holds because the audience is the driving force behind the production of the show and the selection of the candidates. In this case, American Idol is most popular with the age group between 12 to 24 years. This means that American Idol best represents the values, goals, and beliefs of the youth population because they are the main consumers and driving force behind American Idol.

 

While American Idol serves to represent the nation's younger population, the show and other media outlets targeted at the youth does not adequately represent the entire nation. A newspaper editorial is a better demonstration of the goals, values, and beliefs of the older population. Once such example is the focus on one's health. The older population is more likely to be more concerned with their healths because they will experience health problems with their age. Dr. Sanja Gupta has an editorial column in the Times Magazine, which focuses on long term health issues such as the consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids. Since the older population is the audience who is more concerned with their long term health, they are the primary readers of Dr. Gupta's column. This relationship between Dr. Gupta's column and his elderly audience reflects upon the goals, beliefs, and values of the older population, a different subsection of the nation.

 

Therefore, the age of the population is the determinant of which media outlet, either a popular telvision show or the editorial column of a newspaper, better reflects the people of interest. For age groups that are younger than the rest of the nation, an entertainment outlet such as American Idol will better reflect the opinions of the young population because they are the ones that the show caters to the most. On the other hand, newspaper editorial columns tend to seek the older populations because they are more likely to be the readers of the newspapers as opposed to the youth. Since both entertainment and informative outlets would be nothing without its audience, they reflect the opinions of their audience in order to cater to their desired interests and get their attention.

 

Thank you!

[Alchemist11]

Thanks a lot!

----

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

In order to analyze the meaning of the above statement, the keywords "popular", "reveals" and "editorial" must be analyzed. A popular television show refers to a show that many people with televisions choose to watch. If people enjoy the content they are watching or find it enlightening, there will inevitably be a large amount of viewers watching the program, rendering it "popular". By using the term "reveals" the sentence is talking about the discussion and discovery of information pertaining to a nation. A television show that is revealing would encompass the release of significant information about relevant national issues. An editorial is an opinion piece often found in the newspaper. It should be noted that the opinions of an individual writing an editorial may or may not be shared with the majority of people, and that only one person writes an editorial. Overall, the statement is asserting that a television show many people watch discusses more national information than an opinion based article in the newspaper. An example of this would be a political show which aims to discuss matters in the news by bringing a variety of guests with differing opinions. This could be a show that airs on a news network such as CBC or the BBC, where the main goal is to provide information to viewers. Consider an editorial whose primary goal is to persuade readers to join the author's viewpoint; for example, an opinion on the recent health care reform in the US. It is clear that this biased type of writing would not fairly represent both sides of the issue, and therefore not be as revealing, as listening to the opinions of people on a news network. In this situation, where the main goal of the TV show is discussion and discovery of information, the show can reveal more about a nation than an editorial page.

 

However, not all popular television shows are effective at revealing information about a nation compared to an editorial. Consider the satire of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. These individuals have popular TV shows that many people watch, and they discuss politics. However, the nature of their television shows, while being truthful most of the time, is still comedy. They are trying to get laughs, and therefore they may not address both sides of an issue if it would not elicit audience enjoyment and laughter. An editorial which fairly discusses both sides of an issue and their own opinion may be more revealing in this case than a satirical TV show. The main point of an editorial is not laughter; it is information and persuation, in which case the editorial may be better suited by revealing pertinent information and discussing it.

 

In order to determine whether a popular television show reveals more about a nation than an editorial page, the primary goal of the television program needs to discussed. A television show which may be found on a news network such as the BBC or CBC is focused on generating and discussing information about topics in the news and about the nation. In this case, to achieve their goal the network must fairly and reasonably discuss information and this will be quite revealing. On the other hand, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert among others are focused on satire, thus they may not discuss both sides of an issue and adequately reveal much about the nation at hand. Overall, a television show can reveal more about a nation than an editorial page if the aim of the show is to provide fair, accurate information. Conversely, if a television show's primary goal is comedy or satire, they will be far less likely to reveal much about a nation, in comparison to an editorial page that is well written and fair.

[amalwa12]

Thanks yet again Anita! Really appreciate your time and comments

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

Much of our knowledge about the world comes to us through media such as newspaper and television. Sometimes we are making impressions about the world, or a certain nation, just by watching a regular television show for entertainment. Popular television shows today are those that have captured a wide audience because of some gripping factor, examples being reality shows, comedies and dramas. It seems sometimes that these television shows tell us more about a country than the editorial page of a newspaper does, that is the opinion page of a newspaper conveying the general stance held by the editors of that particular paper. An example of a popular television show that reveals a great deal about the life of a high school American is the musical comedy-drama show “Glee” that exaggerates various facets of the high school years of a teenager. Through its overly-done drama, we come across many of the problems that the young generation of Americans face, such as clique-forming, bullying, weight problems, sexual relationships and their consequences, etc. The young generation of a nation is its future and that is the exact group of people that are showcased on this drama. “Glee” may be a dramatic version of high school life in the United States, but it brings out many of the pressing issues in a nation, therefore revealing more about that nation.

 

On the other hand, sometimes the editorial page of a newspaper will reveal more about a nation, especially in terms of current, heated debates. Take for example, the editorial page of Toronto daily “Globe and Mail” which has the saying “The Globe’s take on issues that matter to Canadians”. In essence, the editorial page will contain opinionated topics about current issues that are being faced in Canada, such as political elections, or public protests. Someone who wants to learn about these issues can read that page. Furthermore, letters to the editor in response to these opinionated pieces are often published so a reader can learn about the current events from more than one perspective (editors as well as audience). Therefore, the editorial page of a newspaper can also reveal a lot about a nation.

 

What determine when a popular television show reveals more about a nation compared to a newspaper’s editorial page is the exact nature of the information that is revealed. In particular, with popular television shows such as “Glee”, the audience get an insight into societal trends in a country, such as high school life, problems teenagers face, health issues, parental styles, liberal/conservative lifestyles, etc. On the other hand, a newspaper’s editorial page gives the audience a take on current events in order to increase readership and provoke responses. The ultimate difference between these two styles of communication is basically the type of issues about a nation that each of them address – one addresses general societal trends in the country, while the other address specific current events that are going on in the country. Both methods of communication are a window into the nation.

[Kovah]

Popular television, usually dramas or sit-coms which the whole family can enjoy, are designed for people who simply want to relax and enjoy the show without being challenged on any particular controversies that they face in real life. These shows often convey some kind of moral such as the value of respect or kindness by depicting a drama which offers the perspectives of different characters who are dealing with some sort of challenge. In this way popular television shows reveal more about a nation and the ideas it agrees upon than does the editorial page of a newspaper where the editor and members of the community offer their opinions on controversial issues. For example, the Cosby Show is a popular American sit-com which has been enjoyed by families for decades. In one episode, Mr. Cosby’s son Theo struggles with difficulties between him and his girlfriend. Through humor and patience Mr. Cosby encourages Theo to persevere and show love to his girlfriend. Thus, this episode of the show helped its veiwers to relax and enjoy the show by affirming in their minds the value of perseverance and love: traits that are accepted by most Americans. This popular television show reveals universally appreciated values of Americans.

 

On the other hand, the editorial page of a newspaper rarely contains an article which simply emphasizes an idea that everyone agrees upon. This page is meant to explain the opinion of the newspaper on a controversial topic such as a political issue. For example, in Ontario Canada, the local newspaper has published letters to the editor about the issue of whether the local government should replace several in-town schools with one out-of-town school. Some argue that the new school would be more economical, but others place an emphasis on the importance of keeping schools inside the town for the sake of convenience. In this case the editorial page of the newspaper discussed a controversial issue where different citizens had different opinions within the same nation.

 

Whether or not a popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper depends on how universally accepted an idea is held by that nation. The popular American television series “The Cosby Show”, emphasized ideas that are accepted by most Americans such as respect, love, and perseverance because viewers watch television in order to enjoy a unique drama which can simply help them to relax by affirming their beliefs. However, when a consumer is interested in learning about a controversial topic, such as whether the local government should replace several in-town schools with one out-of-town school which is more economical, the editorial page of a newspaper is a better source of information because it is where opinions are expressed on controversial ideas. Popular television reveals a great deal about the universally appreciated ideal of a nation, but information on controversial issues being discussed within a nation can be found more easily on the editorial page of a newspaper.

[natalie]

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

Popular television shows are a showcase of our society's need to be entertained; whether through comedy, drama, action or reality TV, the masses seem to have a universal inherent desire to watch and identify with this media. The trends in television are often difficult to track, or even identify, at any given time, but any show that experiences a significant surge in popularity is usually well-liked by a very wide variety of audiences. Television shows are designed to attract the greatest number of viewers. Whatever the majority want to see, is what will continue to be aired.

 

The realm of educational television shows has recently gained popularity as people seem to appreciate intelligent stimulation more and more. Shows like Discovery Channel's Mythbusters have gained massive followings with topics often centered around scientific discussion and explanation, especially Newtonian physics and chemistry (as much as it concerns highly exothermic reactions). It is clear when watching episodes of Mythibusters, however, that any science they use is always explained thoroughly, usually with the use of simple but effective diagrams, and in easy-to-follow layman's terms. Any technical jargon is explicitly defined, and the viewer is assumed to have no background in science beyond middle school. In this case, the television program shows that the general population is interested in science, so long as it is presented in ways they can understand. The editorial page of a newspaper presents opinions, usually regarding political or social issues. While there are millions, if not billions, of people "tuning-in" to watch television each evening, there are comparitively very few people reading the editorial page of their local or national newspapers. This is because the editorial page represents the view of a few individuals, and is often presented as a rebuttal to the current opinion of the masses. Television, on the other hand, is designed to appeal to the widest range of people.

 

conversely, there are television shows far more popular than Mythbusters, which, one must logically assume means that they are more appealing to the masses. Jersey Shore, for example, showcases the party-centered life of a group of twenty-somethings. Most people that enjoy the show would quickly defend their interest as only a form of entertainment, not because they can identify with the characters or their lifestyle. While people may desire to expand their knowledge and learn more about the world around them, reflected in the popularity of Mythbusters, we must know that the masses do not aspire to model their lifestyles after the characters of Jersey Shore. In this case, if asked to give their opinions, most regular Jersey Shore viewers presented with the editorial page from their local newspaper would probably fine one or more editorial writers whose point of view, they felt, was a much better representation of their own than any of the characters of Jersey shore.

 

We know then that popular television shows can gain popularity because people identify with the characters or story, they feel that they gain something from watching the show, or because they find it comical or amusing, among other reasons. If a show gains popularity because the scenes are purely entertaining to the masses, but they would not condone or partake in the behaviour of the characters, a statement true of most reality TV shows, then it must not reveal the feelins of a nation more than the editorial page of a newspaper. If, however, the television show is enjoyed and appreciated by its audience because they can identify with the characters or because they learn from the episodes, then it is likely that it is a much better representation of the views of a nation than the individual opinions of an editorial page.

[Erokay]

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Mass media of a nation reveals many things about a nation ranging from its culture to its political priorities and landscape. Things like television (TV) and newspaper are representations of a nation because they are catered towards its citizens, and in order to appeal to them, the media has to be able to relate to the population. In doing so, the media inevitably represents aspects of the nation which can help an outsider understand the socioeconomic context of the nation. A TV show usually reveals how people interact with each and more so the social background of a nation, in comparison to a newspaper. This is because culture is something that is deeply embedded in a citizen’s everyday life and how he/she interacts with people at home or at work. Therefore, a TV show, which usually attempts to link to the people’s everyday life, in an effort to increase viewership represents a nation’s culture more than anything else. For example, Korean variety shows reveal that celebrities are an important part of the culture, as many shows are aimed to introducing the celebrities outside of their stage persona; the celebrities are in a sense ‘idols’ to their nation and brings the whole nation together – a cultural tradition for the nation. However, this information could not have been extrapolated from an editorial page of a newspaper because people would hardly submit their encouraging opinions about a celebrity to a newspaper, unless a scandal, an extraordinary circumstance, was involved.

 

However, there are instances when an editorial newspaper reveals more about a nation than a popular TV show. A newspaper is a venue for people to learn about what is going on in the country. Consequently, in an editorial page of a newspaper people express their opinions about the political policies that the government has enacted. In such the editorial represents more of the nation’s political opinion, and thus represents to some extent the political stability of a nation. For example, in a popular Canadian newspaper, such as The Globe and Mail, one can find the citizens’ opinions regarding the government’s decision to raise interest rates. They express their approval or disapproval of new laws being made in the country, such as the new law which bans cell phones while driving. An outsider can use this to judge whether the citizens are content with their government or not, and this gives an indication as to the overall political stability in the country, which is a function of economic stability among other factors.

 

All in all, mass media allows someone foreign to a country to learn about the nation. However, different media types represent different aspects of a nation. A TV show is more helpful in revealing the cultural identity of a nation: does a nation comes together under the umbrella of celebrities, like in Korea, or under religion? However, a popular TV show, designed to connect to the citizens’ daily life rarely gives insight into the current political and economic conditions of the country. A newspaper editorial would be more useful for understanding the economic and political background of a country, as people use the newspaper to learn about the affairs of the country and express their opinions regarding the governments. This is illustrated by the editorial section of The Globe and Mail, where one can often find criticism regarding the government’s new laws, and economic policies. Giving an insight into whether or not the people are satisfied with their government. Of course, there are exceptions to this general rule, as can be the case in extraordinary circumstances, such as scandals regarding celebrities.

 

Thank you Anita

[bsm]

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

In today's fast paced world, we are constantly bombarded with information from a myriad of media sources. In fact, if one sums up all of the time an average citizen of a technolgically-developed society spends watching television, listening to the radio, surfing the internet, and reading the newspaper, we conceivably spend more time interacting with the media than doing anything else. However, a common critique of such a media-driven lifesytle, is that with all of this information constantly thrown around them, people generally focus on the frivilous content. In other words, most attention is devoted to entertainment, such as that from a television show, rather than more impactful information, such as that would be obtained from a newspaper editorial column. For example, in 2004, it was found that more Americans participated in the voting for the winner of the American Idol reality show, than did in the National Presidential election. This may indicate that Americans are more interested in light-hearted entertainment issues than issues regarding their national politics.

 

However, that is not to say that the viewership of television shows necessarily reflects the psyche of a nation. The key is that in times of important social movements, political-based media sources increase in their influence. For example, during the push to legalize birth control products in Canada in the 1960s, news periodicals were instrumental in convincing the public of the advantages of contraception technology. Numerous editorial peices were published that opined the necessity for legalization of all birth control and the need for Canadians to lobby their Members of Parliament on this issue.

 

In determining whether popular television shows or editorial pages say more about a nation, then, we must distinguish the current psyche of the nation from its potential future path. Popular television shows, in order to appeal to the most widest audience, often reflect current attitudes and interests of a nation. However, editorial pieces often focus on pertenant social issues, which may make them less popular for the average reader, but more reflective of what is to come in the near future. During the 1960's, Canadians certainly enjoyed popular television shows that reflected their current values, but the editorial pages discussing the coming-of-age of contraception products was more indicitive of the future direction of the country. We may take this as a warning then, that as Americans currently focus on entertainment shows such as American Idol, current editorial pages are rife with dire predictions of the collapse of the American economy, which may be around the corner.

 

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LOL I know I might be reaching there at the end without enough explaination...but like to know what you'd grade it

 

Thanks Anita

[chinenye1]

A nation is to a large extent characterized by the values and beliefs held by people constituting it. The value system of a nation influences all activities in the nation which include attitudes, governance and media. Television shows can be a more powerful tool that can give insight to a nation than the editorial page of a news paper. Reviewing episodes of a television show from the time it premiered till the current day reveals a disparity in values and behaviours that are reflective of a nation evolving in ideals. Take for instance the popular family, comedic television show, Papa Ajasco shown in Nigeria. This show premiered during the time where homosexuality and public expression of love were taboo, and as such, the show lacked such depiction of the mentioned taboos. But the current episodes, show some of the casts acting out scenes of homosexuality and some sexual connoted scenes. These current episodes are an indication of the more lax morals held by the nation.

 

Editorial pages of a newspaper are fusions of discussion and opinions of an event and may not give knowledge about a nation. The writer can write about goals won by an international football team. This has no bearing with the happenings in a nation.

 

However, editorial pages can be immensely useful when issues plaguing a nation are discussed. The writer may interview members of the nation or politicians on a particular event or issue. Take for instance, an editorial on the twenty year oil spillage in the Niger delta and the government negligence to the consequent poverty of the people residing there due to deprivation from food and jobs (that heavily depended on marine life) and water (that was now polluted). This editorial reveals the nation's government as greedy and nonchalant towards its people. Popular television shows on the other hand, become less informative of a nation when it is adopted from another nation. An example would be an European tv show which does not reflect in a manner, the beliefs or ideals held by the nation.

 

So, what determines whether a popular tv show reveals more about a nation than an editorial newspaper page would depends is dependent on the relatedness of the values depicted by the show and those held by the nation's members. This determinant also holds with whether the content of an editorial page gives knowledge of a nation. The papa ajasco show revealed how the nation has evolved in its values, from being stringent in its morals, to being more tolerative of behaviours that were otherwise considered wrong. The editorial page discussing oil issue of the nation reveals how seriously the nation's government takes its environmental regulations.

 

 

 

Thanks Anita for taking the time read and grade

[JapanGirl]

Dialogues and actions of popular TV show characters can show the ideologies/current affairs of a nation quite extensively, compared to editorials in newspapers.

 

Primarily, the reason behind this is that TV shows can display the opinions of a wider demographic through their fictional characters. For instance, the popular tv show, The Big Bang Theory, follows a group of friends who are highly intelligent graduate students but lack social skills. One of the scenes showed a Russian caretaker who was able to solve a complex equation which the group of friends were unsuccessful in doing so. When questioned about his methods, the caretaker replied that in his hometown Russia, even “cleaners” are scientists. This displays the contrast in the American and Russian education system, where individuals with blue collar jobs are considered to be “less educated” in America because of their economic condition.

 

However, in some instances, newspaper editorials can provide a deeper insight of a country’s affairs. This would be seen with issues which are more serious and need thorough research. For example, editorials about a country’s outlook on the Libyan revolution may need research on that country’s previous political ties with Libya and the outlook of the country’s allies. Such an opinion would be too complex to show in a TV show, which has to appeal to the mass audience and may do so by not showing sensitive issues.

 

 

In essence, the extent to which a TV show or an editoral describe a nation boils down to how each method is received by the mass audience. Characters in TV shows can express opinions both visually and verbally. Also, a character does not have to be “well-read” or know how to write well to express an opinion, which means a larger demographic can be represented. Through this, more of a country’s attitude towards an issue can be seen. However, newspaper editorials, by using a more formal written language, can discuss a point of view in a more sophisticated manner with a great deal of research, which is needed for serious issues such as wars. Therefore, both popular TV shows and newpaper editorials can express a nation’s outlook better in different instances.

 

Thank you for all your help, Anita.

This is my first essay, so your input will be super appreciated!

[anitarama]

(Here's the next prompt. Will provide feedback for posted essays tomorrow.)

 

 

 

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

Describe a specific situation in which price is an accurate reflection of value. Discuss what you think determines when price reflects value and when it does not.

 

Instructions

In 30 minutes, write an essay for the prompt and instructions above and post your essay in this thread.

 

Use the Notepad accessory on your computer so word processing functions are turned off.

 

Note: Do not read other essays replying to this prompt on the Forum until after you have written and submitted your own essay.

 

Scorer

Anita Ramakrishna is a medical student at McMaster University

 

Deadline

11:59pm Tuesday August 23.

 

Essays posted after the deadline will not be scored but a new Prompt will be posted on Wednesday August 24.

[tsuki_123]

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

Task 1:

The question of value has resonated within the mind numerous times. What does it mean when value matches its price? The two terms "price" and "value" hold two very different meanings - price being a quantified measure of how much someone would give in exchange for an item. Value is the degree to which someone feels an item is of personal importance. The statement asserts that price is not necessarily a reflection of value. This holds true in situations where materialistic objects are considered. Let us consider the price of a cylindrically-shaped wooden sculpture. It may cost thousands of dollars to purchase this sculpture, made from a world-renound artist. Does that mean that the expensive sculpture is necessarily valuable to everyone? The same sculpture may be of significant meaning to an artist, while an affluent family might buy the same sculpture merely to use as an umbrella holder. The sculpture might not be as valuable to the affluent family since they might not appreciate the aestheic value of such art. Essentially, when it comes down to reflecting upon the value of some objects, a stated price might not necessarily quantify its value.

 

Task 2:

On the other hand, similar to how the artist purchased the sculpture, when one feels that an object is very valuable and is willing to pay an agreed sum of money in exchange for it, that is an instance where price may be a reflection of value. For instance, a wedding ring, the symbol of marriage, is worth quite a lot to a husband and his wife. This is because the wedding ring means more than its materialistic composition of carbon and metal. It is a symbol of their commitment to each other, a sense of value that the wedding ring holds that a regular ring cannot hold. Therefore, couples may be inclined to spend a certain amount of money in order to purchase this ring that they consider valuable. In this case, the price certainly does reflect upon its value. The husband might pay "three months of salary" to demonstrate commitment to the marriage. Therefore, in situations where an object might symbolize something valuable, the price might indeed reflect upon its value.

 

Task 3:

How to determine if price is a reflection of its value would be determined by how value and price is defined for the individual. Certainly, price is gauged differently among individuals. A wedding ring is more valuable to a newlywed couple than to a single man. Hence the expensive price for the ring would reflect upon its value to the couple, but not to the man. Similarly, the cost of an item might not reflect upon its value or usefulness, as illustrated in the example with the wooden sculpture. A family may pay an ample amount of money but regard the value as something negligible, while an artist may give all their savings to purchase the same sculpture that they will cherish and find very valuable. Ultimately, price and value of items are arbitrary to the individual. The individual has a definition of how valuable something is to them, and they might have an idea of how much money they are willing to spend to purchase it. There is a small, delicate balance between value and price; yet in many instances this balance is offset, which may bring one to decide whether something was worth its price. When value increases, the price is less significant. When value decreases, the price becomes much more significant - people want to ensure that they get their "money's worth" at that point.

[gotlactose]

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

Describe a specific situation in which price is an accurate reflection of value. Discuss what you think determines when price reflects value and when it does not.

 

 

In economic terms, the price of an object or service fluctuates depending on supply and demand. On the demand side, how much an object or service is worth to a person determines how much he is willing to pay for it. When there is a market with many variations of a product, the price does not reflect the value of the product to the consumer. For example, the grocery store Safeway occasionally sells three husks of corn for the promotional price of 99 cents. Since corn is only one of the many kinds of food that people eat, its prices are kept low so that people are enticed to buy it. Therefore, the price of corn is not an accurate reflection the value it brings to the consumers because its price is driven down when alternatives are present.

 

On the other hand, when there are no alternatives, then the price is raised to the point that reflects the value that the product brings. One example of this is health care in the United States. There is a constant demand for health care, but the supply of medical resources is limited. Under the cirumstances, the price of a hospital visit can be astronomically high. When my mother received appendectomy, the hospital charged us $40,000. Since the only choice to treat a life threatening condition is to operate, my family is willing to pay a price that equals to the value of saving my mother's life from appendicitis.

 

Therefore, the ultimate determinant of whether or not there exists alternatives in the market. An abundance of supply brought on by alterantive products means the price is lowered so that people will choose to purchase one particular product over others. However, when there is no other choice at the moment, the vendor does not have to compete with alternatives. It is then free to set the price at a point that is determined by the product's value to the consumer.

[anitarama]

Score: 4.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Very strong first paragraph with a cohesive example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): I advise not mentioning Jersey Shore again in your second paragraph, as it almost makes the reader think the same example is being used twice. Example of the riots is good in contrast to your first example.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Your resolution criteria was a little weak, as it explained how the realism of a TV show is dependent on the reaction it receives, whereas if the youth would already be acting in a certain way and this would simply be reflected in the TV show this would not be the case. (Hopefully I explained that well enough, if you don't understand exactly what I mean by that, just ask).

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Describe a specific situation in which a popular television show might not reveal more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper would. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

"Get crazy! Get wild! Let's do it get loud! If you wanna have fun let's do something crazy!" This is the opening theme to the television show that is sweeping the nation "Jersey Shore". Based on the lives of eight Italian-Americans, the show documents their wild escapades at various nightclubs during the summer. It is surprising that it has received such high ratings and has become MTV's most popular show in history. Seeing as there are a plethora of reality TV shows today, this is no easy feat. It's popularity among TV viewers across the nation stems from the fact that it deals a lot with partying and getting intoxicated - a rather common occurence among the young adults of today's society. It is rather shocking that so many people on the street can reiterate the details of the previous episode, but cannot, for the life of them, speak about the recent atrocities committed in Oslo which resulted in over 80 people being murdered. Violence has become so commonplace and desensitization has reached the point where people are no longer focused on events happening around the world. Instead, many youths today, which represent the majority of the population, choose to stay ignorant of such topics as the approaching oil crisis or the slow withdrawal into yet another recession. Events occuring on another continent may just as well occur on another planet as far as the majority of today's youth are concerned. Simply stated, if it does not directly concern or coincide with one's interests, people today merely ignore the world around them. There has been a slow shift in recent years academically; less students are going to university and pursuing higher levels of education and more students are dropping out with just a high school diploma. Jersey Shore serves as the perfect example as to where the interest of the nation's youths lie and can show an outsider just how much priority drinking and partying takes over knowledge and interest in world news today.

 

Although the minds of many young people today revolve around partying, there are quite a handful of people who still dream of achieving success and pursue their careers with the utmost determination. The effects of TV shows such as Jersey Shore are not so apparent in European countries where the goal of many young students is to gain admission to esteemed universities in order to make a living. The recent outbreak of riots across England have shown the world just how much people desire to get an education. Many rioters are in fact students who have either been denied admission to school or who simply cannot afford to pay for further education at the post-secondary and graduate levels. It would be quite safe to conclude that the primary concern of these students is not the pursuit of pleasure, but rather more rewarding aspects of life such as receiving a quality education. That is not to say that people in England do not watch Jersey Shore but this reflects the fact that students overseas treat reality TV shows as just that - something to watch to pass the time on their break from studying.

 

Whether or not a popular TV show reveals more about a nation than the newspaper in that nation can be determined by the mindset of the people who watch that show. Viewers in North America have reacted to Jersey Shore in such a way that it dictates a lot of the decisions that they make. For example, it is very easy to find people on social networking sites, such as Facebook, who have named theirselves after the characters of Jersey Shore and developed the mindset of the show - going clubbing every night and drinking - when there are far more rewarding activites to take part in. Many residents in Italy are probably shocked to see their compatriots make utter fools of themselves on nation TV. One can find articles in the Italian gazzeto that ridicules such TV shows and this goes to show that despite the popularity of Jersey Shore, the Italian people remain steadfast in their values and morals and emphasis is still placed upon doing well in school and maturing into a hard-working citizen.

[anitarama]

Score: 5.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Great definitions and introductory explanation. It took you some time getting to your point but your example was good.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Strong New York Times example.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Very well-explained resolution criteria which has been a theme throughout the essay.

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Task 1:

 

Let us take a moment to consider what defines a nation. The possibilities from where we can begin are endless, but in order to assess the above statement, what should be revealed about a nation shall be defined by its issues or its physical appearance. The above statement urges that popular television shows may reveal more about a nation than that of a newspaper. This statement is agreeable in an aesthetic sense. In “How I Met Your Mother”, an extremely well-recognized American television show, the main character Ted experiences much of the life a regular American would experience as they journey through college. There goes a famous saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Motion pictures, then, must be worth millions. The act of filming the scenes in television shows such as How I Met Your Mother definitely reveal not only the lifestyle of the individual in the story, but also gives the viewer a breath-taking peek into the scenery of the American territory. Hence in this situation, a popular television does reveal much more about a country’s culture than a newspaper, which may describe a nation in words but is rendered less effective for this example.

 

Task 2:

 

Nonetheless, television shows do a great job in replicating the lifestyle of an American as well as showcasing the country itself, but the shows are less effective in revealing the less tangible elements of a nation. The New York Times, for example, has their own editorial column of which many authors display their opinions on recurring issues. An example would be a column designated specifically towards politics and how President Obama is coping with the economic downfalls in the U.S. The method through which newspapers convey their ideas is through effective word usage by a genuine viewpoint of an individual. Hence, the level of genuineness in an editorial column of a newspaper such as the New York Times reveal more about America’s viewpoints on political, economical, and social issues than a less-real television show. The opinions of Ted in "How I Met Your Mother" may be true, but are nonetheless fictional and stated from a written script. The “real deal” can only be provided through real opinions and real people when the values in question are intangible. Therefore, in some situations television shows are less revealing about a country’s cultural values, especially when considering the level of genuineness.

 

Task 3:

 

Whether an idea about a country is conveyed through showcase or through opinion-conveyance, it all comes down to the same element. Both methods seek to portray a country and its regular means of operation, but do so in very different ways. Hence, in situations where revealing the aesthetic elements or immediate lifestyles in a country are of importance, television shows are much more effective in doing the job. In situations where serious issues regarding the nation are debated, a television show is less effective than a newspaper to convey the message. Nonetheless, both are methods through which a foreign audience can seek to learn more, whether it be about a country's aesthetics or about their underlying issues.

[terra]

Thanks for the feedback Anita!

(First attempt...)

 

 

Human nature dictates that everything must be categorized into neat numbers the mind can comprehend. Everything may be labeled with a name and a number to define it. Price is the monetary value attributed to an object for the purpose of selling or trading. Value is the intrinsic worth of the object, based on its cost of production and physical substance. A simple metal spoon, without a brand or any elegant decorations, may be priced at a reasonable dollar at a local store. This is a price that accurately reflects its cost of materials, labor from mining and crafting its shape, and transportation to a store.

 

Although price can in fact be an accurate reflection of value, when the object represents more than its physical state, the price can be inflated. Jeff Koons is a contemporary artist who fashions majestically large replicas of childhood items, such as balloon animals or teddy bears, out of shiny metal. Auctioned for millions, making his art the most costly for any living artist in the 21st century. Sculptures made of metal would not amount to more than a thousand dollars in their raw material form, even if accounting for the labor of Koons as he created the object. The price may be inflated due to its reflection of the artist’s fame, and even if it was recreated by a lesser-known artist, it would not be priced at the same level. His work supposedly represents childhood dreams, thus the price of it reflects more than its material worth and encompasses its artistic significance.

 

Both the spoon and Jeff Koon’s sculptures are objects of metal but the price is drastically inflated in the latter because of how they are perceived by people. The spoon represents nothing more than itself, whereas Koon’s pieces symbolize hidden meanings that are not apparent in their physical substance. When the price includes more than just the physical object, such as incorporating its artistic worth, its creator’s fame, and what ideas it represents, then the price may be inaccurate and significantly more than the value.

[JapanGirl]

Paying a certain monetary amount for an object does not accurately reflect the value of the object. To elaborate, the amount paid for a purchase may not be proportional to the quality of the purchase. For example, grocery items come in a huge range of prices even though they offer the same quality, such as taste. Due to this variety, an individual can obtain similar features but at a lower monetary amount.

 

In other situations, value can be determined by price. To illustrate, the price of housing can be determined by its location and size. It is a general trend that the bigger a property and the more accessible nature of the property, such as being close to a city centre, the higher its price. Size and accessibility gives a higher quality housing because an individual gets more out of the purchase, such as status and convenience, hence reflecting the value of the house.

 

Under certain conditions, the price of something may or may not show its value. The main factor is the type of purchase made. Buying a property, such as housing, is considered to be a huge monetary purchase that is usually done once. In such a case, the money paid is a reflection of the value of the product because more features that are important to an individual, such as accessibility, can be added with increasing money. Relatively speaking, buying everyday items, such as groceries, does not involve spending a great deal of money and can be done frequently. A “brand name” item could possibly have the same features and quality as another generic brand, which could be at a lower price. Therefore, depending on the nature of the purchase, price may or may not reflect its value.

 

Your help is greatly appreciated!