Hwang Yoo Jung, an argumentative essay on page 114

Voting as a Choice, Not an Obligation

 

Hwang Yoo Jung  200904349

Intermediate English Writing I (Tue 78)

An argumentative essay on page 114 (first draft)

 

 

Whenever election time is nearing, a stale social issue in Korea reappears. That is the very low voting rate in national elections. In fact, according to a report about national voting rate released in 2009 by International IDEA(Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance), Korea stayed in the 26th rank among the OECD's 30 members. Some people believe that this low voting rate is blocking progress in democracy. So, they suggest that the law, forcing the people to mandatorily vote, be enacted. However, I disagree with compulsory voting in that democracy should respect personal freedom and right, and abstention is obviously a way to express political stance.

Election is one of institutions to realize democracy; so, it is meaningful when it is conducted democratically. If it is obligatory for the people to vote in national elections, their political right can be infringed in the name of democratic development. It is extremely contradictory. In other words, it is nonsense that the right to vote is forced mandatorily. Democracy can really be attained, only when election itself is conducted democratically. 

Abstention or refusing to vote should be respected as one way expressing personal opinion. For example, anarchism or atheism has been already accepted as ways indicating personal political or philosophical position, and same rules should be applied to voting. Namely, not to vote can be understood as intentional political unconcern. In fact, focus should be on irresponsible politicians, not on whether voting or not. In reality that even President does not keep his promises during election campaigns, how many voters are there wanting to vote?

Some people blame those who do not vote in that they give up the opportunities to change our society rightly, so run counter to democracy. High voting rate, however, does not guarantee democracy. For instance, in autocracy, elections tend to be tainted by corruption and high voting rate often becomes means to justify seizing power. Thus, the government should seek effective ways to boost it rather than compel voting. For instance, some countries in Europe introduced the proportional representation system to more exactly accept opinion of the people. In the case of US, Social media like Tweeter, Facebook or YouTube were actively used in the last presidential election.

Over 20 countries around the world are already forcing their people to vote by law, and among them, developed countries are also included. So, it is natural that compulsory voting be suggested in the country with very low voting rate like us, Korea. However, compelling voting should not be accepted in that it can infringe personal freedom and right, and abstention or refusing to vote are a way to express personal opinion. Also, especially politicians and social leaders before blaming those who do not vote, should find out ways to restore trust of the people and attract them to the polling places. That is the best policy to raise voting rate.

Yoon Jin Soo P.131 essay

 

Basic, Essential, Necessary things

 

 Nowadays, Korean unemployment rate is seriously high. College students

give up their happiness and study for getting a job. Recently many students

want to be a person who companies want because finding a job is very difficult.

Most of people become same. I'm just 2^nd grades so I don't prepare for

employment yet. So I want to talk about some skills that companies want.

 

    First thing is foreign languages. About 10 years ago English became most

important education so many people learned, but today most of Korean

go abroad for language studying or are raised in foreign countries. Nowadays

English is essential knowledge. For get a job, we have to learn more than 2

languages including English. So many students study for not only TOEIC,

TOEFL, TEPS but also many language skill tests.

 

     Next is creativity. Many companies aim creative people so they set exam questions

for finding creative students. Recently there are many books about sample questions

from tests of huge companies. Most of job seekers analyze and memorize

those books for get a job. I wonder these questions and tests are useful for

real creative people.

 

    Last thing is patient. Most of Korea companies have unreasonable structure.

Someone are promoted irrespective of their ability and someone get stress

because of others' jealous and envy. So patient is most important for Korean

employments. Many people leave their company because of these unreasonable

structures of Korea companies. For receiving salary, people have to ignore their

feelings and be in managements' good books.

 

    When we can't get a job for a long time, most of people blame and despise us.

Because we have to forget about us, friends and families for get a job.

Moreover we have to earn many money for live like a decent human being,

so job became basic element of human. Most of students put getting a job

above their health, pleasure and morality. We have to do that.

Ji Chang-Min, 200503311, five-paragraph essay on page 131, exercise 5

Chang-min Ji 200503311

Jon H. Bahk-Halberg

Intermediate English Writing(1)

May 15th.

 

I have three strengths for my future career

 

       Everyone dreams of the day when our dreams come true. For the day, we have to improve our ability and have done so. I　often estimate myself to become a more talented person. To improve myself, it's important to know what my strengths and weaknesses are. I also have three strong points; diligence, punctuality, patience.

       My first ability for my career is diligence. Diligence means steady, earnest, energetic application and effort. It is said that a diligent person must make it, no matter what the situation is, how much older he get, how excellent grade in his school year. I, who am diligent, will bring success in my career and wealth to myself.

       My second ability is punctuality. Dan Kennedy said that punctuality is the number one most powerful personal discipline in all the world. It was because he knew to keep appointments in time meant one's success, integrity and others' trust. Punctuality has been crucial to myself for my life. Being punctual made me respect myself, manage my time, improve my work, and have a high self-esteem.

       My third ability for my future career is patience. For my dream's coming true, I have to learn many things and improve myself. Whenever we attempt to learn something new, we have to give ourselves time which is whether long or short one. It is said that the most great acquisition needs the longest time. I have a lot of perseverance, so I believe I can acquire whatever I want to learn.

       Until now, I have introduced three abilities I possess for my future career. I am diligent. I keep my appointment in time. I have a lot of patience. Those abilities as well as others will make my dreams come true.

Hwang Yoo Jung, an argumentative essay on page 103

Is Free Downloading a Blessing or a Curse?

 

Hwang Yoo Jung  200904349

Intermediate English Writing I (Tue 78)

An argumentative essay on page 103 (first draft)

 

 

In May of 2000, a revolutionary Internet service, called "Soribada" was launched in Korea. This site, while offering free music files, had 20 million subscribers just after 3 years. After 11 years, however, Soribada, although it seemed to become a big business, keeps alive as a small one. What caused Soribada to fail was a free downloading problem which becomes more and more controversial. As for me, illegal downloading should be banned in that it can make musicians and producers lose big money; it can discourage their creative activities; as a result, all those things can damage the cultural life of public.

First of all, illegal downloading and sharing can cause musicians and producers to lose a lot of money. Just to write one song or release one record, considerable time and money should be spent. For instance, under the direction of producers, songwriters write a song and singers practice it many times. After that, producers actively promote and sell records to make profits. Just one click trying to illegally download, however, can undo all these efforts. According to a research conducted in 2009 by Copyright Protection Center in Korea, the number of illegal downloading was over 360,000, and the total sum of damage amounted to 180 million.

Secondly, illegal downloading can weaken the passion for creativity of musicians and producers and contract music industry as a result. Almost all creators want to get compensation for their hard work and keep working only when they get what they deserve. However, if they easily have their works stolen and if there are hardly any laws to punish such piracy, who on earth want to continue music activities? Like this, if musicians and producers are not protected as a copyright owner and furthermore they cannot earn enough money to keep up with their finances at home or the company, they could not keep going on their activities.

Meanwhile, those who download illegally often say that "sharing culture" on the Internet contributes greatly to develop music. For instance, when hardly accessible music such as records not reproduced any longer or censored songs, was shared on Soribada, users expected the musical world to be boosted by free resources. However, such resources do not have to be necessarily exchanged in free sites; we can share them as much as we like in pay sites. In fact, it's just a weak excuse to steal others' intellectual property. What is worse, the offending contents are more apt to spread by free distribution. After all, it is the public who loses opportunities to enjoy high-quality music due to this illegal system.

Nowadays Apple considerably controls music market around the world; in fact, it was never related with music industry in the past. This shows well how closely the musical world is connected with digital or Internet. Thus, it is natural that illegal downloading has appeared as a new enemy to harm the music industry. This free downloading should be banned in that it can damage music industry both creatively and financially and all those things can have negative influences on cultural life of the public. If Soribada actively had resolved the copyright problem, it now could be a successful company.

 

PARK JIN-KYUNG / Five paragraph argumentative essay

200904082 PARK Jin-Kyung     Should be the Right not Duty   Voter turnout is getting lower and it was 62.9% in 2007 for the latest presidential election in Korea; it is even lower in the local elections. There are about 20 countries where voting is mandatory such as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, etc. and there are some people insisting that voting should be compulsory in Korea as well. However, I think it doesn't meet the purpose of the election and actually it can have an inappropriate effect on elections.   Voting system is a means of electing a right person for the country and choosing the suitable one is the purpose. But, it is obvious that it's very hard for almost every citizen to carefully consider the candidates and examine all the election pledges of so many candidates. That is, these comparing and weighing up the policies of the candidates would be too much of a hassle to people leading a busy life.   In addition, if people who never pay attention to the politics participate in the election just to be faithful to his or her duties, his or her thoughtless choice never help elect a qualified candidate, which is the basic purpose of the voting, and it might even cause a negative effect on choosing the right one. It might be better for the citizens who are ordinarily indifferent to the politics to give up their rights.   The problem is on the people that don't exercise their rights just because they are too lazy. This attitude harms the basic meaning of the election, but I think if they really care about matters of state and have clear political opinion naturally do voting as they have strong view about the political issues. When these people's opinions gather, we can get the result reflecting the public opinion.   Joining the election shouldn't be said to be "must do" like rules and regulations in the sense that the fundamental aim for voting is electing a right person for our country. If voting becomes mandatory, people who don't care about the politics will rush their decisions and this can not only leads wrong decisions. Maybe, we need to promote awareness of taking more interest in the matters of our country first.

Yoon Jin Soo p 114 5 paragraphs essay

 Change candidates not voters

 

 

 'Election day is holiday'

 Most of Koreans think like that. Election day became holiday to raise turnout of voters, but many people take the rest or go vacation in voting day. People said voting should be mandatory because of low vote-rates phenomenon but others opposed. Mandatory of voting have to be thought seriously.

 

 Why people opposed to compulsory voting? Vote is not duty but right. In Korea constitution there are some laws about right of vote. Besides there are nothing about duty of vote. Many people who disagree with vote mandatory say 'It is excessive interfere of government.'

 

 Of course vote mandatory is good way for raising amount of vote rates. But although they make more people vote, it doesn't mean that people want to vote. Vote is most important and effective way to participate in politics of country especially in democracy nations. Forcing the vote to people is wrong way for democracy. It can harm the meanings of democracy.

 

 One of most important opinions about low vote-rates is hopeless. People don't expect about better world or good politicians. Many politicians did lot of bad things and made people disappointed so people think like 'Politicians are same'. Korea government lost people's faith. If someone want to raise vote-rates, they have to improve politicians' images and behaviors.

 

 Something that make people move is not force but mind. Before they force something to citizens, they have to think about our mind and thinking. They should change themselves not the rules.

Huiyeong Kim A five-paragraph arguementative essay

201181021 Huiyeong Kim Intermediate English Writing 1   Enjoy Life                People are now living in a fast-changing world. So many things have been changed and the timesaving devices such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners have also been developed for people's convenience. However, people work harder and longer every day and live busily without a break forgetting the importance of it. Even though the technology has been developed, people should work less and have more leisure time.                First, people in Korea are under a lot of stress at work in today's society. They work more than 9 hours a day on the average and have a huge workload. They can be tired enough for these reasons, but they should also try to read their superior's mind. If people build up stress continuously, they can ruin their health. Therefore, they should relieve stress by having more leisure time.                In addition, people, including children, feel that they are not happy. The Korean level of happiness is the lowest among the OECD countries according to an article which was released in Children's Day in Korea on May 5. Because people want to be happy, they work. They do not live in order to work, but they work for the better life. Also, it is sad that children said like that, so parents should spend more time with their kids.                Earning money is important to live every single day in life, and people need money to buy the time saving devices, for example. They can enrich people's life. However, it is also important for people to develop themselves. If people have some time that can do something they like, they can further improve themselves, and might get a better job. Then, through development, they can earn more money and feel their successes.                In conclusion, there is a lot more to life than work. Therefore, people should take a rest and refresh themselves to relive stress. Also, they should know that being happy in life is priority than working, and it may be good to have time for self-improvement during leisure time, so it is important that people work less and have more leisure time.