Notes Clearance

Clearing all the things in my notebook for the modules that I took last year~~

For General Education 1: Critical Reasoning & Argumentation,

• Learning outcomes: Perspective, Expression and Engagement

• 3 Key Aims: To Evaluate the Basic Elements of an Argument and Build Strong Arguments (Skill Set), Think Critically (Mental Set)

• An Argument includes ISSUE^ (Questions), then CLAIM* (Yes or No), then REASON using Appeals, Evidence and Assumption.

^What's an Issue? 

- It is a Question that suggests 2 opposing response. Eg. Yes or No

- And is best stated with such words as 'should', 'will', 'does'

- Examples of Issues: 

  > Should Polytechnic start lessons at 10am?

*Making a Claim (Thesis Statement): To take a Stand or Position 

For General Education 2: Critical Reasoning & Persuasion,

• Topic > Claim > Evidences (Authority, Examples, Statistics) > Appeals (Emotional, Ethical, Logical Appeals) > Assumptions

• For EVIDENCES,
• Authority 
• Trust experts in a given field to be reliable and trustworthy
• Testimonies are taken to be impartial and objective. Eg. Use a doctor for Health issues
• (+) Provide Knowledge, Reliable
• (-) Experts make mistakes as well, Vested Interest, Deceit

• Examples
• A GOOD Example: Clarifies the reality behind the issue and is Persuasive
• A BAD Example: Too ideal and extreme, Do not represent the entirety of a idea or an argument, May be too emotionally charged

• Statistics
• Numerical Facts, Require Interpretation
• (+) Objective, Representative of Actual Situation & Provides a powerful analysis of understanding of an issue
• (-) Information may be manipulated to be misleading

      *For De-constructing an argument, we must question the source and/or evidence.

• For APPEALS, (Use words to invoke more emotions)
• Emotional Appeals - Pathos: Motivational Appeals, Use of emotions
• Ethical Appeals - Ethos: Source Credibility & Trustworthy, Use of Authority 
• Logical Appeals - Logos: The logic used to support a claim, Use of Facts and Statistics

• An Example of a topic would be "Should Children below the Age of 12 be banned from Social Media sites?" Then use emotional, Ethical and Logical Appeals.

• For ASSUMPTIONS,
• Beliefs that are taken for granted
• Operate at the subconscious or unconscious level of thought process
• (+) Useful if we are unable to obtain information and facts

• Avoid UNNECESSARY Assumptions:
• By asking questions when delivering the presentation
• Check knowledge, Inference, Hypotheses, Feelings, Culture and Background
• Trace the Origin and Sources

•  GE2 PRESENTATION FORMAT 
1. Topic
2. State Stand / Claim
3. Give Reason (1) and support with Evidence (Example, Authority, Statistics). If possible, Quote the source. Use Appeals (Logos, Pathos, Ethos)
4. Give Reason (2) and support with Evidence and Appeals as well.
5. End with summarising the points said.

For Communicating through Project Effectiveness (Report), 

• 4 AIMS
• Present Ideas in a Formal Presentation
• Give and Receive Feedback
• Write a Report for an intended audience
• Apply Conflict Management Strategies

• PAC: Purpose, Audience and Context. An example would be:
• P > To raise Funds for the financially and socially needs
• A > School Students, Needy Families in one room flat
• C > Sell Food during Flag Day Event or organise a Sport Carnival Event

•  For Reference and Citation, "YouTube: A Guide to Harvard Referencing" is a good video.
• 1.51s (You only put the surnames e.g. Cohen, 2011)
• If direct copy, Eg. Cohen, 2011, Page Number
• 4.00s (Referencing a Book)
• Author's Surname, Year, Title, Place and Author's Organisation
• E.g. Chan M., 2014. The Watch and The Dog, Singapore: Penguin
• 4.13s (Referencing an E-Book)
• 4.38s (Referencing an On-line Journal) > Must bracket (Article)
• (Referencing an On-line Video) > Must bracket (On-line Video)
• When Referencing a Website,
• **Author / Publishing Organisation, Year Published, Internet Site Title [Online], URL, [Accessed on what date]
• E.g. Palgrave Macmillian, 2011. Skills4Study [Online] Available from: http://www.skills4study.com (Accessed on 20 July 2013)

      ** The list of References must be listed alphabetically according to the Author's Surname. 

• 8 Common Fallacies
1. Slippery Slope
• Wrongly thought of unlikely consequences
2. Red Herring
• Distract someone from the argument
3. Non Sequitur
• An argument in which its conclusion does not follow from its premises
• We think A cause B. But, there is no cause between them. Wrongly Thought Causes.
• E.g. Elected as Chairman because she is Pretty (X wrong). Actually, it is because she has leadership skills. 
4. Post Hoc
• After the event has happen, then a cause / incident happens
5. Bandwagon
• Jump on the Bandwagon means If everyone does it, its acceptable.This is a wrong thinking.
• E.g. So if everyone smokes, its acceptable? No, as it harms our health and pollutes the enviroment
6. Ad Hominem
• Do not look at the arguments or points, Attack a person's character
7. False Authority
• Fake Experts
8. Hasty Generalisation
• Cannot Over-Generalise
• E.g. Cannot say ALL Singaporeans are like this. But should say Most, Some, Few

^ To prevent these fallacies from happening, we can DRAW Information from more than one data source for Credibility through news reports and the Use of Diversity E.g. Internet Forums such as STOMP which has strong arguments.

• TIPS ON EDITING & PROOF READING #1 (REPORT)
• C4: Clear, Concise, Complete, Correct
• Check the Languages Aspects in the report.
• CONTENT:
• Have you done eveything the assignment requires?
• Is the level of details and information sufficient?
• OVERALL STRUCTURE:
• Do the sections fit the requirement of the report?
• Are the section headings and subheadings suitably named?
• STRUCTURE WITHIN PARAGRAPH:
• Does each paragraph have a clear topic sentence?
• Does each paragraph stick to one idea?
• CLARITY:
• Define any important terms that is unclear to the readers?

First Aid Workshop

During my June Holidays, I went for a First Aid Workshop held in Singapore Polytechnic to become a trained First Aider. It was on 23 June 2015 to 25 June 2015, Tuesday to Thursday, from 9 am to about 6 pm. There was about 1-2 hours lunch break. I learnt how to bandage someone with minor injuries on their arms or legs, how to use the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) steps and procedures, how to handle someone who has a fracture, the use of a stretcher and how to help someone who is choking, etc. The number for our Singapore Ambulance is 995. Usually, people will mix up the number with the number 911 which is for the Ambulance number in America. 

It was a very fun, exciting and fruitful experience for me. Now that I have been through the whole 3 days course, I have received the certificates (2 small cards) that show that I am a trained First Aider. This certificate lasts for 2 years only and is due for renewal. I hope that in any situation or emergency, I would be able to handle it with care and caution. 

-----First Aider-in-training-----

General Education 2 Module Talk

I went for a General Education Talk last year, somewhere in July 2014. These are some of the feelings and opinions that I was suppose to share with the class as well but I did not as well. 

I felt that the talk was very inspirational. This man started learning the drums from seven years old. He demonstrated his awesome and unique drum skills. He improved the traditional drumming to a unique and catch tune to appeal to the audience. He wants to share his music with other people. He has earned many awards and goes to many different countries to perform. However, he tells us that he never forgets that he is from Singapore and is proud to be a Singaporean. This is because Singapore has fast transportation, good education, good job opportunites and good living standards which not all countries have this. As without being born here, he might not be living this life. He was from a low income family, had four other siblings and lived with his mother because his parents got separated. Different places have different standard of living and opportunities. 

In this talk, he told us that: 

"DREAMS AND SUCCESS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF WE WORK HARD!" 

"DON'T BE AFRAID TO PURSUE YOUR OWN DREAMS!"

With this, it gave me the confidence and motivation to move on and do what I think is good for my future. 

Best Regards to my diary...

A Gratitude Message to him~

I was suppose to share some of my feelings and opinions during my General Education Class. So I wrote it in my hand phone notes. In the end, I did not share it. This is a short gratitude message to the great leader I have greatly admired in Singapore. 

Message:

He inspired me to be a better leader and to lead by example. He had great foresight and leadership. I am proud to be a Singaporean. Because of him and our government, we have became a First World Country within a period of 40-50 years. We have faster and cleaner transportation, good education and many job opportunities. We are strengthening ties with our neighbouring countries and building our national defence to keep us safe from outsiders and prevent civil riots as well. Singapore is a safe country to live in with good healthcare and education. The government spends most of the national budget on Defence, Education and Healthcare for the citizens' well-being and better living standards and lifestyles. So I would like to to say Thank You Very Much for devoting your life to this nation! Thank You for all your contributions, sacrifices, sweat and tears to change Singapore into what it is right now! 

That concludes the end of my short gratitude message.