Dream: November 2008

Assignment: Animal Testing

>> Monday, November 24, 2008

3. What do you think of animal testing on cosmetics? Does it matter to you what kind of animals are used (whether it's mice, rabbits, dogs, primates, ect?). Remember that without animal testing, cosmetics may end up much more expensive and possibly have greater risk to humans.

Answer:Animal testing is the use of non-human animals in scientific experimentation. Cosmetics testing on animals is particularly controversial. Such tests, which are still conducted in the U.S., involve general toxicity, eye and skin irritancy, phototoxicity (toxicity triggered by ultraviolet light) and mutagenicity. Cosmetics testing is banned in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK, and in 2002, after 13 years of discussion, the European Union (EU) agreed to phase in a near-total ban on the sale of animal-tested cosmetics throughout the EU from 2009, and to ban all cosmetics-related animal testing.

Although animal testing in cosmetics is cruely behavior, it's necessary action for people avoid hurt.

Scientists and governments state that animal testing should cause as little suffering to animals as possible, and that animal tests should only be performed where necessary. The "three Rs" are guiding principles for the use of animals in research in most countries:

*Reduction refers to methods that enable researchers to obtain comparable levels of information from fewer animals, or to obtain more information from the same number of animals.

*Replacement refers to the preferred use of non-animal methods over animal methods whenever it is possible to achieve the same scientific aim.

*Refinement refers to methods that alleviate or minimize potential pain, suffering or distress, and enhance animal welfare for the animals still used.
Although such principles have been welcomed as a step forwards by some animal welfare groups, they have also been criticized as both outdated by current research, and of little practical effect in improving animal welfare.

Issue: Product Design

All the objects surrounding us have been designed- this is something intrinsic to our society- but not all of them have been well designed. A well-designed product is not only characterized by its great practical utility; it also has to convey something more, in order to be attractive and so distinguish itself from the competition.
The book "Product Design" provides a selection of well-designed products from the last few years. created with the aim of making our everyday life both more attractive and more convenient.

Assignment: Animal Rights

>> Monday, November 17, 2008

Issues in Taiwan:

1. A few years ago a local Taiwanese animal rights group snuck video cameras into dog shelters in Taiwan and took photos and video of what happens to homeless dogs that are captured (that’s why part of this video is narrated in Chinese). The video they took is now hosted at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Warning: This video is very, very disturbing and quite disgusting. You do not have to watch this video. I have provided it for reference and to demonstrate the severity of the issue and to show that many people are already fighting against it.
http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=taiwan_dog_pound&Player=wm
Answer:

Well…that video is really very disturbing! I don't believe Taiwanese so brutal. Dogs are very pitiable because they were very hunger to eat each other. I can't endure see the dog skill each other; on the country, I can't also endure see people skill and ate each other, for me, that is very terrible and disgusting. I feel sad for dogs. I hope Taiwan improve animal rights views in the future.

Journal: Rent Room in University Period

>> Friday, November 14, 2008

I lived the dorm in Tai-nan school for two years. The dormitory have six bed and desk. The room have free air conditioning I never feel hot last two years. But the room isn't studio without toilet and bath. And you have to alternate clean hallway, bathroom, toilet and drink machine.

Last September I transfer into CHU university. I rented the room for six months. I don't like the room because the distance too far to school about three kilometer by riding motorcycle.The room partition is thin board too noisily for me. The important point is very dirty and I saw cockroach everyday. Although the price is very low about 2800 for one month I can't endure dirty environment.

Because friends introduce I moved to the school nearly. Hi-life convenience store's alley. That is studio room but the room has no window and moist. And to wash clothing don't convenience has no place to shine on clothing and has no dewaterer machine. So I lived there from Much to June.

Finally,I moved the school's backdoor pavilion studio. I signed a contract for one years. So, I can't move and move. The price is 5000 NT dollars. The environment clean and quiet. I like~

I often draw or write on the floor. The floor is glossy and clean. Wow, the time already six o'clock and I have to take a bath~

Journal: Short Hair

>> Thursday, November 13, 2008

I want to change mood because I feel my life was bad. I can't playact and dancer...so I feel fret. Hope cut hair bring different mood.

As I remember I hate pink and cute when I was a child! Now I think I can try it. My father said you should try different change for your life. He said life should be happy everyday. If you were in bad mood, you should to stop your fret and do you happy things. While your mood become good, you are continuing face your work or homework. To relax your mood you will not pressure.

Assignment: Cheating, not Cheating

>> Monday, November 10, 2008

Survey Says: In your opinion, which of the following are cheating and against the rules (Hint: not all of them are!) Write “cheating” or “not cheating” after each one. Use a different color font for your answer, so it’s easy to find.

1. Copying a few pages from Wikipedia and turning it in as your assignment.
Answer: Cheating. Only if you used words by yourself and explain information source.
2. Asking someone else to write a few paragraphs of your paper for you—but you still do most of it.
Answer: Cheating.
3. Asking someone to proofread your assignment and fix the grammar mistakes for you.
Answer: Not Cheating.
4. Having someone read what you wrote and tell you if they can understand it or not. You take their ideas and fix what you wrote.
Answer: Not Cheating.
5. Using an article from an English language learning website by copying it and turning it in.
Answer: Not Cheating.
6. Finding an article online that says exactly what you were thinking, so you just turn that in.
Answer: Cheating.
7. Reading an article that you found online, thinking about it, and then writing a response in your own words.
Answer: Not cheating.
8. Doing a writing assignment for one class and then turning it in for two, three, or even more classes because you are too busy to do another writing assignment.
Answer: Not Cheating.
9. Finding some writing online, but changing some of the verbs and nouns before you turn it in.
Answer: Not Cheating.
10. Finding a paper online, but changing all of the verbs before you turn it in.
Answer: Not Cheating.
11. Copying an article that you found, but you don’t get caught so no one ever knows about it.
Answer:Cheating.

Assignment: Unit2

>> Monday, November 3, 2008

Unit 2:
Questions:

1. In your opinion or experience, why do some students chose to cheat? What are some of the different reasons students give? Do you know people who cheated in high school or college? (you can respond generally. I am not looking for names).
Answer:
In my opinion many classmates ever do cheat. They said they fear failed in examinations or their parents maybe reprove them not do well on exam. I think the teacher demand students strict very much so they have to chose to cheat for achieving teacher’s stander or to win the awards for helping parents’ economy ,ect.

2. In the US if you were caught plagiarizing assignments you would immediately be given a failing grade. You could also be immediately expelled from the university for “academic dishonesty”. Since the reason you were expelled would be written on your transcripts, every other university you applied to would know you once got caught cheating. What types of punishment are generally given for cheating on exams or class work in Taiwan? Do you think these punishments are a sufficient deterrent to cheating? What do you think the punishment should be?
Answer:
I think plagiarize behavior is wrong. If one always plagiarize classmates answer, I think one didn’t learn anything and not do well in the future. In the Taiwan if you were caught plagiarizing assignment you also would immediately be given a failing grade. And maybe you will be given a warn for you ever do wrong thing. In my opinion I think punishments should different for the same do cheat person. For example, introvert student do cheat maybe teacher should do a small extent not to punishment for standing up on the passageway. If the student were do cheat by intention I think teacher should be given strict punishment for their do cheat again. Don’t should be punishment by hurt student‘s self-respect. I think the best way to try patiently to talk students not do wrong behaviors. And share each other’s views to let they understand correct things.

3. You will have to think creatively for your answer here: Even with the threat of severe punishment, the readings above indicate that cheating is still a problem. One reason is because students naturally assume they will get away with it and won’t get caught. Therefore, severe consequences probably won’t be enough, by themselves, to stop students from cheating (if you don’t think you will get caught, it’s easy to ignore the possible consequences). What can be done? What real solutions should be tried? Are teachers and students in perpetual race to see who can get trickier? What other solutions can be tried to stop cheating? Be specific with your suggestions.
Answer:
No matter how students’ score high or low they will try do cheat in school because person always want to do best in the class. To avoid cheating behavior will difficult. Maybe the teacher can choose test different questions, for example, the teacher can prepare for two different examinations and then odd number students do blue exam; even number students do red exam. If I were a teacher, I will choose to test essays or to disorganize the questions order and answer order.

(If this question is hard, here are some possible solutions to think about: reward students who catch their classmates with extra credit; expel students from school, forever, for the first time; hire detectives or student helpers to look for cheaters; do nothing at all; other creative solutions)

*China Post
*Taipei Times

Assignment: Plagiarism

1. What is the penalty for plagiarism at Stanford University?
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/vpsa/judicialaffairs/students/plagiarism.questions.htm

Answer:

The standard penalty for a first-time violation of the Honor Code is a one-quarter suspension and 40 hours of community service. If the student is in his/her final quarter of enrollment the standard practice is to convert the one-quarter suspension into a two-quarter delay in the conferral of the degree.

2. What are the six possible punishments you can get at the University of Washington for plagiarism? (Hint: you don’t have to read the whole thing. Read the beginning and then skim and scan for the correct parts)
http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm

Answer:

The six possible punishments are Disciplinary Warning, Reprimand, Restitution, Disciplinary Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal.
(1)Disciplinary Warning: verbal or written notification that the student has not met the University's standards of conduct, and that a repeated offense will result in more serious disciplinary action. It is not the case that first offenses automatically receive a warning; most first offenses receive a stricter response, with warnings reserved for cases with unusual mitigating circumstances.
(2)Reprimand: a written statement censuring a student for violating University regulations, and stating that another offense will result in more serious action. This is normally considered a lenient response, even for first offenses.
(3)Restitution: requirement that the student compensate the University or other persons for damages, injuries, or losses. Failure to comply results in canceled registration and a hold on future registration.
(4)Disciplinary Probation: an action that places conditions on the student's continued attendance at the University, including the statement that further violation of University policies will likely result in dismissal. The Committee fixes the term and conditions of academic probation. First offenses often result in probation.
(5)Suspension: a written statement notifying a student that his or her enrollment has been suspended for a specific period of time for violating University policy. The statement includes the terms and length of the suspension, as well as the conditions for re-admittance.
(6)Dismissal: a written statement notifying a student that his or her attendance at the University has been terminated for violating University policy. Unlike suspension, dismissal is considered to be a permanent action. However, the institution may also provide conditions for re-admittance.

3. Google the words “Fired for plagiarism”. List three examples of people who have lost their jobs for plagiarism. Make a brief summary of them and write it on your blog. (there are far more than three you can find)

Answer:

(1)Madonna G. Constantine, the former professor of psychology and education at Columbia University’s Teachers College who was fired following allegations of plagiarism, has sued the university seeking reinstatement. That firm concluded after an 18-month investigation that Ms. Constantine had plagiarized the work of two former students and a former colleague.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/02/21/columbia.noose/index.html

(2)Ty McDonald, because of his actions, McDonald has been removed from his position with The DT. The policy of the editorial board for a plagiarism offense is immediate termination, a printed statement informing readers of the incident and a report of the violation being sent to Student Judicial Services. http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2008/02/05/Opinions/Dt.Columnist.Fired.For.Plagiarism-3187801.shtml

4. Read the following examples of plagiarism and the action that was taken because of it at one American university. Do you agree with the punishment in these cases? If yes, why. If not, explain why. Write your opinion on your blog
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/vpsa/judicialaffairs/students/plagiarism.cases.htm

Answer: