Critical Writing Draft 5

After attending 10 weeks of ES1102 classes, I have learned more about the basic foundation of English which has helped to improve my writing. In my recent essay writing on globalisation, improvements can be seen in my essay’s organisation as compared to the organisation of my reader response.

Before the start of the semester, ideas in my essay were disorganised and often confused markers. However, after learning how one should be developed using a problem-solution organisational pattern, I believe that my globalisation essay writing is clear and easy to understand. Although this simple method makes it seem systematic and dull, it is always better than one that is difficult to understand.

Writing an essay is never easy. Thus, constantly and religiously writing essays frequently is the only way to improve my current writing skill. Also, I will seek the help of my peers to review my essays.

Critical Writing Draft 4

After attending 10 weeks of ES1102 classes, I have learned more about the basic foundation of English which has helped to improve my writing. In my recent essay writing on globalisation, improvements can be seen in my essay’s organisation as compared to the organisation of my reader response.

Before the start of the semester, ideas in my essay were disorganised and often confused markers reading them. However, after learning how one should be developed using a problem-solution organisational pattern, I believe that my globalisation essay writing is clear and easy to understand. Although this simple method makes it seem systematic and dull, it is always better than one that is difficult to understand.

Writing an essay is never easy. Thus, constantly and religiously writing essays frequently is the only way to improve my current writing skill. Also, I will seek the help of my peers to review my essays.

Critical Reflection Draft 3

After attending 10 weeks of ES1102 classes, I have learned more about the basic foundation of English which has helped to improve my writing. In my recent essay writing on globalisation, improvements can be seen in my essay’s organisation as compared to the organisation of my reader response.

Before the start of the semester, ideas in my essay were disorganised and often confused markers reading them. However, after learning how one should be developed using a problem-solution organisational pattern, I believe that my globalisation essay writing is clear and easy to understand. Although this simple method makes it seem systematic and dull, it is always better than one that is difficult to understand.

Writing an essay is never easy. Thus, constantly and religiously writing essays frequently is the only way to improve my current writing skill. After writing them, I will find out where my mistakes are by seeking out peers to review my essays and not make them again in my next writing.

Critical Reflection Draft 2

After attending 10 weeks of ES1102 classes, I have learned more about the basic foundation of English which has helped to improve my writing. In my recent essay writing on globalisation, improvements can be seen in my essay’s organisation as compared to the organisation of my reader response.

Before the start of the semester, ideas in my essay were disorganised and often confuse markers reading them. However, after learning how one should be developed using a problem-solution organisational pattern, I believe that my globalisation essay writing is clear and easy to understand. Although this simple method makes it seems systematic and dull, it is always better than one that is difficult to understand.

Writing an essay is never easy. Thus, constantly and religiously writing essays frequently is the only way to improve my current writing skill. After writing them, I will find out where my mistakes are and not make them again in my next writing.

Week 12 - Critical Writing

Critical Reflection on Essay Writing

After attending 10 weeks of ES1102 classes, I have learned more about the basic foundation of English which has helped to improve my writing. In my recent essay writing on globalisation, improvements can be seen in my essay’s organisation as compared to the organisation of my reader response.

Before the start of the semester, ideas in my essay are disorganised and often confuse markers reading it. However, after learning how an essay should be developed using a problem-solution organisational pattern, I believe that my globalisation essay writing is clear and easy to understand. Although this simple method makes my essay seems systematic and dull, it is always better than an essay that is difficult to understand.

Writing an essay is never easy. Thus, constantly and religiously writing essays is the only way to improve my current writing skill.

143 words

Essay Draft 2

There are varying definitions of globalisation but in short, globalisation is the interchange of goods, services, technology and ideas between countries worldwide. As a result, countries are not only inter-connected, they are inter-dependent as well. Though globalisation has brought about great wealth to many, it has also resulted in a widening income gap in many countries, and Singapore is not an exception. Singapore’s Gini-Coefficient stands at 0.478 (Department of Statistics Singapore, 2012, p.1), which makes Singapore’s income inequality the highest amongst other highly developed nations. High income disparity is never a good feature for it can potentially destroy the delicate social fabric that Singapore has taken years to build. While the exchange of money, people and ideas will never cease, and income inequality can never be eradicated, income inequality can be reduced through strong government policies and good, effective governance.

Globalisation has worsened the rich-poor divide as it has increased the entry of low-cost labour, depressed wages and thus, allowed the rich to profit (Chan, 2012). Due to technological advances, people can now commute from one country to another with ease. Being a bustling business hub, Singapore naturally attracts low wage workers from China, India and other developing countries (Chan, 2012).There is thus, increased competition and access to cheap labour (Chan, 2012). As a result, employers would rather hire a foreign worker at a lower cost than a Singaporean at a higher wage. Hence, wages are kept low and stagnate, while the rich continue to profit. Singapore’s mantra, a prosperous economic growth equates to a successful country, since the 1960s is simple. However, this motto cannot be fulfilled considering the fast pace of globalisation and the social unrest stirring in Singapore. To aggravate matters, the Singapore government does not have a minimum wage policy. In an attempt to reduce income inequality, the Singapore government has reduced the quota of foreign workers to curb the flux of foreign labour entering Singapore (Toh, 2013). However, there have been no significant signs of improvement and Singapore’s Gini-Coefficient still remains high, thus ascertaining that curbing the number of foreign workers can only do so much. In my opinion, the government needs to implement a minimum wage policy or agreement in order to reduce the rich-poor divide. Countries such as Switzerland have made use of collective bargaining agreements between the employers and employees such that lower skilled workers earn between 2,200 and 4,200 Swiss Francs while the minimum salary of skilled workers ranges from 2,800 to 5,300 Swiss Francs (Said, 2013). Lower skilled workers in Canada too earn C$9.50 to C$11 per hour which translates to C$16, 710 annually (Said, 2013). These two highly developed nations have implemented a minimum wage policy and agreement to achieve extreme low levels of income disparities in the world. Thus, foreign labour or not, workers are paid justly and income inequality is kept to a low.

With globalisation, there will always be a constant influx of new and advanced technology which will reduce and replace menial jobs and intensified the income gap between higher-skilled workers and lower-skilled workers (IMF, p.47). After all, “Technological change favours those with higher skills” (IMF, p.47). By reducing the demand for lower-skilled activities and increasing the premiums for higher-skilled activities, those at the bottom stagnate while those at the top continue to climb the social ladder (IMF, p.47). This lack of upward social mobility amongst the middle to lower income groups will only worsen the distribution of income in advanced economies like Singapore (IMF, p.47). Many working Singaporeans from the lower and middle-class find themselves stagnating and unable to progress in their careers. As it is difficult to keep up with the pace of technological advances and the transfer of technology, the only way to make such advanced technology more accessible is to educate and upgrade the skills of workers. The Singapore government may have upgrading schemes for workers but they are not enforced tightly enough. By making education and such upgrading plans a priority, less-skilled and low-income groups can take advantage of the opportunities globalisation has created (IMF, p.56). Effective governance is imperative as well in order to execute such ambitious plans. Without the commitment of the government to its own citizens, it will not be able to protect the welfare of its own people, and citizens will eventually lose hope.

Globalisation is an inevitable force and Singapore, being an open economy, is right at its heart of the driving force. Interconnectedness of the world has created benefits but it has also intensified the rich-poor divide. Current policies executed by the Singapore government are insufficient and policies such as the minimum wage, which has shown to be effective in other developed nations, need to be considered. Combined with good governance, Singapore will be able to reap even more benefits from globalisation and thus, curb income inequality.

Reference List

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/budget-2013-foreign-worker-levies-go-quotas-services-and-marine-sector (Toh Yong Chuan, Feb 25 2013)

http://www.singapolitics.sg/fast-facts/tackling-income-inequality (Robin Chan, 2012)

http://www.therichest.com/business/the-top-10-countries-with-the-highest-minimum-wages (Sammy Said, 2013)

http://www.imf.org/external/Pubs/FT/weo/2007/02/pdf/c4.pdf (IMF)

http://www.singstat.gov.sg/Publications/publications_and_papers/household_income_and_expenditure/pp-s19.pdf (Department of Statistics Singapore)

Essay Draft

There are varying definitions of globalisation but in short, globalisation is the interchange of goods, services, technology and ideas between countries worldwide. As a result, countries are not only inter-connected, they are inter-dependent as well. Globalisation has brought about great wealth to many but it has also brought about an increasing widening income gap in many countries and Singapore, is not an exception. Our Gini-Coefficient stands at 0.478 (Department of Statistics Singapore, 2012, p.1), which makes Singapore’s income inequality the highest amongst other highly developed nations. High income disparity is never a good thing for it can potentially destroy the delicate social fabric that Singapore has taken years to build. While the exchange of money, people and ideas will never cease, and income inequality can never be eradicated, income inequality can be reduced through strong government policies and good, effective governance. Globalisation has worsened the rich-poor divide as it has increased the entry of low-cost labour, depressed wages and thus, allowed the rich to profit (Chan, 2012). Due to technological advances, people can now commute from one country to another with ease. Being a bustling business hub, Singapore naturally attracts low wage workers from China, India and other developing countries (Chan, 2012).There is thus, increased competition and access to cheap labour (Chan, 2012). As a result, employers would rather hire a foreign worker at a lower cost than a Singaporean at a higher wage. Hence, wages are kept low and stagnate, while the rich continue to profit. Singapore’s mantra for a successful country since the 1960s is simple- prosperous economic growth will result in a successful country. However, this motto cannot be fulfilled considering the fast pace of globalisation and the social unrest stirring in Singapore. To aggravate matters, the Singapore government does not have a minimum wage policy. In an attempt to reduce income inequality, the Singapore government has reduced the quota of foreign workers to curb the flux of foreign labour entering Singapore (Toh, 2013). However, there have been no significant signs of improvement and Singapore’s Gini-Coefficient still remains high. Globalisation is an abominable force that cannot be stopped and curbing the number of foreign workers can only do so much. In my opinion, the government needs to implement a minimum wage policy in order to reduce the rich-poor divide. Countries such as Switzerland may not have an explicit minimum wage policy but they have collective bargaining agreements between the employers and employees. Lower skilled workers earn between 2,200 to 4,200 Swiss Francs while the minimum salary of skilled workers ranges from 2,800 to 5,300 Swiss Francs (Said, 2013). Lower skilled workers in Canada too earn C$9.50 to C$11 per hour which translates to C$16, 710 annually (Said, 2013). These two highly developed nations have implemented a minimum wage policy and achieved one of the lowest levels of income disparities in the world. Thus, foreign labour or not, workers are paid justly and income inequality is kept to a low. With globalisation, there is a constant influx of new and advanced technology. Technology has thus, reduced and replaced menial jobs and intensified the income gap between higher-skilled workers and lower-skilled workers (IMF, p.47). After all, “Technological change favours those with higher skills” (IMF, p.47). By reducing the demand for lower-skilled activities and increasing the premiums for higher-skilled activities, those at the bottom stagnate while those at the top continue to climb the social ladder (IMF, p.47). This lack of upward social mobility amongst the middle to lower income groups will only worsen the distribution of income in advanced economies like Singapore (IMF, p.47). Many working, lower to middle-class Singaporeans find themselves stagnating and unable to make a fast career progression. As it is impossible to suppress technological advances and the transfer of technology, the only way to make such advanced technology more accessible is to educate and upgrade the skills of workers. The Singapore government may have upgrading schemes for workers but it is not enforced tightly enough. By making education and such upgrading plans a priority, less-skilled and low-income groups can take advantage of the opportunities globalisation has brought about (IMF, p.56). Effective governance is imperative as well in order to execute such ambitious plans. Without the commitment of the government to its own citizens, the government will not be able to protect the welfare of its own people and citizens will lose hope in the government. Globalisation is an inevitable force and Singapore, being a small and open economy, is right at its heart of the driving force. Interconnectedness of the world has brought about benefits but it has also intensified the rich-poor divide. Current policies executed by the Singapore government are insufficient and policies like minimum wage which has shown to be effective in other developed nations need to be considered. Combined with good governance, Singapore will be able to reap even more benefits from globalisation and thus, curb income inequality. Reference List http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/budget-2013-foreign-worker-levies-go-quotas-services-and-marine-sector (toh yong chuan, feb 25 2013) http://www.singapolitics.sg/fast-facts/tackling-income-inequality - robin chan 2012 http://www.therichest.com/business/the-top-10-countries-with-the-highest-minimum-wages/ - (Sammy Said 2013) http://www.imf.org/external/Pubs/FT/weo/2007/02/pdf/c4.pdf (IMF) did not specify date, do not put date when referencing http://www.singstat.gov.sg/Publications/publications_and_papers/household_income_and_expenditure/pp-s19.pdf (department of statistics singapore)

Week 6 - Reader Response (Final)

In Nayan Chanda’s work, Runaway Globalisation Without Governance, the ideas presented by the author focus on the problems that arise from a gap between globalisation and governance. Although Nayan brought up the pros of the increasing interconnectedness of the world, he argued that without up-to-date governance, the costs of globalisation will always weigh more than the benefits and eventually be the downfall of the world. One issue that caught my eye was about how a fast-growing world population in a ‘shrunken’ world has contributed to a worsening environment. Without the cooperation and compromisation of major players, such as the United States, the environmental issue is further aggravated. This issue has reminded me of a case which I studied in 'O' level Geography - Kalimantan's deforestation. Massive population growth has led to an increase in demand for agriculture landuses and settlements. Therefore, a rapid rate of deforestation has been ongoing for the last few decades. What's worse than large-scale deforestation was that the 'slash and burn' method was adopted as it was so much cheaper than employing labours to clear the forest. Even though rules and regulations are implemented to make this method illegal, these laws are often insufficient as economic progression is more important to Indonesia. Without proper and stringent rules, Kalimantan has been causing recurring events of haze in the Southeast Asian region. Living in Singapore, I can report first hand that the haze has caused many people to suffer from health problems such as asthma. In Singapore, globalisation has resulted in an influx of foreign workers competing for jobs with the locals. As foreign labour is cheaper as compared to the locals, locals often have to lower their expectations when they are searching for a job. This has been the root of the widening income gap in Singapore when rich entrepreneurs reap the benefits of lower cost of productions in their businesses while the middle and low income groups have to resign to fate and accept lower wages in order to survive in a country with high cost of living. Furthermore, Singapore's continuous efforts in attracting foreign investors have increased property prices, making it almost impossible for the younger generations to begin a family as easily as before. Statistics have shown that, over the past 40 years, salary of a fresh university or polytechnic graduate has increased by about 4.5 times while price of a flat has increased by 19 times. I believe this is because Singapore's government is not able to keep up with the speed of globalisation by implementing new immigration policies to control the influx of foreigners and also does not want to stop reaping the benefits of globalisation which have allowed Singapore grows consistently in GDP over the years. Being a university student who will be in the workforce in a few years' time, I am really troubled by how globalisation has resulted in Singapore's high cost of living and how little effort the government is putting in to intervene in this problem.

Week 5: Summary (Runaway Globalisation Without Governance) Correction

Globalisation has been too fast for countries to impose international regulations, which has led to more repercussions. Man’s aspirations have brought about an increase in trade and travel but have led to environmental and health issues too. Globalisation has also brought about tariffs, the stealing of technology and even plague. As the world continues to ‘shrink’, national security becomes increasingly important as the world is more prone to terrorist attacks and even war. However, the pressing concern will be the dangers of nuclear weapons and the consequences of mishandling it. Furthermore, the need to keep up with the world’s rapid growing population has posed a threat to the world’s climate and environment. Although there have been instances amidst globalisation where countries have co-operated, it did not require much compromise from any country. In the case of the United States, its refusal to lead and solve the challenges posed by globalisation has left our world in danger.

Week 5: Summary (Runaway Globalization Without Governance)

Globalisation has been too fast for countries to impose international regulations, which has led to more problems than before. Man’s aspirations have brought about an increase in trade and travel but have led to environmental and health issues too. Globalisation has also brought about tariffs, stealing of technology and even plague. Although there have been instances amidst globalisation where countries have co-operated, it did not require much compromise from any country. As the world continues to ‘shrink’, national security becomes increasingly important as the world is more prone to terrorist attacks and even war. However, the pressing concern will be the dangers of nuclear weapons and the consequences of it if abused by man. Lastly, the need to keep up with the world’s rapid growing population has posed a threat to the word’s climate and environment. Furthermore, the United States’ refusal to lead and solve the challenges posed by globalisation has left our world in danger.

Week 4: Summary on 'Scary Oil'

Rises in oil prices are detrimental to the global economy. Oil prices increase because of distress between military conflict between Israel and Iran. Previous global recessions, leading to the tremendous increase in oil prices, were caused by the political tensions in the Middle East. US and Israel will use military means to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, which could be the reason for the next global recession.

Week 2: Reflecting Writing

Working as a vet assistant for the past 6 months has opened my eyes to the world. There may be lots of animal cruelty happening in Singapore but i am glad that there are also people, who are extremely compassionate, helping out animals in need. Spaying and neutering stray cats and dogs is one of the most common type of operations we perform in the clinic as it is the most important step to reduce the number of strays in Singapore. Moreover, sterilising these animals can help to prevent prostate cancer and other illnesses that can develop when they grow older. Working in an animal clinic has taught me to be more compassionate to animals and that, even though we are of different species, everyone should play a part in helping them.