Writing Feedback / 'Nowadays, students study a gamut of subjects in different fields'. TOEFL - Writing question [2]

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Universities should require students to study many subjects in different fields rather than just their major subjects.

Nowadays, universities require their students to study a gamut of subjects in different fields rather than just their major subjects. Yet it is an inefficient method of education and needs to be changed. I believe universities should not make their students to study many subjects in different fields.

First, it is easier for the students to focus on a single subject rather than a wide range of subjects. Completing a major requires a student to study significant number of courses in a particular area. If they have to study more number of subjects, focusing on all of them will be a task. For instance, a student of majors in architecture when forced to study subjects irrelevant to her field will be unable to focus not only on her major subject but also on the other subject assigned by the university. This would hamper the grades of the student and also her state of mind.

Second, majoring in a subject makes one a master of that area. This provides a better career prospects for the student. The companies while hiring will know that you have special expertise of the subject and they will provide better growth prospects. However, if many subjects are forced upon a student and if the student somehow manages to complete all the subjects, it will still hinder the student's career aspects. For instance, if a company is hiring a candidate with Java skills it will prefer a candidate with majors in programming rather than a candidate with generalized resume. The company will presume the latter candidate to be jack of all and master of none.

All in all, it is always preferable for the students to study in their major subjects rather than a wide range of subjects in different irrelevant fields.

Writing Feedback / We learn to talk, walk, differentiate good from bad, and learn manners from our parents. TOEFL Essay [3]

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Obviously, the first teacher in any child's life in most cases is his/her parents. We learn to talk, walk, differentiate good from bad, and learn manners from our parents. Parents, more than anyone else, are most involved in our leaning and development, shape our individuality, and build the foundation of what we truly are. Hence, I agree with the statement that parents are the best teachers.

Parents are the best teachers in the beginning of our lives. It is from them that we learn to respect our elders, or treat other people. They sacrifice their comforts for the betterment of our future and because we spend so much time with our parents, we tend to inherit some of their qualities. We become a reflection of our parents. From where I belong, when a girl gets married she is thought to be a true reflection of her mother. The values and morals taught by her mother are regarded very highly and are frowned upon if she fails to display them.

Parents consistently guide us throughout our lives. Irrespective of how old we become, we can always trust our parents for a rightful guidance. Their teaching is uninterrupted and goes on for as long as forever. For instance, when I was a little child I remember my mom teaching me to remain calm and speak politely to my cousins when I used to get angry on them for taking my toys. She inculcated an important value in me, that is, she taught me to remain calm in most difficult situations. Though this value did not seem very obvious when I was a child, it did helped me time to time.

Though parents cannot be classifies as professional teachers, they contribute to the maximum in our lives. Biased at times, they wish good things and an easy life but they always help us to grow as an individual. In conclusion, while parents are not the most ideal teachers and a well-rounded child needs a diversity of teachers to have broader learning, parents are still the most committed of all and have greater investment in learning and development of a child.

Writing Feedback / Children being the most naive and easy target of the media influence, become a victim. GRE essay [3]

Some people believe that increasing violence in the media is the cause of increasing violence in our society, especially among children. Others believe that children's peer groups and parental role models are a much more influence on children's behavior.

With the advent of technology, a myriad of resources have come to our door's step in past decade or two. These resources are not only easily accessible but also very influential. Their influence is not limited to any age group or gender. As the world progresses towards a better standard of living, it also progresses towards disparate wealth distribution and talent. With sophistication, violence has increased too due to these factors and media of all resources plays a very vital role in evincing these incidents to people. More than anyone else, today's youth is prone to these puissant influence. And it won't be wrong to deem that violence in media is causing violence is society, especially children.

Invention of television, computers, laptops, and other high speed gadgets with the corroboration of internet have given us access to the entire world. Media is supposed to be the most powerful entity on this world as they have the power to control the mind of the masses. And though some may disagree with the degree of media's influence on children and believe that children's peer groups and parental role models influence children's behavior more than media, the trend of media cannot be overlooked. For instance, children today demand iPhones and iPads, and tablets and are seen more prone to them than playing on a playground. My niece, in her spare time, likes to tweet about her projects and read fashion blogs than go out and play hide and seek.

Media, though informative if taken in a right way, can direct negative mind set too. Media can prove some one guilty and reprehensible or innocent. Shows that enact a crime give pernicious ideas and when not perceived in an appropriate way can be very derogatory. For example, recently in news a child was caught imitating a stunt from a dangerous film and escaped a dangerous injury had her mother not walked in on him. Parents and peer group can inculcate values and influence thought process only to a point. Media can change the way a person thinks in time of crises and depression. When a child is bullied, more often than not he will block out his parents and others. This is where media's influence comes into picture.

All in all, though parental role models and peer groups can influence a child's behavior a lot. Media on a greater scale has a role to play towards society. Children being the most naive and easy target of this influence, become a victim. Hence, increasing violence in media is the cause of increasing violence in our society.