Writing Feedback / Should government funds be used for space exploration? [3]

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
Our government is spending millions of dollars in the area of space exploration. This expenditure represents a misdirection of funds. It would be far better to use these funds to improve our own society and to upgrade our living conditions.

What is your opinion of the idea that government funds should not be spent on space exploration but used for domestic purposes? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

The night sky winks at us, driving us insane with its alchemistic aura. Its vast space open for exploration and quenching our thirst for knowledge. We human beings, from the beginning of time, have been passionate predators to the unknown universe. Today, with the advancement of technology and the hunger to know more, it is obvious that funds will be generated and opportunities exploited to know more about space.

"One tiny step forward by man and a giant lead for mankind." The day Neil Armstrong landed on the moon will be remembered as an accomplishment for mankind. The thrill of space exploration has gone beyond curiosity. Today space is opening its doors for research and the availability of natural resources and materials. When evidence of water was found on the moon's surface, every human breathed a sigh of success. With our growing consumptions and fast depletion of Earth's resources, space has provided us with a bank of opportunity for sustainable development.

It has been 53 years after the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, into space and we have come a long way. The orbiting (and few stationary) artificial satellites have advanced communication on Earth enabling us to talk to anyone around the world, irrespective of distance. Weather forecast and meteorology, prediction of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes hurricanes and tsunamis, even testing of nuclear energy is all possible because of space development and satellite connections.

Though space exploration is expensive, it is hugely beneficial and has always succeeded in generating public interest. From Aristotle and Aryabhatta to Neil Armstrong and today's common people. Space has always been an important past of life and history. Our passion for learning about space and dreams of reaching the stars and moon can never be vanquished.

***

Writing Feedback / Is it better for people to be realistic or optimistic? - Feedback [5]

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.

In many circumstances, optimism-the expectation that one's ideas and plans will always turn out for the best-is unwarranted. In these situations what is needed is not an upbeat view but a realistic one. There are times when people need to take a tough-minded view of the possibilities of success, give up, and invest their energies elsewhere rather than find reasons to continue to pursue the original project or idea.

Adapted from Martin E. P. Seligman, Learned Optimism
Assignment:
Is it better for people to be realistic or optimistic? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Everyone dreams of reaching the zenith of success. By keeping the fire of hope and optimism alive, one can achieve all the impossibilities. Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed a thousand times, I have just learnt a thousand different materials that cannot be used to make a light bulb."

When Barak Obama became the first black president, it was not reason and being pragmatic that brought him to the White House. It was hope, constant persistence and sanguinity. Because of his hard work, across the world people believe that change can happen, life can turn out the way we want it to if we have the optimism for it.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was like any ordinary person. But he made himself different because he had a dream that he turned into reality with his constant optimism and his ability to encourage and inspire the people around the world. He was able to lead an entire nation towards independence. With his ideals of Ahimsa and Satyagraha, he became a Mahatma. Many such as Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr. Nelson Mandela, Dalia Lama, joined Mahatma Gandhi in spreading his ideologies.

What is life without its optimism? Every cloud has a silver lining; one just needs to spot that cloud. As Cecelia Adhern insists, "Shoot for the moon and if you miss you'll still be among the stars."

***

Writing Feedback / Edit essay - better life today vs. in nineteenth century - feedback [3]

Were the good old days actually all that good? We must remember that people living in the nineteenth century did not have all the modern conveniences that mane our lives easier. There were no airplanes or cars, no washing machines no televisions or computers. Therefore, it is better to live today in the modern world, than it was to live in the days of horse - drawn carriages.

What is your opinion of the idea that is it better to live today than it was to live in the nineteenth century? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Living in the contemporary world has many more advantages than living in the nineteenth century. Today life is simple, everything ready with just the click of a button. Technological advancements, medical discoveries, globalization - all of this put together have made life enjoyable and comfortable.

Today's life is technologically driven. The cell phone and computer have become the driving force of life completely. The world has become a smaller place with communication becoming so simple. We can talk to relatives living in any part of any country at any time. Communication has transformed from letters and rare encounters by horse - carriages in the nineteenth century. Now, we have emails, telephones and frequent travels because of the fast cars, trains and airplanes. We are also a lot safer since we are able to communicate with our parents and friends throughout the day with just the press of a button on our cell phones.

Another aspect of today's advancements is the boom in the field of medicine. When my mother broke her leg into four pieces two years back, she underwent an operation where an iron rod was installed in her leg. She can now walk and even run like before. This would not have been possible in the nineteenth century where medicine was a mixture of voodoo and postulates. Yet another innovation of the medical industry is the stem-cell. This technology enables doctors to regenerate torn tissues, disfigured organs, bone marrows, nerve cells and is also used to cure cancer.

Every century has its golden moments with the invention of the steam engines and the spinning mills in the nineteenth century. However, today we are absolutely enamored by the technology surrounding us. Life is much more convenient, healthy and pleasurable now.

***