Cover Letter

Dear mentor,

The essays I did are the evidence itself which shows that I had achieved the desired learning results. An example of it is my Argumentative essay. In my essay, I was able to critically think of the arguments I presented by basing my arguments on different references which have correct and precise information in it. I was also able to conquer my weaknesses on grammar, word choice and mechanics which I learned in this course. I make sure that I would be constructing organized ideas for clarity, conciseness and coherence. And being a Lasallian, I had practiced the values of intellectual honest; not only with this essay but also with the others. Base from the comments I received from my followers; it only shows that I really made a good essay.


The Desired Learning Result which I find difficult to achieve is the Effective Communicator. Although I evaluate and reflect on the different points I gave, I think I don’t deeply analyze on it. I somewhat develop my analytical and critical thinking but with no emphasis on the inferential and critical reading. It is hard to achieve since I don’t have any background study of it. I don’t read any articles or book will support my stand. I think it would be better if I will present my stand (evaluation and reflection) base from facts; therefore, I need to read a lot about the problem or topic which I’ll be presenting. As what I said before, it needs to be studied more basing from facts that will help support my answer. Also, I think I still commit some grammatical errors in writing. Although they sound grammatically correct, still they do not since they follow such rules. In order to achieve DLR which is to apply grammar rules, I’ll read more books in order for me to have practice and to get use to it.

The piece of evidence that I’m mostly proud of is my Extended Definition Essay. I really love to write about my experiences. These experiences have been became part of my lie that makes me wanting to share it to others. My extended definition is about True Happiness. What I meant by true happiness is not our desires in life but the love we share to others. True Happiness is really hard to attain. It needs to come from our heart in order for us to feel it. But ones we attain it, we will never regret that we did it, which is the love we gave to others! The comment I received from Miss is that I wrote from he heart. Well what she said was true, that is why I’m very prod of my work.

I learned many things in this course since I was able to achieve some of the goals that I had set. Not only that, I was able to discover myself having a little talent in writing. I really don’t love to write, but because writing is one of the requirements needed in this course, I discovered my self liking ‘writing’. I was then able to develop my skills in writing although I’m still a beginner. I was able to write an organize Idea, give the thoughts I have in mind and write them creatively, and lastly is to touch my readers with the lessons I put in it. Being a writer is not really that easy. Even if I write one, still it is hard to please the readers to truly appreciate my work.

In writing, we need to first have thoughts in mind I order to have our thesis statement and to put them in our outline. Our outline will help our thoughts to be organized. Second thing to do is to search about the topic I which want to make. In search them, it will help me to support the points that I will be discussing. Then I will think of how I would start my introduction appealing to the reader for the reader to continue reading. Because ones we started it with a bad introduction, this will cause the reader to stop reading since he is not interested anymore because the introduction I made. The body which I will be making should have all the thoughts in it. The main idea of the topic should be very well explained for the reader to correctly understand it. Lastly is the conclusion. In this part, all points should be summarized, it should give the readers recommendation to the problems and finally, it should have the conclusion of the topic. Writing is not that really easy but it is very satisfying if you were able to satisfy your reader with your work!

I justified the revision I did my giving good sources for my paper. These sources should have deep points that will really support my stand. An example of it is my extended definition which is about true happiness. First, I tried to use Wikipedia as my source for the dictionary meaning of the word happiness. I did not know that in writing a major paper we should not base our answer from that site since anyone can change the information stated there. What I did is to find a credible source to be a reference for my paper. From that on, I used a more credible source that will give facts and will truly support my paper.

I really learned a lot of things in this course. I was able to achieve the goals I had set. Thank very much Miss! The things I learned will not be only kept but also, I'll apply and use it for my succeeding years here in La Salle. I'll promise to practice the LA SALLIAN VALUES OF INTELLECTUAL HONESTY, PERSEVERANE, AND RESPECT for diverse opinions and ideas!

-Jhane Olalia

Table of Contents

Essays (Entry) Date Submitted Score/Perfect Score


Cover Letter 12/09/2011 NA

Extended Definition
-TRUE HAPPINESS 12/04/2011 NA


Argumentative Essay
-HUMAN CLONING-SCIENTIFICALLY EFFECTIVE 12/07/2011 NA

Paragraphs:

Comparison and Contrast
-ANDREW BUILDING: SHOULD I TAKE THE 'LONG"
STAIRS OR WAIT FOR THE 'LONG LINE' IN THE ELEVATOR? 10/21/2011 NA

Cause and Effect
-EFFECTS OF FILIPINO STREET FOODS. 10/10/2011 NA

Descriptive
-FILIPINO CUISINE, AN EXCEPTIONAL TASTE! 10/10/2011 NA

Human Cloning-Scientifically Effective?

Cloning is the creation of an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another. This means that every single bit of DNA is the same between the two (2011, par3). There are different ways to produce a clone, but one of the most common procedures is carried out by cell nuclear replacement. This procedure is often used because it is easier to target specific genes, so the DNA strands can be altered (Olson). In this procedure, the donor egg and a somatic cell from the animal are used to clone. The nucleus, which contains the genetic material, is removed from the donor egg and replaced with the nucleus from the cell of the animal to be cloned. "This creates a cloned embryo, which is then stimulated to begin dividing (Centre)" (2011, par3). Is human cloning essential for the improvement of our life?

There was a successful cloning of mammal, which is “Dolly”, a sheep. Since it was announced in the public, there were many speculations about trying it on humans. Scientific studies said that human cloning has a potential for medical problems like infertile couples, replace for a deceased child, cloning for medical purposes, Parkinson’s disease, burns and organ transplant. Yes, there may be some exceptional cases like above, but how sure are we that the cloned one is healthy? What are the risks that it involves? Still there are many things to consider in pursuing human cloning.

First, the identity make up of a person. Every individual is unique. We all have different DNA structures. If man is cloned, what about his identity, his personality, his dignity and his genetic structures? There will be no uniqueness in every person. It deteriorates our real identity. Also, it entails many risks. First, it has a high failure rate. There had been many experiments regarding cloning, but many of this had failed! Successful cases ranges only from 0.l-3%. Its reasons maybe because of the nucleated egg and the transferred nucleus, the compatibility, an egg with a newly transferred, nucleus may not begin to divide or develop properly, implantation of the embryo into the surrogate mother might fail, and lastly the pregnancy itself might fail. There can also be an abnormal gene patterns. For it to be normal, a complete reprogramming is needed, but an incomplete programming may cause abnormalities to its embryo. In dolly’s situation, it died earlier than the original sheep because its cells were aging faster where its telomeres are shorter than the normal ones. It really depends on the chance that one’s cell will have longer telomeres. But let us look on the positive and beneficial side, comparing to an animal cloning, it can also be helpful to have similar traits in having a clone. For example, a cow which gives the best milk can be cloned. In this, the cloned cow will also give the best milk. This may help in the production of good milk. Again, it sounds beneficial but still it is risky and the natural process found in our nature like life cycle, food chain, and other natural balance processes will be destroyed and will not all come natural!

Second is the abusive treatment of human in the field of cloning. Since Dolly is said to be the first successful mammal cloning, there had been immediate speculations in trying to make human cloning possible. The Los Angeles times revealed to the public about the “bladder Run” world of human replicants. It may be used for wars, for it is impossible to overcome since the cloned one is the strongest of all human existing in the world. Evilness can be seen in pursuing this. People became abusive. They use innocent people for profit making. They do not anymore consider the importance of human life. Now, legal issues require researcher and the public to help policymakers decide whether and how cloning technologies should be regulated by the government in order for the people not to be abusive (20011, par3).

Third is the ethical side of the human cloning. There had been moral, ethical, legal and social challenges regarding human cloning. By the means of cloning, a deceased child can be made “alive” to revive the happiness that a family is experiencing before. However, later on, they will realize that their child is different from the cloned one. From this verse in the bible: “And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed in to his nostrils the breath of life; and ma became a living soul. The Lord God then took one of his ribs and closed up his flesh instead thereof: and with the rib from which the Lord God had taken from man he created woman." God is one who created us. We are sons of God; we are exactly like Him. Therefore, no other man should make one like his identity other than Him.

Although cloning may help in the medical problems of human, still there are negative effects of pursuing it. People will lose their identity, and they will abuse the capability of cloning and lastly they will become unethical.

References:

“The Benefits of Animal Cloning” 123HelpMe.com 06 May 2009
www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=18713

Genetic Science Learning Center (2011, January 24) What is Cloning?. Learn.Genetics. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/whatiscloning/

Genetic Science Learning Center (2011, January 24) What is Cloning?. Learn.Genetics. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/cloningrisks/

Genetic Science Learning Center (2011, January 24) What is Cloning?. Learn.Genetics. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/clissues/


“The Cloning Debate.” 123HelpMe.com
Retrieved May 06, 2009, from
http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp? Id=17513.

“Cloning: A Breakthrough in Reproductive Technology.” 123HelpMe.com
Retrieved May 06, 2009, from
http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=31333.

“Ethics of Human Cloning.” 123HelpMe.com
Retrieved May 06, 2009, from
http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp? Id=15105.

True Happiness

Have you ever experienced True Happiness? How can you say that it was a ‘True Happiness’? Happiness is an ambiguous word which can be interpreted with a lot of meanings. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “Happiness” is a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience. Our negative emotions are taken away by our positive emotions, to the extent of contentment, which is a feeling of satisfaction or a sense of ease. This is just a simple meaning of happiness, but what then is ‘True Happiness’?

There was an article written by Bob Holmes, Kurt Kleiner, Kate Douglas, and Michael Bond (2004) which was entitled: “10 keys to True Happiness”. The first key is wealth. We all know that money can buy us happiness becauce we can get whatever we want by using it. Second is desire. If you really want to be happy, your desires are must be achieved. For example, your desire in winning the game you are to play, happiness will only be met, if you win the game we are to play. Once this desire has been met as we win the game, we feel happy. Third is intelligence. According to this article, intelligent people get better jobs and higher salaries than the ordinary ones. Therefore, they are more stable and have fewer problems since they can use their intelligence in making their plans. These first three keys are only superficial happiness. They are the happiness we attain when our needs and wants are needed. From these 10 keys to true happiness, I think true happiness can only be best achieved through their 9th key which is Charity. Sharing or giving what you have to others is a form of charity. Have you tried sharing or giving an important possession of yours, even if that thing has a sentimental value on you? Would you give it to a stranger? They said that if you try to give or share something to a stranger, you will experience a different kind of feeling, a feeling-like you are on the cloud nine floating free with bliss. This kind of happiness will not make you smile instead, will give you tears of joy. Charity can also be associated with the word ‘Love', as the second commandment states that you should “Love your neighbors as you love yourself”. Loving your neighbors is showed through sharing of blessings with them. We show generosity even if we are not getting anything in return because we do what we do out of love. That is why God made our heart, for us experience that genuine feeling in serving others, not to feel guilt, hatred and pride but to feel LOVE! In the end, the one who gives will realize that he gets more of what he shared, because a smile itself is a form of appreciation that is hard to get from others!

All things considered, we may say that true happiness doesn't ultimately come from getting the things that we want in life; for all the things we want now, we may not want tomorrow. This kind of happiness cannot be simply defined by the things that we receive. Similarly, it is in giving happiness that we receive happiness as well.

Indeed, true happiness is not just about making ourselves satisfied for the things we received but also, it is earning smiles from people we extended our hand with!

References:

Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). (1993). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.
Bond, M., Douglas, K., Holmes, B., and Kleiner, K. (2004). 10 Keys to True Happiness. Retrieved from: http://www.rd.com/health/10-keys-to-true-happiness/