UPM-CALC/CEL2103 WRITING ACADEMIC TEXTS/SEM 1 2019-20

SCL WORKSHEET WEEK 6

SCL WORKSHEET WEEK 6

This is an individual activity for you to carry out.

The activities should be completed and submitted on EDMODO by the due date.

1. State the topic, controlling idea and the topic sentence in each of the following body
paragraphs.

Text 1

1
Some scholar argue that to be successful at university, students need to have the right
IQ level to be able to absorb huge amount of information from lectures and to be able to
questions the information given. 2Though this may be true to a certain extent, without the
right attitudes, these students might not even complete their studies. 3For instance,
students who do not have effective time managements will not be able to handle the full
course-load at the university. 4In addition, those who procrastinate may not be able to
complete their assignments on time, causing them to lose marks that determine their
CGPA.

Topic IQ level is important to be successful at university.

Controlling The right attitudes of student.

idea

Topic Though this may be true to a certain extent, without the right attitudes, these
sentence students might not even complete their studies.
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SCL WORKSHEET WEEK 6

Text 2

1
Many critics believe that it is immoral to use animals for research purposes. 2The
suffering from pain death during the research is considered as violation of animals’ right.
3
On the other hand, some believe that animal testing is considered as a noble act towards
humanity as it enables researchers to develop new medicine. 4Studies have proven that
vaccines for certain diseases cannot be developed without adopting animal testing.
For example, the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, arguably one of the most
important cancer drugs of all time, was developed with the aid of animal research.

Topic Animals for research purposes

Controlling Animal testing is a noble act towards humanity.

idea

Topic On the other hand, some believe that animal testing is considered as a noble
sentence act towards humanity as it enables researchers to develop new medicine.

Text 3

Opponents would argue that human cloning procedures would cause unacceptable risks
to the clone child even though it can be used to counter infertility. In fact a number of
research have proven that individuals with infertility issues are able to have their own
biological offspring though human cloning procedures. Nevertheless, there have been a
number of cases that revealed that these cloning procedures expose unacceptable risks
to the embryo. These cases prove that the cloning process is still imperfect and might
have serious flaws. For example, Wilmut’s group encountered 276 failures before Dolly,
was successfully cloned.

Topic Human cloning

Controlling Human cloning procedures help overcome infertility

idea

Topic Nevertheless, there have been a number of cases that revealed that these
sentence cloning procedures expose unacceptable risks to the embryo.
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SCL WORKSHEET WEEK 6

Text 4

Many would agree that e-books provide numerous reading flexibility advantages
particularly when they can be read anywhere and anytime as long as the Internet service
is available. Nevertheless, most would also agree that its flexibility also comes with
limitations. Not every book has an e-book version, and in some cases, it might come with
a higher cost. The price to subscribe or purchase these e-book might be more expensive
than the amount we usually pay for printed books. In addition, a study done by a group
of researchers from Cambridge University revealed that buyers often had to pay extra
charges when purchasing e-books if they wanted to have technical supports service from
e-book providers.

Topic e-books

Controlling Not every book has an e-book version and some are expensive
idea

Topic Not every book has an e-book version, and in some cases, it might come
sentence with a higher cost
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SCL WORKSHEET WEEK 6

2. Language Review

Topic sentence has to be written in a complete sentence with at least a subject and a verb,
and it must deliver a complete thought.

Look at the following samples. Tick the box if they are complete sentences.

1 Improving online social networks can help professionals communicate better. /

2 Because the opponents have a different view.

3 Animal testing for medical purposes.

4 Mobile phones have changed the way we communicate. /

5 Management of diabetic patients at government hospital.

6 Moving away from home can be a stressful experience for young people. /

7 Leaning a new skill increases a young adult’s self-esteem. /

8 Cyber security.

If young people are required to perform community service, they will develop
9 /
social awareness.

10 Corporal punishment in disciplining school students.

Setting up apprenticeship programs with universities will ensure fresh

11 /
graduates have good work ethics.

A study revealed that the major problem for many students is the high cost of
12 /
tuition fees and books.

13 Ways to improve the performance of athletes.

Despite the belief that mobile apps such as the WhatsApp has a negative
effect on the learning of the English language, it is undeniable that these apps
14 /
have indeed contributed in promoting the use of the English language outside
the classroom.

However, these claims are questionable as recent research findings have

15 shown that there is a direct link between aggression and violent television /
programmes.
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SCL WORKSHEET WEEK 6

3. Read the two excerpts given below. Find relevant information to support the following
opposing view and rebuttal arguments.

Text 1
During the first years of life, parents assume special importance in children maturity
development. As parents guide their young children from complete childhood
dependence into the beginning stages of autonomy, their styles of care giving can have
both immediate and lasting effects on children’s cognitive functioning in areas from moral
development to peer play to academic achievement. Ensuring the best possible outcome
for children requires parents to face the challenge of balancing the maturity and
disciplinary demands they make to integrate their children into the family and social
system while maintaining an atmosphere of warmth, responsiveness and support.
Research has generally linked authoritative parenting, where parents balance
demandingness and responsiveness, with higher maturity competencies in children.
Thus, children of authoritative parents possess greater competence in early peer
relationships, engage in low levels of drug use as adolescents, and have more emotional
well-being as young adults. Too much control and demandingness may limit children’s
opportunities to make decisions for themselves or to make their needs known to their
parents. This research has also uncovered significant associations between authoritative
parenting styles across generations as good parenting appears to be “passed on” through
the family.

Text 2
There have been numerous studies which have focused on various development issues
of children who live with single parents. For example, Weiss (2010) proposes that single
parent families share management responsibilities between parent and children and as a
result, the children tend to mature more quickly. Other studies have examined issues
such as the response of children to various forms of parental separation (Amato & Kane,
2011). A study by Greif (1985), examined the topic of children and housework in the single
parent family from a quantitative lens. A total of 1,136 single parents were given surveys
regarding their experiences. Greif (1985) found that children in single parent families were
more likely to participate in housework than children living in two parent families.
Typically, single parents do not recruit help from outside of the home; they either complete
the work by themselves or in conjunction with their children (Risman, 1986).

Topic:
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SCL WORKSHEET WEEK 6

Children raised by both parents have better maturity level compared to the children raised by
single parents.

Supporting point (Opposing view):

As both parents engage in their children life, it is most likely this parenting style have positive
influences on the maturity level of the children.

Supporting Details
Research has generally linked authoritative parenting, where parents balance demandingness
and responsiveness, with higher maturity competencies in children. Thus, children of authoritative
parents possess greater competence in early peer relationships, engage in low levels of drug use
as adolescents, and have more emotional well-being as young adults. Too much control and
demandingness may limit children’s opportunities to make decisions for themselves or to make
their needs known to their parents.

Supporting point (Rebuttal argument):

Despite the claims, the conventional wisdom may exaggerate the detrimental effect of parent’s
absence as children raised by single parents may develop better maturity level due to the
challenges faced.

Supporting Details
Weiss (2010) proposes that single parent families share management responsibilities between
parent and children and as a result, the children tend to mature more quickly. Greif (1985) found
that children in single parent families were more likely to participate in housework than children
living in two parent families. Typically, single parents do not recruit help from outside of the home;
they either complete the work by themselves or in conjunction with their children (Risman, 1986).
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SCL WORKSHEET WEEK 6

4. Based on the thesis statements, identify the opposing views and rebuttal arguments in the
following body paragraphs. Write the sentence number(s) of opposing view and rebuttal
argument in the space provided.

Text 1

Thesis Statement:
Although automation will bring positive impacts in balancing social welfare for developed
countries, there are different arguments stating that this emerging automation will bring
negative consequences in respect of job demand and economic development.

Body Paragraphs:
1
In the globalisation era, many opportunists take this advanced automation trend as a step to
maximise productivity regardless of how this implementation affects employments in certain
manufacturing companies. 2These companies are committed towards their stand that this
productivity enhancement technology will not raise any unemployment issues as the
technology is only implemented by giant companies. 3Majority of developed countries use this
technology at the highest level with minimal physical labour. 4This argument however, does
not take into account the impact that it has towards developing countries with high economic
deficiencies. 5There is a high possibility that lower-skilled jobs in developing countries will be
replaced with automation in order to achieve maximum productivity.
6
In addition, there are arguments claiming that the advanced usage of automation in the
industrial sector will reduce economic gap between developed countries and developing
countries. 7The impacts of automation technologies in boosting their economic development
in the industrial sector have already been experienced by developed countries such as
Australia. 8A study pointed out that the countries which utilise these technologies will gain a
major increase in their economic value annually. 9While this notion might be true in developed
countries, this implementation will also bring detrimental effects towards the developing
countries as it will widen the economic gap between both countries. 10The technologies will
deny these developing countries the opportunity for economic development as the
implementation might be irrelevant due to poor consumer demand.

Body Paragraph 1

Opposing view 1 1-3

Rebuttal argument 1 4-5

Body Paragraph 2

Opposing view 2 6-8

Rebuttal argument 2 9 -10

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Text 2

Thesis Statement:
Although many believe that single sex schools are better than coeducational schools, such
an educational system has its own flaws that would affect student development.

Body Paragraphs:
1
One of the important factors for students to succeed academically is by having a good
concentration in learning. 2Single sex schools with gender segregation classes will provide
better learning environment where students will be able to focus attentively during the
teaching as there is no distraction between the different genders. 3A study stated that students
from single sex education strive better than those who attend coeducational schools.
4
However, there are arguments stating that male and female students have good influences
in education towards each other. 5This is because coeducational schools provide a
competitive environment where students of different genders will have a healthy competition
and thus leading to a better academic result. 6In fact, recent studies have provided many
evidences to support this claim.
7
Next, apart from preparing students based on the education curriculum, schools are
considered as a platform for students to gain experience and develop their soft skills. 8As
there is no existence of gender stereotype in single sex schools, this will enable the students
to improve their social skills. 9The students can participate in various events and nurture their
soft skills without being intimidated or feeling shy towards the opposite gender.
10
Nevertheless, studying in single sex schools will not help the students to interact with
different genders. 11Thus, educating students in single sex schools will only limit the
opportunity for students to develop their social skills as the schools do not provide any
coeducational learning environment.

Body Paragraph 1

Opposing view 1 1–3

Rebuttal argument 1 4- 6

Body Paragraph 2

Opposing view 2 7- 9

Rebuttal argument 2 10 - 11