1/12/13

BAI TABLE FOR EXPENDITURE

The table compares figures for expenditure on 3 categories of products and services in 5 selected countries.

Overall, it is clear that all five countries spent by far the largest proportion of money on Food/Drinks/tobaco, whereas the spending on Leisure and Education was lowest.

More specifically, Turkish people spent the most substantial percentage on Food/drinks/tobaco and on Leisure/education compared to other nations, at slightly over 32 percent and under 4.5 percent respectively. 
By contrast, the spending on Food/Drinks/tobaco in Italy was more than 15% and Spanish consumers expenditure was lowest among 6 countries, at only 1.98 percent.

Italy, however, spent up to 9 percent on Clothing, while the figure recorded in Ireland, Spain and Turkey was approximately 6.5%, 1% larger than Sweden’s spending proportions.

The figure for consumer expenditure on leisure/education reported in Italy and Sweden was roughly 3.2%, while the second lowest spending on these services was seen in Ireland, at over 2 percent. 

BAI CHUA VE WASTE PRODUCTION CHO LOP IELTS CHUA HA




WASTE PRODUCTION IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

The table compares the quantity of waste produced by 6 different countries in 1980, 1990 and 2000.

Overall, it is clear that there was a growth in the figure for waste production at varying degrees in almost all countries, except Korea. In addition, the US produced by far the most substantial amount of waste.


More specifically, in 1980, Americans produced 131 million tons of waste. The figure went up by 20 million tons in the next decade and reached slightly over 190 million tons by 2000. Similarly, the second largest waste producer, Japan, witnessed a double increase in waste figures. By contrast, there was no data about Koreas waste output; however, between 1990 and 2000, a dramatic decline from 31 to 19 in waste quantities was reported in this nation.

Over the period, Poland and Portugal shared a similar pattern. In particular, both countries saw a steady growth in the quantity of waste produced by 1 to 2 million tons each 10 years. By comparison, the most noticeable surge in the figure for waste materials was recorded in Ireland, by eight times from just over 0.5 to 6 million tons. 

9/11/13

A BAD HABIT (PICKING MY NOSE-NGOÁY MŨI) NATURAL STYLES

A BAD HABIT

CHỦ ĐỀ NÀY YÊU CẦU NGƯỜI NÓI PHẢI PHÁT HUY SỞ TRƯỜNG VỀ VĂN KỂ THEO LỐI NATURAL STYLE

TRONG BÀI NÀY, MÌNH SẼ CHỌN

NGOÁY MŨI: TO PICK MY NOSE

DỈ MŨI: BOOGERS

XÌ MŨI: TO BLOW MY NOSE


WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ONE HABIT SHARED BY MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD: PICKING ONE'S NOSE. HONESTLY, I DID LIKE PICKING MY NOSE TOO MUCH WHEN I WAS A PRIMARY STUDENT.

AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER, I STARTED DOING SO QUITE UNCONSCIOUSLY, MAINLY BECAUSE I COULD NOT STAND MY NOSE BEING FILLED WITH BOOGERS. EVERYONE AROUND ME BEGAN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS TERRIBLE HABIT, SAYING THAT IT REALLY ANNOYED THEM AND IT WAS A SIGN OF IMPOLITENESS, HOWEVER I JUST FAILED TO GET RID OF IT EVERY TIME I TRIED. FINALLY, MY  MOTHER CAME UP WITH AN IDEA, WHICH WAS ASKING ME TO TAKE NAPKINS ALONG. ALL WHAT I HAD TO DO THEN WAS BLOW MY NOSE WITH NAPKINS.


TO BE FRANK, WITHOUT MY MOTHER'S ADVICE, I COULD NEVER HAVE GIVEN UP THAT HABITUAL ACTION. 2 YEARS AGO, MY TWO CHILDREN DEVELOPED THE SAME HABIT, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, MY MOTHER'S SOLUTION WORKED FOR THEM AGAIN.


MỘT SỐ THÓI QUEN KHÁC: BẤM BÚT: CLICK THE PENS
                                                                       CRACK YOUR KNUCKLES/NECKBONE
                                                                       SNIFFLE
                                                                     
ĐƯỜNG LINK THAM KHẢO ORAL VOCABULARY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe_KVPPbfPM

8/11/13

LIKE OR DISLIKE EXAMPLES

LIKE OR DISLIKE

A. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORT

SỬ DỤNG HATE VÀ CANNOT STAND

WELL, I HATE TRAVELLING BY MASS TRANSIT MOST SINCE I OFTEN FAIL TO FIND A SEAT ON THESE VEHICLES. WORSE THAN THAT, I CAN NOT STAND PEOPLE TALKING LOUDLY. 

B. WHAT DO DISLIKE ABOUT TRAVELING OVERSEAS

WELL, I CANNOT STAND PEOPLE TALKING TOO FAST, ESPECIALLY IN ENGLISH ALTHOUGH I HAVE STUDIED THIS LANGUAGE FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS. FURTHERMORE, WHAT ANNOYS ME MOST IS THE TASTE OF EXOTIC FOOD FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. 

C. DO YOU LIKE SPORTS

WELL, DEFINITELY YES. HOWEVER, I ONLY LOVE SPORTS ON TV AS IT IS NOT TOO TIRING. IN FACT, I OFTEN SPEND 2 HOURS EVERYDAY WATCHING FOOTBALL PROGRAMS AND ALMOST THE WHOLE WEEKEND ON BASEBALL MATCHES ON SCREEN. 

3/10/13

SPEAKING: DESCRIBE A PLACE YOU WOULD LIKE TO VISIT IN THE NEAR FUTURE

WELL, I AM CURRENTLY LIVING IN A SMALL AND LESS AFFLUENT COUNTRY, THEREFORE, TRAVELLING ABROAD CAN BE SEEN AS A LUXURIOUS HOBBY. HOWEVER IF I HAVE A CHANCE TO GO OVERSEAS, I WILL LIKELY OPT FOR AMERICA.
LET’S MOVE ONTO THE SOURCE OF MY INFORMATION ON THE USA, IN FACT, I GOT ACCESS TO THE DATA ON THIS COUNTRY WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD. WHEN I HAVE GROWN UP AND KNOW HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH, I MAINLY SEARCH THE NEWS AND CULTURE OF AMERICA ON MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS AND INTERNET.
THROUGH  MASS MEDIA, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE USA IS WHERE MANY SMASHES WERE PRODUCED. IN FACT, BUT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOLYWOOD, WE COULD NEVER HAVE SEEN MANY OVERWHELMING SCENES IN CARIBBEAN PIRATES OR SPIDERMAN. MOREOVER, WHEN TRAVELLING TO AMERICA, IT WILL BE A PITY IF YOU MISS VISITING GOLDEN BRIDGE. THE VIEW OF BREAKING DAWN REFLECTED TO THE WATER IS ABSOLUTEL Y AWESOME.

HOAC

FROM MANY PEOPLE'S VIEW, AMERICA IS BEST FEATURED THROUGH THE IMAGES OF HOLYWOOD OR GOLDEN BRIDGE, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKING DAWN OR THE SUNSET. NEVERTHELESS, I AM MOST ATTRACTED BY THE TIME SQUARE, WHERE I CAN SEE MANY VISITORS/INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS FEEDING PIGEONS ON A PATIO. HONESTLY SPEAKING, THE SCENE ALWAYS BRINGS ME A SENSE OF PEACE.


FINALLY, IF THERE IS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT DESPITE THE SUBSTANTIAL TRAVELLING EXPENSE, I DO BELIEVE THAT ONE DAY, I CAN GRAB AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY AMERICA A VISIT. 

POVERTY OR WEALTH

Children who are brought up in families that do not have large amounts of money are better prepared to deal with the problems of adult life than children brought up by wealthy parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

 In contemporary society, where the gap between the rich and the poor is inevitable, it is believed that children who were born into impoverished families are able to solve problems that they encounter later in their adulthood than those living in wealth. Personally, I totally agree with the statement given for several reasons. Initially, there is no doubt that poor children are more flexible in dealing with their own hardships. In fact, they already get used to manage their own life without sufficient financial conditions. Without money, these children often have to write on scrap paper as a replacement for colorful notebooks which often belong to those enjoying an absolutely comfortable lifestyle. Similarly, they may be seen bring leftover of the previous night’s dinner to school in order that their parents do not have to worry much about their lunch and refreshments. Obviously, when they have grown up, they not only know how to economically manage their life, but also bravely confront their financial difficulties.

 Besides, I would also argue that as needy children have to fight to address their own problems, they are apparently more independent in the decision-making process than those having wealthy parents. For children suffering from poverty, waiting for their parents’ attention to their concerns is hopeless since they are well aware that their top priority is earning money. Therefore, when being bullied at school, for example, they tend to come up with a variety of solutions and select the best one based on their own consideration. From my own point of view, I do assume that this definitely helps them become more decisive and avoid being heavily dependent on others’ help in later life.

In conclusion, from all of the arguments mentioned above, I am strongly convinced that wealthy children can never be compared with those living in poverty in dealing with the problems of adult life as the latter are better prepared with a greater sense of independence and flexibility.

25/8/13

Energy consumption vs production test builder 2





The line graph reveals striking differences between consumed energy quantities and the amount of energy produced from 1950 and 2000 and also presents some forecasted figures for the 2000-2025 period.

It is initially noticed that the gap between us consumption and production becomes increasingly dramatic although both experience considerable growth. More specifically, between 1950 and 1975, the gap between the quantities of energy consumed and produced was minimal with a twofold increase seen in both (from approximately 25 to over 50).

However, while a rising amount of energy was consumed between 1975 and 2000 (from 60 to 95), the figure for energy produced fluctuated around 60. Hence, in this period, energy had to be imported to bridge the widened gap. The discrepancy between energy consumption and production is predicted to become far more drastic during the 2000-2025 period. With a double rise from 75 to roughly 150 in the demand, the increase from 65 to 85 in the supply is supposed to fail to meet the consumers’ need.


In summary, it is possibly realized that energy production in America is not keeping up with consumption based on both past and projected figures. 

27/7/13

tea process


The pictures illustrate how tea is grown in an 8 step process and how a cup of tea is made through 10 steps
At the first stage in the process, tea is grown in india and china, where tea seeds are spread on farmland. Once tea plants grow under sunshine, farmers pick tea leaves manually and put them into baskets. Tea leaves are then dried in the sunlight. After that, they are boxed and transported/dispatched to supermarkets.
To prepare a cup of tea, customers have to purchase tea boxes from stores and supermarkets. At home, water is boiled and a tea bag is put into a cup. Next, the boiling water is poured into the cup. The tea is left for 2 minutes and sugar and/or milk is added. Finally, the tea is served hot.



























28/6/13

16/6/13

TOPIC NÓI THEO CHỦ ĐỀ-TỪ VỰNG VÀ MẪU CÂU PHÂN TÍCH

1. Cooking and restaurants

-places: eatery, restaurant, cafeteria
-run of the mill eateries: =typical/average restaurants (idiom)
-swanky restaurant= expensive restaurants
-to eat out=to dine /dain/ out

a. how often do you eat out in restaurants.

cach tra loi: well, I imagine it would depend on........Like for instance,/Like more specifically, If (tinh huong 1), then I'll most likely do....../... Whereas in contrast/on the other hand, if.............(tinh huong 2) I will more likely...............

eg. well, i imagine it would depend on the weather. Like for instance, if it is crisp and fresh (troi lanh lanh de chiu), I will most likely prepare some home-cooked food. Whereas in contrast, if it is scorching or chilly (nong vat va/lanh kinh khung), i will more likely dine out.

15/6/13

HUONG DAN BAI VIET TASK 1 MIEU TA 2 BIEU DO

HƯỚNG DẪN VIẾT BÀI IELTS TASK 1 MIÊU TẢ 2 BIỂU ĐỒ
A.      XÁC ĐỊNH MỐI QUAN HỆ GIỮA HAI BIỂU ĐỒ: SO SÁNH, HAY BỔ TRỢ
B.      XÁC ĐỊNH CÁC TỪ THỂ HIỆN COHERENCE VÀ COHESION SẼ PHẢI SỬ DỤNG TRONG BÀI
C.      XÁC ĐỊNH XEM BIỂU ĐỒ NÀO THỂ HIỆN MAIN FEATURES RÕ RÀNG HƠN
D.      XÁC ĐỊNH BIỂU ĐỒ NÀO CHỨA NHIỀU THÔNG TIN HƠN, KHÔNG LOẠI TRỪ CÓ NHỮNG TRƯỜNG HỢP CẢ 2 BIỂU ĐỒ ĐỀU CHỨA LƯỢNG THÔNG TIN NHIỀU NGANG NHAU


US DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
XEM DE BAI O CUON TASK 1 CUA MATT CLARK

MỞ BÀI: GIỚI THIỆU CẢ HAI BIỂU ĐỒ VÀ NHỮNG PHẦN CHÍNH SẼ ĐƯỢC ĐỀ CẬP: WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE?
THÂN BÀI: MIÊU TẢ BIỂU ĐỒ ĐẦU TIÊN, VÀ CÁC CONTRASTIVE VÀ COMPARATIVE FEATURES CÓ TRONG CÁC MAIN FEATURES HOẶC TRENDS TRONG ĐÓ.
IN TERMS OF THE BAR CHART,…. NHẬN XÉT RẤT NGẮN VỀ NÉT CHUNG CỦA BIỂU ĐỒ 2 (TRENDS, HOẶC NHỮNG THAY ĐỔI..)
KẾT LUẬN.

VÍ DỤ

A GLANCE AT THE COMBINATION OF THE TABLE AND THE BAR CHART PROVIDED REVEALS AN OVERVIEW OF US DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES BETWEEN 1990 AND 2006.

IT IS INITIALLY NOTICED THAT TOTAL US POPULATION IN 2006 WAS REPORTED TO BE 300 MILLION, APPROXIMATELY 1.5 TIMES HIGHER/LARGER THAN THE 1966’S NUMBER.  IN ADITION, WHILE WHITE AMERICANS MADE UP THE LARGEST PROPORTION DURING THE PERIOD, THE GROWTH RATE RECORDED WAS MUCH LOWER THAN OTHER GROUPS. MORE SPECIFICALLY, AFTER 40 YEARS, THE FIGURE FOR WHITE AMERICANS ROSE  STEADILY FROM SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 167 MILLION TO 201 MILLION, WHEREAS THE BLACK DEMOGRAPHIC AND THE SECTOR OF OTHER ETHNICITY DOUBLED AND TRIPLED IN SIZE RESPECTIVELY. BY COMPARISON, ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AND HISPANIC EXPANDED THE FASTEST, BY NINEFOLD (FROM 1.5 MILLION TO 14.3 MILLION) AND BY FIVE TIMES (FROM 8.5 MILLION TO 44.7 MILLION) ACCORDINGLY.

IN TERMS OF US POPULATION GROWTH, DESPITE SOME ERRATIC PATTERNS, THE POPULATION IN AMERICA GREW BY TWOFOLD, AS THE BAR CHART SUGGESTS. TO BE MORE DETAILED, AFTER THE FIRST THREE DECADES OF FLUCTUATIONS AROUND 15 MILLION, THE AMERICAN POPLUTATION EXPERIENCED A QUADRUPLE RISE OVER THE 1931-1960 PERIOD, FROM 7 MILLION TO 28 MILLION. THIS GROWTH WAS FOLLOWED BY A GRADUAL DROP IN THE SUBSEQUENT 40 YEARS BEFORE US POPLATION FIGURES PEAKED AT 33 MILLION IN 2000.
                               

IN SUMMARY, GREATER EXPANSION COULD BE EVIDENTLY SEEN IN AMERICAN POPULATION OVER THE 1990-2000 PERIOD  AND THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES OCCURRED TO HISPANIC AND ASIAN AMERICANS BETWEEN 1966 AND 2006

13/6/13

CAMBRIDGE 9-WRITING TASK 1-TEST 3

AI BAO CAM 9 LA DE NAO? DE BAI NGAI UP LAM NEN MOI NGUOI XEM DE TRONG CUON CAM 9 NHE, O DAY UP BAI MINH VIET THOI, VI DOC MAY BAI MAU TREN BLOG IELTS MA KHONG HIEU, TRONG KHI CUU IELTS EXAMINER-SIMON THI VAN CHUA CHUA BAI TREN TRANG IELTS SIMON NHE.



TASK FULFILLMENT
THE PIE CHARTS COMPARE DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES IN 3 DIFFERENT POPULATION GROUPS IN 2000 AND REVEAL SOME ESTIMATIONS FOR 2050 IN YEMEN AND ITALY.

IT IS INITIALLY NOTICED THAT IN 2000, WHILE THE LARGEST PROPORTION REPORTED IN ITALY WAS THE 15-59 YEAR OLD GROUP, THE 0-14 YEAR OLDS IN YEMEN WERE IN THE MAJORITY. MORE SPECIFICALLY, UP TO 61.6 PERCENT OF ITALIANS WERE IN THE 15-59 YEAR OLD DEMOGRAPHIC AS OPPOSED TO 46.3% RECORDED IN YEMENT. NEVERTHELESS, BY 2050, AN EXPANSION BY 11 PERCENT IS EXPECTED IN YEMEN, WHEREAS THE PERCENTAGE OF 15-59 YEAR OLD ITALIANS IS FORECASTED TO SHRINK BY ALMOST 15%.

 IN 2000, SOLELY 3.6 PERCENT OF YEMEN’S POPULATION WAS OVER 60 YEARS OLD. THE FIGURES IS PREDICTED TO GROW BY SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 2 PERCENT AFTER 5 DECADES. CONVERSELY, APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER OF ITALIAN PEOPLE WERE IN THE 60+GROUP, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO DOUBLE IN SIZE AFTER 50 YEARS.
IN TERMS OF THE 0-14 YEAR OLD SEGMENT, BY 2050, ROUGHLY 40 PERCENT OF YEMENT’S CITIZENS ARE PROJECTED TO BE 0-14 YEAR OLDS, 10 PERCENT LOWER THAN THE STATISTICS RECORDED 50 YEARS AGO. ON THE CONTRARY, THE FORECAST SHOWS THAT THE 0-14 YEAR OLD DEMOGRAPHIC IN ITALY IS 11.5 PERCENT, 3 PERCENT LESS THAN THE 2000 LEVEL.


IN SUMMARY, AFTER HALF A CENTURY, THE 60+SEGMENT IN YEMEN AND THE SECTOR OF 0-14 YEAR OLDS IN ITALY ARE EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE MINOR CHANGES, COMPARED TO OTHER GROUPS. 

BÀI VIẾT SO SÁNH 3 BIỂU ĐỒ VỀ CHI TIÊU CỦA 1 TRƯỜNG HỌC

ĐỀ BÀI



Tối nay xem web của Simon, một cựu ielts examiner thì được cái hướng dẫn như thế này, mình dựa trên đó và ý của mình để viết một phần hướng dẫn có thêm thắt chút ít ý tưởng của bản thân và đưa 1 bài mẫu ở dưới của mình (có tham khảo Simon’s approach rất nhiều)
A.      MỞ BÀI:
B.      THÂN BÀI
B.1 OVERVIEW

TÌM RA CHI TIÊU NÀO CAO NHẤT TRONG CÁC NĂM VÀ CHI TIÊU NÀO LÀ NHỎ NHẤT TRONG CÁC NĂM
1.       Phần chi tiêu lớn nhất ở tất cả các năm là tiền lương giáo viên
2.       Phần chi tiêu thấp nhất là của tiền chi cho bảo hiểm
CỤ THỂ:
ĐOẠN 1:
-So sánh giữa lương giáo viên và lương công nhân, dựa vào sự khác nhau giữa xu hướng của hai phần chi tiêu: lương giáo viên tăng, lương công nhân giảm.
ĐOẠN 2:
-Dù tiền chi cho bảo hiểm đã tăng gấp 4 so với năm đầu tiên nhưng nó vẫn là một khoản chi rất nhỏ . resources book và furniture đều nhận được 15% vào năm 1981 nhưng sau 20 năm thì resources giảm còn………… trong khi furniture tăng lên……
ĐOẠN
KẾT LUẬN:

Có thể nhận thấy rằng tiền bảo hiểm chỉ là một phần rất nhỏ so với tiền lương nói chung 


MỘT SỐ TỪ DÙNG ĐỂ GIÚP ĐỠ CÁC BẠN TRONG BÀI NÀY: THE PROPORTION OF SPENDING ON X IS/WAS……………….. THE PERCENTAGE OF EXPENDITURE FOR X WAS…………. X/Y OCCUPIED/MADE UP/ACCOUNTED FOR 25% PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE X/Y RECEIVED A SPENDING PROPORTION OF……………… THE PROPORTIONAL SPENDING ON…../FOR……X………WAS………… 25 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE RECEIVED EVENLY 15 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL SPENDING THE LARGEST PROPORTION WAS SPENT ON……X Y WAS THE LOWEST COST Task fulfillment
A glance at the combination of the three pie charts provided reveals the changes in spending figures in a British school from 1981 to 2001.

It is initially noticed that over a 20 year period, the largest proportion of the school’s finance was spent on teachers’ salaries, while insurance was the smallest expenditure in each year. More specifically, in 1981, teachers’ salaries accounted for 40 percent. The figure grew slightly to 50 percent in the subsequent decade, however dropped to 45% in 2001. In sharp contrast, workers’ wages, which made up merely 28 percent, fell gradually to 15 percent over the whole period.

In 1981, resources and furniture evenly received 15 percent of the total expenditure. However, after 2 decades, while the percentage of finance funded for furniture and equipment peaked at 23%, a 6 percent fall could be evidently seen in the proportion of resources. In terms of insurance, despite a quadruple growth from 2 percent to 8 percent recorded between 1981 and 2001, the proportional spending on insurance remained to be the lowest cost.

In summary, it is apparent that the spending proportion on insurance was marginal in comparison with salaries percentages. 

10/6/13

READING FOR WRITING (ARGUMENTS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT)


Retribution

First a reminder of the basic argument behind retribution and punishment:
  • all guilty people deserve to be punished
  • only guilty people deserve to be punished
  • guilty people deserve to be punished in proportion to the severity of their crime
This argument states that real justice requires people to suffer for their wrongdoing, and to suffer in a way appropriate for the crime. Each criminal should get what their crime deserves and in the case of a murderer what their crime deserves is death.
The measure of punishment in a given case must depend upon the atrocity of the crime, the conduct of the criminal and the defenceless and unprotected state of the victim.
Imposition of appropriate punishment is the manner in which the courts respond to the society's cry for justice against the criminals.
Justice demands that courts should impose punishment befitting the crime so that the courts reflect public abhorrence of the crime.
Justices A.S. Anand and N.P. Singh, Supreme Court of India, in the case of Dhananjoy Chatterjee
Many people find that this argument fits with their inherent sense of justice.
It's often supported with the argument "An eye for an eye". But to argue like that demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of what that Old Testament phrase actually means. In fact the Old Testament meaning of "an eye for an eye" is that only the guilty should be punished, and they should punished neither too leniently or too severely.

The arguments against retribution

  • Capital punishment is vengeance rather than retribution and, as such, is a morally dubious concept
  • The anticipatory suffering of the criminal, who may be kept on death row for many years, makes the punishment more severe than just depriving the criminal of life
    • That's certainly true in the USA, but delay is not an inherent feature of capital punishment; some countries execute people within days of sentencing them to death
Some people are prepared to argue against retribution as a concept, even when applied fairly.

Deterrence

Capital punishment is often justified with the argument that by executing convicted murderers, we will deter would-be murderers from killing people.

The arguments against deterrence

  • The statistical evidence doesn't confirm that deterrence works (but it doesn't show that deterrence doesn't work either)
  • Some of those executed may not have been capable of being deterred because of mental illness or defect
  • Some capital crimes are committed in such an emotional state that the perpetrator did not think about the possible consequences
  • No-one knows whether the death penalty deters more than life imprisonment
Deterrence is most effective when the punishment happens soon after the crime - to make an analogy, a child learns not to put their finger in the fire, because the consequence is instant pain.
The more the legal process distances the punishment from the crime - either in time, or certainty - the less effective a deterrent the punishment will probably be.
Cardinal Avery Dulles has pointed out another problem with the deterrence argument.
Executions, especially where they are painful, humiliating, and public, may create a sense of horror that would prevent others from being tempted to commit similar crimes...
...In our day death is usually administered in private by relatively painless means, such as injections of drugs, and to that extent it may be less effective as a deterrent. Sociological evidence on the deterrent effect of the death penalty as currently practiced is ambiguous, conflicting, and far from probative.
Avery Cardinal Dulles, Catholicism and Capital Punishment, First Things 2001
Some proponents of capital punishment argue that capital punishment is beneficial even if it has no deterrent effect.
If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call.
John McAdams: Marquette University, Department of Political Science

Rehabilitation

Of course capital punishment doesn't rehabilitate the prisoner and return them to society. But there are many examples of persons condemned to death taking the opportunity of the time before execution to repent, express remorse, and very often experience profound spiritual rehabilitation.
Thomas Aquinas noted that by accepting the punishment of death, the offender was able to expiate his evil deeds and so escape punishment in the next life.
This is not an argument in favour of capital punishment, but it demonstrates that the death penalty can lead to some forms of rehabilitation.

Prevention of re-offending

It is undeniable that those who are executed cannot commit further crimes.
Many people don't think that this is sufficient justification for taking human life, and argue that there are other ways to ensure the offenders do not re-offend, such as imprisonment for life without possibility of parole.
Although there have been cases of persons escaping from prison and killing again, these are extremely rare.
But some people don't believe that life imprisonment without parole protects society adequately. The offender may no longer be a danger to the public, but he remains a danger to prison staff and other inmates. Execution would remove that danger.

Closure and vindication

It is often argued that the death penalty provides closure for victims' families.
This is a rather flimsy argument, because every family reacts differently. As some families do not feel that another death will provide closure, the argument doesn't provide a justification for capital punishment as a whole.

Incentive to help police

Plea bargaining is used in most countries. It's the process through which a criminal gets a reduced sentence in exchange for providing help to the police.
Where the possible sentence is death, the prisoner has the strongest possible incentive to try to get their sentence reduced, even to life imprisonment without possibility of parole, and it's argued that capital punishment therefore gives a useful tool to the police.
This is a very feeble justification for capital punishment, and is rather similar to arguments that torture is justified because it would be a useful police tool.

A Japanese argument

This is a rather quirky argument, and not normally put forward.
Japan uses the death penalty sparingly, executing approximately 3 prisoners per year.
A unique justification for keeping capital punishment has been put forward by some Japanese psychologists who argue that it has an important psychological part to play in the life of the Japanese, who live under severe stress and pressure in the workplace.
The argument goes that the death penalty reinforces the belief that bad things happen to those who deserve it. This reinforces the contrary belief; that good things will happen to those who are 'good'.
In this way, the existence of capital punishment provides a psychological release from conformity and overwork by reinforcing the hope that there will be a reward in due time.
Oddly, this argument seems to be backed up by Japanese public opinion. Those who are in favour currently comprise 81% of the population, or that is the official statistic. Nonetheless there is also a small but increasingly vociferous abolitionist movement in Japan.
From an ethical point of view this is the totally consequentialist argument that if executing a few people will lead to an aggregate increase in happiness then that is a good thing.

5/6/13

pdojfs

While some people cling to the idea that career choices should be based on graduates’ personal interest, others place more importance on handsome salary. Personally, I support the view that the pursuit of a favorite occupation and a sense of fulfillment/a sense of satisfaction are far more significant than high income.
Initially, there is no doubt that only the job you have been dreaming of can inspire your creativity and maintain your enthusiasm for work. In fact, with the lifetime passion for a particular field, the number of ideas young people would like to launch can surprise every employer. Furthermore, the love for the career may be converted into a great dedication to the job, which cannot be recognized in those, who are financially motivated.  A dramatic example can be evidently seen in the fact that a variety of professors are currently working overtime for months to find out the proof to underpin their studies.

Another fact worth mentioning is finance cannot be compared to the sense of satisfaction you obtain from the job. To be more specific, a graduate who wants to be a tourist guide may found working from   nine to five absolutely annoying. Another typical instance is that an undercover policeman may refuse to do paperwork despite high wages since he opts for dangers, risks and adventures. Apparently, satisfactory working environment and features of a job often outweigh finance. 

Vocabulary for speaking based on topics

Vocabulary for speaking based on topics: outdoor activities and healthy eating ( examples attached)

Sports and outdoor activities
The pursuit of smt (happiness)
Personal interest
To breathe*  the fresh air
To feel the wind in one’s face
The bracing* air (cold but full of energy)
Idioms and phrasal verbs: to opt for smt/to opt to do smt
                       
                  To do smt out in the open air
Eg. How often do you do outdoor activities
Well, as soon as I am free from my work pressure, perhaps every Saturday and Sunday, I tend to opt for outdoor activities as the best way to refresh myself by breathing the fresh air when I have a picnic out in the open air.
Eg. Do you like outdoor activities?
Well, compared to/in comparison with indoor activities, outdoor games are far more favorite, for me at least. Actually, I am extremely into feeling the wind in my face or enjoying the bracing air while playing football or going camping.
Healthy eating

Idioms and phrasal verbs
To pig out on smt (to eat smt much, absolutely smt not very healthy)
To be in good shape/in good condition
Junk food=snack
A fast food joint = a restaurant serving fast food
To munch on smt /to chomp
Eg. Is fast food popular in your country?
Well, in my nation, convenient food is absolutely a favorite choice. First, everybody in contemporary times works flat out/is on the go, therefore, they often munch on burgers or pizzas on the way to work. Moreover, fast food joints are everywhere, thus, they can drop by quite easily.
Eg. Do you think eating healthy food is important?

Frankly speaking, food containing a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals are absolutely indispensable. Initially, they offer us energy and good health. Furthermore, eating healthily can help you be in a good shape since the cholesterol level and sugar amounts are low. 

3/6/13

SHOULD CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS BE BANNED?



Task fulfillment
It is universally acknowledged that smoking represents a major contributor to fatal diseases. Hence, many people cling to the idea that cigarettes and products containing tobacco should be illegalized by the states for the sake of public health security. Personally, I definitely share the same opinion for several reasons.

First and foremost, both tobacco products and cigarettes contain nicotine, which is actually an addictive substance.  Smokers, therefore, have to spend a colossal amount of money on bulky purchases. Consequently, the individual budget for fundamental demands apparently declines, diluting the quality of their life. Furthermore, the states’ wealth also increasingly pours into medical care for the patients of illnesses resulting from breathing the smoke and the cigarette ash. In fact, this phenomenon can be considered as a waste of both individual’s and government’s fund.

One further argument in favor of prohibiting tobacco products and cigarettes is that they pose particular threats to public health. To be more specific, smoking can be regarded as both indirect and direct causes to incurable illnesses ranging from cardiovascular blockage to lung cancer due to substantial increases in cholesterol level, or in sugar amounts in blood and blackened lungs. Thus, if the governments in the whole world take a prohibitionist approach to these illicit products, there will be a striking improvement in the health security of the citizens.


By way of conclusion, in the face of the harm caused by both tobacco and cigarettes in terms of finance and health to individuals and governments, it is extremely urgent for official authorities/governmental bodies to take legal action promptly. 

ESSAY: THE INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS INTO NEW SOCIETY

Nowadays, more people are migrating to other countries than ever before. In order to become integrated into society in their adopted countries, immigrants should abandon their old ways and adapt to local customs and codes of behavior. 

Task fulfillment

It is widely acknowledged that a substantially increasing number of people are currently moving overseas. As a result, there is a thorny question raised about their integration into new society. From my own perspectives, besides getting adapted to new rules and attitudes, immigrants have to filter out the home countries’ negative conventions and  develop the precious intangible cultural assets.

On the one hand, there is no doubt that there are particular regulations in the foreign countries that immigrants should comply with for the sake of social order. Obviously, traffic may become chaotic with congestion taking place everywhere if everyone drives on one side of the road. Therefore, it is vital for all these people to be law-abiding regardless of the difference between the regulatory systems in the two nations. Moreover, observing other people’s conventional manners apparently helps newcomers become integrated into the new community more quickly. A dramatic example can be evidently seen in the fact that you will be welcomed in Japan if you show a serious attitude to the job assigned.

On the other hand, it is also vital for immigrants to protect their positive traditions and abandon the negative conventions derived from their motherland. First and foremost, preserving time-honored rituals and customs can apparently promote their patriotism and reduce homesickness. In fact, celebrating distinctively traditional holidays can be considered as an effective way to become more inspiring for the new life. In sharp contrast, it is a must for new settlers to refrain themselves from widely-held wrong assumptions and prejudice. For instance, the notion that children are not allowed to get married without parents’ consent should be eliminated since it is not rationally accepted in European nations and many other parts around the globe.


By way of conclusion, from all the arguments above, I am strongly convinced that for immigrants, while certain adjustments to their predominant social attitudes towards new regulations and lifestyles are inevitable, it is also highly recommended for them to maintain their positive cultural values and irrational suppositions. 

31/5/13

FORMAT FOR CAUSAL ANALYSIS (CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAYS)

đây là phần lý thuyết do Simon, một ex-ielts examiner biên soạn ra, mọi người đọc sau đó đón xem phần phân tích bài mẫu của simon do mình làm ở phía dưới nhé (update sau)

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'ageing population' topic

In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.
Some advice:
- Write 4 paragraphs: introduction, problems, solutions, conclusion.
- You don't need to separate ideas about individuals and ideas about society. Just mention something about both in your paragraphs.
      Some ideas:
      Problems
      - an increase in the number of retired people who will receive a pension
      - a smaller proportion of young adults = smaller working populations
      - a greater tax burden on working adults
      - demand for healthcare will rise
      - young adults will have to look after elderly relatives
      Solutions
      - people may have to retire later; the state pension age will rise
      - medical advances and health programmes might allow elderly people to stay healthy and work for longer
      - people should be encouraged to have more children
      - governments could encourage immigration (in order to increase the number of younger adults)

      IELTS Writing Task 2: agree, disagree, or both?

      CÁI NÀY COPY CỦA SIMON, MỘT EX-IELTS EXAMINER NHÉ! BÀI VIẾT THỰC HÀNH CỦA

      MÌNH SẼ ĐƯỢC UPDATE SỚM PHÍA DƯỚI PHẦN LÝ THUYẾT CỦA SIMON

      IELTS Writing Task 2: agree, disagree, or both?

      For 'agree or disagree' essays, do you think you should give both sides of the argument or just one side? The answer is that you can do either.
      A) Essay structure for one side of the argument:
      1. Introduction: topic + your opinion (either agree or disagree)
      2. First idea to support your opinion
      3. Second idea to support your opinion
      4. Conclusion: repeat your opinion
      B) Essay structure for giving both sides:
      1. Introduction: topic + say that you 'partly agree'
      2. On the one hand,...
      3. On the other hand,...
      4. Conclusion: repeat that you accept elements of both arguments
      Remember: it's very important to get the introduction right. This tells the examiner whether you are going to give one side of the argument or both sides.

      và đây là đề bài và bài mẫu

      đề bài: men and women are different in terms of their characteristics and abilities. For this reason, some jobs are better done by men and others by women.

      task fulfillment:

      In contemporary times, a substantially increasing number of women are working in the field traditionally dominated by men and vice versus. While a thorny question related the discrepancy between males’ and females’ performance owing to the differences in characteristics and abilities is currently raised, it is my personal belief that either people of either gender are capable of fulfilling any job assignment effectively.

      Unquestionably, men and women are distinctive in terms of characteristics. More specifically, women are often regarded as having a great gift in communication, and being far more suitable for occupations requiring deliberation. In sharp contrast, it is conventional knowledge that men are far more decisive and best perform in the positions in need of physical strength. In fact, the supposition seems too precarious since these stereotypes are not always accurate and there are also several exceptions. Apparently, a man can achieve a fruitful success as a nurse thanks to his dedication to taking care of patients and a woman can perform absolutely well as an electrical power engineer with her strength. Conventional gender roles are not appropriate for everybody, actually.

      In addition, in the age of information and technology when education is best facilitated, there is hardly any gap in females’ and males’ capabilities. In actual fact, improvements can be made both physically and intellectually for both genders. With the support of advanced technologies and distinctive sources of data and documents, either men or women can retrieve the best way to make up their own weaknesses or shortcomings resulting from their conventional gender roles, if any. Dramatic instances can be seen in the efforts that women have been making in vigorous exercises for an enhancement in the durability and persistence. Likewise, a variety of spokesmen have actually been discovered to be self-taught in the field of communication thanks to the down-to-earth tips from social work forums.


      In conclusion, although typical stereotypes do exists among two genders and may have led to some misleading views in terms of the predominance of each sex in particular occupations, these conventional traits are not always reliable and attempts can also be made to improve the pre-existing situations. I am therefore strongly convinced that there should be a wide-open gate to their favorite profession for every person regardless of gender. 

      IELTS Writing Task 2: 'language learning' topic

      Đây là phần bài outline ý của Simon- 1 ex-ielts examiner

      IELTS Writing Task 2: 'language learning' topic

      Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
      1. Introduction: Topic = best age to learn a foreign language. Our opinion = better to learn at primary school age.
      2. Disadvantages of learning languages at primary age: other subjects are more important at that age (maths, mother tongue language, science), learning a new language is confusing and wastes time, could delay development of child's first language.
      3. Advantages of learning languages at primary age: young children learn faster, they are less self-conscious or shy, they pick up the pronunciation better, they enjoy copying and learning through games, nowadays languages are just as important as maths etc.
      4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise our answer.
      The plan took us 10 minutes to write. With a plan like this, it should be easy to write a good essay in 30 minutes.

      và đây là bài làm của mình


      In contemporary times, it is acknowledged that foreign languages should be included in the primary school curriculum by some scientists. While I admittedly agree that teaching foreign languages at such an early age may pose several particular threats, I realize that the benefits offered outweigh the drawbacks.

      Initially, there is no doubt that learning a new language may delay the development of child’s first language. In fact, children may encounter numerous problems when trying to distinguish their mother tongue from the foreign language. A dramatic example can be evidently seen in teaching English for primary students from countries of pictographic languages. Another fact worth mentioning is that the introduction of fundamental scientific subjects ranging from Maths to Basic Chemistry is far more significant for small children compared to foreign languages.

      Nevertheless, the merits of acquiring a new language are unquestionably far more considerable owing to the nature of their mental and the possibility to form effective learning habits for primary school children. First and foremost, it is obvious that very young learners are less self-conscious and shy, which helps them practice oral communication substantially better than adults, who are normally afraid of making mistakes. In addition, it is also noticeable that they are not much influenced by their mother tongue’s pronunciation and spelling, which apparently facilitates their second or foreign language acquisition. One further benefit is derived from the fact that studying languages in primary schools develops their habitual learning through reading passages, conversations with teachers, and vocabulary on flashcards or notes.

      By way of conclusion, from all the arguments above, the disadvantages are considered to be just marginal in comparison with the advantages. Hence, I am strongly convinced that every child should be taught at least a foreign language at the age from 6 to 10. 

      25/5/13

      A PIECE OF WRITING ON ADVERTISEMENT


      Advertisements are getting their way into our lives. Discuss the effects of advertisements of people. Should all ads be banned. 



      BAI LAM: 


      The existence of advertisements has been globally acknowledged. Hence, the influences that they have been placing on our lives are absolutely inevitable. The essay is going to discuss the benefits and drawbacks possibly brought by advertisements in further details and answer the question whether they should be legally prohibited or not.

      Initially, there is no doubt that a variety of merits are offered by leaflets, posters and commercials. First and foremost, advertising is a definitely invaluable tool helping consumers get access to an abundant source of information related to the brand new goods. Examples can be evidently seen in the introduction of usage, side effects as well as precautions stated in medical pamphlets. Additionally, commercials provide potential customers not only lively illustrations of the commodities but also an opportunity to compare the price ranges and the features of similar lines of product.

      On the other hand, the negative aspects can be recognized in terms of the distorted truth and the explicit content and violence in certain commercials and posters. In fact, quite a great number of characteristics are exaggerated with the aim of persuading consumers to spend a colossal amount of their budget on massive purchases for products repeatedly advertised on Chinese Best Buy SCJ Life On. 
      In terms of the threat posed by advertisements, the conspicuously featured female bodies and violence also deserve a mention. Supposed to be extraordinarily appealing to the audience, a substantial quantity of posters and commercials are designed with the explicitness of aggressive behaviors and indecent exposure, which are absolutely harmful to juveniles.  

      In fact, if different kinds of advertisements are further propagated, a regulatory system of such distinctive punishments as fines, lifetime sentence or even death penalty depending on each case should be particularly applied in case the mental maturity of adolescents may be negatively affected. In addition, the contents of advertisements should be legally filtered out before being allowed to be officially circulated or broadcasted on mass media.

      By way of conclusion, from all the arguments above, the disadvantages that advertisements may cause are just marginal in comparison with the advantages. However, the former should be by no means neglected by the law and the regulations. 

      2/5/13

      Vocabulary for Doctoring Sales

      Paragraph B:

      1. gadget  (noun) a small tool or device that does sth useful (ˈɡædʒɪt )

      Example: cooking gadgets

      2. honoraria (n)


       ˌɒnəˈreəriəm 
      plural honoraria
       ˌɒnəˈreəriə  
      (formal)
      a payment made for somebody's professional services
      3. ethical judgement 
      4. extravagance  ɪkˈstrævəɡəns (n)
      1. the act or habit of spending more money than you can afford or than is necessarySuch extravagance is shameful when there are people starving in the world.something that you buy although it costs a lot of money, perhaps more than you can afford or than is necessary
      Going to the theatre is our only extravagance.
      something that you buy although it costs a lot of money, perhaps more than you can afford or than is necessary
      Going to the theatre is our only extravagance.
      emblazon (v)
      to decorate something with a design, a symbol or words so that people will notice it easily
      emblazon A with B baseball caps emblazoned with the team's logo
      emblazon B on, across, etc. A The team's logo was emblazoned on the baseball caps.
      scrutiny (n) careful examination  ˈskruːtəni (N) , ˈskruːtənaɪz (V)

      SYNONYM
       inspectionHer argument doesn't really stand up to scrutiny.Foreign policy has come under close scrutiny recently.The documents should be available for public scrutiny.The situation is bound to come under the scrutiny of the public health authorities.

      15/4/13

      Reading for Writing Sports and Peace/Patriotism 1

      Sports can be a priceless gift to humanity, offering a path to emotional fulfillment, health, fitness, and happiness. In each community, people from all parts of society are drawn together to play on local teams. On certain occasions, whole communities will stop all business, drop all barriers, forget grudges, and join in celebrating their favorite team’s victory. For those of us who yearn for peace and norms of good sportsmanship, channeling the power and youthful dynamic within sports is critical. The United Nations recognized this potential and declared 2006 as the "Year of Sports and Physical Education." 

      Sports provides youth around the world with opportunities to play sports, experience the norms of sportsmanship, and develop the bonds so essential for trust and friendship. The Interreligious Peace Sports Festival is a unique model of sports, culture, and religious celebration. In 2007, the UPF worked in Guatemala with the Ministry of Peace to promote cross-cultural cooperation and sportsmanship in schools across the nation and in Israel to offer a Celebration of Life sports program in Carmel that drew together students from each of Israel's diverse communities. A variety of effective athletic programs are being organized: 

      Play Football Make Peace


      Playing football provides opportunities for underserved youth to play in football (soccer) competitions. In addition to skills training, participants receive education aimed at developing and strengthening each player's character through the values that make for good sportsmanship in an exciting program called "The Way of the Champion." Participants include coaches, sports officials, and athletes. In Jordan, Estonia, and the Ukraine it has made a significant impact on how sports—football in particular—are presented to the youth of their country. This year’s focus is on training coaches to strengthen the character-building and teamwork aspects of the sport. 

      Interreligious Peace Sports Festival

      The Interreligious Peace Sports Festival (IPSF) draws young athletes from many nations and religious traditions into an environment where they can live together, play and compete, while experiencing friendship and cultural sharing. This unique sports program creates a model of interreligious cooperation at a time of widespread tensions and misunderstandings among people of different religions. There is vigorous competition in seven popular sports, complemented with other activities including morning reflection time and evening international cultural performances, all designed to create experiences of living together as a global family. For many participants, it is a turning point in their life. 

      Sports for Peace

      A new project is reaching out to youth in four target groups: underserved populations, new immigrants and refugees, people living in or near conflict areas, and indigenous peoples. The sportsmanship education utilizes an experiential learning model. Initial programs took place in India and Sri Lanka. In the mountainous area of Wayanad, in India’s southern Kerala state, tribal youth with few opportunities to play in tournaments participated in a tournament and seminar. 

      In Sri Lanka, a nation that has suffered nearly two decades of civil strife, a Basketball Camp was offered for its national women's basketball team and the junior national women's basketball team. Players from various parts of the country worked together to improve their athletic skills, with many attending a seminar led by Diesa Siedel, a former professional basketball player, and John Gehring. Both the camps and seminar received support from the Sri Lanka Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education. The contents of the seminar were of special interest to the Minister of Peace, since his department is developing sports programs between the military and civilian population in conflict areas. 

      Peace King Cup

      An international competition among professional men’s football clubs, the Peace King Cup has been held in Korea every two years since 2003. This event has grown in prestige, and the 2009 games will be hosted by Spain in Andalusia. This is a major step into one of the heartlands of professional football. Enthusiasts will be able to view the games on television from around the world. 

      Peace King Cup draws public attention to the needs and challenges of creating a culture of peace, and the proceeds are used to support worthy projects in many countries. The first and second place winners in the 2007 competition, the Olympique Lyonnais (France) and the Bolton Wonderers (Liverpool, UK), each donated $50,000 for sports projects.

      Peace Queen Cup

      The Peace Queen Cup draws top national teams in women's football. The 2008 tournament takes place in Suwon, Korea, from June 14 to 21. This is the second Peace Queen Cup event since its start in 2006. Many strong teams are participating in the event, including the U.S., Brazilian, Canadian teams, which are ranked first, fourth, and ninth, respectively by FIFA. The other five teams are Argentina, Australia, Italy, Republic of Korea, and New Zealand. Many Korean football fans are excited at the prospect of watching these teams play. 

      The competition is preceded by a fashion show and pop music concert. A Forum on Asian Women’s Sports at Gyeong-gi University features participants from 13 Asian nations discussing the status of Asian women's sports, especially women's football, and prospects for further development.

      The Star Cup


      The Star Cup offers well-known actors, journalists, and media celebrities an opportunity to play football competitively for a public purpose. Fans are responding to this Korean-based tournament, which is more widely watched than many FIFA matches. Audiences are eager to see their favorite 'stars' play. Proceeds help support football programs in conflict-torn nations such as Liberia. 

      The "Nine Million Campaign" of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (www.ninemillion.org) was created in 2006 in partnership with corporate sponsors Nike and Microsoft, with the noble goal of giving more than nine million children around the world better access to education, sports, and technology. 

      In short, the athletic initiatives are creating models for peace by building bridges across cultural differences through sports. They link the marketing of global sporting events to the everyday needs of youth struggling to find positive expression in life through sports. By promoting constructive and healthy lifestyles among the youth, the path to peace is broadened.