Important Reflections

Have some interesting thoughts after I had gone through this semester. After all these time spent in NUS, I find that the experience before taking modules and after taking modules is something like this:

Before I had gone for the module I had chosen, it’s like starting on a journey into the unknown. I won’t know what to expect and not sure what I would stand to gain or experience in this module until after I had experienced it personally by attending it. It’s the same with doing projects and assignments and writing essays. All the open ended assignments – projects and essays, its like finding a way out of a forest into the sunshine before I started researching for any ideas to write. The point is that finding the way out is not the issue, but the main issue is experience the loss and enlightenment at the end of it, even though if I don’t do well in it, I will certainly gain the experience, and will not likely to repeat the same mistakes again the next time. Also, the point about gaining the knowledge is not to benefit your own self only, but to share it among others, in order to make the world a better place. One of the advantages of taking modules that can critically assess our world, is that we can avoid falling into the structures that are created by the “evils” of this world to benefit themselves so that we will not become part of the “unequals” that are perpetuated in our society – such as patriarchical mindset, capitalistic mindset, etc even though we may be unintentional sometimes in helping the “evils”. Also, treat assignments with fun and enthusiasm so that our life will not become miserable as a result of this.

The most important skill developed in this semester is in argumentative essay writing skills, thanks to the EL modules I had taken which allowed me to learn this knowledge. The crux to writing a coherent essay is:

To have a good thesis statement that I can use and focus on throughout the remainder of the essay.
To have good structure for the essay, firstly, I need to have a theory statement, followed by relevant substantial examples to support the theory.
To have a counter-argument that shows that it cannot invalidate my original stand – if appropriated correctly, this can add structure, and increase the strength of my current stand in the essay.
Reference materials must be properly attributed to the sources and included in the bibliography to avoid plagiarism.

The most difficult part about writing such open ended essays and project is to find a right topic that you can focus in writing with the relevant examples and concepts that can be applied to show your understanding of the module. This, I think is a skill that needs to be developed further in future. But the point is still to read the question carefully to pick out clues from the question and address it. This will prevent from going out of the question which will result in penalties.

All the modules taken this semester are very interesting and challenging. Looking forward to next semester – trying a SS and Science GEM next.