Composition I | Luis Badilla Jaubert

  What did I Learn in this Course? Composition I has been one of my favorite courses at university. Despite writing at an advanced level and taking great care of my grammar for years, I realized I had a lot to learn. Text is not just a form of expression; rather, it is an artful representation of our thoughts, and as art, it is crucial to master the techniques that allow us to impress our readers. In this course, I learned the importance of outlining and adequate essay structure. One of my biggest challenges before taking Composition I was logically organizing my ideas. However, once I learned about outlining and applied it to both paragraphs and whole essays, my writing improved drastically. This technique has been of immense help, as using it has allowed me to write more coherent texts where my points are communicated appropriately. Before taking this course, my essays contained a lot of information that could have been trimmed down had I known how to outline. Now, I write mo...

  Three Drawbacks of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Alternative medicine, often called complementary medicine (From now on, CAM), refers to treatments for illnesses and conditions used instead of biomedicine. CAM may include remedies, brews, meditation, and other practices often rooted in tradition, religion, or anecdotes, and is commonly used among people who believe modern medicine is unreliable and untrustworthy. Although alternative medicine has been prevalent throughout human history, it presents three drawbacks in the medical field: it is ineffective, unsafe, and wasteful. CAM’s first drawback is that treatments are often ineffective. Many alternative therapies are based on pseudoscience and superstitions stemming from ancient beliefs and traditions with no scientific basis. Angell and Kassirer (1998) argued that the reliance of CAM on testimonies and loosely formulated hypotheses, rather than science, renders it not a true form of medicine. Furthermore, because t...

  Three Challenges Writers Face Every Day The life of a writer might seem relatively relaxed. Many people imagine authors sitting on a comfortable sofa by the cozy warmth of a chimney on a winter night, capturing their thoughts on paper with impeccable form. Nevertheless, being a writer is not as easy as one would hope. Obsessing over research, avoiding plagiarism, and struggling with writer’s block are three challenges novelists, journalists, bloggers, and many other kinds of professional writers face every day. Have you ever wanted to write a piece, but researching your topic became a never-ending quest that prevented you from getting started? Many writers find it challenging to immerse themselves deeply in their research without letting their writing suffer. Authors with a perfectionist side very often investigate every minute detail with incredible tenacity to ensure their work is accurate and credible. Although this might seem like an excellent habit, it is not without its...

  According to the BBC, the strike by video game voice actors has officially come to an end. Members of SAG-AFTRA began striking on July 14, 2024, primarily in response to concerns over the unauthorized use and replication of their performances by artificial intelligence (AI). Motion capture actors also demanded that their work be acknowledged as performance, rather than being reduced to mere “data.” The strike lasted a full year, significantly impacting video game development as voice actors withdrew from recording sessions. Other entertainment sectors, including animated series and related productions, also felt the effects. Recently, SAG-AFTRA reached a new agreement with ten major video game publishers. The union announced that 95% of its members voted in favor of the deal, which includes protection against AI replication of their work. With the agreement finalized, video game production has now returned to normal.