Essay 1st Draft (Incomplete)

Introduction: 

Globalisation has contributed to major advancements in technology and seamlessly connects people across the globe. However, the Internet is also a double-edge sword. It brings about many conveniences and benefits to the general public. For instance, news and educational content can be easily and efficiently retrieved from online sources. However, the Internet has also led to the creation of online games resulting in a new problem evident in society; gaming addiction. With the growing concern of gaming addiction among teens in Singapore, the government and parents should collectively monitor such trends and actively promote campaigns to reduce addition. 

Traditional video games are non-interactive and involve only a single player. Such games would eventually become repetitive and boring, thereby forcing the user to quit playing in the long run. However, with globalization, game developers have introduced Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games or MMORPG, where players interact in real time across borders for collective game activities (Steve Cornett, 2004). Games such as “World of Warcraft” incorporate MMORPG and periodically update their content to encourage endless gaming. As such, players may subconsciously fall victim to gaming addiction. 

Gaming addiction can result in serious health problems with gamers sacrificing sleep just to earn more hours for game play. In addition, the addiction can place stress and tension on family relationships and impede one’s ability to sort priorities. It also results in an unhealthy emotional connection to the game character or ‘avatar’ and virtual connections created.

Solution 1: Gaming Rehabilitation

Many gamers are aware of their problem, but have sunk too deep to stop by themselves. The government to help gamers rid their unhealthy addiction can adopt a similar concept of rehabilitation for smokers and drug users.

Solution 2: Promotion of campaigns to encourage families to be proactive

Some gamers themselves do not realize the addiction problem that is adversely affecting their lives and that of their families. Campaigns should be introduced via the media to spread awareness of the rising issue of gaming addiction. The campaign should encourage families with members facing addiction to be proactive.

Solution 3: Emphasize the health and mental risks of gaming addiction to children from young. (Similar to sex education in schools) 

References: 

Steve Cornett. (2004). The Usability of Massively Multiplayer Online 
Roleplaying Games: Designing for New Users. Indiana University 
Bloomington, IN 47405-7104. Retrieved October 10, 2013, from http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/2512/mod_resource/content/0/ceit706_2/10/Cornett_Usability.pdf

Essay Guideline/Idea

Description of a situation

Globalisation has contributed to major advancements in technology and seamlessly connects people across the globe. The Internet brings about many conveniences and benefits to the general public. For instance, news and educational content can be easily retrieved from online sources. Conversely, the Internet is also a double-edge sword.

Identification of a problem

In many cases, the Internet has transformed itself as a form of escape for certain groups of people, such as those suffering from depression or social isolation. It has become a platform for them to create a separate online identity.

With the widespread of Internet and its ease of access, gaming addiction is raising concern in society, with its effect ranging from teens to even adults.

Traditional video games are non-interactive and involve only a single player. Such games would eventually become repetitive and boring, thereby forcing the user to quit playing in the long run. However, game developers have introduced Massively multiplayer online role-playing games or MMORPG, where players interact in real time with others to facilitate collective game activities. Games such as “World of Warcraft” incorporate MMORPG and periodically update their content to encourage endless gaming.

Gaming addiction can result in serious health problems with gamers sacrificing sleep just to earn more hours for game play. In addition, the addiction can place stress and tension on family relationships and imped one’s ability to sort priorities. It also results in an unhealthy emotional connection to the game character or ‘avatar’ and virtual connections created.

Description of a solution

Many gamers are aware of their problem, but have sunk too deep to stop by themselves. A similar concept of rehabilitation for smokers and drug users can be adopted in this context to help gamers rid their unhealthy addiction.

Some gamers themselves do not realize the addiction problem that is adversely affecting their lives and that of their families. Campaigns should be introduced via the media to spread awareness of the rising issue of gaming addiction. The campaign should encourage families with members facing addiction to be proactive.

Evaluation of a solution 

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Thesis/Intro.

Globalization has allowed seamless connectivity across the globe and has brought many benefits and conveniences to the general public. However, the advancements in technology and increased use of Internet have given rise to a growing gaming addiction problem worldwide.  

Reader's Response Final

In the article ‘The Double Edge of Globalization’, Chanda (2007) expresses that globalization brings about both negative and positive effects. Globalization results in global economic growth and advancements in technology and telecommunications, creating a closely interlinked world. However, it also contributes to environmental degradation. The Kyoto Protocol’s limited success was largely attributed to the United States's refusal to to participate. He then suggests that international cooperation between all key players is essential in mitigating globalization’s negative effects.  I agree with his view. However, I would probe deeper into the effect of lax environmental regulations observed in economically challenged countries.

I believe that lax regulations would attract foreign investment and production, benefiting the country’s economy and development. As a result, these countries generally do not impose strict environmental regulations. In the context of Indonesia, lax regulations could be present to facilitate the nation's heavy involvement in the manufacturing and trade of goods. In addition, a high percentage of Indonesia’s deforestation is illegal. Companies often use environmentally devastating methods to accelerate the clearing of land for sale and agriculture. Even so, the government had made little effort to solve the illegal logging issue.  

Therefore, I believe that in addition to combined international efforts of key players, cooperation from economically challenged countries and the implementation of stringent local regulations are also needed to mitigate globalization’s ill effects.

Reader Response (Draft 1 - Incomplete)

In the article ‘The Double Edge of Globalization’, Chanda (2007) expresses that globalization brings about both negative and positive effects. Globalization results in global economic growth and advancements in technology and telecommunications, creating a closely interlinked world. However, the current environmental degradation problem is also largely attributed to globalization.

He suggests that unsuccessful efforts in mitigating harmful globalization effects is chiefly due to the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States’ refusal to participate in international environmental agreements.

However, I contradict his view, as in my opinion, lax environmental regulations in economically challenged countries are equally responsible. These countries generally do not impose strict environmental regulations, likely due to economic profits they receive from foreign investment and production to promote their own interests of developing the country. For instance, a high percentage of Indonesia’s deforestation is illegal and companies often use environmentally devastating methods such as forest fires to accelerate the clearing of land for sale and agriculture.

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Thesis Statement Draft 2

International efforts in mitigating globalisation's harmful environmental effects have been unsuccessful not because the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States, refused to participate in the Kyoto Protocol, but rather, due to lax regulations in economically challenged countries.

Thesis Statement Draft 1

International efforts have been unsuccessful in mitigating globalisation's harmful environmental effects not because the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States refused to participate in the Kyoto Protocol, but rather, due to lax regulations in countries worldwide.

Summary Final Draft

In the article "The Double Edge of Globalization", Chanda (2007) states that globalization brings about both benefits and adverse effects, and combined international efforts by countries are required to mitigate the negative effects. 

Globalization drives the increase in international trade, encouraging consumption. It also results in global economic growth and advancements in technology and telecommunications, allowing the world to be more closely connected. However, globalization also brings adverse effects to the environment, which includes the acceleration of increased logging, fishing, deforestation and pollution worldwide. 

Chanda suggests that the active involvement and cooperation of all international key players are crucial in reducing the negative environmental impacts. For instance, the Kyoto Protocol has failed to cope with the environmental challenge of globalization due to the participating nations' inconsistent efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions. In addition, the top emitter, the United States has refused to participate, minimising the success of the protocol.