TUGAS 3; WRITING III

Argumentative essay

Thesis statement:

 “I do not agree that academic performance is the best indicator of potential for success in life.”

“Academic performance is NOT the best indicator of potential for success in life.”

In this essay the writer would take “academic performance” as an academic achievement in form of score, value or result which is gained from the formal education like school, college, or university.

Almost everyone is pinning their hopes to the education to create the young generations who masters various science and knowledge, and who are able to utilize self potential and opportunities and ultimately become successful human being in every aspect. The world is changing very rapidly and the live competition is increasing. Education seems to be a very necessary condition of success. Parents are now competing to give their children a provision which is believed to be the best provision for the children’s lives. And the provision is education. Generally, parents assume that the higher level of formal education the more guarantee the future of their children. The better academic performance of their children the more successful the future of their children will be. But in fact, sometimes a person achieves a high level of education but less successful in their life. Otherwise, not a few people succeed in their life but had less success in academic achievement or academic performance.

Is it true that academic performance affect success in life?

To answer this question, we need to look around us. How many bachelors are unemployed? How many students who study abroad and after returning to Indonesia are unable to get a job? How many cum laude graduates whose life achievement is below the successful average?

Every single parent hopes their children will become a successful person in their life. Parents are vying to take their children to the best educational institution. But is it true that formal education that gives high academic performance is a guarantee of the success of the children’s life? Is academic performance the best indicator of potential for success in life? The answer is NO!

George W Bush (the former US President) he once made a statement that attracts attention when giving a speech at Southern Methodist University. He said:

“To you who will graduate this afternoon with an honor, respect, and high achievement, I say congratulation. And also to the C students* you too can be a president”

(*C students: students with an average value.)

Bush made a joke about himself who earned the Achievement Index Cumulative (IPK) were mediocre or below the average at college. While providing a perspective on the students who passed though the value is less than satisfactory. He emphasized the fact that the Achievement Index Cumulative (IPK) does not determine the whole and the rest of your life and life has limitless possibilities. 

Beyond your views with Bush as a president, he said the right things. In fact, a number of presidents such as John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and George H.W. Bush (father of George W. Bush) also have a value less than satisfactory in school. Vice President Joe Biden also had a trouble in getting good grades when he underwent a law school. 

In addition there are also a number of highly successful entrepreneurs who did not let their academic performance or academic achievement block them to reach the height of glory.

For example, Steve Jobs, he never completed his studies similarly, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. In addition youngest female billionaire in the world who revolutionizes medicine, Elizabeth Holmes, also is the student who dropped out of college at Stanford to pursue her dream. Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, suffered from dyslexia and also dropped out of his high school education at the age of 15 years.

Famous astrophysicist, Neil de Grasse Tyson, once gave a speech at the University of Massachusetts Amherst:

“Regardless of the value of your academic achievement is, will quickly become irrelevant in your life. How I want to tell you how irrelevant it is.

Because of in your life, no one will ask your Achievement Index Cumulative (IPK).

... Achievement Index Cumulative (IPK) only determines who you are at that time and did not determine the rest of your life next.

Intelligence is a subjective thing, and academic achievement or academic performance is not always the right measuring instrument. Success as a student relies heavily on a person's ability to walk in a system (education), but not always the best preparation for the real world which is a world that is far different from the world of education which is a world of a real life.

Not the academic achievement or academic performance, but someone’s character, experience and connections which will influence the direction of their lives. Success requires passion, persistence, emotional intelligence and the ability to understand the meaning of failure.

That is why we see a lot of " C " Students, people who never cross to our minds, could change the world. They understand what it means to struggle and they know how to deal with the failure.

This does not mean getting the value / low Index Cumulative (IPK) will ensure success. Being the best in the school does not mean you will always be on top.

In the end, the value / Index Cumulative (IPK) and other academic achievement or academic performance is only written on the paper. The real achievement is when you make great changes in the real world. So if you've just graduated from high school or college and you do not finish with high achievements, do not despair. Life is filled with up and down state. We have learned a lot in the school, and the real education happens after you get out of the school space.

Do not stop learning, do not give up and remember to enjoy this way of life.

TUGAS 2; WRITING III

1.      Write a narrative essay of four paragraphs explaining the real story or a biography of your parent (your mother or your father). Apply the characteristics of narrative essay in your writing, and do not forget to use the language points for time expressions.

the Biography of My family

My name is Nur Kholif. I am the last child from five children who was born on the hot city, Bojonegoro 5^th October 1993. I have two special persons who always become my motivation. They are my father and my mother. My father’s name is Kardi. He is 54 Years old now but I am truly grateful that he is still healthy. He is a farmer who doesn’t have a rice field. My mother’s name is Sumisih. She was a strong woman. She used to help my father to make a living in our family. We live in a small village called Teleng which is located in district Sumberrejo, city of Bojonegoro, East Java. The main livelihood of this villager is farming.

My brothers and my sisters are all married and live with their spouse. My parent and I live together. We live simply in harmony. But in early of 2003 the happiness of our family seemed to be bothered by the news of my mother’s disease. I was still 10^th and I don’t remember much about how it began. One night, my mother was shivering and she couldn’t withstand a very severe abdominal pain. Then my father decided to bring her to the hospital. I really didn’t understand what happen to my Mom. I was at home with my grandmother and sometimes my neighbor came to see me. Mostly they said “pray for your mother”. I was just wondering. I said to myself “is it that bad?” People looked worry and sad.

One day I heard people talked that my mother suffered from kidney disease and had to undergo a kidney transplant operation. And my father would give one of his kidneys to my mother. I was just like hearing a very loud lightning at midday. After five days in the hospital, my mother was brought home. And all the family was gathering to find the best solution. Then they decided to sell the only one rice field belonging to my father to be used an operation and hospital cost.

The next day my family took my mother to the hospital whose medical equipment is complete and adequate. Once my eldest brother took me to the hospital to see my mother and I met her very quickly. There was no more than five minutes. People didn’t allow me to see my Mom because she was crying when she saw me. I was deeply sad. I would cry but I won’t make my Mom condition getting worst because of her sadness. I always cry Every time I pray. I begged to Allah to make my Mom healthy as before. After three days in hospital, my neighbor who had just seen my Mom told me that she was getting better and she would be operated soon. I was quiet relief hearing that. In early morning, it was about at 2.am somebody woke me up. I was so confused that my home was full of people. Then my aunt said “your Mom’s gone”. “What? Where is she gone?” No one answered. Everybody hugged me while crying. I was very shocked. I felt like my blood stopped bleeding, my heart stopped beating, the world stopped turning and the sky fell. I could feel nothing and I could do nothing but crying. I couldn’t believe that happened to me.

Then my father and I live together. I was so proud of him. He is a farmer who doesn’t have a rice field. He did everything to pay my school fee. Sometimes he went to Surabaya following his friends and worked as a construction laborer. Sometimes he scavenged in garbage dump (TPS). Every harvest season he was always home to grind rice. And now he kept a small farm store. I am truly grateful to Allah. Through what I have been through, I could learn how to be strong and independent. I know that everything happens for a reason.

2.      Write a descriptive essay of three paragraphs describing your parent (your mother or your father) that you have narrated in assignment number 1.  Apply the characteristics of descriptive essay to describe a person, and describe the physical appearance and the character trait in your writing. Please do not forget to write the details clearly or vividly.

My Father

My father’s name is Kardi. He is very handsome and manly. He has wide and strapping chest. He is very tall unlike me. His height is about 175cm while mine is only 155cm. My father is neither fat nor thin. His weight is 58kg. My father has a very pointed nose unlike my nose which is rather flat, sometimes it makes me envy. His hair is curly, black and short. Even he is a farmer his skin is still bright. My father doesn’t really concern with his appearance. He looks just like the way he is. He likes wearing pants which is made of cloth rather than wearing jeans. Every evening he likes to wear sarong. That’s why his children often buy him a sarong. Even though he looks terrible but he is still friendly, kind, humble, funny and patient.

My father is a great man whom I have ever found. He could be a father, he could be a mother, he could be a best friend and absolutely he could be a teacher. He never shows his sadness to his children. He is a strong man. He has been through the entire rough thing to make a living. And he never complains about everything that God gives to him. He is a tough father. He teaches his children especially me to be strong, patient and independent. Every Thursday he always goes to my Mom and my grandpa’s grave to clean up the grave and pray. 

My father is a freelance but mostly he works in the rice field. He would do everything to make his family happy. He keeps a small farm store. Sometimes he goes to another city to buy the yields like rice, onion, and others in the farmer with his friend. And the yields are going to be sold again. My father and I have the same favorite food which is fried eel. Every time we go to the market we always buy some eels to cook. My father is very good at bargaining. When we go to the market to buy some stuff, we always get the lowest price. That’s why I love shopping with my father because it saves my money. My father and I like to drink coffee. We always drink coffee together in the morning before he goes to work.

TUGAS 1; WRITING III

My experience studying at Universitas Terbuka while working

When I was 3^rd grade senior high school one of my teachers offered me to continue study at Universitas Terbuka (UT) Pendas. He was a lecturer at UT Bojonegoro. I thought over about his offer then I decided to get a job and not to think about college yet. Because it was the time for me to be independent I guessed.

I planned to work a year and to collect money for my college fee. I had never been comfortable working in some places till my teacher of my senior high school called me and he asked me to go to Pare and learn about English for free. He would handle all the bills. I wondered and I couldn’t believe it but that was true. I wasn’t dreaming. And finally I went and studied English at Access-Es English Course. After studying for five months I started teaching in Access-Es. I had been through a year and I forgot about my dream till the day when the manager of course called me privately. He asked me why I didn’t go to college. I said that my money had never been enough for the college fee. He advised me that I shouldn’t worry about the fee. He suggested me three universities; UT non-pendas, acceleration at Universitas Kadiri (UNISKA) and STIBA Malang. I had considered all and I got my choice that was UT.

Based on my experience,I got many reasons why I chose UT as a partner to study. Firstly, I chose UT because UT was cheeper than others. I was so lucky because living in Kediri needed low budget for daily need. Rp.1, 500,000 was enough for my daily need, school fee and saving. Three years later I moved and got another job in Kalimantan for about one year. The salary that I got was lower than my previous job but it’s still enough for the college fee.Secondly, my time was limited when I was working in Kediri. I started my day at 5 am for my first class in the morning, then I had lunch break at 11 to 2.30, and my day ended up at 8 pm. So I only had a little time for studying except Saturday and Sunday. But now I have more time to study. I am teaching at junior  high school in Bojonegoro. My day starts at 7.30 am and ends at 12 pm midday. I got pretty much time to study and to do my assignment. That is why this semester I am more active than last semester either posting discussion or posting task. Thirdly, I prefer UT than other universities because I can learn everywhere and every time. I also can take an exam in other cities. I registered at UT UPBJJ Malang and I took the exam at Kediri once. When I was living in East Kalimantan, I took the exam in Balik Papan and last semester I took the exam in Bojonegoro. It wasn’t complicated to move. I don’t think that other universities could do this. Once, when I have to move somewhere I won’t worry about continuing my college. Finally, I went to UT because many people said that UT is one of Public University that shouldn’t be doubted about the quality. Many people go to that University and it has many brunches in every city moreover out of country those were proven that UT is one of the best universities in Indonesia.

UT is the best university which gives the students many benefits and adventages. In UT, I really have to be independent and dilligent. And the most important is UT is available to everyone, everywhere and every time.