Rose Mary Johnson

Issue Task Prompt: Although sound moral judgment is an important characteristic of an effective leader, it is not as important as a leader’s ability to maintain the respect of his or her peers. I agree with the ideas put forth in this sentence. Even though the importance of exercising sound moral judgement cannot be downplayed, it is more important for a leader to develop a respectful and courteous atmosphere in any operational environment. Cordial relationships play an important role when it comes to brainstorming ideas and working towards a common goal. When people feel that they have a leader who ensures that their voices are heard and believes in their potential and capabilities, they will feel more confident to come forward and express their thoughts and concerns. Furthermore, in maintaining the respect of his/her peers, the leader plays a pivotal role in empowering each of them. Greater commitment and dedication is also elicited to the task at hand. It is also important to note that no matter how pure the intentions of the leader, moral judgement is highly subjective. The verdicts of a leader who relies on moral judgement are prone to misinterpretation. A leader who relies solely on his/her moral judgement can be accused of trying to establish a morally higher ground. Such a leader also runs the risk of being seen as autocratic or quashing democratic ideals. One can argue that respecting the opinion of all peers can lead to the breakdown of structure within any organisation and the dissolution of hierarchy. Weighing and considering each person's opinion can also lead to a loss of time and duplication of efforts. In such a case, the presence of an experienced and well-meaning leader is much more likely desired. In a nutshell, a leader's ability to stay grounded and respect the ideas and opinions of his/her peers is of paramount importance. Such a trait can overshadow the benefits of a sound moral judgement.

Argument Task Prompt: Paleo diets, in which one eats how early hominids (human ancestors) did, are becoming increasingly popular. Proponents claim our bodies evolved to eat these types of food, especially bone broth, a soup made by cooking animal bones for several hours. They believe it has many health-promoting nutrients, such as cartilage, which can heal our joints, and chondroitin, which promotes nerve regeneration. Skeptics point out that ingested cartilage can’t replenish cartilage in your knees or elbows and ingested chondroitin doesn’t make our brains any healthier. Yet, there is strong anecdotal evidence that people who consume bone broth have fewer metabolic and inflammatory diseases than those who don’t. Therefore, ancient humans knew something about our physiology that we don’t, and that by emulating the way they ate, we can cure many chronic illnesses. My Passage Though this written piece looks well research and structured, it is prone to numerous logical fallacies. The author of the passage seems keen to present Paleo diets as having been developed through sacred wisdom of our forefathers and as a sure shot remedy for many diseases. One of the many flaws of this essays is that is assumes that the physiology and internal anatomy of the humanoids is similar to humans today. However, this is a tall claim. Evolution over thousands of years can cause adaption to different perils and diseases, which brings about immense change in the structure and function of the human body. This implies that following a Paleo diet does not necessarily have the same effect on the human body today as compared to our ancient ancestors. Another point of contention is that the author recommends Paleo diets by relying heavily on anecdotal evidence. There is a gaping absence of conclusive scientific theory. But that is ignored by the author, hastily proceeds to commend the ancient knowledge of our ancestors and conclude that it is a cure for many chronic illnesses Finally, blindly emulating a seemingly healthy habit of human ancestors does not guarantee relief from a situation or illness. In fact, it could have several side effects. These side effects can even be invisible and can have irreversible and dire long term effects. The author of the passage has a rosy outlook to the outcomes of a Paleo diet and does not take any effort to consider and shortcomings and adverse effects of the same. To conclude, as shown above the the passage clearly depends on many assumptions which does not give a strong ground to consider following Paleo diet. The author has a hazy and biased approach to the benefits of this diet and is quick to draw conclusions in favor of Paleo diets that are not backed by any scientific research or empirical data.

Universities should require every student to take a variety of courses outside the student's field of study. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position. The above statement throws light on the issue of incorporating a multi-disciplinary approach in education by making it mandatory for students to take up courses in areas their than their current specialization. Clarity in this regard is absolutely essential and has stoked the interests of public policy experts, educationalists and academic institutions for a long time. While it is extremely important to encourage students to explore fields of study apart from the subject they have chosen, it should not be made mandatory. One can nudge the student to enforce a desired behavior. Care must be taken not to compel the student or steer them away from their true interests. In this manner, one can provide adequate freedom of choice to the student. The goal should be to be in the sweet spot between guidance and freedom, rather than a compulsion. The age old adage, " Jack of all trades, master of none", rings true in the light of this argument. To learn a new subject as an elective or a subject just for one or two semesters might not provide students the skills required for dexterous application and to rise to the challenges of the modern world. In this sense, the compulsion to take up the course will prove to be utterly futile and a complete waste of a student's precious time. When students are asked to explore the nooks and corners of the subject they are interested in, it can be expected that they identify the complimentary fields of studies on their own. When they have discovered their interests by themselves, it is bound to generate a more genuine and long-lasting energy and drive that will be nurtured towards mastering the other subject. In a nutshell, a compelling case can be created to counter the statement presented above. A good education system is very essential to the development of creating academicians, professionals and workers who will power economies and inventions. Therefore it is extremely important to carefully weigh the pros and con before implementing stringent mandates and compulsions on young students as it can be an obstacle to creativity and specialization.