OPINION:SHOULD PARENTS SPANK THEIR CHILDREN?

Have you ever been spanked by your parents?How did you feel at that time?Surely,you were hurt your mind and body.Many parents think that spanking is a common way to set limits and a thought “effective” way to punish their children.However,in my opinion,parents shouldn’t spank their children because spanking not only creats a distance between parents and children but also makes children behave worse and more violent.

The first reason why parents shouldn’t spank their children is that increasing the distance between parents and children.Children will never share anything with their parents.Even,they tend to avoid their parents.Simply,parents are too angry and often lose the control,which leads to spank their children with or without any explanation.Therefore,children become afraid of their parents.They always worry that things they have done get wrong,and they will be spanked,so they don’t dare to say anything to their parents.They keep those things as their secrets.If parents ask them to tell,they will be under the pressure of spanking,which makes them tell a lie so that their parents satisfy and don’t spank them.Moreover,children don’t want to face to their parents at the meals,gathering at nights in oder to be ask for things they have done,so they keep silent or they are absent at that times.I had a friend,Lan,who really scared her mother because she was often spanked when she was young.She lost a pen and she was spanked.Then she lost another pen,and she didn’t dare to go home to say to her mother,so she came to my house.Her mother looked for her everywhere.Finally,my mother called her so as to take Lan back to home.And,she continued spanking Lan.Since then,Lan became taciturn and didn’t share anything with anyone anymore.If parents always listen and comment smartly,children will be happy and willing to share all things.However,many parents think that spanking helps them teach children quickly and effectively instead they sit a place and hear in a patient way,then give a long explanation.I think that spanking is a wrong solution.Spanking just makes children fear at that time.Even,they are spanked but they don’t know the reason why .They will hate their parents and maybe,they will make mistakes again.Moreover,in some countries,spanking children is against the law,so parents shouldn’t spank their children.Spanking children,parents won’t undestand children’s thinkings,know what they like…,which makes the distance between parents and children further and further

The second reason I want to mention is that children’s bad behaviour when they are spanked.If parents spank too much,children will react or be more violent.When parents rely on spanking as their primary form of discipline,children are less likely to do they are told,and their self-esteem drops,so they are at greater risk of psychological problems.That means they are more stubborn.Also,they think their parents don’t love them,even hate them,so they do many things without thinking,concerning about anyone.Many times I have heard parents say:”the more we spank,the more he misbehaves”.Spanking makes children’s behaviour worse,not better.For example,a child who is hit feels wrong inside and this shows up in his behaviour.The more he misbehaves,the more he gets spanked,the worse he feels.The cycle continues.Furthermore,children tend to become violent.There is a story about the mother who believed in spanking as a necessary part of discipline until one day she observed her three year old daughter hitting her one year old son.When confronted,her daughter said,”I am just playing mommy.”This mother never spanked another child.Children love to intimate,especially people whom they love and respect.They perceive that it’s okay for them to do whatever parents do.Moreover,children from spanking families are likely to use aggression to handle conflicts when they become adults.To children,spanking demonstrates that it is all right for people to hit people,especially for big people to hit little people,stronger people to hit weaker people.Children learn that when they are spanked by their parents.However,some people say that spanking is the only way to punish children and make them follow their parents.Personally,I think,like a kind of medicine,it will harm to children’s health if parents use it too much or in a wrong way.Parents want children to know they were wrong,but to still believe they are persons that have values,so instead of spanking children,parents regularly remind them of mistakes children often make.Spanking children doesn’t both stop them making mistakes again and even creat bad behaviour.

Spanking childen affects badly in relationship between parents and children and in children’s behaviour.Therefore,parents shouldn’t use spanking as a a way to teach their children.In short,parents should use other ways to train their children like listening and giving them good advice,especially standing by them when they make mistakes and need parents’help.

CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT LIFE?

In schools,everyone wants to be a successful student life.Their major goal is to get good marks,then have an excellent certificate,finally find a good job in the future.However,they have to know how to connect their study with other social activities so that they will have the best result.The factors that determine if they are successful student lives include studying hard and taking part in social activities.

In order to become a successful student life,a student must learn hard.More and more he studies so as to enrich his knowledge.He must spend as much as possible studying.Taking courses at classses,he needs to pay attention to lessons deeply.He has never free time to think about other matters that don’t relate to his study.Moreover,he spends most of time sitting in the library,even he steps out the library with many thick,big books in the hands and everywhere such as parks,bus stations,…After school,instead of relaxing by sleeping,eating or listening to music at all his free time,he just sleeps about 6 hours at nights and dines with noodles or other kinds of hot dog at studying table.To him,he always feels lack of time to study.The goal of his study,especially hard studying is to get good results after examinations and make knowledge become his.Therefore,hard studying leads to studying well and what he receives is a big chance to get a good job in the future.

The other factor that contributes to a successful student life is that he must join in some social activities.He won’t be successful if he just studies all day and all a school year.After class,attending to English clubs helps him widen his knowledge and gives him soft skills he needs.Instead of reading lines in books,he can practise things he has read when he joins in other activities.Also,he learns many things and gets more information from other people such as their knowledge,skills,…Furthermore,he is more active, confident.He can perform what he wants in front of many people without feeling shy.Especially,he will creat new relationships because he has more friends who can share with him many useful things.Hence,taking part in social activities gives him many skills,acquaintances from the outside society.They can help him and give useful advice for his future job.Besides,he has chances to practise from the real life instead of  just getting information from books but no experience.

Studying hard and taking part in social activities are two factors that make a successful student life.Students have to know how to balance between study time at school and free time for social activities in order to achieve the goal.

NARRATIVE:SLIP ON A BANANA SKIN

All of us are sure to have many bad memories as well as good ones which we engrave on our mind.Personally,there is a bad memory I can’t forget.That memory gives me a lesson which teaches me to look out for obstacles on the ground in order to advoid tripping or slipping and falling.Moreover,I mustn’t throw rubbish everywhere any more.

I went to the Emergency Room for the first time when I was ten years old.It all happened when I threw the banana skin away.And it was in my yard of my house.By the time I did,my mother had reminded me to put it in the dustbin.However,I didn’t pay attention and I was too lazy to do that.Then my friends called me to go out,so I was hurried up without remembering anything.As a result,I slipped on a banana skin.I headed to the ground with my hands down.My right wrist was twisted the wrong way in the air when I landed hard on the ground.

At  first,it didn’t hurt at all,but when I looked down at my warped and twisted wrist,all of a sudden excruciating pain rushed through my wrist.Rolling around on the ground,yelling and cussing,my parents saw what happened and came running to my aid.My dad started moving it around saying “it’s not broken”,as my mom was saying over and over again “we need to go to the Emergency Room to get the real diagnosis”.After 15minutes of yelling and screaming in pain,I finally got up and held my wrist as I walked to the car.The way to the Emergency Room,the pain worse and worse.Later I found out the increase in the pain was due to massive swelling against the broken bone.I had a sit in the waiting room for almost and hours which seemed like forever.After waiting impatiently,I finally got into the doctor’s office,I got an X-Ray,and found out my wrist was truly broken.

It is the memory that hurt my right hand always reminds me to be careful and not to hurry up.Furthermore,I never forget to throw rubbish into the dustbin.

AN UNFORGETTABLE MEMORY

    I could not remember anything about the first time I went to school since I was just 4 year old.However,I had an unforgettable memory on the first day of school after moving to HCM city.At the time I was a 9 year old girl.

It was a nice sunny morning when my dad drove me to school.He left me at the gate and went home.I was alone in a new school.Everything was quite strange.Also,I did not know anyone there.I seemed to start a new life with my new school and friends.I was too shy to step forward.Suddenly,a kind teacher helped me find my new classroom.Coming there already,I realized that I was the only girl in a shirt and paints whereas the others were wearing dresses.My clothes was different from theirs.Therefore,I became an eccentric person because I wore oddly in their eyes.All of my classmates  stared me and gossiped about me.I felt both myself destitute and ashamed.

In other words,I looked like any other boys in the class.Especially,my short hair style made me somehow masculine.It was the style which my mother created so that I was neat and pleasant to the eyes.In addition,I was a little rustic due to not only my appearance but also my voice.I had a raucous voice like that of a drake and used many dialects.As a result,I could not open my mouth to say anymore.All eyes seemed to pay attention to me,so my heart beat very fast.Moreover,my eyes were full of water when a boy pointed me and said:”an ugly duck!”.”you are too boorish”, another person said.The other kids looked at me as if I was a strange creature from the other planet and that made me feel very shy.Even,my friends frightened me.I could not focus on the lesson and get acquainted with anybody either.I wished there would have been a hole to hide in.I looked forward to finishing my lessons that day.When I came back home,I asked my mother to buy me a dress immediatly.”mum!I will stay at home forever if you don’t give me a new dress.”

Since that,I concerned about my apearance and practised my voice well.Especially,I never cut my hair too short,no matter what!I reminded me not to be too different from my other people in the class.

INVENTION

In our modern society where all aspects of our lives are almost totally dependent on electricity.If you walk into your house today,you will express the botton on the remove control and you expect the TV to come on…Therefore,of all the wonderful inventions of the world that have ever made,in my opinion,electricity is considered as the most important one for the following reasons.

As long as the electricity is available,no one thinks about it,the importance is realized when the power goes out.Almost people don’t think about saving electricity everyday.They waste many hours using electricity for playing useless games,turning lights all day;even they let the fans work after leaving room…However,when electricity is cut down,they can’t work without lights in the evening,machines in the factories…It is that time  they indeed need electricity.

Electricity is a helpful part which can’t be absent from the daily activities of life.Before electricity,people got up with the first light of day and the day’activities ended after the sun went down.People now light their lamps with electricity.Switch on the botton and there is the day-like light even on the darkest light.Hence,people can read or do tasks that they need to have good lighting to perform.On the other hand,in summer,electric fans,air conditioning plants are used to provide people with cool atmosphere.In winter,heating plants are used to keep the rooms warm.Moreover,electric bells,stoves  are things of everyday use.People keep refrigerators in their houses to keep their foods in a fresh condition.In addition,telephone and telegraph are much used each day,so people can talk to their friends or relatives who are in a great distance from them.Besides,TV,ovens,computers,transportation systems…can’t function without electricity.Therefore,almost of the things depend on electricity to be done everyday.

Furthermore,many diseases are cured by electric treatment.Surgeons will not be able to carry on operations as their instruments and machines are operated by it.X-ray machine which enables the doctor to take the photograph of the internal part of the body can be operated only with the help of electricity.

In short,electricity plays an important role in the life.Nothing can replace electricity because of many it’s benefits.

ENVIRONMENT

The responsibility for the environment rests with the individual and not only with the government.Do you agree?

Everyone is becoming aware that the environment is a serious issue.There is  bad air and water pollution everywhere and we also know that the greenhouse effect is changing our weather and that the hole in the ozone layer is causing skin cancer.However,not enough is being done to solve these problems,because most people seem to be waiting for governments to make the decisions.In fact,the responsibility for protecting the environment must be shared by everyone.Individuals can and should do many thing to help to solve the problem.

First of all,people can make sure that they are responsible in the way that they dispose of waste.If people throw rubbish like plastic into rivers or oceans,it always stays there,and causes fish and sea-birds to die.It is also important to make sure that we don’t buy goods that have too much wrapping on them,especially plastic wrapping,because if we do,we are adding to the huge amounts of waste.

People also need to be responsible in the way that they use water.In some countries,like Australia,an enormous amount of water is wasted for swimming pools,washing cars and so on.Most countries are running out of fresh water.

Next,if people used their car less,this would help to prevent the greenhouse effect.Everyone can try to use puplic transport move,or use bicycles,or even walk,instead of using their cars for even short trips.

Finally,the most important thing that individuals can do is to let the governments know that they want something to be done about the environment.It is obvious that the governments will not do anything unless the people force them to.

It is therefore clear that individuals must take responsibility for the environment,otherwise,it will soon be too late,and we and the next generation will suffer serious consequences.

DESCRIBE THE WATERFALL

Each hometown where we were born and grew-up has some special things which can be remind us not to forget it when we go far away.Personally,my beloved hometown always comes into my mind with a spectacular waterfall which makes a good impression about peace and relaxation on my person who enjoys it.

The waterfall is form by a small zigzag-shaped river which extends from the beginning to the end of my hometown,where there is a high vertical cliff.The river embraces my village and slowly flows into it reaches the towering cliff where the water falls down freely into the rocks and forms a wonderful cataract.

People in my village enjoy the wonderful view of the waterfall everyday.From the top of the cliff,it looks like a white silk ribbon dangling againstthe huge dark rocks.If we enjoy it from the side,it looks like a big dove flying into the air.With great amount of water ,especially when there are heavy rainfalls,the four-foot wide cataract creats a fabulous scene.

However,what I like best is the scene of the bottom of the waterfall.As approaching the rocks,the water bubbles and splashes like a range of  dazzling diamonds,making an unforgettable impression.Moreover,a steady pattern of endless rhythm from the cataract can be heard from far away,which makes the viewers,as well as the listeners,can never forget.

Formed by a mild zigzag-shaped river,the cataract of my soul always appears with a magnificant scene and sweet melody in my mind.I used to spend hours sitting in front of it to enjoy the scene and listen to the interesting rhythm,which makes me feel peacefull and tranquil,especially when I am tired.

DESCRIBE MY CAT

I like animals very much,especially I keep a dog and a cat in my house.However,I spend more time playing with the cat.Both of them live happily together,but once in a while the dog seems to be jealous of the cat because I am close to and caress for the cat in front of the dog.

My cat is a siamese breed.I have raised the cat since it was a small ugly kitten.Now the cat looks quite different from what it did ten months ago.It has grown-up into an adult cat with excellent white fur spotted with black and yeallow.I often call it “The tri-color kitty”.The cat’eyes are of a color similar to that of a piece of green jade.They illuminate in the dark.Its whiskers,nose,and ears are all white.Its mouth with red lips looks very cute.The cat has a good body with muscular legs and a curled-up tail.Now and then the cat takes a leisurely walk,which makes it look like a small tiger.

The cat is very dainty about food.It eats only fish and never seems to like any kind of meat.This is contrary to the belief “If you put a piece of fatty meat somewhere near its mouth,the cat will snatch it and savour it very quickly”.The cat is Death to all kinds of mice in my house.None of them can escape death once they are discovered by the cat.With just one or two pounces,the mouse is in the cat’s clutches.

Since I have had the cat,my house has had no more mice which used to cause a lot of trouble to almost everything in my house;from the books to the clothes that are very often gnawed off(away)by mice.

Apart from being very killed in hunting for harmful mice,the cat is often the dearest animal for me to play with.It helps me to relax tremendously after long hours of study.I love my cat so much that I always some save delicious fish for it everyday.And the cat seems to attach itself to me,too.Therefore,how lucky I am to have such a pet cat!

COBRA

Whenever my mind travels over the past events in my life,one incident stands out prominently to remind me of the narrow escape I once had from almost certain death.

In the rubber estates of my village,there are many snakes of which the cobra is the most dangerous and venomous.This snake has a preference for cool places along the numerous streams found in the estates,where it relaxes,especially in the afternoon.Therefore,those who fish from these streams have to be on the look out for cobras.All this I diidn’t know until I came face to face with a cobra while fishing with my brother.

My brother and I were spending our free time on Sundays in an estate that was not very far from my house.Wherever the water was shallow,we got down into the streams and searched for holes where fish usually like to shelter.When we found one,we put our hands in an often caught some fish.Fishing in this way had its moments of excitement,for at times we also caught some water-snakes,which we found to be harmless.Then one day,I came so close to death that I made up my mind never to catch fish again in that way.

A cobra,about six feet long,was lying along the water’s edge of one side of the stream in which we were fishing.Its tail was in the water,but it was concealed by the reeds and grasses along that stream.As I put my hand into the water,my searching fingers touched something tender.Thinking that it was the fish,I gripped it and tried to bring it out of the water.But it resisted violently.I discovered that it was a cobra.I relaxed my grip and rushed for safety.My brother,who was a few yards away,was too surprised to speak,but he soon saw the cobra which was rushing towards him with its hood fully opened.I picked up stick hurriedly and threw it at the cobra.Surprisingly,the cobra turned towards me and took to my heels.My brother then picked up a stick and ran after the cobra and managed to kill it at that time when I was almost exhausted.

If  my brother had been a little late,I might have been killed by the cobra.That was indeed a very narrow escape,an escape I shall never forget.Since then,I  haven’t joined in the relaxation which is dangerous and risked.

A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE

I am not one who is frightened easily,but I must admit that one night I saw a figure that struck terror intomy heart.

It was a moon-lit night.I was returning home on foot from a small town a few miles away.That was the first night in my life that I was out alone.The road along which I was walking was not used much at night.Even during the day,it was used only by those who worked banana plantations along the road.

As I was walking,I could hear the noises made by squirrels,insects,owls.Creatures that love night world such as bats were very active,and there were hundreds of shadows.However,all these did not frighten me.I held a stick in my hand and moved rapidly towards home.Then,suddenly,I caught sign of an old lady,a short distance away.Her head was covered with a white cloth,and she was waving to me.

Curious to know why she was there at that time of te night,I stopped for a while.As I stood there,however,vague memories of stories about ghosts began to come back to my mind.I was soon gripped with fear and took to my heels.I ran as fast as I could,and when I reached home,I could hardly speak.

However,on the next day,I visited that place again to make sure that the woman was indeed a real person and not a ghost.But I could find no foot-prints there.Only a banana plants stood there with its leaves moving in the breeze.I realised then that it was the banana plant with its leaves moving in the breeze that looked like a woman waving her hand.

I had indeed made a fool of myself,but after the previous night’s experience,the discovery was small relief to me.Besides,I will never  walk on the road  at night.