Class Supplement (TOEFL Essay, a land to use however you wish)

Topic: Imagine that you have been given a large area of land to use however you wish, how would you choose to use this land?


Essay for ideas and expressions:

There would be many wise or innovative uses of a large area of land, but I would make it a town as a test case for peaceful coexistence of crows and people. No other birds are so stigmatized as crows, probably in my country Japan in particular. They are regarded as filthy scavengers, spiteful punks, and the sign of death, yet, if observed carefully and without prejudice, they will turn out to be as smart and likable as dolphins. In fact, some people call them flying dogs.

Crows, especially the jungle crows―those that we see every morning scattering garbage on the sidewalk, used to live in trees in forests and feed on dead animals on the ground. Development replaced trees with buildings and dead animals with garbage bags. They have been doing the same to survive, nesting on the power poles and eating food on the ground, but now humans are offended by their routine. Crows attack people only to protect their offspring, and the worst thing they can do is to swoop from behind and kick, which they rarely actually do because they are afraid of humans. They remember the face of the person who attacked or threatened them and repeatedly retaliate, but think of their trauma and it is understandable that they do it for self-defense. The biggest stigma that crows bear is the image of death, which probably derives from their color―surely they eat dead bodies but so do many other creatures, including dogs and bacteria. The fear of the color black is our problem, not theirs. In the eyes of humans on the ground crows on power lines are eerie dark spots in the sky, but seen from high above, they are precious pieces of life shining in purple-green. Incidentally, crows are much cleaner than pigeons and chickens. They bathe a few times a day if possible.

Although they are loathed, it is rather well known that crows are very smart, affectionate, and remarkable birds. The intelligence level of crows is said to be that of 5-year-olds. They use their calls as vocabularies for their communication, use and sometimes make tools, and play, all of which are seen in only a few species. They cherish their family and some of them communicate with humans. Also, there are many reports that they grieve the death of other crows. One of the most striking things about crows is their eyes. As they can see ultraviolet, they have great eyesight. They can spot a piece of white bread on the snow field from 200 meters above. It is a shame that we do not have good relationships with these interesting birds that happen to live closest to us.

And here comes my model town for crows and humankind. In this town, part of the garbage it produces would be sent to the areas designated for crows, thus the streets made clean and the cost of waste incineration and CO2 emissions reduced. As they eat mice, insects, and many other things in nature other than garbage, the amount of food given to crows would be controlled in order not to disturb the ecosystem. Those white droppings crows leave everywhere could be diverted off of the streets if we successfully communicated with them, which might be rather easy considering their learning ability. My wildest dream is to let them participate in rescue operations taking advantage of their excellent eyesight. Since they can fly a long distance and their cognitive level is high, they could make good rescue crows. Of course to protect their rights, only those willing and having the aptitude would be allowed to be given the missions.

I once saw a crow perched on a power line entertaining a dog down in a garage. The dog, wagging its tail and jumping around in the small space, looked quite happy to see its friend with wings. The scene reflected their positions in this world. Both born with the same intelligence level, one is confined and the other free. Crows could have been domesticated long ago since their cleverness must have been noticed by our ancestors, but they have not. It seems to me, with no offence to dogs, that they know what dignity is and keep a distance from humans. They are hated but live proudly. They are sensitive enough to feel the pain of life, yet won't give up on life and can do without such things as hope or dream or religion. Perhaps we could learn something important from them by living much closer to them than now.

Class Supplement (TOEFL Essay; the more college graduates, the better?))

Topic: Some people believe that a college or university diploma has become far less meaningful than before, with ever larger percentages of people receiving higher-levels of education. Others believe that it is a positive development to have increasing numbers of students graduating from college. Discuss these views. Which view do you agree with?


Essay for ideas and expressions:

I share the view that it is a positive development to have increasing numbers of college graduates because higher education improves both individuals and society. Depreciation of college diplomas in competition is the problem on a personal level.

It is true that as more people go to college the value of a college diploma becomes relatively lower in competition, primarily in job-hunting. It is a serious matter but only for the competitors. It might be discouraging if what higher education gives you were just that. However, university education gives you more than just an advantage in competition. At university, you study a wide spectrum of subjects as well as your majors, and through the intellectual training in these courses, you learn to think in scientific ways, see things from multiple perspectives, and keep yourself informed and inspired. Also, the knowledge and skills you acquire will make your life easier and more enjoyable. A college diploma has the absolute value of so many years of study, and the increase of the number of people with it is fundamentally good for society.

Humans have survived and thrived by sharing and spreading knowledge, and thus the higher the education level of society becomes, the easier for its members to live. A county’s development is in proportion to its education level. Oppressors always make sure the oppressed stay uneducated. Also, chances of our survival and living happier lives will be higher if there are more experts in each field. For example, we are in dire need of them to tackle the threats we face now such as climate change, terrorist attacks with nuclear arms, financial crises, and pandemics, just to name a few. To say nothing of scientists, we need specialists to do away with terrorism, financial crimes, abuse and bullying, and other phenomena that seem to be related to the defects of modern society as well as human weakness. We also need people who can help everyone regain what is lost for the sake of efficiency and development in modernization and globalization and live a more fulfilling life. If there are more of these experts in governments and other organizations other than universities, society and its members will benefit more, and if there are more college students, there will be more people who will aspire to do these jobs in the future.

Perhaps things might not be so simple given that the smartest people in higher positions are often the cause of serious problems like corruption and fraud. But people cramming only for the purpose of having a lucrative job can be just another phenomenon in capitalism, and I think people and universities have great potential to improve society. Seeing the history of more people sharing information and knowledge leading to today’s prosperity, I believe more people going to college means many more good ideas for individual welfare and true development of society.