Author: aaspiringwriter

Definition Argument – aaspiringwriter

Potential Superpowers

Superpower nation possesses the ability to influence worldwide events and project its power on a global scale. Ever since the disintegration of the soviet union, America has been the only superpower. America has been dominating through the combined-means of technological, cultural, military and economic strengths. However, with more and more countries contributing to the global economy and becoming stronger in all the other aspects, there have been rise in the speculations of the next Potential Superpower. Potential Superpower is a term used for the countries who can possibly achieve superpower status in the 21st century; due to their economic potential, large markets, growing military and influence in international affairs. China, The European Union, India and Russia are the most speculated contenders for supremacy, but because of the problems such as poverty, corruption, population explosion and pollution these countries might simply remain emerging powers, as opposed to potential superpowers.

The predictions of the potential superpower are never perfect and keeps on changing with the changing economy of the countries and the power they posses on a global domain. For example, in the 1980s, Japan due to its large GDP and high economic growth was anticipated to be the next superpower.  However, Japan’s economy crashed in 1991, creating a long period of economic slump in the country which is yet to be recovered. As per the world bank annual GDP growth statistics; In 1961 Japan was estimated to reach a GDP of 12.5 by 2015. However, it declined to 0.5 by the end of 2015. Gaining supremacy is a tough task. It’s about gaining stability and keeping it consistent on a global level. Any of the countries who wish to attain the superpower status have a tough road ahead. The government and the people will have to work together and stand out as a strong and a united nation.

Talking about China, In the past few decades China has been identified as the most prominent economic growth and military superpower. China’s rise is demonstrated by its terrific share of trade in its gross domestic product. It has already outpaced USA in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).  Prableen Bajpai, in her article, “The World’s Top 10 Economies,” states that “China is estimated to pull ahead of the U.S. steadily in the following years, taking over the lead position as the world’s largest economy; in fact, in its October 2012 World Economic Outlook report, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) would outpace that of the U.S. as early as 2017.” According to which, china is predicted to outpace U.S. in terms of GDP and be the number one economic superpower in the world. It is only possible if china continues to grow its economy. However, Chinese economy has recently taken a decline,  which is a major concern. Along with the economy, it must also meet its internal and external challenges and make some fundamental political changes. It must deal with its aging population and gender imbalance produced by its one child policy.  Also deal with its water shortage problems, pollution problems and create more and more jobs to deal with the unemployment. It must also make contributions in the field of science, research and innovation and build a stronger military in-order to become the superpower.

The biggest competition of China in the race of being the Superpower is India. India is the biggest democracy in the world and with its 1.2 billion population, mostly consisted of young people, it possesses a great potential. India can benefit from china’s declining economy and can quickly attain the spot of the fastest emerging economies in the world. In an Economic Times Article, “India’s growth rate set to surpass china this year: World Bank,” Kaushik Basu, World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, claims that “With an expected growth of 7.5 per cent this year, India is, for the first time, leading the World Bank’s growth chart of major economies,” which means India will surpass China whose growth rate is 7.1 per cent this year and be the major economy in the world. Along with the economy, the factors that plays in Indias favor are its magnificent resources, its foreign relations, role in international politics, science and technology, Indian Armed forces etc. On the other hand poverty, pollution, unemployment, illiteracy, communal violence, social divide, gender and caste inequality and disputes with its neighboring countries are the factors that don’t play in Indias favor and it will have to pass these hurdles to become the superpower.

The European Union(EU) is also a great contender for the superpower. With its large economy probably largest in the world, large population, high quality lifestyle and low inflation rates it certainly is in a very good position. Despite of that, it hasn’t been very successful in establishing a unified foreign policy and project strong military power, which are essential for a superpower nation. If we consider Russia it only has powerful armed forces at the moment and it hence may never become a superpower. Brazil is another emerging nation with great potential. It has managed to sought a serious global economic and political power, however presently it can only manage to be the emerging power rather than the potential superpowers, with a hope to shape the world in the future.

The World Wars and many other Cultural, Demographic and Geographic conditions have crumbled the superpower nations of the past and continues to crumble the current contenders. It’s difficult for countries to get back on their knees or fight against their problems. The  U.S. has never observed massive industrial destruction or civilian casualties unlike Europe or Asia. Post War it has been able to build up a strong industrial and technological infrastructure, advanced military strength which is the strongest in the world and has managed to retain it since. Other countries have a great potential in being the superpower but their problems are way more drastic and impossible to overcome, at least at the moment. They will have to be a lot more than just the biggest economy if they want to attain the title of the Superpower nation of the world.

 

Works Cited

 

(ICFAI), Prableen Bajpai CFA. “The World’s Top 10 Economies.” Investopedia. N.p., 14 Oct. 2016. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.

“World Economic Outlook Database October 2014.” World Economic Outlook Database October 2014. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.

Pti. “India’s Growth Rate Set to Surpass China This Year: World Bank.” The Economic Times. N.p., 11 June 2015. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.

A07 White Paper – aaspiringwriter

India: The Next Superpower?

Content Descriptions

  • Usual image of India in people’s mind
  • What India is actually like
  • Reasons why it can be a superpower
  • Reasons why it cannot be a superpower
  • How India is fighting against its problems
  • India’s Biggest competition
  • Despite India has a potential to be the superpower

1. Working Hypothesis

Poverty and corruption is still strong in India. But with its rapidly changing Global Economy, Development in Information Technology and Infrastructure, The Republic of India is considered as one of the possible emerging superpowers of the world.

2. Working Hypothesis

Statistics show that, The Indian economy has the potential to become the world’s 3rd-largest economy by the next decade, and one of the two largest economies by mid-century.

Arguments

Classification:-  After its independence from the British East India company in 1947, India was a shattered economy with widespread illiteracy and shocking poverty. The growing population didn’t make it easy either. Despite of that India has somehow managed to overcome its issues and is currently one of the leading economies in the world. India is the biggest successful democracy in the world. It has made tremendous growth in the sectors such as: Information Technology, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Education, healthcare etc. India has topped the World Bank’s growth outlook for 2015-16 for the first time with the economy having grown 7.6% in 2015-16 and expected to grow 8.0%+ in 2016-17. But it is still seen as a 3rd world country and people are not very optimistic about it being the super-power.

Cause/Effect:-  Factors such as pollution, population explosion, poverty, corruption and illiteracy are taking away the fact that India has made enormous growth despite of all the challenges. These factors are hindering India in becoming the next super-power and is stealing the focus from its potential, hard work and progress.

Current State Of Research Paper:

I believe my research paper is pretty concrete at the moment. The data I have collected shows how much India has progressed after Independence and how people are expecting too much from it too soon. India has a tremendous potential to be the super power but the journey isn’t easy. The final product of my research paper will show how people stereotype India and how different it really is and what are the steps India is taking to eradicate its problems in-order to become the superpower. I hope my paper will help me break India’s stereotype and educate people about its progress.

A06: Visual Rewrite – aaspiringwriter

“Now”

0:01
The ad starts in the middle of a scene, where we are put behind the counter of a diner with a quick zooming back of the camera. The footage looks a bit dull and faded with minimal washed out colours, makes you feel as if it’s a home recorded video or some low-budget film, that is recorded for a real purpose.

Looking at the marble countertop before us, it seems as if the footage was taken perhaps from the kitchen or the service window. This is made clear as some ketchup bottles, sugar server, menu holders seen somewhat closer to the camera along with empty glasses kept upside down in a tray and a red top bottle of Angostura bitters, commonly used as a cocktail flavour.

On the counter are two young boys (one black, one white) sitting with a man. Both young boys are dressed in similar sport jerseys. The man is wearing a white T-shirt and a black Jacket and it appears to be gym clothes with a lanyard hanging around his neck. Probably a whistle hangs from it. This could mean he is a school coach and may be asking the two young boys to finish their food by repeatedly pointing at their plate. Maybe he doesn’t want the food to be wasted. The man looks to be in his mid 30’s and the two boys appears to be about 10-12years old.

Behind the three at the counter, there is another man and a woman also looks to be around their mid 30’s, occupy opposite sides on another table discussing something. It appears as if they are all sitting in a diner. The framed artwork hangs on the wall by the couple is a black and white photo of an urban street scene.

0:02
The camera zoomed in on the right face profile of the man, who turns to his right and starts talking. He has long sideburns. It is possible that someone is sitting next to him. He has a very comforting smile on his face. Maybe he is talking to a close-friend or relative.

0:04-0:05
Another young white boy approximately of same age as the other two boys, covers the frame with a wide smile on his face, rather feeling ticklish by the man’s hand moving around on his head, making him lean towards the man. He has very short blond looking hair and a very pretty smile on his face. He is wearing the same V-neck sport jersey as the other two young boys, as if they all belong to a same team. The coach seems to be teasing him in a friendly way. The kid has a wide smile on his face and is nodding his head as the coach is patting the kids head and talking to him. Their gestures appear to be really friendly and looks like they have known each other for a long time. They could be father and son.

0:05-0:06
There is a sudden change in the boy’s expression. His smile gradually disappears as he looks to be in some doubt due to some loud bang, followed by loud talking heard as if someone slammed their hand right on the table that moved all the glass items. He turns around with fear on his face, and looks on to the table behind them. This is when the frame is fully covered with a woman sitting just behind their table, with blonde, curly sort of short hair. She is wearing an ivory shirt. The woman quickly turns her head towards the boy and notices the boy staring her. She feels embarrassed and turns her head away from the boy toward the man sitting opposite him, who seems to be doing some loud talking.

0:07-0:08
The man comes in the frame again, with his right face profile as he was looking at young boy. He then grinds his teeth as if he has a hint of what’s about to happen after being disturbed by the bang on table followed by some loud talking. It appears if he is a bit disappointed of the whole situation. He looks down at his plate with displeasure on his face, he sighs as he picks up a fry off his plates and slowly eats it. It appears as if he is trying to avoid some situation.

0:09-0:12
With a slight zoom out in the camera this time, shows the man and the young white boy sitting on his left, along with the couple sitting behind their table. Both the man and white boy turn around in doubt to see the man and women sitting on the table behind them opposite to each other. The urban street artwork is also seen, right in the centre on the wall by the couples table. The man, with his left face profile slightly towards the camera and the young boy with his head fully turned around toward the couple are seen, as they try to figure out the ongoing scene between the couple. They see that the man has tightly grabbed the women’s hand with a look of anger on his face as he is pointing his index finger on his other hand towards her, still talking as loud. It appears as if they are arguing over something and he is shouting at her. The woman still feeling embarrassed about the whole situation and wanting it to stop. Next frame fully covers the man accompanied by the three young boys, looking away somewhere, thinking what to do as he grinds his teeth again with his mouth shut this time.

0:12
A question pops up with a black background.
“When do you get involved?”

0:14-0:21
The coach is in the frame again for some split seconds. The frame quickly keeps on switching between the two different ongoing scenarios. One is where the coach is sitting down thinking about the behaviour of the man on the other table towards his woman. Thinking whether he should get up and interrupt or let it be on the couple to be sorted on their own. The second switching frame shows different physical actions being performed by the man on the woman as she tries to resist, still wanting him to stop and calm down. The man is being somewhat violent and showing aggressive behaviour by pulling her by shirt and snatching her hair, wanting her to get up and leave the table as she keeps on resisting. The coach is still thinking something. And soon after, another question pops up with a black background. The question says “Now? “. This is quickly followed by a very violent reaction from the man, he hits the woman right in her face as she was resisting to leave the table and wanting him to stop, trying to get his hands off her. The coach is still thinking as the same question pops on the screen again “Now?”.

0:22-0:26
This time the camera is fully focused on the kid who was initially smiling, now completely frightened by the angry man’s behaviour. His face is full of fear, as he looks very uncomfortable, scared, disgusted, helpless. He is sympathetic towards that women. He is sad and uneasy and it looks like he is about to cry. It feels as if he wants to do something to stop this physical abuse. He looks at his coach in despair, hoping he would do something to stop this. He just wants someone to stop this. Then a sentence pops up with the kid in the background. The sentence says “The best time to get involved is Now.”

0:28-0:32
Another sentence shows up on the screen, “Teach boys that violence against women is wrong.” While the frightened young boy is still seen in the background.

0:33-0:37
Again the black background pops up with words fading in – “Teach Early. Call 800-End-Abuse.”

The End

Conclusion:
The advertisement conveys a really strong message on Violence against women. It shows the importance of teaching your kids the difference between the right and the wrong. Every adult is responsible for stopping this kind of behaviour. They should stand against it and teach their kids the same. Violence against women is wrong. Violence against anyone is wrong. Stand against the abuse and end it.

Proposal +5-aaspiringwriter

Aaspiringwriter’s Proposal

For my research essay I will be examining arguments presented against Modern Feminism. Feminism is a movement started with a goal to achieve social, political and educational equality of women with men. In recent years this movement has been able to draw a great attention from both sexes. While many choose to become feminists to support this movement, there has been a subsequent rise in anti-feminist’s who are with equality. It is evident that from time to time women have been subjected to not possess as equal caliber as men: physical and intellectual. But has feminism become more of a bad attitude and less of a positive movement? Inequality is faced by everyone regardless of their gender, race and color. The question is should feminists promote women as victims who are weak and vulnerable or should the focus be diverted to promote equality instead. Is feminism simply Hypocritical? Or did people misjudge the actual meaning of feminism?

In my research I found that women face a significant discrimination compared to men. Regardless of the social, economical or political status there are deep gender inequalities in many societies. Saudi Arabia prohibits women from driving. Countries like India and China Infanticides baby girls. They prefer a male child over a female child because of the dowry system and one-child policy. In U.S a women makes only 82 percent compared to her male friend working in the same field. In some countries women can’t even own a land, they don’t even have a right to initiate divorce. In-fact in many countries girls are banned from getting any education. Every single day hundreds of thousands of women faces violence, abuse and are raped, molested and humiliated. This gender discrimination is a real problem and not just a hoax. There are very few lucky people who haven’t seen it or faced it but it is still out there.

Aaspiringwriter’s Sources

1. WOMEN AGAINST FEMINISM: 26 PROVOCATIVE ARGUMENTS

The Essential Content of the Article: This article provides a counterintuitive approach to feminism. While it appreciates all the privileges feminism has brought for women all over the world. It also highlights and questions its true relevance with the 21st century female.

What it proves: Feminism is a movement to make women strong and independent, but somehow it is portraying women as victims.

2. Why We Still Need Feminism

The Essential Content of the Article: This article points out how feminism has helped to improve the position of women in society and why we still need to continue it.

What it proves: There are discriminations against women. It might have reduced to a certain extent but it is still there.

3. “Women’s work” and the gender pay gap

The Essential Content of the Article: This article gives an insight on how society provides unequal opportunities to women at every point of their career, training and education choices

What it proves: Gender wage gap is real. Due to suppressed earning it is harder for women to balance work and family.

4. Facts and Figures: Ending Violence against Women

The Essential Content of the Article: This article provides facts and figures for the violence happening against women all over the world and some preventive measures.

What it proves: Women are constantly abused both physically and sexually and there are very less initiatives undertaken to prevent it.

5. WHY FEMINISM CAN’T BE REPLACED BY EQUALISM OR HUMANISM.

The Essential Content of the Article: This article argues why a separate movement for women is necessary. A separate movement does not mean that feminists believe women are superior. But it is necessary because women are generally the underprivileged sex.

What it proves: Feminism isn’t only about women and their rights. Feminism is not about making men weak or women strong. It’s about giving everyone the power to be strong, ambitious, vulnerable, – based on their personalities and experiences, and regardless of their gender.

 

Moving Image – aaspiringwriter

“Now”

0:01
The ad starts and a man and two kids fades-in. They are sitting on a table and the man is telling something to the kids with his fingers pointing towards the food lying on the table. The man is wearing a white T-shirt and a black Jacket and it appears to be gym clothes also he has something hanging around his neck. Probably he is wearing a whistle around his neck. That could mean he is a school coach and may be asking the two young kids to finish their food. The coach looks like he is in his mid 30’s and the two kids appears to be about 10-12years old. They are sitting on a table and behind them there is another man and a woman also in their 30’s, sitting on another table discussing something. It appears as if they are all sitting in a restaurant.

0:02
The coach turns to his right and starts talking. It is possible that someone is sitting next to him. He has a very comforting smile on his face. Maybe he is talking to a close-friend or relative.

0:04-0:05
Another kid approximately of same age as the other kids comes into the frame. The coach is talking to that other kid rather teasing him in a friendly way. The kid has a wide smile on his face and is nodding his head as the coach is patting the kids head and talking to him. Their gestures appears to be really friendly and looks like they have known each other for a long time. They could be father and son.

0:05-0:06
All of sudden the kids expression changes. His smile is gone. He turns around with fear on his face and looks at the women sitting on the table behind them. The women looks back at the kid and when she realizes the kid is looking at her, she feels embarrassed.

0:07-0:08
The coach comes in the frame again. He is grinding his teeth. It appears he is disappointed of something. He looks down with displeasure on his face, he sighs and then tries to eat his food. It appears as if he is trying to avoid some situation.

0:09-0:12
The camera brings the coach and also the two other kids sitting next to him into the frame. All of a sudden they turn around to the man and women sitting on the table behind them. The man has grabbed the women’s hand. He is talking to the women with his fingers pointing towards her. It appears as if they are arguing over something and he is shouting at her. The coach looks away thinking what to do. He is grinding his teeth again.

0:12
A question pops up with a black background. When do you get involved?

0:14-0:21
The coach is in the frame again. He is thinking something. The man and the women comes in the frame. The man pulls her by snatching her hair and her shirt. The coach is still thinking something. Another question pops up with a black background. The question says “Now? “. The man starts hitting that women. The coach is still thinking and again the question pops up “Now?”.

0:22-0:26
The camera focuses on the kid who was smiling in the beginning. He is full of fear at the moment. He is uncomfortable, scared, disgusted, helpless. He is sympathetic towards that women. He is sad and uneasy and it looks like he is about to cry. It feels as if he wants to do something to stop whatever is going on. He looks at his coach hoping he would do something to stop his. He just wants someone to stop this. Then a sentence pops up with the kid in the background. The sentence says “The best time to get involved is Now.”

0:28-0:32
Another sentence comes up “Teach boys that violence against women is wrong.” The scared boy is still in the background.

0:33-0:37
Again the black background pops up with words fading in -“Teach Early. Call 800-End-Abuse.”

The End

Conclusion:
The advertisement conveys a really strong message on Violence against women. It shows the importance of teaching your kids the difference between the right and the wrong. Every adult is responsible for stopping this kind of behavior. They should stand against it and teach their kids the same. Violence against women is wrong. Violence against anyone is wrong. Stand against the abuse and end it.

Stone Money – aaspiringwriter

P1. Growing up as kids we have always been told how important money is and how important it is to earn money, to save money and to value money. I was taught that money is a method of exchange. We give money and we get something in return. But we can’t get anything and everything we want. We can only get those things that holds the value which is equivalent to the money we provide. However the concept of money isn’t as simple as it looks. The more you start thinking about money the more vague your concept becomes. When you shift your focus from being an individual conducting day to day exchanges just to survive to nations all over the world managing those exchanges, you start to question, What is the end result of those exchanges? Where does it go? Who decides what should happen and Where it should go? Who invented this form of method in the first place and Why do we need it?  In reality there is no definite answer and logical explanation for all these questions because its too complicated to calculate just like its complicated to find the sum of two infinite numbers. Of-course you know that the answer is infinite but you also know that its just impossible to measure or calculate. One can consider money as just an illusion humans created in-order to make exchanges for using services and products provided by other humans, without much hassle.

P2. Money or some form of exchange has been around since the existence of the human race. The exchange started with bartering system. For example people will give vegetables in exchange for clothes. However this system was not efficient enough, because in the scenario where you want to buy a house you can’t possibly have enough vegetables that holds the value equivalent to that house and even if you do have enough vegetables there is no way one can use it up before it goes bad. Hence people started coming up with new ideas, which led to the invention of gold and silver coins. It lasted for a while and  it was a good idea, but it had it’s drawbacks. Firstly, digging gold and then giving it the shape of the coin is expensive in itself and it’s also hard to find. One can’t find gold on streets. Also carrying gold coins all the world with you is a heavy task – literally! And then finally the currency we use today was created. Its paper, its easy to carry and easy to exchange and thanks to technology we don’t even need to carry it anymore. It’s just a number in our bank accounts that keeps changing. Hence one can say that money is just an illusion we manipulate according to our convenience and our needs.

P3. The 7 billion people on this planet don’t necessarily use the same currency or the same method of exchange. The reason behind is difference in culture, difference in geography, difference in the availability of resources. There is one island out in the pacific ocean that supports my argument. It’s an island called Yap and people there use limestones carved in huge stone discs that could weigh more than a car to pay for stuff since they don’t have gold or any form of metal available on the island. At first people will think its bizarre but what is more bizarre is the trading process. In general we buy something and we give liquid money in exchange or transfer it to bank account. However transferring the limestone without any equipment and machinery is impossible. So during a trade the people in Yap would just be informed that person A bought x thing from person B and now that limestone of person A belongs to person B. The stone won’t be moved from its place but everyone knows who it belongs to. The question is why the people on Yap would go through all the trouble of getting limestones and carving it? “At some point people on Yap realized what most societies realizes. They needed something that everyone agrees you can use to pay for stuff.”(The island of Stone Money) We need something to support our illusion and we can go beyond our limits to achieve that. The Yap’s concept of money may sound insane but it’s nothing new. We use that concept everyday. When we buy groceries via credit cards, “what’s really changing? The digits in the bank account.”(Stone Money NPR Broadcast) Convenience and availability plays an important role in how we carry out exchanges.

P4. Money is a lot more rather than a mere tool of exchange. If not handled properly, it can make people go bankrupt, it can create inflation and deflation, countries can be consumed by debt. One such example is brazil. “Twenty years ago, Brazil’s inflation rate hit 80 percent per month.”(CHANA JOFFE-WALT) The prices would change everyday and will go from $10 to $1000 in no time. It all happened because of poor decisions made by the presidents of the country at that time. However, how four people who knew how to handle money set an example by ending brazils inflation is incredible. People of brazil had lost faith in government and the value of money. The idea was to bring the faith back by creating virtual money and making people believe that it’s real. We can say money is nothing but just Faith. You need people to believe in money and believe its real.

P5. Money is created out of nothing. It has no value initially. We decide it’s value and how much it’s worth and change it according to our convenience. Reserve Bank decides how much money to print depending upon whether the economy is good or bad. Japan decided to devaluate its currency to bring country out of recession. “Bitcoins were created in-order to have a currency that is free from central bank or financial institution.”(Renaut, Anne) One can conclude that money is just an idea people play around with but it doesn’t exist in reality.

Works Cited

Friedman, Milton. “The Island of Stone Money.” Diss. Hoover Institution, Stanford University , 1991.

Joffe-Walt, Chana . “How Fake Money Saved Brazil.” NPR.org. 4 Oct. 2010. 30 Jan. 2015. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/10/04/130329523/how-fake-money-saved-brazil&gt;.

Renaut, Anne . “The bubble bursts on e-currency Bitcoin.” Yahoo.com. 13 Apr. 2013. 30 Jan. 2015. <https://sg.news.yahoo.com/bubble-bursts-e-currency-bitcoin-064913387–finance.html&gt;.