Post-course Assessment of New Literacies

Where does MH370 go?

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) disappeared on 8 March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, to Beijing Capital International Airport in China. The aircraft last made voice contact with air traffic control at 01:19 MYT, 8 March when it was over the South China Sea, less than an hour after takeoff. It disappeared from air traffic controllers' radar screens at 01:22 MYT. Malaysian military radar continued to track the aircraft as it deviated westwards from its planned flight path and crossed the Malay Peninsula. It left the range of Malaysian military radar at 02:22 while over the Andaman Sea, 200 nautical miles (370 km) north-west of Penang in north-western Malaysia. The aircraft, a Boeing 777-200ER, was carrying 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 15 nations.

On 29 July 2015, aircraft debris was found on a beach in Saint-André, on Réunion. It was transported to Toulouse, for examination. On 2 August, Malaysian officials confirmed that the object was a flaperon from a Boeing 777 aircraft and that the verification was made. Three days later, the Prime Minister of Malaysia announced that the discovered flaperon was confirmed to be from Flight 370; French officials announced that serial numbers found on the flaperon link it "with certainty" to Flight 370.

As we know that, there is no confirmed news received from the aircraft. It is impossible for the flight to land on anywhere. Also, aircraft debris was found and confirmed to be part of the missing aircraft. Since the officials concluded that the airliner's last position before it disappeared was in the Southern Indian Ocean. As there were no places there where it could have landed, So it is very likely that the plane have crashed into the sea.

Literacies Project - Academic Literacies (Post-assessment)

1. Ethics of 'designer babies'
human genome --> decoded in 2003, DNA sequence has become a popular research area.
Couples can choose desirable traits for their children
Genetic control can be done to improve humankind.
Antenatal genetic selection is unwise.


Seems that antenatal genetic control can be used to treat certain diseases.
achieved by screening the genetic makeup.
Help children with specified traits.


Serious ethical concerns.
1. social inequality.
only the affluent will be able to afford the huge expense.


2. freedom and worth of an individual would be diminished,
depriving their children of choice and autonomy
 children will be living a life designed by their parents, rather than own will.


3. endless competition in creating the 'perfect' huamn being.
what is cobnsidered good at present would become just average in the future.
people can't be stopped for wanting the perfect babies.


Conclusion --> morally unacceptable
using technology to manipulate the 'natural order' would lead to undesirable consequences.


2. It is an augumentative essay.


3. It starts with an introduction, followed by arguments that support the technologies and discussion on the ethical problems concerned. It ends with a brief conclusion.


4. Signposting phrases are used, e.g. however, another concern, also, to conclude.


5. The writer stands against this design.


6. The designer babies will give rise to social inequality, diminishing freedom and worth of individuals as well as rndless competition for 'perfect babies'.


7. The counter argument is that the gwenetic control can help control undesirable diseases. Peopel can also decide attributes of their children such as appearance, personality and intelligence.


8. I agree with the writer. People will lose characteristics if everybody is designed and made perfect. We will thin and act in the same way.








Part B
Feng Shui is a Chinese system which people follow in the layout of their homes or offices so as to bring themselves happiness, health and wealth. It is a set of rules about different arrangements in an environment to enhance a balance of yin (shady side) and yang (sunny side) and the acumulation of qi (energy). following the rules promotes well-being of the people in that environment. There are Feng Shui mastters to advise people what to do. Thiose properties located in undesirable locations may result in a lower market price.

Pre-course Assesment of New Literacies

MH370 was a Malaysia Airlines plane which disappeared on 8 March 2014. At first, the Vietnamese announced that it was crashed in the South Sea but the Malaysian Govenment denied. A joint search and rescue was carried out since then yet nothing is found up to this moment. So, what happened?

 From my point of view, the aircraft was hijacked by the pilot. Investigations show that the pilot is a supporter of former Malaysian governor and he is not satisfied with the judgement made by the Malaysian court. As a result, he hijacked the flight and asked for the release of the governor. During his action, the flight reached an altitude which normal people could not breath so no communication was made by the passengers and the cabin crews. The pilot then successfully controlled the flight and changed the direction of the flight without notifying the control tower of any country.

As the Malaysian government refused to accept the request of the pilot, the pilot chose to carry out a suicidal behaviour when the fuel tank was empty. He crashed the flight in the Southern Indian Sea. Since the Malaysian Government did not want to let the public know and some confidential information might be involved in this case, no accurate news is obtained by the public and the search and rescue action was a complete failure. It is believed that the black box would not be found unless more information is revealed by the Malaysian Government.

Pre-course Assessment of Academic Literaces

Part A
Q1: Human genome decoded --> ble to identify specific genes that account for certain person attributes
V Choose desirble triats --> give rise to social and ethnic problems

Antenatal genic control --> can treat / prevent diseases (e.g. sickle-cell anaemia and cancer)
May even exercise gender control

ethical concerns (only affluent could afford --> greater inequality)
freedo and worth of an individual DIMINISHED
e worth of life neglected as a result
Geetic selecton --> "perfect" competition
Consider talents as gifts! Not something to control!

"designer babies" UNACCEPTABLE (shrpen social inequaility, diminish the rights and worth of humans)
technoogy to manipulate the natural order --> undesirable consequences

Q2. Recount

Q3. The article begins with an introduction to genetic control. And then examples of genetic control and the undersirble effects of it are given to support the argument.Finally, the wrier concludes that genetic control is morlly unacceptable.

Q4. Signposting words like "however" and " to conclude" are used to navigate the readers.

Q5. The writer opposes to "designer babies", which is described as something morally unacceptable

Q6. Ethnic concern (creating the "perfect competition"), Socia inequality

Q7. The genetic control is useful in preventing or even treating diseases.

Q8. I agree. Human being should follow the natural order and not attempt to change it. For instance, if babies' genders are controlled, the world may suffer from inequality of gender and undesirable results may appear.

Part B
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese system dating to several thousands years ago. It is about different arrangements in an environment which people follow in the layout of their homes or offices. Feng Shui can presumably help accumulate qi (energy) that brings positive effects such as occupants happiness, health and wealth to people. To ensure the promotion of the well-being, people usually consult feng shui masters and get advice on what to do in order to get the best effect. The advice is usually related to the placements of furniture and design of homes or offices.