Summary of two articles

In order to have a better background knowledge for Writting Assignment 2, I read two articles and the following is my summary of these two articles.

First article is a brief introduction about the biofuel by Justin Gillis. He started the topic back to 19th century during which technological visionaries had already conducted experiments showed that it was possible for engines to run on fuel made from plants. However, fuels derived from plants lost out to fuels refined from crude oil in the days of motorized transport. It is not easy to replace fossil fuel now since they are the cheapest fuels for many decades and they are about as energy-dense as liquids can be. Biofuels attainted the greatest political momentum because they promise lucrative new markets for farm products. However, these first generation biofuels provoked intense backlash during applications. The second generation biofuels are believed to offer greater promise but the technology to make them is still in its infancy. That is the main idea about this article.

Another article named “Biofuels: Green energy or grim reaper?” is written by Jeffrey A McNeely who is a chief scientist of IUCN, the World Conservation Union based in Switzerland. He considered that biofuels could end up damaging the natural world rather than saving it from global warming. The reasons for his view about biofuels are summarized as follows:
1. Huge consumption of grains;
2. Much of the fuel that Europeans use will be imported from Brazil, where the Amazon is being burned to plant more sugar and soybeans, and Southeast Asia, where oil palm plantations are destroying the rainforest habitat of orangutans and many other species;
3. One type of biofuels, ethanol, will likely come from maize. Growing maize appears to use 30% more energy than the finished fuel produces, and leaves eroded soils and polluted waters behind.
4. It will cause food price to increase more.

Then he suggested 2 things to do in current situations. The first step is to apply biotechnology to enhance the ethanol yield, reduce environmental damage from feedstock, and improve bioprocessing efficiency at the refinery. But it is not enough yet. The second step is to mandate improved fuel efficiency for all forms of transport based on current technology.

Five words/ phrases:
1. First-generation biofuels: ethanol made from corn or sugar cane, or biodiesel made from vegetable oil.
2. Second-generation biofuels: biofuels made from plant wastes, or from crops specially grown for the purpose on land not suitable for food production.
3. Fossil fuels: carbon or hydrocarbons found in the earth’s crust.
4. Monoculture: the agricultural practice of producing or growing one single crop over a wide area.
5. Biodiversity: the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or for the entire Earth.

Reference:
Justin Gillis, February 24, 2009, “Biofuels”, Retrieved March 8, 2009, fromhttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/energy-environment/biofuels/index.html
Jeffrey A McNeely, September 22, 2006, “Biofuels: Green energy or grim reaper?”, Retrieved March 8, 2009, fromhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5369284.stm

Three common grammar mistakes

I have learned English as my second languge for about eight years. During the course of study, I find I often make grammar mistakes. Among all the mistakes I usually make, the three most common ones are shown as follows.

1. Article
Different from Chinese, English usually have articles within a sentence. An article is a word that combines with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun, and may also specify the volume or numerical scope of that reference (Wikipedia). The articles in the English language are the and a(n). Different articles should be used for different situations.
e.g. mistakes: NUS graduates are well esteemed by the employers at the workplace.
Correction: NUS graduates are well esteemed by employers at the workplace.
Reason: NO article is used when a plural contable noun is nonspecific.

2. Transition
Transition words allow one to work smooth changes into one's writing; thus, simple sentences turn into compound sentences, complex sentences and long paragraphs. Transition words provide a powerful tool to put sentences and phrases together, bringing coherence and consistency, and, most importantly, they put the thoughts one's mind is trying to convey into written words.
e.g. mistakes: Although academic studies are challenging, but most students will persist in their efforts.
Correction: Although academic studies are challenging, most students will persist in their efforts.
Reason: although should not be followed by but.
Also, hence, therefore, thus should be followed by a comma. There are commas before and after however if it is used within a sentence.

3. Modals
A modal verb (also modal, modal auxiliary verb, modal auxiliary) is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality. Common modal verbs are: can, could, may, might, should, must. Different modals are used to represent different possiblity and necessity.
e.g. mistakes: If the global warming is not mitigated soon, global disater should happen.
Correction: If the global warming is not mitigated soon, global disater could happen.
Reason: This is just a assumption. Could is used to represent the possibility.

Grammar is something interesting and sensitive. A slight grammar error may lead to completely different meaning. Hence, I will try hard to master it and use it in a correct way.