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Academic writing and AI
Alton Yip Lok-yin, Ma On Shan Tsung Tsin Secondary School
As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, its productive capabilities will grow far beyond human capabilities. I believe that AI will reshape academic writing into a more idea-oriented task.
Since AI will be able to write faultless and beautiful sentences in the blink of an eye, I think the focus will shift to students’ core linguistic capabilities and individual expression.
Each student thinks differently, so their prompts to AI will also vary, meaning their core ideas and unique ways of expression will retain their individuality.
AI can be used to clarify and polish ideas, but the end product is still decided by the student.
Suppose the AI reply does not align with a student’s original idea or thinking pattern. In that case, the student must edit the response or ask AI to change certain aspects, which in turn nurtures the student’s creative thinking and ability to evaluate.
However, this is heavily influenced by each student’s mindset. Lazy students may simply take the AI answer as their own, while more motivated students will not.
Still, as AI’s productive capability increases, the need for original and critical ideas will also increase for capable students.
Remembering the past
Ally Wong, Pope Paul VI College
I am writing in response to a recent letter about a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp in World War II. While it was sad to read about what the survivor went through, it was informative and important to learn.
It is hard to comprehend how terrifying it would be to live through that ordeal. I felt the same way about the story of Josef Mengele and everything he did to other human beings.
I can’t even put into words how disturbing it is to think that anyone could actually come up with something so cruel. These stories exemplify why we need to remember our past and how hatred consumes all.
The stories shared by Auschwitz survivors show us that we must learn from the past to prevent these kinds of atrocities from ever happening again. We must advocate for kindness and acceptance in our communities.
Furthermore, we must promote discussions around these issues in our schools to ensure everyone learns the consequences of hate and the responsibility to stand up for what is right.
We need to acknowledge the lives lost and seek to build a kinder, more compassionate world.
Helping students recharge
Chung Cheuk-yan, Valtorta College
I think schools should consider setting up nap chairs so that students can take a short afternoon nap.
Nowadays, many students participate in extracurricular activities after school, which means they have to stay up late finishing their homework and reviewing for tests or assignments. They do not get enough sleep, only sleeping five or six hours, or even four.
The students most seriously affected are those who commute from mainland China, as they need to wake up early to attend school in the city. Therefore, setting up nap chairs at school could be very helpful.
I think we could set up nap chairs in a room near the social worker’s office. This way, students could rest in a quiet environment where they feel safe. They could also recharge their energy for afternoon lessons and learn with greater efficiency.
Although it would be a challenging idea to implement at school, I am still happy to share it.
Support for the four-day week
Jennie Fung, King Ling College
I am writing to share my strong support for the four-day work week, which has been in the news recently. I believe this modern idea is not just a nice dream but a necessary change for a better future.
Firstly, the biggest benefit would be to our health and happiness. Many people feel overworked, stressed and tired because they have no time to rest. A four-day work week would offer a proper break and extra time to do life tasks like going to the doctor, shopping or spending quality time with family. When people are less stressed and more rested, they become happier and healthier. This is good for everyone.
It would also be excellent for business. Many studies show that people can be just as productive in four days as in five. Happy employees are more focused and motivated. They waste less time at work and are more creative. Companies can also save money on electricity and other office costs by being closed for an extra day. It is a win-win situation.
Some may argue that this would not work for every job, such as those in hospitals or restaurants. This is a fair point, but solutions exist, such as flexible schedules and shift rotations. The goal is to reduce the total hours worked, not to shut down every Friday.
