Final In-Class Writing Sample 

Priscilla Laguna
Dr. Gill
ENG 2105
Final In-Class Writing Assignment 
9 December 2021

                                                         (Provocative Title) Following the Golden Rule 
   (Hook)Among several social issues, Chan et al., researchers on politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong, argue, “Social cohesion is ‘a state of affairs concerning both the vertical and the horizontal interactions among members of society as characterized by a set of attitudes and norms that includes trust, a sense of belonging and the willingness to participate and help, as well as their behavioral manifestations’” (Chan et al. 290). (Bridge) Chan and colleagues define the term social cohesion as the ability to overcome the social, ethical, and economical barriers put forth in society by developing an appreciation for other’s differences. (Divided thesis/stasis sentence: Opponent’s claim informed by 3 scholarly sources) Although, some see social cohesion, or globalization, as a proponent in shrinking distances between people, places, and cultures, (Rhetor’s main claim informed by 3 scholarly sources) the human tendency lies in showing apathy and creating inequality because, (Reason/Support 1) qualities such as compassion and generosity that appear during a crisis quickly fade away, (Reason/Support 2) economic partnerships between nations create income inequality for national citizens,  (Reason/Support 3) and problematic power structures seek to oppress the weak.
    (Concession/Refutation) It is, indeed, true that both cultural and economic globalization has brought awareness to people about these interpersonal and cultural differences. (Scholarly Source 1) As psychologists with the objective of understanding modern-day social issues, Lalot and colleagues in the article, ““The Social Cohesion Investment: Communities That Invested in Integration Programmes Are Showing Greater Social Cohesion in the Midst of the COVID‐19 Pandemic” have observed that “in the early days of a crisis, the perception of a shared and global traumatizing experience, combined with the necessity of common and coordinated responses, increases the perception of being ‘all in the same boat’ regardless of previous divisions between social groups” (Lalot et al. 2). During time of distress, such as the recent pandemic, people of all ages, races, and cultures put aside their differences and demonstrate acts of generosity and compassion towards each other. (Scholarly Source 2) Focusing more on the economic side of globalization, research economists, Lopez et al. share the findings of their study in “Economic Convergence in a Globalized World: The Role of Business Cycle Synchronization.” These findings conclude, “If we understand globalization as a global economic integration process, synchronization of business cycles across countries should be critical for the successful implementation of policies aimed to increase globalization, and both globalization and synchronization should play a role in economic convergence” (Lopez et al. 2). In other words, countries who have created international trade relationships with each other have seen an increase in the economic growth in underdeveloped economies. This partnership allows underdeveloped countries to catch up and close the gap in economic stability at the international level. (Scholarly Source 3) Furthermore, supporters of the positive impact of cultural globalization, Kim and colleagues, experts in the arts and the entertainment industry focues the attention on the K-pop phenomenon. In the article, “Success Factors and Sustainability of the K-Pop Industry: A Structural Equation Model and Fuzzy Set Analysis”, the three factors leading to cultural globalization include “entertainment agencies have selected trainees through diverse channels, such as official global auditions. These agencies have collected various ideas from external sources and utilized diverse experts from different nationalities and fields to divide labor in the producing stage. By fusing Western pop styles with easy melodies that suit Eastern sentiments, the K-pop industry has ensured universal mass appeal that can gain popularity across nationalities” (Kim et al. 16). By taking advantage of technological advancements, Korean music industries use the strategies of culturally diverse music groups, social media, and international fandom to promote increasing desire to take an interest in Korean culture. (Refutation: Rhetor’s Main Claim + Support 1) But, the pivotal flaw in human psychology involves the affinity to turn back to old habits. (Toulmin Warrant) In order for successful integration of globalization to take place, the qualities of an appreciative and understanding society for each other’s differences must display long-term. (Scholarly Source 1) Previous proponents of the opposing claim, Lalot et al. also provide evidence in support of the rhetor’s claim in their findings of social interaction during the pandemic. A study made by Lalot and colleagues point out, “However, this sense of ‘coming together’ is often short-lived and social fragmentation may revert to pre-disaster levels within a matter of weeks. As a matter of fact, numerous xenophobic incidents against people of East Asian origin were reported worldwide” (Lalot et al. 2). Once the most critical phase of a crisis has passed, people tend to go back to their normal routines. As a result, all the social, economic, and ethnic barriers appear once again, and these acts of compassion disappear into thin air.  (Conclusion) As imperfect humans, the attitude of helping others motivated by selfish reason does not tie in with the purpose of joining people together, despite cultural and ethnic differences.  
    (Summation: Argue that your stance on the issue is best for society) Living in a world plagued by the spirit of oppression and hard-headed attitude of people not wanting to understand and accept each other’s differences, globalization seeks to fix these patterned errors in society. Unfortunately, globalization has not succeeded. Factors that impede the realization of the utopian dream include economic inequality between individuals, persecution of the minority lead by problematic power structures, and the human tendency to revert to past attitudes at the end of a crisis. In essence, the best solution for society to accomplish closing the rift in cultural, ethnic, and economic differences involves applying the Golden Rule which states, “All things that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them.” Taking a moment to step back and put oneself in the other person’s shoes provides helpful insight into the internal and external struggles of other cultures and ethnicities. Furthermore, the benefit of showing the respect and appreciation that all human beings deserve contributes to a peaceful and loving society, which fulfills the criteria put forth in the concept of globalization.