Summary, Draft #1

In the article, “I-5 and the Physics of Bridge Collapse,” Hartsfield (2013) has stated that most bridges including the I-5 bridge failed due to inevitable design flaws. The author implies that an optimal bridge design relies on the considerable factors of a project such as cost and timeline. The author also quotes the possibilities that can cause a bridge to collapse including prolonged lifespan, construction errors and miscalculations. According to Hartsfield (2013), “A truss bridge holds as long as the beams themselves don’t break and the joints stay together.” In this regard, once a part of the structure beam is hit, it can cause a bridge to fail. He further states that the unfortunate tragedy of the I-5 truss bridge might have been due to the impact caused by a truck as it crashed into one of the truss beams. Hartsfield also mentions that nevertheless, it is critical to understand the problem in order to determine the actual cause of unpredicted collapse in bridges.

Formal Letter

Dear Professor Brad Blackstone

My name is Lim Jia Ying, a first-year student studying civil engineering. The purpose of this letter is to introduce myself to you. I have graduated from Singapore Polytechnic, Diploma in Civil Engineering with Business together with Diploma Plus in Quantity Surveying. 

My dad would bring me along to construction sites during school holidays and this was how I started to developed interest in civil engineering. I was fascinated to see tall cranes and machinery on-site and structures being built in a short period of time. Upon graduating from polytechnic, I was sure that I would want to be in this industry. Hence, I am here to further my studies in civil engineering at Singapore Institution of Technology (SIT).

In terms of strength in communication, I am a good listener and is able to respond appropriately when communicating with others. I have developed this strength during my previous job as I was always communicating with the client over the phone. I have been complimented by my supervisor and my client for being a good listener and able to respond appropriately when communicating with one another.

However, I am not good at public speaking. During presentations, I will feel anxious and eventually forget my lines even if I have prepared for the presentation. I am also not very confident with myself. Hence, I am very self-conscious with strangers as I fear of being teased or laughed at.

Therefore, the two goals that I want to achieve in this module is to achieve skills that can help me in both written and oral communication skills and also to overcome my fear of speaking in front of the class and have an improvement in my English language.

Best regards

Lim Jia Ying

Commented on: Zyn and Derrick
Edited on:  3 April 2020