Writing Topic
There are people who think that physical
exercise should be a required activity at school. Others argue that school
should be concerned only with academic studies, and that physical exercise is something
best left out of school life. Which of these views do you share? Justify your
answer with specific reasons.
☆Let’s Think
By the expression “required activity,”
the first statement means that everyone has to take PE classes. The second
statement means that PE does not meet the purposes of school education and
should not be included in school curriculums or should be treated as something optional
or extra.
How do we decide which subject is
required at school? Do we decide it based on the purpose of education, or based
on the benefits the subject has? What are the purposes and benefits of PE? What
are the problems with it?
☆Hints for points
♦The purpose of education
1.
To promote physical, mental, and social
development of individuals.
2.
To develop every individual to their
full potential.
3.
To equip individuals with earning
ability
♦The purposes or benefits of physical education
1.
Healthy mind and body: Not only can it
promote physical fitness and develop motor skills but also it can help students
better concentrate on their study if they exercise moderately.
2.
Healthy lifestyle: Students who are not
interested in sports can learn to stay in shape and maintain a healthy
lifestyle into adulthood.
3.
Familiarity with some popular sports:
Having some hands on experience with some popular sports will help students
enjoy playing or watching them.
4.
Intimacy with classmates and social skills:
Playing sports or doing exercise together will help students gain intimacy with
other students and develop social skills.
♦The problems of physical education
1.
No substantial effect: To develop and
maintain physical fitness requires regular activity, while most schools have PE
classes only twice or three times a week, and this is not enough for the
purpose. After-school sport activities such as going to gyms or participating
in sports clubs actually meet the needs.
2.
Obstacle to going on to college for
some students: High school students who are not good at sports or who are
unable to attend PE classes because of illness or injury cannot receive good
grades in PE, while these grades are usually included in their GPA (Grade Point
Average).
☆Making Thesis and Giving examples:
Sample thesis and examples
I think PE should be mandatory because it fulfills the purpose of education: to promote physical, mental,
and social development of individuals.
For example, by playing basketball, you can become physically fit, learn to
think quickly, and work as part of a team.
Also, you can make friends with your
classmates.
Your thesis and examples:
I think PE should be mandatory / optional
because ...
For example, …
Also, …
☆Let’s
Deal with Counterarguments
A counterargument, that is to say a
criticism or a question you expect, is a bonus-point icon in an essay writing
game. If you venture to take it up and deal with it successfully, your essay
will jump up to the upper level and you will be awarded with a good score. On
the other hand, if you fail to be aware of an inevitable counterargument, your
essay will become vulnerable to the attack on it. Think of the debate for which
you had not prepared carefully. Your raters may regard the neglected counterargument
as a flaw in logic. Dealing well with counterarguments is showing that you can
think and write logically and objectively in English, and it will help you gain
higher scores.
Examples of Counterarguments and
Counter-counterarguments
Sample counterarguments in case
you think PE should be a required subject:
1.
PE classes actually have no effect on
health and fitness. Twice or three times of PE a week is not enough for
fitness. ⇔ Working
out sometimes is better than never.
2.
Making PE required is unfair for
physically disadvantaged students in university entrance examinations because
GPA includes PE grades. ⇔ Paper test results and attendance rates are considered in the
evaluation, so including PE grades in GPA is not unfair.
3.
PE should be optional because students
get embarrassed in front of their classmates. ⇔ This is the same with other students who are not good at other
subjects. For example, music, art, or math classes are a torture for some
students. The important thing is to protect everyone’s dignity in any classes.
Also, while music and art can be optional, like math, PE directly benefits one’s
daily life, so it should be a required subject.
Sample counterarguments in case
you think PE is something best left out of school life:
1.
School is not only for learning
subjects but also for mind and physical development. PE is necessary for the
latter. ⇔ Awareness on health issues
has become high nowadays, and there are enough opportunities to exercise
outside of the school. Also, it is questionable if sports are necessary for the
health. Doing household work, for example, can allow one to do without exercise.
2.
Schools of all levels, from elementary
school to university, include PE in curriculums. ⇔ Just because something is practiced now does not mean that we should
stick with it.
☆Taking up a Counterargument and Confirming Your Point (Giving a Counter-counterargument):
Sample counterargument and a
counter-counterargument:
Some might say that no one becomes really fit by attending PE classes only twice or
three times a week.
However, working out sometimes is better than never, especially for people
like me who are couch potatoes and never try to do any exercise afterschool.
Also, not all individuals can go to gyms or join clubs after school. School
physical education, which provides appropriate facilities and kits, can give
opportunities to try new sports to those who have no chances to try them.
A counterargument you expect and your
confirmation of your point:
Some might say that …
However, …
