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
1. By
the expression “required activity,” the first statement in the writing topic
means that
a. it
is recommended that you take P.E. classes.
b. everyone
has to take P.E. classes.
2. Discuss
the first statement of the writing topic.
Possible
Inquiries:
a. How do
we decide which subject is required at school?
b. What
are the purposes and benefits of physical exercise?
3. The
second statement of the writing topic means that
a. physical
exercise does not meet the purposes of school education and should be included
in optional or extra classes.
b. physical
exercise does not meet the purposes of school education and should be excluded
from school activities in any form.
4. Discuss
the second statement of the writing topic.
Possible
Inquiries:
a.
Should school be only concerned with academic
studies?
b.
What is the purpose of education?
c.
What are the problems with physical exercise?
☆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 P.E. 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, participating in sports clubs, or just walk a long
distance 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 P.E. classes because of illness or injury
cannot receive good grades in P.E., while these grades are usually included in
their Grade Point Average (GPA).
☆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. The
neglected counterargument will be regarded as a flaw in logic. An essay which
deals well with counterarguments shows that you can think and write logically
and objectively in English.
◍ In the case of this writing topic, of the two opinions
it provides, the one you do not agree with is the counterargument. Here are
samples of taking up the counterargument and confirming your point, or giving a
counter-counterargument.
Sample
1
Some
might say that school should be concerned only with academic studies, and
that physical exercise is something best left out of school life. However, I
think P.E. should be required 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. Thus, P.E. should be in school life.
Sample
2
Some
might say that physical exercise should be a required activity at
school for some reason. However, physical exercise is one of the
practical subjects such as music and art, and music and art are elective in
high school. Therefore, I think physical exercise should be treated as
such at least in high school and university.
◍ Here are examples of some other expected
counterarguments. Sentences after the sign ⇔ are examples of points to counter the
counterarguments.
Other
counterarguments for the first statement: P.E. should be required at school.
1. P.E.
classes actually have no effect on health and fitness. Twice or three times of
P.E. a week is not enough for fitness. ⇔ Working out sometimes is better than never.
2. Making
P.E. required is unfair for physically disadvantaged students in university
entrance examinations because GPA includes P.E. grades. ⇔ Paper test
results and attendance rates are considered in the evaluation, so including
P.E. grades in GPA is not unfair.
3. P.E.
should be optional because some 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 class. Also, while music
and art can be elective, like math, P.E. directly benefits one’s daily life, so
it should be a required subject.
Other
counterarguments for the second statement: P.E. is something best left out of
school life:
1. School
is not only for learning subjects but also for mind and physical development.
P.E. 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 children
to do without exercise.
2. Schools
of all levels, from elementary school to university, include P.E. in
curriculums. ⇔ Just because something is practiced now does not
mean that we should stick with it.
◍ Your Sample Counterargument-treatment
Use
either of the following forms if you like.
Form 1
Some
might say that school should be concerned only with academic studies, and that
physical exercise is something best left out of school life.
However,
For
example,
Also,
Form 2
Some
might say that physical exercise should be a required activity at
school for some reason.
However,
For
example,
Therefore,
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