Writing for Academic Discussion What do you think is the most important subject for students ot learn in high schools? - revised -

Considering the range of disciplines traditionally taught in high schools―such as mathematics, science, history, and English―what do you think is the most important subject for students to learn? Justify your choice by discussing its relevance to students’ personal growth, their role in society, or their future professional lives?

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.        Name main subjects taught at high school.

2.        How do the subjects you named in Question 1 benefit high school students?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

・National Language: Language is thought. – Noam Chomsky

・Mathematics: It nurtures logic and imagination.

・Science: It gives us knowledge of the physical world, which helps us think about where we are from and where we are now.

・History: You can learn why human society is as it is now.

・Geography: You can gain knowledge of how life is in each region on this planet.

・Civics: To build a true democracy, everyone needs to learn civics.

・Home Economics: Regardless of sex, students must learn to be able to take care of themselves and their family.

・Second Language: To learn new perspectives, to be well-rounded, and to be useful in the society of diversity in the 21^st century, it is necessary to learn other languages.

 

 

☆Sample

【Thesis】I think National Language is the most important subject because language is thought according to Noam Chomsky; the person’s first language skill decides the performances in the other subjects; and, last but not least, the mother tongue forms the humanity of the individual.

【Language is Thought】Noam Chomsky, who is the Einstein of Linguistics in that he made the subject totally new in the 20^th century and presented new perspectives about Language, says that Language is not just a means of communication but also our thought itself. Thus, to help each student to have their highest possible language ability is the most important to make their lives as fulfilling as possible.

【Other subjects】Also, the level of the person’s mother tongue affects the level of other subjects of the person from literature to history to mathematics to science. Not to speak of literature and history, subjects that require high level of syntax and vocabulary to study, science and math depends on the command of the mother tongue in understanding and forming a concept or an image that is neither visible nor tangible.

【Humanity】In addition, as language is thought, mother tongue acquisition is in line with the formation of the mind of the individual. In other words, language acquisition forms the wiring of the brain of the person. Therefore, the level of literacy decides the level of the humanity, and in the end, of the society.

【Conclusion】High school years is the last years of the person’s brain development and therefore, training in reading and writing of the student’s national language is the most significant. (258 words)

          

 

Your Sample Structure

【Thesis】

 

【Supporting Details】

 

【Conclusion】

 

 

 

☆Speech Time

Make a speech on this topic. Don’t worry. Everybody speaks at the same time.