Writing for Academic Discussion Is ability to read and write more important today than in the past? - revised -

With the advent of digital technology and multimedia forms of communication some argue that the traditional skills of reading and writing are not as essential as they were in the past. Others believe that these foundational skills are even more critical now. Considering the changing ways in which we disseminate and consume information, do you think the ability to read and write is more important today than in the past? Why or why not?

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.        Other than for studies, do you ever read or write?

2.        Whose opinion in the text do you agree with? Why?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Agree

1         Unlike two centuries ago, most of our daily tasks involve reading and writing. There is written information everywhere such as signs and scripts on TV screens. Using social media also involves reading and sending texts. Literacy is necessary in our daily lives.

 

2         Development of technology allows and requires you to be involved in more intellectual tasks than physical tasks. For example, entrance examinations for university include more essays than before. In business, there are more need for research and presentation skills as automatization and robotization proceeds.

 

3         The present era is called the information age, which is based on letters. People usually exchange information through scripts, e-mails and text messages. To learn the latest information and communicate exactly what you think or feel, you need to be literate.

 

4         In conclusion, the ability to read and write is more important today than in the past for us to get the most out of our lives in this age of information.

 

Disagree

1.          There are few opportunities to read and write today due to development of technology. Most tasks are done just by clicking icons. Many people can spell fewer words correctly than before due to predictive text and spell check functions of their gadgets, and they find few problems in their daily lives.

 

2.          Means of communication have evolved along with technological development. Just as the ability to make fire is unnecessary anymore thanks to lighters, so is the ability to read and write now that we have developed technology for it. We can think and communicate more freely and creatively while machines deal with information effectively for us.

 

3.          Successful people are not necessarily persons of letters. There are professors who cannot even move their fingers. There are CEOs who are dyslexic.

 

4.          To sum up, reading and writing is just a part of human intellectual activity like calculation. Our lives have been filled with many more important things than literal things. The ability to read and write has just a marginal importance now as it has always been. What is most important is the ability to think and feel.

 

 

☆Sample Answer Structure

【Thesis】I believe that the ability to read and write is much more important than before.

【Supporting Details】Development of the modern world won’t happen without written media. New ideas like gender equality and climate justice, for instance, cannot be disseminated without any written text, and our thoughts and ideas keep evolving, necessitating our efforts in reading and writing even more.

【Counterargument-treatment】Jacob is right that people don’t read as much as before, but it doesn’t make reading and writing less important. It is true that audio and visual media make up for drawbacks of written media. Seeing is believing, and narration liberates us, especially those with reading impairment, from the burden of reading. They also have their own attractiveness. However, reading text is one and only action that cannot be replaced by other actions as text directly stimulates our thoughts and feeling. Video, podcasts, or audiobooks interfere this connection between text and our brain. Also, high level of intelligence cannot be maintained without literacy as text mainly deals with abstract ideas.

【Conclusion】As human thoughts have evolved and reside in written media, the content of which relates to a large part of human society, ability to read and write becomes increasingly important unless our civilization is lost. (202 words)

 

 

Your Answer Structure

【Thesis】

 

【Supporting Details】

 

 

【Counterargument-treatment】

 

 

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

 

 

 

☆Speech Time

Make a one-minute speech on this topic.

 

Writing for Academic Discussion Do you think it is more beneficial for schools to emphasize winning in sprots events, or should the focus be more on participation and personal development? - revised -

In the context of school sports programs, here is often a debate between prioritizing winning and focusing on participation and personal development. Considering the impact on students’ growth, team dynamics, and school culture, do you think it is more beneficial for schools to emphasize winning in sports events, or should the focus be more on participation and personal development?

 

 

☆Let’s Read

Read the following excerpt from educauraa.com

 

What is the Aim and Objective of Physical Education?

The Aims are,

1. To keep the students active and free-minded

2. To help maintain a healthy life

3. To develop the body agile and flexible

4. To grow a sportsperson’s spirit within

5. To develop movement proficiency 

6. To have a proper appetite and sound sleep

7. To concentrate on studies 

8. To develop motor skills 

 

The Objectives are,

1. To generate behavioral changes; physical and cognitive 

2. To integrate the mental strength 

3. Teaches the student to respect the diversity among people

4. Improves body language and communication skills

5. Enhances creativity of mind and aesthetic senses 

6. Nourishes the mind with ethical values

7. Grows confidence and prepares for the future

8. To retain emotional stability during a crisis 

9. Teaches to love and respect Nature

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.        What’s Olivia’s point? Do you agree? What’s Ethan’s point? Do you agree?

2.        Which policy will help make friends, focus on winning or focus on participation and personal development?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Emphasis on Winning

1.       Contest, or competition, is one of the major elements of sport.

2.       It easily motivates students because passion for winning is instinctive.

 

Emphasis on participation and personal development

1.       “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” – Pierre de Coubertin

2.       “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan

3.       Ability to work as a member of a team is required in society.

 

Problems related to emphasis on Winning

1.        Focusing on winning can promote the “The-end-justifies-the-means” attitude, and this will degrade humanities like losing the spirit of fair play.

2.        Competitiveness is the core mindset of the capitalist society, where the winner takes all while the loser is not taken care of. This will weaken the population.

 

 

☆Sample Answer

【Thesis】If education is to civilize people, it’s to not stimulate instinct, and so physical education should not stimulate urges to win because it is instinctive and barbaric and is often the cause of problems such as hate, discrimination, bullying, and violence.

【Supporting Details】The Unites States, which is plagued with these issues, is the case in point. It has dominated the world since the end of WWII with its military power larger than the total of the militaries of the rest of the world and oppressed peoples around the world to stay number one. This urge to win is instilled in its people. Winning, not fair play, is prioritized in sports. The rich, winners of their capitalist society, are respected no matter how filthy they are. This ethos of the American Empire has made the national character that lacks the warmth and delicacy of humanity, and now it has become No. 1 in the developed world in all kinds of problems, including homicide and suicide rates.

【Counterargument-treatment】Olivia’s point that competitive spirit motivates students to excel in　anything and this nurtures discipline and perseverance in them could be true in individual sports, but in team sports, each member must grow first and as a result team spirit must be established to get the drive to be the best through good team dynamics.

【Conclusion】Therefore, winning should not be the goal. It should be taken as a result of good participation and personal growth. (239 words)

 

 

 

Writing for Academic Discussion Is ability to read and write more important today than in the past? - revised -

With the advent of digital technology and multimedia forms of communication some argue that the traditional skills of reading and writing are not as essential as they were in the past. Others believe that these foundational skills are even more critical now. Considering the changing ways in which we disseminate and consume information, do you think the ability to read and write is more important today than in the past? Why or why not?

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.        Other than for studies, do you ever read or write?

2.        Whose opinion in the text do you agree with? Why?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Agree

1         Unlike two centuries ago, most of our daily tasks involve reading and writing. There is written information everywhere such as signs and scripts on TV screens. Using social media also involves reading and sending texts. Literacy is necessary in our daily lives.

 

2         Development of technology allows and requires you to be involved in more intellectual tasks than physical tasks. For example, entrance examinations for university include more essays than before. In business, there are more need for research and presentation skills as automatization and robotization proceeds.

 

3         The present era is called the information age, which is based on letters. People usually exchange information through scripts, e-mails and text messages. To learn the latest information and communicate exactly what you think or feel, you need to be literate.

 

4         In conclusion, the ability to read and write is more important today than in the past for us to get the most out of our lives in this age of information.

 

Disagree

1.          There are few opportunities to read and write today due to development of technology. Most tasks are done just by clicking icons. Many people can spell fewer words correctly than before due to predictive text and spell check functions of their gadgets, and they find few problems in their daily lives.

 

2.          Means of communication have evolved along with technological development. Just as the ability to make fire is unnecessary anymore thanks to lighters, so is the ability to read and write now that we have developed technology for it. We can think and communicate more freely and creatively while machines deal with information effectively for us.

 

3.          Successful people are not necessarily persons of letters. There are professors who cannot even move their fingers. There are CEOs who are dyslexic.

 

4.          To sum up, reading and writing is just a part of human intellectual activity like calculation. Our lives have been filled with many more important things than literal things. The ability to read and write has just a marginal importance now as it has always been. What is most important is the ability to think and feel.

 

 

☆Sample Answer Structure

【Thesis】I believe that the ability to read and write is much more important than before.

【Supporting Details】Development of the modern world won’t happen without written media. New ideas like gender equality and climate justice, for instance, cannot be disseminated without any written text, and our thoughts and ideas keep evolving, necessitating our efforts in reading and writing even more.

【Counterargument-treatment】As Jacob says, audio and visual media make up for drawbacks of communication through text, because seeing is believing, especially in showing things that the readers cannot see or hear. Also, narration liberates us, especially those with reading impairment, from the burden of reading. However, I think people will continue to read and write as reading text is one and only action that cannot be replaced by other actions. Text directly stimulates our thoughts and feeling. Audiobooks interferes this connection between text and our brain. Also, high level of intelligence cannot be maintained without literacy as text mainly deals with abstract ideas.

【Conclusion】As human thoughts have evolved and reside in written media, the content of which relates to a large part of human society, ability to read and write becomes increasingly important unless our civilization is lost. (195 words)

 

 

Your Answer Structure

【Thesis】

 

【Supporting Details】

 

 

【Counterargument-treatment】

 

 

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

 

 

 

☆Speech Time

Make a one-minute speech on this topic.

 

Writing for Academic Discussion Do you think it is more beneficial for schools to emphasize winning in sprots events, or should the focus be more on participation and personal development? - revised -

In the context of school sports programs, here is often a debate between prioritizing winning and focusing on participation and personal development. Considering the impact on students’ growth, team dynamics, and school culture, do you think it is more beneficial for schools to emphasize winning in sports events, or should the focus be more on participation and personal development?

 

 

☆Let’s Read

Read the following excerpt from educauraa.com

 

What is the Aim and Objective of Physical Education?

The Aims are,

1. To keep the students active and free-minded

2. To help maintain a healthy life

3. To develop the body agile and flexible

4. To grow a sportsperson’s spirit within

5. To develop movement proficiency 

6. To have a proper appetite and sound sleep

7. To concentrate on studies 

8. To develop motor skills 

 

The Objectives are,

1. To generate behavioral changes; physical and cognitive 

2. To integrate the mental strength 

3. Teaches the student to respect the diversity among people

4. Improves body language and communication skills

5. Enhances creativity of mind and aesthetic senses 

6. Nourishes the mind with ethical values

7. Grows confidence and prepares for the future

8. To retain emotional stability during a crisis 

9. Teaches to love and respect Nature

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.        What’s Olivia’s point? Do you agree? What’s Ethan’s point? Do you agree?

2.        Which policy will help make friends, focus on winning or focus on participation and personal development?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Emphasis on Winning

1.       Contest, or competition, is one of the major elements of sport.

2.       It easily motivates students because passion for winning is instinctive.

 

Emphasis on participation and personal development

1.       “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” – Pierre de Coubertin

2.       “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan

3.       Ability to work as a member of a team is required in society.

 

Problems related to emphasis on Winning

1.        Focusing on winning can promote the “The-end-justifies-the-means” attitude, and this will degrade humanities like losing the spirit of fair play.

2.        Competitiveness is the core mindset of the capitalist society, where the winner takes all while the loser is not taken care of. This will weaken the population.

 

 

☆Sample Answer

【Thesis】If education is to civilize people, it’s to not stimulate instinct, and so physical education should not stimulate urges to win because it is instinctive and barbaric and is often the cause of problems such as hate, discrimination, bullying, and violence.

【Supporting Details】The Unites States, which is plagued with these issues, is the case in point. It has dominated the world since the end of WWII with its military power larger than the total of the militaries of the rest of the world and oppressed peoples around the world to stay number one. The spirit is instilled in its people. Winning, not fair play, is prioritized in sports. The rich, winners of their capitalist society, are respected no matter how filthy they are. This ethos of the American Empire has made the national character that lacks the warmth and delicacy of humanity, and now its spirit is low as it has become No. 1 in the developed world in all kinds of problems, including homicide and suicide rates.

【Counterargument-treatment】Olivia’s point that competitive spirit motivates students to excel in　anything and this nurtures discipline and perseverance in them could be true in individual sports, but in team sports, team spirit must be established before the team members get the drive to be the best. A team of individuals, each eager to win, fails to get good team dynamics and ends up being unable to coordinate each player’s strong point or even killing each other’s good point.

【Conclusion】Therefore, winning should not be the goal. It should be taken as a result of good participation and personal growth. (264 words)

 

 

Writing for Academic Discussion Is ability to read and write more important today than in the past?

With the advent of digital technology and multimedia forms of communication some argue that the traditional skills of reading and writing are not as essential as they were in the past. Others believe that these foundational skills are even more critical now. Considering the changing ways in which we disseminate and consume information, do you think the ability to read and write is more important today than in the past? Why or why not?

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.        Other than for studies, do you ever read or write?

2.        Whose opinion in the text do you agree with? Why?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Agree

1         Unlike two centuries ago, most of our daily tasks involve reading and writing. There is written information everywhere such as signs and scripts on TV screens. Using social media also involves reading and sending texts. Literacy is necessary in our daily lives.

 

2         Development of technology allows and requires you to be involved in more intellectual tasks than physical tasks. For example, entrance examinations for university include more essays than before. In business, there are more need for research and presentation skills as automatization and robotization proceeds.

 

3         The present era is called the information age, which is based on letters. People usually exchange information through scripts, e-mails and text messages. To learn the latest information and communicate exactly what you think or feel, you need to be literate.

 

4         In conclusion, the ability to read and write is more important today than in the past for us to get the most out of our lives in this age of information.

 

Disagree

1.          There are few opportunities to read and write today due to development of technology. Most tasks are done just by clicking icons. Many people can spell fewer words correctly than before due to predictive text and spell check functions of their gadgets, and they find few problems in their daily lives.

 

2.          Means of communication have evolved along with technological development. Just as the ability to make fire is unnecessary anymore thanks to lighters, so is the ability to read and write now that we have developed technology for it. We can think and communicate more freely and creatively while machines deal with information effectively for us.

 

3.          Successful people are not necessarily persons of letters. There are professors who cannot even move their fingers. There are CEOs who are dyslexic.

 

4.          To sum up, reading and writing is just a part of human intellectual activity like calculation. Our lives have been filled with many more important things than literal things. The ability to read and write has just a marginal importance now as it has always been. What is most important is the ability to think and feel.

 

 

☆Sample Answer Structure

【Thesis】I believe that the ability to read and write is much more important than before.

【Supporting Details】Development of the modern world won’t happen without written media. New ideas like gender equality and climate justice, for instance, cannot be disseminated without any written text, and our thoughts and ideas keep evolving.

【Counterargument-treatment】As Jacob says, audio and visual media make up for drawbacks of sending and receiving information through text because seeing is believing in showing things that the readers cannot see or hear. Also, narration liberates us, especially those with reading impairment, from the burden of reading. However, I think people will continue to read and write as reading text is one and only action that cannot be replaced by other actions. Text directly stimulates our thoughts and feeling. Audiobooks interferes this connection between text and our brain. Also, high level of intelligence cannot be maintained without literacy as text mainly deals with abstract ideas.

【Conclusion】As human thoughts have evolved and reside in written media, the content of which relates to a large part of human society, ability to read and write becomes increasingly important unless our civilization is lost.

 

 

Your Answer Structure

【Thesis】

 

【Supporting Details】

 

 

【Counterargument-treatment】

 

 

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

 

 

 

☆Speech Time

Make a one-minute speech on this topic.