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 provides? 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.
5.
Your point:
♦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).
3.
Your point:
☆Tentative Conclusion or thesis
Sample tentative conclusion or thesis:
I think PE meets the purpose of education because
it promotes physical, mental, and social development of
individuals.
Your tentative conclusion or thesis:
I think PE meets / does not meet the purpose
of education because …
☆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. Your raters may regard the
neglected counterargument as a flaw in logic. Think of the debate for which you
had not prepared carefully. Although you do not have to demonstrate how smart
you are, as TOFFL essay writing is an English test, you may well show that you
can think and write objectively in English.
Examples of Counterarguments and
Counter-counterarguments
1.
Twice or three times of PE a week is
not enough for fitness. ⇔ Some work out is better than zero.
2.
Most people with poor sports ability will
never play sports after graduation. ⇔ Sports and health control issues are often taken up in social life,
so they will benefit from the information and experience they obtain from PE
classes.
3.
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.
4.
For some students, PE classes are a
torture because they 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.
5.
PE is not the only subject through
which students learn team work. You can learn how to work as part of a team in
other classes or activities as well. ⇔ You can do it more efficiently and effectively in PE classes than
in any other class or activity because, in PE classes, you use your body to
work with others and usually are required to move and react instantly.
☆Final conclusion
Sample final conclusion:
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 final conclusion:
I think PE should be mandatory / optional
because ...
For example, …
Also, …
☆A counterargument and 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 some is better than zero, 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, …
