Pool of GRE Issue Based Essays

Aspeoplerelymoreandmoreontechnologytosolveproblems,theabilityofhumansto
thinkforthemselveswillsurelydeteriorate.
Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththe
statementandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingandsupportingyour
position,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatementmightormightnotholdtrueand
explainhowtheseconsiderationsshapeyourposition.
AgreeorDisagree?
Agree:
Peoplearelazy.
Weevolvedtoconserve
energy,soitssimple
calculus:thelesspressure
thereistothinkfor
themselves,thelesspeople
willbeforcedto.Itwont
eliminateitcompletely,butit
willdefinitelydeteriorate.
Peoplejustwanttobehappy.
Technologywillcreatenew
pleasuresand
entertainmentwhichwill
reduceboththenecessity,
andrewardsofthinkingfor
themselves.
(Necessityisthemotherofinvention)
Wecandrawananalogybetween
howoncealternativemodesof
transportationbecameavailable,the
abilityofhumanstobephysicallyfit
begantodeteriorate.
Disagree:
Humansdonotthinkforthemselves
onlytosolveproblems.
(Wealsothinkforourselves
tobecreative,toexpress
ourselves,toplanforthe
future.)
Technologycanprovidemore
opportunitiesforthinkingfor
themselves.
Googlesolvedalotof
problemswithfinding
information,andallows
peoplegreaterpotentialfor
thinkingforthemselvesby
findingtheirownsources.
Educationrelieson
technology,andthebetter
educatedyouare,themore
likelyyouaretobeacritical
thinker.
Technologysolvingproblemswill
leadtomorefreetime,buttherewill
alwaysbenewfrontierstoexplore,
andnewchallengestoconquer.The
needforinnovationorcritical
thinkingwillneverdisappear.People
willbemoresuccessfuliftheystand
outfromthecrowd.
AgreementEssayOutline:.
1. Introduction:Definethinkingfor
oneselfasmakingchoicesand
doingnovelthings.Introduceour
threemainargumentsof:evolvingto
belazy,peoplejustwantingtobe
happy,andlookingtothepast.
2. FirstParagraph:Talkabouthow
peoplearelazy.Discusshowwhile
someindividualswillresist,asa
wholepeoplewillgenerallybecome
worseatskillsthatareless
necessaryfortheirdailylives.
3. SecondParagraph:Talkabouthow
ultimatelymostpeoplearejust
lookingforhappiness.Notehow
technologysolvingproblemsreduces
theneedtothinkforthemselves.
(Whowouldneedtocreatenovel
thingsifyourebusybeingpleasured
andhavingallofyourphysicaland
emotionalandmentalneedsmet.)If
thinkingforthemselvesbeginsto
leadlessandlesstowards
happiness,thentheabilitieswillas
well.
4. ThirdParagraph:Foraglimpseofthe
future,itshelpfultolookatthepast:
astechnologyreducedtheneedsof
otherthings(IEPhysicalFitness),
otherthingsbegantodeteriorate.
5. ConcludingParagraph:Restatehow
reducingtheneedforthingsnaturally
makeshumansdoitless,even
largelyabstractthingslikethinking
forthemselveswillbecomeless
necessaryastechnologyadvances.
DisagreementEssayOutline:.
1. Introduction:Definethinkingfor
yourselfasanalogoustocritical
thinking.Introducemainarguments
of:Thinkingforthemselvesisntjust
asolutiontosolvingproblems,More
opportunitiesforthinkingfor
themselvescancomefromuseof
technology,andtherewillalwaysbe
aneedforcriticalthinkers.
2. FirstParagraph:Humansthinkfor
3. themselvesforavarietyofreasons,
notsimplythingswhichcomputers
canstandinfor.Forexample,people
thinkforthemselveswhentheyare
creative,whentheyexpress
themselves,andtomakedecisions
aboutotherpeoplesideas.
4. SecondParagraph:Technology
increasesopportunitiesforthinking
5.
6.
foryourself.Technologyimproves
education.Educationgivesyoumore
chancestopracticecriticalthinking.
ThirdParagraph:Solvingproblems
willleadtomorefreetimeasour
baseneedsanddesiresaremet,but
therewillalwaysbenewfieldsand
frontierstoexplore.Technologywill
opennewdoorwaysforthinkingfor
ourselves,evenasothersdisappear.
Conclusion:Technologyis
somethingpeoplehavealwaysrelied
ontosolveproblems,fromthe
earliesttoolstoiPhoneusers,butit
wontstandinthewayofhumans
thinkingforthemselves.
Tounderstandthemostimportantcharacteristicsofasociety,onemuststudyitsmajor
cities.
explainhowtheseconsiderationsshapeyourposition
Disagree:
1. MajorCitiesdonotexistinevery
society.(Nomadiccultures,gypsies,
ruralcommunities).
2. ImportantCharacteristicsexistboth
inMajorCitiesandSuburbsand
RuralCommunities.(Citiesarenot
representativeofthecivilizationor
societyasawhole).
3. Whilestudyingmajorcitiescanhelp
understandsomemajor
characteristicssuchasCulture,
Religion,SocialNorms,some
characteristicswouldbeinaccurate
suchasAgriculture
Agree:
1. Majorcitiesaretheculturalcentersof
civilizations.
2. Majorcitieshavethemostpeople,
logicallyitwillhavethemostdense
amountofinformationabout
characteristicsofasociety.
3. MajorCitiestendtohouseleadership
whichareultimatelythemost
influentialportionofsocietys
characteristics.
Educationalinstitutionshavearesponsibilitytodissuadestudentsfrompursuingfieldsof
studyinwhichtheyareunlikelytosucceed.
Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththeclaim.In
developingandsupportingyourposition,besuretoaddressthemostcompellingreasonsand/or
examplesthatcouldbeusedtochallengeyourposition.
Disagree:
1. Studentsshouldbefreetochoose
whattheywant.Assuminguniversity
levelfromfieldsofstudy,itslikely
thatstudentsareall18+adults.
2. Whatdetermineshowlikelyastudent
istosucceedinafield?Financial
Success?Happiness?Senseof
Wellbeing?Excitement?Therearea
lotofwaystodefinesuccess,andthe
educationalinstitutionscouldnever
accountforallofthem.Additionally,
whowillbetheonetodissuadethe
student?Onecounselor/teachermay
seethepotentialinastudentwhile
anotherdoesnot.
Theonlyresponsibilityofeducational
institutionsistoeducate,nottomake
decisions(Outoftheirscope).
3.
Agree:
1. Itsforthegreatergood.Societywill
bebetteroffifmorestudentsfind
fieldstheycansucceedin.
2. Ultimately,itwillmakestudents
happier.Higheroddsofsuccess
meansmoremoneyandavoiding
thedespairoffailure.
3. Studentscanstillchoosetotrythose
unlikelyfields,butdissuadingthem
fromtryingitisimportantbecause
theyretooyoungandinexperienced
toknowwellenoughthemselves.
4. Institutionswillalsobeabletosave
resourcesfromstudentsgraduating
ontime.Studentswillbeabletosave
moneybysucceedingintheir
studies.
Scandalsareusefulbecausetheyfocusourattentiononproblemsinwaysthatnospeaker
orreformerevercould.
Disagree:
1. Scandalsarelargelyrandom.Itisnt
necessarilythemostimportantissue
whichhasascandal.
2. Scandalsdevelopshallowinterestin
problems,anddontleadtoactual,
longtermimprovement.Themedia
determineswhatisascandal.Ex.
MarkSanfordgetscaughtinaliethat
wascoveringuphisrelationshipwith
anotherwoman.Heiselectedtoa
Houseseatafewyearslateranyway.
Why?Themediahadblownhis
cover,butwithoutanyfollowup,he
wentonwithhislife.
3. Scandalsfocusourattentionon
problemsthatareshockingbut
insignificant.Theyservetodistract
fromtherealissuesthatspeakers
andreformersshouldbepublicly
addressing.Example:Anthony
WeinersextingscandalorBill
Clinton/Lewinskyscandal.Notthe
mostethicalactions,butcertainlynot
aMAINproblemtofocuson.
Agree:
1. Thepublicenjoysscandals.Itmakes
thepublicpaygreaterattentionto
problems.Themoremediatimethat
anissuehas,inevitably,thestronger
opinionthepublicwillhaveaboutit.
2. Scandalsbringtolightwhatthe
publicmaynothavebeenawareof.
Ex.ThinkabouttheWatergate
scandal.APresidentnotonlyhad
burglarsbreakintowiretaphis
opposingparty,butalsotriedtocover
upthesituation.Howhasthis
changedthepublicseyeonthe
President,anelectedofficialwhois
toleadthecountry?Onasimilar
note,recently,thereistheNSA
wiretappingscandal.BigBrotherisa
lotcloserthanpeoplethoughtandis
thepubliccomfortablewiththat?
Claim:Governmentsmustensurethattheirmajorcitiesreceivethefinancialsupportthey
needinordertothrive.
Reason:Itisprimarilyincitiesthatanation'sculturaltraditionsarepreservedand
generated.
Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththeclaim
andthereasononwhichthatclaimisbased.
Anationshouldrequireallofitsstudentstostudythesamenationalcurriculumuntilthey
entercollege.
recommendationandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingand
supportingyourposition,describespecificcircumstancesinwhichadoptingtherecommendation
wouldorwouldnotbeadvantageousandexplainhowtheseexamplesshapeyourposition.
Agree:
1. Everyoneneedstolearnbasic
fundamentals.(Math,Reading,etc)
2. Bystudyingthesamenational
curriculum,itincreasesthevalidityof
ahighschooldegree(Becauseyou
knowthateveryonehasstudiedthe
samesubjectmatter)
3. Whowouldpickthealternative
curriculums?Kids?Theyretoo
youngtomakechoicesaboutwhat
theywanttostudycanakidreallybe
expectedtoknowifhewantstogo
intoart,ormath,orwritingatsucha
youngage?
Disagree:
1.
Notallstudentsmaybeinterestedin
thesametopics.Artinclinedstudents
wouldwanttostudylessofscience
relatedsubjectsandviceversa.
Themistakeofhavingonecurriculum
isthatoneerrorinthecurriculum
wouldmisinformtheentirenationof
students.Example,ifsomeonetyped
thegoldrushoccurredin1949
insteadof1849,wewouldhavea
nationofstudentsbelievingthegold
rushhappenedafterWorldWar2.
Learninggapwouldbebigger.
Lowincome/underresourced
studentsandschoolswouldbeata
disadvantage.
2.
3.
Somepeoplebelievethatgovernmentfundingoftheartsisnecessarytoensurethatthe
artscanflourishandbeavailabletoallpeople.Othersbelievethatgovernmentfundingof
theartsthreatenstheintegrityofthearts.
Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusswhichviewmorecloselyalignswithyourownpositionand
explainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,you
shouldaddressbothoftheviewspresented.
FundingtheArtsisNecessary:
1. Artsrequiremoneytopayforthe
artistslivingexpensesandmaterials.
Withoutgovernmentfunding,many
poorerindividualswhowantto
expressthemselvesthroughartwont
beableto.
Governmentshavearesponsibilityto
preserveculturalheritage.Theyrethe
onlywayofdefeatingthetragedyof
thecommons.Everyonewantsto
appreciateart,butnoonewouldwant
topayforitindividually.
Governmentsponsorshipofthearts
createsanationaldrivetowards
creativity.Artscanbecomemore
prestigiouswiththeGovernment
endorsingthem(Thisisaweak
argument.Anyotherideas?)
2.
3.
FundingtheArtsthreatenstheIntegrityofthe
Arts:
1. Theartsmaybecomebeholdento
governmentinterests.(Suchaswhen
agovernmentsetsupanartcontest
withthethemePatriotism)
2. Artsmaybecensoredbythe
government.Membersofthepublic
maydemandthattheartbecensored
sincemytaxesarepayingforit.
3. Artshouldbecompletelyfreeand
fundingfromthegovernment
fundamentallycontradictsthis.Artists
willalwayshavetoconsiderhowthe
governmentwillreact(WillIgetmore
orlessfundingifIdothis?)
Claim:Inanyfieldbusiness,politics,education,governmentthoseinpowershouldstep
downafterfiveyears.
Reason:Thesurestpathtosuccessforanyenterpriseisrevitalizationthroughnew
leadership.
Disagree:
1.Frequentchangingofleadershipcould
resultintoomanychangestothefield,halting
progress.
2.Aseasonedleaderisnecessaryto
maintainbalance.
3.Thereareotherwaystocollectnewideas
andstrategiesthatdonotinvolvedrastically
alteringthefield.
Agree:
1.Leadersinpowerfortoolongcould
becomecontentorcomfortable,halting
change.
2.Corruption.
3.Allfieldsareconstantlyevolving,
necessitatingthattheleadershipadaptstothe
changes.
Inanyfieldofendeavor,itisimpossibletomakeasignificantcontributionwithoutfirst
beingstronglyinfluencedbypastachievementswithinthatfield.
Agree:
1.Tomakesignificantcontributionsina
scientificfield,onemustalreadymasterthe
existingknowledgeinthatfield.Thiswill
inevitablyleadtoinfluence.
2.Inmanyfields(ballet,classicalmusicetc)
beginnersundergoextensivetrainingunder
mastersandthuswillinevitablybeinfluenced
bytheirstyle.
Disagree:
1.Thereareinstancesofoutsiders/selftaught
makingsignificantcontributions.Inthose
cases,therecanbenoinfluencefrompast
achievements(AnexampleherewouldbeS.
Ramanujan,afamousmathematicianwith
almostnoformaleducation,butstillmade
significantcontributions.)
Nationsshouldpasslawstopreserveanyremainingwildernessareasintheirnaturalstate,
10
eveniftheseareascouldbedevelopedforeconomicgain.
Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscussyourviewsonthepolicyandexplainyourreasoningforthe
positionyoutake.Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderthepossible
consequencesofimplementingthepolicyandexplainhowtheseconsequencesshapeyour
position.
Agree:
1. Wildernessareaspreservetheflora
andfauna.Countlessspecieshave
alreadybecomeextinctdueto
humansencroachinguponthese
naturalterritories.TheEarthisnot
solelyinhabitedbyhumansthe
planetisaboundwithdifferent
organisms,bigandsmall.Andthese
organismsdeservetohaveahome
too.
2. Preservingwildlifecanhelpstabilize
globalenvironmentalissues.
Humanshavebeeninvadingnatural
territoriesforaperiodoftimenow,
slashingandburning,overfishing,
poaching,andothertechniques.
Moreover,theproductionofcarbon
gasesistoxictotheenvironment.
Preservingnaturecanhelpbring
downtheamountthecarbondioxide
releasedaswellaspotentially
stabilizingclimatetopreventstorms.
Thelatterhasrecentlybeenstudied
byUSscientiststrackingstorms,with
afocusonHurricaneSandyandhow
thatcameabout.
3. Preservejustforthescenicbeauty.
Somuchlightandairpollutionthat
thefeelingofescapingtoanatural
habitatwouldbeanicegetawayfor
somepeople(nottomentionthatthis
couldbeacheapandeasyvacation).
4. Possibleconsequences:By
preservingthisarea,nationswill
likelyhavetobitethebulletanduse
thelandsforeconomicgains.
However,thereisenoughresearch
behindtheimportanceofkeeping
whatremainingnaturalhabitatswe
havenowinordertopreventthe
decimationoftheenvironment.
Researchhasalreadyproventhe
ozonelayer,whichcanbethoughtof
asaforcefieldthatpreventssuns
harmfulraysfromentering,is
11
deterioratingbecauseoffossilfuels
andcarbondioxideproduction.Trees
andotherfloracanhelptolowerthe
toxicamountbeingproducedonlyif
theyarearound.
Disagree:
1. Peopleneedthisareatoprevent
overcrowdingandslumlikeareas.
Theareascouldbeusedtobuild
sheltersforlowincomecitizens.
2. Worldlycompetitionisfierce.If
productionislacking,thentheentire
nationcouldsufferasothernations
maylookelsewhereforcommodities.
3. Domesticcompetitionisnecessary
aswell.Clearingthislandmay
translatetomorejobsforeveryone(a
plazawithamallisbuilt,so
constructionworkers,engineers,etc
arehiredaswellasplaza
employees.Thiscouldstimulatea
strugglingeconomy.
4. Possibleconsequences:Economy
isbolsteredandsuppliesmeetthe
demands.Unemploymentratesare
loweredtoanextentandpeoplehave
moreoptionsforhousing.Downside
isthatenvironmentcanbedamaged,
notjustforthecurrentgeneration,but
forfuturegenerationsaswell.
People'sbehaviorislargelydeterminedbyforcesnotoftheirownmaking.
Agree:
1. Geneticsplayalargeroleinwhatsort
ofpersonyouare.Peoplearenot
borncompletelytabularasa.Studies
oftwinsseparatedatbirth
demonstratethattheresastrong
correlationbetweenGenesand
aspectsofourbehaviorlikeour
sexuality,
2. Peoplesbehaviorisverysituational.
LookatStanleyMilgrams
experimentsinobedience.The
12
majorityofpeoplewouldtorture
anotherpersonifplacedinthe
correctsituation,despitethefactthat
themajorityofthetimetheydbe
aghastattheidea.Followingalong
withthisistherulesandlawsthatare
putinplacewhereverapersonmay
be.Forexample,inSingapore,venial
crimeslikespittinginpublic,chewing
gumandlitteringareheftyfinesand
evencaningsforcitizensandtourists.
Yourparentsplayalargepartinwho
youare.Whatsituationtheyraised
youinradicallychangesyour
personality.Christianparentstendto
haveChristianKids.Muslimparents
tendtohaveMuslimkids.Whatever
countryyourparentsraiseyouinalso
greatlyaffectsyou.Choiceisjustthe
finallayerthethousandlevelsthat
makeupyourbehavior.
3.
Disagree:
1. Peoplecanmakethedecisiontofight
theexternalforces.Theindividual
responsibilityisessentialto
behavior.Students,forexample,are
surroundedbyexternalforcesand
pressurestodowellinschoolso
theycanhaveabetterfuture.
However,despitethispressure,the
behaviorofastudentisstillupto
eachindividualstudent.Thestudent
maychoosetoopposethisforceand
adoptabehaviorthatdevotestimeto
partyingthanstudying.
2. Alongthelinesofopposingthe
forcesarecriminalsbreakingthelaw.
Theserulesaresettogovern
behaviorandtobeapartofour
scruplesifwearetothinkabout
committingacrime.However,there
arestillpeoplewhogoagainstthese
lawsandthisindicatesthatpeople
canshrugofftheresponsibilitythat
theyaretoldtohaveandbehave
otherwise.Thisalsoisasignthat
thesepeopletakesoleresponsibility
intheirconductandnotexternal
forces.
3.
Governmentsshouldofferafreeuniversityeducationtoanystudentwhohasbeenadmitted
toauniversitybutwhocannotaffordthetuition.
13
position.
Universitiesshouldrequireeverystudenttotakeavarietyofcoursesoutsidethestudent's
fieldofstudy.
14
Agree:
1.Thiswillstimulateinterdisciplinary
dialogue,suchasusingtrendsinone
disciplineforanaxiomofanother.Certain
insightscanhelpinthelearningofanother
(stillneedarecognizableanalogy)
2.Itwillreinforceskillsthatareubiquitousto
academicthought,acrossdisciplines.One
simpleexampleistheaskingquestionsto
narrowthefieldofpossibilities.
3.Itwillmakethestudent,intheend,more
wellrounded(whateverthatmeans).
Disagree:
Thinkofthisasanargumentforgeneral
curriculum,resultinginthesupposed
wellroundedstudent.
1.Generalcurriculumcanactasaformof
stratification.Ageneralcurriculumdemands
thateachstudentmeetrequirementsthatare
ultimatelyinessentialtotheircareergoal.A
studentinmathdoesnotnecessarilyneeda
courseinVictorianPoetrytobeagood
mathematician,justasanEnglishmajordoes
notneed2coursesinmathtoworkasan
Englishprofessor.
2.Itmakesthecostofhighereducationhigher
thanithastobe.
3.Itleadstoprolongingundergraduate
studies.Generalcurriculumkeepsstudentsin
schoollonger.
4.Itdetractsfromtimethatcouldbespent
towardpursuinganothermajororminor.
Qualification:Ifageneralcurriculumisnot
imposed,studentscouldbemissingouton
interdisciplinaryconnectionsandinsights.
Response:Studentscouldfind
interconnectionsbetweendisciplinesby
takingelectives,that,withoutageneral
curriculum,studentswouldhavemoretimeto
take.
entercollege.
position.
15
Diagree
1.allstudentslearnatdifferentrates,
recognizethenochildleftbehindact
2.advancedstudentswouldbeheldback
fromtheirfullpotential,andotherswontlearn
thematerialaswell
3.thenationcouldhaveasetback,
knowledgeispoweristheslogan,more
powerfulthanwar.
4.whowouldmakethecurriculum?andwhat
makesthispersonqualifiedenoughtoknow
whatthesestudentsneedtoknow.
5,theneedtobedistinguishedfromone
another
Educationalinstitutionsshouldactivelyencouragetheirstudentstochoosefieldsofstudy
thatwillpreparethemforlucrativecareers.
16
Somepeoplebelievethatinordertobeeffective,politicalleadersmustyieldtopublic
opinionandabandonprincipleforthesakeofcompromise.Othersbelievethatthemost
essentialqualityofaneffectiveleaderistheabilitytoremainconsistentlycommittedto
particularprinciplesandobjectives.
Formaleducationtendstorestrainourmindsandspiritsratherthansetthemfree.
17
Thewellbeingofasocietyisenhancedwhenmanyofitspeoplequestionauthority.
Governmentsshouldfocusonsolvingtheimmediateproblemsoftodayratherthanon
tryingtosolvetheanticipatedproblemsofthefuture.
Somepeoplebelievethatcollegestudentsshouldconsideronlytheirowntalentsand
interestswhenchoosingafieldofstudy.Othersbelievethatcollegestudentsshouldbase
theirchoiceofafieldofstudyontheavailabilityofjobsinthatfield.
Lawsshouldbeflexibleenoughtotakeaccountofvariouscircumstances,times,and
places.
Claim:Thebestwaytounderstandthecharacterofasocietyistoexaminethecharacterof
18
themenandwomenthatthesocietychoosesasitsheroesoritsrolemodels.
Reason:Heroesandrolemodelsrevealasociety'shighestideals.
Governmentsshouldplacefew,ifany,restrictionsonscientificresearchanddevelopment.
Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththerecommendationand
explainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,describespecific
circumstancesinwhichadoptingtherecommendationwouldorwouldnotbeadvantageousandexplainhow
theseexamplesshapeyourposition.
Thebestwaytoteachistopraisepositiveactionsandignorenegativeones.
Governmentsshouldoffercollegeanduniversityeducationfreeofchargetoallstudents.
Theluxuriesandconveniencesofcontemporarylifepreventpeoplefromdevelopinginto
trulystrongandindependentindividuals.
Inanyfieldofinquiry,thebeginnerismorelikelythantheexperttomakeimportant
contributions.
19
Thesurestindicatorofagreatnationisrepresentednotbytheachievementsofitsrulers,
artists,orscientists,butbythegeneralwelfareofitspeople.
Thebestwaytoteachwhetherasaneducator,employer,orparentistopraisepositive
actionsandignorenegativeones.
Teachers'salariesshouldbebasedontheirstudents'academicperformance.
Societyshouldmakeeffortstosaveendangeredspeciesonlyifthepotentialextinctionof
thosespeciesistheresultofhumanactivities.
position.
Collegestudentsshouldbasetheirchoiceofafieldofstudyontheavailabilityofjobsin
thatfield.
20
Asweacquiremoreknowledge,thingsdonotbecomemorecomprehensible,butmore
complexandmysterious.
Inanysituation,progressrequiresdiscussionamongpeoplewhohavecontrastingpoints
ofview.
Educationalinstitutionsshoulddissuadestudentsfrompursuingfieldsofstudyinwhich
theyareunlikelytosucceed.
position.
Governmentsshouldnotfundanyscientificresearchwhoseconsequencesareunclear.
Societyshouldidentifythosechildrenwhohavespecialtalentsandprovidetrainingfor
thematanearlyagetodeveloptheirtalents.
21
Itisprimarilythroughouridentificationwithsocialgroupsthatwedefineourselves.
Collegestudentsshouldbeencouragedtopursuesubjectsthatinterestthemratherthan
thecoursesthatseemmostlikelytoleadtojobs.
Claim:Whenplanningcourses,educatorsshouldtakeintoaccounttheinterestsand
suggestionsoftheirstudents.
Reason:Studentsaremoremotivatedtolearnwhentheyareinterestedinwhattheyare
studying.
Thegreatnessofindividualscanbedecidedonlybythosewholiveafterthem,notbytheir
contemporaries.
Studentsshouldalwaysquestionwhattheyaretaughtinsteadofacceptingitpassively.
22
Theincreasinglyrapidpaceoflifetodaycausesmoreproblemsthanitsolves.
Claim:Itisnolongerpossibleforasocietytoregardanylivingmanorwomanasahero.
Reason:Thereputationofanyonewhoissubjectedtomediascrutinywilleventuallybe
diminished.
InPsychologytheressomethingknownas
theHaloEffect.Weoftenbelievethatif
someonehasonegoodquality,(suchas,
beingagoodactor),thenalloftheirqualities
aregood.Whileitistrue,thatmediascrutiny
willdiminishthereputationofmany
individualswhomighthavepreviously
receivedheroworshipwithoutclose
inspection,itisdefinitelypossibleforsociety
toregardlivingmenorwomenasheroes.
SocietywillredefineHeronotassomeone
whoisperfectineveryway,butassomeone
whohasovercometheirlimitations.Wellbe
changinghowweanswerthefundamental
questionofifitsbettertobebornstrong,orto
bebornweakandgrowbeyondit.
Competitionforhighgradesseriouslylimitsthequalityoflearningatalllevelsofeducation.
23
fieldofstudy.
Educatorsshouldfindoutwhatstudentswantincludedinthecurriculumandthenofferitto
them.
Educatorsshouldteachfactsonlyaftertheirstudentshavestudiedtheideas,trends,and
conceptsthathelpexplainthosefacts.
Claim:Wecanusuallylearnmuchmorefrompeoplewhoseviewswesharethanfrom
thosewhoseviewscontradictourown.
Reason:Disagreementcancausestressandinhibitlearning.
Governmentofficialsshouldrelyontheirownjudgmentratherthanunquestioninglycarryout
thewillofthepeopletheyserve.
24
Youngpeopleshouldbeencouragedtopursuelongterm,realisticgoalsratherthanseek
immediatefameandrecognition.
Thebestwaytoteachistopraisepositiveactionsandignorenegativeones.
Ifagoalisworthy,thenanymeanstakentoattainitarejustifiable.
Inordertobecomewellroundedindividuals,allcollegestudentsshouldberequiredtotake
coursesinwhichtheyreadpoetry,novels,mythology,andothertypesofimaginative
literature.
Inorderforanyworkofartforexample,afilm,anovel,apoem,orasongtohavemerit,
25
itmustbeunderstandabletomostpeople.
Manyimportantdiscoveriesorcreationsareaccidental:itisusuallywhileseekingthe
answertoonequestionthatwecomeacrosstheanswertoanother.
Themainbenefitofthestudyofhistoryistodispeltheillusionthatpeoplelivingnoware
significantlydifferentfrompeoplewholivedinearliertimes.
Learningisprimarilyamatterofpersonaldisciplinestudentscannotbemotivatedby
schoolorcollegealone.
Scientistsandotherresearchersshouldfocustheirresearchonareasthatarelikelyto
benefitthegreatestnumberofpeople.
26
Politiciansshouldpursuecommongroundandreasonableconsensusratherthanelusive
ideals.
Peopleshouldundertakeriskyactiononlyaftertheyhavecarefullyconsideredits
consequences.
Leadersarecreatedbythedemandsthatareplacedonthem.
Thereislittlejustificationforsocietytomakeextraordinaryeffortsespeciallyatagreat
costinmoneyandjobstosaveendangeredanimalorplantspecies.
Thehumanmindwillalwaysbesuperiortomachinesbecausemachinesareonlytoolsof
humanminds.
27
Everyindividualinasocietyhasaresponsibilitytoobeyjustlawsandtodisobeyandresist
unjustlaws.
Peoplewhoarethemostdeeplycommittedtoanideaorpolicyarealsothemostcriticalof
it.
Somepeoplebelievethatsocietyshouldtrytosaveeveryplantandanimalspecies,
despitetheexpensetohumansineffort,time,andfinancialwellbeing.Othersbelievethat
societyneednotmakeextraordinaryefforts,especiallyatagreatcostinmoneyandjobs,
tosaveendangeredspecies.
Somepeoplebelievethatthepurposeofeducationistofreethemindandthespirit.
Othersbelievethatformaleducationtendstorestrainourmindsandspiritsratherthanset
themfree.
Somepeoplebelieveitisoftennecessary,evendesirable,forpoliticalleaderstowithhold
28
informationfromthepublic.Othersbelievethatthepublichasarighttobefullyinformed.
Claim:Universitiesshouldrequireeverystudenttotakeavarietyofcoursesoutsidethe
student'smajorfieldofstudy.
Reason:Acquiringknowledgeofvariousacademicdisciplinesisthebestwaytobecome
trulyeducated.
Youngpeopleshouldbeencouragedtopursuelongterm,realisticgoalsratherthanseek
immediatefameandrecognition.
Governmentsshouldnotfundanyscientificresearchwhoseconsequencesareunclear.
position.
Collegesanduniversitiesshouldrequireallfacultytospendtimeworkingoutsidethe
academicworldinprofessionsrelevanttothecoursestheyteach.
position.
29
Knowingaboutthepastcannothelppeopletomakeimportantdecisionstoday.
Inthisageofintensivemediacoverage,itisnolongerpossibleforasocietytoregardany
livingmanorwomanasahero.
Wecanusuallylearnmuchmorefrompeoplewhoseviewswesharethanfrompeople
whoseviewscontradictourown.
Themosteffectivewaytounderstandcontemporarycultureistoanalyzethetrendsofits
youth.
People'sattitudesaredeterminedmorebytheirimmediatesituationorsurroundingsthan
bysocietyasawhole.
30
Claim:Thebesttestofanargumentisitsabilitytoconvincesomeonewithanopposing
viewpoint.
Reason:Onlybybeingforcedtodefendanideaagainstthedoubtsandcontrastingviews
ofothersdoesonereallydiscoverthevalueofthatidea.
Nationsshouldsuspendgovernmentfundingfortheartswhensignificantnumbersoftheir
citizensarehungryorunemployed.
Allparentsshouldberequiredtovolunteertimetotheirchildren'sschools.
Collegesanduniversitiesshouldrequiretheirstudentstospendatleastonesemester
studyinginaforeigncountry.
Teachers'salariesshouldbebasedontheacademicperformanceoftheirstudents.
31
Itisnolongerpossibleforasocietytoregardanylivingmanorwomanasahero.
Somepeoplebelievethatinordertothrive,asocietymustputitsownoverallsuccess
beforethewellbeingofitsindividualcitizens.Othersbelievethatthewellbeingofa
societycanonlybemeasuredbythegeneralwelfareofallitspeople.
Somepeoplebelievethatgovernmentofficialsmustcarryoutthewillofthepeoplethey
serve.Othersbelievethatofficialsshouldbasetheirdecisionsontheirownjudgment.
Claim:Anypieceofinformationreferredtoasafactshouldbemistrusted,sinceitmaywell
beprovenfalseinthefuture.
Reason:Muchoftheinformationthatpeopleassumeisfactualactuallyturnsouttobe
inaccurate.
Claim:Nationsshouldsuspendgovernmentfundingfortheartswhensignificantnumbers
oftheircitizensarehungryorunemployed.
Reason:Itisinappropriateand,perhaps,evencrueltousepublicresourcestofundthe
artswhenpeople'sbasicneedsarenotbeingmet.
32
Claim:Manyproblemsofmodernsocietycannotbesolvedbylawsandthelegalsystem.
Reason:Lawscannotchangewhatisinpeople'sheartsorminds.
Educatorsshouldtakestudents'interestsintoaccountwhenplanningthecontentofthe
coursestheyteach.
Theprimarygoaloftechnologicaladvancementshouldbetoincreasepeople'sefficiency
sothattheyhavemoreleisuretime.
Educatorsshouldbasetheirassessmentofstudents'learningnotonstudents'graspof
factsbutontheabilitytoexplaintheideas,trends,andconceptsthatthosefactsillustrate.
Unfortunately,incontemporarysociety,creatinganappealingimagehasbecomemore
importantthantherealityortruthbehindthatimage.
33
Theeffectivenessofacountry'sleadersisbestmeasuredbyexaminingthewellbeingof
thatcountry'scitizens.
Allparentsshouldberequiredtovolunteertimetotheirchildren'sschools.
entercollege.
Educationalinstitutionsshouldactivelyencouragetheirstudentstochoosefieldsofstudyin
whichjobsareplentiful.
position.
34
People'sbehaviorislargelydeterminedbyforcesnotoftheirownmaking.
position.
Althoughinnovationssuchasvideo,computers,andtheInternetseemtoofferschools
improvedmethodsforinstructingstudents,thesetechnologiesalltoooftendistractfrom
reallearning.
fieldofstudy.
position.
Thebestideasarisefromapassionateinterestincommonplacethings.
35
Tobeaneffectiveleader,apublicofficialmustmaintainthehighestethicalandmoral
standards.
Claim:Imaginationisamorevaluableassetthanexperience.
Reason:Peoplewholackexperiencearefreetoimaginewhatispossiblewithoutthe
constraintsofestablishedhabitsandattitudes.
Inmostprofessionsandacademicfields,imaginationismoreimportantthanknowledge.
Tobeaneffectiveleader,apublicofficialmustmaintainthehighestethicalandmoral
standards.
Criticaljudgmentofworkinanygivenfieldhaslittlevalueunlessitcomesfromsomeone
whoisanexpertinthatfield.
36
Disagree:
interdisciplinaryfields
novice>novelty
agree:
expertknowsbest>routine,
Somepeoplebelievethatscientificdiscoverieshavegivenusamuchbetterunderstanding
oftheworldaroundus.Othersbelievethatsciencehasrevealedtousthattheworldis
infinitelymorecomplexthanweeverrealized.
Criticaljudgmentofworkinanygivenfieldhaslittlevalueunlessitcomesfromsomeone
whoisanexpertinthatfield.
Inanyprofessionbusiness,politics,education,governmentthoseinpowershouldstep
downafterfiveyears.
Requiringuniversitystudentstotakeavarietyofcoursesoutsidetheirmajorfieldsofstudy
37
isthebestwaytoensurethatstudentsbecometrulyeducated.
Claim:Thesurestindicatorofagreatnationisnottheachievementsofitsrulers,artists,or
scientists.
Reason:Thesurestindicatorofagreatnationisactuallythewelfareofallitspeople.
Anyleaderwhoisquicklyandeasilyinfluencedbyshiftsinpopularopinionwillaccomplish
little.
Governmentofficialsshouldrelyontheirownjudgmentratherthanunquestioninglycarryout
thewillofthepeoplewhomtheyserve.
entercollege.
38
Itisprimarilyincitiesthatanation'sculturaltraditionsaregeneratedandpreserved.
Wecanlearnmuchmorefrompeoplewhoseviewswesharethanfrompeoplewhose
viewscontradictourown.
Whenoldbuildingsstandongroundthatmodernplannersfeelcouldbebetterusedfor
modernpurposes,moderndevelopmentshouldbegivenprecedenceoverthepreservation
ofhistoricbuildings.
Claim:Thesurestindicatorofagreatnationmustbetheachievementsofitsrulers,artists,
orscientists.
Reason:Greatachievementsbyanation'srulers,artists,orscientistswillensureagood
lifeforthemajorityofthatnation'speople.
Somepeopleclaimthatyoucantellwhetheranationisgreatbylookingatthe
achievementsofitsrulers,artists,orscientists.Othersarguethatthesurestindicatorofa
greatnationis,infact,thegeneralwelfareofallitspeople.
39
Thebestwaytounderstandthecharacterofasocietyistoexaminethecharacterofthe
menandwomenthatthesocietychoosesasitsheroesoritsrolemodels.
Thebestwayforasocietytoprepareitsyoungpeopleforleadershipingovernment,
industry,orotherfieldsisbyinstillinginthemasenseofcooperation,notcompetition.
Allcollegeanduniversitystudentswouldbenefitfromspendingatleastonesemester
Somepeopleclaimthatanation'sgovernmentshouldpreserveitswildernessareasin
theirnaturalstate.Othersarguethattheseareasshouldbedevelopedforpotential
economicgain.
Inmostprofessionsandacademicfields,imaginationismoreimportantthanknowledge.
40
Thesurestindicatorofagreatnationisnottheachievementsofitsrulers,artists,or
scientists,butthegeneralwellbeingofallitspeople.
Somepeoplearguethatsuccessfulleadersingovernment,industry,orotherfieldsmustbe
highlycompetitive.Otherpeopleclaimthatinordertobesuccessful,aleadermustbe
willingandabletocooperatewithothers.
Collegestudentsshouldbasetheirchoiceofafieldofstudyontheavailabilityofjobsin
thatfield.
Somepeoplebelievethatcorporationshavearesponsibilitytopromotethewellbeingof
thesocietiesandenvironmentsinwhichtheyoperate.Othersbelievethattheonly
responsibilityofcorporations,providedtheyoperatewithinthelaw,istomakeasmuch
moneyaspossible.
Claim:Researchersshouldnotlimittheirinvestigationstoonlythoseareasinwhichthey
expecttodiscoversomethingthathasanimmediate,practicalapplication.
41
Reason:Itisimpossibletopredicttheoutcomeofalineofresearchwithanycertainty.
Somepeoplebelievethatoureverincreasinguseoftechnologysignificantlyreducesour
opportunitiesforhumaninteraction.Otherpeoplebelievethattechnologyprovidesuswith
newandbetterwaystocommunicateandconnectwithoneanother.
Claim:Knowingaboutthepastcannothelppeopletomakeimportantdecisionstoday.
Reason:Theworldtodayissignificantlymorecomplexthanitwasevenintherelatively
recentpast.
Claim:Knowingaboutthepastcannothelppeopletomakeimportantdecisionstoday.
Reason:Wearenotabletomakeconnectionsbetweencurrenteventsandpastevents
untilwehavesomedistancefromboth.
Educationalinstitutionsshouldactivelyencouragetheirstudentstochoosefieldsofstudy
thatwillpreparethemforlucrativecareers.
position.
Educationalinstitutionsshouldactivelyencouragetheirstudentstochoosefieldsofstudyin
42
whichjobsareplentiful.
Educationalinstitutionshavearesponsibilitytodissuadestudentsfrompursuingfieldsof
studyinwhichtheyareunlikelytosucceed.
Somepeoplebelievethatcompetitionforhighgradesmotivatesstudentstoexcelinthe
classroom.Othersbelievethatsuchcompetitionseriouslylimitsthequalityofreallearning.
Claim:Majorpolicydecisionsshouldalwaysbelefttopoliticiansandothergovernment
experts.
Reason:Politiciansandothergovernmentexpertsaremoreinformedandthushavebetter
judgmentandperspectivethandomembersofthegeneralpublic.
Somepeoplebelievethatuniversitiesshouldrequireeverystudenttotakeavarietyof
coursesoutsidethestudent'sfieldofstudy.Othersbelievethatuniversitiesshouldnotforce
studentstotakeanycoursesotherthanthosethatwillhelppreparethemforjobsintheir
chosenfields.
43
Itismoreharmfultocompromiseone'sownbeliefsthantoadheretothem.
Claim:Collegesanduniversitiesshouldspecifyallrequiredcoursesandeliminateelective
coursesinordertoprovideclearguidanceforstudents.
Reason:Collegestudentslikepeopleingeneralprefertofollowdirectionsratherthan
maketheirowndecisions.
Nofieldofstudycanadvancesignificantlyunlessitincorporatesknowledgeand
experiencefromoutsidethatfield.
Truesuccesscanbemeasuredprimarilyintermsofthegoalsonesetsforoneself.
Thegeneralwelfareofanation'speopleisabetterindicationofthatnation'sgreatness
thanaretheachievementsofitsrulers,artists,orscientists.
44
Thebesttestofanargumentistheargument'sabilitytoconvincesomeonewithan
opposingviewpoint.
Theeffectivenessofacountry'sleadersisbestmeasuredbyexaminingthewellbeingof
thatcountry'scitizens.
Nationsshouldpasslawstopreserveanyremainingwildernessareasintheirnaturalstate.
Inanyfieldbusiness,politics,education,governmentthoseinpowershouldberequired
tostepdownafterfiveyears.
position.
45

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