Opinion Essays

 

Children can learn effectively by simply watching television, therefore they should be allowed to do so to regularly at home and at school.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 

Model Answer +

 

Watching television is one way students can learn new information. Therefore some people believe that students ought to watch television on a regular basis in their own home aswell as at school. I disagree with this statement for a variety of reasons and this essay shall explore these reasons.

One of the main reasons students should not merely sit in front of the television screen as a means of education is that it is a very inactive and disengaging form of learning. Learning in this manner provokes no need for a response from the learner making it a very passive activity. the learner is not directed to any particular pieces of information so it is difficult for someone to know what they should be learning, or what facts are important to know. A recent study at the University of Texas recently proved that passive learning in this manner was 56% less effective than more engaging educational activities that required at the very least some form of note taking.

Another reason television watching should not be encouraged for educational purposes is that television programs are rarely created with a students specific requirements in mind. This means that there will be a lot of information not relevant to the curriculum being studied. Furthermore, there may even be inappropriate material in certain scenes which is not age appropriate. This can not only damage students psychologically but also lead to complaints from parents of the student if they happen to be watching during school time. Educational professionals also claim that time spent watching television could be spent more wisely reading books fro a well selected book list which would provide much greater scope for learning.

In conclusion, television watching is unlikely to engage its audience or provide the precise information required in order to be useful. I therefore standby my original assertion that watching television should not be encourage either at home or in educational institutions.

Fewer schools are teaching handwriting skills as so much is now done online.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this trend?

 

 

Some people believe that a school teacher’s role is to motivate and inspire their students, however other people think that teacher’s primary role is to simply pass on knowledge so students can pass exams.

What do you think is the role of a teacher?

 

 

Some people think that it is beneficial for old people to learn something new while others believe that once a person is past 65 years of age it is too late to learn.

What is your opinion?

 

 

Nowadays over enthusiastic parents place too much pressure on their children to do well at school.

What is the reason for doing and is this a negative or positive development?

 

 

Some people believe that universities should make sport a compulsory module on all degree courses as rates of obesity are getting higher and higher. 

To what extent do you agree?

 

 

Under-achieving pupils should be made to complete extra classes after school to help them improve their grades.

To what extent do you agree?

 

 

These days learning foreign languages is a waste of time as computers can translate quickly and accurately.

To what extent do you agree or disagree? 

 

 

The role of education is to prepare children for the modern world. Schools should cut subjects such as art and physical education out of the curriculum so that children can focus on subjects which will be more useful later in life such as information technology and math.

To what extent do you agree?

 

 

Each year Increasing numbers of students are deciding to move to a different country for higher education.

Do you think that the benefits of this outweigh the problems?

 

 

Schools are spending more time teaching traditional topics, such as history and maths. Some people think they should focus on teaching skills that can help students start a career instead.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 

 

Many people relocate abroad to pursue further studies.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

 

 

In many countries at least one foreign language is taught in primary schools.

Do the advantages of learning a new language outweigh the disadvantages?

 

 

Graduating from university with a good degree ensures you will have a well paid career.

To what extent do you agree?

 

 

More and more universities are offering online courses for students.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development for students?

 

Discussion Essays

 

There has been a dramatic growth in the number of people studying at universities in the last few decades. While some people see this as a positive trend which raises the general level of education within the community, others fear that it is lowering the quality of education.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the increase in student numbers at university?

 

View Model Essay +

In recent years the number of students applying to universities has increased significantly. Not everyone believes this is beneficial for society; in fact, some people think that increased student numbers actually lowers the standard of education. This essay shall explore some of the positives and downsides of this surge in student numbers.

First of all, an increase in student numbers at university means that levels of poverty in society may reduce. This is due to the fact that if a nation has an educated workforce other companies from around the world will see that and be attracted to move their companies offices and factories there which will then create more jobs for local people. For instance, many tech firms relocate to Silicon Valley in America as there is a large tech based workforce located there.

Furthermore, university graduates improve living standards by creating new products through their own innovations which is encouraged through their university studies. These inventions can then go on to improve living standards in years to come. For example, the University of Rochester were first to develop the flu vaccine.

On the other hand, as more and more people continue to university there is a concern that standards are declining. It is thought by some that in order for universities to serve so many people they will have to focus more on enabling lower level students to participate in the courses rather than stretching the most gifted and talented students. This of course leads to an overall drop in the standard of education being provided. In addition to this, as so many people now have a degree from the UK, they have now become devalued and are no longer a sign of somebody who is an expert in their field. For instance, in 2016 after graduating with a degree over 40% of graduates remain jobless a year later.

In summary, the increasing levels of students studying in higher education may help eliminate poverty and improve living standards. However, it may also be reducing the quality of degree level courses and devaluing degree level qualifications. Personally, I feel it is the responsibility of the government to weigh up these arguments and take action where necessary.

 

In some countries girls and boys are educated separately rather than mixed together in the same school.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

 

 

These days many students take a gap year before going to university in order to do voluntary work abroad in underdeveloped countries.

What are the advantages and disadvantages for young people of doing volunteer work?

 

 

Some people believe parents exert the greatest influence on their child's academic success while others believe that a child's teacher exerts more influence.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

 

Discussion and Opinion Essays

 

Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates secure the career of their choice, whereas others feel that there are much broader benefits of attaining a university degree for both the individual and society as a whole.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

 

 

 

Graduating from university is still believed by some to be the best way to secure a well-paid job, others believe that gaining experience is more beneficial.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

 

 

Some schools make all students where the same smart uniform while other schools have a very relaxed dress code.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a school uniform?

 

 

Being able to speak a foreign language can be helpful in many situations in life. Some people believe that children should begin studying a foreign language in primary school while others believe children should not start until secondary school.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

 

 

Some people believe that teachers should be able to force badly behaved children to stand outside the classroom.

Do you think this is the best way to deal with badly behaved students in the classroom, and what other solutions are there?

 

 

Being able to speak a foreign language can be helpful in many situations in life. Some people believe that children should begin studying a foreign language in primary school while others believe children should not start until secondary school.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

 

 

Some people think that children should not be given homework while others believe that they must get homework every day in order to achieve highly at school.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

 

 

Some people are of the opinion that art is an essential topic for children to learn at school, while others believe it should not be studied at school at all.

Discuss both side of the issues and give your opinion.

 

 

 

Discipline is a problem in many schools today. Some people think that discipline should be the responsibility of teachers while others believe it is the parents duty.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

 

Situation Essays

 

Children who begin reading earlier in life do better academically later on in their school life.

How important is the development of early reading skills in a child's performance at school and what further pre-school factors influence later academic success?

 

 

In some schools and universities girls often select arts subjects, for instance, literature, and boys often choose science subjects, such as, physics.

Why do you think this is so? Should this tendency be changed?

 

 

Some children receive no encouragement from their Parents regarding their effort in school while other children have too much pressure put on them by their parents which can have a negative impact on the child.

Why do you think some parents’ pressure their children so much and what do you think the parent’s role should be in their child's education?

 

 

These days, many students in school struggle to concentrate for even short periods of time. 

What are the reasons for this and how can this situation be improved?

 

In many high schools, part of the curriculum requires students to perform voluntary work in the community such as helping the elderly.

In what way do students gain from this and do you think it should be a part of the curriculum?

 

In nearly all science courses in university, there are many more male participants than female.

What is the reason for this and what could be done to reduce the difference in numbers?

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