Some people think that newspapers are the best way to learn news.
However, others
believe that they can learn news better through other media.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
ONE SIDED VIEW - evaluation
While some people consider newspapers as the optimal means of disseminating news,
others claim that there are better ways of keeping them up-to-date with current affairs. I
tend to agree with the latter viewpoint as other media can deliver faster news,
simultaneous with events.
People who are in favour of newspapers point to the accurate and investigative articles
that are written in broadsheets. With the process of careful editing, articles in the
newspapers can provide genuine news with a profound look about most topical political
as well as socio-economic stories. This can be evidenced by the fact that newspapers such
as the New York Times or the Washington Post are still publishing millions of copies of
their publications every week, as well as huge numbers of global visitors to their online
portals.
However, it can be argued that TV and radio can be better sources of news when
considering the need for a fast and convenient means of keeping up to date. Firstly,
televised news programmes broadcast and upload the latest stories virtually
simultaneously with the event compared to daily or weekly publications of newspapers.
For example, the live broadcasting of the British Royal weddings on TV attract enormous
viewers all over the world. Secondly, people can get their news while driving, by
listening to news on the radio. This is especially useful for commuters who may have to
spend long periods stuck in traffic.
In conclusion, although newspapers can provide quality journalism with carefully edited
articles and informative in-depth editorials, these features cannot satisfy the demand for
speedy sources of news and convenience in getting news that other media like TV and
radio offer. To improve the quality of news as well as drawing more public attention,
journalists and respondents should put more emphasis on analysing and providing a more
insightful look into current affairs
Computers are being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is
a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.
Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.
ONE SIDED VIEW – Counterargument
There is an ever increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the
classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree
and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in
technology is beneficial to students and teachers.
It is clear that the internet has provided students with access to more information than
ever before. Moreover, learners have the ability to research and learn about any subject at
the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for
education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can simply type in any keyword
and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.
However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human
interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate
and empathy. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet and this
essay disagrees technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance, Skype and
Facebook make it possible for people to interact in ways that were never before possible.
In conclusion, while the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to
tap in to limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of
this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face to face interaction. However, as long
as we are careful to keep in mind the importance of human interaction in education, the
educational benefits are clearly positive.
Some people think that children should be taught to be competitive in school.
Others, however, say that cooperation and team working skills are more important.
Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
BOTH VIEWS – Specific opinions
Although it is sometimes thought that schools ought to teach children to compete, other
people believe that the focus should be on cooperation. In my opinion, deciding whether
to focus on competition or team working skills should depend on the age of the child.
On the one hand, children who learn to compete against each other often do better in
school, according to some. In other words, the competition between students motivates
them to excel in their studies or tasks which consequently produces better academic
performance and results. Furthermore, it is commonly believed that these skills are
essential for children to learn in order to succeed later in life when they must compete
against others in the job market.
On the other hand, it is often thought that it is better if the emphasis at school is on
cooperating with others. People do not live, work or socialise apart from others, so
learning how to work alongside others ought to be taught from childhood. Without these
skills, many think children would lack the ability to communicate with each other or
know how to deal with confrontations and conflicts in a constructive way.
Finally, in my view, both skills are indispensable for a child’s future, but the focus should
depend on a child’s age. While young children need to learn how to communicate
effectively and learn to work with others, older children, who are starting to take exams
and be assessed on their academic performance, would benefit more from competition.
Schools, therefore, need to be flexible as to when to focus on one over the other.
In conclusion, despite people having different views, I believe it would be better for
young children to develop team working skills and older children to become more
competitive.