ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Prepared by Do Tuan Long, ULIS-VNU, 098.5227. 867 Page 1
Topic 1
Smoking in public places should be banned.
What is your viewpoint, do you agree or disagree?
Writing
Ban on smoking in places is not only justified but also imperative. Many countries are realizing the
dangers of passive smoking and are coming up with measures to curb the problems popping up with the
passive smoking.
Medical science has fully supported the dangers of potential passive smoking. To illustrate my point I
will like to cite the fact that most of the people die due to cigarette smoking which contains nicotine.
Inveterate smokers pack up themselves with lung and oral cancer rather than from natural causes.
Government is squandering astronomical sums for the treatment of pulmonary cancers and educating
the populace from the dangers of smoking. The imposition of high taxes on nicotine based products has
already been done to restrain this habit.
The debatable point is that to what extent these steps have been succeeded to dissuade the smokers.
Cigarette smoking not only pollutes the air but also make non-smokers inhale the stale smoke
imperiling their health too. Ingrained smokers are not destroying their own health but also of others.
The main critical issue in this respect is that is anyone (child or adult) safe from passive smoking. The
doom of asthmatics, pregnant women can we well imagined too.
Some smokers argue that banning smoking in public places is direct impingement of their human rights
but this line is futile because right to smoking is not absolute, but right to life is. Many persons
unintentionally take up smoking by watching others; thereby unleash the smoke in public places. This
is what they call fashion.
Thus it is imperative to impose appropriate laws as it will not only prevent non-smokers from falling
victim to the dangers of passive smoking, but also directly benefit the diehard smokers who would then
have no choice but to curtail their smoking habit.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 2
Should smoking be banned completely?
Writing
It has become fashionable in the world today to condemn smoking. However, although I feel that
smoking can be harmful, I do not think it should be banned completely.
Let me deal first with the positive side of smoking. First, smoking undoubtedly helps many people to
relax. For some, it even improves concentration. Many people like to smoke before exams or when
they are relaxing with friends. A further point is that governments throughout the world make huge
profits from levying taxes on cigarettes. This provides funds which are used for building schools,
hospitals and other public amenities. The tobacco industry also employs tens of thousands of people
throughout the world, particularly in poorer countries like Zimbabwe or India. Without cigarettes, these
people would have no jobs. I would also argue that people should have the right to choose whether they
smoke or not. People should not smoke in a room where there are non-smokers but surely they should
be free to smoke elsewhere.
However, despite these points, the arguments against smoking are strong. Smoking has been shown to
be dangerous to health. Heart disease, bronchitis and lung cancer have all been linked. A further issue
is that smoking costs governments millions of pounds because of the large number of people who need
treatment in hospitals for smoking related problems. There is also concern today about passive smoking.
Recent research has shown that non-smokers can suffer health problems if they spend long periods of
time among people who do smoke.
In general, I think the world would be a better place without cigarettes. However, the decision as to
whether to smoke or not should be for each individual to make.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 3
Should foreign languages be encouraged from kindergarten?
Writing
Nothing concrete can be had without aspiration, inspiration, and perspiration. Language is a mode of
communication by which we can express our ideas, emotions etc. on a piece of paper or otherwise.
Apart from the native languages taught in school and allied institutions, I strongly feel that the foreign
languages should be encouraged from the kindergarten itself.
To illustrate my above mentioned viewpoint, I would like to quote some examples. As we often know
that children are the backbone for any developing nation so if they are strong the nation will progress.
If they know foreign languages they will not face any difficulty whenever they go abroad, and hence
will understand their culture and technology well.
Secondly, we often talk about global village of the world, which is we consider the world as a global
village bonded by one single theme, love so encouraging foreign languages from the kindergarten itself
will promote this theme as the students/professionals will not have any misconception regarding other
languages.
To support my viewpoint further, I would like to add that promoting foreign languages from the
beginning will help student learn new things, they will develop themselves into well defined
professionals and citizens. Even society will acknowledge them as urbane elites. This will bring an
ingenious attitude in them. They will not be feeling guilty if they come to face such a situation called
language barrier. Moreover this boosting of foreign languages at the kindergarten stage will generate a
feeling of oneness and may be simultaneous for foreign currency growth.
In the nutshell I can say that language (written, oral or symbolic) is the sole way to express yourself so
encouraging foreign language will not bring additional burden to children or kindergartens but this will
really help in proliferating their carrier and undoubtedly strengthen a nation’s stronghold apart from
generating feeling of oneness.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 4
In some countries children have very strict rules of behavior, in other countries they are allowed
to do almost anything they like.
To what extent should children have to follow rules?
Writing
The extent to which children have to follow rules is in itself a very complex issue, since children across
the world grow up in very different cultures. In India for example, children are expected to be very
submissive to their parents as well as other adults around them. This, however, is not the case with the
Western countries of the world where children follow the motto ‘Thou shalt do what thou wilt’ as
promoted by celebrities and rock stars. I believe that following strict rules has both advantages as well
as serious drawbacks as discussed below.
Firstly, strict rules of behavior create responsible and respectful children who in turn mature into
respectful adults. This forms a stable society which is virtually free from negative trends such as
prostitution and drug abuse. Secondly, if children do not follow strict rules of behavior, they may get
out of hand and become work-shy and indolent. This may then create a burden on the society since the
government has to find ways to cater for these social ills.
However, forcing children to follow strict rules of behavior doesn’t always yield positive results as
discussed above, most of the time it backfires and works against society. For example, teenagers are
more likely to do the opposite of what they’re told to do simply because they want to be independent.
Children should also have rights to exercise their free will and develop their own pattern of behaviors.
Imposing strict rules may simply destroy the individuality of children.
At the end of the day, it is clear that children should be guided by rules, but these rules should not be
imposed on them because as human beings, they need to have room to develop their own traits of
character and adopt a behavioral pattern of their own.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 5
As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers
in the classroom.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Writing
There have been immense advances in technology in most aspects of people’s lives, especially in the
field of education. Nowadays, an increasing number of students rely on computers for research and to
produce a perfect paper for school purposes. Others have decided to leave the original way of learning
and to get knowledge through online schools. These changes in the learning process have brought a
special concern regarding the possible decrease of importance of teachers in the classroom.
Some people believe the role of teachers started to fade because computers have been helping some
students to progress in their studies quicker compared to studies in an original classroom. For example,
in the same classroom, students have different intellectual capacities, thus some would be tied to a slow
advance in their studies because of others’ incapability of understanding. In this way, pupils could
progress in their acquisition of knowledge at their own pace using computers instead of learning from
teachers.
However, the presence of a teacher is essential for students because the human contact influences them
in positive ways. Firstly, students realize that they are not dealing with a machine but with a human
being who deserves attention and respect. They also learn the importance of studying in a group and
respect for other students, which helps them improve their social skills.
Moreover, teachers are required in the learning process because they acknowledge some students’
deficiencies and help them to solve their problems by repeating the same explanation, giving extra
exercises or even suggesting a private tutor. Hence, students can have a better chance of avoiding a
failure in a subject.
In conclusion, the role of teachers in the learning process is still very important and it will continue to
be such in the future because no machine can replace the human interaction and its consequences.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 6
Studying the English language in an English-speaking country is the best but not the only way to
learn the language.
Do you agree with this statement?
Writing
Studying a language in a country where it is widely spoken has many advantages. It is, therefore, a
good idea to study English in a country such as Britain. However, I believe it is not the only way to
learn the language.
In the first place, most students in non-English-speaking countries learn English at secondary school,
and sometimes at university nowadays. Although their spoken English is not usually of a very high
standard, their knowledge of grammar is often quite advanced. This is certainly useful when students
come to an English-speaking country to perfect the language.
Secondly, studying the basics of English at secondary school is less stressful than learning the language
while overseas. This is because students living at home do not have to worry about problems such as
finding accommodation, paying for their study and living costs, and trying to survive in a foreign
country where day to day living causes much stress.
However, there are obvious advantages of learning English in Britain. Every day there are opportunities
to practice listening to and speaking with British people. Also, students can experience the culture
firsthand, which is a great help when trying to understand the language. This is especially true if they
choose to live with a British family, as exchange students for example. Furthermore, if students attend
a language school full-time, the teachers will be native speakers. In this case, not only will students'
speaking and listening skills improve, but attention can be given to developing reading and writing
skills as well.
In general, even though it is preferable to study English in an English-speaking country, a reasonable
level of English can be achieved in one's own country, if a student is gifted and dedicated to study.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 7
Using a computer every day can have more negative than positive effects on children.
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
own knowledge or experience.
Writing
In today's modern world, computers are an essential part of everyday life. Around the globe, children
often use computers from a very young age. Although it is important for children to participate in
various well-balanced activities, in my opinion, children who use the computer daily are actually
developing a critical skill for future success. The bases for my views are personal, academic, and
professional.
From a personal point of view, computers are an invaluable resource to help young people explore the
world around them. For example, children who use Internet to satisfy their curiosity about diverse
topics are already becoming independent learners. No child with a computer is ever bored! By starting
early in their lives, children feel totally at ease around computers; they are also able to take advantage
of the wide range of services computers provide.
From an academic viewpoint, children have no choice but to master this technological invention. For
instance, when I was in university, students brought their laptops to class to take notes, do research and
exchange information. They wrote assignments, created presentations and developed databases.
Children who build early confidence and experience in these abilities are at a distinct advantage over
those who have not.
From a professional perspective, the computer has found a permanent place in the workplace. Today,
employers still pay to provide computer training to their employees. Tomorrow, corporations will
expect prospective job applicants to already possess these critical job skills. Consequently, parents who
encourage their child to use the computer for a reasonable period of time daily are in fact investing in
the child's future career.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that the computer as a technological tool is here to stay. The sooner
children become computer-literate, the better for many aspects of their future life.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 8
It is inevitable that as technology develops so traditional cultures must be lost.
Technology and tradition are incompatible – you cannot have both together.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Writing
One of the paramount concerns of the world today is the coexistence of technology and tradition. The
fact cannot be denied that as we are grasping the technology more and more tightly, our hold of culture
is getting loosened. However, it is possible to strike a correct balance between both.
Firstly, it is only because of technological advancement that, the nations are aware of the cultures
which exist in other countries. For instance, India is a land of heritages, values and customs, but it was
only after the world media captured this beauty that the tourist from across the continent came to enjoy
its traditional taste.
Secondly, modern technological equipment and expertise helped to restore many long lost cultures. To
cite an example; Aboriginal language which was on the verge of extinction, was revived by recent
scientific techniques. In addition to that, aboriginal arts, have acquired worldwide recognition because
they have been showcased the world over.
There is no contradicting of the point that, owing to modern machinery, many traditional skills have
been lost like weaving and pottery making. However, one has to accept the fact that the world is
moving ahead and we cannot cling to the obsolete method of doing a thing. It is only sensible to adopt
the change which helps you to move forward rather than one which drags you behind.
To sum up, mankind will only gain by reviving the traditional skills. We must have a well-balanced
view to reap the benefits of both to the fullest, for both have their own positive and negative aspects.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 9
Popular events like the football world cup and other international sporting occasions are
essential in easing international tensions and releasing patriotic emotions in a safe way.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Writing
The World Cup football matches and the Olympics are held worldwide with great national support and
expectations. As a fan of those competitions, I agree with the idea that sporting events can be necessary
for international relations and national unity. This essay will mention the effects of these popular
sporting events.
First of all, the World Cup, Olympics and other international games work for easing tensions among
different nations. For example, South and North Korea have a football game regularly, which gives the
two nations a chance to understand each other deeply. In the mid 1990s, hundreds of North Korean
supporters came to South Korea with the footballers and they were very excited during the sporting
events. Even if it sounds ridiculous, many South Koreans were quite surprised at that moment when
North Koreans shouted and cried during the match. We all realized that they were very normal sports
fans even though they were occasionally very secretive. Through the sports, two divided nations could
reduce their political and ideological tensions and could feel the patriotic unity.
On the other hand, some sports matches can make international relations worse. For instance, football
or baseball games between Korea and Japan are always big matches in two countries where tensions
overflow. Sometimes, after the matches, the two rivals blame each other and their patriotic emotions
explode in an aggressive way. Much worse scenario is that the troubles caused by losing games affect
the players directly. As far as I know, a couple of Korean players in Japan have suffered from invisible
discrimination after the match between two countries.
In conclusion, I think that international sporting occasions can be one of the good ways to ease tensions
or to release patriotism safely. However, I believe that games cannot be the fundamental ways for the
sound patriotism or peaceful international relations.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 10
Some people say that the Internet is making the world smaller by bringing people together.
To what extent do you agree that the internet is making it easier for people to communicate with one
another?
Writing
In today world, due to the advancement of technology new inventions are coming into existence. It is
true that ‘Necessity is a mother of invention’. The Internet is just like a wonder box, which contains
every type of information. Besides, it has also proved to be a very important tool to connect people
with one another.
In today’s modernized era nobody has sufficient time to write letters to their loved ones. Moreover, it
also takes longer to send or receive any information, but the Internet is the easiest way to send
messages to our loved ones. Communication can be either in the form of e-mail or through text
messages sent via the Internet to mobile phones. We can send and receive messages straight way.
On the other hand, today’s young generation mostly prefers to do chatting through the Internet. During
such chatting we can write messages and get replies straight away. Moreover voice chatting is
becoming popular every day.
In reality, the advantages and disadvantages resemble two sides of one coin so as any other thing the
Internet also has some downsides, such as causing people health problems including poor eye-sight,
back ache or migraines. Today’s teenagers usually prefer to spend their time on the internet rather than
participating in other physical activities, which causing them to have weaker physical health.
To conclude, I would like to say that the Internet is one of the most modernized and most successful
tools, not only for communication, but also for getting more relevant information regarding every field
in a very short period of time.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 11
With all the problems in the world today, spending money on space exploration is a complete
waste. The money could be better spent on other causes.
What is your opinion?
Writing
Nation after nation, every day, every year, celebrates its achievements in space exploration. However,
it is now the time to question how meaningful these blasts are and whether there may be more
beneficial ways to use the money. This essay will argue that space exploration is only appreciated when
all problems of the world are resolved.
First, until all urgent and important matters of the globe have been solved, money spent on space
exploration is meaningless. It does not make sense at all to invest millions of dollars researching and
producing foods for astronauts (for space exploration purpose), while every day thousands of people
are starving. Furthermore, the discovery of outer space only serves a minor group of people if the
majority is not even well-educated. People living in rural areas or third-world countries do not even
know how to prevent common threatening diseases such as AIDS and lung cancer.
Then, some may argue that the purpose of space exploration is to discover new lands, new energy
resources or to deter potential threat to the globe. Nevertheless, is it effective to do so while other
alternatives are available? The land on earth is not yet effectively used. New energy resources (e.g.
solar and nuclear energy) have not yet been widely-used. Threats of plagues have not yet been deterred.
All of these tasks that haven’t been tackled yet require money. That is why costly space discovery
programs are a waste of resources.
In a nutshell, people should only invest in space exploration provided that urgent and important matters
mentioned earlier in this essay have been solved. Also, purposes of space exploration campaigns should
be studied carefully and other alternatives should be considered before the money is wasted.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 12
Nowadays environmental problems are too big to be managed by individual persons or
individual countries. In other words, it is an international problem.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Writing
An essential problem of the 21st century is world pollution. Currently the environment is so
contaminated that urgent measures should be taken. A single individual cannot be blamed for the world
pollution; however every person should take care of his or her habitat. In addition, it is vital that
environmental issues are treated internationally.
Lately, many presentations, conferences and international summits are held to deal with waste
treatment, recycling, and soil and water contamination. Surely joint efforts and consolidation can only
help in the mutual war against the ongoing environmental disaster. For instance, governments should
offer support to companies and organizations, involved in manufacturing, industry or agriculture in
order to find environment-friendly approaches. These could be special law regulations, recycling
programs, helping courses in order to implement ISO certificates and many more.
However, the influence of individuals over environment should not be ignored. If we do not admit that
our planet is our home, we will never be able to take adequate care of it. We have to contribute every
day to the preservation of nature and environment. For example, always remember to save energy by
switching off lamps, computers and everything that we do not use. Our next obligation is to separate
waste and throw bulk only in the designated areas. Driving vehicles can also be environment friendly.
For example, we have to avoid accelerating the engines too rapidly or using the air conditioning in the
country, where it would be better to save energy and simply open the windows.
To sum up, environmental problems should be handled by local and international authorities as well as
individuals. Every single person should take care of the environment; moreover we have to bring up
our children to be conscious citizens of a clean and preserved planet.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 13
In many countries children are engaged in some kinds of paid work. Some people regard this as
completely wrong, while others consider it a valuable work experience, which is important for
learning and taking responsibility.
Writing
Nowadays, many children involved in different types of jobs to have some kind of financial assurance
for themselves. However, whether this is good for their development and personality is a controversial
issue. I personally believe that paid work is harmful for children for several reasons.
It is said that children gain valuable experience in the work place, which may be true. However, I
would argue that children are mainly employed in jobs that require manual work and are poorly paid.
The recent statistics reveal the common tasks that children assigned are washing dishes, mopping floors
or serving food in restaurants. Meanwhile, this kind of jobs actually does not provide children with
necessary and useful skills to apply in their future career.
This brings me to the second point. Defenders of child labour argue that it is an effective method of
learning. The point is children should be able to apply knowledge taught to them in a real life working
environment. Although this is undoubtedly true, it also means that children may neglect the classroom
study and even fail the class. The worst thing is yet to come. They may become so preoccupied with
the benefits ahead of them such as small salary that they may leave school.
Finally, supporters say that it helps them to build responsibility in the family. They will understand
how it is difficult to earn money and therefore have compassion for their parents. This is true to a
certain extent, but may have a totally adverse effect on children. As children can make money at an
early age, they would feel that it is appropriate to spend it on luxury things.
In conclusion, I think that parents should take measures to restrict their child from work; otherwise it
would have negative consequences to their future.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 14
When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It is
pointless to try and keep them alive.
Writing
Nowadays, technological advances and their rapid and wide applications are having a significant
impact on a nation’s traditional skills and ways of life. Some argue that such impact is so extraordinary
that it would make conventional skills and lifestyles obsolete. However, I believe they would continue
to thrive by providing alternatives to modern ways of life, and innovative ideas for modern
technologies.
First of all, traditional skills and ways of life are becoming an alternative solution to the problems
caused by “mainstream” ways of life which are greatly influenced by modern technologies. For
instance, a cozy restaurant where traditional, home-brewed beer is served, offers another experience to
people who are bored with branded beers that have the same flavor and come out of mass production
with new technologies. It is in such a venue where traditional skills are preserved, people become
relaxed. Providing diversity and thus enriching modern ways of life, such traditional skills and ways of
life would continue to have their place.
Furthermore, conventional skills provide innovative ideas to the development of modern technologies.
For example, sparkled by how the word “Love” is traditionally knitted into a sweater by some ethnic
minority women in some parts of Asia, some business managers from textile industry have developed
some production lines by applying the traditional skills to Computer-Aided Designs (CAD). The
products have boosted the companies’ sales which in turn have increased their investment in preserving
traditional skills for further developing their technologies.
To conclude, traditional skills and lifestyles are increasingly becoming a useful alternative to the
homogeneity brought by global applications of modern technologies. However, the evolution of
technologies is a selection process, whereby some would become obsolete, but there is no doubt that
some would thrive when their roles are appreciated.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 15
Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for the development of poorer nations.
However, the governments of richer nations should take more responsibility for helping the
poorer nations in such areas.
Writing
Today’s world has been divided into developing and an industrialized country which the main
difference between them is the amount of money that governments apply in important sectors such as
education, health and commerce. Most of the poorer nations are buried in debts as a result of their
unbalanced finances which are reflected in a failed health care, an unstructured education system and a
weak international trade. This vicious cycle will continue indefinitely unless wealthier nations show
interest in minimizing the worldwide economic differences, as well as taking more responsibility for
assisting less fortunate countries.
Most of the African countries live in sub-human conditions because of the extreme poverty, upheaval,
hunger, disease, unemployment, lack of education and both inexperienced and corrupt administrations.
The devastating consequences of the AIDS epidemic in those countries could improve if the infected
population were to receive free drugs to control the disease, have access to health professionals and get
information on how to prevent its spread. But this can only be achieved through international help
programs in which leaders of the world’s richest countries donate medicine and also send doctors and
nurses to treat and educate those in need.
Moreover, most of the poor countries rely on selling agricultural products and raw materials to rich
nations and buying industrialized products from them resulting in a huge financial deficit.
Consequently, they borrow a significant amount of money from the World Bank to try to improve their
broken economies, but sometimes the money disappears with no significant changes and they cannot
even pay the interest to the bank. Regarding this issue, last year the G8, which is comprised of leaders
of the eight richest nations, decided to forgive billions of dollars worth of debt owed by the world’s
poorest nations. In addition, they developed adequate loan programs to financially assist those
countries.
In conclusion, leaders of industrialized countries play an indispensable role in assisting developing
nations in dealing with essential areas such as health, education and trade. Also, their aid is the key to
breaking the vicious cycle, which results in poverty and death.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 16
Financial education should be a mandatory component of the school program.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Writing
It is an obvious fact that financial aspects are a major part of the daily life, as an adult and even as a
young individual. Each and every one of us has to make financial decisions concerning recreation,
health, education and more. The question is whether to start with financial education as part of school
program or to postpone it for a later stage in life.
To begin with, being able to understand the value of money, the way the economic system works and to
interpret financial news and its implications is a virtue. Without this virtue, an individual, even a young
one, might suffer to some extent. For example, a child who doesn’t understand the concept of money
might find it more difficult to accept choosing only one present out of more possible ones.
In addition, many adults are lacking capability of financial analysis. Quite often, the reason can be the
lack of sound foundations or insecurity when it comes to financial terms and concepts. Starting from an
early age, building a strong background, can very likely prevent such situation.
However, financial education necessarily involves quantifying and setting prices and value for services
and goods. It can easily turn young people into cynical human beings who lack emotion. Furthermore,
a tendency to self-concentration and egoism might rise when one start measuring everything from a
profit-making perspective.
In conclusion, financial education has both pros and cons. In my opinion, the advantages are more
significant than the disadvantages, making financial education an advisable component of the school
program. The disadvantages should be thought of as a certain price that young people have to pay due
to the characteristics of the world that we live in.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 17
Public libraries should only provide books and should not waste their limited resources on
expensive high-tech media such as software, videos or DVDs.
Do you agree or disagree?
Writing
With the proliferation of high-tech media, some people insist that the public libraries would be
rendered obsolete if they did not offer software, videos or DVDs to their users while others assert it’s
only a waste of limited resources and the libraries should offer books only.
High-tech media is, in many ways, indeed superior to the books in terms of entertainment, attraction,
and functionality. For instance, videos and DVDs function as a visual means to assist people to have a
first-hand experience even though those people have not physically visited or seen the objects which
are introduced in the books. Also, despite the fact that audio-visual equipment would be prohibitive to
install, the capital cost would be lowered by appealing to a sizable number of users.
More importantly, software could assist the library goers to access the Internet to update their
knowledge on a daily basis; in contrast, books typically take multiple months to be published, which in
turn renders their contents outdated to some extent. In addition, upon learning that the computer
literacy has become an essential skill recently, public libraries should take on the responsibility to
educate their users how to operate a computer.
Furthermore, it is a common practice for most public libraries to share their resources via the Internet.
In this way, even if one book of interest cannot be found in one library, the borrower still could locate
the book in other libraries and then request the librarians to transfer the book to that particular library.
In conclusion, public libraries would benefit in multiple ways if they were equipped with the high-tech
media.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 18
A few major languages are increasingly spoken in different countries, while the usage of others is
rapidly declining. Is this a positive or a negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Writing
Advances in technology, transport, and communication have given rise to the phenomenon of
globalization. A lot of barriers have been pulled down; the exchange of ideas between countries and
cultures has never been freer in any time in history. This has in turn led to an expanding use of a few
major languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and especially English. There are obvious benefits
to this, but the possible cultural ramifications must not be ignored.
Obviously, the use of one major language as a lingua franca or bridge language is desirable because it
enhances cross-cultural communication. It embodies a clear, accessible standard for everybody to
follow be it in books, movies, academic or popular publications, or the Internet.
Additionally, if a country is to become globally competitive either in business or the labour market,
then it is imperative for it to understand and utilize the dominant international language. In my part of
the world, you will not make progress in a career or business without English because corporate
communications and commerce is mostly conducted in this language. A business might succeed locally
without it, but growth in the bigger national or international market will be curtailed.
Then again, the dwindling usage or even extinction of many minor languages is an unfortunate result of
this phenomenon. This happens when less and less people speak their mother tongue because of a
shifting of allegiance to the second language. This is unfortunate because language death also means a
loss of cultural identity. Original meanings and nuances are lost in translation. Culture forms language,
and language revolves around culture, the demise of one means the same for the other.
Maybe the best course of action is a form of compromise. Governments must take steps to preserve
their languages and dialects by supporting appropriate legislation and by funding the efforts of learning
institutions. Individuals should continue using their mother tongue and take pride in their distinct
cultural heritage.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 19
It is often said that people over the age of 60 should not work anymore because of the problems
they create, that employers should make them retire.
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your opinion.
Writing
In a lot of countries, 60 is the mandatory retirement age. It is as if people this age are outmoded, ready
for replacement. Personally, I think that our senior citizens should not be written off; they can still be
very productive members of society.
The biggest issue raised against older people is their declining physical abilities. That they are not as
quick on their toes as they used to be; their endurance is noticeably less. But while bodily functions at
this age are not at their optimum, the mind is not. While they may not as physically competitive, their
acquired wisdom goes a long way towards solving problems or managing situations that would rattle
younger people. Many of the greatest minds in our planet scientists like Einstein and world leaders
such as Churchill, worked beyond their sexagenarian age.
Secondly, some say that the information and knowledge of senior workers is obsolete. In this day and
age where the computer reigns supreme, they cannot compete with the quick developments in
technology, something at which the majority of fresh graduates are proficient in. The answer to this is
training. Nobody is born knowing anything. Employers should give them the benefit of the doubt; train
them properly and our elders might just surprise you.
To end, ability and know-how does not automatically deteriorate with age. As long as a person is
competent and has the will to contribute, then age should not be a barrier. Youth may have its energy,
but age brings wisdom.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 20
Many people think that the government should pay the tuition fees for all adults who interested
in university studies.
Do you agree or disagree?
Writing
The more educated its constituents, the better it is for the government. A highly-skilled workforce is
desirable for any country, but not everybody can afford to go back to school. I believe a compromise
should be reached; the government should subsidize the fees for qualified individuals.
Channelling funds into adult education is a more worthy cause than what some governments are doing
right now. This is infinitely better than funding weapons development, clandestine ventures, or any of
the various government projects that are of no direct benefit to citizens. A country’s real wealth lies in
its people, so it makes good sense to prioritize them.
There are adults who would definitely want to further their education but are hampered by obligations
or financial constraints. Being an adult means working, bills, errands possibly children. All these
discourage or even prevent some from considering a return. A financial support from the government
will definitely be a big help, a factor that might swing the decision for a lot of people.
On the other hand, we must not ignore some difficulties that a subsidy scheme entails. This costs
money just like any other venture. There will be some who will not finish their studies or take a long
time, thereby increasing the overhead. A few people even say that some adults will take advantage of
this in some way. Nonetheless, there are safeguards that can be applied. Of course there should be a
screening for qualified applicants; mainly these should be people who have the intellectual capacity or
skills suited to the course. Moreover, the financial situation of the applicant is a significant factor. The
poor but deserving should have preference.
To end, the government, and we ourselves, must recognize this worthy cause; a noble goal that must be
supported. It has some risks, but nothing is totally risk-free. The long-term benefits outweigh the short-
term difficulties it may entail.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 21
Parents are the best teachers.
Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Writing
Parents shape their children from the beginning of their children's lives. They teach their children
values. They share their interests with them. They develop close emotional ties with them. Parents can
be very important teachers in their children's lives; however, they are not always the best teachers.
Parents may be too close to their children emotionally. For example, they may limit a child's freedom
in the name of safety. A teacher may organize an educational trip to a big city, but a parent may think
this trip is too dangerous. A school may want to take the children camping, but a parent may be afraid
of the child getting hurt.
Another problem is that parents sometimes expect their children's interests to be similar to their own. If
the parents love science, they may try to force their child to love science too. But what if the child
prefers art? If the parents enjoy sports, they may expect their child to participate on different teams. But
what if the child prefers to read?
Parents want to pass on their values to their children. However, things change. The children of today
are growing up in a world different from their parents' world. Sometimes parents, especially older ones,
can't keep up with rapid social or technological changes. A student who has friends of different races at
school may find that his parents have narrower views. A student who loves computers may find that her
parents don't understand or value the digital revolution.
Parents are important teachers in our lives, but they aren't always the best teachers. Fortunately, we
have many teachers in our lives. Our parents teach us, our teachers teach us, and we learn from our
peers. Books and newspapers also teach us. All of them are valuable.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 22
Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have
the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just as good as
women at parenting.
Writing
The view that women are better parents than men has shown itself to be true throughout history. This is
not to say that men are not of importance in child- rearing indeed, they are most necessary if children
are to appreciate fully the roles of both sexes. But women have proven themselves superior parents as a
result of their conditioning, their less aggressive natures and their generally better communication skills.
From the time they are little girls, females learn about nurturing. First with dolls and later perhaps with
younger brothers and sisters, girls are given the role of career. Girls see their mothers in the same roles
and so it is natural that they identify this as a female activity. Boys, in contrast, learn competitive roles
far removed from what it means to nurture. While boys may dream of adventures, girls' conditioning
means they tend to see the future in terms of raising families.
Girls also appear to be less aggressive than boys. In adulthood, it is men, not women, who prove to be
the aggressors in crime and in war. Obviously, in raising children, a more patient, gentle manner is
preferable to a more aggressive one. Although there certainly exist gentle men and aggressive women,
by and large, females are less likely to resort to violence in attempting to solve problems.
Finally, women tend to be better communicators than men. This is shown is intelligence tests, where
females, on average, do better in verbal communication than males. Of course, communication is of
utmost importance in rearing children, as children tend to learn from and adopt the communication
styles of their parents.
Thus, while it is all very well to suggest a greater role for men in raising children, let us not forget that
women are generally better suited to the parenting role.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 23
A lot of people believe that the amount of violence shown on TV and in the cinema affects the
actions of our young people and therefore increases the amount of violence in our society today.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? What can be done to reduce violence in our society
today?
Writing
The question of whether the amount of violence on TV and cinema has affected young people in our
society is something which cannot be quantified or proved. My opinion is though that the answer is
“yes, it has”.
TV and cinema today do show a large amount of violence and, although we try and shield our young
people from seeing too much, they still get to watch it. At the age of eighteen in my country they can
see everything anyway. Violence on the streets has increased. That has been proved. The connection
between TV‛s and the cinema‛s obsession with violence and today‛s street violence cannot be proved
but it is logical that the two are connected. Young people imitate what they see and it is logical that
they see glamour in what they do when they commit violence.
How can we lessen violence? Reducing the amount of violence on TV and in the cinema would
certainly be a good start. Being more vigilant about what age children are when they see violence in
these media, and raising the age limits would also help. Another good idea would be to channel the
violence of young people. I don‛t think that national service should be re-established in this country but,
if people are convicted of violence and sent to prison, then why not give them the option of serving in
the army. Their violence will be controlled and they will be subjected to discipline so that they will be
better able to control themselves when they leave.
Thus I agree with the statement that cinema and TV violence affects the young people in our society.
There are some things that can be done to better the situation but I doubt whether anything will be done.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 24
Some people think that universities should not provide so much theoretical knowledge but give
more practical training throughout their courses.
Writing
In the past, a majority of academics have held the opinion that universities should only offer a
theoretically-based approach to teaching throughout their courses, as opposed to the more recent trend
towards empirical acquisition of knowledge involving more “hands on” experience. Is this the most
effective way for students to learn vital academic information while undertaking their degrees?
Undoubtedly, advantages and disadvantages of both academic learning styles have to be evaluated.
Firstly, on the one hand, despite being the more traditional educational approach, learning from theory
in relevant academic discourses to identify established knowledge allows us to gain a professional
insight. For example, students can easily identify facts and opinions from past discourses. In addition,
students acquire knowledge more easily when given relative theoretical examples to build upon. For
instance, in subjects such as history or sociology, studying textbook examples allows students to
unravel complex academic theories which they could expand on. Alternatively, there are some
disadvantages for students.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that students could find themselves reading tedious and
monotonous academic papers. For instance, university degrees involving the evaluation of numerous
‘long-winded’ academic discourses provide little inspiration for students, discouraging enthusiasm.
Obviously, interest can be stimulated through empirical research in class. By this I mean that ‘the
human brain learns best by doing’. Although time-consuming, there is no substitute for learning from
making mistakes.
In conclusion, while both approaches have benefits and drawbacks in our ever-changing academic
world, I honestly believe that a more practical approach promotes a stronger acquisition of academic
knowledge. In spite of the comprehensive nature which theoretical teaching can possibly provide,
practical learning equals more positive learning for future generations.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 25
Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We
know what they eat, where they buy their clothes and who they love. We also often see pictures of
them in private situations.
Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about people?
Writing
Generally, people read newspapers to find out about world current affairs and they read magazines to
be entertained. Therefore, one would expect to find articles that feature the private lives of famous
people in magazines rather than newspapers. However, nowadays, more and more newspapers include
stories like these which are neither informative nor useful.
In my opinion, this type of gossip about people's private lives should not be in newspapers for several
reasons. Firstly, for example, the fact that Princess Diana is going out with a sportsman is not important
news. Secondly, if newspapers want to publish articles about famous people they should focus on their
public events and achievements. In other words, if there is an article about Princess Diana it should be
about her works of charity, which will increase public awareness of important problems. In addition,
journalists should make sure that they write about the facts only, not rumours. One should be able to
rely on newspapers for the actual truth.
Magazines, on the other hand, focus on social news. But I feel it is more acceptable for them to contain
some features about famous personalities. In addition to being popular reading, these stories often
benefit the stars by giving free publicity to them, thereby helping their careers. However, I also believe
that magazine stories should not mention things that are too embarrassing or untrue just to attract
people to buy the magazine. Sensational stories, such as these, cause great unhappiness to the people
concerned.
In conclusion, I think newspapers should concentrate on real news but magazines can feature some
articles on people's private lives.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Topic 26
Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In
what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make?
Has this become a positive or negative development?
Writing
It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication between people. Technology
has affected relationships in various ways, and in my opinion there are both positive and negative
effects.
Technology has had an impact on relationships in business, education and social life. Firstly,
telephones and the Internet allow business people in different countries to interact without ever meeting
each other. Secondly, services like Skype create new possibilities for relationships between students
and teachers. For example, a student can now take video lessons with a teacher in a different city or
country. Finally, many people use social networks, like Facebook, to make new friends and find people
who share common interests, and they interact through their computers rather than face to face.
On the one hand, these developments can be extremely positive. Cooperation between people in
different countries was much more difficult when communication was limited to written letters or
telegrams. Nowadays, interactions by email, phone or video are almost as good as face-to-face
meetings, and many of us benefit from these interactions, either in work or social contexts. On the other
hand, the availability of new communication technologies can also have the result of isolating people
and discouraging real interaction. For example, many young people choose to make friends online
rather than mix with their peers in the real world, and these ‘virtual’ relationships are a poor substitute
for real friendships.
In conclusion, technology has certainly revolutionised communication between people, but not all of
the outcomes of this revolution have been positive.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

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