Viewpoints for reference:
— In my opinion, some people focus more on the pursuit of material needs than that of spiritual needs. They think materialistic things are visible and tangible and can be seized, which will give them a sense of security. They also tend to regard the possession of wealth or material comforts as happiness. The more wealth they possess, the happier they feel. They have many or even endless desires to satisfy and are fond of comparing their own fortune with others’. By comparison, people with greater wealth obtain a sense of so-called happiness. — In my opinion, some people focus more on the pursuit of spiritual needs than that of material needs. They believe spiritual needs such as meaning, goal, love, trust, hope and forgiveness can never be bought by any kind of wealth. To pursue such needs is to search for one’s inner life and to ask “Who am I?” and “What can I be?” When one can answer these questions, one can feel an
elusive inner peace and great satisfaction, in other words, great happiness. The more they search for the inner self, the more happiness they will attain.
Writing Practice
Paragraph development — Argumentation
Discussion: Informing the reader of possible objections to our opinion about a debatable issue and then arguing against them is a strategy we often employ to develop a paragraph. To write such a paragraph, we either state our position in the topic sentence and then immediately present a major argument against us, or directly introduce the rival argument in the very first sentence. Then we may need to identify the cause of the argument before we start our attack. Attack fiercely, but also carefully and kindly. Fiercely, because our position must be clear and our criticism must be
powerful. Carefully, because we need to pay serious attention to the opposing argument, study it hard and reason logically before we can find the real problems with it. In this way, we argue effectively. We also must argue kindly by acknowledging the sensible, reasonable, or even admirable part of the opposing position. In addition, do not use the first person too often in an argumentative piece. We can use the first person occasionally and employ expressions such as I personally (strongly) believe, in my opinion, I see the issue in this light, etc. However, if we want to make our argument sound really formal and powerful, avoid using the first person, for it would weaken the force of the argument.
Exercises: Write two paragraphs based on the following topic sentences. First anticipate an objection to your viewpoint and then argue against the objection.
1. As an 18-year-old, I strongly believe in expressing my own individuality rather than trying to be “just like everybody else” (OR: believe in conforming to the customs and practices of our society rather than expressing my individuality). Ideas for reference: Everybody is born unique.
If we just grow to think like others and act like others, we will all become unsuspecting conformists.
A person who wants to be “different” will learn more effectively and efficiently and finally makes a big difference. Sample:
As an 18-year-old, I strongly believe in expressing my own individuality rather than trying to be “just like everybody else.” Everybody is born unique, so am I. The idea encouraged by our parents that follow the “rules” of society and truly conform to the customs and practices of society will help us learn and grow up soundly isn’t completely true. Just as a wise man once put it, “the surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.” If we just grow to think like others and hence always act like others, we will all become unsuspecting conformists. No culture would really be healthy and robust if it were made up of conformists and conformists only. What’s more, by thinking and acting differently from the majority, we will learn even more quickly and become mature even sooner. A youth who tries to be “just like everybody else” is like a student who just copies the teacher by rote. And only those who always challenge and question their teachers and textbooks have the potential to excel. A person who wants to be “different” will learn more effectively and efficiently and finally makes a big difference. Therefore, my fellow pals, be our own man or woman please. We will be proud of ourselves by our own personality one day.
2. It is quite a popular belief that the current method of selecting students for higher education should be eliminated, but I believe in the contrary. Ideas for reference:
The real cause of the fierce competition isn’t the method of selecting students for higher education. There is limited availability of places in the institutions of higher learning.
Chinese culture overemphasizes the importance of formal schooling for personal development. Sample:
It is quite a popular belief that the current method of selecting students for higher education should be eliminated, but I believe in the contrary. The major argument for the elimination theory is that the college entrance examinations make the competition for college entrance too fierce to be good for the mental as well as physical growth of teenagers, but such an objection actually falls wide of the mark. The real cause of the fierce competition isn’t the method of selecting students for higher education but the limited availability of places in the institutions of higher learning and the culture which overemphasizes the importance of formal schooling for personal development. Firstly, compared with developed countries, China’s higher education is still underdeveloped. Too many students want to go to college, but there are not enough universities available, thus causing fierce competition among students. Secondly, Chinese culture values too much on the importance of formal schooling for personal development. A student who fails to get admitted to a “good”
university is often regarded as a failure. From this perspective, we can say that the real problem is not with the current student enrolment method which relies heavily on the matriculation examinations and it isn’t workable to eliminate the exams. Even if we eliminated them, the
competition between students would not become any less fierce. Besides, other new problems would arise.
Page 181 Listening
B. Listen again and complete the following statements. The verbs you are
going to fill in can also be used in gardening. 1. Plant yourself deep in a bed of faith, and pack it down solid and tight. 2. Quickly remove any seeds of worry, for they will soon germinate . 3. Harvest the lessons of the past; just dig , pick , and hoe . 4. And nurture the roots of the present, for now is when you flourish and grow . 5. Remember that grief is a natural predator, so learn to tolerate some damage.
Script
How to Grow Happiness?
Step One
Plant yourself deep in a bed of faith, and pack it down solid and tight. Drench daily with positive thinking, and keep saturated just right. Mulch often with
forgiveness, for this will help you grow. Quickly remove any seeds of worry, for they will soon germinate, and keep out the weeds of despair. Nourish disappointments with hope whenever it is needed, and always stay cool and shaded when you feel irritated or heated. Trim away guilt or depression, for they create decay, and cultivate with happy memories as often as every day.
Step Two
Harvest the lessons of the past; just dig, pick, and hoe. And nurture the roots of the present, for now is when you flourish and grow. Start planting for the future; set your goals in a row. Spade the bed well for all your dreams to grow.
Step Three
Remember that grief is a natural predator, so learn to tolerate some damage. Protect your garden with gratitude, for this will help you manage. Bury the criticism and complaining, for they are injurious pests. Sow the seeds of love wherever you may go — for joy, love and laughter are surely bound to grow. Although the thorns of life may be here to stay, just sprout a smile along the way ... and be thankful for what you have today!
In life, there are enough times when we are disappointed, depressed and annoyed. We don’t really have to go looking for them. We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise. Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or annoying when we can look around us and see the wondrous things before us?