Nguyen Minh Chau - 2272202010043

Topic 1 - Some learners believe that using Facebook can help them to improve their
English writing skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Use scholarly support to back up your points.

Background
Source: When Advanced Placement and The National Writing Project surveyed
teachers regarding social media use in the classroom, they found that 78% agree
(26% strongly agree) that digital technologies “encourage student creativity and
personal expression”.

Paragraph 1
Source: For example, highlight the effectiveness of Facebook to improve writing at the
same time that students can learn new vocabulary from reading other students’ comments.
Similarly, point out that students wrote better in English through Facebook thanks to peer
influence, due to the fact that students exchanged ideas with each other

Paragraph 2
Source: Facebook has features that are comparable to those of an educational tool, such
as the ability for users to provide and receive feedback from their peers and to engage
with each other. Students may have the chance to attain, in a more pertinent and
formalized settings, many feasible online skills, including critical evaluation of resources,
effective virtual socializing, and sorting and deciphering data by engagement in various
online learning activities such as discussing in online forums and gathering information
online.

Weak 1 – Ultimately, the impact of social media on work-life balance for freelance
writers will depend on the individual writer and how they choose to engage with social
media. While it can be a double-edged sword, it is important for writers to set boundaries,
manage their time effectively, and be mindful of how social media is impacting their
overall well-being.

Weak 2 – 46 percent of students used Facebook to informally discuss academic work

with other students on a daily or weekly basis; another 22 percent said they did on a
monthly basis. As one student reported in the urvey, “However, I do use it to keep in
contact with people in presentation groups, for example, and so do feel that that part of it
is very useful to me, especially during breaks” (p. 149).

Word cited list:

1. Alrubail, R. (2016, February 16). How to use social media to strengthen student
writing. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/how-use-social-media-
strengthen-student-writing
(Background)
2. Donnelly, R. (2005). Online problem-based learning approach in higher education.
Encyclopedia of Distance Learning, IGI Global, pp. 1402-1411
(Paragraph 2)
3. Helvie-Mason, L. (2011). Facebook,“friending,” and faculty–student
communication. Teaching Arts and Science with the New Social Media. Emerald
Group Publishing Limited.
(Paragraph 2)
4. Madge, C., Meek, J., Wellens, J., & Hooley, T. (2009). Facebook, social
integration and informal learning at university: 'It is more for socialising and
talking to friends about work than for actually doing work'. Learning, Media and
Technology, 34:2, 141-155
(Weak 2)
5. Melor, Y., & Salehi, H. (2012). The effectiveness of Facebook groups on teaching
and improving writing: Students’ perceptions. International Journal of Education
and Information Technologies, 6(1), 87-96.
http://research.iaun.ac.ir/pd/hadisalehi/pdfs/PaperM_7787.pdf
(Paragraph 1)
6. Team, A., & Team, A. (2023, July 4). The impact of social media on freelance
writing. AIContentfy. https://aicontentfy.com/en/blog/impact-of-social-media-on-
freelance-writing
(Weak 1)
7. Vikneswaran, T., & Krish, P. (2014). Utilising social networking sites to improve
writing: a case study with Chinese students in Malaysia. Technology, Pedagogy
and Education, 25(3), 287-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2015.1030441
(Paragraph 1)

Topic 2 - Some people believe that everyone has a right to have access to a university
education and that governments should make it free for all students no matter what
financial background they have. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Use scholarly support to back up your points.

Background (2)
Source: Earning a college degree allows people to access more fulfilling jobs, with better
working conditions. It also provides them with higher incomes, which both supports their
better health and allows them to afford living in safer neighborhoods; leading them to
having lower mortality rates.

Paragraph 1 (4)
Source: Tuition constitutes only part of college costs. Fees, room and board, books,
travel, and related expenses can become significant financial burdens. A 2016 report by
The Century Foundation found that 80% of costs at community colleges come from non-
tuition expenses. For low-income students, even a "free" college opportunity can be out
of reach.

Paragraph 2 (1)
Source: If too many students attend college due to the abandoning of tuition fees, chances
are that also the overall education quality will suffer. For example, if there are too many
students on campus and classes are quite crowded, chances are that teachers will not be
able to answer all of the questions properly. Moreover, also the preparation for exams and
the learning experience may suffer significantly since there might be not enough books in
the library or not enough quiet spaces to study on campus.

Weak 1 – Free education means that everyone pays higher taxes in order for the
government to provide this opportunity. Those who don't use the opportunity would be
forced to pay for something they wouldn't benefit from. (3)

Weak 2 – Some critics of the free college idea argue that it would lead to a flood of
graduates with mediocre credentials all competing for a limited number of jobs. Then,
these critics argue, committed workers would have to pursue some kind of graduate
degree to stand out from the crowd. This would cost money, as well as leading to
credential creep. (5)

Word cited list:

 1. Andreas. (2021, August 6). 31 Important Pros & Cons of Free College Education.
E&C. https://environmental-conscience.com/free-college-pros-cons/
2. Moran, J. (2019) The Benefits of Affordable/Free Education Op Ed. Student
Scholarship. 1. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/psych_students/1
3. Should College Be Free? | BestColleges.com. (n.d.). BestColleges.com.
https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/should-college-be-free/
4. The importance of saving money for college. (2022, May 14). The Classroom |
Empowering Students in Their College Journey.
https://www.theclassroom.com/the-importance-of-saving-money-for-college-
13601570.html
5. The pros and Cons of free college - SmartAsset | SmartAsset. (2022, April 12).
https://smartasset.com/student-loans/the-pros-and-cons-of-free-college

Topic 3 - In an era of globalization, some people think that studying abroad is the
best way to attain a well-paid job while others believe that domestic education can
do better. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use
scholarly support to back up your points.

Background (2)
Source: Research has shown that studying abroad can have a significant impact on your
employability. For example, a study by the Association for International Education
(AIFS) found that 80% of international students reported that studying abroad allowed
them to better adapt to diverse work environments, and 70% claimed that because of
studying abroad, they were more satisfied with their jobs.

Paragraph 1 (1)
Source: Studying abroad helps you develop your cultural awareness and understanding.
This includes learning about the values, customs, and beliefs of different cultures.
Cultural awareness is an important skill for any job that requires interaction with people
from different backgrounds.

Paragraph 2 (1)
Source: Moving to a new country comes with its set of challenges. It pushes you to
function outside your comfort zone. Making the most of this opportunity and overcoming
the challenges of this shift strengthen your ability to adapt. Adaptability helps you
respond quickly to changing responsibilities, targets, ideas, trends, strategies, etc.
Weak 1 – It has been a growing and worrying trend in Vietnam over the last few years
that fresh graduates, even those with a master’s degree, fail to land a suitable job and
have to accept working in fields that have nothing to do with the majors in which they are
professionally trained. (3)

Weak 2 – According to experts, one of the main reasons for the glut of university
graduates unable to find a suitable position is that what they are trained is of little use in
the actual job market. (3)

Word cited list:

1. Dhawan, A. (2022, October 14). Why students studying abroad have more
successful careers. The Economic Times.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/study/why-students-studying-abroad-
have-more-successful-careers/articleshow/94853486.cms
2. M, K. (2023, October 4). How studying abroad can make you More Employable.
Global Admissions. https://www.globaladmissions.com/blog/how-studying-
abroad-can-make-you-more-employable/
3. Tuoi Tre News. (2018, October 12). In Vietnam, new graduates accept unskilled
jobs to earn ‘fresh money.’ Tuoi Tre News.
https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/education/20170919/in-vietnam-new-graduates-
accept-unskilled-jobs-to-earn-fresh-money/41644.html

Topic 4 – Some people believe that we should accept unexpected situations that may
happen in our live, such an unsatisfactory job, unhappy marriage, or shortage of
money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations. To what
extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use scholarly support to back
up your points.

Background (4)
Source: Change is an important in life because it is intergral to personal growth and
development. It’s often through these periods of transtition that we discover new interest,
skills, and perspectives that shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around
us.

Paragraph 1 (5)
Source: Being taken out of our routine means opening up to the possibility of exploring
who we really are. The day-to-day often lulls us into a certain set of behaviours that are
moulded by our surroundings - whether it's acting professional at work, or falling into a
certain role at home. Change allows us to step up and outside of what we usually find
ourselves doing, and can uncover hidden strengths, talents, as well as some weaknesses to
work on - shaping the person we become in future.

Paragraph 2 (3)
Source: Make a strategic plan to benefit you in the long run. Although the ‘unexpected’
situation might seem daunting to tackle, by making well balanced decisions, you are
finding a way (step by step) to come out the other side.

Weak 1 – Things don’t always go according to plan, expect the unexpected. It’s not a
matter of “if” the unexpected will happen, it’s a matter of “when” it will happen.
Accepting the unexpected is about learning to be fluid with life’s rhythms, and not be so
static with our plans. (2)

Weak 2 – We all have things in our lives we’d like to improve—finances, job, partner,
house, etc. All of us know that nothing will improve by itself. We need to do things
differently to make that happen. Without change, there’d be no improvements. Each
change is a turning page. It is about closing one chapter and opening another one.
Changes bring new beginnings and excitement to life. (1)

Word cited list:

1. Alexander, A. (2015, December 31). 10 Powerful benefits of Change & Why We

should embrace it. Tiny Buddha. https://tinybuddha.com/blog/10-powerful-
benefits-of-change-why-embrace-it/
2. Avola, J. (2022, January 21). 3 ways to accept the unexpected.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/3-ways-accept-unexpected-john-avola
3. Life, M. S. F. (n.d.). How to plan and respond to the unexpected. M&G Skills for
Life. https://www.mandg-skillsforlife.com/working-others/how-plan-and-respond-
unexpected?tab=find-a-strategic-way-to-move-forward
4. Rebecca. (2023, October 17). 15 Inspirational Reasons Why Change is Good.
Minimalism Made Simple.
https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/change-is-good/
5. Sanctuary, S. (2022, March 27). The positives of unexpected change. Sunday
Sanctuary. https://www.sundaysanctuary.co/post/the-positives-of-unexpected-
change