Issue essay (need lots of help)

[Trisha94]

I got one graded by Princeton Review (a measly 3), and I'm trying to improve to atleast a 5.

 

ISSUE: The best way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones

 

Teachers play a key role in the development of a person. There have been numerous schools of thought regarding the best way to teach, one of which promotes the use of positive feedback. In the course of my essay, I will seek to disprove this assumption.

 

Positive reinforcement is a tried and tested psychological tool for learning, proven in the 20th century by BK Skinner. We are pleasure-seeking beings, and our actions are often motivated by the need for praise. There is no denying that praise promotes performance. However, Skinner also found that negative reinforcement is often more powerful than its softer counterpart. Given the same action, a person is more likely to perform better if there are negative stimuli involved. While it may be argued that the aim of teaching is not to push a person to their breaking point but rather to promote holistic growth, negative feedback is just as important as positive feedback. I would use the term “constructive criticism” to describe the balance between praise and rebukes. Praise may encourage a person to continue performing, but ignoring negative actions would be detrimental. If the aim of teaching is indeed holistic growth, the shearing away of imperfections is crucial to the same. Thus negative actions must be noted and acted upon. I would, however, caution against nitpicking on every flaw as the excess of anything (both good and bad) is not desirable. I would also caution against using a blanket style of teaching on different individuals. Understanding a person’s context should be included in the approach one takes in teaching them.

In conclusion I say that the key word in the practice of teaching is balance. A person is the sum of experiences both the good and the bad- and all experience is enriching in its own way. To ignore the negatives and to focus only on the positives would not help them grow.

 

In conclusion I say that the key word in the practice of teaching is balance. A person is the sum of experiences both the good and the bad- and all experience is enriching in its own way. To ignore the negatives and to focus only on the positives would not help them grow.

[ProfLorax]

If you read through the guidebooks, they give a pretty clear picture of what kind of essay ETS wants. My first observation is your essay one has one body paragraph. You'll want to have three. You have many different supporting ideas wrapped up in your middle paragraph: separate those into their own paragraphs. Also, be sure to include a strong, direct thesis in your introduction. I wasn't sure of how you were responding to the prompt until your conclusion. It's okay to use the prompt as your thesis. "Some people believe the best way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones, but I have found that a mixture of approaches geared toward the individual student is the best strategy."

 

An outline could look like this:

 

P1: Introduction with strong, clear thesis. 

P2: Benefits of positive reinforcement 

   Ex1:

P3: Benefits of negative reinforcement

   Ex1:

P4: Why teachers should use both depending on the student

   Ex1:

Conclusion: Wrap up your essay on a strong note. 

[Trisha94]

If you read through the guidebooks, they give a pretty clear picture of what kind of essay ETS wants. My first observation is your essay one has one body paragraph. You'll want to have three. You have many different supporting ideas wrapped up in your middle paragraph: separate those into their own paragraphs. Also, be sure to include a strong, direct thesis in your introduction. I wasn't sure of how you were responding to the prompt until your conclusion. It's okay to use the prompt as your thesis. "Some people believe the best way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones, but I have found that a mixture of approaches geared toward the individual student is the best strategy."

 

An outline could look like this:

 

P1: Introduction with strong, clear thesis. 

P2: Benefits of positive reinforcement 

   Ex1:

P3: Benefits of negative reinforcement

   Ex1:

P4: Why teachers should use both depending on the student

   Ex1:

Conclusion: Wrap up your essay on a strong note. 

 

 

I've read guides but I guess I'll just have to keep practicing. Thanks for the feedback!

[VulpesZerda]

I've found that Princeton Review is an extremely tough grader on AWA compared to ETS. Although the advice above should be taken, I would recommend trying the ETS ScoreItNow for a more accurate score.