gre writing issue sample writing 29
- The best way to teach—whether as an educator, employer, or parent—is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.
Many would say that we can learn much more from positive feedbacks than from negative ones. In some sense, it is true that harsh criticisms tend to discourage one’s healthy growth and that the best way to teach is to tolerate negative actions and praise positive ones. However, I still believe that it is ultimately disagreements and negative feedbacks that ensure us to grow as a truly meaningful human being.
Of course, few would disagree that people make huge progress when they are stimulated by positive reactions and rewards for their venturous efforts. When it comes to formation of healthy confidence and the sense of responsibility, praises seem to outstrip any type of negative responses even when they are prudently made. Students receiving harsh and hostile responses from their teacher usually lose their pride and confidence while those who receive praises tend to be motivated to study harder in order to gain another round of praises. In business, it is well known that workers who receive little praise for their conscientious efforts but great criticisms for their small faults tend to become diffident and self-defensive in venturing new, original ideas; if employers berate the inevitable cost of adventurous projects, creativity of employees may be replaced with their conservatism in drawing new ideas. ------------------
The speaker asserts that positive feedbacks are more effective means than criticism in guiding people (whether students, workers, or children). In fact, there are numerous situations in which praise works as more efficacious incentive than negative reactions to development of a person. Only by emphasizing the benefit of praise, however, the speaker is underestimating the problem of praise-first policy as well as the importance of negative feedback.
Of course, it is undeniable that people tend to be motivated in more desirable directions by supportive evaluations from others. In most workplaces, managers who are good at finding positive contributions from their staff members are generally more effective than those who rely on strict and harsh criticism in instilling the senses of responsibility and healthy pride. In classroom, good teachers are usually those who encourage students to open their minds and overcome diverse challenges by being with them through positive responses; on the contrary, negative feedbacks from teachers may make students count on the method of negative self-defense. This says that praise sometimes do more than criticism in guiding people to the desirable way. -----------
Can we say that good guidance is synonymous to praise? In some sense, it is true that personal development-whether as a student, employee, or son (or daughter) mainly comes from positive feedbacks rather than harsh fault-findings. However, I still believe that it is criticism that helps one to grow with balanced vision as well as creativity.
Of course, few would disagree that praises sometimes play a huge role in making one’s life more mature and enriched. In education, it is usually positive reactions from teachers that help student to have open-mindedness and healthy pride. It is well known in much research in education that, while many students who are frequently exposed to criticisms tend to show an attitude of “self-defense” or resignation, students encouraged by positive feedbacks work with greater confidence and candor in dealing with diverse subject matters. This simple research result effectively demonstrates that praise is one of the most effective means of stimulating a person’s growth.