Many people these days claim that a useful education is one that prepares graduates for occupations that create wealth. However, when we evaluate the usefulness of an academic subject we should think carefully about how we define the term "useful". In this essay, I argue that many academic subjects that do not directly generate great wealth can still be very useful.
Some subjects can be useful because they create knowledge that can be applied in related fields. Linguists, for example, study the way language works. Their analysis can be used to create more effective methods of language teaching. Improved international communication can result in better trading relations, which can in turn generate wealth. Archaeologists investigate the lives of people in the past through their artifacts. Many of these will be displayed in museums, which can attract tourists who generate income for hoteliers, restaurants and so on.
Many academic subjects can also be "useful" in terms of contributing to people's quality of life. Some people pursue hobbies in fields such as geology in order to have a better understanding of the planet we live on. Others with an interest in stars and planets may become amateur astronomers. Curiosity is an important human trait, and many academic subjects allow people to satisfy this need.
In short, there is little evidence that simply educating people to be efficient workers makes them happier or richer in the broader sense. Human curiosity and the unpredictable nature of knowledge creation mean that a variety of academic disciplines should be valued. Now complete the essay in your own words.
Many
people
these days claim that a
useful
education is one that prepares graduates for occupations that create wealth.
However
, when we evaluate the usefulness of an
academic
subject
we should
think
carefully
about how we define the term
"
useful
"
. In this essay, I argue that
many
academic
subjects
that do not
directly
generate great wealth can
still
be
very
useful.
Some
subjects
can be
useful
because
they create knowledge that can
be applied
in related fields. Linguists,
for example
, study the way language works. Their analysis can be
used
to create more effective methods of language teaching.
Improved
international communication can result in better trading relations, which can in turn generate wealth. Archaeologists investigate the
lives
of
people
in the past through their artifacts.
Many
of these will
be displayed
in museums, which can attract tourists who generate income for hoteliers, restaurants and
so
on.
Many
academic
subjects
can
also
be
"
useful
"
in terms of contributing to
people
's quality of life.
Some
people
pursue hobbies in fields such as geology in order to have a better understanding of the planet we
live
on. Others with an interest in stars and planets may become amateur astronomers. Curiosity is an
important
human trait, and
many
academic
subjects
allow
people
to satisfy this need.
In short, there is
little
evidence that
simply
educating
people
to be efficient workers
makes
them happier or richer in the broader sense. Human curiosity and the unpredictable nature of knowledge creation mean that a variety of
academic
disciplines should
be valued
.
Now
complete the essay in your
own
words.
7Linking words, meeting the goal of 7 or more
7Repeated words, meeting the goal of 3 or fewer
7Mistakes