Topic
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Universities should give the same financial support to their students’ sports and social activities as they give to their classes and libraries.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Outlining
Put your brainstorming ideas into the outline format.
Writing Your Draft
Based on the outline, write your draft.
[Opening sentence] Is it important for universities to provide financial support to sports and social activities? I believe it is. [Thesis statement] In fact, I think universities should provide the same amount of funding for these activities as they do for academics.
[Topic sentence 1] For one thing, the goal of a university is to graduate well-rounded students. [Supporting details] This can only happen if students have access to well-funded athletic facilities and social activities. Students do not go to college just to study. While improving their minds is important, they can also improve themselves in ways other than academics. For example, they need to have access to excellent athletic facilities to take care of their bodies. They also need to join clubs and take part in activities like student government to pursue their interests and broaden their social experiences. Having active athletic and social lives will help students increase the overall quality of their lives.
[Topic sentence 2] Additionally, being known for its athletic teams or social activities can improve a university’s reputation. [Supporting details] This, in turn, can make the school more prestigious and therefore make it appealing to better students. For example, many American colleges with outstanding athletic teams—like Duke in basketball and the University of Southern California in football—gain positive attention from people. And student newspapers like those at Harvard and at other universities can also become well known globally. These nonacademic groups can help attract better students since the students may be interested not only in academics but also in participating in a school’s other activities. As a result, the quality of student will rise, making the college itself a better and more attractive place.
[Restatement of the thesis] It is very important for universities equally to fund academics and extracurricular activities. [Summary] By supporting sports and social activities as well as academics, the university will produce well-rounded students and also improve its reputation, thereby attracting a better quality of student. [Closing] This will, naturally, make the university a better place for students to attend.