Many educational institutions give greater importance to subjects related to science and ignore subjects such as drama and literature. Is this a positive or a negative development?

Sample Answer 1: Band 8

It is becoming increasingly common for schools across the globe to concentrate on STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to the detriment of the humanities. I believe that
it is a logically motivated decision and overall leaves a negative trend on people. In the next few
paragraphs, I will be highlighting my point of view.

One of the negative aspects of this scenario is that STEM-oriented fields get overvalued.
This enhances pressure on those who are looking forward to developing a career in a
completely different domain. Moreover, this over-emphasis on science, somehow, translates
less art in the world. It is evident that from a rigidly utilitarian perception, resources must get
allocated to a field that has the most economic value.

However, life is way more than somebody’s potential of earning a higher amount. If the
proportion of those excelling in humanities falls, the world will have fewer musicians, writers,
filmmakers, sculptors, painters, and other such artists. Science can, undoubtedly, create a
convenient life. But art helps people lead a fulfilling, satisfying life. The results of such a decline
may not be apparent for generations, but if the funding gets slashed for arts programs, the
world will turn culturally poor and will die down under the burden of technology.

While STEM subjects, undoubtedly, allow people to grab high-paying jobs, concentrating
completely on these subjects could be a great loss to society.

In conclusion, the jobs available for science majors explain their dominance but if looked at
from a universal point of view, this trend will create a world devoid of great artists. Therefore, it
is important to balance the funding.

Structure of the essay

You were given an opinion essay which means you had to pick a side. So,

• Do you agree that educational institutions give greater importance to subjects related to
science and ignore subjects such as drama and literature?

(or)

· Do you disagree with the fact that educational institutions give greater importance to
subjects related to science and ignore subjects such as drama and literature?

Once you pick a side, you can start planning your essay and then writing it.

Don’t forget to state your opinion on it.

Question Paraphrased – It is becoming increasingly common for schools across the globe to
concentrate on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to the detriment of the
humanities.

Opinion – I believe that it is a logically motivated decision and overall leaves a negative trend on
people.

A thesis statement – In the next few paragraphs, I will be highlighting my point of view.

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic: The negative effects

Supporting points:

• Jobs getting overvalued
• Puts more pressure on those with a different career path
• Less art in the world

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic: Overemphasis on science translates less art in the world

Supporting points:

• Life is more than the potential of earning high
• Art helps people lead a fulfilling life

Conclusion:

Reiterating that the jobs available for science majors explain their dominance but if looked at
from a universal point of view, this trend will create a world devoid of great artists and support
the side was taken in the introduction.

Sample Answer 2 : Band 9

It is becoming increasingly common for schools around the world to emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to the detriment of the humanities. This is a logically motivated decision and is negative overall.

The main reason for this shift is a realization of the value of jobs in scientific fields. New inventions and medicines push forward human progress and generate billions of dollars in revenue across a wide spectrum of industries. It, therefore, follows there are high-paying jobs available in private and public sectors for engineers, researchers, scientists, and mathematicians. At the very least, someone who majors in a STEM-related subject will be able to find a quality teaching position. This guarantees of a minimum level of success and the possibility of a much greater career motivate parents, institutions, and students themselves to prioritize and pursue scientific careers.

This over-emphasis on science will translate to less art in the world. It is true that from a strictly utilitarian point of view, resources ought to be allocated to fields with the most economic value. Life is, however, more than the sum of everyone’s earning potential. If the proportion of humanities majors falls, there will be fewer painters, sculptors, filmmakers, writers, and musicians. Science may create modern conveniences but the arts are more important for a fulfilling and enjoyable life. The results of this decline might not become apparent for generations, but if funding is slashed for arts programs, the world will become culturally poorer and the art that has enriched and elevated humanity will give way to a tranquil, technocratic future.

In conclusion, the jobs available to science majors explain their dominance but taken as a whole this trend will result in a world bereft of great artists. It is therefore important to balance funding to a defensible degree.

Sample Answer 3 : Band 9

Education plays a pivotal role in molding one’s life. However, numerous schools and universities give more weightage to science subjects in this contemporary epoch than recreational activities. This essay asserts that it is undoubtedly negative growth and should be given equal importance to drama and literature.

First and foremost, subjects other than science are essential for the overall development of students. For example, while studying physics, chemistry, biology helps pupils excel in academics, drama and literature bring out the hidden talents of an individual. On the other hand, if education institutions focus more on science-related topics, students might get bored and eventually lose interest. Also, recreational activities boost a person’s creativity. Moreover, it is a great tool to express thought for the welfare of society. Hence, it certainly plays a crucial role in forming pupils’ lives.

On the flip side, several educational bodies are of the thought that emphasizes solely only science. They argue that imparting this knowledge will help pupils have better job opportunities and proper career growth. However, it is not valid for every person. For instance, many children are exceptionally good at arts, and if given a chance, they might become experts in this domain. Furthermore, they would become more responsible and dutiful citizens when they grow up.

In conclusion, although science is of paramount importance because of its tangible benefits, recreational activities are unquestionably prominent factors to imbibe personality traits such as kindness, compassion, empathy, and sympathy. Nevertheless, it seems that academia should adopt a balanced approach by rendering quality weightage to science and literature alike.

Sample Answer 4 : Band 8.0

Education has always been the center of attention throughout the passing centuries. it is often believed that the STEM subject is the essence of developing a solid and modernized curriculum. Therefore, literature and arts are more likely to be neglected by most educational schools. This essay will discuss the reason for this trend and how these scientific courses have more advantages than literary texts.

The advancement of technologies has brought attention to the courses related to science. Without these subjects, it would be impossible to invent all of the cutting-edge products that have an immense influence on the life of a human. In other words, the development of medical and economical structures has saved millions of people’s lives and enhanced their lifestyle because of the heavy investment of the STEM system. Another drive for this trend, there are more job positions related to the scientific stream because it is believed that they acted as a safeguard for building a better future. Therefore, most parents and students are motivated to concentrate on having a career linked directly to these courses. For these reasons, scientific education plays a key role in instilling the beliefs of its significance.

This direction has pushed the public away from the beauty and importance of the arts. This literature has firmly shaped the identity of people; as result, it is an important component of building a stable community. In other words, without the discovery of historical tracks; humans would never be able to understand how their predecessors were working and living their lives. In addition, all type of arts has always been considered as entertainment that has helped people to enjoy their time. Being focused on scientific information would have made the life of people more boring and depressed because arts have a vital role in connecting them together intrinsically.

To sum up, Although scientific papers have gained popularity over other artistic subjects works, it has negative consequences on the way how people are connected to their past and present.

Sample Answer 5 : Band 8.0

In the present-day world, it is reckoned education is so paramount that one’s destiny is by and large determined by its success or failure. Nonetheless, the curriculum and its major contents are still a bone of contention. Despite the educational enthusiasts’ outcry and outrage, the officials at the helm have not paid heed to their passionate plea to modify the syllabus. The rationale behind their appeal is that a number of educational establishments show a chronic bias towards science at the expense of art, drama, and literature. Although it is opined that several scholars are categorically convinced science is the need of the hour, a relatively tiny minority voices their stiff opposition to the contention of this bevy of narrow-minded theoreticians. Hence, a comprehensive analytic approach can resolve a great many apprehensions related to the subject under discussion.

To the best of my knowledge, numerous famous personages who are indoctrinated with prejudices against art subjects often shy away from supporting the earnest endeavors of the educational institutions that prefer subjects such as drama and literature. As a matter of fact, the inexplicable apathy expressed by these VIPs has catastrophic repercussions in the running of such colleges and universities; in the long run, these institutions incur a hefty financial loss. The unprecedented decline in the number of students due to the dearth of collaboration of a section of teaching faculty has made the administration of these academies think twice before they cater to the art stream.

In the aftermath of the overwhelming financial loss, the solitary viable alternative that is open before the educational institutions are to focus on science and other allied subjects. For the past few decades, what has been drummed into the people at the apex of educational organizations is to shun art subjects and accept science and technology, which are the most sought-after branches. To prove their point, they further articulate that this era belongs to high-fliers, whose sole interest is to pursue their pet subjects such as science, IT et cetera. While cutting a long story short, it can be summed up that the intense passion of young adults for science stream, the discriminatory attitude of a good number of dons at the tertiary level, and the inane inertia of the officialdom in the educational department are all contributory causes for this sad state of affairs.

Notwithstanding the superficial official blessing from many eminent quarters, it is pointed out that the current trend in favor of only science is, of course, suicidal. It is high time the educationalists think from a much broader perspective. Without any iota of doubt, it is scientifically proven that the influence of literature, drama, and music is immensely cardinal to help enhance the complete growth of an individual. Over and above that, George Bernard Shaw, Shakespeare, Francis Bacon, and a multitude of other playwrights, philosophers, poets, and essayists take the view that ingenuity, humaneness, profound knowledge about life’s stark realities, and so on and so forth are all fostered with the study of art subjects. All these conclusive pieces of evidence lead one to arrive at the last word: emphasizing excessively the significance of science subjects and undermining the value of drama and literature will create chaos in the society, which is undoubtedly a negative development.

Whilst recapitulating, the following salient points are to be underscored. First and foremost, unless remedial measures are adopted by experts to do away with inhibition towards the policies and programs of educational institutions that support the art stream, the future of our younger generation will be in jeopardy. Then, instead of unilateral decisions, let there be more meaningful and transparent dialogues and discourses between the educational establishments and the student community, who are generally on the receiving end.