III. Consider
Is it a good idea to control the world’s population growth?
Arguments
1. The rapid rise in world population is creating problems for all countries on earth because there simply aren’t enough resources.
2. Both rich and poor countries of the world should take united action to deal with the population explosion. Otherwise, there will be more people fighting for less land and fewer resources, and the future will bring poverty, misery and war to us all.
3. Population increase in developing countries has wiped out the material benefits that they have achieved.
4. Statistics show that where the population rate is high, people’s living standards are low. This means, people’s living conditions cannot improve unless there is a reduction in the increased rate of population.
5. In modern times, a family with few children, or even with no household chores and concentrate more on their own interests, and their children enjoy better material and educational opportunities than those in bigger families.
6. With fewer children in a family, parents spend less time on household chores and concentrate more on their own interests, and their children enjoy better material and educational opportunities than those in bigger families.
7. The most pressing problem created by the rapid increase in population is a shortage of food. At present a large proportion of the existing population is not getting enough of the right kind of food (e. g. people in India, Ethiopia, etc...)
8. Overpopulation creates a shortage of schools, teachers, hospitals and doctors.
9. Overpopulation causes problems in housing and employment, especially in cities.
10. Just imagine how much better life would be if the world population were cut by half!
Counter-arguments
1. More children, more happiness. This is especially true for elderly people who all love children.
2. People in agricultural areas need more children to help them with the work in the fields.
3. Whether to have children or not is a private matter and nobody should interfere with it.
4. It is unfair to blame all the problems on the increase in population. It is those greedy manufacturers and businessmen in developed countries that make the heaviest demands on the world’s resources and cause the most pollution
5. If population control were a must, it should be carried out in developed countries as well because a baby born in the U. S. will use in his lifetime 30 times more of the world’s resources than a baby born in India.
6. Children are the most important thing in life. With fewer children around, life will be dull, meaningless and unhappy. It is incredible for a couple to have no children at all.
7. Children in a family give the parents a sense of responsibility and pride. They are very important to the stability of a family.
8. population control does greater harm than we realize. For instance, if the one child policy is still in practice in 100 years, people then will have little idea of kinship ties, for most of them will have no brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, or cousins.
9. With the government’s family planning policy in operation we now have a generation of "only child" families: most of them are arrogant, selfish, and spoilt.
10. A big family offers children a chance to learn how to cope with and care for other people.
11. Children in big families have the chance to compete with each other, in terms of their manners at home, their study at school, their performance at their place of work, etc. older children usually have a great influence on the younger.
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Questions
1. Do you think it is necessary to control population? Why (Why not)?
2. How many children would you like to have if you were free to make the decision? Why?
3. What measures do you think should be taken to control China’s population?
IV. Write
Work out an outline own viewpoints. The outline should consist of major statements and supporting evidence and examples. Do not write down every word of your speech.
V. Speak
1. Speak according to your outline, or give spontaneous speeches when you disagree with your classmates or when you want to support your own group with similar opinions.
2. Language devices: You are expected to extend to extend your ability to agree to disagree with other people’s opinions and to ask them to explain their points of view.
That’s a good point
Absolutely right
I agree entirely
That’s how I see it
I’d go along with you there
I’m not sure you’re right there
I suppose you could say that, but...
Perhaps, but don’t you think that...
Mmm, I am not really sure you’re right.
All I am trying to say is that...
VI. Sum up
1. The whole class decide on the best prepared speech and the best spontaneous speech.
2. The whole class pick out the most convincing statements from the arguments and counter-arguments.
3. The teacher gives comments on student’s ideas and language.