Independent Task List

1 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The food we ate in the past was healthier than the food we eat today.

2 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The government should support artists rather than allow them to support themselves.

3 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In the past young people depended on their parents for making decisions. Today, young people are better able to make decisions on their own.

4 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Professional athletes who receive high salaries, such as football and basketball players, deserve what they get.

5 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Teaching was a harder job in the past than it is today

6 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In order to attract good students, a university should spend a lot of money funding social activities.

7 Many high school students are doing a lot of school work already. Some people believe that students should help their parents with household chores, since it’s the best way to give them a sense of responsibility.

8 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Patience is usually not a good strategy; we should take action now rather than later.

9 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Good looks and dresses are more important for success than good ideas

10 Do you agree or disagree with the following opinion? The most important goal of education is to help people educate themselves?

11 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Workers would be much happier if they are doing different types of tasks during their workday than doing the same task.

12 Which is more important in one’s career life? The working knowledge and skills or the ability to adapt to new conditions.

13 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The most important thing that people have learned is from their families.

14 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more important for the government to spend money on new buildings than to preserve historic or traditional buildings and homes.

15 Some people argue using a cleaner energy to protect the environment, but some people say the traditional energy sources such as coal and oil is less expensive, what is your suggestion?

16 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should play sports only for fun, so they should not attend competitions.

17 Some people think that giving students time during a class to discuss ideas with each other is a good way to help students learn; others think giving students time for discussion is ineffective or a wast of time. Which idea do you agree with, and why?

18 Some students prefer to have their final grades determined by numerous small assignments, whereas others prefer to have their final grades determined by only a few large ones.

19 Some jobs can pay high salaries but require employees to leave their family and friends. Some jobs pay few salaries but allow employees staying with family and friend. Which job do you prefer? Why?

Sample

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In order to attract good students, a university should spend a lot of money funding social activities.

• Nowadays, the conviction that in order to attract good students, a university should spend a lot of money funding social activities is gaining strength. However, from my point of view, although society activities are quite important, they are under no circumstance the only aspect that should be used by universities to capture excellent students.

• At first, universities should lay more store by the academic staff and faculty members. Beyond all doubt, outstanding teachers can create good academic atmosphere. The teachers with professional knowledge are more likely to be admired by the students and stimulate their interest in learning.

• In the second place, hardware facilities are another factor that should be taken seriously because they highlight the determination of a school to improve itself and create a sound living and studying environment for students. For example, advanced multimedia classrooms can improve teaching efficiency; comfortable dwelling and dining places put students in a good mood to live; working out in a modern gymnasium help students build up their physique.

• Last but not least, vocational matters of students are too essential to be ignored by the university. It must be pointed out that the employment of students is related to the future of universities and high employment rate helps to establish the reputation for schools. Thus, by no means should universities decrease the significance of employment. Otherwise, it will lead the universitites to a dead end.

• In conclusion, faculty strength, physical infrastructure and employment issue are all indispensable to the sustainable development of universities and all of them should take priority over the society activities.