Debate 1

Unit
1 Should internet access be banned on
school campuses?
 Wow English

Should internet access be banned

on school campuses?

The internet has changed the everyday lives of people from all
around the world especially during the 21st century; from using online
dictionaries, to ordering food for delivery, the internet has allowed people
to be able to do anything conveniently with a simple touch of a button.
With that being said, the subject of whether internet access should be
banned on campuses has been around for decades.
Those who agree with banning internet access on campuses state that
students who were born within the last decade find it extremely easy to
get distracted during class because of the internet. Many get caught-up
in the usage of social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The internet has made human interaction and communication too easy
in that students can simply use a computer or even their cell-phones
to ‘connect’ with their friends. In addition to using internet access for
social media, other students may get caught up in using streaming
services such as YouTube, Afreeca, and Twitch. Not only do streaming
services provide live streams of people playing games, but other special
contents such as MukBang (people who stream themselves eating food),
TalkBang (people who stream to connect with their viewers), and other
creative contents have taken over these streaming portals. With internet
access at school, students can freely navigate between one application to
another, and eventually, they will find it even harder to focus during class
time.
Those who disagree with banning internet access on campuses argue
that not every student takes internet access for granted; many students
only use the internet for educational purposes. Back in the early 2000s,
online dictionaries, maps, encyclopedias as well as other reference guides
were not readily available online. Thus, it was very time consuming to
find information through books. However, with technological and internet
advancements, it is much easier to research and get information about
anything simply by typing the desired subject in the search bar. Those
who do not take internet access for granted will do better in school
because the internet can save a lot of time and energy for them.
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Questions
1. Do you access the Internet with your computer?

2. What are the advantages of accessing the Internet in school?

3. What are the disadvantages of accessing the Internet in school?

Unit
2 Should schools make uniforms
compulsory for everyone?
 Wow English

Should schools make uniforms compulsory for everyone?

When one hears the word uniform, the first things that comes to mind
is probably the army; everyone wears the same camouflaged green and
brown uniform with bulletproof helmets. One of the main reasons of
having a uniform is to show a sense of unity. Having said that, should
schools adopt uniforms to create this sense of “unity”?
Schools that are in favor of adopting uniform requirements believe
uniforms bring much more than merely a sense of unity. Making every
student wear a uniform on a daily basis makes the school image look
more professional. For example, if a school is scheduled to appear on
national television, it would look much better if everyone wore the same
uniform instead of having a free dress code. In addition, parents and
students would not have to worry about buying clothes. Social media
always advertises new, stylish clothes; those who wear the expensive,
cool-looking clothes will be the popular kids in class. Thus, getting rid
of a free dress code will make it easier for students to not worry about
popularity based on clothing.
However, adopting a uniform system comes with negative effects as
well. Students will think their freedom is taken away at school because
many students believe they should be free to express themselves in
any way they please. Often, clothing and fashion are popular ways that
students express themselves. In addition, maintaining uniforms five days
a week will be extremely difficult. Even if students were given two pairs of
uniforms, parents will find it annoying to wash the uniform at least two or
three times a week.
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Questions

1. When you hear the word uniform, how does it make you feel?

2. What are some advantages of adopting the uniform system?

3. Do you think parents will be in favor of the uniform system?

Why or why not?
Unit
3 Is it okay to eat animals?
 Wow English

Is it okay to eat animals?

The subject of whether eating animals is cruel or not has been a

controversial topic for centuries. Pigs, cows, chicken, and fish are sources
of meat that anyone can easily find at the grocery store. Some wild
animals as well as “household pet” meats are not available anywhere.
Why is it that people think eating pork, beef, chicken, and fish is okay
while eating other animals is “cruel”?
Meat, whether it be pork, beef, chicken, or fish, is one of the best
sources of protein in the world; thus, meat tends to be the first go-
to menu ingredient when people go to the grocery store. In addition,
many people refuse to eat meals without having some sort of meat on
the table; this is mainly because some people claim that having just
vegetables and fruits is “too boring”, and they also claim that vegetables
do not taste like anything.
Those who are highly against eating meat, such as vegans and
vegetarians, believe people who decide to eat pork, beef, chicken, and
fish are also the same people who have pets at home; some of the most
popular pets at home are dogs, cats, and birds. Vegans and vegetarians
often state that these pet owners who eat meat are contradicting
themselves in that their pets are “family” while pigs, cows, chicken, and
fish are not.
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Questions

1. What source of meat can you easily find at the grocery store?

2. Why do meat eaters refuse to eat meals without some sort of meat?

3. Why do vegans and vegetarians say pet owners are contradicting

themselves?
Unit
4 Should kids only get pocket money
if they complete their chores?
 Wow English

Should kids only get pocket money if they complete their

chores?

Pocket money, also known as an allowance, is often given to children

when they finish certain chores. Some examples of chores include
washing the dishes, vacuuming the house, and walking the dog. However,
people often wonder if children should only be given pocket money if and
only if they complete chores around the house.
Those who agree with giving children pocket money under the condition
that they complete house chores argue that it is important to teach
children the concept of money at a young age. In another words, it is
crucial children acknowledge the importance of money so that they do
not wander around spending money carelessly. Children will also learn
how hard it is for their parents to earn money. In addition, by teaching
children the concept of money at a young age, parents can teach children
how not to be spoiled and that everything comes with a price to pay.
There are others, on the other hand, that strongly disagree with giving
children pocket money only if they complete house chores. There are
parents who believe they do not want their children to be stressed-out
at a young age solely because they cannot afford something they want.
Simply put, some parents believe we live in a “new generation” where
their children do not have to go through what they had to go through
when they were young. In addition, parents also do not want their
children to be left out of social circles because of money issues. Thus,
they believe it is essential for their children to have at least some money
wherever they go.
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Questions

1. Do you get pocket money only if you do house chores?

2. When you have children in the future, which side will you take?

3. Do you think it’s “old fashioned” to only give pocket money if you finish
chores?
Unit
5 Should we allow kids to play video
games?
 Wow English

Should we allow kids to play video games?

Video games such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and Valorant have

been very popular for decades. They have become so popular that major
sports channels like ESPN started streaming live online game matches.
People back in the day used to think video games are only for children;
however, this is not true in that there is no “age limit” for video games.
Although video games are played by every age group, many children’s
parents are strongly against their children playing video games. Are video
games harmful to children?
Many parents believe video games are harmful to children for various
reasons. One of the main reasons is that parents fear their children will
get distracted from school. Because video games require players to go
inside a virtual world, many parents believe their children will get stuck in
this virtual reality world. Parents believe staying focused on school from
an early age is crucial for children to be successful in the future, so they
want to do whatever it takes to prevent children from getting distracted.
However, many people believe children should be allowed to play video
games. Parents often overreact and take away freedom from children.
Although video games have the potential to become distractions for
children, they can become a healthy activity if controlled properly. If
there is a fixed schedule allowing children to only play video games at
a designated time, parents will not have to worry about children getting
addicted.
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Questions

1. Do you like playing video games?

2. Do your parents allow you to play video games?

3. When you have kids in the future, do you think you will allow them to
play video games?
Unit
6 Healthy food or tasty food: Which is
best for kids?
 Wow English

Healthy food or tasty food: Which is best for kids?

Korea has been known for its exceptional culinary skills. Many reality TV
shows in Korea are often about food. Jongwon Paek is one of the most
famous chefs and entrepreneurs in Korea. He along with other Korean
stars have multiple shows that are aired throughout the country which
spread Korean food recipes. Is the delicious food that is advertised
through TV shows healthy? Should children ONLY eat healthy food or
should they eat tasty food?
About a decade ago, healthy food was not always popular among the
younger generation. This was mostly because parents did not know how
to properly prepare healthy food using tasty and nutritious ingredients.
For example, vegetables such as carrots and spinach were widely used
in cooking even though they are two of the main vegetables that are
widely hated among children. Even when parents acknowledged that
their children hated eating these two horrendous tasting vegetables, they
still forced them to eat them because carrots and spinach contain many
different types of vitamins. Many people had to eat these vegetables
raw or after they were only simply boiled in water slightly and without
seasonings.
However, the statement “healthy food cannot be tasty” is a wide
misconception. In recent years, many chefs throughout the world
researched for years to figure out how to make “tasty” food using
healthy ingredients. Children no longer had to force vegetables into
their stomach. Because of various, creative ways of cooking, the once
“horrendous” carrots and spinach transformed into an amazing, tasty
cuisine.
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Questions

1. Are you in favor of just eating healthy food?

2. What are some “healthy” food that you hate eating? Why?

3. Do you think you can transform the healthy food you hate into an
amazing, tasty cuisine?
Unit
7 Is having pets at home harmful or
helpful to kids?
 Wow English

Is having pets at home harmful or helpful to kids?

Dogs, cats, rabbits, bird, lizards, and other animals are some examples
of popular pets at home. While many people believe having pets at home
is essential, there are also many people who are against having pets at
home.
Those who are in favor of having pets at home believe pets are an
essential part of any child’s growth process. Even at a young age, children
can develop a sense of responsibility when given the opportunity to feed,
bathe, and walk a pet. In addition, having pets at home allows children
to develop a more outgoing personality; dogs for example, require a
tremendous amount of attention, so children who raise them will not
want to be alone. Thus, children can learn how to socialize and fit into
groups more easily.
However, those who are against having pets at home believe pets
are an unnecessary and bothersome addition to a normal family. For
example, dogs have always been famous for shedding hair which means
vacuuming once or twice a day is inevitable. Not only is a pet’s fur very
annoying to clean, many people also believe fur causes children to
develop allergies, and these could be avoided by simply not raising pets.
 Wow English

Questions

1. What are some of the popular pets at home?

2. What are some benefits of having pets at home?

3. What are some reasons people are against having pets at home?
Unit
8 Is plastic surgery a good thing?
 Wow English

Is plastic surgery a good thing?

The pros and cons of plastic surgery are as varied as the people
who choose, or do not choose, to undergo a procedure. According to
the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the aim of plastic surgery
is focused on repairing defects and giving normal function back to
patients who have lost certain functions. These would include breast
reconstruction for women who have had breast cancer, burn repair
surgery for those who have had significant tissue damage, hand surgeries
and lower extremity reconstructions to repair the hand, wrist, foot, and
ankle, and repairs to the face and mouth due to birth defects. Generally,
plastic or cosmetic surgery involves enhancing, changing or restoring the
appearance of a body part.
The greatest benefit of plastic surgery is self-esteem. Plastic surgery
strives to help people either return to or embrace a normal life. It allows
people who either cannot or will not go out in public to walk among
people less self-consciously than they otherwise might. The patient then
feels much more confident in and better about themselves than they
might without the surgery.
 Wow English

One concern with plastic surgery has to do with the expense of the
surgery and follow-up treatment. According to WebMD, a simple
rhinoplasty, or nasal surgery to correct a breathing problem of facial
deformity, can cost up to $5000, which is far above what many people can
pay. However, many health insurers will cover either all or part of the cost
if it can be proven that the surgery is necessary to improve the patient’s
life. The greatest concern for the patient is the side effects of surgery,
such as nerve damage to the surgical sight, organ damage, allergies
to the anesthesia, unsightly scars, and unhappiness with the results.
There is also the possibility that someone who doesn’t like the result
will continue to have multiple surgeries chasing perfection that can’t be
found under the knife.

Questions

1. Do you spend too much time and money on beauty?

2. How important is beauty in your daily life?

3. Does cosmetic surgery really make people feel better about

themselves?