ANSWERS TO THE SUMMARY EXERCISE

A. i. cumbersome academic activities militate against extra

curricular activities in schools.
ii. Negative orientation about extra-curricular activities in schools
militates against.
B. i. Extra-curricular activities make up an integral part of education.
ii. Students could pick up careers in extra-curricular activities.
iii. The knowledge garnered from extra-curricular activities is very
useful/helpful in life.
iv. Extra-curricular activities helps in widening/broadening the
horizon of a child/student.

LESSON 2
ESSAY: ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Objectives: At the end of the lesson, students will:
 define argumentative essay
 state the elements of an argumentative essay
 write a well-composed argumentative essay

CONTENT
Writing – Argumentative Essay/DEBATE
An argumentative essay is one that requires you to present a subject with a view
to persuading your reader to agree with your own point of view against another
one.

Features
Heading (not compulsory): preferably written in capitals
Introduction: A paragraph which contains a statement of purpose.
Body/Content: At least three well developed paragraphs, each with a topic
sentence.
Conclusion: (A paragraph) Recommendations.
A MODEL ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY 1
QUESTION
You are the main speaker in a debate on the topic: Students in rural schools have
more advantages than those in the urban centres. Write your arguments for or
against the motion.

ANSWER
Good day Mr. Chairman, Panel of Impartial Judges, accurate Time Keeper
and my co-debaters. My name is Ajoku Wisdom; I am here to oppose the motion
which states that "Schooling in rural areas is better than schooling in urban
areas". Before I proceed, I would like to define the terms urban and rural areas. In
the simplest term, a rural area is a village or the most undeveloped part of a
country, while an urban area is a city or the most developed part of a country.
First and foremost, in the world today, nearly everyone regards the schools
in the urban areas as being of higher quality than those of the rural. If we could
remember vividly, during the times of our great grandfathers, they used to
struggle really hard to send their children to the city to acquire education, isn't it
because of the quality of education being offered? Much of the success achieved
by the urban areas over the rural areas is fueled by the fact that as people
develop in the city, education also develops with them. But in rural areas, the
reverse is quite the case. They have become myopic with their diabolic traditions
that even in this 21st century they still cling to such ridiculous beliefs. For
instance, in the rural it is popularly believed that the role of every girl is in the
kitchen and not school. They belief that a girl shouldn't attain some level of
formal education but such opportunity is open to the boys and that is gender
discrimination. In the city, this is the exact opposite. The schools in the city have
created an avenue for both sexes to attain equal level of education and contribute
to the society. This has sky rocketed development of the urban areas to a point
that the rural areas can only dream of getting to.
Another significant reason is that technology wise or based on social
amenities, rural schools are very below. They’ve been outpaced by the urban
schools. Nearly all rural schools cannot boast of constant power, good classrooms,
comfortable chairs, clean pipe borne water and a conducive environment for
learning. If a school is suffering from epileptic power supplies, dilapidated
structures that they call classrooms, how can a child then succeed in such an
inimical environment? l can proudly say that over 90% of students in the urban
areas particularly Lagos state has all it takes to groom a child. My school lju Senior
Grammar School is a typical example. Just recently, my school acquired a solar
panel in order to augment the power supply from PHCN. This is surely an
evidence; the thinking faculty of urban school is way above that of rural schools.
Thirdly, for any school (precisely rural and urban schools) to be regarded as
being better, we need to clock the most fundamental foundation which is
qualified teachers. A school without qualified teachers is nowhere worthy to be
called a school. In the world today, for a teacher to be regarded as being
qualified, he or she must possess at least a
master's degree. Urban schools have achieved this feat successfully while rural
schools still divide themselves with the notion that any teacher with an OND or
HND is qualified or worthy to be called a teacher. Such is unfounded and
ridiculous. There is a popular belief amongst everyone today and that is "you give
out what you have and not what you don't have". This clearly explains the gap in
knowledge between both. A teacher holding a master's degree or PHD will give
out a more advanced form of knowledge, while an OND or HND holder cannot
give anything other than the basics (i.e. Basic knowledge).
However, I would not feign ignorance to the fact that urban schools have
their short comings or flaws but that shouldn't be seen as a basis to conclude that
schools in rural areas are better. Though education in the urban areas may be
expensive to some point, if you feel that way why don't you give into ignorance
and judge for yourself. Even this so called expensive nature of education has
caused its value to rise and considering how erroneously cheap education is in the
rural area it has caused a huge depreciation in its value. Cost of education in
urban areas should not be considered an excuse, cause some states precisely
Lagos state, Imo state have declared education (in public schools) free for
everyone. Isn't that wonderful?
Lastly, in an urban area's educational system there is the combination of
both private (non-free) and public (free education) schools. It is just like a mixed
economy which is the fastest growing type of economy in the world. This gives
those people in the urban area a choice. Therefore, I reasonably conclude that
urban areas operate a mixed educational system. On the other hand, rural areas
centers on single educational system. I'm not sure they've heard the phrase
'private school' before. Rural schools try to restrain the students within the
confines of the failed epileptic systems which is bound not to grow. I can also
describe the rural schools as a higher institution for people who want to become
farmers, etc.
I hope that with these few points of mine, I have been able to convince and
not to confuse you beyond all reasonable doubts that schools in urban centers are
better than that of rural areas.

A MODEL ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY II

Question
You are the chief speaker of your school in an inter-schools debate on the topic: “
Free Education at all Levels is Advantageous to Nigeria.”

Free Education at all Levels is Advantageous to Nigeria.

The Moderator, Panel of Judges, Co-debaters, the Audience, good afternoon to

you all. My name is Ayomide Williams Shobowale from Alpha Choice Innovative
Academy, Arepo. I wish to support the motion that ‘Free Education at all Levels is
Advantageous to Nigeria’.

Education is a process of teaching, training and learning especially in

schools and colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills. Free education
thus means education in which no payment is made by the recipients of
education. I believe very strongly that free education is very advantageous to
Nigerians and it is very possible. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced free
education in the then Western Region of Nigeria and we are living witnesses to
the quality of the products of the education. Our nation, Nigeria, is richly blessed
to give free education to all, it is only needful for our leaders to appreciate the
great importance of education for all and pump a lot of money into it.

According to my opponent, ‘if everyone is educated, there may be no jobs

for them to do’. I wish to emphasise that education includes both formal training
and skill acquisition. Countries like China, Japan Germany have gone very far
because years ago, they had the insight to educate all their citizens. Today, they
are in the business of producing so many things ranging from candle to cars. Some
Nigerians, i am certain, talented in technology and business. If they are
encouraged by the government through free education to, Nigeria will grow
industrially.
 Free education at all levels is also advantageous in Nigeria because of the
teeming pupils and students from poor homes who are presently being denied
education. Statistics shows that poverty is still prevalent in many villages and
towns in Nigeria. The children there too need education because it liberates and
makes one to know ‘the good’ from the ‘bad’.

Greater opportunity of education will also make many more people health-
conscious. For example, in the sense of keeping their environment clean, and
taking other precautions that will make them stay healthy. Infant mortality will be
reduced, and preventable killer diseases will also be kept in check.

Free education will also enable all the beneficiaries, when they become
adults, to contribute positively and meaningfully to the political growth of the
nation. At present, many politicians in the country are uneducated and are putting
the clock backwards.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have considered how educated men and women
in all fields have been moving the country forward. If many more people are given
opportunities to be educated through free education, you will agree with me that
many more hands would then be available socially and politically. I have no doubt
that having listened carefully to my points, you will agree with me that ‘Free
Education at all Levels is Advantageous to Nigeria.’ Thank you.

ASSIGNMENT
You are the chief speaker of your group in a debate on the topic: “Girl-child
Education is not a Waste’. Write your argument for or against the motion.