Content Package

DOES WORKing HARD

really PAY OFF?
Read to prepare. Prepare for fun!
A FEW WORDS
about our topic today
"Have you ever heard your parents say, 'Work hard, and you'll achieve
anything you want'? It sounds pretty straightforward, right? But let's
think about this: When you play a game, everyone starts with the same
chance of winning. However, what if some players start closer to the
finish line, or get extra turns? Is it still just about working hard? This is
where the big idea of 'Meritocracy' comes in. It's a fancy word that
means people succeed because they work hard and are talented. But
is it really that simple in real life? Does every hard worker win the race?
Today, we'll dive into this puzzle and discover if hard work always
leads to success, or if sometimes, there are other rules in the game of
life. Get ready to challenge what you know about hard work and
success!"
 CONTENT

Key Meritocracy thinking

vocabulary questions
Key terms you
The idea behind
should know to Prepare yourself
working hard
debate for the debate
narrative
meritocracy
1. KEY VOCABULARY
Words do two major things: They provide
food for the mind and create light for
understanding and awareness.

Jim Rohn
 Merit
Definition: The quality of being particularly
good or worthy, especially to deserve
praise or reward.
KEY Explanation: If you're very good at
VOCABULARY something or you do something really well,
that's your merit. It's like getting an 'A' on a
test because you studied hard and knew
the answers.
 Meritocracy
Definition: A system where people are
rewarded and advanced based on their
individual talents, efforts, and
KEY achievements.

VOCABULARY Explanation: It's like in a game where the

players who score the most points get the
best rewards. In a meritocracy, people who
work hard and do well in real life get the
best jobs or awards.
 Equality of Opportunity
Definition: The idea that all individuals
should have the same chances to advance
and that unfair advantages should be
KEY eliminated.

VOCABULARY Explanation: This means making sure

everyone has a fair start in a race.
Everyone should have a fair chance to
succeed, no matter who they are or where
they're from.
 Equality of Outcome
Definition: The concept that society should
ensure that individuals have relatively
equal social and economic outcomes.
KEY Explanation: This is like wanting everyone
VOCABULARY to finish the race at the same time. It's
about making sure that everyone gets
similar rewards and things in life, no matter
how they ran the race.
 Social Mobility
Definition: The movement of individuals or groups
in social position over time, which in a
meritocracy is often determined by educational
KEY and occupational achievement.

VOCABULARY Explanation: Think of it as a game of snakes and

ladders. Moving up ladders in life to better things
because of your own effort is like social mobility.
It's like getting a better job when you're an adult
because you worked hard and learned a lot.
 Credentialism
Definition: The overemphasis on certificates,
degrees, and other formal qualifications as
determining factors for social status and job
KEY opportunities.

VOCABULARY Explanation: This is when people think that the

diplomas or certificates you get after finishing
school are the most important thing. It's like
saying you can only win a game if you have a
special ticket, not just because you're good at it.
 Glass Ceiling
Definition: An unofficially acknowledged barrier
to advancement in a profession, especially
affecting women and members of minorities.
KEY Explanation: Imagine if some players in a game
VOCABULARY could climb only to a certain level and no higher,
even though they can see others going up
further. That's the glass ceiling – it stops some
people from moving up to the top levels at work,
no matter how hard they try.
 Nepotism
Definition: The practice among those with power
or influence of favoring relatives or friends,
especially by giving them jobs.
KEY Explanation: It's like if the coach of a team always
VOCABULARY chooses their own child to play, even if there are
other kids who play better. Nepotism is when
people in charge give jobs or special favors to
their family or friends instead of to people who
earned it because they are skilled or worked hard.
Meritopia
Optional exercise: Use the key
vocabulary to fill in the blanks

Once upon a time in the colorful land of ____________, where every path and opportunity gleamed
with the promise of ____________, there lived a bright young girl named Ellie. Ellie believed in the
fairness of her land, where ____________—her hard work and talent—would always be rewarded,
and where everyone was said to have ____________.

In school, Ellie was an excellent student, and she worked tirelessly, earning praise and admiration from
her teachers. She dreamt of climbing the ____________ ladder, just like the heroes in her favorite
books, reaching new heights in the world beyond her small village.

As Ellie grew, she noticed that sometimes, people with the right ____________—fancy diplomas
from the grand institutions—were given priority over those who might actually be more skilled. This
overemphasis on ____________ confused Ellie, as she believed in the power of actual ability and
effort.

One day, Ellie decided to participate in the Grand Competition, where young minds from all over
____________ were invited to showcase their talents, with the promise of earning a prestigious
scholarship. But as the competition proceeded, Ellie observed something disheartening. There was an
invisible ____________ that seemed to hover over participants like her—those who came from
simple backgrounds, without connections or influence.
Meritopia
Optional exercise: Use the key
vocabulary to fill in the blanks
Even more troubling, she witnessed ____________ firsthand when the judges, who were influential
figures in ____________, seemed to favor their own relatives and acquaintances, giving them the
best scores despite their mediocre performances.

Despite these barriers, Ellie persevered, her ____________ shining through. She presented a brilliant
invention that could help farmers in ____________ yield better crops. The audience was in awe, and
even the judges couldn't deny her talent.

In the end, Ellie's ____________ was so undeniable that it broke through the ____________,
shattering it into a million sparkling pieces. The judges, moved by her brilliance and realizing the error
of their ways, awarded her the scholarship.

Ellie's victory was a turning point for ____________. It sparked a great debate and led to reforms
that aimed to ensure true ____________ and to dismantle the subtle barriers that had held back
many.

Ellie went on to become a great inventor, and her story was a lesson to all of ____________. Her
journey taught the citizens that a true ____________ must constantly strive to live up to its name,
and that the greatest ____________ lies not in credentials, but in the strength of one's character
and the brilliance of one's work. And so, ____________ became a land where glass ceilings became
skylights, illuminating every child's path with the light of possibility.
 2. MERITOCRACY
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live
in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of
their skin, but by the content of their character.

Martin Luther King

Before wathcing
Below are some keywords to
help you understand the video
Feudalism (chế độ phong kiến): A historical system where lords owned the land and
peasants worked for them.
Advancement: Progress or promotion in terms of job or social status.
Inept: Lacking skill or ability.
Stigma: A mark of disgrace or shame associated with a particular circumstance,
quality, or person.
Theoretical: Based on theory or ideas, rather than practical application.
Dismissal: The act of rejecting an idea or claim as not important or relevant
Randomness: The quality of making or happening by chance, without a definite plan
or pattern.
Compassion: Sympathy and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
 Let’s watch a video

MERITOCRACY
Click here to watch the
video
 Understanding Meritocracy
What do you think "meritocracy" means based on the video? How is it different
from the old system where people were judged by their family background and
not their abilities?

Fairness in Society
3. thinking In a meritocratic society, people are supposed to succeed based on their skills
and hard work. Do you think this is a fair way to decide who gets good jobs or
rewards? Why or why not?

questions Role of Luck

The video talks about luck and how it affects our lives. Do you think luck plays a
big role in someone's success? Can you think of any examples from real life or
stories where luck made a big difference?

Success and Failure

How do you think society views people who are very successful versus those who
fail? Is it always fair to think that if someone is not successful, it's only because
they didn't try hard enough?
 4. ANSWER KEYS
Homework is not about right or wrong. You can always
get the answer keys to have all “right” answers. But doing
the homework by yourself is the only way to improve

Marvin Long Do
Meritopia
Optional exercise: Use the key
vocabulary to fill in the blanks

Once upon a time in the colorful land of Meritopia, where every path and opportunity gleamed with the
promise of meritocracy, there lived a bright young girl named Ellie. Ellie believed in the fairness of her land,
where merit—her hard work and talent—would always be rewarded, and where everyone was said to have
equality of opportunity.

In school, Ellie was an excellent student, and she worked tirelessly, earning praise and admiration from her
teachers. She dreamt of climbing the social mobility ladder, just like the heroes in her favorite books,
reaching new heights in the world beyond her small village.

As Ellie grew, she noticed that sometimes, people with the right credentials—fancy diplomas from the grand
institutions—were given priority over those who might actually be more skilled. This overemphasis on
credentialism confused Ellie, as she believed in the power of actual ability and effort.

One day, Ellie decided to participate in the Grand Competition, where young minds from all over Meritopia
were invited to showcase their talents, with the promise of earning a prestigious scholarship. But as the
competition proceeded, Ellie observed something disheartening. There was an invisible glass ceiling that
seemed to hover over participants like her—those who came from simple backgrounds, without connections
or influence.
Meritopia
Optional exercise: Use the key
vocabulary to fill in the blanks
Even more troubling, she witnessed nepotism firsthand when the judges, who were influential figures in
Meritopia, seemed to favor their own relatives and acquaintances, giving them the best scores despite their
mediocre performances.

Despite these barriers, Ellie persevered, her merit shining through. She presented a brilliant invention that
could help farmers in Meritopia yield better crops. The audience was in awe, and even the judges couldn't
deny her talent.

In the end, Ellie's merit was so undeniable that it broke through the glass ceiling, shattering it into a million
sparkling pieces. The judges, moved by her brilliance and realizing the error of their ways, awarded her the
scholarship.

Ellie's victory was a turning point for Meritopia. It sparked a great debate and led to reforms that aimed to
ensure true equality of opportunity and to dismantle the subtle barriers that had held back many.

Ellie went on to become a great inventor, and her story was a lesson to all of Meritopia. Her journey taught the
citizens that a true meritocracy must constantly strive to live up to its name, and that the greatest merit lies
not in credentials, but in the strength of one's character and the brilliance of one's work. And so, Meritopia
became a land where glass ceilings became skylights, illuminating every child's path with the light of
possibility.
THINKING QUESTIONS
Suggested answers

1. Understanding Meritocracy: Meritocracy means a system where people get opportunities and
succeed based on their talents and hard work, rather than their family background or wealth. It's
different from the old system because, in the past, someone born into a rich or powerful family
might get better jobs or opportunities even if they weren't very skilled or hardworking. In a
meritocracy, everyone, regardless of their family, has a chance to do well if they work hard and are
talented.
2. Fairness in Society: I think a meritocratic society seems fair in theory because it gives everyone,
no matter where they come from, a chance to succeed based on their efforts and abilities.
However, it might not be completely fair because some people might have more resources, like
better schools or more support at home, which can give them an advantage over others.
3. Role of Luck: I believe luck can sometimes play a big role in success. For example, someone
might just happen to meet the right person who gives them a great opportunity, or they might be in
the right place at the right time. Like in sports, a lucky goal or a sudden change in weather can
change the outcome of a game. So, luck, along with hard work, can affect someone's success.
4. Success and Failure: Society often praises people who are successful and sees them as
hardworking or smart. On the other hand, people who fail are sometimes unfairly judged as not
trying hard enough or not being capable. But this isn't always fair because sometimes people work
really hard and still don't succeed due to factors beyond their control, like economic conditions or
unexpected life events.
 5. MOTION
This House regrets the dominant
narrative that hard work pays off.
Marvin Long Do
Looking for some hints?

MOTION SUGGESTIONS
This is a normative motion, focusing on a societal belief or value
rather than a specific policy or action. The debate is centered
around the idea or narrative that hard work leads to success, and
whether this narrative is beneficial or harmful to society. It's not
about the factual truth of the statement but the impact of
believing and promoting this idea.
OPTIONAL
reading
.1. Hard Work Pays Off: The Lie
We Need to Stop Believing
2. The Great Myth of Hard Work
3. Hard Work Pays Off - True or
False?