Write for an Academic Discussion

A professor has posted a question about a topic and students have responded with their thoughts and ideas. Make a contribution to the discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to write.

Your professor is teaching a class on social studies.

In your response, you should do the following.

• • Express and support your opinion.
• • Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Professor’s question:

Today we are discussing the relevance of history. Some argue that studying historical events and figures is essential for understanding the present and avoiding past mistakes. Others claim that the world is changing so rapidly that history has little practical value for solving today's complex problems. Do you think that studying history is essential for people today? Why or why not?

Student response 1:

I definitely think studying history is essential. It helps us understand the origins of current global conflicts and social issues, because the present is directly shaped by the past. For example, by learning from historical economic crises, governments can hopefully make better decisions to prevent future ones.

Student response 2:

I'm not so sure it's essential. While interesting, the world is changing so fast that historical solutions often don't apply to today's unique challenges, like managing digital privacy. Therefore, I believe it's more practical to focus our education on science and technology to solve current problems.