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 campus life.

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:

Let's talk about university policies. A common point of debate is mandatory attendance. Some professors believe that requiring students to attend every lecture is essential for success, as it promotes engagement and ensures they don't miss crucial information. Others argue that university students are adults who should manage their own learning and that mandatory attendance doesn't respect their autonomy. What is your view? Should class attendance be mandatory? Why?

Student response 1:

I support mandatory attendance because it creates a more dynamic learning environment. When more students are present, class discussions are richer and more interactive. Moreover, it holds students accountable and helps them stay on track with the course material, which is especially helpful for difficult subjects.

Student response 2:

I disagree with mandatory attendance because university students should be responsible for their own learning. Some students learn better by reading the textbook independently. Therefore, forcing them to come to class can be counterproductive and doesn't respect that different people have different learning styles.