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 psychology.

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:

We often discuss the benefits of competitive sports for children, such as building discipline and teamwork. However, some child psychologists argue that an overemphasis on winning can lead to excessive stress, anxiety, and a fear of failure at a young age. In your opinion, do the benefits of competitive sports for young people outweigh the potential drawbacks? Why or why not?

Student response 1:

In my view, the benefits are greater because competitive sports teach crucial life lessons that are hard to learn elsewhere. For example, learning to lose gracefully and work hard to improve are skills valuable far beyond sports. Therefore, the character development that comes from competition is worth the challenges.

Student response 2:

I think the drawbacks are too significant to ignore. The intense pressure to win can be very harmful to a child's mental health. Instead of fostering a love for physical activity, it can cause burnout and anxiety. As a result, some children may quit sports altogether and avoid being active later in life.