Sample Argumentative EssaySkills vs. Knowledge in EducationJonan Donaldson
Introduction
Main Idea One: The Other Side – Learning Information is
needed for tests
a)
Tests are the best way to compare students
b) Tests measure if you understand something
c) Not all students can have the same skills,
but all can have the same knowledge
Main Idea Two: My Side 1 – Education is about understanding
a)
Knowledge is limited, but imagination encircles
the world (creativity)
b)
Knowledge is what other people think about
something, but understanding is what you think.
c)
Everybody sees, hears, feels, and thinks
differently, so each person will have a different understanding of the same
thing.
Main Idea Three: My Side 2 – Skills are more important in
the real world
a)
Finding information
b)
Organizing information
c)
Analyzing information
d)
Synthesizing information
e)
Creating new information
Conclusion
Jonan Donaldson
Academic Writing
January 12th, 2010
Sample Argumentative
Essay
Skills vs. Knowledge
in Education
Education systems all over the world are based on the idea that students
get and remember information from teachers and books. These systems test this
knowledge with standardized tests which compare students to each-other. They
only test the kind of information which is possible to measure in tests. The
goal is gaining information, not developing skills by which to use and make
information. Unlike the old style of education where people remembered things
in order to pass tests and get higher scores than other students, the modern
world calls for a new kind of education in which the focus is deep
understanding, creativity, and information management skills.
Most education systems in the world are designed to make students
remember things. One reason is that schools feel the need to compare students.
They do this by giving tests. They want to be able to give grades and decide
which students are smart and which are not. They function as a sorting
mechanism for society. From the earliest grades, students are put on tracks
that will decide their futures. Another reason schools like to make students
remember things is that by doing so they will be able to test their knowledge
and determine if they remember or not. They believe that if students remember
things it is the same as understanding those things. Schools also like to
impart knowledge because in this way, although students can have different
individual skills, they can all have the same knowledge.
Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge
is limited. Imagination encircles the world” (Needle, 2007). All the knowledge
in the world is useless unless you are able to use information in creative
ways. Knowledge is what other people have created. Understanding is all about
what you think about something. Everybody sees, hears, feels, and thinks
differently. No two people in the world have the same understanding of the same
thing. It is impossible to give tests on a point of view. Because of this,
tests are illogical. The only reason tests exist is to label students as
“smart” or “stupid.” There are many kinds of intelligence, however. One of the
most famous researchers in the field of intelligence, Gardner ,
found at least seven different kinds of intelligence (Gardner , 1999). Intelligence and
understanding are related. Unfortunately, tests only measure one type of
intelligence.
In the modern world skills are more important than knowledge. If a
person knows many facts, it is impressive, but not very useful. It is of much
greater importance to be able to find information quickly, organize that
information, analyze and understand the main ideas, put different pieces of
information together (synthesize), and create new information. Together these
skills make what we call information management and innovation, the skills
which are most desired in the business world.
Most people in the world believe that education is about remembering
things to take tests which measure one’s performance against other people who
have studied the same information. However, this idea no longer matches the
reality of the modern world in which knowledge is less important than
creativity and deep understanding. To be successful in the age of technology,
education must focus on helping students gain information management and
innovation skills.
Sources Cited
Gardner, H.
(1999). Intelligence reframed: Multiple intelligences for the 21st century.
New York , NY
Needle,
Andrew, et al. (2007). Combining art and science in 'arts and sciences'
education. College Teaching 55.3
