Table of Contents
Directions
Your professor is teaching a class on Politics. Write a post responding to the professor’s question. In your response, you should:
- express and support your personal opinion
make a contribution to the discussion in your own words - An effective response will contain at least 100 words. You have ten minutes to write.
Class Discussion
Welcome, class. Today we’re debating nationalism. Apart from understanding its history, we also need to consider how nationalism influences societies. Some say it builds strong social bonds, while others argue it risks causing conflicts globally. Is nationalism a necessary force for social cohesion or a primary threat to global peace?
Michael: I believe nationalism is necessary for social cohesion because it helps people feel united. When citizens have pride in their country, they work together to support each other during difficult times. This sense of belonging can reduce conflicts within a country by creating shared goals and identity.
Emily: I think nationalism can be dangerous because it sometimes makes people distrust others from different countries. This can cause misunderstandings and even wars. Instead of promoting peace, nationalism might increase global tensions and prevent cooperation among nations.
Sample Answers & Evaluation
🏆 Perfect Score – The Sniper Approach (30/30)
While Michael argues that nationalism fosters unity, he fails to consider its potentially divisive international impact. Nationalism often prioritizes a group’s autonomy at the expense of global cooperation, which can escalate conflicts. For example, in the early 20th century, fierce nationalist sentiments in Europe significantly contributed to the outbreak of World War I, a catastrophic conflict triggered by competing national interests rather than isolated disputes. This case illustrates the fundamental flaw in viewing nationalism solely as a cohesive force. Deeply ingrained national pride can lead to exclusionary policies and undermine global peace efforts. Understanding this dynamic is crucial because it shows why unmoderated nationalism challenges the international order and complicates cooperation on issues like climate change and security. Hence, despite its role in promoting social cohesion internally, nationalism remains a primary threat to global peace unless balanced by broader internationalism.
Teacher’s Feedback
Score: 30/30
Logic: This student pinpointed the weakness in the opposing view by highlighting nationalism’s dangerous global effects, not just its social benefits. Using World War I as a real historical example makes the argument strong and convincing.
Golden Vocabulary: autonomy, escalate, exclusionary
🏆 High Score – The Standard Approach (25/30)
I agree with Michael that nationalism helps people feel connected and proud of their country. This feeling can bring citizens together and create peace inside a nation. For example, when people celebrate national holidays, they share common traditions that build unity. However, nationalism can also make countries disagree with each other and lead to conflicts if it becomes too strong. So, while nationalism is important for social cohesion, it must be balanced with respect for other nations to avoid global problems.
Teacher’s Feedback
Score: 25/30
Logic: This essay clearly explains why nationalism helps social unity and gives a simple example about national holidays. However, it does not use a real historical event to strengthen the argument like the 30-point essay did.
Golden Vocabulary: cohesion, balance