arguable thesis statement about cheating in sports

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Why cheating in sports is prevalent -- and we can't stop it.

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Cheating in sports is now officially prevalent.  The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) January 14 issued its report, and confirmed that across the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) athletes were cheating . And very frequently doing so under the supervision of those who lead major sports operations at a national, and international, level.

Quite simply, those responsible for the future of various sports have been responsible for organizing and enabling the illegal doping of athletes. This behavior is now so commonplace that corruption is embedded in the IAAF, making cheating by far the norm rather than the exception.

Wow, we all thought that after Lance Armstrong was found guilty of doping this had passed. Sounds like, to the contrary, Lance was just the poor guy who got caught. Perhaps he was pilloried because he was an early doping innovator, at a time when few others lacked access. As a result of his very visible take-down for doping, today's competitors, their coaches and sponsors have clearly become a lot more sophisticated about implementation and cover-ups.

Accusations of steroid use for superior performance have been around a long time .  Major league baseball held hearings, and accused several players of doping. The long list of MLB players accused of cheating includes several thought destined for the Hall of Fame including Barry Bonds, Jose Conseco, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa. Even golf has had its doping accusations , with at least one top player, Vijay Sing, locked in a multi-year legal battle because he admitted using deer antler spray to improve his performance.

The pay-off is so incredibly, magnificently, tremendously high.

The reason is, of course, obvious. If you are a top athlete rewards are in the hundreds of millions of dollars (or euros). Due to not only enormously high salaries, but also the incredible sums paid by manufacturers for product endorsements. Being at the top of any sport is worth 10 to 100 times as much as being second.

For example, name any other modern golfer besides Tiger Woods. Bet you even know his primary sponsor - Nike. Yet, he didn't even play much in 2015 and couldn't make the late-season cut. Name any other Tour de France rider other than Lance Armstrong. And he made the U.S. Postal Service recognizable as a brand. I travel the world and people ask me, often in their native language or broken English, where I live. When I say "Chicago" the no. 1 response - by a HUGE margin - is "Michael Jordan." And everyone knows Air Nike.

We know today that some competitors are blessed with enormous genetic gifts. Regardless of what you may have heard about practicing, in reality it is chromosomes that separate the natural athletes from those who are merely extremely good. Practicing does not hurt, but as the good doctor described to Lance Armstrong, if he wanted to be great he had to overcome mother nature. And that's where drugs come in.  Regardless of the sport in which an athlete competes, greatness simply requires very good genes.

If the payoff is so huge why wouldn't you cheat? If mother nature didn't give you the perfect genes, why not alter them? It is not hard to imagine anyone realizing that they are very, very, very good - after years of competing from childhood through their early 20s - but not quite as good as the other guy. The lifetime payoff between the other guy and you could be $1 billion. A billion dollars! If someone told you that they could help, and it might take a few years off your life sometime in the distant future, would you really hesitate? Would the daily pain of drugs be worse than the pain of constant training?

The real question is, should we call it cheating? 

If lots and lots of people are doing it, as the WADA report and multiple investigations tell us, is it really cheating?

After all, isn't this a personal decision? Why should some regulator draw the line? Where should they draw the line?

We allow athletes to drink sports drinks. Once there was only Gatorade, and it was only available to Florida athletes. Because they didn't dehydrate as quickly as other teams these athletes performed better. But obviously sports drinks were considered OK.

How many cups of coffee should be allowed? How about taking vitamins?

Exactly who should make these decisions? And why? Why "outlaw" some products, and not others?

After watching The Program  about Lance Armstrong's doping routine it was clear to me I would never do it, and I would hope those I love would never do it. But I also hope they don't smoke cigarettes, drink too much liquor or make a porno movie. Yet, those are all personal decisions we allow. And the first two can certainly lead to an early grave. As painful as doping was to biker Armstrong and his team, it was their decision to do it. As bad as it was, why isn't it their decision? Why is someone given the role of calling it cheating?

We love winners. No matter how they become winners.

When Lance was winning the Tour de France he was very, very popular. Even as allegations swirled around him fans, and sponsors, pretty much ignored them. Even the reporter who chased the story was shunned by his colleagues, and degraded by his publisher, as he systematically built the undeniable case that Armstrong was cheating. Nobody wanted to hear that Lance was cheating - even if he was.

Fans and sponsors really don't care how athletes win, just that they win. If athletes do something wrong fans pretty much just hope they don't get caught. Just look at how fans overwhelmingly supported Armstrong for years. Or how football fans have overwhelming supported Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and ridiculed the NFL's commissioner Roger Goodall, over the Deflategate cheating charges and investigation. Fans support a winner, regardless how they win.

So, now we know performance enhancing drugs are endemic in professional sports. Why do we still make them against the rules?

Should we be trying to change behavior, or change the rules?

Go back 150 years in sports and frequently the best were those born to upper middle class families. They had the luck to receive good, healthy food. They had time to actually practice. So when these athletes were paid for their play, we called them professionals. As professionals we would not allow them to compete with the local amateurs. Nor could they compete in international competitions, such as the Olympics.

Jim Thorpe won two Olympic gold medals in 1912, received a ticker-tape Broadway parade for his performance and was considered "the greatest athlete of all time." He was also stripped years later of his medals because it was determined he had been paid to play in a couple of professional baseball games.  He was considered a cheater because he had the luxury of practicing, as a professional, while other Olympic athletes did not.  Today we consider this preposterous, because professional athletes compete regularly in the Olympics. But what really changed? Primarily the rules.

It is impossible to think that we will ever roll back the great rewards given to modern athletes. Too many people love their top athletes, and relish in seeing them earn superstar incomes. Too many people love buying products these athletes endorse, and too many companies obtain brand advantage with those highly paid endorsements. In other words, the huge prize will never go away.

What is next? Genetic engineering, of course. The good geneticists will continue to figure out how to build stronger bodies, and their results will be out there for athletes to use. Splice a gorilla gene into a wrestler, or a gazelle gene into a long-distance runner?  It's not pure fantasy . This will likely be illegal.  But, over time, won't those gene-altering programs become as common to professional athletes as steroids and human growth hormone are today? Exactly when does anyone think performance enhancement will stop?

And if the drugs keep becoming better, and athletes have such a huge incentive to use them, how are we ever to think a line can be drawn -- or ever enforced?

The effort to stop doping would appear, at best, Quixotic

Instead, why not simply say that at the professional level, anything goes? No more testing. If you are a pro, you can do whatever you want to win. "It's your life brother and sister," the decision is up to you.

If you are an amateur then you will be subjected to intense testing, and you will be caught. Testing will go up dramatically, and you will be caught if you cross any line we draw. And banned from competition for life. If you want to go that extra mile, just go pro.

Of course, one could imagine that there could be two pro circuits. One that allows all performance enhancing drugs, and one that does not. But we all know that will fail. Like minor league competition, nobody really cares about the second stringers. Fans want to see real amateurs, often competing locally and reinforcing pride. And they like to see pros -- the very best of the very best. And in this latter category, the fans consistently tell us via their support and dollars, they don't really care how those folks made it to the top.

So a difficult ethical dilemma now confronts sports fans - and those who monitor athletics:

1 - Do we pretend doping doesn't exist and keep lying about it, but realize what we're doing is a sham and waste of time?

2 - Do we spend millions of dollars in an upgraded "war on drugs" that is surely going to fail (and who will pay for this increased vigilance, by the way?)

3 - Do we realize that with the incentives that exist today, we need to change the rules on doping?  Allow it, educate about its use, but give up trying to stop it.  Just like pros now compete in the Olympics, enhancement drugs would no longer be banned.

This one's above my pay grade.  What do you readers think?

Learn more about my public speaking, board involvement and growth consulting at www.AdamHartung.com , or connect with me on LinkedIn , Facebook  and Twitter .

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Why Tom Brady's Deflategate win is bad for leadership

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The Psychology of Cheating in Sports

Posted August 16, 2019 by admin-risepoint

There’s a long history of athletes who have cheated. The examples are so rampant that it’s difficult to even summarize the presence of cheating in sports.

Three of the major American professional sports have been impacted. Major League Baseball saw the Black Sox Scandal in the early part of the 20th century, and in the later part of the century, doping literally altered record books. National Basketball Association referee Tim Donaghy was investigated by the FBI for betting on games that he officiated. Perhaps most recognizable to sports fans may be the National Football League’s controversy “Deflategate,” in which quarterback Tom Brady allegedly ordered deflated footballs used in the 2014-15 playoffs.

Cheating also extends to other sports, of course. In an infamous example, Soviet athlete Boris Onishchenko was banned for life from sports after he was caught electrically wiring his fencing weapon to go off at will in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Even more infamous was Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal, which stripped the cyclist of multiple achievements, including seven Tour de France titles.

Few people question whether cheating has impacted sports. But why have there been so many examples? What exactly causes athletes to cheat? This article takes a brief look at the psychology of cheating in sports.

Key Factors in the Psychology of Cheating in Sports

Who do people cheat in sports? Psychological research has provided insight into the sheer competitive nature of sports and the ethical complications of cheating. Those two factors offer perspective into why athletes are willing to cheat.

Emphasis on Winning

It might be an understatement to say that sports can be “competitive.” In fact, sports can be an important part of culture, according to Howard Giles in “The International Encyclopedia of Intercultural Communication.” For instance, in the words of a cultural historian Jacques Barzun, which are inscribed in the Baseball Hall of Fame, “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.”

Giles described how people “live in a globalized, sports-saturated world” that can put cultures and their values on display. Sports can also change the way that more specific groups interact and find their identity, including athletes, coaches, teams, and fans. Fans can be so involved that they have pregame anxiety and emotional experiences during games. They may even, without reason, blame losses on biased officiating (which can actually explain home field advantage ) or cheating.

The stakes are high, and that’s especially the case at professional levels of sport. Winning is a necessary ingredient in the pursuit of excellence, and, as a result, athletes can take that further than others might. It’s reminiscent of the cliché that “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

“Competitive sport often places individuals in conflicting situations that emphasize winning over sportsperson-ship and fair play,” according to the “Handbook of Sports Psychology.” “It would be wrong, however, to attribute this to the competitive nature of sport.” There are other factors at play. The next topic works hand-in-hand with the emphasis on winning to explain how athletes may turn to cheating.

The Ego and Moral Functioning

The concept of achievement goals is linked to potential cheating in sports. In task- and ego-oriented goals, there’s a fundamental difference in how athletes think of themselves and why they compete. Task-oriented athletes focus on hard work and self-development, while ego-oriented athletes are focused on being better than everyone else and believe skill to be a matter of innate ability.

According to the “Handbook of Sports Psychology,” studies have demonstrated relationships between task and ego orientations with sportsmanship and moral functioning. Compared to high task-oriented athletes, research points to how high ego-oriented athletes have lower sportsmanship, more self-reported cheating, and endorsement of cheating. Ego orientation can predict lower moral functioning.

Moral functioning can even take an unexpected turn with some sports cheaters. From research in Attitudes and Social Cognition , the notion that cheaters feel guilty after engaging in unethical behavior simply isn’t true. Over six experiments, unethical behaviors not only failed to trigger negative affect, but they triggered positive affect. Those types of behaviors can lead to a “cheater’s high.”

“These findings challenge existing models of ethical decision-making and offer cause for concern,” the study’s authors said. “Many ethical decisions are made privately and are difficult to monitor. Individuals who recognize, perhaps from experience, that they can derive both material and psychological rewards from engaging in unethical behavior may be powerfully motivated to behave unethically.”

Why Do People Cheat in Sports?

The psychology of cheating in sports is a complicated topic, and researchers are learning more about what drives people to violate the rules, use performance-enhancing drugs, or take part in some other method of cheating. However, the fundamental reason why people cheat in sports isn’t complex at all.

Athletes want to win. At the highest levels of sports, the difference between first and second place is often millions of dollars and a significant amount of fame. As a result, some athletes may believe winning really is the only thing. To them, the risk of getting caught and being labeled a cheater is worth the money and glory that being the best brings.

Ask Lance Armstrong. He lost everything, it may appear, after being stripped of his achievements and experiencing costly legal battles. Armstrong told USA Today that he had paid more than $100 million in legal costs, and that came before he settled a $100 million lawsuit with the federal government for just $5 million. However, even those numbers may be significantly lower than what cheating allowed him to win. According to Bloomberg in 2013, Armstrong’s riches totaled more than $218 million . At the peak of his career, he earned $28 million a year, Forbes estimated.

Was it worth it? In a BBC interview , Lance Armstrong said that if it was still 1995, he would “probably do it again.”

If you’re interested in the psychology of cheating in sports, you can learn more about sports psychology by earning your online MS in Exercise Science . You’ll receive a strong foundation in topics like exercise physiology and sports nutrition as well. Aurora University Online’s program offers two specializations in sports performance and clinical exercise. And through additional coursework and an internship or capstone experience, you’ll be prepared for either of the following industry-leading certification exams:

• The American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) exam.
• The National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam.

All courses in the degree feature expert instructors with extensive experience in their fields.

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Playing to Win: Using Sports to Develop Evidence-Based Arguments

By Jeremy Engle

• Feb. 7, 2019

Sports is not just about X’s and O’s or wins and losses; it’s also about ethics and economics, race and gender, science and technology, joy and camaraderie, and nearly everything in between. Sports allows us to admire the awesomeness of the human body and the artistry of athletes in action, and to explore stories of grit and resilience and our need for heroes and villains.

While it might not be immediately obvious to all teachers, particularly those who aren’t die-hard fans, sports is also an endless source of inspiration for making arguments and throwing down facts.

In this lesson, we explore how to use the world of sports to help students effectively develop evidence-based arguments. We suggest three categories for practicing the skill in sports contexts — from making a case for the G.O.A.T. to taking on current sports-world controversies to proposing rule changes to make a sport or tournament better. We end the lesson with a few strategies for bringing debate and argument writing alive in the classroom.

Do you teach with sports reporting? We’d love to hear your ideas. Post a comment or write to [email protected].

1. Make a Case for the G.O.A.T.

Who is the G.O.A.T.?

No, not those cute animals with the horns and the beard. The Greatest of All Time.

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Sports Argumentative Essay Topics (Simple Titles)

Sports allow us to stay physically healthy, learn new abilities, and improve our emotional well-being. It has enhanced social contact and is a kind of enjoyment for the majority of people. Sports Argumentative Essay Topics focus on persuading and supporting particular viewpoints on sports via academic writing. It could encompass all dimensions of sports, including social, economic, and political implications of various sports.

It’s just as vital to choose a good topic as it is to generate captivating material. You must impress your instructor with the greatest argumentative essay ideas if you want to do well in school.

Here are some excellent topic suggestions for you in a variety of disciplines. Select an appropriate topic for your essay and begin the writing process.

Sports Argumentative Essay Topics

• Are video game players considered real athletes?
• Can teenagers be kept out of trouble by engaging in sports?
• Should girls and boys be able to engage in the same sports?
• Should professional athletes be allowed to use non-steroidal alternatives to steroids?
• Is cheerleading a sport for individuals?
• Baseball isn’t nearly as exciting as it once was.
• Do colleges spend a significant amount of money on sports programs?
• Student-athletes should be compensated for their participation.
• Sports betting should be prohibited.
• Alcohol and cigarette advertisements should not be broadcast during sporting events.
• Is the media portraying female athletes as sexual objects?
• All athletes should be drug tested before they can compete.
• Women should not be allowed to participate in extreme sports.
• The effects of bodybuilding on a woman’s body as she gets older.
• Is chess a game or a sport? Explain it in depth.

Sports, as one of the most engaging leisure sectors, contribute significantly to a student’s well-being, both physically and in terms of essay writing. Popular sports have been included into the school curriculum as part of the co-curricular program. Students may keep intellectually attentive and physically healthy by participating in sports. They’ve also assisted students in obtaining scholarships for their education.

With the industry’s rapid expansion, a slew of contentious problems have arisen. Among them are how athletic activities are conducted and what constitutes a sport.

These scandals have sparked a slew of heated debates. Sport is an element of the extracurricular activities at the school. As a result, writing about sports argumentative essay themes is quite acceptable. Students struggle to choose what to write about due to the wide variety of sports available throughout the world. For the sports fan, the decision is simple.

There are several sports argumentative essay topics to choose from. However, narrowing down the options might be tough. A student’s finest topic ideas are determined by their interests. Here are some suggested sample topics for you to consider.

• Using performance enhancing drugs should lead to exclusion from professional sports.
• Cheerleading as a competitive sport
• Negative perceptions that college players are illiterate
• The amount of money spent on college games is too much.
• Is marching band a sport?
• Creating a school-wide sports culture
• Health issues associated with student-athletes’ use of energy drinks
• Student-athletes should be compensated for their participation in sports.
• Why cheerleading should be included in the Olympics
• Permitting fights during hokey games.
• Football’s dangers to players
• Baseball’s popularity has waned over time.
• Where should we draw the line when it comes to selling the name rights to sports teams?
• Coaches’ treatment of players is not controlled by rules that are rigorous enough.
• Athletes who utilize steroids should surrender their medals.
• Legalizing sports betting everywhere is bad.
• Home-schooled students should be permitted to participate in public school athletics.
• Athletes’ sponsors and chosen owners receive the majority of their earnings.
• Should video games be considered sports?
• Should violent sports including wrestling and boxing be prohibited?
• Is it appropriate for women to participate in powerlifting?
• Why Colleges should invest more on wellness programs than in athletics.
• College football players should be paid.
• Why Parents should not let their kids to participate in football activities.
• Being gay in sports gets greater media and spectator attention.
• It is offensive for sports teams to use Native American mascots and names.
• Advertisements for tobacco and alcohol should not be shown during sporting events.

Engaging in athletics may help you maintain your physical condition as well as your mental health. Even if it’s only for fun, everyone should engage in athletic activities. It adds to the body’s overall wellness in more ways than one. Many countries rely heavily on sports to boost their economies. People have gotten into a lot of fights because of sports. These are solid arguments to use as the basis for your writings.

It is suggested that you choose an essay topic that you are enthusiastic about. Here are 25 sports argumentative essay themes on which you could wish to write an essay and do research to discover persuasive arguments.

Topics for Women in Sports

The media plays a vital role in ensuring that genders are represented equally in sports news. Do you agree with me?

• Should sports teams, referees, and coaches be split into gender groups?
• Do you think it’s fair and reasonable to split girls and males?
• Is it true that male sports have more supporters than female sports?
• Female athletes are more motivated by personal achievement than by personal progress.
• Should female athletes be given more training than male athletes?
• Do you feel that sports regulations should be changed to eliminate gender bias?
• Should sports be divided into categories based on gender?
• Should transgender people be permitted to play sports?

Argumentative Topics in Winter Sports

Winter sports refer to those games that take place on snow or ice. Skiing, ice skating, and sledding are the most popular of these activities. Traditionally, such activities have only existed in frigid climates with temperatures below freezing throughout the winter. Artificial snow and ice, on the other hand, allow events to be staged in practically any weather situation.

If you enjoy winter sports and wanted to write about them, consider the following essay topics:

• Why is The Winter Dew Tour bringing more snowboarding visitors to the United States?
• Why has the future of winter sports been jeopardized? Is climate change to blame for this?
• Is cross-country skiing the safest sport to participate in?
• Are the figure skating judges overbearing to the competitors?
• Why do hockey fans embrace the game’s brutality and combat?
• Is it feasible to do springboard jumps when there is a lot of snow?
• Why do many people believe North Korea has copied the Pyongyang Winter Olympics show?
• Why are winter clothing businesses thriving and expanding despite the crisis?
• What are the dangers of artificial snow in winter sports?
• Why we should not take Bobsleigh seriously.

Here are more Great Topic Ideas for Your Argumentative Essay.

• Basketball is currently losing popularity.
• Parents should not allow their children to play football because of traumatic events.
• Students who win sporting events should be compensated by universities.
• Cheerleading cannot be categorized as a sport.
• Coaches should check to see whether their players are using anabolic steroids.
• All people have the legal right to wager on sports online.
• Advertisements that encourage unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking are incompatible with sporting activities.
• Why Dog and other animal sports competitions should be banned in all places.
• Why Parents should not allow their children to participate in violent activities such as boxing.
• Powerlifting should only be a males-only sports.
• It is incorrect to classify video gaming as a sport.
• Sports may have both good and bad impacts on a person’s health.
• In any sport, teamwork is essential for success.
• All American institutions should require their students to play soccer.
• What are the steps to becoming a university’s top sports team?
• Soccer’s worldwide appeal can be attributed to a variety of factors.
• Is it appropriate for a coach to lose his cool in the middle of a game?
• Do you think of chess as a full-fledged sport similar to football or basketball?
• Is there any gender prejudice in sports?
• How important is the media in sporting events?
• Is there a method to avoid football injuries?
• Does stress affect all athletes, and if so, how can it be avoided?
• It is difficult to have a successful athletic career and a personal life at the same time.
• Professional sports are more than a pastime; they are a way of life.
• Professional athletes have a variety of chronic health issues.

There may be only a few of the argumentative essay topics to consider depending on your subject area. Sports is among the most controversial essay subjects, and it is ideally suited to the argumentative essay type. Choose a topic that interests you and write a well-structured essay that demonstrates why your point of view is correct. You can let the reader know of all possible viewpoints, offer “for” and “against” reasons for each, and end the essay such that no one is left in doubt about your stance.

I hope the list of ideas above will assist you in coming up with sports debate themes. Choose one of the five topics from the list that you are most familiar with. Remember that the issue should be well-researched so that you can back up your claim with proof. You may always resort to pros who have written hundreds of argumentative essays if you don’t have enough time or writing abilities. As a result, forget about tension and simply let your thoughts flow!

Argumentative Sports Essay Outline

1. introduction for sports essay.

As expected, the introduction is the first paragraph of your essay. As a result, it must grab the audience’s interest and attention.

In addition, the beginning should excite the reader to read the body of the essay.

An introduction has two essential components.

1. General claim

2. Thesis statement

General claim

The broad statement’s primary goal is to provide background information about the issue to the reader.  This material should pique the reader’s curiosity in the subject.

A general statement MUST begin with a general overview of the topic and progress to a specific statement of the primary concept.

The thesis statement is the fundamentally the central idea of an essay. Its   purpose is to introduce the essay’s core concept.

Oftentimes, the thesis is written in the last the introduction.

Sample Topic: Basketball and Football are similar in many ways

General statement would look like something below:

For several millennia, sports have been played all throughout the world. There are several sports to choose from. Some of them are performed solo, while others are played in groups. Furthermore, some sports, such as basketball and football, are quite popular and give several benefits to anybody who participates in them.

Here is what to watch!

The explanation progresses from broad to specific issues about the topic.

Sentences need to be logically connected. This section prepares the reader for the main topic.

Thesis statement

The statement below could be your thesis statement:

Basketball and football share a lot of similarities, but they also have a lot of differences in other multiple ways.

The statement is specific because it shows a position about the topic. This will then guide the body paragraphs of the essay.

3. Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs can be as long as your essay prompt requires. If your essay is longer than 850 words, it will need more than 5 paragraphs.

4. Conclusion

The conclusion of an argumentative sports essay is the last paragraph. It will restate the thesis, list the supporting statements, and add a general personal view. Concluding an argumentative essay should leave the reader with a clear position the writer has taken regarding the topic.

50 Argumentative Essay Thesis Statement Examples

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A thesis statement in an argumentative essay needs to present a point of view . The biggest mistake you can make is to provide a thesis statement that doesn’t demonstrate what your argument will be. So, your thesis statement should set a clear argument, perspective, or position in relation to a debate. Check out the examples below.

Thesis Statements for Argumentative Essays

1. mandatory school uniforms.

For: “School uniforms should be mandatory as they promote equality and reduce distractions, fostering a better learning environment.”

Against: “Mandatory school uniforms infringe on students’ freedom of expression and fail to address the root causes of bullying and social stratification.”

Read More: School Uniform Pros and Cons

2. School Should Start Later

For: “Schools should start later in the morning to align with adolescents’ natural sleep cycles, resulting in improved mental health, increased academic performance, and better overall student well-being.”

Against: “Starting school later in the morning disrupts family routines, poses logistical challenges for after-school activities and transportation, and fails to prepare students for the traditional workday schedule.”

Read More: School Should Start Later Arguments | School Should Start Earlier Arguments

3. College Athletes Should be Paid

For: “College athletes should be compensated for their contributions to the multi-billion dollar collegiate sports industry, as their commitment and efforts generate significant revenue and marketing value for their institutions.”

Against: “Paying college athletes undermines the spirit of amateurism in collegiate sports, complicates the primary focus on education, and poses significant financial and regulatory challenges for universities.”

Read More: Why College Athletes Should be Paid

4. Homework should be Banned

For: “Excessive homework can lead to student burnout, reduce family time, and is not always effective in enhancing learning.”

Against: “Homework is essential for reinforcing learning, fostering independent study skills, and preparing students for academic challenges.”

Read More: 21 Reasons Homework Should be Banned

5. Nature is More Important than Nurture

For: “Genetic predispositions play a more critical role in shaping an individual than environmental factors, highlighting the importance of nature in personal development.”

Against: “Environmental factors and upbringing have a more significant impact on an individual’s development than genetic factors, emphasizing the role of nurture.”

Read More: Nature vs Nurture

6. The American Dream is Unattainable

For: “The American Dream is an outdated and unachievable concept for many, masked by systemic inequalities and economic barriers.”

Against: “The American Dream is still a relevant and attainable goal, symbolizing hope, opportunity, and hard work in a land of limitless potential.”

Read More: Examples of the American Dream

7. Social Media is Good for Society

For: “Social media is a vital tool for modern communication, fostering global connectivity and democratizing information dissemination.”

Against: “Social media platforms contribute to mental health issues, spread misinformation, and erode quality face-to-face interactions.”

Read More: Social Media Pros and Cons

8. Globalization has been Bad for Society

For: “Globalization leads to the exploitation of developing countries, loss of cultural identity, and increased income inequality.”

Against: “Globalization is beneficial, driving economic growth, cultural exchange, and technological advancement on a global scale.”

Read More: Globalization Pros and Cons

9. Urbanization has been Good for Society

For: “Urbanization is a positive force for economic development and cultural diversity, offering improved opportunities and lifestyles.”

Against: “Rapid urbanization leads to environmental degradation, overpopulation, and heightened social inequalities.”

Read More: Urbanization Examples

10. Immigration is Good for Society

For: “Immigration enriches the social and economic fabric of the host country, bringing diversity and innovation.”

Against: “Uncontrolled immigration can strain public resources, disrupt local job markets, and lead to cultural clashes.”

Read More: Immigration Pros and Cons

11. Cultural Identity must be Preserved

For: “Maintaining cultural identity is essential to preserve historical heritage and promote diversity in a globalized world.”

Against: “Excessive emphasis on cultural identity can lead to isolationism and hinder integration and mutual understanding in multicultural societies.”

Read More: Cultural Identity Examples

12. Technology is Essential for Social Progress

For: “The advancement of technology is crucial for societal progress, improving efficiency, healthcare, and global communication.”

Against: “Over-dependence on technology leads to privacy concerns, job displacement, and a disconnection from the natural world.”

13. Capitalism is the Best Economic System

For: “Capitalism drives innovation, economic growth, and personal freedom, outperforming socialist systems in efficiency and prosperity.”

Against: “Capitalism creates vast inequalities and exploits workers and the environment, necessitating a shift towards socialist principles for a fairer society.”

14. Socialism is the Best Economic System

For: “Socialism promotes social welfare and equality, ensuring basic needs are met for all citizens, unlike the inequalities perpetuated by capitalism.”

Against: “Socialism stifles individual initiative and economic growth, often leading to governmental overreach and inefficiency.”

Read More: Socialism Pros and Cons

15. Pseudoscience has no Value to Society

For: “Pseudoscience is harmful as it misleads people, often resulting in health risks and the rejection of scientifically proven facts.”

Against: “Pseudoscience, while not scientifically validated, can offer alternative perspectives and comfort to individuals where mainstream science has limitations.”

Read More: Pseudoscience Examples

16. Free Will is Real

For: “Individuals possess free will, enabling them to make autonomous choices that shape their lives and moral character, independent of genetic or environmental determinism.”

Against: “The concept of free will is an illusion, with human behavior being the result of genetic and environmental influences beyond personal control.”

Read More: Free Will Examples

17. Gender Roles are Outdated

For: “Rigid gender roles are outdated and limit individual freedom, perpetuating inequality and stereotyping.”

Against: “Traditional gender roles provide structure and clarity to societal functions and personal relationships.”

Read More: Gender Roles Examples

18. Work-Life Ballance is Essential for a Good Life

For: “Achieving a work-life balance is essential for mental health, productivity, and personal fulfillment.”

Against: “The pursuit of work-life balance can lead to decreased professional ambition and economic growth, particularly in highly competitive industries.”

Read More: Work-Life Balance Examples

19. Universal Healthcare

For: “Universal healthcare is a fundamental human right, ensuring equitable access to medical services for all individuals.”

Against: “Universal healthcare can be inefficient and costly, potentially leading to lower quality of care and longer wait times.”

Read More: Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons

20. Raising the Minimum Wage

For: “Raising the minimum wage is necessary to provide a living wage, reduce poverty, and stimulate economic growth.”

Against: “Increasing the minimum wage can lead to higher unemployment and negatively impact small businesses.”

Read More: Raising the Minimum Wage Pros and Cons

21. Charter Schools are Better than Public Schools

For: “Charter schools provide valuable alternatives to traditional public schools, often offering innovative educational approaches and higher standards.”

Against: “Charter schools can drain resources from public schools and lack the same level of accountability and inclusivity.”

Read More: Charter Schools vs Public Schools

22. The Internet has had a Net Positive Effect

For: “The internet is a transformative tool for education, communication, and business, making information more accessible than ever before.”

Against: “The internet can be a platform for misinformation, privacy breaches, and unhealthy social comparison, negatively impacting society.”

Read Also: Pros and Cons of the Internet

23. Affirmative Action is Fair and Just

For: “Affirmative action is necessary to correct historical injustices and promote diversity in education and the workplace.”

Against: “Affirmative action can lead to reverse discrimination and undermine meritocracy, potentially harming those it aims to help.”

Read More: Pros and Cons of Affirmative Action

24. Soft Skills are the Most Important Workforce Skills

For: “Soft skills like communication and empathy are crucial in the modern workforce, contributing to a collaborative and adaptable work environment.”

Against: “Overemphasis on soft skills can neglect technical proficiency and practical skills that are essential in many professional fields.”

Read More: Examples of Soft Skills

25. Freedom of the Press has gone Too Far

For: “Unregulated freedom of the press can lead to the spread of misinformation and biased reporting, influencing public opinion unfairly.”

Against: “Freedom of the press is essential for a democratic society, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.”

Read More: Free Press Examples

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 101 Class Group Name Ideas (for School Students)
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• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ All 6 Levels of Understanding (on Bloom’s Taxonomy)

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Developing Strong Thesis Statements

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The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable

An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.

Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:

This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.

Example of a debatable thesis statement:

This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.

Another example of a debatable thesis statement:

In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.

The thesis needs to be narrow

Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.

Example of a thesis that is too broad:

There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.

Example of a narrow or focused thesis:

In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.

We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:

Narrowed debatable thesis 1:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.

Narrowed debatable thesis 2:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.

Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.

Types of claims

Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.

Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:

Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:

Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:

Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:

Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.

Overpaid Athletes: Debate Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Common ground, works cited.

Professional athletes’ pay often becomes the center of discussion among the public. Annually, magazines reveal the list of the highest-paid sportspersons and talk about their salaries, comparing them to famous actors and CEOs of major companies. The debate regarding this topic presents two major sides – the first group states that athletes are extremely overpaid for their performance, while the other group argues that they earn the amount of money they deserve. In reality, the border between these two statements may be less clear if one takes into account the fact that players are often judged not only by their performance but also their popularity and exposure. Some professional athletes’ pay is inequitably high in comparison to salaries of specialists in other spheres, although less recognized players may be underpaid due to the lack of celebrity status.

The pay of the most popular players is often questioned regarding its necessity. According to McIntyre, journalists and sports fans are often concerned with the amounts that some athletes receive because of their contracts (1). For example, in 2014, Forbes released a list of athletes with the largest salaries, revealing how much money a sports celebrity can earn in a year. The list included such players as Christiano Ronaldo, Floyd Mayweather, and Kobe Bryant (Korzynski and Paniagua 186). The last of these athletes, while not being at the very top of the list, still managed to earn “almost eight times [more] than any other basketball player” (Korzynski and Paniagua 186). This data shows that a disparity between athletes’ wages exists in the industry.

Earnings also differ from one country to another. A study by Liu et al. revealed that U.S. baseball players earned as much as 75 times more than Taiwanese athletes (865). While this number may be connected to the economies of these countries, the correlation between it and perceptions of athletes in the states is also present. Many factors affect the players’ pay: performance (both personal and of the team), experience, contract length, and received awards (Liu et al. 866). Popularity and status can also be considered, although they are not included in the calculation explicitly.

Some people believe that athletes’ pay is justified for a number of reasons. First of all, professional players are viewed as entertainers and public figures whose primary responsibilities are not limited by sports-related activities (Korzynski and Paniagua 186). Therefore, their salaries may be compared to those of famous performers and actors. Some individuals can even view them as role models for children and young persons if players are framed as people who have achieved their dreams.

Another argument states that athletes sacrifice their personal lives in order to achieve a high level of professionalism. Indeed, professional sportspersons spend a significant amount of time training, and many of them start pursuing this path in their childhood. College football and basketball players, for instance, often play without any monetary incentives, although they often have to forgo other activities in order to compete and maintain good grades (Berry 246). Thus, high salaries may be interpreted as compensation for players’ past time and efforts.

Presented arguments show that athletes should be earning enough money as famous and hard-working specialists. Nevertheless, it is necessary to note that the high salaries of popular athletes do not contribute to the overall earnings in the industry but create and exacerbate income inequality. The sports business is rather monopolistic – athletes engaged in a particular sport have limited options for business affiliations (Humphreys and Pyun 677). Therefore, the competition for earning a place in a team may restrict players’ ability to demand better treatment. Thus, some less famous players may have lower salaries in comparison to their famous counterparts (Korzynski and Paniagua 186). Such inequity may be enforced further if one treats athletes only as entertainers.

Moreover, the inequality between different industries may also be viewed as a reason to argue that athletes are overpaid. As this occupation remains to be among the ones with the highest salaries, less recognized careers may seem undesirable and undeserving of high compensation. Healthcare professionals and teachers can also be framed as role models, similarly to the presented above argument. Nevertheless, their salaries often cannot compete with those of professional athletes, although their duties and training are also demanding.

It is possible for one to see a connection between these arguments. Indeed, athletes sacrifice their free time in order to train and achieve results. Therefore, they should be rewarded according to their efforts. However, this statement applies to other occupations as well and should be regarded as unifying and not separating for different industries. Furthermore, the disparity between more and less famous athletes, as well as the lack of financial compensation for younger players, should be addressed. It may be possible that young athletes may benefit from a more just system of financial support.

The issue of overpaid athletes should center on the fact that a small number of famous individuals attract the attention of the public and form the view of the whole industry. It is vital to address the inequity of salaries for different types of players and the difference in perceptions of various careers. Athletes deserve fair pay as much as other committed professionals. Nonetheless, some arguments dismiss the problems in the sphere of sports, neglecting the disparity that high salaries create for less recognized sportspersons.

Berry, William W. “Employee-Athletes, Antitrust, and the Future of College Sports.” Staford Law & Policy Review , vol. 28, 2017, pp. 245-272.

Humphreys, Brad R., and Hyunwoong Pyun. “Monopsony Exploitation in Professional Sport: Evidence from Major League Baseball Position Players, 2000–2011.” Managerial and Decision Economics , vol. 38, no. 5, 2017, pp. 676-688.

Korzynski, Pawel, and Jordi Paniagua. “Score a Tweet and Post a Goal: Social Media Recipes for Sports Stars.” Business Horizons , vol. 59, no. 2, 2016, pp. 185-192.

Liu, Zhenjia, et al. “The Relationship between Player Characteristics, Team Characteristics and Athletes’ Remuneration: An Advanced Empirical Study of Asian and US Professional Baseball Leagues.” Modern Economy , vol. 8, no. 7, 2017, pp. 865-877.

McIntyre, Kevin. “The NFL Salary Cap and Veteran Players’ Salaries.” Archives of Business Research , vol. 5, no. 7, 2017, pp. 1-11.

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IvyPanda. (2021, June 19). Overpaid Athletes: Debate. https://ivypanda.com/essays/overpaid-athletes-debate/

"Overpaid Athletes: Debate." IvyPanda , 19 June 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/overpaid-athletes-debate/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Overpaid Athletes: Debate'. 19 June.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Overpaid Athletes: Debate." June 19, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/overpaid-athletes-debate/.

1. IvyPanda . "Overpaid Athletes: Debate." June 19, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/overpaid-athletes-debate/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Overpaid Athletes: Debate." June 19, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/overpaid-athletes-debate/.

Sports Does Matter

Article 'Why Sports Matter' by Wilfred Sheed

Wilfred Sheed’s article Why Sports Matter focuses on how sports have changed over the past 150 years. He emphasizes on the importance of sports in people’s life and underlines that it can significantly shape their lives for the better. Sports can help people to understand what they can do and to know what they want to be. This implies that sports build up character and prepare one to fight for what he or she wants to do in life. Cheating and CHEATING by Joe Posnanski is an article that explores cheating in baseball game, which has been there since the game started. He believes that there has never been a fair baseball game. Players have been using steroid, amphetamine and other preparation sin order to cheat since the baseball game was first introduced. This paper shows comparison between Wilfred Sheed’s and Joe Posnanski’s articles on sports analyzing their ideas and the style of writing.

Sheed’s presents an article that is more of a scholarly journal. His ideas are not supported by opinions from other writings or researches conducted. He bases his ideas from his personal perspective and only uses his own observations and anecdotes within the work. For example, in paragraph 4 of his work, he writes his personal observation about the Notre Dame Team. He argues that sports can define culture of a nation and supports his argument by using his personal observation on culture and sports in Trinidad and Britain (Sheed 489). Although Sheed is able to convince his readers that there is change in sports, there is need for him to use research evidences. However, for any argument, it is vital to use substantial evidences from researches and not only personal ideas and observations.

Article 'Cheating and CHEATING' by Joe Posnanski

On the contrary, Joe Posnanski portrays his credibility by using ethos such as names of players and their achievements in a certain year. It illustrates that he presents clear facts about baseball history. Being a recognized writer for sports and being honored twice because of his excellent work in sport writing, Posnanski’s work has shown a lot of reliability and sincerity in the way he convinces his readers. For instance, in his article, he points out that in 1954 Willie Mays was a great player and led the league because of his excellent striking skills. He also won an award at the same year (Posnanski 553). All these facts are able to convince his readers that his argument about cheating in baseball may be true. The use of quotes from Mays also helps provide real evidence for his argument.

Additionally, Posnanski uses facts to enhance his logic appeal, which makes his arguments look real and sincere. This appeal helps readers to connect his written ideas to real life situations and problems facing other baseball players. His idea of mentioning that Mays was born in 1965 and he was the best striker even when he was 34 years old, gives the reader a good reason why he claims that players of baseball game cheat (Posnanski 553). The time period makes things realistic, therefore, the argument looks relevant. This makes his readers understand why he thinks that there has been cheating in baseball even when the game was not very popular.

Ideas exemplified by the two writers have both similarities and differences. Sheeds’s article, Why Sports Matter illustrates the idea that sport is a crucial factor when it comes to defining an individual or a nation. It is like a culture to a country; therefore, it is not only important to the nation, but to its people as well. Initially people thought that being active in sports is a waste of time and energy, but they now realize that it is pivotal component of life (Sheed 489). They have realized that the benefits of sports almost outweigh its demerits. Sheed adds that people can now experience the feeling of depending on other people’s hard work for victory or failure is associated with sports. People appreciate sports players which motivates players to perform better and achieve the best results.

On the other hand, Posnanski in his article cheating and CHEATING explores that cheating is associated with baseball game. Although the game is pastime for almost all of the Americans, it has been associated with scandals and cheating since it started. The writer emphasizes on the cheating that has been going on in this game. The use of steroids and amphetamine that enhance players’ performance during the game is considered as cheating (Posnanski 553). Such additives help the players to endure their performance without getting fatigued and it is definitely an advantage for the team. It is unfair when such players compete with those that do not use these drugs. They win a competition not because they have excellent skills but they boost their bodies with drugs, which are illegal. With the use of clear evidence, Posnanski supports his arguments to convince his readers that such kind of cheating in baseball really exists.

Although the two writers differ in the ideas they pose to readers, they have a similarity in the way they both discuss the problems that are intrinsic in sports since it was introduced. Article by Sheed explains how sports activities were seen insignificant in one’s life. Preachers believed it was devil’s work because they believed that people were wasting time which they could devote serving to God (Sheed 489). Employers also considered sports as a waste of time, especially when workers played during their time off. These are some of the problems that hindered people from engaging in sports. They were afraid of playing since players were not fully appreciated by the society.

The Problem of Cheating in Baseball

Posnanski also illustrated the problem of cheating in baseball. Illustrating the evidences, he explains the problem of cheating as being fueled by the players’ who are obsessed with fame and achievements in the world of sports. The writer is convinced that the use of drugs such as steroids has been there since the baseball started so as to enhance players’ performance (Posnanski 553). This is unfair to players that cannot afford the drugs and only depend on their skills for victory. Therefore, the writer tries to address this problem and find the solution to make the baseball game a fair one.

Posnanski work is more convincing than Sheed’s work, as Posnanski has expressed his thoughts based on the real situations and facts that had occurred in sports. It is heard to deny that his notion about cheating in sports is not relevant. Conversely, Sheed’s work is not so effective since his ideas are based on his personal views. The fact that it lacks other outside research makes it hard for the reader to completely trust in his argument.

In conclusion, it is true and evident that the two articles illuminate the various problems the sports have faced with since it began. There have been problems that have been facing sports over the last few years. While Sheed expresses disapproval of sports by the society is the problem that had hindered players to engage in different sports. Posnanski argues that the main problem the baseball game has been facing for a long time is cheating. However, Joe Posnanski brings out his ideas more effectively than Wilfred Sheed due to the excellent use of facts.

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REPORT: Raiders' Most-Improved Unit Being Foolishly Overlooked

Aidan champion | jul 1, 2024.

• Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders made vast improvements to their offensive line room this offseason.

With a room that already had returning starters in captain offensive tackle Kolton Miller, center Andre James, guard Dylan Parham and offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. the Raiders added the best center in the 2024 NFL Draft with Jackson Powers-Johnson and brought in two veteran starters and former Pro Bowlers, Andrus Peat and Cody Whitehair. They also added another option to their offensive tackle group with third-round pick DJ Glaze.

Despite all of that, Las Vegas' offensive line unit is still being overlooked.

Pro Football Focus' Zultán Buday ranked the Raiders' offensive line 19th among all 32 offensive lines in the league.

Here's what he had to say about Las Vegas' unit:

"There is a lot to be optimistic about with the Raiders' offensive line: Kolton Miller has developed into one of the NFL's best left tackles, center Andre James had a breakout 2023 season (ranked ninth among centers in PFF grade) and right tackle Thayer Munford Jr. was promising in his second season on a limited workload.

"The Raiders also selected Oregon offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft."

Based on this analysis, you would think the Raiders' offensive line would be higher in these rankings . There's no argument as to why it shouldn't be.

It's rather comical that the addition of Powers-Johnson is mentioned as an afterthought. The rookie guard was one of the biggest steals of the draft, who should have gone in the first round but fell to the second. Powers-Johnson was the best center in all of college football last season and will likely be a starter on the Raiders' offensive line.

Between him, Miller, James, Parham, Munford, Whitehair and even Glaze, you have seven potential starters in this room, six of whom started at least 10 games last season.

Sure, 19th isn't terrible, but this unit deserves a higher ranking for how much it improved on paper this offseason. Yet again, the Raiders are not getting their due respect. They're just going to have to earn it this coming season.

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