PASSAGE 1: To Play or Not to Play

Question

By Jon Hoang

In her article for the Illinois-based newspaper Daily Herald, Patricia Babcock McGraw focused on some parents’ concerns about paying for their children’s college education. “[W]e’ve been worrying about our kids’ health, safety, and well-being since the day they were born,” she said, “which is about how long we’ve been worrying about college.” Not all students go to college, but for those who do, scholarships can help pay for costs like classes, books, and housing.

McGraw suggested that many parents whose children plan to go to college secretly hope that their child might be lucky enough to earn an athletic scholarship. Experts advise that luck has little to do with obtaining a scholarship. For ultimate success, students must plan in advance, starting from the ninth grade or before. To obtain an athletic scholarship, kids must focus on both their sport and their education. Plus, to have the greatest success, students should attend college games or matches to meet coaches and players.

Players Experiencing Gaming Disorder

Males

Females

8.5%

3.5%

From “Prevalence of Gaming Disorder: A Meta-Analysis.” Percentages are an estimate that come from a combination of 61 studies across 29 countries.

In short, obtaining an athletic scholarship represents a huge commitment on the part of a family. As an alternative to such a scholarship, a student could instead strive for a scholarship earned for playing esports: video games. Scholarships for playing electronic sports started around 2014. Today, video game players may earn college money by playing real-time

strategy games, fighting games, sports games, first person games, or multiplayer games. A skilled high school esports player may be offered a place on a college esports team along with a scholarship.

Is awarding college money for playing video games a smart move? There are risks associated with esports. One such risk is known as “gaming disorder.” This mental health issue happens when game players prioritize game play over other activities and interests. Those with gaming disorder may skip meals, become antisocial, and lose interest in work or school. The results can be life altering for those who don’t get help. Relationships may suffer, grades may fail, and if that’s the case – any esports scholarship could be lost. Does it make good sense to offer money for something that is potentially harmful?

However, there are other scholarships that are awarded for a variety of activities that make video game playing seem quite traditional. Consider the Stuck at Prom Scholarship. High school students earn money for college by creating a dress or a tuxedo out of Duck® Brand duct tape. Winning entries are based upon originality, workmanship, use of colors, accessories, and use of the correct brand of duct tape. A first-place prize winner receives a $10,000 cash scholarship.

The National Marbles Tournament offers a chance for marble shooters, or mibsters, to earn money for college. The group has awarded thousands of dollars in college scholarships to winners of the game. Zombie fans may earn college money by submitting an essay for the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship. Entrants must submit a plan to stay alive in a high school or college overrun with zombies.

Considering the wide array of scholarships available, esports may not be so far “outside the box.” But does that make it a good idea – or just another bad one?

PASSAGE 2: Video Game Scholarships
By Katie Jones

Francis Howell Central High School in St. Charles, Missouri has an esports team. In a September 2019 article for the NBC News website, Brian Seto McGrath described how esports—electronic sports—became an important activity at Francis Howell. Kris Miller, the school’s guidance counselor, was visiting a college in 2018 when he saw the college esports facility. Miller decided that his high school should start an esports team, too. In time, Miller invited college coaches to meet the new esports team. Two of the students were invited to play at a university tournament for a game called Overwatch. Later, they were offered $100,000 in scholarships by the university.

“If colleges are offering scholarships,” Miller said, “our kids should be competing for them.” Many parents became enthusiastic about high school esports when they realized that their child may be able to obtain money for college. Physical education teachers were less excited. They questioned whether esports are really athletics and should be eligible for scholarships. Esports promoters point out that, like traditional sports, esports rely upon reflexes, strategy, skilled execution, and teamwork.

There can be injuries from athletics, of course, and the same is true for esports. Gripping a controller for hours a day can lead to joint pain in the fingers and hands. Repetitive movements can cause inflammation in tendons. Staring at a screen for hours on end may cause eye strain. Football players would likely say that these injuries pale in comparison to what they experience, from bruises and broken bones to concussions.

There are some who believe that students who focus on gaming may develop unhealthy habits. Unlike traditional sports, esports require players to stay in one place without much movement. This can be unhealthy at best and cause blood clots at the most extreme level.

Video game scholarships are not just for game players, it turns out. Many schools offer tuition support for students who are interested in game design. For example, the New York University Game Center created a scholarship with EVO, the longest-running fighting game contest. The program supports students who want to study game design at the university. The Entertainment Software Association Foundation and the National Videogame Museum also offer financial aid for students interested in game arts. The awards are open to high school students who want to pursue a career in game design.

For technology-minded students, video game scholarships offer a chance to get paid to play, just like students who play traditional sports.

WRITING TASK

Some people believe that colleges should offer scholarships to esports participants. Others, however, believe that esports students should not be offered college scholarships.

Weigh the claims on both sides, and then write an argumentative essay about whether or not colleges should offer video game-related scholarships.

Be sure to use evidence from BOTH texts in your argumentative essay. Write your answer in the space provided.

Before you write, be sure to:

• think about ideas, facts, definitions, details, and other information and examples you want to use;
• think about how you will introduce your topic and what the main topic will be for each paragraph;
• develop your ideas clearly and use your own words, except when quoting directly from the source texts; and
• be sure to identify the sources by title or number when using details or facts directly from the sources.

Now write your argumentative essay in the space provided. Be sure to:

• introduce your claim;
• support your claim with logical reasoning and relevant evidence from the texts;
• acknowledge and address alternate or opposing claims;
• organize the reasons and evidence logically;
• use words, phrases, and clauses to connect your ideas and to clarify the relationships among claims,
• counterclaims, reasons, and evidence;
• establish and maintain a formal style;
• provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented; and
• check your work for correct grammar, usage, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.

Please use two line spaces (using the "enter" key twice) between each paragraph.

Answer 1

Argumentative Essay: Should Colleges Offer Scholarships for Esports?

In recent years, the rise of esports as both a competitive activity and a potential source of college scholarships has piqued the interest of educational institutions and students alike. This growth has led to an ongoing debate about whether colleges should offer scholarships for esports participants. On one hand, proponents argue that esports foster teamwork, strategy, and reflexes that are also foundational in traditional sports. On the other hand, critics raise concerns about the health implications of excessive gaming and question whether esports should be classified as true athletics. Ultimately, colleges should offer scholarships for esports, as they provide opportunities for students, promote healthy competition, and reflect the changing landscape of sports.

Supporters of esports scholarships contend that, like traditional sports, esports require skill, dedication, and teamwork. In the article "Video Game Scholarships" by Katie Jones, the example of Francis Howell Central High School illustrates how the establishment of an esports team led to students receiving substantial scholarships for their talents in games like Overwatch. This indicates that colleges recognize the importance of competitive gaming and are willing to invest in students who excel in this area. Additionally, Jones notes that esports promotes reflexes and strategies akin to those found in physical sports—qualities that are commendable and beneficial for students’ overall development.

Moreover, scholarships for esports provide financial aid to students pursuing higher education, just as athletic scholarships do for traditional sports. In "To Play or Not to Play" by Jon Hoang, it is emphasized that scholarships can alleviate the financial burden of college expenses, which aligns with the goals of many families. Gaming scholarships serve students who might not be as interested in traditional sports but possess exceptional skills in video gaming, ensuring that diverse talent is recognized. Furthermore, as technology becomes increasingly integrated into society, esports scholarships reflect a forward-thinking approach in education and accommodate students' varied interests.

However, there are valid concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of esports on students’ health and lifestyle. Critics argue that the sedentary nature of gaming can lead to unhealthy habits, as players tend to spend long hours in front of screens with minimal physical activity. Hoang references "gaming disorder" as a serious risk where players may prioritize gaming over essential activities, resulting in detrimental effects on their health, relationships, and academic performance. This raises the question of whether it is wise for colleges to support an activity that could lead to such issues.

Despite these concerns, it is essential to acknowledge that traditional sports are not without risks either. As Jones points out, both esports and traditional sports can result in injuries, albeit of different kinds. For example, while football players may suffer concussions, esports players may experience repetitive strain injuries or joint pain. The comparison illustrates that all forms of competitive activities carry some level of risk, and rather than eliminating scholarships for esports, educational institutions could implement guidelines that promote a balanced approach to gaming, wellness, and academic responsibilities.

In conclusion, the advantages of offering scholarships for esports participants significantly outweigh the drawbacks. Esports foster valuable life skills, provide financial support for education, and cater to a diverse range of student interests. While it is important to address the potential health concerns associated with gaming, schools can mitigate these risks through responsible management and education about healthy gaming practices. Thus, colleges should embrace the future and support esports as a legitimate avenue for scholarship opportunities, recognizing the evolving nature of competition in the modern world.