Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
It is widely believed that people do their best work when they are promised rewards for their achievements. Our schools and workplaces operate on the assumption that good work occurs when people are competing for grades, money, or recognition from others. In truth, the prospect of rewards provided by others can inhibit and limit people’s drive and creativity. People do their best work when motivated from within by their enjoyment of a particular challenge and their satisfaction in doing something well.
What do you think motivates people to do their best? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observation.
Advertisements
Solution
The debate surrounding the factors that truly motivate individuals to perform their best work has long been a subject of interest. While the conventional belief asserts that external rewards, such as grades, money, and recognition, are paramount in driving human achievement, a closer examination reveals that intrinsic motivation, rooted in personal enjoyment and satisfaction, is a more potent and sustainable force.
External rewards often carry a transactional nature, focusing on the short-term outcome rather than the process or depth of work. In contrast, intrinsic motivation nurtures creativity and innovation by encouraging individuals to explore beyond the constraints of immediate rewards. Consider the case of renowned inventors and artists who have revolutionized their fields not for the sake of monetary gain, but due to an innate curiosity and passion for their craft. For instance, Steve Jobs' vision for Apple was fueled by his desire to create products that seamlessly blended technology and design, a goal that transcended the allure of financial gains. This demonstrates that intrinsic motivation sparks creative thinking and empowers individuals to push boundaries, resulting in groundbreaking advancements.
History is replete with examples that illustrate the dominance of intrinsic motivation in driving extraordinary accomplishments. The story of Vincent van Gogh, the renowned Dutch painter, exemplifies how inner drive can fuel exceptional work. Despite financial hardships and limited recognition during his lifetime, van Gogh's passion for art drove him to produce some of the most celebrated masterpieces in history. His paintings, infused with his emotions and personal expression, continue to inspire generations.
Reflecting on personal experiences and observations further validates the potency of intrinsic motivation. When individuals engage in activities they are genuinely passionate about, they often demonstrate higher levels of dedication, perseverance, and enthusiasm. For instance, students who choose subjects aligned with their interests tend to delve deeper into their studies, resulting in a richer understanding of the material. Similarly, employees who are passionate about their work are more likely to go above and beyond, leading to improved productivity and innovation.
In conclusion, the belief that external rewards are the primary driver of exceptional performance is a misconception. Intrinsic motivation, rooted in personal enjoyment, passion, and the desire to excel, is the true catalyst for outstanding achievements.
Notes
The marks may be divided as:
- Content – 2 marks
- Organisation – 1 mark (fluency, coherence, logical flow)
- Expression – 2 marks (vocabulary, originality of ideas, grammatical accuracy)
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Read the following extract carefully and present the information in the form of notes with the help of the given clues :
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first Vice President and second President of India.
He was a teacher, a philosopher and 'an author. He had introduced the thinking of Western idealist philosophers like Plato, Plontinus, Bergson into Indian thought.
He was born on 5th of September, 1888 in a poor Brahmin family. As his father could not afford his education expenses, Radhakrishnan supported most of his education
through scholarships. He completed his B.A. and M.A. with majors in philosophy. He went on to become a professor of philosophy. He showed that Indian Philosophy, once translated into standard academic jargon, is worthy of being called philosophy by Western standards.
He thus, placed Indian Philosophy on world map.
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan had established a strong relationship with the Soviet Union when he w Is appointed as the ambassador to the Soviet Union.
He has been honoured with many awards for his achievements nationally and internationally. He was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1954. He is also acknowledged with the Templeton Prize, Peace Prize of German Book Trade, Order of Merit and many other honours.
Title : Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Birth : 5th September, 1888
Qualifications : B.A. ___________
Introduced thinking of : _________,_________and ____ into Indian thought.
Work : Translated_____________ into standard____________
Ambassador : __________________________________
Honours : National___________
International Order of Merit
Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and but or so :
(i) He was very ill. He did not take any medicine.
(ii) You come back from your holiday. We will discuss the problem.
(iii) He remained absent on Friday. It was foolish of him.
(iv) Rahul ran all the way to the bus stop. He missed the bus.
Fill in the blank with the suitable word.
Her aunt looks _____________ her aging grandparents.
Explain how diction is important in the poem with the help of an example.
Why is the word ‘ cried’ used by the poet in the line, ‘It was the English, Kaspar cried’?
How does the hyphen and font help to advance the theme?
Explain the following:
They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude;
The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and his
Tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom.
Read the above lines and answer the question that follow.
What parallel can be drawn to the poet’s feelings and that of the caged bird?
What surprises Abou the next night? What message has the poet conveyed to all of us?
How did the last event turn out to be special?
The eight other runners pulled up on their heels
The ones who had trained for so long to complete
one by one they all turned around and went back to help him
And brought the young boy to his feet.
Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued
The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk
And a banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.
That's how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And a standing ovation and nine beaming faces
Said more than these words ever will.
Read the lines given above and answer the following question:
How would the nine contestants have felt when they all reached the finish line together? Which words indicate this? Do you think they were happy because they had won the gold medal? Why?
Discuss the conflict in the story, “Old Man at the Bridge”?
Describe the picture of India given by the author.
The anthology `ISC Collection of Short Stories' includes several stories in which a woman is a central character. Which female character has awakened your admiration, sympathy or interest and why?
Think of a time when you found yourself in an embarrassing situation. Narrate how you got into that situation, how you dealt with it and the lesson you learned from it.
You are to be awarded a Special Prize at the Annual Prize Day ceremony of your school. Write a letter to a lady relative, giving her the news. Be sure to include details of the prize that you are to receive, and tell her why you have been chosen for this honour.
Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.
Example:
(0) started
My mother (0)__________ (start) school when she
(1)__________ (be) six and (2)____________ (stop) the
same term. She was unusual in the village as she had a father and brother who (3)_________ (encourage) her to go to school. She was the only girl in a class of boys and claims she was brighter than the boys. But every day she (4)______ (will) leave behind her girl cousins (5) (play) at home and she (6)_________ (envy) them. There (7)_________ (seem) to be no point in. (8)_______ (go) to school just!o end up doing housework.
We were asked to gather_________ the teacher.
Since her childhood, Meera has been good in Mathematics.
(End: ............................ childhood)
Name some leaves and flowers that are used as adornments in our country.
What does the phrase “strange to tell” mean?
Write a letter to the Editor of a magazine describing a dance performance you have seen or an art gallery you have visited.
What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?
Entomologist and lepidopterists are mentioned in the text and you must have guessed the meanings of these words or found them out in the dictionary.
Now match the kinds of scientists given with the work they do:
|
A |
B |
|
ornithologist |
study of the skin |
|
gerontologist |
study of cells |
|
ergonomist |
study of birds |
|
dermatologist |
study of old age |
|
cytologist |
study of the design of equipment |
What do you understand the character of Mrs. Croft from the story?
How is Satyajit's financial crash introduced to the reader?
Write down the significance of the following in the context of ‘On to the Summit’:
Red Scarf
Discuss with your partner and make a list of steps that you feel are essential to unite the people of different castes, races, religions, and languages in India.
Let’s compose a poem. Two lines are given. Add two of your own.
There is another sky,
Ever serene and fair
Every movie is worth critiquing. Describe in detail each point related to the film review with the help of the following web.
Write what you think about the following thoughts and actions of Mathilde :
Mathilde and her husband decided to replace the necklace.
Use the details given in the story and your imagination and prepare a timetable for the trip to the moon.
Collect quotations on the topic ‘choice’. Example :
| ‘Decisions are the hardest thing to make, especially when it is a choice between where you should be and where you want to be.’ |
Present the quotations in a beautiful hand on card paper.
Find and write the descriptions of different people given in this story.
Divide the class in four groups. Collect four different stories written by Sudha Murthy. Select a story for every group and write it in the form of a play. Enact it in front of the class.
You have an Environment Protection Week to be celebrated in your school. You have invited an environmentalist. You have to interview him/her about how to save environment. Frame about 10-12 questions for the interview.
Make a poster of any natural disaster, giving details about the devastation caused.
The first day at school ______
Write a narrative paragraph on Kamarajar, using the given information and add more information on your own.
Fill in the blank by choosing the preposition from the option.
The birds were caught ______ the net.
Do you want to try to write your own paragraph now?
Write a paragraph on Monkey.
- ______
- ______
- ______
- ______
- ______
Some words have similar sound, but different meaning. Choose the correct word from the options and fill in the blank.
I have to leave at ______.
Add ‘–er’ or ‘–r’ to the doing words below to make new words.
- stiff - ______
- fight - ______
- juggle - ______
- speak - ______
- write - ______
- strange - ______
- dance - ______
- ride - ______
- use - ______
- joke - ______
The travellers rested under the ______ of trees.
Make groups of ten and present one of the following activities in class.
| skit | song | dance | painting a chart for class | make paper bags from old newspaper |
The old man shouted ______[loud]
As young Khushwant Singh, write a letter to your parents describing your daily routine expressing your thoughts and feelings about staying in the village.
State whether the following statement are true or false
The friends could not keep in touch because they lost each other’s phone numbers.
Are children afraid of visiting the dentist? Give reasons.
Why did they sympathize with the first patient?
The photograph did not look like ______.
The Government of Tamil Nadu has imposed a ban on the use of plastic. Effective implementation of this ban depends on public awareness and individual responsibility.
Write an article of 150 words for your school magazine to create an awareness of the dangers posed by indiscriminate use of plastic. Expand the ideas given below as notes.
Notes:
a. Introduction
(i) Plastic – synthetic material – doesn’t decompose in soil
(ii) Inevitable role of plastic – man’s day-to-day life
b. Human Health Hazard
(i) Leeching of plastic into food – micro plastic entering food chain
(ii) Human body’s inability to deal with this unnatural substance
(iii) Reaction of microplastic in human body and ill effects
c. Adverse Effects on Plants and Animals
(i) Plastic particles choking waterways – affect aquatic animals
(ii) Ingestion by aquatic and terrestrial animals–blocking of intestines and respiratory passages
d. Environmental Degradation
(i) Manufacturing process and burning of plastics–pollute atmosphere
(ii) Plastic–non-biodegradable – interferes with soil microorganisms – affects soil fertility
e. Conclusion
(i) Suggestions for restricted use – alternatives for one-time use of plastics
(ii) Segregation of plastic waste – for recycling
Write a paragraph of about 150 word, on the following topic.
The importance of Reading
Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on the following:
Describe an area in your city or hometown which is famous for its street food. Give details of the familiar sights and sounds you would experience on this street.
Write the full form for the following.
wasn’t - ______
One cannot always get what one wants and sometimes it is for the best. Present your reflections on this statement.
Translate the following sentence into your mother tongue.
The first question we must ask ourselves before we speak is - is it true?
If you want to become a tourist guide at the following places, which languages will you need to learn?
- Ajanta
- Belgavi
- Delhi
- Tarkarli
Discuss the challenges that people have to face due to disabilities.
