<p>People who like to think of themselves as tough-minded and realistic tend to take it for granted that human nature is “selfish” and that life is a struggle in which only the fittest may survive. According to this view, the basic law by which people must live is the law of the jungle. The “fittest” are those people who can bring to the struggle superior force, superior cunning, and superior ruthlessness.
(Adapted from S.I. Hayakawa, Language in Thought and Action)</p>
<p>Assignment:</p>
<p>Do people have to be highly competitive in order to succeed? 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 observations.</p>
<p>Response:</p>
<pre><code> Being competitive is the key to success, Great Warriors, Athletes, are examples of competitive people who have actually succeeded either for themselves or for nations. In either case, one has to be competitive to succeed.
John, a high school student, was put into a competition, by the school, with three other students. The school has planned a scholarship for the student who wins, John studied day and night, but be that as it may, the day of the competition John became as anxious as an infant in his first day at school. John with his pen seemed as a warrior with his sword, under those circumstances, John proved to everyone that he was worthy of the scholarship.
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<p>The Old man from the novel, The Old Man and the sea, set his boat and took off with his fishing tools. The old man straightened the fishing rod in his hands and threw the bait into the sea, he jumped out of happiness when he felt his rod being pulled, however, he could never pull it that evening neither the second evening, by the same token, the fish pulled him as long as his boat for the evenings, however, he never let it go. He was able to see the fish when it jumped out of the water revealing itself to the old man. The old man was astonished since he has never seen anything as large. The old man managed to hit the fish with a harpoon, and managed to tie it to his boat, on the other hand, he faced some troubles on his way home, troubles that made him go home with only the bone of the fish. Even though, he couldn’t bring the fish back home, he won a struggle that continued for nights.</p>
<p>As has been noted, neither John the student nor the old man the fisherman has given up. As a matter of fact, they fought for what belongs to them, their competitive spirit have led them to success, Being competitive doesn’t have to mean that one should be aggressive to gain what belongs to him or her, being competitive means to gain what belongs to you by proving that you deserve it.</p>