The Argumentative essay

The Argumentative essay

Brain Drain: For or Against?

At first glance, brain drain seems like a big loss. A considerable number of young people are leaving the country. It looks like the country is losing a lot of educated workforce. However, it seems a big advantage that talented minds are able to leave the country and pursue their dreams elsewhere.
The first argument I would like to mention is that individual talents would get the chance to grow in a favourable environment. They would get support and have more opportunities to flourish. This would help talents grow and not be wasted. Here is a simple example: a very clever friend of mine received a medal in the national Maths Olympics and graduated from university with the best marks. For a while he unsuccessfully tried to get a job. Finally, he decided to go abroad. Now he has  a good job and lives happily in France.
Another argument in favour of brain drain is that talented brains would like to ensure their own future and that of their families. What is wrong with the desire to look for a better living standard in another country? I mean, everyone likes to improve his/her conditions. We, therefore, should not prevent anyone from the pursuit of this right.
One further argument is that the experience that talented people gain abroad will be very useful if they decide at a later stage to go back and settle down in their own countries. In other words, the fact that highly educated people emigrate is not only good for themselves, but is also good for their countries, and may also be good for the world.
To conclude, what would happen if we forbade brain drain and keep all those talents inside the country? Will they be able to grow and be as productive as they want to? Or will they join the rows of unemployed people and create more problems for our society.

Abide Omar, Niger

Questions

1.            What is the author's attitude to brain drain? For, against or neutral?

2.            How many arguments does he give to support his point of view?

Fill in the table with ideas from the article. Add your own arguments if possible.

Arguments for brain drain	Arguments against brain drain
- people want to ensure their future - improve their conditions - talents grow - .......................... - .........................	- loss to the country of origin - talented people should contribute to the development of their countries - .................................. - ..................................

(Ref: Ticket to English textbook, Second Year Baccalaureate level)

Exercise

Are you for or against brain drain?

Write an article to your school magazine against brain drain. Use arguments to support your point of view.