What are the 03 sample argumentative essays on a social issue raised in literary works under the 8th-grade Literature curriculum in Vietnam? What Vietnamese knowledge does the 8th-grade Literature curriculum in Vietnam cover?

The Work "Muối của Rừng"

Nguyen Huy Thiep is a writer who brought new waves to Vietnamese literature with diverse literary styles and a unique way of writing. In “Muối của Rừng,” Nguyen Huy Thiep delved into the relationship between nature and humans. This work sends readers awakening bells about the true value of nature - awakening human nature. What is the relationship between humans and nature, why is it necessary to maintain it, and what should we do?

First, the relationship between humans and nature is a sturdy, inseparable bond that exists eternally, nature and humans coexist and mutually support each other. Humans can survive for a period if separated from the social environment, but cannot live without air to breathe, water to drink, food, cannot produce without land, water, light... Humans are born from nature, nature determines human life, and humans determine the fate of nature. Humans are both a product and a subject of resources and the environment. As humans rely on environmental resources to exist; humans, in their activities, have strong impacts back and change the environment.

However, in this relationship, nature offers us numerous benefits. Yet we humans do not know how to respect, protect, and preserve them. We exploit natural resources recklessly. We pollute water resources as well as air with harmful emissions from factories, enterprises, and everyday vehicles. All forests are being destroyed by us, we burn forests, cut down trees to seek personal profit without thinking about others. The benefits nature brings to our lives seem endless, but if not preserved, resources will be depleted, pollution will cause ozone layer depletion, global warming, and increased risk of droughts, floods. We ourselves contribute to the harmful impacts on our lives. Nature plays a significant role for all humans and all living creatures on earth. Therefore, we must exploit, use suitably as well as preserve and protect nature to make it one of humanity's most precious assets.

Through media, we are informed about the increasingly polluted state of the natural environment, the earth's crust is warming, more disasters, humanity faces global climate change. Environmental changes negatively affect human health, increasing diseases. Human life is distancing from the natural environment due to urbanization.

Faced with such negative realities, each of us needs a better understanding of the importance of the environment to human life. Each of us should join hands to protect the environment with both domestic and international activities for environmental protection. Improving the environment is a process that requires time, so each of us should choose ways to care for personal and family health in the current environmental state.

Thus, "Muối của Rừng" is a perfect work for humans to reassess their position on the scale: humans - nature. The work sounded a warning bell about the true value of nature - awakening human nature. A work that advises humans to always protect, cherish, and shield nature.

The Work "The Last Leaf"

O Henry is an outstanding short story writer in early 20th-century American literature. The O Henry Award is a literary award in America for the best short stories of the year. The writer’s fame will be remembered forever. The story "The Last Leaf" exemplifies O Henry's artistic style. It has only three characters, poor artists: Sue, Johnsy, and old Behrman. The story has a tight structure, hardly any unnecessary details, with an emotional sequence about Johnsy’s prolonged illness and Behrman’s unexpected death. Some say: O Henry's "The Last Leaf" is a green message about human affection and life.

O Henry's "The Last Leaf" displays a noble, touching friendship. Johnsy and Sue are two young female artists, poor but full of dreams and love. They bond over their interests and art, becoming like sisters, sharing a painting room in a poor street. That winter, pneumonia was rampant, "striking down dozens of victims." Johnsy caught a cold and lay bedridden. All medicines became "useless," and she was sure she "couldn't survive." Johnsy was haunted, once the last leaf of the ivy vine outside the window falls, she believes she "will go too." Her spiritual collapse worsened her illness. In such dire circumstances, their friendship was tested. Sue dearly loves her adopted sister, she cried "until she drenched a Japanese napkin." Sue worries. Sue tends to her and strives tirelessly to care for Johnsy. Sue works harder to earn money for medicine and food for Johnsy. When the poor sister "lay quietly, pale as a fallen statue," Sue still patiently comforts her. She says through tears: "Dear, dear... Promise me to close your eyes and not look out the window anymore... Try to sleep..."

Sue devotedly cares for her, sometimes stirring chicken soup, sometimes mixing milk with Bordeaux wine, sometimes adding pillows, summoning the doctor or calling Behrman for help. Sue wrestles with the specter of death to treat her poor beloved adopted sister.

Sue embodies empathetic, altruistic compassion, a person rich in silent sacrifice, possessing a vast kind heart. Sue is a beautiful character eliciting emotion and admiration for noble and loyal friendship and sisterly affection. Sue's character illuminates the "green message" of "The Last Leaf." To save others from calamity, some face death without fear. Old Behrman, an old painter, showcases such sacrificial virtue. That year, Behrman was 60, struggling, 40 years painting yet unable to “reach the hem of the goddess's gown” of art. Yet, he told Sue: "One day I will paint a masterpiece..." He no longer modeled but stood in the cold, persistent rain mixed with snow, wearing an old blue shirt, silently creating the "last leaf," the "brave leaf," throughout the night. The gale raged, yet that singular ivy leaf clung tightly to the branch. Behrman’s clothes and shoes got soaked and chilled. Behrman died of pneumonia. The last leaf he "painted" drove away death, saving Johnsy. Selflessly saving others is a noble act. Behrman's death surpasses all odes. If Christ was crucified for human happiness, then noble Behrman sacrificed for Johnsy’s life. Behrman left forever, yet the last leaf, his masterpiece, remains for life and human happiness, enduring eternally. Johnsy recovers, gazing at Behrman's "masterpiece" feeling gratitude and boundless appreciation. Over a century, millions of readers worldwide have bowed their heads in reverence before the act and death of the old painter Behrman.

"The Last Leaf" is one of the foreign literary works that brings us much delight. That "green message" remains ever vibrant in the hearts of people. The friendship, sisterly love, compassionate heart, and self-sacrifice of young and old artists make readers believe more in human goodness. It advises humanity: strive for human happiness, let art serve people, the human beauty, the human values of "The Last Leaf" touch our souls deeply.

Artist Behrman fell for art, sacrificed for the life and happiness of others. Art aimed at humanity is the highest, most enduring art!