1.

Nowadays, many teenage girls strive to become thin in an attempt to imitate the models
and celebrities they see on TV and in fashion magazines. However, it is often the case
that they end up suffering from serious eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and
bulimia. What are the factors behind this phenomenon and what are its consequences
on today’s youth? Use examples to support your opinion.

Thesis: The standards that modern beauty upholds are detrimental to today’s youth as
they promote unhealthy practices, lower self-esteem and directly lead to the development
of eating disorders in teens.

Point 1: Unhealthy practices

Topic sentence: Take a closer look at any fashion magazine and pages upon pages of supposed
“miracle pills” or people harping on about how plastic surgery changed their lives can be seen.

- Cosmetic/Plastic surgery

+ Celebrities, tabloids and fashion magazines reporting on all their body modifications

+ Easily accessible and affordable cosmetic surgery is a double edged knife (“no parental
consent needed” clinic)

+ Pressure to conform to society’s beauty standards ==> more motivation to change

yourself

- Fad diets

+ Similar to get-rich-quick scams that require little to no effort in exchange for high gain

+ Easily roped in because of the appeal

+ Sometimes harmless, sometimes dangerous (tapeworm diet)

Point 2: Lowered self-esteem

Topic sentence: As teenage girls go through puberty, they become more aware of themselves
and the people around them, which, combined with the message that they have to be a certain
way in order to be considered “beautiful”, causes their self-esteem to plummet.
- Desire to fit in

+ A need to adhere to conventional standards of beauty to earn acceptance (Conformity

in schools, cliques)

+ Little flaws and insecurities magnified tenfold by those who deem these traits
undesirable

- The presence of social media

+ Superficial validation on social media gradually replaces actual interactions (Facebook

and Instagram likes, posting pictures of yourself online)

+ Constant exposure to impossible standards ==> mistaking these standards for actual health

Point 3: Development of eating disorders

Topic sentence: And in pursuit of these impossible ideals, teenage girls turn to more desperate
methods, abstaining from eating and even drinking to achieve their goals, neglecting their bodies
and in time developing serious eating disorders which have devastating consequences.

- Causes:

+ A combination of both the factors mentioned above

+ Undiagnosed and untreated mental illnesses

- Physical and mental health

+ Anorexic and bulimic teens suffer from a wide variety of conditions (nutritional
deficiency, digestive problems, hormonal imbalance,…) that have long lasting effects and will
stay with them well into adulthood.

+ Emotional instability and mood swings, both of which can last long after they’ve
grown, have been observed in teens with eating disorders.

- Behavioral problems

+ There is a correlation between anorexia and bulimia to self-harm behavior, substance

abuse and impulsive decisions.

+ Though victims of eating disorders can be put into recovery, the risk of relapse is high.
 Conclusion: In conclusion, the rise in eating disorders can be attributed to a
combination of outside factors and teenagers themselves, with long-term repercussions for those
who suffer. Thus, this is an issue that requires immediate attention as the ramifications for this
trend are immense, putting teenagers at risk.

2. Many people cannot imagine themselves as employers because they prefer the sense of
security that comes with being an employee. However, working for others often entails a
great deal of compromise, not to mention various restrictions. Do you believe the
advantages of being an employee outweigh the disadvantages?

Thesis: Although being an employee certainly means less work

and responsibility, it also has to contend with several issues, namely workers’ rights
violations, job security and lack of flexibility, which ultimately outweighs the actual
benefits of being an employee.

Topic sentence 1: First and foremost, it is imperative that employees know their rights and how
to exercise them properly, but what happens when someone is exploited and cannot speak out?

- Being an employee comes with the risk of getting taken advantage of by your
colleagues and superiors, especially when dealing with difficult or problematic individuals. For
example, forcing someone to go to work while sick, cutting pay and hours over minor
infractions, or even guilt-tripping someone to work overtime without extra pay. This
phenomenon is rampant, especially in jobs that rely more on passion than wages to keep their
employees.

- Reporting to the authorities is usually discouraged over threat of retaliation or

termination. Restaurants, for example, that do not comply with hygiene and health regulations
are especially guilty of this, and will often take retaliatory action against suspected employees,
even if the tip made was anonymous.

Topic sentence 2: Secondly, although employees are touted to have financial stability and job
security, this is often not the case as your employer might have you change location on a whim,
or perhaps even give you the sack without as much as a warning.

- Employee job security is highly dependent on the employer. One might walk into a
Silicon Valley interview hoping to get a job as a programmer and end up getting offered an
entirely different job instead. Even worse is when they’ve worked somewhere for quite a while,
and then having to suddenly transfer teams or work location, often flipping your entire work
experience upside down with the employee having little to no say in the matter, especially if it’s
a forced transfer.

- Should your employer fall on hard times, or are due for a mass layoff, everyone’s at risk
of getting their job taken away. And unlike employers, who usually have a much larger spending
budget than the average employee, those who live paycheck to paycheck might find themselves
scrambling for a new job in order to pay the bills.

Topic sentence 3: Finally, as employees, one has little say over what their hours are, and nor do
they have the luxury of being in control of the final decisions being made with regards to your
career and salary.

- Career opportunities are few and far between, and working towards one is great work.
However, the final decision to promote isn’t yours, but rather your superiors. Imagine if you had
put everything you have into securing that position you’ve always wanted, only to be passed over
for a nephew of the founder, who has put absolutely no effort into the company and has no
relevant skills. New hires get more pay and benefits, while employees that have worked
relentlessly for the company get the shaft instead.

- If your employer needs you to work second shift instead of first shift, you’re stuck and
have to make lifestyle adjustments. If a co-worker calls off and no one is available to fill that
open shift, you might be forced to do so, and vice versa. Picking up the slack for others is
draining work, and everyone can attest to this.

Conclusion: All in all, though being an employee certainly takes much of the
responsibilities and risk-taking off one’s plate, the actual benefits are negligible and pale in
comparison to its drawbacks.

3. In times of economic recession, less money and attention are allocated to the preservation
of historical monuments and museums, which are the concrete representations and
reminders of a country’s heritage. Do you think money should be spent on the
maintenance of historical sites and museums? How can the government sensitize citizens
to their country’s cultural heritage? Discuss, giving specific examples to support your
view.
 Thesis: The preservation of landmarks and museums is akin to preserving a
country’s past, and with adequate spending and planning can also be an effective tool to
disseminating a nation’s cultural heritage amongst its people.

Topic sentence 1: Supporters of monument conservation put out the undeniable fact that these
monuments are a tangible piece of history, priceless artifacts that have overseen the country ever
since their creation.

- These landmarks offer an unbiased look into the history of a country, both its
achievements and failures.

- Preserving such landmarks is synonymous to protecting a nation’s core values and

cultural heritage.

Topic sentence 2: Having considered the historical value of these monuments, it would be
inconsiderate not to mention the economic and scientific benefits that efforts of conservation
bring us.

- Museums and landmarks are capable of generating revenue and bringing knowledge to
those who visit them. The self-sufficiency might vary depending on each location, but overall
they offer more than just knowledge should they be utilized right.

- Apart from imparting known information to the public, these ruins also hold scientific merit,
and can provide a wealth of information for a wide range of disciplines, such as archeology,
geography and more.

Topic sentence 3: Finally, the educational value that these monuments have is immense, and
proper multimedia coverage, collaboration with local institutions and direct engagement can
renew public interest in learning about a nation’s history and heritage.

- Newer technology should be embraced when dealing with subjects such as History, and
different mediums (Animation, video games) allow for a more immersive and engaging learning
experience. This also applies to museums, where interactive exhibits allow visitors to experience
more than just a guided tour.

- Offering day trips and tours to schools and universities incentivizes otherwise reluctant
students to go and explore the heritage that these landmarks have to offer, and thus will lead to
increased visits and interest in the subject matter.

- An abundance of documentaries and other media such as news, social media and more
can be used to promote these sites, emphasizing the importance of preservation and bolstering
tourism via exposure.
 Conclusion: The endeavor to preserve is part and parcel to a great nation,
reminding people of their cultural identity and lets them have pride in having such heritage.
Because of this, historical preservation efforts should be given the adequate funding and
attention that they deserve.

4. A number of companies have policies that prohibit their employees from having tattoos
or body piercing, since they are concerned that it might offend their prospective clients or
show disrespect to the company. Is it reasonable for employers to impose restrictions
regarding tattoos and body piercing or should employees be allowed to have a
free choice in the matter? Give reasons and examples to illustrate your points.

Thesis: Though having body modifications certainly is a personal choice, so is

recruitment; because of this, employers should have the ability to restrict employees from getting
tattoos and body piercings and deal with the consequences of such a choice.

Topic sentence 1: First and foremost, making a good impression is key, and for companies that
traditionally rely on this, having body modifications might turn others off at first sight.

- Though this isn’t always the case, having a visible tattoo or piercing is often considered
“trashy”, especially in more professional circles. Because of this initial judgment, it can be hard
to get through the initial bias against one for having such modifications.

- Especially explicit tattoos and controversial tattoos such as swastikas and Confederate flags are
indicative of bad character and shouldn’t be allowed in a workplace as these may offend people
of certain groups.

Topic sentence 2: It is also important to mention that, like employees, employers are well within
their rights to restrict as well, and to apply this one-sidedly is unfavorable bias.

- Employees reserve the right to have body art as freedom of expression, a right that
every citizen has. So do employers however, and unlike sorting by skin color or racial traits
tattoos and body modifications do have a somewhat negative connotation to them even today,
and thus can be justified by employers.

Topic sentence 3: Finally, it should be said that things are changing, and employers are
gradually becoming more tolerant of tattoos in the workplace, albeit not all of them do.

- Body art is now being seen as a form of expression, and employers are becoming more
comfortable with them in the workplace.
 - For many employers today, having tattoos isn’t explicitly banned, but visible tattoos are.
Thus these restrictions may apply differently. One might have a “No visible tattoos” restriction at
work, or an outright ban on having tattoos, but for the most part, employers turn a blind eye to
what they cannot see.

Conclusion: In conclusion, employers, like their employees, have the right to

restrict or allow body modifications in the workplace, however to varying degrees. Whether they
choose to exercise this right is up to them, but in the end it is undeniable that they can, and
should have a choice in the matter.

5. The disposal of waste is the government’s responsibility as very little can be done by
individuals. Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons and examples to support
your point of view.

Thesis: The responsibility of dealing with waste doesn’t fall entirely on

the government, but rather the individual as well, and it is of utmost importance that both work
together to achieve maximum efficiency in waste disposal.

Topic sentence 1: The government’s role in waste disposal, in essence, would be to deal with
legislature and projects requiring high amounts of funding.

- When large corporations are involved, particularly those that have atrocious waste
management procedures, only the government would have the authority necessary to pressure
these corporations to change.

- With regards to law and legislature, ministries with the executive power to create and pass laws
that would effectively promote wide scale waste disposal methods on citywide and nationwide scale.

- Investing in and maintaining vital waste disposal sites and structures is impossible without a
large budget and adequate city planning, which the government has both.

Topic sentence 2: Individuals too have to pick up the slack and lend a hand towards waste disposal as
well.

- Simple contributions, such as sorting out types of garbage, then disposing of said garbage at
designated areas, can make a huge difference if done by many.

- On a local level, associations and councils dedicated towards the proper disposal of trash can be
formed, and these can take on an organizational role when dealing with cleanups and disposals.
 - Whistleblowing – the act of letting the public know of hidden wrongdoings by a company or
authority, can be done by anyone and can reignite public interest in dealing with waste, as well as incite
peaceful protests and petitions for change.

Topic sentence 3: A joint effort between the authorities and the people is much needed.

- The government should cooperate with NGOs and lend assistance if necessary, by providing
them with platforms to speak out and to organize events. Encouraging volunteers and donations is also a
viable method.

- Complaints of misconduct should be taken seriously by authorities, both on a local and national
level and be dealt with accordingly depending on the severity of the infraction. Corporations should be
held responsible for the waste they produce and have proper management procedures lest they suffer fines
and penalties.

Conclusion: In conclusion, it is in the best interest of both parties, the people and the
government, to cooperate and share the responsibility of waste management. The only difference here
should be that of scale; the government with legislative and funding, and individuals with personal
contributions. Either way, it is apparent that the best results can only be achieved via a universal effort,
not just any single party involved.