Month: April 2025

The sole purpose of any multi-national company is to maximise returns to its shareholders. Do you agree?

While maximising returns to shareholders is a primary purpose of multi-national companies (MNCs), they also increasingly focus on social responsibility, sustainability, and stakeholder value.

I. Introduction

  • Hook: Multi-national companies exist solely to enrich their shareholders. Why else would they be multi-national?
  • Background: Overview of the traditional role of MNCs and evolving perspectives.
  • Thesis Statement: Maximising shareholder returns is crucial for MNCs, but they also focus on social responsibility, sustainability, and stakeholder value.

II. Supporting View 1: Maximising Shareholder Returns

III. Supporting View 2: Financial Performance Focus

IV. Supporting View 3: Regulatory Compliance for Profit

V. Opposing View 1: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

VI. Opposing View 2: Stakeholder Value Focus

VII. Opposing View 3: Ethical Business Practices

VIII. Conclusion

  • Restate Thesis: Maximising shareholder returns is crucial for MNCs, but they also focus on social responsibility, sustainability, and stakeholder value.
  • Summary of Key Points: Shareholder returns, financial performance, regulatory compliance versus CSR, stakeholder value, ethical practices.
  • Final Thought: Balancing profit with ethical and social responsibilities is essential for sustainable success in the modern business environment.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. To what extent is it justifiable for governments to adopt this approach?

While adopting desperate measures can be justified in extreme situations to ensure public safety and stability, it risks undermining democratic principles, human rights, and long-term societal trust. Ethics can be the guiding light.

I. Introduction

  • Hook: The end justifies the means. In times of crisis, government actions be justified.
  • Background: Overview of government responses to emergencies.
  • Thesis Statement: Desperate measures can be justified in extreme situations but risk undermining democratic principles, human rights, and long-term trust.

II. Supporting View 1: Ensuring Public Safety

  • Topic Sentence: Adopting desperate measures at times is justified to ensure public safety in extreme crises.
  • Example 1: New Zealand’s strict COVID-19 lockdown (2020-2021). Strict lockdown measures curbed virus spread effectively (source: BBC, 2020).
  • Example 2: Australia’s bushfire emergency response (2019-2020). Government enforced evacuations and firebreaks to protect lives (source: The Guardian, 2020). https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/06/australian-bushfires-what-did-the-government-do
  • Example 3: Italy’s stringent earthquake measures (2016-2021).
    • Analysis: In extreme situations, urgent measures are necessary to protect public safety.

    III. Supporting View 2: Stabilising the Economy

    IV. Supporting View 3: Addressing National Security Threats

    V. Opposing View 1: Undermining Democratic Principles

    VI. Opposing View 2: Violating Human Rights

    VII. Opposing View 3: Eroding Public Trust

    VIII. Conclusion

    • Restate Thesis: Desperate measures can be justified in extreme situations to ensure public safety and stability, but they risk undermining democratic principles, human rights, and long-term societal trust.
    • Summary of Key Points: Public safety, economic stability, national security versus democratic principles, human rights, public trust.
    • Final Thought: Balancing immediate needs with long-term values is crucial for justifying extreme measures.

    Do you agree that it is increasingly difficult to tell right from wrong?

    It is increasingly difficult to tell right from wrong due to the complexity of modern issues, misinformation, and cultural relativism. However, ethical frameworks, education, and critical thinking still provide guidance.

    I. Introduction

    • Hook: Humans are not blind. They can clearly discern right from wrong.
    • Background: Overview of moral ambiguity in modern society.
    • Thesis Statement: It is increasingly difficult to tell right from wrong due to social complexity, misinformation, and cultural relativism, but ethical frameworks and education can offer guidance.

    II. Supporting View 1: Complexity of Modern Issues

    III. Supporting View 3: Cultural Relativism

    IV. Opposing View 1: Ethical Frameworks Provide Guidance

    • Topic Sentence: Established ethical frameworks help maintain moral clarity.
    • Example 1: Human rights laws in the EU (2017-2021) uphold moral standards. Human rights frameworks guide ethical decision-making (source: European Commission, 2020). https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights_en
    • Analysis: Ethical frameworks provide a foundation for determining right from wrong.

    V. Opposing View 2: Education and Critical Thinking

    VI. Opposing View 3: Role of Community and Dialogue

    • Topic Sentence: Community values and open dialogue support moral clarity.
    • Example 1: Community forums in Germany (2017-2021) foster ethical discussions. Forums encourage dialogue on moral issues (source: Deutsche Welle, 2019). https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-community-forums/a-51157813
    • Analysis: Community involvement and dialogue help reinforce shared moral values.

    VII. Conclusion

    • Restate Thesis: Distinguishing right from wrong is becoming more difficult due to complexity, misinformation, and cultural relativism, but ethical frameworks and education offer guidance.
    • Summary of Key Points: Complexity of modern issues, spread of misinformation, cultural relativism versus ethical frameworks, education, and community dialogue.
    • Final Thought: Navigating moral ambiguity requires a combination of ethical frameworks, critical thinking, and community engagement.

    Solitude is enjoyable and beneficial. Discuss.

    Solitude in the right combination can be enjoyable and beneficial, fostering creativity, personal growth, and mental health. However, it can also lead to loneliness, anxiety, and social disconnection if experienced excessively.

    I. Introduction

    • Hook: Solitude is a sanctuary for the mind.
    • Background: Overview of the concept of solitude and its impacts.
    • Thesis Statement: Solitude can be enjoyable and beneficial, promoting creativity, personal growth, and mental health.

    II. Supporting View 1: Solitude Fosters Creativity

    III. Supporting View 2: Solitude Promotes Personal Growth

    IV. Supporting View 3: Solitude Improves Mental Health

    V. Opposing View 1: Solitude Can Lead to Loneliness

    VI. Opposing View 2: Solitude May Increase Anxiety

    VII. Opposing View 3: Solitude Can Lead to Social Disconnection

    VIII. Conclusion

    • Restate Thesis: Solitude is generally enjoyable and beneficial, promoting creativity, personal growth, and mental health, but excessive solitude can have negative effects.
    • Summary of Key Points: Solitude fosters creativity, personal growth, mental health versus loneliness, anxiety, social disconnection.
    • Final Thought: Balancing solitude with social interaction can maximise its benefits and minimise its drawbacks.