Writing for Academic Discussion Pushing young people to take risks or emphasize caution?

Should we be pushing young people to take more risks, or should we emphasize caution instead?

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.        Name examples of risk-taking.

2.        Would you give it a go with the following cases? Why/why not?

a.     going abroad for a year after graduation instead of taking a very good job

b.     choosing to be a professional athlete, musician, artist, or writer

c.      confessing your love to someone

d.     starting a business

3.        Share your experience that is similar to Lily’s point: Taking a risk leads to personal growth.

4.        Have you ever been persuaded not to take a risk? Share the story with others. What were the concerns?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Taking risks

1.        Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

2.        It is only when you are young that you can take risks.

3.        By taking risks, young people will grow whether they fail or not. Challenging makes them confident, resilient, resourceful, and creative.

4.        Precarious life is stressful.

 

Exercising caution

1.        You can avoid mistakes and embarrassment.

2.        Learning to make an informed decision is important to be successful.

3.        One should prioritize protecting what has been proved secure and beneficial.

4.        Loss of opportunities might happen, for luck and fun are often something new and strange.

 

 

☆Ideas and Expressions  

【Thesis】I believe that it is irresponsible for adults to encourage young people to take risks.

【Supporting Details】Risk-taking is gambling, and it is easier and more exciting to take risks than to exercise caution. Very often, what is called risk-taking is a premature action done by skipping the process of rigorous research, meticulous planning, and robust and patient execution of the plan, which are the practices that are imperative for success. Young people must train themselves by sticking to these practices to gain enough knowledge and skills for their goals. In addition, to succeed in something by taking a risk often depends on experience, but young people lack adequate experience to take a risk. They should wait and learn until they are ready to take a risk years later.

【Counterargument-treatment】Lyly’s point that taking a risk can lead to personal growth sounds valid. since taking responsibility of the action and wider perspective and confidence gained through new experiences contributes to becoming well-rounded and resourceful, whether the person wins or loses. However, taking a risk also involves a huge loss when the challenger fails. For example, failing to establish a business will leave the person with a huge debt and sense of loss, regret, and feeling of inferiority. They may also lose their family and friends. Very strong will power and discipline is necessary to overcome the predicament, and most people are not so strong and become real losers, who give up their life itself. Even victory at an early age has a negative impact on the person’s life as it makes the person contented and conceited, even if the success was greatly due to luck, and personal growth will stop there.

【Conclusion】In the end, slow but steady is the best strategy. Real chances will come to those who are ready to grab it after making enough efforts. (306 words)

 

Write your response in 10 minutes. Show each other your responses. Write down questions or suggestions to each other’s response.

 

                                                   DRAFT