Choose an issue of importance to you-the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope-and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.
Thank you-------------
In the wilderness, a gigantic Hummer with front bumpers as big as bull runs across the brook and climbs the rough mountain. Then, the announcer in a low-voice tone claims, "Wildness, Toughness. 8000 LBS Strength. Scales 60% Inclines. That's why you need it..."
As I witnessed this noxious TV commercial of Hummer vehicle that proudly deludes buyers for its image of mastery over the wilderness, I am thrown to flood of thoughts of questions. How many people really need a large, gas-guzzling vehicle like the Hummer? How many times would they actually venture into territory more dangerous than the well- paved roads and a parking lot of the shopping mall? I do understand that the company is providing the products for some consumers who want the image of protection and rugged individualism. However, when I consider it on the ethical point of view, I see the sale of Hummer as a failure on a company side to pay attention to its social responsibility, specifically in this case to the environment. Hummers are well known to be the social threats; they are not only dangerous to other non-Hummer drivers, but also horribly destructive to the environment. According to a study by National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, a person in the car accident with Hummer is 3.4 times more likely to be killed than in any accidents with other kinds of car. Hummer's average gas mileage of nine miles per gallon, and its astronomical consumption of fossil fuels are the major contributors to pollution and global warning. Because a company has only focused on taste of individual consumers and the business itself instead of interest of the society as whole, it fails to keep up the business ethic.
As a student who aspires to be part of business in the future, I am deeply interested in the business ethic issues. I strongly believe that when a company sells a product, it should carefully examine if the product satisfies both business and social ethics.
Even though I am not a business-woman yet, as a class officer whose one of major responsibilities is to raise as much money as possible to hold the best prom, I was in many situations in which I had to incorporate this issue. Last year, for the fall fundraising item, the sale of energy drink came up on the surface. Energy drink was a popular item among not only athletes but whole school. When we asked students, they were eager to purchase them if possible. It seemed like the sale of energy-drink could bring us the great amount of profit. However, we did not have this fundraising that fall. Why? We refused to sell such an unhealthy product that was even announced on the national news to our friends. We did not let the profit and tastes of students to be the motivator factor in defining our ethics policy.
In the business realm, understanding the ethical view of community and incorporating those into business are crucial for business people. Some may argue that the ultimate goal for business is to make maximum profit and to satisfy consumers; however, I firmly believe that if the company fails to consider its responsibility toward the society, then it can never be successful. When I study business in university, I would like to learn more about ethic issue so I can enhance the interaction between society and business.
I really like your essay. Great job!
I'm also in the process of writing an essay for UT as well.
I was wondering what they mean by "it must be no longer than 120 eighty-character lines of text (including spaces and blank lines)" if we were to be submitting it online. Does that mean you can only write 120 sentences, each with 80 characters?
Maybe it is better in the present tense: As I witness this obnoxious TV commercial, advertising a Hummer and proudly deluding buyers by creating a brand image suggesting mastery over the wilderness, I am thrown to flood of thoughts and questions.
I did not think "flood of thoughts of questions" sounded right...
...that if the company fails to consider its responsibility to society, then it can never be successful.
I think you should condense the material about the misleading Hummer commercial and precede it by an intro paragraph. Let the Hummer paragraph be one that illustrates the main idea of the essay, which is that you feel strongly about advertising and ethics. The ending is quite good; now give an intro that will enable to the reader to appreciate this theme of ethics in branding and advertising.
