Write for an Academic Discussion

A professor has posted a question about a topic and students have responded with their thoughts and ideas. Make a contribution to the discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to write.

Your professor is teaching a class on environmental studies.

In your response, you should do the following.

• • Express and support your opinion.
• • Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Professor’s question:

We've been discussing the global issue of plastic pollution. A major point of debate is where the primary responsibility for solving this problem lies. Some people believe that individual consumers should be responsible, by changing their purchasing habits and recycling properly. Others argue that large corporations hold the greater responsibility because they produce the plastic in the first place. Where do you think the greater responsibility lies? Why?

Student response 1:

I think the main responsibility falls on individual consumers. We are the ones who make the daily choices to buy products in plastic packaging. If a large number of people started refusing to buy these items and chose sustainable alternatives instead, companies would have no choice but to change. Therefore, our collective buying power is the most effective tool.

Student response 2:

I have to disagree. The greater responsibility lies with the large corporations. They are the ones who design and mass-produce the packaging, often leaving consumers with very few plastic-free options for essential goods. For example, they have the resources to invest in and develop sustainable packaging, which would have a much larger impact than individual actions alone.