SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPHS : Taking risks is essential and should be encouraged.

Disclaimer : These are just suggestions. They are not necessarily the best or the only way to write the paragraphs.

How to learn from this blogpost : Note the colours used for different question requirements. Learn how different parts of the body paragraphs correspond to the question requirements.

(Q) Taking risks is essential and should be encouraged.
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DEFINE : RISK-TAKING refers to the willingness to sacrifice or lose something, or put oneself in harm’s way in order to accomplish something or in the event of a failed attempt at achieving a desired outcome.
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SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH 1
(Topic Sentence) Taking risks should be encouraged WHEN it is seen as a means to achieve a greater good such as human rights.

(Explanation/Elaboration)
In very specific situations, society would not be able to protect their rights if no one undertakes a risk to facilitate that protection.

(Eg)
One of the recent controversial cases of risk-taking would be that of former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden’s theft of confidential information that incriminated the United States government in massive breaches of privacy using its PRISM system.
He bore the risks of being labelled a traitor and punished by the justice system. He also risked, and has lost, the freedom to return to his homeland. Yet his act of whistle-blowing can be regarded as necessary in order to preserve the freedom of the people. He exposed the government in a bid to raise awareness and get citizens to defend their right to privacy.

(Closing)
In such situations when the masses are intentionally put at a disadvantage, and a risk simply has to be taken for a higher aim like freedom, democracy or the accountability of the government, then taking risks is considered heroic and should be encouraged.

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SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH 2 :

(Topic Sentence) Calculated risks should be encouraged WHEN it is necessary to fulfil a duty or responsibility. Too big a risk could jeopardise the fulfilment of that duty.

(Explanation/Elaboration)
Not all kinds of risk-taking fall in this category. The government’s attempts at growing the economy or a company’s struggle to re-invent itself are cases of such essential risk-taking to avoid becoming uncompetitive and financially crippled. When a government takes investment risks, the potential loss could be so great that it could affect the ability to sustain development and support public services, and could eventually cost the ruling party the support of voters. Thus, careful risk assessment should to be conducted to reduce the chances of failure, but this does not mean that the risk is avoided altogether.

(Eg)
Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Government Investment Corporation or GIC has invested heavily in emerging economies like Brazil and India. This can be seen as a calculated risk because while success is not guaranteed, these economies have already shown potential for growth and so the odds of success are promising.
The risk had to be taken because Singapore had already experienced the harm of relying too much on supposedly safe options like investing in banks such as Citibank that faced severe problems during the last global financial crisis.

(Closing)
The case of Singapore is mirrored everywhere. Governments have the responsibility to build prosperity, and this makes risk-taking, especially in the global investment market, something essential that should be encouraged.

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SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH 3 :

(Topic Sentence) Whether or not taking risks should be encouraged in the context of the democratic process is reliant on other factors such as the maturity of the people and the quality of the incumbent and the opposition.

(Explanation/Elaboration)
When the government is not fulfilling its role to the people, then it would seem that the people should take the risk of electing someone else into power. The people risk being led by a group that could be worse than the current leaders. Since such risk-taking has serious repercussions on the future of the nation, it would be seen as essential and should be undertaken only if the opposition can show they have what it takes to make life better. Otherwise, voting would be based on emotion and the future of the country would hang in a balance.

(Eg)
During the Singapore General Elections in 2011, there was more support for the opposition. These supporters were taking the risk even though the opposition exhibited little vision to lead beyond trying to be the alternative voice in parliament.
Be that as it may, more people saw the risk of voting inexperienced candidates as an essential wake-up call to the government whom they saw as guilty of letting inequality, housing and unemployment problems go unchecked. However, they could have lost the stability provided by a government with a generally good track record.

(Closing)
Should this kind of risk-taking be encouraged? The democratic process is inherently risky because the result is the sum of each voter’s individual gamble on a candidate or party. The final outcome could be good or bad for the country as a whole. In this matter, voter education and maturity are vital for a democracy to best reflect the will of the people and lead to what is good for society. This is better than discouraging people from being part of the electoral process that allows their voices to be heard. Thus this kind of risk-taking should be encouraged.