What follows are sample introductory paragraphs from actual student essays.

21st Century Pink Tax Reform: Necessary Change

by Tess Stroud

Can you think of a time you may have paid extra for a razor simply because it had an extra strip of pink soap make for delicate skin? Or a time when you compared the prices between a blue and pink razor? Although it may not be evident, companies are willing to spend more money on marking towards women and also charge them more than men for the same products. This phenomenon is referred to as the Pink Tax and dates back to the 19th century in the form of tariffs (Harmon). Immense progress in the Women’s Rights movement has been made since, but the Pink Tax is one way our society fails to treat women equally. In spite of the rapidly increasing American economy, most people are living on a budget. Rent, student loans, and transportation fees are just a few ways hard-earned money can seemingly disappear from a woman’s wallet. For this reason alone, it is important to be aware of the Pink Tax so that consumers make informed decisions while shopping for toiletries and other common products that may be over-priced simply due to pink packaging. Laws have been passed in California and Washington D. C. to help ameliorate the discriminatory practice (Crockett), but there needs to be a higher level of awareness if we are to end the Pink Tax and save our wallets. To boycott the Pink Tax, consumers are being advised to purchase reusable menstrual products, buy gender neutral clothing, and sign petitions to show they care about ending the Pink Tax.

You can finish reading the essay by clicking on this link (please note that this essay is not formatted according to MLA 8 formatting standards): Pink Tax Reform

Just Eating Is Not Enough

by Sarah Casey

Eating disorders are a growing epidemic among adolescents across the globe. As with any growing medical issue, there are various forms of treatment. One of the newly-popular treatments is the Maudsley Approach, which is a form of treatment that takes control of the patient’s health out of the hands of the patient. To truly understand what goes on during the Maudsley Approach and why it is not the most efficient form of treatment for this disease, one must understand the roots of the disorder and the treatment options for those suffering from illnesses such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other nonspecific forms of eating disorders. The roots of the disease can be so complex and differ so greatly for each patient that not addressing these issues throughout treatment—as is the approach of Maudsley—overlooks what has caused the illness in the first place.

You can finish reading the essay by clicking on this link (please note that this essay is not formatted according to MLA 8 formatting standards): Just Eating Is Not Enough

Improving Morale in Retail

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I remained at home, taking college courses online and working part-time as a cashier at Dollar Tree, where  I became what the government called “an essential worker.” At first, I was nervous about working with the public during the pandemic, but the job became easier, and going to work even became enjoyable. Unfortunately, the management at Dollar Tree soon began to treat me poorly and, as a result, I quit. Based on my experience, I believe management practices at Dollar Tree caused low-wage workers  like me to feel unmotivated as well as under-appreciated for the risks we took when coming to work. This lack of respect seems to run deep in retail sales. Retail stores such as Dollar Tree need to take simple steps to retain their employees if their businesses are to thrive.

You can finish reading the essay by click on this link: Improving Morale in Retail