ASRJC 2019 J1 Promos - P1 Outlines and Question Band Descriptors

QUESTION 1

‘There is no fairness in sports.’ Do you agree?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 No: Absolute term indicating that there is fairness if currently not seen/present
 Fairness: Impartial and just treatment or behaviour without favouritism or discrimination
 Sports: An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others according to a
set of rules for enjoyment and/or as a job
Assumptions of the question:
 Instances where injustice is seen in the sports scene are possibly occurring at a high degree

Possible Stands

When responding to a question with an absolute word, it is hardly likely you will agree with the absolute claim. This is because there are
hardly any absolutes in the real world. In order to allow for yourself to write a balanced essay,
(1) reject the absolute, then
(2) clarify the extent of your opinion:
 Given that there still remains much fairness in sports, I disagree with the statement.
 While fairness in sports rarely occurs, it is too absolute to simply conclude that it does not exist.

Reasons why there is fairness to a large extent Reasons why there is only fairness to a limited extent

TS: Given that the spirit of sports is about ensuring fairness and
inclusivity while celebrating equal opportunities, sporting
organizations, athletes and audiences tend to seek to preserve these
in the sports scene
Explanation/Evaluation: Sportsmen are often required to take an
oath, especially at major sporting events, to declare fairness of play
and to uphold sportsmanship in their games and events. In
supporting such this spirit of sports, audiences are also fairly keen to
report and cry out against foul play, aiding the punishment of
corrupt or cheating parties.
Example/Evidence: The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise taken by
one athlete, judge and coach of the host nation to represent all
parties involved in the Olympic games. All these three oaths have
been combined into one since the 2018 Winter Olympics. In the
1982 FIFA World Cup match between Germany and Austria, many
spectators voiced their disgust at the few serious attempts by either
side to score and one German fan even burned the national flag in
protest.
Reading links:
 https://www.olympic.org/news/athletes-to-take-the-lead-as-
oaths-at-future-olympic-games-openings-are-unified
 https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/world-
cup-moments-1982-s-disgrace-of-gijón-1.3479123
TS: The prestige as well as the large amounts of money involved
often end up serving as incentive for cheating in the form of doping.
Explanation/Evaluation: Turning to chemicals for an edge in sports
performance is not a situation that is new in modern day sports. But
even as it is frowned upon, it does not seem to be behaviour that
will stop easily. The lucrative career as a sportsman provides
temptation to the individual, organisations and even at a national
level. Likewise other methods of manipulating the games like spot
fixing or match fixing, even when actual legal systems and
punishments are established and executed on betting organisations,
under-table arrangements between sportsmen and the betting
syndicates are very difficult to track down and eradicate.
Example/Evidence: Russia operated a state-sponsored doping
programme for four years across the vast majority of summer and
winter Olympic sports. It was planned and operated from late 2011 -
including London 2012, Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics etc. An
investigation commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency
(WADA) says Russia's sports ministry "directed, controlled and
oversaw" manipulation of urine samples provided by its athletes.
"Disappearing Positive Methodology", which refers to the situation
where positive doping samples would go missing was how the
athletes got away with their actions. The country's track and field
athletes are barred from competing in Rio after the body that
governs world athletics, the International Association of Athletics
Federations, voted in June to maintain a global competition ban on
the All-Russia Athletic Federation (Araf).
Example 2: Lance Armstrong’s use of performance-enhancing drugs
to win the Tour de France seven times amassing US$125 million. The
USPS Team doping conspiracy was professionally designed to groom
and pressure athletes to use dangerous drugs, to evade detection,
to ensure its secrecy and ultimately gain an unfair competitive
advantage through superior doping practices. A program organized
by individuals who thought they were above the rules and who still
play a major and active role in sport today

Reading links:
 https://www.bbc.com/sport/36823453
 http://cyclinginvestigation.usada.org
https://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/doping

TS: With the laws against cheating in sports competitions, TS: There are many factors that keep lower-income children from
authorities are armed with continually improving technologies to being part of a competitive sport. The opportunities and grooming
better equipped them in ensuring the fairness of each game. needed tend to be only for a select few.
Explanation/Evaluation: Any interference and manipulation to the
games are under intense scrutiny of the authorities. Ongoing
research on performance enhancing drugs and procedures, as well
as investigations in systems of online betting that may cause the
games to be rigged are under the watchful eye of organisations
dedicated to rid sports of these hidden agendas.
Example/Evidence: In June 2016, the Criminal Investigation
Department of Singapore was able to arrest 16 men that were
suspected to be involved in illegal remote gambling activities, prior
to Euro 2016. 39 suspects were arrested in Singapore in an
operation against illegal gambling during the tournament. Singapore
police were part of Interpol-led operation SOGA VI, during which
nearly 4,000 raids were carried out across France, Greece, Italy,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and China, including Hong
Kong and Macau. Interpol also ran a second operation called Aces,
which targeted transnational networks behind illicit websites and
call-centre type operations running online scams resulting in 33
arrests. Organisations like Sportradar are also dedicated to
monitoring the sports games worldwide. Sportradar monitor every
member state with regard to manipulation. Over 31,000 competitive
matches from the 53 states (first and second leagues, cup matches),
as well as all international competitions of UEFA, are systematically
monitored each year. The Fraud Detection System also monitors
thousands of competitive matches in leagues across the world
including Australia, AFC, USA and CONCACAF.
Reading links:
 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/16-
men-investigated-for-unlawful-remote-gambling-activities
 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/police-arrest-39-
for-illegal-football-betting-during-euro-2016
 https://integrity.sportradar.com/anti-match-
fixing/monitoring-and-detection/
https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2016/01/anti-
doping-technology-to-catch-the-olympic-cheats/
Explanation/Evaluation: These factors that keep lower-income
children from being active include the amount money required for
lessons/training as well as equipment. Sports, like ice hockey,
swimming, and golf, require costly facilities just to play. On top of
that, while sports such as basketball and track might be open to all
in theory, parks in low-income areas tend to lack organized activities
for kids to help to develop their talents, as places such as parks are
designed for public usage.
Example/Evidence:
In the US, kids’ sports is a nearly $17 billion industry, which makes it
larger than the business of professional baseball and approximately
the same size as the National Football League. The share of children
ages 6 to 12 who play a team sport on a regular basis declined from
41.5 percent in 2011 to 37 percent in 2017, according to a recent
report from the Aspen Institute. There has been a decline in youth
sports participation which might be due to an overall decline in the
interest in outdoor sports in this digital generation. But if the data is
analysed along the lines of socio-economic status, youth sports
participation is actually rising among richer families but falling
among poorer families. Just 34 percent of children from families
earning less than $25,000 played a team sport at least one day in
2017, versus 69 percent from homes earning more than $100,000.
In 2011, those numbers were roughly 42 percent and 66 percent,
respectively.
Example 2: Joseph Schooling of Singapore took a journey that was
not one that the average Joe can take. To help Schooling fulfil his
dream, his parents sent him to the Bolles School in Florida. His
parents also took turns shuttling between Singapore and Florida to
take care of their young son, each staying months at a time.
Reading links:
 https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/income-
inequality-explains-decline-youth-sports/574975/
 https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/a-seven-year-struggle-to-
olympic-glory
TS: The commercialisation of sports in today’s day and age have
caused an athlete’s worth to no longer be simply based on the
objective valuation of their ability and talent in the sport but be
influenced by a myriad of external factors.
Explanation/Evaluation: The commercialisation of sports have
caused athletes themselves to become products to be sold and
traded across sporting teams. The athlete’s ability and talent is but
only one factor that is determining this “value” or “worth”. On the
other hand, it can be argued that it is the level of marketing and the
audience’s perceptions and viewpoints that becomes a factor. This
manifests in many different ways for different “marginalised groups”
in sports, notably, the disparity between male and female pay.
Example/Evidence:
Women athletes make less than men, there is a stark disparity
despite the equal amount of work they put in, and how female
athletes often have to work full-time jobs on top of being full-time
athletes. The US women’s soccer team has brought the conversation
to the forefront over the last three years. After they won the World
Cup in 2015, it was revealed that the US women’s team were paid a
quarter of what the men earned. This was despite the women
generating $20m more than the men that year. nd there’s one issue
in the lawsuit that is more important than equal pay: the argument
that the women’s team is not marketed or promoted as much as the
men, which leads to lower attendances and merchandise sales.
Reading links:
 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/09/i-thought-
the-main-issue-in-womens-sports-was-equal-pay-i-was-wrong
  https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/jul/13/us-
womens-open-golf-equal-pay
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.

QUESTION 2

‘Parenting is harder today.’ To what extent is this true?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 Parenting: The raising of children and the responsibilities/ activities that are involved in the process; act of bringing up a child.
 Harder (comparison): More difficult; challenging
 Today (context): Relevant characteristics of today’s world have to be considered. How have the characteristics of today’s world made
the act of raising a child/ the responsibilities more difficult?

Possible Stands

1. It is largely true that parenting is harder today.

2. It is largely untrue that parenting is harder today.

Reasons why parenting is harder today Reasons why parenting is not harder today

TS: With the trend of protracted adolescence and harsher economic
conditions, an extension in the age of dependency has raised the
expectations for parents to provide over a longer horizon. This
added burden has made parenting harder today.
Explanation/Evaluation: Compared to the past, young people today
stay as dependents for a longer time, primarily as a result of the
pursuit of higher levels of education. With young people
experiencing a delay in financial independence, the burden is often
passed on to parents. This is at times coupled with harsh economic
realities that adds to the lack of financial independence, well into
the thirties or forties. This has inevitably raised the cost of parenting
today.
TS: With greater affluence and subsidies offered today, parents have
the option of outsourcing their parenting tasks, reducing their
burden while maintaining standards in the process.
Explanation/Evaluation: With the rise in dual-income households
and household income, parents can exercise the option of hiring
help (e.g. helpers, confinement nannies, preschool) to outsource the
parenting task to paid caregivers. Given the hectic work life in most
developed cities, there has been a growth in such services to meet
the increased demand. For families from less privileged
backgrounds, government subsidies are often put in place to ensure
that the needs of parents are met, and that they work life is not
detrimentally affected.

Example(s): In light of the skyrocketing college tuition fees in the
U.S., middle-income families are contemplating savings plans,
applying for financial aid, and then strategizing about how to cover
the difference. Parents fear that their financial decisions might limit
their children’s potential, even when those children are still in
diapers. These families are committed to providing their children
with an “open future,” in which passions can be pursued. Yet,
parents and children alike talk about how an educational debt hangs
over their futures, impinging on both daily choices and long-term
ambitions. In the eighties, more than half of American
twentysomethings were financially independent. In the past decade,
nearly seventy per cent of young adults in their twenties have
received money from their parents.
In some Asian cultures, a delay in financial independence would also
lead to children continuing to stay-in with their parents, adding on
to their burden. In Japan and South Korea, increasing numbers of
elderly parents are supporting grown children who are unable to
find steady jobs and leave home. The ageing of the Japanese and
South Korean societies, and the significant slowdown in their
economic growth rates, are contributing to a large increase in
households with elderly parents supporting adult offspring who
have not been able to leave home. In some cases, it is even forcing
parents to delay retirement. In Japan, more than 3 million singles
aged 35 to 44 still live with their parents, according to a government
study. This growing group is known as the “kangaroo tribe,” who
depend on their parents while college graduation, employment and
marriage are all delayed.
Reading Links:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/09/student-debt-
is-transforming-the-american-family
Example(s): In a developed country like the U.S., it has been
reported that there is a rise in the number of consultants for
everything from childproofing home inspectors to baby personal
shoppers. This has turned a basic biological milestone into
Parenting, Inc. – a business model for firms. What was once the
domain of the domicile now can be outsourced. Parents who are
unable to commit to the adequate care for their child can now seek
help to maintain their standards of parenting.
In the U.S., there is the Child Care Development Fund, an $8.2 billion
block grant that goes towards offsetting the cost of care for 1.4
million children nationwide. The fund is the primary federal funding
source for child care assistance for eligible working parents. This is
aimed at benefitting up to the 75th percentile, which allows eligible
families to access 3 out of 4 providers without paying more out of
their pockets. The Administration for Children and Families, which
oversees the block grant, relies on states to self-certify that they are
setting rates that ensure low-income families have equal access to
care.
In Singapore, lower-income families may only need to pay as little as
S$3 a month for full-day childcare from 2020. The monthly
household income ceiling for additional childcare and kindergarten
subsidies is also being raised. With the measures in place, eight in 10
young children should have a place in more affordable government-
supported pre-schools by around 2025.
Reading Links:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/05/10/outsourcing-
parenting-rituals-to-pros/3643343002/
https://time.com/5651036/child-care-costs-exceed-subsidies/
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lower-pre-school-
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/02/national/adults- expenses-for-many-families-from-2020
kept-leaving-parents-nests-asia-harsh-economic-
realities/#.XXf7Cy2Q1bU

TS: Due to the widened exposure to more platforms of influences, it
is more difficult for parents to manage the information flow and
values that their children are picking up on. It is most problematic
for parents when the principles learnt are at odds with their family
or cultural values.
Explanation/Evaluation: With the variety of platforms, including
social media that children explore, there are alternative sources of
information that children get in contact with beyond the values
taught at home or by the local community. Compared to the past
when parents could exercise greater control over their child’s
influences, parents today have to negotiate a more complex
landscape to provide a moral guide for their children. With the
presence of more diverse views, dangers in cyberbullying and at
times, promotion of substance abuse, parents need to take greater
effort to ensure that their children are able to discern information
propagated. This is often necessary to safeguard the family or
cultural values that are dear.
Example(s): Based on a study in the U.K., very frequent use of social
media does damage the mental health of teenage girls causing harm
indirectly — through cyberbullying, sleep loss and reduced physical
activity.
In a bid to take on a more inclusive stance that ensures that the
bullying of communities like the LGBT ends, schools across England
are rolling out compulsory relationships and sex education (RSE)
classes for secondary schools. This move has been met with letters
opposing the teaching of the RSE and what has been read as
endorsing LGBT equality. Muslim families mainly, who find this a
threat to their religious views protested outside schools in
Birmingham after pupils were given books featuring transgender
children and gay families. When religious or family values are at
odds with other sources of information, parents today need to try to
step in to manage the situation.
TS: With a heightened awareness of the importance of parenting for
a child’s development, an interest in these area has led to the
sharing of experiences, making parenting less of an individual
struggle.
Explanation/Evaluation: Compared to the past where parenting tips
where often passed down from previous generations or via word of
mouth, technology has allowed for discussions on parenting styles
to surface in recent years. Through a variety of media platforms,
tried and tested methods, practices and experiences can be shared
with the virtual community. The plentiful knowledge available and
community support makes the parenting journey less helpless.
Example(s): A Pew Center study in the U.S. found that 59 percent of
parents have come across useful information specifically about
parenting while scrolling through social media. 42 percent of all
parents (50 percent of mothers, 28 percent of fathers) surveyed said
they had received social or emotional support from their online
networks about a parenting issue in the last 30 days. Mothers,
especially are seeing the advantage of online networking, with 66
percent of them finding helpful parenting information via social
media. (Forty-eight percent of dads said the same.) It makes sense
then that many mothers have taken advantage of Facebook
groups to connect with others who live near and far on a wide
variety of subjects—for example, breastfeeding, children’s meals,
and everyday parenting rants.
Reading Links:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/20-mom-groups-worth-joining-
171214775.html
https://www.pewinternet.org/2015/07/16/parents-and-social-
media/

Reading Links:
https://www.mother.ly/news/its-harder-raising-kids-than-ever-
before?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2
https://www.ft.com/content/e37f876c-bdb9-11e9-b350-
db00d509634e
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-48294017

TS: With more women entering the workforce and a new emphasis
on paternal roles, balancing professional and parenting
responsibilities has made parenting more challenging today. This is
further worsened by the individualised model of living that we
adopt today.

Explanation/Evaluation: In coping with the increased work

demands, parenting has become an added challenge as parents
attempt to balance work and family commitments. This is especially
so for women as despite their professional commitments, much of
their roles and expectations in the domestic realm remain
unaltered. With the rise in nuclear families, parents are often faced
with less family support given that individualised living has become
our cultural standard. With less community support, some parents
today end up relying on expert advice and face the stresses of
meeting societal expectations as a result.

Example(s): In Japan, women shoulder a disproportionate amount

of burden at home. It is a legacy of the country’s exacting domestic
expectations and rigid gender roles for who performs them. While
Japanese women have entered the work force at historic levels,
their avalanche of domestic responsibilities is not shrinking — and
 men are typically not helping. Women who work more than 49
hours a week typically do close to 25 hours of housework a week. 

We no longer live in communities as much as we once did --

technology has isolated us, extended family networks are
disappearing, and neighbourhoods are more diverse with families
often living in areas where there are no other children. With the lack
of support on various fronts, parenting has become tougher as there
is more for parents to shoulder.

Reading Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/02/world/asia/japan-working-
mothers.html
https://www.mother.ly/news/its-harder-raising-kids-than-ever-
before?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2

TS: As compared to the focus on basic needs in the past, parenting

today emphasises the quality of care that parents can provide for
their child. This increase in societal expectations of ‘perfect
parenting’ is largely fuelled by social media, causing parents who fall
short to suffer from guilt.

Explanation/Evaluation: How to raise a child today is often dictated

by the increase in societal expectations for what is considered
‘perfect parenting’ – largely promoted via social media. As society
expects more of parents compared to the focus on basic needs in
the past, parents today are burdened with the stress of consciously
providing the best for a child, for example, taking on breastfeeding
and preparing nutritious meals. Worst still, this quality of care could
turn into a competition for parents, such that those who do not
manage to fulfil are burdened with feelings of guilt. In some
cultures, parents are even robed in to provide a good head start for
their adult children when they enter their milestone of marriage.

Example(s): Due to this cultural shift in parenting, the proliferation

of parenting philosophies, health guidelines, and educational
options are overwhelming on the Internet, disempowering the
individual from making their own decisions confidently. As
compared to taking on knowledge and decisions passing down from
previous generations, parents start to question their instinctive
actions and its alignment to the concept of ‘perfect parenting’, as
propagated via social media.

Due to demographic and social pressures coupled with the

notorious imbalance in the country’s gender ratio, parents in China
need to foot a bill of approximately 300,000 yuan in order for their
sons to enter in marriage. This is supposed to cover the cost of a
house for the couple, buying a car, providing jewellery and clothes
for the bride, as well as greeting gifts for the bride’s parents. This
cost has been rising steadily over the years and is a phenomenon
most present in the rural countryside. A failure to do so is often met
with guilt as the parents are regarded as the obstacle for their sons’
progress in life.

Reading Links:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/parental-
guilt-is-a-cultural-epidemic-its-time-to-let-go-of-who-we-should-
be/2019/08/20/889059ec-9750-11e9-916d-
9c61607d8190_story.html?noredirect=on
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3016042/chines
e-minister-warns-high-cost-marrying-sons-driving-rural
https://ifstudies.org/blog/why-parenting-has-gotten-more-difficult/
https://www.kinderling.com.au/news/maggie-dent-on-why-
parenting-is-harder-today-than-ever-before
https://www.mother.ly/news/continuous-parenting-burnout-
solution?rebelltitem=5#rebelltitem5
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.
 QUESTION 3

‘The poor are helpless.’ Discuss.

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 “Poor”: May refer to those living in absolute or relative poverty. Defined by the lack of financial resources.
 “Helpless”: Refers to an inability of their own to improve their living conditions, work and education opportunities as well as to lift
themselves out of their impoverished situation. The idea of “helplessness” can also be demonstrated by showing how the poor have no
way of improving their situation without the help of others (e.g. the government).
 No specific context: To achieve sufficient scope in this essay, students ought to demonstrate an awareness and ability to pull examples
from different contexts.

Possible Stands

 The poor are helpless to a large extent.

 The poor are helpless only to a small extent.

Reasons why the poor are helpless Reasons why the poor are not helpless

TS: In societies where corruption is rampant, the poor are often
rendered helpless in the face of oppressive/authoritarian regimes.
Evaluation/Explanation: Ineffective governance can lead to political
stagnation and vulnerability to corruption. The helpless citizens are
unable to make any change to their lives because they have little
control over what their government does.
Example(s): Equatorial New Guinea’s development indicators are
among the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa even though it is the richest
country in the region with a GDP-per-capita of US$3,000 a year.
Over seventy percent of its citizens live on less than a dollar a day
and its infant mortality rate is the fourth worst in the world. The
reason is simple: rampant corruption. According to Human Rights
Watch, President Theodoro Obiang Mbasogo’s actions “time and
again are those of a dictator determined to hang onto power and
control of the country’s oil money.” Moreover, from 2004-2007,
Mbasogo’s eldest son and the country’s then Agriculture Minister
financed a lavish lifestyle that was nearly double the government’s
2005 budget for education. Yet the general populace is helpless
against President Mbasogo who has held on to power for more than
three decades. Although there are elections, according to the
Human Rights Watch, these elections are marred by serious
irregularities: harassment and intimidation of opposition supporters
and voters, and rigged votes. The plight of the poor in Equatorial
Guinea reflects that of tens of millions in the many other African
countries - Chad, Burundi and Somalia - who languish in poverty
under a corrupt regime. It would thus be a gross injustice to assume
that the people can even do anything to remedy the situation.
TS: In some cases of relative poverty, the individual’s financial
situation is shaped by his or her own poor attitude and not by
extenuating circumstances beyond the person’s control.
Evaluation/Explanation: In some nations, measures are put in place
to help reduce the disadvantages that the poor have and to help
them out of relative poverty. However, some individuals choose to
exploit this financial safety net and they live off the goodwill of the
government while making no effort to lift themselves out of relative
poverty.
Example(s): The United Kingdom operates as a welfare state and
provides benefits to its citizens. Unemployed citizens and citizens of
low income are eligible for benefits from the government. In 2010,
welfare dependency remains a significant problem in the UK. For too
many people, the welfare system does not provide sufficient
incentives to work. At least 12 million working-age households
receive benefits each week (including tax credits and Child Benefit)
at a cost of around £85 billion per annum (Figure 4). Around 2.6
million people have spent at least half of the last ten years on some
form of out of-work benefit.
Reading Links:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/poverty/downloads/keyofficialdocuments
/CONDEM%20-poverty-report.pdf

Reading Links:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/08/03/anniversary-shouldnt-be-
40-years-president-obiang-equatorial-guinea

TS: Especially in traditional societies, prevailing cultural attitudes TS: With the increasing premium placed on education in many
and practices have been serious barriers to the ability of individuals societies, individuals are now more empowered to alter their fates
to lift themselves out of poverty. and escape the poverty trap in the long term.

Evaluation/Explanation: Prejudice and discrimination based on
factors such as gender, ethnicity or caste can severely restrict labour
mobility as well as opportunities available. People in such a situation
have limited or no means to get out of the poverty cycle because
they are simply not presented with the opportunities due to the
deeply entrenched cultural beliefs in the society.
Example(s): The caste system in India has been argued to be the
Evaluation/Explanation: With the provision of educational
opportunities, individuals can now equip themselves with the
necessary skills, knowledge and qualifications to better support
themselves or find better-paying jobs.
Example(s): A newly published paper by UNESCO shows that
education is critical to escape chronic poverty and to prevent the
transmission of poverty between generations. The rate of return is
 root cause of poverty in India despite government efforts to reduce
poverty. A report by Anti-Slavery International has emphasised that
caste discrimination is at the heart of debt bondage in India and
across South Asia. Most Dalits are paid less than the cost of living,
forcing millions to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates from
unscrupulous bosses who trick them into perpetual slavery. Dalits
fall outside even the caste system. They are unable to be-reborn
into a higher caste and so are consigned to poverty, in this life and
the next. Their “unclean” status means they are forced to do work
that higher-caste people consider polluting and refuse to do, such as
cleaning human waste or dealing with death. Discriminatory beliefs
and behaviour remain deep-seated problem in many parts of India.
Unofficial discrimination is rampant and changing the mindset of
people remains a real
challenge.
Reading Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/feb/10/india-
slumdog-millionaire-caste
TS: In some geographically disadvantaged countries, natural
disasters destroy the livelihood of people. These natural disasters
are considered acts of God as they cannot be prevented.
Evaluation/Explanation: These inevitable calamities not only claim
the lives of many, but also destroy essential infrastructure which will
take years and much resources to rebuild – further aggravating the
situation of poverty.
Example(s): Bangladesh is one of the world's most vulnerable
countries to climate change and also one of the most disaster prone
countries in the world. It is located near 3 major rivers – namely the
Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Every year, 20% of the country
is flooded. In a bad year, this statistic may be as high as 70%. Such
floods destroy and wipe out the agriculture that many of the poor
depend on as a source of income. This situation is often
compounded by the fact that the government will have to
thereafter channel ill-afforded resources towards helping its people.
In 2006, cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh. This cyclone killed many
people, uprooted many houses and destroyed many crops.
Reading Links:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-71093-8_8
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.
QUESTION 4
higher in low-income countries than in high income countries.
Primary education has a higher rate of return than secondary
education. Education also enables those in paid formal employment
to earn higher wages: One year of education is associated with a
10% increase in wages.
Education also changes structures in food security. A study from
1980 that still is influential, analysed the effects of primary
education on agricultural production in 13 countries. It found that
the average annual gain in production associated with four years of
schooling was 8.7% (Lockheed, Jamison and Lau, 1980). Education
becomes a catalytic force contributing to the turn of the tide of
eliminating extreme poverty – in a sustainable way.
The people suffering in abject poverty are often left out of the
modern economy because agrarian societies do not develop the
skills required for an industrial future. Education is essential not only
to improve crop yields in places like Cambodia, Thailand and Nigeria,
but also to diversify agricultural activities to make smallholder farms
more resilient. Education has increased the income of rural farmers
in East Africa by 61%, as they are better able to manage crops and
fertilisers. It is therefore important to invest in education that
provides people with relevant theoretical and practical skills.
Reading Links:
https://norad.no/en/front/about-norad/news/role-of-education-in-
ending-extreme-poverty--taking-a-global-lead/
http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5251e.pdf
TS: Lastly, with the proliferation of media platforms, the individual
can harness the power of information sharing to raise public
awareness and involvement.
Evaluation/Explanation: Social media has the ability to educate and
transform how people engage with reducing poverty. The media is a
prominent vehicle of public information, which anyone can tap on it
to make it an effective resource to help shape opinion and policy. In
short, social media gives a voice to those who have lived in poverty
by creating public platforms to spread experience.
Example(s): Rwandan health minister Agnes Binagwaho provides an
example with #Ministermondays. Every other Monday, Binagwaho
opens a discussion via Twitter for people to voice their concerns
about health in the country. Listening to real voices, she is able to
craft policies using the experiences she absorbs through social
media.
Others are doing similar work. An online social media platform
called Digital Green provides farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and
South Asia a network to discuss best practices for farming. Similarly,
the World Bank Finances app ensures that sustainable development
initiatives put funding into the correct hands, preventing fraud via
social media.
An established social media source known as I Paid a Bribe creates a
space to safely expose corruption in developing countries by text or
email. Stories are shared without fear of retaliation, exposing illegal
actions and fighting corruption.
Reading Links:
https://www.borgenmagazine.com/how-social-media-can-help-
poverty-reduction/
https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/inov_a_00216
 To what extent is environmental conservation motivated by self-interest?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 Environmental conservation: The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological
communities that inhabit them; the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, especially from
the damaging effects of human activity.
o Should not be an understanding of the words separately. Maintenance, upkeep of urban areas – not accepted.
 Motivated: The drive to pursue; the determination (due to a particular agenda)
 Self-interest: The act of considering the advantage the outcome brings to the individual/corporation/country when making decisions,
and going with what benefits yourself; if environmental conservation is not motivated by self-interest it would result in self-sacrifice

Possible Stands

1. I agree that environmental conservation is largely motivated by self-interest.

2. I agree that environmental conservation is motivated by self-interest only to a small extent.

Reasons why environmental conservation is motivated by self- Reasons why environmental conservation is not motivated by self-
interest interest

TS: Although it may sound altruistic, a huge part of our motivation
is driven by fear for our own survival in the future. Hence, our
attempts at environmental conservation is often for the sake of
self-preservation.
Explanation/Evaluation: The fear for survival that currently affects
the individual compels him to take action. Even when it comes to
helping other nations or in the negotiation of international
agreements, countries are often driven to invest money and effort
in environmental conservation as they fear the impacts on their
own country and people, given the often transboundary nature of
the issue.
Example(s): In response to the fires burning through thousands of
square miles the Amazon forest, seven Amazonian countries have
signed a pact in September 2019 to protect this tropical forest by
coordinating disaster response and supporting reforestation
initiatives. Representatives from Suriname, Guyana and Brazil,
along with the presidents of Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru,
met in Colombia to develop a natural-disaster network and to
commit to decrease deforestation and illegal mining, as well as
engage indigenous peoples and combat forest fires. This call for
action is driven by the fear for survival as the Amazon rainforest is
one of the world’s greatest carbon sinks — a natural reservoir that
absorbs and stores carbon emissions — and is critical to helping
stop climate change. Further damage to this treasured eco-system
could bring about devastating effects to the region.
While deforestation levels in Brazil have surged under the
Bolsonaro administration, other countries within the Amazon
basin are stepping up to protect this fragile rainforest ecosystem.
This pact provides a framework for all Amazonian countries —
including Brazil — to work together to address the drivers of
deforestation and help prevent similar disasters in the
future. Countries are willing to invest their resources to this
endeavour as the potential damage to any part of the rainforest
ecosystem would in time impact their own country and people as
well.
Reading Links:
https://www.conservation.org/blog/climate-town-hall-amazon-
forest-pact-supercharged-hurricanes-3-stories-you-may-have-
missed
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-environment-amazon-
summit/amazon-countries-sign-forest-pact-promising-to-
coordinate-disaster-response-idUSKCN1VR2B1
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-018-0150-4
TS: In appreciation of the fragility of our natural landscape and
ecology, people are working for the noble cause of preserving
mankind as a species, as well as the flora and fauna that we have
today by making sacrifices. This preservation effort that sets aside
short-term self-interests would ensure that Mother Earth still thrives
and that future generations can continue to enjoy the wonders of
nature.
Explanation/Evaluation: Other than environmentalist and nature
enthusiasts, as people get more emotionally connected to the natural
world, by understanding how it works and our dependence on it, we
will grow to value and protect it and make decisions about the natural
world that ensure the future of species and ecosystems. Recent trends
do reflect people giving up their conveniences for more sustainable
processes. On the international level, the move towards sharing one’s
resources and expertise for joint efforts would inevitably affect a
country’s prosperity, but countries are able to set them aside for a
broader and more long-term outcome.
Example(s): International Earth Day exploded into an international
day of attention and activism dedicated to preserving the
environment. Across the globe, millions of people take part in Earth
Day. According to the Earth Day Network, one of the largest activist
bodies organising Earth Day events, people celebrate by holding
marches, planting trees, meeting with local representatives, and
cleaning up their local environments. Furthermore, some
environmental groups are leading grassroots movements to cut back
on the use of common plastics like straws; the U.K. even
recently proposed passing a law to ban them. It is one incremental
way to cut back on the whopping 91 percent of plastic that is not
recycled. Even though it brings inconvenience and changes to current
lifestyle, people realise the impact of their sacrifices to realising longer
term goals.
Britain is taking on leadership to host a crunch climate conference in
2020 at which the future direction of global efforts to avert the
climate crisis will be determined. The COP26 meeting, under the
auspices of the UN, will take place in Glasgow in December 2020, with
about 30,000 delegates expected as well as leaders of most of the
world’s governments, making it the biggest international summit to be
hosted in the U.K. The conference will be the most important on the
climate since the Paris agreement was passed in 2015, because the
future of the pledges countries made will be reviewed. The
government’s global diplomatic push will encompass developing as
well as developed countries. British overseas aid has helped poor and
vulnerable nations cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 16m tonnes
in the past eight years. These included projects to provide clean
energy in Kenya, Rwanda and Mali, and helping farmers grow climate-
resilient crops or put in measures to save water. It is indeed a sacrifice
for many countries to set aside their domestic priorities and some

TS: Given the favourable image and reputation that can be gained
as an environmentally conscious party, people tend to be more
invested in styling their image, to reap the potential benefits that
could be derived.
Explanation/Evaluation: Environmental conservation for
environment sake is often an ideal. With trends highlighting the
importance of eco-friendly endeavours, politicians and leaders are
quick to jump on this bandwagon for political advantage. These
parties position themselves as responsible parties in the global
scene, tapping on the ideals that resonate with their supporters’
preferences. Politicians may tap on their involvement in
environmental activism to gain power as they win over the votes
of like-minded voters.
Example(s): At the European Parliamentary elections 2019, the
European Greens group emerged winners at the elections with
their demand for more radical climate action. The party is made
up of members from green parties in European countries that
include Germany and Belgium. Their reason for success has largely
been accrued to their share of voters, especially the younger
generation, for many of whom the greens are now their first
choice. These voters are deeply concerned about the climate
crisis, and they are pro-European – but they feel the EU is not
delivering. They have turned to the party with hopes to change
the course of Europe. Riding a surge of public concern over the
climate crisis, Greens achieved double-digit scores in several
countries, and their tally of Members of the European Parliament
(MEPs) surged to 70 from 51 in the last parliament. In some parts
of the world, voters have sent a clear signal that they want the
environment at the heart of politics.
At the 2019 G7 meeting in Biarritz, 32 of the biggest companies in
fashion announced a pact to address their industry’s impact on
the environment. The pressure for fashion brands to go greener
comes not just from governments but also from consumers,
especially the millennial and Gen Z markets, who are demanding
more sustainable products. The fashion industry leaders stressed
the impact of consumer expectations on company decisions to
move towards more sustainable sourcing and manufacturing.
Hence, there is more effort to style the company as aligned with
global environmental efforts to not lose share of their consumer
market.
Reading Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/28/green
s-eu-election-mandate-leverage-climate-policy
https://fortune.com/2019/09/06/government-consumer-
pressure-global-fashion-sustainability/
TS: Riding on the pro-environment mind-set of the people today,
particularly the younger generation, groups are investing in
environmental objectives so as to enjoy the economic rewards
and returns they bring.
Explanation/Evaluation: With heightened awareness of
environmental issues and the rising culture of subscribing to such
eventually decide not to. This is reflected in the U.S.’ withdrawal from
the Paris Agreement under the Trump administration in 2017 for
reasons of self-interest.
Reading Links:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/04/earth-day-then-
now-history-science-spd/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/10/climate-
crisis-world-readiness-effects-gravely-insufficient-report
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/10/glasgow-
to-host-key-un-summit-on-tackling-climate-crisis
TS: In response to the guilt of past environmental exploitation, we are
gradually recognising our moral obligation as custodian of the Earth’s
resources to do more than what is self-serving. This draws us to be
inspired by efforts of communities centred primarily on saving the
Earth for Earth’s sake, altruistically mitigating these damages through
conservation.
Explanation/Evaluation: Though addressing one’s guilt could be read
as a form of self-interest, recognising the moral obligation that one
has and acting on it for the better of the environment goes beyond
that of self-fulfilment. As custodians of the earth’s resources, we begin
to recognising that we have the power and responsibility to manage
and conserve the resources to avert any further damage onto the
environment. The actions that we then take to do so are focused on
benefiting the environment than the self. In some cultures, this
concept of stewardship has been long present in their belief system.
Example(s): As opposed to the rise of industrialisation and
indiscriminate exploitation for development in many cities around the
world, humans are deeply connected with nature in the culture of the
Maori people of New Zealand. The idea is reflected in the Maori word
‘kaitiakitanga’, which means guarding and protecting the environment
in order to respect the ancestors and secure the future. The Maoris’
intimate relationship with their lands and the natural world is shared
by many other indigenous peoples around the world, and highlights
why these often marginalized groups are gaining recognition as vital
stewards of our environment and its fast-depleting resources. Their
traditions and belief systems often mean that they regard nature with
deep respect, and they have a strong sense of place and belonging.
This sustains knowledge and ways of life that match up well with
modern notions of nature conservation and the sustainable use of
natural resources.
In Kenya, community-led conservation programmes such as the Il
Ngwesi conservancy in the Laikipia region have succeeded by
reserving part of commonly held lands for wildlife, and using them to
support eco-tourism ventures. These endeavours could have entailed
sacrifices in growth which could be more easily achieved if
conservation goals were set aside. Most of the extra income from
these efforts are directed towards increasing the resilience of their
land.
Reading Links:
https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/indigenous-
people-and-nature-tradition-conservation
 causes, businesses are looking for ways to turn what is fashionable
into financial gains. Businesses ride on the notion of fulfilling
corporate social responsibility and include the environmental
conscious theme into their marketing efforts. Consumers feel that
when they use a product or service of a socially responsible
company, they are doing their part. The more socially
responsible the company, the more supportive the community
and consumers become. 92% of consumers have a more positive
image of companies that support social issues and environmental
efforts. Countries also position themselves as responsible parties
in the global scene, with some using eco-tourism as a new avenue
to grow their revenue.

Example(s): In Pakistan, RASAI, a car-pooling service is gaining

popularity and causing a shift in commuting habits for locals.
Locals who used to hail a shared public taxi to get around have
turned to the greener alternative of this ride sharing website that
connects locals with drivers who have free seats in their cars and
who regularly make a similar commute. This new method of
commute is considered more affordable, faster and more reliable
by locals.

The shift to eco-tourism is disrupting some of the traditions

associated with tourist hotspots, and given rise to a trend where
environmentally sustainable outcomes seem to be emphasised
over mere ‘experience’ vacationing. With that in mind, tourist
locations are trying to become more eco-friendly, and more
visitors are attracted to be involved in doing their part. It has
gradually evolved into a movement that prioritises local culture
over mass tourism — with its impact being felt from the U.S.
Midwest to Iceland. Originally, the vast barren lava fields of
Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula were never a tourist destination for
travellers seeking the idyllic green expanses of the Nordic country.
Yet in the mid-2000′s, the citizens of Reykjanes, faced with a
stagnant economy, turned the area into a destination for
travellers seeking to enjoy nature in its purest form. In Thailand,
the Surin Islands National Park’s rich ocean wildlife makes it a top
diving destination for tourists worldwide. (Although the tourist
dollars do ensure the viability and preservation of the area if well-
managed, it is sad to say that the increase in visitors to this lush
tropical Thai destination is proving disruptive to the traditional
lifestyle of the Mokens, an indigenous nomadic seafaring tribe.)

Reading Links:
https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/en-eu/blog/corporate-16-
brands-doing-corporate-social-responsibility-successfully
https://www.eco-business.com/news/faster-cheaper-greener-
pakistanis-turn-to-car-pooling-service/
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/27/eco-friendly-tourism-is-
becoming-a-movement-and-more-vacationers-are-buying-into-
the-concept.html
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.

QUESTION 5

‘Obedience is always desirable.’ Do you agree?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 “always”: Suggests that an absolute proposition has been made. Every time/all the time.
 “desirable”: Worth having/ wanted by most. To prove that it is desirable, there must be a reflection of the benefits of obedience. To
prove otherwise, there must be demonstrations of how obedience leads to problems/negative consequences.
 “obedience”: Adherence to the rules/regulations/demands/expectations of a higher authority (i.e. may refer to an elder, the
government or anybody in the position of authority).

Possible Stands

When responding to a question with an absolute word, it is hardly likely you will agree with the absolute claim. This is because there are
hardly any absolutes in the real world. In order to allow for yourself to write a balanced essay,
(1) reject the absolute, then
(2) clarify the extent of your opinion:
 While obedience is not always desirable, it (by and large) brings about benefits
 Obedience is often undesirable, hence, it is not true that it is always desirable.
Reasons why obedience is desirable
TS: Adherence to rules and regulations is necessary for preserving
peace and stability in a nation.
Explanation/Evaluation: Laws are enforced for the purpose of
ensuring that people abide by moral standards so as to preserve the
cohesiveness of society. Without obedience, citizens would not be
able to enjoy optimal standards of safety and security.
Example(s): For at least the fifth year running, Singaporeans feel
safer than residents of any other place in the world, a global study
has found. Research firm Gallup says 94 per cent of adults here feel
safe walking alone at night, compared with the global average of 68
per cent. The World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index 2017-2018
ranked Singapore first for order and security. Singapore was ranked
the world's safest city in the 2017 Global Smart City Performance
Index published this year. Ms Nicole Naurath, Gallup world poll
regional director for Asia, said the result was no surprise as
"Singapore emphasises safety and security throughout all facets of
society.” The citizens of Singapore too, are known for being very
law-abiding. Meanwhile, Venezuela and Afghanistan were flagged
for being the least secure countries. Nearly one in four Venezuelans
said they had been assaulted in the preceding 12 months, and 42
per cent reported having had property or money stolen in the same
period.
Reading Links: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/sporeans-
feel-safest-in-world-survey
TS: A society characterised by civil disobedience is also likely to face
severe economic ramifications.
Explanation/Evaluation: These economic impacts may even be
witnessed in the short-run as potential visitors to these countries
and investors become reluctant to venture to these places due to
fears about their safety and security.
Example(s): Images of increasingly violent clashes between masked
protesters and police firing tear gas in the city's streets have made
global headlines, with protesters announcing new demonstrations
throughout August as they press their demands. A Hong Kong
Tourism Board spokesperson told AFP that the number of forward
bookings in August and September has "dropped significantly",
suggesting the economic toll will linger throughout the summer
season. The impact is so bad that travel agents are considering
putting staff on unpaid leave as they try to weather the storm, he
warned.
A string of travel warnings issued by countries including the United
States, Australia and Japan is likely to compound the industry's
woes.
The retail sector has also been hit by the drop in arriving visitors
hunting for bargains, shops often forced to shutter during the
sometimes daily protests.
Reading Links:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-
news/tourism-in-trouble-hong-kong-demonstrations-hit-
economy/articleshow/70634603.cms?from=mdr
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/tourism-hong-kong-
Reasons why not obedience is not desirable
TS: Obedience can be severely detrimental, even to the point of
negating important civil rights, in the face of unethical leadership.
Explanation/Evaluation: Unquestioning deference to an
authoritative figure can spell trouble for people’s welfare and safety
if individuals simply did as they were told. It is this deference that is
responsible for some of the most heinous crimes against humanity
that we have seen taking place.
Example(s): In a psychology test, Milgram (1963) examined
justifications for acts of genocide offered by those accused at the
World War II, Nuremberg War Criminal trials. Their defense often
was based on "obedience" - that they were just following orders
from their superiors. 65% (two-thirds) of participants (i.e., teachers)
in the experiment administered the highest level of 450 volts shocks
to “learner” participants after being instructed to do so. All the
participants continued to 300 volts. It was concluded that ordinary
people are likely to follow orders given by an authority figure, even
to the extent of killing an innocent human being.
Reading Links: https://www.simplypsychology.org/milgram.html
TS: Moreover, there are times where defying the authorities is
necessary so as to uphold the principles of democracy and push
governments to take action to improve the nation. Obedience
would, in such cases, be counterintuitive.
Explanation/Evaluation: Collective obedience would only allow
oppressive leaders to consolidate their power more easily. It may
require the concerted act of disobedience to improve the way a
nation is governed.
Example(s): From the Arab Spring to the latest uprising against
Victor Yanukovic’s government in Ukraine, corruption and favoritism
have motivated people to pour into the streets to protest decades-
long economic and political arrangements benefiting connected
individuals and firms.
On February 11, 2011, Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s president and de
facto dictator, was forced to resign in the face of large protests in
the main square of Cairo, Tahrir Square. Rampant corruption,
benefiting mainly a narrow group centred around Mubarak’s
National Democratic Party (NDP), and repression, which excluded
vast segments of the population from political participation, were
major triggers of the protests. Mubarak’s fall was followed by
military rule until June 2012, when Mohammed Mursi, an Islamist,
was elected president. Mursi’s presidency in turn was followed by a
second phase of military rule starting in July 2013. Throughout these
four phases of Egypt’s Arab Spring, politically connected firms (those
connected to the NDP, the military, and the Islamists) have seen
their fortunes ebb and flow, offering a window to study the real-
time effects of street protests against a changing cast of ruling
political elites.
Such protests have sometimes been successful in unseating
 protests-hit-economy-11800180 unpopular rulers, as illustrated by the recent events in Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya, and Ukraine. Without the concerted effort to
overthrow the oppressive regimes, it is almost certain that these
nations would have continued to live under the iron fist of their
dictators today.

Reading Links:
https://economics.mit.edu/files/14547

https://lbsresearch.london.edu/818/1/Tahoun_A_Power_of_the_St
reet_ROFS_2017.pdf

TS: Obedience may also hinder creativity as conformity is often

prized in many educational systems.

Explanation/Evaluation: Many of our current school systems teach

students how to be obedient instead of independent.

Example(s): The education systems in the US and many other

countries are based on the 19th-century Prussian model. Children
were taught to obey, not to challenge or think creatively. According
to John Taylor Gatto, schools don’t really teach anything except how
to obey orders. He states that “this is a great mystery to me because
thousands of humane, caring people work in schools as teachers and
aids and administrators but the abstract logic of the institution
overwhelms their individual contributions. Although teachers do
care and do work very hard the institution is psychopathic, it has no
conscience. It rings a bell and the young man in the middle of
writing a poem must close his notebook and move to different cell
where he must memorize that man and monkeys derive from a
common ancestor.”

Unflattening, a book by Nick Sousanis, similarly illustrates how

education can cause students to become something like a robot.
Thus, causing students to be much more similar to each other than
being able to become an individual. Sousanis states that the
inhabitants, most likely students in schools, are, “...Lacking “A
Critical Dimension” of potentialities to transcend their existing state,
everything has its place.” Thus, in schools, students are not able to
free themselves from logic and common sense and become
something unique rather than similar.

Reading links:
https://books.google.com.sg/books?
id=NSLUDgAAQBAJ&lpg=PT28&ots=Chv_Q0msyC&dq=According
%20to%20John%20Taylor%20Gatto%2C%20schools%20don
%E2%80%99t%20really%20teach%20anything%20except%20how
%20to%20obey%20orders.%20He%20states%20that
%20%E2%80%9Cthis%20is%20a%20great%20mystery%20to%20me
%20because%20thousands%20of%20humane%2C
%20caring&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false

Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.

QUESTION 6

How effective are efforts to help the disadvantaged in your society?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 How effective: The extent to which something is able to achieve and objective/deal with the problems faced. It can be measured in
terms of the appropriateness to the context, the commitment level of those offering help, the readiness of the disadvantaged in
receiving this help.
 Efforts to help: Actions taken/programmes/schemes/initiatives at the individual, organisational and national level targeted at their
financial, physical, mental and emotional well-being.
 The disadvantaged: not having the typical standard of living conditions, education, etc. that most people have; groups in society who
do not have good living conditions, a good standard of education, etc. (e.g. specific groups of elderly like the poor elderly, those
suffering from abuse, those with special needs like those with autism, dyslexia, the sick, single parents, those who are mentally and
 physically handicapped, and low-income groups, specific groups of women, specific groups of foreign workers); candidates can bring in
other groups of people if they are able to clearly explain how they are in unfavourable circumstances
 In your society: Singapore (or selected country of origin)
Assumptions of the question:
 The efforts to help the disadvantaged in my society are effective to a certain extent.
 There are limitations to the efforts so far.
 There are efforts designed to help disadvantaged should be helped.
 The disadvantaged should be helped.
Possible Stands
 The efforts to help the disadvantaged in my society are largely effective.
 The efforts to help the disadvantaged in my society are hardly effective.
Reasons why: the efforts to help the disadvantaged in my society
are largely effective.
TS: In Singapore, whether individuals or non-profit organisations
step forward to help the disadvantaged, the government dedicates a
significant portion of the budget to ensure that there is a basic
standard of providence given to those who are more vulnerable
within the society.
Explanation/Evaluation: In terms of the basic necessities such the
financial and employment needs of the disadvantaged such as the
low-income earners, the poor, the unemployed and the elderly,
these are substantial and are successful as it is easily accessible to all
those who fall within the category and they offer what is needed.
Example/Evidence:
- The government’s various departments such as the Ministry of
Social and Family development, Ministry of Education have
many different financial schemes to help the poor and the poor
elderly.
- Children from poor families are eligible for Ministry of
Education financial assistance such as bursary, free textbooks,
and transportation. A Singaporean student enrolled in a
government or government-aided school is eligible for MOE
FAS if the monthly GHI is not above $2,750 or if the PCI not
above $690. Primary and secondary school students who
qualify for MOE FAS will receive subsidies for seven meals and
ten meals respectively. Primary school students will receive
subsidies of $2 per meal, while those in secondary schools will
receive $2.50 per meal. Secondary school students who qualify
for MOE ISB and with monthly GHI not above $2,750 (or PCI not
exceeding $690) will receive subsidies of $2.50 per meal for 10
meals per week. Students do not have to apply for the school
meals programme.
- For those who are looking for work or temporarily and are
unable to work due to illness or have to care for children,
elderly or other departments, ComCare is ready to assist these
people.
Reading links:
 https://www.gov.sg/news/content/the-straits-times---
president-halimah-applauds-self-help-groups-for-joint-
programmes
 https://dollarsandsense.sg/guide-education-financial-aid-
singapore/
TS: There is an extensive range of programmes specially designed to
target the social and developmental aspects of various ones in these
vulnerable groups.
Explanation/Evaluation: In Singapore, given the range of
programmes that are designed with the consultation of experts, it
targets some of the root causes that cause those who are different
to becoming disadvantaged.
Example/Evidence:
 There are organizations dedicated to the specific groups in the
entire spectrum of disadvantaged people in our society. For
instance, MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of
Reasons why not: the efforts to help the disadvantaged in my
society are hardly effective.
TS: The larger scale efforts tend to be top down approaches by the
government or organisations. Given that the disadvantaged could be
suffering in huge myriad of ways, a “one size fit all” standard
approach, while managing to aid many in need is likely to miss out
on the specific needs of the individual, making their efforts
insufficient.
Explanation/Evaluation: There is often a strict criteria for eligibility
when it comes to financial assistance. It is difficult to be able to
capture all those who need help officially and for these groups. Also,
schemes provided may not take into account some specific needs of
the individual to ensure a good quality of life.
Example/Evidence: A Singaporean senior citizen aged 65 and above
and living alone needs about S$1,379 a month to meet basic
standards of living. Those aged between 55 and 64 need S$1,721,
while couples aged 65 and older need S$2,351 a month. These
figures, however, do not account for the costs of treatment for
chronic conditions and major illness. Due to their physical
immobility, they would also require more taxi trips to travel for
medical appointments. As many of them were low-wage workers
before they retired, their CPF payouts average to about S$200 to
S$300 every month, she added. A public financial assistance scheme
such as the ComCare Long-Term Assistance provides S$600 a month
on average, for those who are eligible.
Reading links:
 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/study-finds-1379-
a-month-needed-to-meet-basic-living-standard-for-single-
elderly
 https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/social-workers-
financial-experts-on-meeting-seniors-basic-needs
TS: The intangible aspects of being disadvantaged, which are core
aspects of a person’s well-being, can hardly be met by the material
providence.
Explanation/Evaluation: Unlike tangible needs like education,
finance and healthcare, organisations and the government are
limited in what they do for the emotional needs of the
disadvantaged are often so complex and varied and they vary from
individual to individual. The emotional needs of the disadvantaged
are often neglected. Even with support groups from the community
such as the neighbours and social workers who have come onboard
to visit and help them, very often they are slighted and
discriminated or marginalised.
 Singapore), a voluntary welfare organization which provide
services for the intellectually disabled. They run four special
schools and a center called MINDSville@Napiriwhich offers
therapy and residential care. It is one of the oldest and largest
non-governmental organizations catering to the needs of the
Intellectually Disable in Singapore since 1962.
 The Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH),
formerly known as the Singapore Association for the Blind
(SAB), is a voluntary welfare organization, founded in 1951
catering to the educational needs, interests, and aspirations of
the visually impaired. Singapore citizens and permanent
residents of all age groups who are certified as having low
vision (partial sight), or blind by an eye specialist or
ophthalmologist may register with the association as their
clients. As clients, they are entitled to a whole range of services
provided by the Association free of charge and they can also
opt-in for a subsidy of assistive devices. It also helps the visually
handicapped individuals and their family members adjust to
visual impairment and also helps them to cope with family or
interpersonal problems.
Reading links:
 http://www.minds.org.sg
 https://savh.org.sg
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.
Example/Evidence: As for the sick elderly, there is so much
neighbours, social workers and compassionate individuals can help
them such as bringing them out as evident in TV programmes as the
Joy Truck on Channel 8 of MediaCorp, because when the event is
over, they are left on their own. Cases involved the elderly, single or
widowed dying alone have been reported in The Straits Times. In
2014, 126 seniors aged 60 and above killed themselves.This is a
jump of nearly 60% from the 79 seniors who committed suicide in
2000. There were 95 of them in 2010. While the suicide rate in
Singapore has remained at between 8 and 10 suicides per 100,000
residents over the past decade, the proportion of the elderly among
those who take their lives each year has risen. According to
Professor Angelique Chan of the DUKE-NUS Medical School, the
loneliness the most powerful predictor of mortality compared with
living arrangements.
Reading links:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-seniors-in-
singapore-taking-own-lives
TS: The lack of ownership among individuals in the society results in
limited effectiveness of current efforts.
Explanation/Evaluation: Efforts to conserve the environment are
largely initiated by the government and social welfare organisations.
Singaporeans are either not committed to changing their lifestyles
or they do not believe that it is down to their individual actions to
make a change in the environment. Initiatives to encourage
individual action have also yet to gain traction.
Example/Evidence:
- The National Climate Change Secretariat’s Climate Change
Public Perception Survey in 2016 showed that more than 1/3 in
Singapore believed that their individual actions would not make
a difference to climate change. Even though nine out of 10
indicated that they were concerned about the effects of climate
change on future generations very few felt that they can make
a real difference.
- Initiatives such as the Climate Action Pledge, which individuals
and companies can make to publicly declare their readiness to
take action against climate change, has been launched in
Singapore. For example, individuals can pledge to recycle, or
opt to take public transport, walk or cycle; while organisations
can pledge to raise office temperatures by 1 to 2 degree
Celsius. More than 210 pledges have been made so far. But as
yet, Singapore ranks 26th out of 142 countries in terms of
emissions per capita, according to 2015 data from the
International Energy Agency.
Reading links:
 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapor
e-launches-its-year-of-climate-action-masagos-urges-people-and
 https://climateaction.sg
 https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/more-singaporeans-
are-conscious-climate-change-awareness-enough-slow-
unfolding-crisis
 QUESTION 7

To what extent can the young shape the future for the better?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 The young: The United Nations, for statistical purposes, defines 'youth', as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years
 Can: Have the ability to
 Shape: Determine the nature of, have a great influence on
 The future: Events that will or are likely to happen in time to come
 For the better: So as to produce improvement

Possible Stands

 The young can largely shape the future for the better.
 The young can only slightly shape the future for the better.

Reasons why the young can shape the future for the better Reasons why the young cannot shape the future for the better

TS: More so now than ever before, young people know how to TS: Despite all their passion, young people lack the power, resources
capitalise on the media to drive across compelling messages which and acuity that monolithic entities tend to have, and are often
inspire and galvanise the masses into taking significant action. helpless against the atrocities which they endeavour to fight against.

Explanation/Evaluation: Young people know how to ride on the
popularity they get from trending on social media and on the
airwaves to extend the reach of their political messages. In such a
connected age, young people have a savviness about them in
harnessing the attention of the masses and applying it to a
productive end.
Example(s): Opec declared Greta Thunberg, and with her the other
young climate activists, the “greatest threat” to the fossil fuel
industry. Thunberg tweeted them her thanks. “Our biggest
compliment yet.” Hers is a voice totally unlike the world’s usual
power-cacophony: clean, simple, inclusive, the voice of someone
refusing to beguile. She talks ethics to politics without flinching. She
cuts through the media white noise and political rabble-rousing to
get to the essentials, at the same time gaining a following of world
leaders and celebrities who pay attention to what she has to say and
further reiterate her message.
Reading Links:
Explanation/Evaluation: Often, the political power of established
regimes is too stubborn for young people to overthrow.
Example(s): The rebel groups of young Syrians looking to topple
President Bashar al-Assad back in 2011 have made no progress
against his regime. Sparked by the brutal repression of anti-Assad
protests in 2011, the Syrian war has killed more than 360,000
people and displaced millions at home and abroad. Fighting has
failed to topple Mr Assad, endless diplomatic efforts have been
unable to reach a peaceful transition, and the regime now appears
stronger than ever. With backing from Russia and Iran, the
government has expelled rebels and extremists from large parts of
Syria, and now controls almost two-thirds of the country.
Reading Links:
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/syria-opposition-
outraged-as-president-bashar-al-assads-regime-cements-comeback

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/jul/21/great-thunberg-
you-ask-the-questions-see-us-as-a-threat
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a 19-year-old indigenous activist, musician,
and the youth director of Earth Guardians, an organization that
trains youth across the world to use civic engagement and the arts
to help solve environmental issues. As a hip-hop artist, Xiuhtezcatl
also often uses music to convey powerful environmental messages.
He is also not afraid to confront the government head-on, as he was
one of the 21 plaintiffs that sued the federal government for their
lack of action on climate change, giving him even more media
attention to help spread his message on climate change.

Reading Links:

https://www.earthday.org/2019/06/14/15-youth-climate-activists-
you-should-be-following-on-social-media/
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/feb/14/i-love-
calling-out-politicians-xiuhtezcatl-martinez-on-the-teenage-stand-
against-climate-change

TS: The young people of today are increasingly dissatisfied with the
failures of existing political structures, and are passionate enough to
channel their shared unhappiness into productive movements which
other disgruntled young people are happy to energetically support.
This overwhelming and mass demand for change can make positive
change happen.
TS: Young people’s urgency in trying to enact positive change is out
of pace with older power wielders’ insistence on slow and gradual
change, making it difficult for a common ground to be reached when
it comes to tackling pressing issues.
Explanation/Evaluation: Perhaps it is hubris or a reluctance to admit
that there are better ways to do things, but older folk are less pliable
 Explanation/Evaluation: In droves, young people and their
relentless demands for observable change can drive problematic
policies up the wall, coercing policymakers to take steps to remedy
the problem for fear of greater backlash.
Example(s): The anti-gun movement led by disgruntled young
people, #NeverAgain, has slowly awakened legislative conversations
about gun control that had stubbornly laid dormant even through
some of the nation's worst shooting tragedies. Congress has since
passed a $1.3 trillion spending package that incentivizes state and
general authorities to report more data to the country's gun
background check system. In early March, Florida Gov. Rick Scott
signed a bill named after Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
that raised the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21. The Illinois
Senate recently passed a similar bill. The #NeverAgain movement
successfully expressed how dissatisfied young people are with being
paid lip service.
Reading Links:
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/25/us/march-for-our-lives-
slacktivism-trnd/index.html
Unhappy Hong Kong youth believe they are protecting their
generation when they took to the streets to protest the extradition
bill. Professor Francis Lee from the Chinese University of Hong Kong
says young people are "fighting for a just and fair society that they
perceive to have been falling apart" over the past decade or so. His
research into the protesters' motivations found that 80% of
participants believed the protests should continue if the
government did not make any concessions. Approximately half of
those questioned supported further escalations. Following months
of protests and public disorder, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie
Lam finally had no choice but to withdraw the proposed extradition
bill.
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-49371809
to changing their ways in the face of the passion from younger folk
demanding urgent change.
Example(s): This generational divide between an establishment
desperate to cling on to the idea of slow, gradual change and a
youth fired up and impatient for radical overhaul was highlighted
again last week when ex-BP boss John Browne was asked in the
Observer what he would say to climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
“I would say that I have been at this for longer than you’ve been on
the planet and that [decarbonisation] will take time,” he responded.
“Remember that energy is a very big system and there is not one
solution.” Aside from his patronising tone and the fact that
Thunberg’s activism is in part only necessary because of his lifetime
commitment to burning the fossil fuels that caused the climate
crisis, Browne’s response is undoubtedly frustrating for youth
activists in other ways. While the older generation has little to lose
from patience and timidity, a new wave of activists has already lost,
born into a world damaged beyond repair through no fault of their
own. With no rose-tinted memories of the so-called good old days,
they have little to gain from sitting patiently and waiting while white
men 50 years older than them debate a future they won’t be part of.
Reading Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/11/youth-
activists-demand-urgent-action-political-establishment-failing-them

TS: The sheer global number of educated young people today eager
to make a difference inspires hope that they will become the leaders
that the world needs.

Explanation/Evaluation: More and more young people are stepping

up into influential positions as reputable and knowledgeable people
with intellectual clout. Shaped by their own harrowing experiences
and the resultant hunger for change, they are an indomitable force
to be reckoned with for positive societal change.

Example(s): In 2012, the Pakistani Taliban shot Malala Yousafzai in

the head for going to school. Since then, she’s been speaking out for
girls’ right to education. Now at 20, she continues to advocate for
the education of girls and women everywhere. She won the Nobel
Peace Prize for her activism in 2014.

Reading Links:

https://www.entitymag.com/30-young-activists/
Appointed Minister of State for Youth Affairs in the United Arab
Emirates at just 22 years old, Mazuri is the youngest government
minister in the world. She fights for the civic engagement of young
people, and to find ways to allow younger groups to become more
democratically active. She also has a bachelor’s degree from New
York University in Abu Dhabi and a master’s degree from Oxford as
UAE’s first Rhodes scholar. Mazrui is a youth activist that also
happens to push a fight for increased youth activism.

Reading Links:

https://www.entitymag.com/30-young-activists/
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.
 QUESTION 8

‘The news should always report the truth.’ Discuss.

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 The news: Elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public. These include print media
(newspapers, newsmagazines), broadcast news (radio and television), and more recently the Internet (online newspapers, news blogs,
etc.).
 Should: Used to indicate obligation, duty, correctness, benefits/desirability
 Always: At all times; on all occasions
 Report the truth: Publish objective facts about events in the world

Possible Stands

When responding to a question with an absolute word, it is hardly likely you will agree with the absolute claim. This is because there are
hardly any absolutes in the real world. In order to allow for yourself to write a balanced essay,
(1) reject the absolute, then
(2) clarify the extent of your opinion:
 The news should not always report the truth, although it should report the truth most of the time.
 The news should not always report the truth; it should report the truth only a minority of the time.

Reasons why the news should not always report the truth Reasons why the news should report the truth

TS: The relentless negativity of reality that is frankly reported by the TS: As the fourth estate, the news media is crucial to the process of
news can make heavy newswatchers heavily miscalibrated, leading democracy and how people vote for their ruling government, so it
them into action or inaction which can have further devastating should always report the truth to enlighten voters to make the best
negative effects. decisions and hold governments accountable.

Explanation/Evaluation: News consumers can get a skewed
negative perspective of the world, even causing them to believe
what may be their mind’s projection of what they view on the news.
Example(s): Heavy newswatchers worry more about crime, even
when rates are falling, and sometimes they part company with
reality altogether: a 2016 poll found that a large majority of
Americans follow news about Isis closely, and 77% agreed that
“Islamic militants operating in Syria and Iraq pose a serious threat to
the existence or survival of the United States”.
Reading Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/17/steven
-pinker-media-negative-news
Explanation/Evaluation: Especially in a world where leaders of
countries clamp down on the freedom of the press to further their
own agendas, the news is even more important in ensuring that
voters make informed decisions about who they elect into power.
Example(s): The news media, such as Sky News, and CNN have a big
role in contributing to the economic and political development of
citizens in any country in the world. It creates a broad range of
information and communication to stimulate citizens on the various
developmental issues in their country. The news media is an
important factor in promoting democracy and the rule of law only if
it will be given the opportunity of freedom of expression and to
deliver messages to the people without being oppressed or
intimidated by the authorities of the respective countries or any
entities that have the authority to prevent information from the
people. Prevention of access to information to citizens is a violation
of human rights.

Reading Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-media-deepening-democracy-
rule-law-vs-public-demanding-kibore

TS: Constant exposure to the highly visually shocking truth of TS: In a post-truth era, the news media should all the more maintain
today’s world events cause significant mental and physical health its journalistic principles and report the objective truth to allay
problems. threats to stability and peace.

Explanation/Evaluation: The ubiquitous access to digital devices
allows people access to disturbing and graphic visuals which, while
they do report the truth, have no value-add to news consumers’
well-being, and cause stress instead.
Example(s): Graham Davey, a professor emeritus of psychology at
Sussex University in the UK and editor-in-chief of the Journal of
Experimental Psychopathology says that today’s news is
“increasingly visual and shocking,” and points to the inclusion of
smartphone videos and audio clips as examples. These bystander-
captured media can be so intense that they can cause symptoms of
acute stress—like problems sleeping, mood swings or aggressive
Explanation/Evaluation: Fake and sensationalist news can rile
people up to the point that they make decisions which are
counterproductive. The news must remain objective so as to quash
untruths which monger fear among a people that already has too
much access to information.
Example(s): According to many observers, two major stories – Brexit
and the election of Donald Trump – signal a moment of peril for the
press, and media around the world are deeply alarmed. The free
circulation of malicious lies, the ineffectiveness of fact-checking, the
resilience of populist propaganda, racism and sexism and the
emergence of the so-called post-truth era appear to challenge a
 behaviour—or even PTSD. His research shows that negative TV news
is a significant mood-changer, and the moods it tends to produce
are sadness and anxiety. While increased anxiety and stress are
reason enough to be wary of overdoing it when it comes to the
news, these and other mental health afflictions can also fuel physical
ailments. Stress-related hormones, namely cortisol, have been
linked to inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis,
cardiovascular disease and other serious health concerns.
Reading Links:
https://time.com/5125894/is-reading-news-bad-for-you/
fundamental cornerstone of ethical journalism – that facts matter
for democracy and that people want to be well-informed when
called upon to make potentially life-changing decisions. The rise of
propaganda, hate-speech and self-regarding politics with an
extremist edge threatens stability and peace both within countries
and abroad. The news has lessons to learn from the bruising
experience of 2016, not least that they must be honest, fair and
aggressive in their coverage of politics, but never lose sight of their
audience.
Reading Links:
https://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/resources/publications/ethics-
in-the-news/fake-news
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/five-
reasons-why-we-don-t-have-free-and-independent-press-in-uk-and-
what-we-can-do-about/

TS: The news is crucial in bringing outrageous injustices, no matter

how inconvenient to parties in power, to light, so as to redress the
grievances of the victims.

Explanation/Evaluation: With the work of persistent investigative

journalists who have expended all energies to get to the truth of the
matter, scandals and exposes of shameful and deplorable acts can
come to light even after all the effort by those in power to keep
their misdeeds under wraps.

Example(s): Staff of the Washington Post were awarded a Pulitzer

Prize in 2018 for purposeful and relentless reporting that changed
the course of a Senate race in Alabama by revealing a candidate Roy
Moore’s alleged past sexual harassment of teenage girls and
subsequent efforts to undermine the journalism that exposed it.

Reading Links:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/us/cruise-ship-crimes-
laws.html
Eric Lipton of the New York Times won a Pulitzer Prize in 2015 for
reporting that showed how the influence of lobbyists can sway
congressional leaders and state attorneys general, slanting justice
toward the wealthy and connected.
https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/eric-lipton
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.

QUESTION 9

Can technology save the environment?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 Can: Be able to/ Have the ability to/ Possible to

 Technology: The practical, especially industrial, use of scientific discoveries (not the same as science)
 Save: To stop from being damaged, destroyed
 Environment: The air, water and land in or on which people, animals, and plants live

Possible Stands

 Technology can save the environment to a large extent.

 Technology can only save the environment to a small extent.

Reasons why technology can save the environment Reasons why technology cannot save the environment

TS: Green technology provides alternatives to our current reliance
on the environment, making it possible for us to maintain our way
of life without having to exploit the environment.
Explanation/Evaluation: Technology is able to free us from our
TS: Technology requires the use of resources to implement, and
even technology that is intended to save the environment will still
depend on resources taken from the environment, damaging it in
the process.
reliance on environmentally harmful ways of getting resources,
allowing us to save the environment while maintaining the way we
live.
Example(s): Technology allows us to capture energy that is
renewable and clean, freeing us from our reliance on fossil fuels,
which damages the environment when we extract fuels and when
we burn them. Researchers at Columbia University have developed
a way to increase the efficiency of solar cells, providing a tool to
help push forward the development of next-generation solar energy
devices. Technological advancements have allowed researchers to
come up with materials that can capture more energy from light.
Reading Links:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190819112721.ht
m Reading Links:
TS: Technology is able to undo the damage we have inflicted on the
environment in the past and save the environment.
Explanation/Evaluation: Technology allows us to filter out the
pollutants we have released into the environment. We are able to
process these pollutants and turn them into harmless substances.
Example(s): A Swiss company called Climeworks has developed
technology to suck in air and capture the carbon dioxide present.
The system can purportedly capture 900 tonnes of carbon dioxide
every year, where it is then pumped to a greenhouse to grow bigger
vegetables. Technology is capable of removing some of the damage
we have caused and save the environment.
Reading Links:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44396781
Explanation/Evaluation: The materials needed to implement
technology still has to be taken from the environment, and such
materials are often non-renewable or would require heavy
processing.
Example(s): Renewable energy harnessed by technology has been
touted as one of the ways we can meet our energy needs while
minimising environmental damage. While renewable energy
technology can help us protect the environment by reducing the
fossil fuels we use for energy, we will still end up exploiting the
environment to implement that technology. Solar panels and wind
turbines are largely made from non-renewable sources, and these
energy technologies have a limited lifespan and will require
replacing, further taking away resources from the environment.
https://phys.org/news/2016-10-renewable-energy-sustainable.html
TS: In today’s economy, people treat the environment as a resource
to exploit and capitalise on to make a profit, and even the most
advanced technology will not be able to transform our attitude
towards nature and the damaging way in which we treat the
environment.
Explanation/Evaluation: We will end up using technology to exploit
the environment to a greater extent. Not only will technology not
save the environment, it would exacerbate the damage we cause.
Example(s): After taking office, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil
rolled back enforcement of Brazil’s once-strict environmental
protections. Mr. Bolsonaro has been dismissive of the value of
conservation efforts, arguing that environmental regulations should
be relaxed to spur economic growth. It was only after the
international outrage set off by a surge in fires in the Amazon forest
that Mr Bolsonaro pledged to take a zero tolerance approach to
environmental crimes. Technology is not capable of changing the
way people view the environment. Technology only provides a tool,
and from the way most countries currently treat saving the
environment as a hindrance to economic growth, technology would
most likely be used as a tool to exploit the environment more
effectively and generate greater economic growth.
Reading Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/world/americas/bolsonaro-
brazil-environment.html
TS: Some of the damage we have inflicted on the environment is
permanent and unknown to us. Not even the most advanced
technology is capable of saving us from the damage we do not even
realise we have caused.
Explanation/Evaluation: We are unaware of the extent of damage
we have caused the environment and we will not be able to
implement technology effectively if we do not know what we are
trying to fix.
Example(s): According to estimates, the proportion of undiscovered
extinct species over all extinctions ranged from 0.15 to 0.59. With
humans causing the loss of biodiversity at an unprecedented rate,
the extinction rate of species is now thought to be about 1,000
times higher than before humans dominated the planet, and it is
likely that even more species than ever are going extinct before we
have discovered them. With the loss of biodiversity are potential
new medicines we can harvest from nature and the varieties of
crops with traits we find desirable. The most advanced technology
will not be able to repair the damage that we do not even realise we
have caused and the unknown losses we have inflicted.
Reading Links:
 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/climate/biodiversity-
extinction-united-nations.html

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/12/what-is-
biodiversity-and-why-does-it-matter-to-us

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261190294_Estimating_
How_Many_Undescribed_Species_Have_Gone_Extinct
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.

QUESTION 10

‘Greed is good.’ Is this true in your society?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 “greed”: Greed is an overwhelming urge to have more of something, usually more than you really need
Note: While greed is often connected with money, a desire to acquire as much of it as possible, but it can refer to that kind of urge toward
anything, like food or material possessions.
“good”: To be desired or approved of.
“true”: Valid in the context and in accordance with fact or reality.
“your society”: Singapore (or selected country of origin)

Possible Stands

 It is generally untrue that greed is good in my society

 It is generally true that greed is good in my society

Reasons why greed may be good in my society Reasons why greed may not be good in my society

TS: The Singapore government being anticipatory rather than TS: My society’s national interest benefits from the self-motivation.
reactive is aware that it needs to intervene when individual greed Greed can thus act as a catalyst for corporate productivity and
threatens to undermine my society’s national interest. national economic growth.

Explanation/Evaluation: Explanation/Evaluation:

When social stability is threatened, it is far from true that greed is
deemed as good by my society’s government. Indeed, greed then is
perceived as a trait that needs to be curtailed. To this effect, the
Singapore government is willing to use legislative powers to
discourage citizens and other groups from continuing to participate
in behaviour which seeks them to profit from their greed. By
curtailing the benefits that this greed manifests and because they
become fearful of losing money they are usually demotivated to
continue these greedy activities.
Example(s):
One example that comes to mind is in July 2018 when the Singapore
government introduced more stringent measures to cool property
price rises that had risen from the greed of local and foreign
property investors. Aware that it was true that excessive greed
would have increasingly bad outcomes for the nation as a whole, in
that it could place property prices out of the reach of many less
well- off sectors within my society, the Singapore government
authorities rolled out the cooling measures in 2016 with the aim of
preventing prices from outpacing market fundamentals. These
included an increase of the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) of
5% for Singaporeans and permanent residents buying their second
and subsequent residential property. In addition, stricter limits were
also placed on the loan-t0-value (LTV) limits on all housing loans
from banks and other financial institutions. Greed had been at play.
Who acquired land sites at record prices? Who queued to buy new
launch projects at prices that set new highs in the district? Knowing
that greed today can lead to panic tomorrow as greed becomes fear,
the government knew that greed could result in bad outcomes.
Laws are another example where the government seeks to temper
greed recognizing that it can be bad for society as a whole. Indeed,
As such, greed of workers for more remuneration, particularly in
terms if bonuses can be generally accepted as necessary as it can
result in good outcomes for the economy at large. It acts as an
incentive for citizens to work harder, to put in longer hours and to
focus on positive sustainable outcomes that reap higher profits for
the companies.
Corporate leaders and even government leaders indirectly proclaim
and insinuate that greed as good in my society when they issue
celebratory statements announcing that targets are met and when
there has been a material improvement in the profits of the
companies affected and in the nation as a whole.
Example(s):
In 2018, Singapore’s top companies enjoyed their most profitable
year yet, with double-digit increases that took their combined
profits to a record high. The 1,000 largest companies saw a 10.5 per
cent jump in annual profits for years ended May 31, from S$165.4
billion in the period ended 2016 to S$182.8 billion in the period
ended 2017, according to a study by Experian outfit DP Information
Group (DP Info) and co-produced by EY. The Singapore 1000 (S1000)
ranks the largest 1,000 firms in Singapore by revenue, published
together with the SME 1000 - a ranking of the top 1,000 SMEs.
Finance companies were the most profitable, with each company
recording an average profit of S$811.5 million in the latest period.
This was followed by property with an average profit-per-company
of S$428.6 million.
There is an inextricable link between these high corporate profits
and bonuses expected by workers, Workers become more
productive when they see a link between profits and bonuses. Their
the government has strict laws against sedition much of which is
enforced to counter excessive greed. Earlier this year, Singapore’s
Deputy Public Prosecutor G. Kannan argued successfully for jail
term for Ai Takagi, the former editor of The Real Singapore (TRS).
Takagi, an Australian national of Japanese descent, was sentenced
to 10 months' jail for four counts of sedition.
Between December 2013 and last April, TRS had raked in almost half
a million dollars in advertising revenue, court papers stated. Her
website had more than 134 million page views from May 2014 to
March last year before it was shut down in May. Said DPP Kannan:
"By using a toxic cocktail of overtly vulgar language, innuendoes,
leveraging off controversial material to demonise foreigners and
outright fabrication, TRS was far more effective at fostering ill-will
and hostility than any of the (previous) offenders." He went on to
say that "…for her greedy personal benefit, she was willing to risk
damaging the delicate social harmony which has been fostered by
the collective effort of generations of Singaporeans".
TS: Leaders of non-profit organizations have also been tempted by
and exhibited excessive greed which has undermined public trust.
Explanation/Evaluation: When public trust is broken because of
greed that wastes money that would have otherwise been allocated
to the public then the innocent often suffer the most. Greed in my
society is then deemed to have been bad because it was to excess.
Example(s):
In 2005, social service veteran Gerard Ee took over the reins of the
National Kidney Foundation (NKF) after his predecessor T.T. Durai
resigned following a scandal involving NKF funds. A scandal
surrounding the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), one of the
largest charities in Singapore, had earlier emerged in which then
CEO Mr. T.T. Durai greedily spent donor funds meant for kidney
patients on building his own personal corporate empire. The case
illustrates the potential dangers of entrusting a CEO with too much
power which can enable him to embellish his greedy desires and the
important role and duty of boards in upholding proper standards of
corporate governance. In 2004, the international accountancy firm
KPMG investigated the business activities of Singapore’s National
Kidney Foundation ( NKF ) and issued a report on 16 December
2005, including the following conclusions: In 1995, CEO Durai's pay
was increased from S$12,000 to S$18,000. The promotion was
backdated six months, so he received another S$36,000. On top of
greed for bonuses makes them work harder which is good for the
corporations as well as for the country in general. Indeed workers
were rewarded last year by receiving almost 3 months bonus but
they quickly looked to being equivalently rewarded in 2019. Indeed,
a Bonus Expectations 2019 survey carried out by Randstad
Singapore claims that 83% of employees in Singapore expect to be
rewarded with a bonus in 2019. 69% of those who participated in
the survey expect a bonus in one or two months while just 27%
believe that they will receive their annual bonus in the next three to
five months.
Randstad Singapore launched the Bonus Expectations 2019 survey
so that they could determine employee expectations as far as
bonuses are concerned. It also sought to establish the impact of
those bonus expectations on employer engagement while also
seeking to establish the plans that Singapore companies have for
their employee bonuses.
36% say they are prepared to leave if no bonus received
Despite the views by a majority of the respondents, only 36% of the
participants view bonuses as a vital factor in employee retention.
They also claim that they would entertain the possibility of switching
to a different job if they do not receive any bonus in 2019.
Indeed, Randstad Singapore’s Managing Director Jaya Dass
commented on how greed had motivated the employees but called
for an increased sense of being part of a strong community and job
satisfaction are among the key factors whilst warning employers
that they should capitalise on employee greed for more money by
maintaining consistent communication especially on how their
employees can benefit from HR initiatives and corporate growth in
the long haul.
Reading Links:
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-
economy/singapores-top-firms-enjoyed-record-profits-but-
revenues-flat-study
https://www.randstad.com.sg/workforce-insights/talent-
management/bonus-expectations-survey-2019/
TS: When greed can result in pragmatic attitudes that lead to a
quest of the individual for the betterment of self.
Explanation/Evaluation:
As such, greed can be generally accepted as good as it can result in
educational outcomes that are generally deemed to be good for the
individual. Singapore has always been focused on academic
credentials, based on merit and allowing equal access for all. This
centralised system helped Singapore to create social cohesion, a
unity of purpose among its schools and an ethos of hard work that
many nations envy. Students in my society are well aware that they
want to obtain more money later in life and try to obtain the best
grades that are available. As such, children study harder than
students in most other countries as they recognize that they are will
be competing in a global market and hence want to outdo their
peers. Also, as my country’s government has emphasised the need
for an ‘all-round’ education, greediness for academic qualifications
can not only bring social mobility, it also allows the individual to gain
intangible 21st century skills that make them learned and
employable.
Schools in my society have become and largely remain highly
stratified and competitive. More advantaged families, greedy for
their children to be given an edge, are better able to support their
that, Durai received a S$30,000 bonus "top-up" based on the revised
salary. In 1997, Durai was offered a salary of S$30,000 a month but
he chose to accept only S$25,000, a S$7,000 increase over his
previous wage. The increment was backdated 11 months,
amounting to an extra S$77,000. From September 1997 to October
2003, his overtime pay amounted to S$187,000.
From May 1995 to November 2003, he encashed his leave
entitlement brought in another S$350,000. In 2004, Durai chalked
up an average bill of S$32,952 per month on his corporate credit
card. In 2004, S$70,000 was spent on a "study trip" to Las Vegas for
six of NKF's staff, including Durai, to get fresh ideas on doing charity
shows. Durai used NKF funds to pay bills relating to his wife's
Mercedes, including paying for petrol and repairing the car.
In 2004, the NKF made a surplus of S$993,677 from drug sales.
Although the NKF claimed it helped its patients save over S$3.5
million in treatment costs, it had charged its patients a premium for
certain discounted drugs, instead of passing the savings on to them.
Example(s):
A prominent example that comes to mind is that of the notorious
City Harvest Church. Pastor Kong Hee head pastor of City Harvest
Church was arrested in 2012 and the trial began in 2013 into the
allegations that Kong and five other church leaders had been greedy
in illegally using $24 million of church funds while misusing another
$26 million in a cover-up. Kong was found guilty in 2015 as the "key
man" behind the scandal. who had guided his five accomplices by
the Singapore court of three charges of criminal breach of trust.
Pastor Kong Hee had misappropriated funds from his own church,
most of it behind the congregations back. He had lost USD$30
million on a scheme to make his wife a pop princess, without telling
his own congregants he syphoned USD$30 million, illegally, from the
church building fund to try to achieve this.
Reading Links:
https://donaldelley.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/pastor-kong-see-
of-city-harvest-church-singapore-a-great-christian-martyr-or-
greedy-or-naive-and-a-fool/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228295634_Gold-
Plated_Taps_A_Story_of_Greed_at_the_National_Kidney_Foundati
on_NKF
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/singapore/149
4240/Gold-tap-scandal-tarnishes-charity.html
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1599979
children with extra lessons outside of school, such as enrichment
classes in mathematics, English, dance and music.
Example(s):
According to a recent HSBC survey, Singapore parents spend an
average of US$70,939 (about S$96,000) on their children's
education, from primary school all the way to undergraduate level.
The global average is about two-thirds of that at US$44,221.
The report shows parents here are going the extra mile to ensure
their children have a good start in life. About four in five (79 per
cent) started making plans for their children's education and 74 per
cent started making funding decisions even before the children had
started primary school.
Millennial parents (80 per cent) and Generation X parents (82 per
cent) were more likely than baby boomer parents (69 per cent) to
have started making plans before primary school. Almost four in five
parents (79 per cent) were paying for their children's education, and
a similar proportion (82 per cent) were paying for private tuition or
had done so in the past.
Not surprisingly, Singapore students are be topping the international
charts in mathematics, science and reading. In 2016, one week after
scoring top marks in a mathematics and science study, Singapore
students aced an even more prestigious international benchmarking
test, dubbed the "World Cup for Education". The Republic's 15-year-
olds were ranked No 1 for mathematics, science and reading in the
Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), a study
done every three years, and run by the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) to measure how well
students use their knowledge and skills to solve real-world
problems. In the last Pisa test in 2012, Singapore students had been
ranked second in mathematics and third in science and reading.
Recognizing that Singapore parents regard it as acceptable to be
greedy when it comes to their own child’s education, Education
Minister Ong Ye Kung has even had to take to the media to try to
persuade parents otherwise. He recently featured on Channel 5’s
Talking Point where he asked parents to re-consider the best way to
gauge performance. Accepting that exams were important , he
commented that “we have reached a stage where we might be
overdoing it and I think it is time to unwind without losing the
fundamental principles of meritocracy.’
Reading Links:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/spore-parents-pump-96k-
into-kids-education
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39142030
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/employers-focus-paper-
qualifications-roadblock-students
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ong-ye-kung-educational-
changes-meritocracy
Special Note:
As greed can be considered an innate characteristic of the human
spirit and Singaporeans are no different in this regard.
Greed in my society can be deemed to have captured the essence of
our evolutionary spirit as human beings. Here I refer to the greed for
knowledge for love and more generally for life itself. Hence markers
should allow for students to take a BROADER view of greed above
and beyond that for money in their answers.
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.

QUESTION 11

How important is it for refugees to embrace the way of life of their host country?

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 Important: necessary or of great value (note: accept if student discusses significant benefits and functions, but these benefits and
functions need not be necessary)
 Refugees: A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster
 Embrace: Actively accept or support willingly and enthusiastically.
 Way of life: The norms and attitudes and typical patterns of behaviour of much of the society
Host country: A nation in which refugees are present because of government invitation and/or international agreement.

Possible Stands

 It is generally very important for refugees to embrace the way of life of their host country
 It is generally unimportant for refugees to embrace the way of life of their host country

Reasons why refugees should embrace their host country’s WOL Reasons why refugees should not embrace their host country’s
WOL

TS: When in a new country refugees can often ameliorate many
potential conflicts if they are cognisant of and consciously adapt to
the country’s norms.
Explanation/Evaluation:
TS: It can sometimes be a futile for refugees to put such great effort
into trying to integrate themselves into a new society when some
host country governments have what seems to be an inconsistent
approach to refugees which can negate attempts by refugees to
assimilate.

This deliberate attempt to embrace the way of life of their host
country can be very important as it generally results in the refugees
being regarded as contributing to society rather than being pariahs
on society and merely escapees from war, persecution and natural
disaster. Once this attitude and behaviour is recognized by citizens
in the host society they tend to eventually regarded as ‘one of us’
and are likely to face less discrimination and chastisement from local
indigenous people.
Explanation/Evaluation:
Refugees should not generally embrace the way of life of their host
country when the country is sending a mixed signal about the value
of their having embraced the way of life especially when the
chances are that after embracing it will result in them being further
ostracised or even deported. This mixed signal often stems from the
perception that it is welcoming too many refugees.

Example(s): In these situations the prevailing government is seen as random and

Qualitative evidence from a journal article titled ‘How do refugees
affect social life in host communities?’ by authors Veronika Fajth,
Özge Bilgili, Craig Loschmann, and Melissa Siegel illustrates how
greater (economic) interaction between the two populations helps
increase trust between refugees and host communities over time.
When refugees fit themselves into the mechanics of their host
countries social and economic systems, locals tend to view them
more as similar entities than people different from them.
Both Sieng Van Tran and Jan Koum are examples where it was
important is it for them as refugee cognisant of and consciously
adapt to the country’s norms. They both embraced the way of life of
their host country in terms of rewarding capitalism and contributed
to economic growth which benefited the population at large. As a
consequence, they were heralded by indigenous people as not only
welcome but as heroes and thus they came to be regarded as ‘one
of us’ and are likely to face less discrimination and chastisement
from local indigenous people.
Sieng Van Tran fled his home country Vietnam by boat in 1979 and
after spending two years in a Singapore refugee camp arrived in
Harlesden, London, in 1981. Whilst studying at Middlesex University
Tran came up with ilearn.to, an e-learning site which allowed users
to study at their own pace and convenience. This became the UK's
first ever profitable e-learning site in 1999," reports UK site Real
Business. "He is now the CEO and founder of e-commerce site
AuctionAssist, which he sold to ArgentVive for £2.5m." He embraces
inconsistent in accepting and acknowledging the efforts that these
refugees have put in to date. Thus, when governments send an
ambiguous signal to these existing refugees which can compromise
their efforts to embrace the society as they can feel resentful and
demoralised feeling that their efforts to embrace the way of life
have not been appreciated and they may even feel short changed by
the society as a whole.
This in turn can result in refugees feeling that regardless of whether
they embrace their host country’s way of life, they will run the risk
of facing equivalent stigma.
Example(s):
In Australia for example, the general public feel that the country is
welcoming too many refugees and this has made the government
more circumspect when it comes to allowing even refugees who
have embraced the way of life to remain. Even today many refugees
flock to Australia and indeed, Australian diplomat High
Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski told The
Malaysian Reserve recently in August 2019 that 33,000 Malaysians
had applied to be refugees in Australia over the last few years,
Nevertheless, a few days later on 1st September 2019, hundreds of
Australians joined rallies pleading with the government not to
deport a Tamil family of four, including two Australian-born
toddlers, whose case has become a new flashpoint over immigration
policy. The family, who are fighting to remain in Australia because
the host country by using his initiative to build up companies that
offered thousands of jobs to local people who in turn appreciated
his contributions to them and to the nation as a whole.
Jan Koum of WhatsApp. As a teenager Koum emigrated from
Ukraine to the U.S. with his mother in the early 1990s. They
struggled at first in their adopted country, and relied on food stamps
to survive. Fast forward to 2009, and the college dropout
transformed the text messaging market with WhatsApp and
Facebook bought the messaging platform for $19 billion in 2014.
Again when a refugee has the acumen and initiative to apply new
ideas in his host country he can employ many people and even after
having been sold, his ideas can be welcomed by many.
Reading Links:
https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/5-amazing-entrepreneurs-
who-went-from-refugees-to-the-rich-list.html
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40878-019-0139-1
TS: Refugees who have the initial attitude that they are willing to
embrace their host country are significantly more likely to be given
opportunities to effectively contribute to the country’s economic
and social development.
Explanation/Evaluation:
Generally, once refugees who have shown the initial attitude that
they are willing to embrace their host country follow up by
continuing to embrace their host country then this is likely to gain
traction and become self-fulling and mutual as once they make a
significant contribution the hoist country will tend to reciprocate by
embracing them. It thereby becomes fairly important as the
refugees who had earlier escaped war, persecution, or natural
disasters now settle in and embrace their host country by materially
adding to rather than compromising the chances of the society
benefiting from the resisted successes that generally accrue.
Example(s):
In Sweden, gross domestic product (GDP) increased more than 3
percent in the first two quarters of 2019, which is considerably
faster than the euro zone's roughly 2 percent growth. It has been
documented that immigrants who entered Sweden as refugees have
a labour force participation rate of about 82 percent, some 4
percentage points higher than the EU average and have made a
significant contribution to the GDP. It is no coincidence that in
proportion to its population, Sweden has the most welcoming
asylum policies.
Facing the recent refugee crisis, the government decided that the
country was capable of welcoming no less than 150,000 asylum
seekers in 2019 so far. The refugees were attracted by the
generosity and the efficiency that characterize the Swedish asylum
system. Sweden has a good international reputation in terms of
refugee management, thanks to the high quality of State law with a
room and board system is offered to new arrivals in reception
centres across the country while their asylum application is being
examined. The process lasts between 6 and 7 months. In the
meantime, they are offered a free language and culture class as well
as professional training in order to facilitate their integration into
Swedish society. While the kids are enrolled as soon as they arrive,
they fear persecution in Sri Lanka, were moved to the Christmas
Island detention facility after a judge had blocked a government
attempt to deport them. With an injunction on further government
action due to expire Wednesday, Australians gathered in cities and
towns across the country to oppose their deportation, many of them
chanting "let them stay".
Venezuelan refugees who have embraced the ways of life of the ISA
suddenly found that once Donald Trump was elected the US
president he was a steadfast opponent of the Venezuelan leader
Nicolás Maduro and most prominent supporter of his opponent
Juan Guaidó, and the Trump administration continues to deport
hard working and assimilated Venezuelans back to their homeland.
Between October 2017 and September 2018, US Immigration and
Customs Enforcement deported 336 Venezuelan refugees.
Reading Links:
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/report-33-000-malaysians-seek-
021500700.html
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/let-them-stay-aussies-rally-against-
tamil-family-075431864.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/16/trump-
administration-venezuelans-temporary-protected-status-tps-
deport
TS: Despite and sometimes because refugees embrace their new
country, they can find the indigenous population increasingly
resentful of their continued presence
Explanation/Evaluation:
The very success of the refugees in having embraced the way of life
can bring about jealousy and envy in the indigenous people
especially when a country’s economy is finding it hard to offer
sufficient jobs to indigenous people. This can result in psychological
and even physical attacks on the refugees. When this happens the
positive outcomes that have emanated from their assimilation into
the society are seen as having deprived local people from gaining
equivalent benefits and pressure can be put on the government to
resolve the situation.
Example(s):
Amid current economic difficulties in Turkey, the Syrian refugees in
the country are facing rising resentment, if not hostility, from the
local population, especially following the recent local elections.
There are more than 3.63 million Syrians living in Turkey, most of
them are still registered as refugees, while only a small proportion
of them, or 55,000, have been granted Turkish citizenship. The
Syrians are not very welcome by local Turkish communities in some
cities, not only for cultural differences, but also due to the economic
challenges. Tanju Ozcan, the newly elected mayor of Bolu province
in western Turkey, caused controversy recently as he immediately
delivered his pre-election promises to cut off municipal financial aid
to the Syrian refugees and refused to grant municipal permit to
open businesses for the Syrians and other asylum seekers.
Reading Links:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-
04/19/c_137988857.htm
 adults can start working immediately, a unique case in Europe.
Swedish citizenship can be acquired after 4 years of residency in
Sweden.

Sweden is not alone, Austria is part of a growing global network of

municipalities that are opting to embrace refugees and the
opportunities they bring. From Brazil to Indonesia, these countries
are giving hope to the world’s most vulnerable by providing
sanctuary and the chance to become part of the social fabric
providing they show that that are willing to embrace the ways of life
of these host countries.

Reading Links:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-21/sweden-
s-economy-is-getting-a-lift-from-migrants

file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/Dialnet-
TheCausalityBetweenEconomicGrowthAndImmigrationInE-
6120931.pdf

https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2018/12/5c10c51a4/vienna-
learns-benefit-giving-warm-welcome-refugees.html

TS. Refugees who gather in enclaves and refuse their host countries’
way of life have typically shown themselves to be worse off in the
long run given that foreign enclaves can breed a host of problems
that turn locals away from accepting and embracing these refugees.

Example(s): In Denmark, when refugees were refugees seemed to

be initially embracing the way of life of the Danish people, after time
their living in enclaves resulted in male Lebanese immigrants and
their descendants, a big part of them being of Palestinian descent,
having the highest crime-index among studied groups, which
effectively translated into crime rates 150% higher than the
country's average. Similarly, research by Phillips and Karn found that
while UK governments were being self-congratulatory in the way
past governments had encouraged refugees to embrave the way of
life of UK people, refugee ethnic based enclaves and even ghettos
had formed in Brixton and Notting Hill in London and in Moss Side in
Manchester as well as in Handsworth in Birmingham as well as in
other Midland and Northern towns like Leicester and Bradford.
These former refugees were now found to be engaging in a
significant amount of crime including; rape, burglary and even
murder.

Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.

QUESTION 12

‘Education should focus on what is practical.’ Discuss in relation to your society.

Question Analysis: Every single word counts

 Education: The process of teaching or learning, especially in a school or college, or the knowledge that you get from this
 Focus on: To give a lot of attention to one particular subject or thing
 Practical: Relating to experience, real situations or actions rather than ideas or imagination; of or concerned with the actual doing or
use of something rather than with theory and ideas (accept candidates’ interpretation of “what is practical” as long as it has tangible
outcome, has function in day-to-day living, provides solutions to real-life problems)
 Your society: Singapore (or selected country of origin)

Possible Stands

 Education should focus on what is practical in my society.

 Education should not focus on what is practical in my society.
 Reasons why education should focus on what is practical in
Singapore
TS: Singapore is a pragmatic society, and focusing on what is
practical equips people with skills and experience that would make
them more hireable, allowing them to get better paying jobs and
make a good living.
Explanation/Evaluation: Employers are pragmatic and would want
workers who could perform in practice. An education that focuses
on what is practical will give jobseekers an edge.
Example(s): According to a Ministry of Manpower survey done in
2018, employers in Singapore placed emphasis on relevant working
experience for professionals, managers, executives and technicians
job positions. Employers were looking beyond academic
qualifications. Workers who could demonstrate practical experience
were sought after.
Reading Links: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/more-
employers-looking-beyond-academic-qualifications-mom-report
TS: Singapore is a small country, and in order to remain relevant on
the global stage its people must have the practical skills that allows
them to be economically useful and competitive.
Explanation/Evaluation: Education that focuses on what is practical
will allow people in Singapore to work more effectively and
contribute more tangibly to society, thereby allowing Singapore to
flourish and grow in the midst of global competition.
Example(s) Henrietta Fore, executive director of the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF), believes secondary schools should be
teaching more practical skills to prepare teenagers for the future.
The 2019 Singapore Budget, which focused on reskilling workers,
was seen as helpful for sharpening Singapore’s global competitive
edge. An education in what is practical could increase worker
capability and help Singapore’s workforce remain competitive and
relevant.
Reading Links:
https://theirworld.org/news/secondary-schools-must-teach-
relevant-job-skills-says-unicef-chief
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/focus-on-boosting-digital-
skills-reskilling-workforce-welcomed
Reasons why education should not focus on what is practical in
Singapore
TS: Focusing on what is practical may be useful in the short-term,
but people lose out on imaginative play, making them less flexible
and less innovative in the long run. As a small country, Singapore is
highly susceptible to changes in the world, and being innovative and
adaptable is necessary for survival in an unpredictable world.
Explanation/Evaluation: Unstructured play may not directly teach
students what is practical, but the imaginativeness and creativity
they gain from play will be useful to them in the long-term.
Example(s): In 2018, then Minister of Education Ng Chee Meng
spoke of the need to nurture “active imagination” among students
in Singapore. Meta-level traits like imagination and inquisitiveness
were seen as having the potential to help Singapore navigate the
disruptions that were happening. He stressed the need for more
unstructured spaces to play, to grow their imagination and
creativity.
Reading Links:
https://www.todayonline.com/daily-focus/education/can-we-really-
make-singapore-students-imaginative-and-inquisitive
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/wanted-joy-of-learning-
entrepreneurial-dare-in-students
TS: Focusing on what is practical will cause people to lead functional
but colourless lives. Singapore strives to be a culturally vibrant city,
and a practical education would not be able to enrich people’s lives
culturally and aesthetically.
Explanation/Evaluation: An education focused on what is practical
will only impoverish our cultural and aesthetic senses and deprive us
of a life well-lived.
Example(s): In the 1960s and 1970s, Singapore was focused on
practical concerns - economic development, defence, housing, and
while Singapore’s economy grew, we were seen as a “cultural
desert”. In 2000, the Renaissance City Plan was rolled out, and it
emphasised the importance of the arts in enhancing the quality of
life in Singapore. The goal was to make the city more liveable and
attractive. An education that focuses on what is practical may help
us earn a livelihood, but as can be seen from Singapore’s
development, practical concerns alone cannot make for a quality
life.
Reading Links:
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/the-arts-power-on
TS: Education that focuses on the practical may equip individuals
with functional skills, but it would not be concerned with the
abstract goals of moral values, nation building and social cohesion.
As a young nation with a complex multicultural social fabric,
Singapore needs its people to develop into citizens who have a
sense of respect for each other in order to maintain social harmony.
Explanation/Evaluation: Focusing on what is practical would neglect
the moral and social development of a person.
Example(s): In a speech by then Minister of Education Heng Swee
Keat, he emphasised the importance of moral values in guiding
people to be socially responsible, and a sense of shared values so
that multicultural Singapore society stays cohesive and harmonious.
 Education that focuses on the practical would teach people to be
skillful at performing tasks in the real world, but it would not be
concerned with whether that task is right or wrong. It would not be
concerned with whether that task is good or problematic for the
community.

Reading Links:
http://singteach.nie.edu.sg/issue36-hottopic/

http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/20110929001/
wps_opening_address_%28media%29%28checked%29.pdf

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/building-
character-and-values-still-a-mainstay-of-moe-heng-swee--8340030
Note: Some arguments presented here should not be included in the same essay if they contradict one another.