 | New Oldhamites 2008 and beyond | Jul 22, 2007 |
Hi everyone, I am sorry I won't be around to take another class of GP students this year. Please glean as much as you can from the site. I have downloaded additional notes which you may find helpful. Happy Browsing!!! All the best in your exams.
28th October 2007
THE BIG PICTURE
As you prepare for Wednesday's paper, or get increasing frustrated by essays, questions and essay structures, take 10mins to read an article in the Straits Times today, "Good writing is not about sticking rigidly to a fixed pattern" by Janadas Devan Pg 29 (OR click Links). It talks about the big picture. Ultimately what you have been doing for the past couple of months is honing your examination technique. On Wednesday, the main point to all you have learnt, is to answer the question as clearly and directly as possible.To show that you understand the question fully (all its implications) and answer the question...Yet, thinking through writing is the bigger issue. Writing sharpens your ability to think; forces you to be aware of the connections you are making and it insists that you stick to the point (or argument). Writing in a particular format is learning a writing convention; true it is to some degree a convention expected by examiners but there is a BIGGER picture....much bigger and more important than grades.
22nd Oct Counter- argument paragraphs for DO-YOU-AGREE questions.
Counter-argument paragraphs are rebutals NOT supporting arguments against yourself. I am a little worried about the weak counter argument paragraphs some of you have produced. Soon I will re-write a few in purple as example of how to write these. They won't be prefect cos I'm rushing but hopefully it will give you some ideas of how to write them. Eight days!!!
19th October: WHAT IS THE QUESTION?
Both model essays (freedom of speech and our doomed environment) have grammar mistakes which I'll probably get round to correcting beginning of next week. Just look carefully at the style used and how the question is answered directly. In terms of notes on GP it seems like your school has prepared you well. Always try to attempt a question you have thought about before so that in the exams it is just a matter of orientating the facts to answer the question.
12th Oct Think about this before this Sunday
Some possible areas to consider as you think about general paper are:
Global and environmental issues amd solutions
National identity/ traditional culture
The problem of too many choices
Uneducated and the workforce
Merits and Demerits of aging
Movies and controversy
Sports and fair play
Factors that determine success
Please download notes (1 and 2) on how to answer questions
24th Sept Welcome back
Welcome back to the site. I am really pleased to see that the new essays are much more directed and that means we can go into fine tuning essays instead of just dealing with their relevance to the question. I really hope all of you, after all that hard work you've put in, passed the prelims. If not, chin up you have a month to go....
26th Aug --Style
We talked about the importance of writing style over everything; including structure. Hopefully it gives you an idea of how to improve your style, exemplification and cohesion. Already some of you are starting to develop your own fairly consistent style and approach to the essays and that is really encouraging for me to see. I hope your improvement encourages you too. I have blocked off this time until Wednesday night to mark your essays so really send in as many as you can and get all the practice you need. I am a very slow marker so hand in essays early this week. If you blog it on Wednesday morning I may not be able to mark in much detail. If you haven't got much time, do the exercise on counter argument paragraphs or do essay outlines instead of essays. Read the links, some are very interesting and informative; I have enjoyed reading them tremendously myself. If I don't see you before exams. All the best--- dare I say good luck?--Hmm, God bless.
19th August-- Answering questions
1) Today we worked through a comprehension passage and talked about how to answer comprehension questions. Talked briefly about using structural, contextual and punctuation clues to help you figure out meaning. Hopefully as you read different texts to help you answer the essay questions your comprehension improves too. Get used to using contextual clues to help you comprehend a text instead of using a dictionary.
2) We went through the requirements of a summary question but had no time to actually go through the summary exercise. It is important that you answer the summary question directly as you would an essay question and that your summary paragraph is coherent. Don't be so focused on the paraphrasing that you end up with a list of unconnected points.
3) Until you get the ideas in your paragraphs connected properly I suggest you DO NOT do a timed exercise. Unlike comprehension, when you write a composition use a dictionary always. Make sure you are absolutely sure of the meaning of the words you use. Do another essay if you can this week, if you do not have time I have put an exercise on Gender Issues on the blog for you. On Saturday night can you download four articles (I'll blog it as soon as I have time) on style for Sunday's class?
12th August--Writing Outlines
1) Writing Technique: Today, we talked about how to write balanced essays: counter-argument paragraphs (for do you agree questions), how to balance an essay and how to give a balanced answer in an application question. Basically, the signposts used for all three are similiar. Ultimately it is all about how to build a convincing argument or give a reasoned opinion.
2) Outlines: We also talked about how to write outlines...I'll blog a few examples. Can you blog what you wrote on Sunday? I'll correct it for you. You might want to practice writing outlines to answer questions to make sure you have answered the question fully. Get your speed up. Being able to write outlines quickly also helps you when you are trying to select the best question to tackle.
3) Questions: This week's essay questions will move away from science and technology for variety. The essay conferencing was a little rushed today. If you have any questions regarding the marked essays you can blog it or sms me and we could chat some more in the lift lobby.
4) Homework: If you have time do the comprehension questions and an essay. If you don't, just read the comprehension text and annotate it, rewrite the counter-argument paragraphs in your essays (coloured green) and pick a few essays and write outlines. Blog these.
5th August: Focus-- Structure
1) We talked about paragraph structures. "Point-Reason-Example" in terms of ideas and how paragraph structures can help you with sentence structures and make a paragraph more coherent. I have tried to isolate a paragraph from each essay you have written. I put the analysis under reply in order to give you more examples of how to structure paragraphs.
2) We talked about how to write an introduction and conclusion and the notes are in the blog section. Please blog questions as they come up
3) Talked about issues involving legalisation (in blog section)
4) Essay questions for this week are in Review section. If you have time write an essay. If not do the exercise to consolidate what you have learnt and correct the paragraph I have coloured green. Blog it.
22nd July Ground Rules
There are a few ground rules to using this website that are obvious but should be said:
1) No profanity, indecent links or foul language or unsavoury content should be used. Feel free to express frustration using symbols like @#%***!.
2) All entries need to be named. Oh please use your real name not a nickname, I am very,very bad with names. I would really rather just learn one name, the real one, if possible.
3) This site is open to anyone from Oldham Hall as long as they identify themselves. So if you have friends in OH who are struggling with GP, they are most welcome to join.
4) Do not delete what someone else has blogged but feel free to comment under reply
5) The first essay is compulsory so that I can gauge your standard but after that you can write as many or as few essays as your schedule permits. I suggest if prelims are 30th August and 'A' levels on the 31st October, that you do as many as humanly possible.
6) Ask lots of questions, don't be embarrassed and be proactive about what you want to learn. You can suggest essay topics to cover, lessons and whatever else that you think may help you (Under discussion). You don't have much time so we'll try to make this time as efficient and helpful as possible.
7) Remember to click the reply button on entries, I have put some assignments and comments there.
Instructions on how to start.
1)Pick up the User ID and password from Mr Andrew (if you are giving it to a friend too make sure you let Mr Andrew know). 2) Go to multiply.com. and sign in. 3) Click Customise and Write in blog to post your essay under " Oldhamite essays and comments". Make sure you put your name in the title of the essay
28th October 2007
THE BIG PICTURE
As you prepare for Wednesday's paper, or get increasing frustrated by essays, questions and essay structures, take 10mins to read an article in the Straits Times today, "Good writing is not about sticking rigidly to a fixed pattern" by Janadas Devan Pg 29 (OR click Links). It talks about the big picture. Ultimately what you have been doing for the past couple of months is honing your examination technique. On Wednesday, the main point to all you have learnt, is to answer the question as clearly and directly as possible.To show that you understand the question fully (all its implications) and answer the question...Yet, thinking through writing is the bigger issue. Writing sharpens your ability to think; forces you to be aware of the connections you are making and it insists that you stick to the point (or argument). Writing in a particular format is learning a writing convention; true it is to some degree a convention expected by examiners but there is a BIGGER picture....much bigger and more important than grades.
22nd Oct Counter- argument paragraphs for DO-YOU-AGREE questions.
Counter-argument paragraphs are rebutals NOT supporting arguments against yourself. I am a little worried about the weak counter argument paragraphs some of you have produced. Soon I will re-write a few in purple as example of how to write these. They won't be prefect cos I'm rushing but hopefully it will give you some ideas of how to write them. Eight days!!!
19th October: WHAT IS THE QUESTION?
Both model essays (freedom of speech and our doomed environment) have grammar mistakes which I'll probably get round to correcting beginning of next week. Just look carefully at the style used and how the question is answered directly. In terms of notes on GP it seems like your school has prepared you well. Always try to attempt a question you have thought about before so that in the exams it is just a matter of orientating the facts to answer the question.
12th Oct Think about this before this Sunday
Some possible areas to consider as you think about general paper are:
Global and environmental issues amd solutions
National identity/ traditional culture
The problem of too many choices
Uneducated and the workforce
Merits and Demerits of aging
Movies and controversy
Sports and fair play
Factors that determine success
Please download notes (1 and 2) on how to answer questions
24th Sept Welcome back
Welcome back to the site. I am really pleased to see that the new essays are much more directed and that means we can go into fine tuning essays instead of just dealing with their relevance to the question. I really hope all of you, after all that hard work you've put in, passed the prelims. If not, chin up you have a month to go....
26th Aug --Style
We talked about the importance of writing style over everything; including structure. Hopefully it gives you an idea of how to improve your style, exemplification and cohesion. Already some of you are starting to develop your own fairly consistent style and approach to the essays and that is really encouraging for me to see. I hope your improvement encourages you too. I have blocked off this time until Wednesday night to mark your essays so really send in as many as you can and get all the practice you need. I am a very slow marker so hand in essays early this week. If you blog it on Wednesday morning I may not be able to mark in much detail. If you haven't got much time, do the exercise on counter argument paragraphs or do essay outlines instead of essays. Read the links, some are very interesting and informative; I have enjoyed reading them tremendously myself. If I don't see you before exams. All the best--- dare I say good luck?--Hmm, God bless.
19th August-- Answering questions
1) Today we worked through a comprehension passage and talked about how to answer comprehension questions. Talked briefly about using structural, contextual and punctuation clues to help you figure out meaning. Hopefully as you read different texts to help you answer the essay questions your comprehension improves too. Get used to using contextual clues to help you comprehend a text instead of using a dictionary.
2) We went through the requirements of a summary question but had no time to actually go through the summary exercise. It is important that you answer the summary question directly as you would an essay question and that your summary paragraph is coherent. Don't be so focused on the paraphrasing that you end up with a list of unconnected points.
3) Until you get the ideas in your paragraphs connected properly I suggest you DO NOT do a timed exercise. Unlike comprehension, when you write a composition use a dictionary always. Make sure you are absolutely sure of the meaning of the words you use. Do another essay if you can this week, if you do not have time I have put an exercise on Gender Issues on the blog for you. On Saturday night can you download four articles (I'll blog it as soon as I have time) on style for Sunday's class?
12th August--Writing Outlines
1) Writing Technique: Today, we talked about how to write balanced essays: counter-argument paragraphs (for do you agree questions), how to balance an essay and how to give a balanced answer in an application question. Basically, the signposts used for all three are similiar. Ultimately it is all about how to build a convincing argument or give a reasoned opinion.
2) Outlines: We also talked about how to write outlines...I'll blog a few examples. Can you blog what you wrote on Sunday? I'll correct it for you. You might want to practice writing outlines to answer questions to make sure you have answered the question fully. Get your speed up. Being able to write outlines quickly also helps you when you are trying to select the best question to tackle.
3) Questions: This week's essay questions will move away from science and technology for variety. The essay conferencing was a little rushed today. If you have any questions regarding the marked essays you can blog it or sms me and we could chat some more in the lift lobby.
4) Homework: If you have time do the comprehension questions and an essay. If you don't, just read the comprehension text and annotate it, rewrite the counter-argument paragraphs in your essays (coloured green) and pick a few essays and write outlines. Blog these.
5th August: Focus-- Structure
1) We talked about paragraph structures. "Point-Reason-Example" in terms of ideas and how paragraph structures can help you with sentence structures and make a paragraph more coherent. I have tried to isolate a paragraph from each essay you have written. I put the analysis under reply in order to give you more examples of how to structure paragraphs.
2) We talked about how to write an introduction and conclusion and the notes are in the blog section. Please blog questions as they come up
3) Talked about issues involving legalisation (in blog section)
4) Essay questions for this week are in Review section. If you have time write an essay. If not do the exercise to consolidate what you have learnt and correct the paragraph I have coloured green. Blog it.
22nd July Ground Rules
There are a few ground rules to using this website that are obvious but should be said:
1) No profanity, indecent links or foul language or unsavoury content should be used. Feel free to express frustration using symbols like @#%***!.
2) All entries need to be named. Oh please use your real name not a nickname, I am very,very bad with names. I would really rather just learn one name, the real one, if possible.
3) This site is open to anyone from Oldham Hall as long as they identify themselves. So if you have friends in OH who are struggling with GP, they are most welcome to join.
4) Do not delete what someone else has blogged but feel free to comment under reply
5) The first essay is compulsory so that I can gauge your standard but after that you can write as many or as few essays as your schedule permits. I suggest if prelims are 30th August and 'A' levels on the 31st October, that you do as many as humanly possible.
6) Ask lots of questions, don't be embarrassed and be proactive about what you want to learn. You can suggest essay topics to cover, lessons and whatever else that you think may help you (Under discussion). You don't have much time so we'll try to make this time as efficient and helpful as possible.
7) Remember to click the reply button on entries, I have put some assignments and comments there.
Instructions on how to start.
1)Pick up the User ID and password from Mr Andrew (if you are giving it to a friend too make sure you let Mr Andrew know). 2) Go to multiply.com. and sign in. 3) Click Customise and Write in blog to post your essay under " Oldhamite essays and comments". Make sure you put your name in the title of the essay
 | Oldhamite essays, interesting articles and response. | Oct 29, 2007 |
The elderly are a stumbling block to progress. To what extent is this true of your society?
I think I find this approach to the question a little disturbing... maybe I am not used to examining social problems or people in purely economic terms. To register a bit of this distress I have added to your conclusion. Please feel... more | Assignment questions for the week and vocabulary | May 3, 2008 |
Answers to Rush to Nowhere.
Answer Scheme Paper 2 GP Mid Year 2004 Pre U 11. Explain in your own words as far as possible why the author says that we are
preoccupied with speed? (line 1) (3 marks)
Lifted Paraphrased
• we drive fast cars
• we are expected to multi-task
•... more
 | Links |
- Study Guide for The General Paper
- tips on how to write personal statements and essays for uni applications
- Tampines Junior College General Paper
- CJC Lessons on the Web: Violence and the Internet
- Ageing: the future is affordable
- Approach Paper for the Youth Employment Summit
- Globalisation (Use the first few pages)
- Globalization watch
- The truth is out where? Honesty, media and politics - On Line Opinion - 6/10/2004
- An interesting GP blog with stuff on global warming and other topics (maybe RJC)
ohgeneralpaper wrote on Aug 28, '07, edited on Oct 29, '07 What to do with gpbull (2005)? If you have finished reading the blog and some of the links and you want to read more essays I understand you have bought gpbull. My suggestion is read the essays recommended below first because they follow the essay techniques you have been taught in your school. Bear in mind these essays are very long...You need to sift information, keep it concise and try to stick to the word limit. For practice what you could do is use these essays below as a spring board to writing your own essays and add some of your own input to them. Essay2: From paragraph 3 onwards "Professional sport today is nothing but entertainment and profit. Do you agree? Essay 5: Political apathy among youth in Singapore is incurable. Discuss Essay 6: Exploring different perspectives --logical, social and moral "Is Man a Machine?" Essay 10: From paragraph 3 onwards Is patriotism still relevant in the modern world? Essay 11:Same Essay 17: Ignore paragraph 3 and 4: Is it possible for a country to embrace globalism while remaining true to its roots. Essay 19:War will soon become a thing of the past in an increasing connected world. Do you agree? Essay 21: Same Essay 23 From a scientific perspective: I really like this one. The more we know the more we know what we do not know. Is this true of scientific research today? Essay 24:Criminals deserve a second chance too. Comment. Essay 25: Is elitism ever justified? Essay 26:Discuss the appeal and value of poetry in our modern world. Essay 27:Religion is becoming irrelevant in our secular world. For how to examine parts of a question: essay 3, 4 on punishment. Punishment for crime exacts retribution, compensates the victims, and rehabilitates the offender. To what extent do you agree with this assertion. |
ohgeneralpaper wrote on Aug 27, '07, edited on Oct 29, '07 GRAMMAR PROBLEMS I have put fairly simple grammar notes in the blog for those of you who are reading the grammar websites and have no idea what the terms mean. IF YOU ARE NEW TO THIS BLOG Remember to read the blog from page 7/6 backwards and click on all the reply buttons. The information is on this site cumulative. |
ohgeneralpaper wrote on Jul 22, '07, edited on Aug 29, '07 To date: Remember read around the issues and be familar with the examples you can reuse in many essays. Topics covered in detail (esp in reply) Globalisation/ Media Legalisation/ Issues surrounding criminalisation/ Ban Science--dehumanising, euthanasia, role of scientist. Topics covered indirectly Technology/ Human rights--Freedom of Speech Business and Economics? Global Issues--Environment, oil, politics Topics touched on lightly Terrorism Religion Gender Culture Sports Topics missing Education Family |