ExamChanging Landscapes of Singapore

Tutorial 4

Exam Format

3out of six questions

2hours to answer three questions

40minutes per question approximately

20marks each

3.5pages for each question maximum

Before you write

ReadRead the questions carefully

IdentifyFind the keywords and find out how many parts in question

PlanPlan what you want to write before you write

ChooseDo the questions you are most confident in

Writing

LegibleMake sure we can read your handwriting

Organizeintroduction, argument, conclusion

Paragraphtopic sentence, example, analysis

IntroductionExplain key phrases & introduce main points

“In this essay, I will be talking about…”“First I will … then followed by …”

Timing

TimeMake sure you have enough time for each question

AbandonSkip to the next question

Don’t

Don’tspot topics

Don’twrite in point form

Don’tbe Shakespeare Get to the point.

Don’tregurgitate

You must contextualize and explain relevance.

Do

Docheck out past year exam questions

Doread textbook and lecture notes

Dounderstand concepts

Doknow facts on Singapore’s ideologies and policies

Dofind out more about landscapes in Singapore

Keywords

DiscussDebate, give reasons for and against.

Examine the implications.Produce evidence.

EvaluateState the positive and negative points.

Make an appraisal of truth or usefulness.Justify your answer.

ExplainMake plain

Interpret and account forGive reasons for what, how and effects

IllustrateMake clear and explicit

Show by explaining and examplesExplain the meaning by giving opinion

JustifyGive good reason & explanation.

Show grounds for decision or conclusionState why a course of action has been chosen

Answer possible objections

DefineGive the meaning.

Keep it short.

ComparePoint out similarities and differences

Perhaps, reach a conclusion of which is preferable

ContrastBring out the differences

Draw up a distinction between the options

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