Strategies for GENERAL PAPER

Purpose of General Paper

1. Aims to develop in students the ability to think critically.

2. To construct cogent arguments.

3. To communicate their ideas using clear, accurate and

effective language.

Scheme of Assessment for Paper 1

Paper Description Marks allocation

Paper 1

Essay

12 questions offered

Topic Areas:

• Issues drawn from

across disciplines

• Issues of local

interest and global

concern

Answer any one out of

total of 12 questions.

500-800 words

Duration: 1hr 30mins

Content:30

Language: 20

Total marks: 50

2015 ‘A’ Level Paper 1 Questions

1. ‘There is no such thing as bad publicity.’ To what extent is

this true?

2. How far is it possible for one country to forgive another for

its past actions?

3. How effectively is public health promoted and managed in

your society?

4. ‘No cause is ever worth dying for.’ Discuss.

5. Consider the argument that the main purpose of television

should be to educate rather than simply to entertain.

6. In your society, how well are the demands of the economy

and the environment balanced?

2015 ‘A’ Level Paper 1 Questions

7. ‘Parents have no right to impose their own values and beliefs

on their children.’ Discuss.

8. ‘Books serve little purpose in education as technological

developments become more sophisticated.’ How far do you

agree?

9. To what extent should the arts in your society focus on local

rather than foreign talent?

10. Should there be any controls over the production of energy

when the need for it is so great?

11. When a government’s finances for social welfare are limited,

should they be directed towards the young or the old?

12. ‘Human actions should be based on scientific fact, not

religious faith.’ How far do you agree with this statement?

SAJC’S APPROACH TO PAPER 1

ISSUE-DRIVEN APPROACH: Key issues pertaining to certain topics and to identify the contentious issue in the question

BREADTH OF CONTENT KNOWLEDGE: Weekly newspaper articles

READING MODELS:

(1) What - EVENT

(2) Why - SIGNIFCANCE

(3) How - APPLICATION

ANNOTATION TOOLS

CULTURAL LITERACY

PROCESS WRITING

Scheme of Assessment for Paper 2

Paper Description Range of Marks

Paper 2

Compre-

hension

Text comprises 1 or

2 passages.

Questions cover:

1. Understanding,

including literal

comprehension

and inference

(17 marks)

2. Summary Qn

(8 marks)

3. Application Qn

(10 marks)

Answer all questions.

The length of text(s) will be about 1200

words in total.

Duration:

1hr 30mins

Content:35

Language: 15

(A separate but

holistic score

based on the

entire script)

Total marks: 50

Past Years’ P2 Topics

Choices (2004)

Aggression (2005)

Freedom (2006)

Gender Revolution (2007)

History (2008)

Work & Play (2009)

Food (2010)

Green Spaces (2011)

Music (2012)

Fame and Celebrities (2013)

Revolution in communications, past and present (2014)

Sports (2015)

2012 P2 Application Question

In this article, Michael Gordon writes about some of the roles

and functions music plays in modern life. To what extent do

you agree or disagree with his views? Illustrate your answer

by referring to the ways in which you and your society regard

music.

“Your society”

National policies/ Government’s views & stance

Community’s views (eg. Forum page, netizens sentiments)

Individual’s views/ personal opinions.

GP LESSONS & RESOURCES @ SAJC

Lecture/Tutorial system: Integration of Content and Skills (Immediate Application)

Skills focus: Question Analysis, Error Analysis, How to write a captivating Introduction, Paragraph development, Strategies for scoring in AQ

Reading Packages: Topics such as Mass Media, Politics, Prejudice and Discrimination, Science and Technology, Religion vs. Secularism, Ethics

Skills Packages: Paragraph Development, Answering Inferential Questions, Summary Skills, AQ Skills.

Activities to make thinking “visible” (mind maps, gallery walk, peer evaluation, IT platforms…)

Discussion of issues using the weekly newspaper articles

Timed Assignments

The GP Fact File

GP PROGRAMMES @ SAJC

Consultations with GP tutors

Weekly GP remedial for weaker students

JC1 weekly Mastery Classes for students who are weaker in their English

JC2 weekly GP Clinic for students who need extra help in their language and skills (5-6 students per group)

GP Current Affairs Quizzes

Weekly Night Study Programme lectures (in addition to timetabled lectures) in the 2nd half of the year conducted by HOD/SH/ST in the department.

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

a) Reading widely and purposefully

‘Light’ Reading ‘Heavy’ Reading

• Mobile applications such as BBC, CNN, CNA, The Flipboard (daily news bites)

• Ted Talks • BBC documentaries, CNA “On

the Red Dot”

• Straits Times (‘think’ pages, analysis)

• Huffington Post, NY Times (Opinionator, Philosopher’s Stone), Project Syndicate, TIME (opinion pieces)

• GP Insights Saints on FB (new!)

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

Research on local examples for essays on ‘your society’

and for AQ:

Other relevant websites:

[Singapore Government Information]

http://www.gov.sg/government/web/content/govsg/classic/factually

[Ministry of Social and Family Development]

http://app.msf.gov.sg/

[Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth]

http://www.mccy.gov.sg/

[Reflections of Our Singapore Conversation]

http://www.reach.gov.sg/Portals/0/Microsite/osc/OSC_Reflection.pdf

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

b) Cull and consolidate examples in GP Journals

c) Get into the habit of WWH and QA

d) Develop your personal voice

PRACTICE IS KEY!

Students are advised to do additional comprehensions

and write additional essays

Comprehension papers and essay questions are found

in GP Package

Detailed answer schemes are given to the students after

every exam

Good essays and AQs are made available to all

students

The SAJC EL Department.

Up and on!