UPM-CALC/CEL2103 WRTING ACADEMIC TEXTS/SEM 2 2018-19/WP/TASK 3

WRITING PORTFOLIO TASK 3 – BODY PARAGRAPH FORM

[OUTLINE]

NAME: NUR NABILA NATASYA BT RAZIF GROUP: 12

MATRIC NO.: 197897

1. Based on your topic, construct an outline for argumentative essays using the
outline below.
2. Your outline should include the following:
a. Topic Sentences
b. Supporting Sentences
c. Supporting Details
d. Excerpts
e. Paraphrase of the excerpt

3. Your topic sentence, supporting sentences, supporting details and paraphrase of

the excerpt must be written in COMPLETE SENTENCES.

Topic:

Education

Debatable Issue:

Does examination should be abolished?

Stand: Agree

Thesis Statement:

The examination system bring more disadvantages than advantage to the

government, student and parents.

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Body Paragraph 1:

Topic Sentence:

Examination, as we all had known it, ever since the system introduced, it had
emerged rapidly to be the main aspect of modern education especially in Malaysia.
In an education infrastructure that is as unpredictable as the clouds, it is somewhat
ironic that the system of examinations as a means of judging a student’s ability has
prevailed through the years.

Supporting Point 1 (Opposing argument):

Most students are afraid of examinations, but examinations are very important
today. Examinations are important because they compel students to learn. Without
them most students would not learn. So they would know very little about the world.
They would teach only subjects in which they are interested and ignore the other
subjects which are thought to be difficult, though they are very important in the
modern age.

Supporting Detail 1: Type: Examples/ Facts/ Statistics/ Quote

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/12/21/parents-teachers-
question-move-to-end-exams/

Parents, teachers question move to end exams (Vinodh Pillai)

Speaking to FMT, mother of two Sarveswari Ramanaidoo, 26, questioned if schools would
be able to track the performance of the pupils and said it would be better to have both
theoretical and practical assessments.“At least when they know there are exams they will
put in the extra effort. With no exams, they are going to struggle when they enter university
later on,” the Penang housewife said.

Sarveswari, whose two children are set to begin their primary school education in a few
Method:
years, Paraphrase
said even the revamped / Summary
PT3 exam in Form 3 was “so simplified” that it had led
most students to treat it lightly.
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Paraphrase of the excerpt

Many parents question the move of the Education Minister Maszlee Malik’s
announcement last month that pupils in lower primary school from Years 1 to 3
would no longer have to sit for examinations from next year. The parents think that
revamped PT3 exam in Form 3 was “so simplified” that it had led most students to
treat it lightly and they questioned if schools would be able to track the performance
of the pupils and said it would be better to have both theoretical and practical
assessments. The parents think that by having and examination, the student will put
extra effort to study as they know it is important for their future. (Pillal, 2018)

Supporting Point 2 (Rebuttal argument):

The examination system has cost the government large amount of money for
adjustment, improvement and modification of the system. The abolishment of
examination can help government to reduce the cost. Many changes and
modification had been made by the government to improve the system but little did
they know that not everyone is the same. This changes would cost a lot of money to
the government as the teacher and examiners need to be equipped with the skills
that compatible with the new system.

Supporting Detail 2: Type: Examples/ Facts/ Statistics/ Quote

The reformation of our exam-oriented education system began in 2014 when the
Education Ministry replaced the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) with PT3. It has
the same scope as PMR except it is not a centralised system. Schools prepare their
own examination questions. The Malaysian Examination Board and state education
department are the moderator to ensure validity and reliability scores of the
candidates.

https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2017/12/316356/revamping-exam-
Method: Paraphrase / Summary oriented-system
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Paraphrase of the excerpt

The most drastic changes by the Government in reforming the examination

system began in 2014 when the Education Ministry replaced the Penilaian
Menengah Rendah (PMR) with PT3. It has the same scope as PMR except it is not a
centralised system. Schools prepare their own examination questions. (Aziz, 2017).

Body Paragraph 2:
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Topic Sentence:

As it is, examinations are timed written or oral assessments held at the end of an
academic term. It serves to asses a student’s knowledge and comprehension of all
the subjects he has studied over the course of the term. Rather than tracking a
student’s progress over the course of the term, it judges their abilities over a handful
of written or oral pieces. This is obviously not an accurate indication of one’s
progress.

Supporting Point 1 (Opposing argument):

Examinations help student to have some ideas about their level of knowledge
of certain subjects and the student’s tendency which will help in determining the right
career for them. Accordingly, examination result can help to give some ideas of what
kind of work the candidates capable of doing and whether they suit the job
requirement.

Supporting Detail 1: Type: Examples/ Facts/ Statistics/ Quote

Academic competence and intelligence are not straightforward to measure and no

method will fully capture the scope of a student's ability, but the fact remains that we
need at least some formal system, otherwise the academic system will not work. We need
divisions between ability levels and the amount of experience and knowledge students
actually possess, otherwise students will be in environments unsuited to them and won't
be able to learn properly. There is no other way to divide them than by testing them in a
fair and impartial manner. Exams are good at this because they are not vague - they have
Method:
clear, Paraphrase
measurable / Summary
guidelines.

https://debatewise.org/debates/1215-are-examinations-a-fair-way-of-testing-our-
knowledge/#yes1

Paraphrase of the excerpt

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According to www.debateble.com, examination is the only formal system that can

help to measure the academic competence and intelligence to help to discover the
scope of a student's ability. This is because assessment needed to determine the
ability levels and the amount of experience and knowledge students actually
possess, otherwise students will be in environments unsuited to them and would not
be able to learn properly. There is no other way to divide them than by testing them
in a fair and impartial manner. Examination system is suitable as they are not vague
and they have clear, measurable guidelines.

Supporting Point 2 (Rebuttal argument):

Examination causes stress and depression among children and teenagers resulting
to suicide. The high expectation from parents and the society had causing the
students to feel pressure and stress where if not manage properly can cause
depression which can lead to plenty negative

Supporting Detail 2: Type: Examples/ Facts/ Statistics/ Quote

PETALING JAYA: A national survey has revealed that Malaysians aged 13 to 17 are critically suffering from
mental health problems.
One in five are suffering depression (18.3%), two in five anxiety (39.7%), and one in 10 suffering from stress
(9.6%).
The number of suicide cases among students may have something to do with our education system. The exam-
oriented culture, which causes undue stress, not only affects students but teachers as well.
According to the Education Ministry’s Healthy Mind Programme (Program Minda Sihat) 2017, which had 284,516
students participating, 5,104 youngsters received intervention from their school’s counsellors.
Of the number that sought counselling 14 were referred to a hospital or health clinic.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2017, conducted by the Health Ministry’s Institute for Public
Health (IPH), found that the state of mental health among Malaysian adolescents had reached a worrying state .

The survey on students’ problems found that 50% of 120,420 students faced personal problems that included
exam stress, 29% faced family problems, 11% faced issues with friends, and 10% faced problems with their
Method: Paraphrase
teachers.Suicidal / Summary
behaviour among teenagers increased since NHMS 2012, with the highest suicidal behaviour
recorded among Form 1 students.

NHMS 2017 also revealed that adolescents, aged 13 to 17, suffered from mental health problems.Deputy

Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said the ministry was finding ways to reduce examination stress faced by

students.The Education Ministry, together with the Health Ministry, carries out the Healthy Mind Programme for
secondary school students.Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/12/ too-many-

teens-suffering-from-stress-examoriented-culture-not-only-affecting-students-but-teachers-
a/#19yBz2TQtzcMlH0S.99
Paraphrase of the excerpt
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A national survey has revealed that Malaysians aged 13 to 17 are critically suffering
from mental health problems. One in five are suffering depression (18.3%), two in
five anxiety (39.7%), and one in 10 suffering from stress (9.6%). The number of
suicide cases among students may have something to do with our education system.
The exam-oriented culture, which causes undue stress, not only affects students but
teachers as well. (Chonghui, Menon, & Rajaendram, 2018)