COVER PAGE

CONCEPTS
AND CRITICAL READING

Questions to consider:

1. What is General Paper?

2. How is General Paper relevant to the world I live in?
3. How are national and international events connected?
4. What are concepts? How do they help me understand the world that I live in?
5. How do I read a text critically?
6. What are assumptions?
1 Concepts and Critical Reading

CONTENTS
COVER PAGE 0 UNIT OVERVIEW 2

1.2 Concepts and 2022 in Review 3 1.2.2 2022: Year-in-Review 4

1.3 Critical Reading 9 1.3.1 What is Critical Thinking? 9 1.3.2 Critical Reading - Identify the
 reasons and main claims 10 1.3.3 Language of Reasoning 11 1.3.4 Differentiating facts from
opinions 12 1.3.5 Uncovering Assumptions 14

1.4 Introduction to Paper 1 Skills 17 1.4.1 Question Analysis 17 1.4.2 Crafting Arguments 17
1.4.3 Paragraph Development 18 1.4.4 What Are Good Examples? 18

Appendix 20 A. Reading Guide: Paul’s Wheel of Reasoning 20 B. Essay Question Types 21 C.

Good Essays 22

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1 Concepts and Critical Reading

CATHOLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE

2023 JC1 GENERAL PAPER

1 Concepts and Critical Reading

UNIT OVERVIEW
KEY CONTENT
Term 1

Week Tutorial Assessment for Learning

6 1.1 Introduction to General Paper

(Matriculation Week)

7 1.2 Concepts and 2022 in Review

(Matriculation Week)
 8 1.3 Critical Reading and Thinking skills Diagnostic Writing Activity

9 1.4 Introduction to Paper 1 skills

KEY SKILLS
Paper 1 Paper 2

1. Identify patterns, trends and concepts that drive

1. Critical Reading
human action in the world today
a. Identifying Claim, Reasons and
Supporting Evidence
2. Question Analysis
b. Identify and Evaluate Assumptions
a. Identify 3Cs
c. Use of Paul’s Wheel of Reasoning
b. Identify and analyse keywords - value
terms, topic words, context

3. Paragraph Development
a. Write clear topic sentences (main claim)
b. Develop the paragraph with reasons
c. Selection of good examples for
appropriate exemplification

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1 Concepts and Critical Reading

1.2 Concepts and 2022 in Review

1.2.1 Concepts

CONCEPTS FOR
UNDERSTANDING
THE WORLD
Note: This list is not exhaustive. Also, these concepts do not stand
alone. You are invited to make connections between them, where
relevant.

© Tartila

1. Change and Continuity

e.g. innovation vs. status quo; globalisation vs insularity; hope for the future vs. fear and uncertainty; modern vs.
traditional values/beliefs

2. Drive for Freedom

e.g. rise of individualism; human rights; dominance of democracy
3. Drive for Equality
e.g. human rights; prejudice and discrimination; ideals vs. reality; social mobility; poverty; combating the
rich-poor divide

4. Drive for Progress

e.g. local and global push for human development; integration and flow of ideas/information; interdependence of
governments; technological advancement; pursuit of knowledge

5. Drive for Sustainability

e.g. capitalism; conservation vs. exploitation; rise of consumerism; fight against climate change; liveable cities

6. Drive for Power

e.g. empowerment and disempowerment; rise of the disenfranchised/marginalised groups; religious vs.
secular influence; soft vs. hard power; war and peace

7. Search for Identity

e.g. personal; cultural; national; global identity; loss of identity; diversity vs. homogeneity

8. Search for Beauty

e.g. perfection; the arts; aestheticism; architecture; nature; human form; mathematics and science 3

1 Concepts and Critical Reading

1.2.2 2022: Year-in-Review

Month Events Concepts/
Contemporary
Issues/
Philosophical
Issues
 Feb 2022 24 February: Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the
Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted
in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's
largest refugee crisis since World War II. The invasion of Ukraine has
had a significant impact on the mobility of people and goods in the EU
across all modes of transport. Among the main issues are fuel
supplies and increasing fuel prices, as well as logistical challenges
linked to border crossings and airspace restrictions. The invasion has
also adversely impacted global food security and affordability. The
reduction in imports of maize, wheat, rapeseed and sunflower oil and
meal from Ukraine has led to high market prices and inflationary
trends, pushing commodity prices up even further and reducing the
availability of food worldwide.
Mar 2022
27th March: The Will Smith–Chris Rock slapping incident (also
known as “Slapgate”) took place during the 94th Academy Awards
when actor Will Smith walked onstage and slapped comedian Chris
Rock across the face during Rock's presentation for Best
Documentary Feature. The slap was in response to Rock's joke about
Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, which she had been
shaving since 2021 due to alopecia. Uncensored international footage
went viral on social media. The incident received worldwide attention
and largely overshadowed the rest of the ceremony.

Apr 2022 11th April: Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber
Heard began. Depp sued Heard for $50 million for evidently defaming
him after Heard wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in support of
the Violence Against Women Act that drew on her own apparent
experiences as a survivor of sexual assault and domestic abuse. The
defamation trial was televised and garnered immense media
attention. On June 1, the jury reached a verdict, unanimously finding
that Heard defamed Depp and awarding him $5 million in punitive
damages and $10 million in compensatory damages.

May 2022 24th May: Robb Elementary School shooting

An 18-year-old shot his grandmother at their home before driving to
Robb Elementary School, where he entered the school unobstructed,
barricading himself inside a classroom and successfully murdering
twenty-one people, including nineteen children under 12. Eighteen
people in total were wounded, but they survived. The shooter was
eventually killed when a Border Patrol officer returned fire during the
shootout, marking the immediate last day of school for the old
campus.

30th May: The Mona Lisa was the subject of attempted vandalism
when a visitor to the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris smeared
frosting all over the Renaissance-era painting's protective glass. The
man, who appeared to wear a wig in videos of the incident shared on
social media, approached the painting in a wheelchair before throwing
a piece of cake at the artwork, according to a statement from the
Louvre. Videos of the aftermath show him on foot with a wheelchair
nearby. Visitors in wheelchairs are allowed to move in front of other
museum-goers to better see the work. In a video published by a
museum-goer on Twitter, the man is heard saying in French, "Think of
planet Earth, there are people destroying it," while security escorts the
man. Climate change became a loud, unignorable topic in the art
industry this year after activists and protestors targeted famous

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1 Concepts and Critical Reading
 artworks at major museums around the world. Other notable
examples included mashed potatoes thrown at a Claude Monet at the
Museum Barberini in Potsdam, Germany, and tomato soup splashed
on a van Gogh painting at the National Gallery in London. At least one
climate protestor explained these acts were done to highlight the need
for governments to stop subsidising fossil fuel developments.

Jun 2022 11th June – 18th September: There was controversy at the 12th
Berlin Biennale which took place at various venues in Berlin.
Jean-Jacques Lebel’s Poison Soluble (2013), a labyrinth-like
installation filled with blown-up images of acts of torture committed by
U.S. soldiers against prisoners in Abu Ghraib, provoked an outcry
from three Iraqi participants, artists Raed Mutar, Layth Kareem, and
Sajjad Abbas, who claimed the Lebel work was exploitative, and
denounced the placement of their own artworks near Lebel’s piece.
Controversies over provocative pieces are common at international
biennials, and they sometimes end in the offending works being taken
away. But something entirely different happened at the Berlin
Biennale, whose curatorial team, led by the artist Kader Attia,
defended the Lebel piece. The show, they said, was intended to deal
with the legacies of colonialism, which meant staring down the pain
associated with them. Abbas, Kareem, and Mutar were unconvinced.
They promptly pulled out of the show.

24th June: Abortion was made legal across the US after a landmark
legal ruling in 1973, often referred to as the Roe v Wade case. Now
the US Supreme Court, the nation's most senior legal body,
overturned that right, ruling that there is no constitutional right to
abortion in the United States. Twenty-six conservative US states are
either certain or considered likely to introduce new abortion
restrictions or bans. Massive protests erupted outside the courthouse
and in major cities and smaller towns across the US after the decision
was announced. Democratic-run states and cities have vowed to
uphold abortion rights and welcome people from neighbouring states
with bans. Some district attorneys have pledged not to prosecute
people for abortions even if new laws criminalise the procedure.

Jul 2022 The economic crisis in Sri Lanka was one of the country’s worst
humanitarian crises in decades, with 6.7 million people in urgent need
of humanitarian assistance. Millions of families are facing shortages of
food, fuel, cooking gas, essential supplies, and medicines as the
humanitarian impacts of the economic crisis continue to multiply. The
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) holds
particularly grave concerns for 2.4 million people already living below
the poverty line who are among the most affected by the loss of
livelihoods, food shortages and spiralling cost of essential items.

The United Kingdom suffered a historic heat wave. The previous

high had been 101.7 degrees Fahrenheit, but at least forty-six
weather stations met or exceeded that temperature, the hottest by 2.9
degrees. Of more than a hundred weather stations that had been
collecting data for at least half a century, the majority broke records,
with one village doing so by 11.3 degrees. Other countries in Europe
saw records topple, and the continent as a whole experienced its
hottest-ever June-through-August, on average. Huge wildfires spread
across the continent. Meanwhile, India suffered an apocalyptic heat
wave this spring. Several continents experienced drought and China
weathered its hottest and longest heat wave on record.

The James Webb Space Telescope released its first

high-resolution images of ancient light from across the universe.
With unprecedented clarity, the telescope showed off brilliant nebulae
 that resembled glowing neon soap bubbles, and red-clay mountain
ranges,

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1ConceptsandCritical Reading
and luminescentshrimp inapitch-blackocean. One image, which
looked like a blurry destemmed cherry, captured a red blot of light
more than 13 billion years old, giving us the oldest-ever snapshot of
the infant universe. The telescope is expected to shed light on the life
cycles of planets, stars and galaxies and reveal mysteries of the
universe. Scientists might be able to piece together the story of the
universe's beginning. Behind those lush and dreamy images might lie
evidence of what actually happened during, or just after, the Big Bang.
It has enough fuel to operate for the next 20 years and will change the
way people understand the cosmos.

Aug 2022 2nd–7thAugust: UnitedStatespoliticianNancyPelosivisited

TaiwanwhileservingasthespeakeroftheUSHouseof Representatives.
ThevisitwascondemnedbythePeople'sRepublicof China(PRC),
whichsentwarningsthroughdiplomaticchannelstothe U.S. government.
ThePeople'sRepublicofChinahadstrongly
condemnedthevisitandcalledthevisitaprovocationbytheUSthat
seriously infringesuponChina'ssovereignty, asChinadoesnot
recognizeTaiwan’s independence. AfterPelosi'sdeparture, thePRC
commencedmilitaryexercisesencirclingTaiwantoshow itsdisapproval of
the visit of an American politician. Pelosi has long criticised the PRC's
regime and is outspoken about its human rights abuses, also
opposing the US forming closer economic ties with the PRC
government in the 2000s.

25thAugust: Pakistandeclaredastateofemergencybecauseof
flooding. Around10–12%ofPakistanwasflooded. Thefloodshave
killed1,739people(including647children), andcaused₨3.2trillion
($14.9billion)ofdamageand₨3.3trillion($15.2billion)ofeconomic
losses. Over 2.1 million people were left homeless. The immediate
causes of the floods were heavier than usual monsoon rains and
melting glaciers that followed a severe heat wave, both of which are
linked to climate change. The flooding was the world's deadliest flood
since the 2020 South Asian floods.
 Sep 2022 8thSeptember: ElizabethIIpassedaway. ShewasQueenofthe
UnitedKingdomandotherCommonwealthrealmsfrom6February
1952until herdeath in2022. Shewasqueenregnantof32sovereign
statesduringher lifetime, andwasheadofstateof15realmsatthe
timeofherdeath. Herreignof70yearsand214dayswasthe longest
ofanyBritishmonarchandthe longestverifiedreignofanyfemale monarch
inhistory.

16thSeptember: ProtestssparkedinIranafterMahsaJinaAmini
passedawayunderpolicecustody inTehran. The22-year-old Iranian girl
wasarrestedbythepolicefornotwearingthehijab. Therewere
claimsthatherdeathwasduetopolicebrutality, buttheauthorities
deniedthis. Amini’sdeathsparkedawomen’srightsprotestmovement in
Iran, which has seen hundreds of fatalities since. The action spread to
the international art world when a group of anonymous artists staged
a protest at New York’s Guggenheim Museum, where they unfurled
12 red banners with text reading ‘Zan, Zandegi, Azadi’ or ‘Women,
Life, Freedom’. Iranian artist Shirin Neshat publicised a video of the
Guggenheim demonstrators, describing them as “the conscience of
the sleepy art world who cares little for Iranian women fighting for
basic human rights and freedom.” Other artists, including Aphrodite
Désirée Navab, Icy and Sot, Sepideh Mehraban, and Sheida
Soleimani, have also spoken out, seeking to raise international
awareness for the movement.
A new malaria vaccine developed by Oxford University scientists
was found to be extremely effective. A trial involving 450 children in
Burkina Faso found that three doses of the vaccine, plus a booster
shot,

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1 Concepts and Critical Reading
were up to 80 percent effective at preventing infection. Malaria, which
kills more than 400,000 people each year, is caused not by a virus,
but rather by a shapeshifter called plasmodium, which has so far
eluded widespread vaccine attempts. But the latest trials of this
Oxford vaccine are among several thrilling efforts bringing us closer to
taking on one of the world’s leading causes of child mortality.
 Oct 2022 6th October: Mass killing in a Thai daycare centre
A former police officer, Panya Kamrab, slaughtered at least 35
people, including 24 sleeping children and a pregnant woman, in a
rampage at a childcare centre in the town of Nongbua Lamph,
Thailand, before driving home and killing his wife and own child and
taking his own life. The killer, who was armed with a shotgun, pistol
and knife, had been fired from the police the previous year for drug
use. The gunman was well known in the community as a drug addict.

24th October: Rishi Sunak became prime minister of the United

Kingdom on Tuesday after meeting with King Charles III at
Buckingham Palace. The 42-year-old former treasury chief is the
country's third premier in under two months, the youngest leader
since 1812, and the first person of colour to serve in the role. He is of
Indian heritage and Hindu faith.

26th October: ‘Code Red’ for planet earth was declared at the 30th
anniversary of the ‘World Scientists' Warning to Humanity’ by
scientists in a Bioscience study, which presented new and updated
information.

It might become possible to avert asteroids colliding with earth.

The possibility of such collisions is a reality. The globe is covered in
craters from previous impacts and it is well known that 65m years
ago, dinosaurs became extinct following the impact of an asteroid
about 10km across. The international space community took the first
steps towards reducing the risk of an asteroid catching us unawares
through the joint Nasa- Esa mission Dart (Double Asteroid
Re-Direction Test), an ambitious attempt to alter the trajectory of a
small asteroid (Dimorphos) as it orbited a slightly larger asteroid
(Didymos), by sending a spacecraft to crash into it. In October, it was
revealed that the mission had been even more successful than
anticipated, and that the orbit of Dimorphos had changed – showing
that given sufficient time, humanity could alter an incoming asteroid’s
trajectory, averting a collision with Earth.

Nov 2022 6th – 20th November: The 27th United Nations Climate Change
Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more
commonly referred to as COP27, was in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt with
more than 92 heads of state and an estimated 35,000
representatives, or delegates, of 190 countries attending. Among the
heads of state and government not attending were Chinese leader Xi
Jinping and his premier Li Keqiang, as well as Russia's Vladimir Putin
and his prime minister Mikhail Mishustin. It was the first climate
summit held in Africa since 2016. At the conference, a commitment to
phase out fossil fuels was not made. However, a loss and damage
fund was agreed on for the first time. This was considered a
significant achievement. Loss and damage refers to the harm caused
by human-generated climate change. The appropriate response to
loss and damage has been disputed for three decades. Establishing
liability and compensation for loss and damage has been a
long-standing goal for vulnerable and developing countries but
developed countries have resisted this.

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Nov 2022 COP27 finally approved the proposal, agreeing to provide technical
assistance in averting, minimising, and addressing loss and damage.

16th November: NASA's Artemis I mission, the agency's next step in

preparing to return humans to the lunar surface, lifted off, travelled
beyond the moon, farther than any spacecraft built for humans has
ever flown, and returned to Earth after 25.5 days. The ambitious
mission kicked off NASA's Artemis program, which is aiming for the
return of humans to the moon and beyond. If Artemis I is successful,
NASA hopes to send the first woman and first person of colour to the
moon later this decade and eventually make way for exploration of
Mars.

20th November -18th December: The 2022 FIFA World Cup was an
international football tournament contested by the men's national
teams of FIFA's member associations and 22nd edition of the FIFA
World Cup. It took place in Qatar, making it the first World Cup held in
the Arab world and the Muslim world. The choice to host the World
Cup in Qatar attracted significant criticism, with concerns raised over
the country's treatment of migrant workers, women and members of
the LGBT community, as well as Qatar's climate, lack of a strong
football culture, scheduling changes, and allegations of bribery for
hosting rights and wider FIFA corruption. Argentina was crowned the
champions after winning the final against the title holder France
through penalties. It was Argentina's third title and their first since
1986. At 35 years of age after five World Cups, Argentine football star
Lionel Messi finally won his most prized title and was presented with a
besht by the Emir of Qatar, a signal honour in Qatar culture.

30th November: ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), a

chatbot, was launched by OpenAI as a prototype. It quickly
garnered attention for its detailed responses and articulate answers
across many domains of knowledge. While the core function of a
chatbot is to mimic a human conversationalist, journalists have also
noted ChatGPT's versatility and improvisation skills, including its
ability to write and debug computer programs; to compose music,
teleplays, fairy tales, and student essays; to answer test questions
(sometimes, depending on the test, at a level above the average
human test-taker); to write poetry and song lyrics; to emulate a Linux
system; to simulate an entire chat room; to play games like tic-tac-toe;
and to simulate an ATM.

There were several mass-shootings in the US.

13th November: University of Virginia shooting - A gunman opened fire
on the main campus of the University of Virginia, killing three people
and wounding two others before escaping.

19-20th November: Colorado Springs nightclub shooting

Five people were killed and 25 others injured, 19 by gunfire, in a
shooting inside Club Q, a gay nightclub. Six additional people were
injured in the chaos. The shooting happened just before midnight of
Transgender Day of Remembrance.

22nd November: Chesapeake Walmart shooting

An assailant killed six people including one teenager and injured four
others before turning the gun on himself at a Walmart located at Sams
Cir. The shooter was the night-shift manager of the Walmart who had
worked there for 12 years.
 Dec 2022 7th December: After unprecedented mass protests in November,
the Chinese government announced a significant easing of
Covid controls, such as people no longer needing to show negative
virus tests or health codes in order to travel between different parts of
the country. Many parts of the world continued their journey toward
endemic

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COVID-19. Mainland China was the only large country pursuing a
zero-COVID-19 strategy, which appears to have had substantial and
mostly negative effects on both the Chinese and the global
economies.

1.3 Critical Reading

1.3.1 What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is
a. active - you construct your own answers, you do not just accept what others tell you b. persistent - you
weigh alternatives and take time to consider the issues, you do not just decide quickly without thinking
c. involves giving and evaluating reasons
d. concerns both what we believe and what we do
e. involves disposition and skills

Do these activities involve critical thinking? Explain why.

1. You are reading a Harry Potter book for
This depends on whether you have to work things out or
pleasure.
just let it ‘wash over you’.

2. You are solving a routine mathematical problem

Even if you are reasoning your way through to a
in a standard, well-learned systematic way,
conclusion, if this is a ‘mechanical’ process requiring
which requires you to reason your way through
little judgement, interpretation and so on, it involves very
to a conclusion.
little critical thinking.

3. A professional basketball player is playing in an

This depends on how much ‘figuring out’ he is doing,
important match.
trying to work out what his opponents will do and how to
outwit them - this could involve a lot of critical thinking.

4. You have just received your O-Level results and

Provided you do not make a snap decision, but
are now trying to decide which A-Level subjects
investigate the alternatives, get the information you
to do.
need to judge which will suit you best and so on, this
could involve a great deal of critical thinking.
 5. You attempted to install some new software on
If you have to ‘figure things out’ from the guidance you
your computer but it is not working properly so
are given this might involve a lot of critical thinking, but if
you are trying to follow the instructions for
you are just blindly following the instructions it does not.
troubleshooting.

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1.3.2
Critical
Reading
-
Identify
the
reasons
and
main
claims
Glossary of Argumentative Terms

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EXERCISE 1.
Which of the following contains reasoning to a conclusion (main claim)? (Use different colours to differentiate.)

1. James burst out of customs, diamonds and expensive watches falling from his bag as he ran. As he reached the
taxi stand customers were sitting in all of the waiting taxis. James ran towards the nearest taxi and leaped
into it as it was beginning to move. He pointed a gun at the driver and said just ‘downtown’. The taxi turned
towards the motorway.

2. Phrenology was first propounded by the Austrian anatomist, Francis Joseph Gall, around 1800. Gall and his
followers claimed that you could read someone’s character/ personality from the bumps on their skull because
particular character traits were localised in different parts of the brain and the larger the size of a given region
the stronger the trait

3. ‘Teachers teach to the test.’ This old slogan is very true, so if examinations just require factual knowledge, this is
what will be taught and rote memorisation will be all. However, if the process and quality of thinking is
assessed, this is what will be taught. The only way to deliver ‘thinking schools’ is to assess thinking skills and
dispositions directly.

1.3.3 Language of Reasoning

Main Claim indicators Reason indicators

Therefore It follows that Firstly

Hence because Secondly
Thus from which we can infer and so on
Consequently since
So which proves that
for
I conclude that
the reasons are
justifies the belief that
follows from the fact that

EXERCISE 2.
Identify the main claim (MC), claims (C1, 2, etc.) and reasons (R1, 2, etc.). (Use different colours to
differentiate.) (Hint: Use the language of reasoning to help you.)

A) The Green Movement is mistaken in thinking that we should recycle materials like paper and glass because
paper comes from trees, an easily renewable resource, and glass is made from sand, which is plentiful and
cheap. Furthermore, in some American cities recycling schemes have been abandoned because they are too
expensive.

B) Most parents want their children to have successful careers. Since education is essential to success, it is the
duty of parents to give children the best possible education. Because it is also in the country’s economic
interest to have a highly educated population, the government should help parents to provide for their
children’s education. Therefore all parents should receive financial help towards the cost of their children’s
education, so the low paid should receive tax credits and those who are better off should receive tax relief.

C) Homeless people are frequently blamed for being homeless. They are regarded as being responsible for their
own plight as a result of managing their finances badly, refusing employment opportunities and being
generally lazy and disorganised. Young homeless people are told they should not have left home so soon.
These accusations may be true in a small minority of cases, but all too often they deflect attention from the
shortage of available housing at affordable prices and the inadequacy of public policies designed to provide
more, and suitable, homes. There are just not enough affordable homes to go round. Therefore, many people
are homeless through no fault of their own but are caught in circumstances that prevent them from obtaining a
 home of their own.

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1.3.4 Differentiating facts from opinions

Fact Opinion

● can be proven or verified

● cannot be verified for accuracy
● is derived from the use of established
● based on one’s belief or value judgement;
method(s);
e.g. use of adjectives, comparisons, and
e.g. statistics, surveys
language that signal probability/ possibility
● is usually expressed by precise numbers, and in
objective, concrete language
Note: Though you may be able to use facts to add
credibility to an opinion, it is still an opinion.

EXERCISE A Report Videos of Wrongdoing to Police

Members of the public who film videos that might require
Opinion
the attention of the police should consider taking them
based on observers’ beliefs (i.e. value judgement)
straight to the authorities instead of uploading them onto
social media, observers have told Channel NewsAsia.
Their comments come after a video of a couple being
Fact
rude to an elderly man in a Toa Payoh hawker centre
can be verified
went viral.

Passing the videos to the police would contain the rise of

Opinion
online vigilantism that goes beyond seeking appropriate
cannot be verified (yet)
punishment for perceived wrongdoers, said Associate
Professor Paulin Straughan from the sociology
department at the National University of Singapore.
Opinion
When a video is put up, it is shared and the actions of
based on observers’ assumption that the video would
those involved are judged by a “popular jury”, she said.
necessarily trigger a response from the online
community
In the 30-second video, a couple is seen arguing with an
elderly man who asks to share a table with them. The
man is seen shoving the older man. The incident
happened on Apr 21 at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market and
Hawker Centre. It was recorded and uploaded online,
Fact
drawing over three million views and at least 6,000
use of established method(s) to gather quantifiable
comments from netizens, many of whom angrily called
data
for severe action to be taken against the couple.

The police arrested the couple - a 46-year-old man and

Fact
39-year-old woman - for alleged public nuisance - four
expressed by precise facts that can be verified
days later. In the process of trying to find the couple,
netizens incorrectly identified them. The woman wrongly
named online wrote on her Facebook page that it was an
“emotional period and scary moment”.

“In some cases, they identify those in the video wrongly,

and that can cause pain and suffering,” said Assoc Prof
Straughan, adding that even when they are identified
correctly, the punishment must be appropriate.

Criminal lawyer Adrian Wee said that while videos can

Opinion
help the police in investigations, the sharing of such
assumptions are made about actions taken and the
material may be counterproductive. He suggested online
outcomes based on beliefs (i.e. value judgement)
vigilantism can put pressure on the police to commit
additional resources to investigate such incidents.

Lawyers that Channel NewsAsia spoke to also pointed

out that the public nuisance law is typically used when
 Opinion
members of the public are disorderly while drunk.
presents an assumption, that uploading and sharing
However, uploading and sharing such videos is a natural
videos is a natural instinct, which is based on one’s
instinct and a function of social media that cannot be
belief(s)

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stopped, said criminal lawyer Josephus Tan. It also
raises the general consciousness on graciousness, he
said. Previously, when there was no video or
Opinion, built on Fact
photographic evidence, there were more situations
can be verified, and therefore used to add credibility
where it was one person’s word against someone else’s
to an opinion – a value judgement on the degree of
and it was harder to determine the truth.
challenge to ascertain the truth

Adapted from: ‘Report Videos of wrongdoing direct to the police rather

than share them online, experts say’ by Jalelah Abu Baker
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/report-videos-of-wr
ongdoing-direct-to-the-police-rather-than-8817250

EXERCISE B Silence Breakers

It does not have a leader, or a single, unifying tenet. The
Fact
hashtag #MeToo (swiftly adapted into #BalanceTonPorc,
can be verified
#YoTambien, #Ana_kaman and many others), which to
date has provided an umbrella of solidarity for millions of
people to come forward with their stories, is part of the
picture, but not all of it.

This reckoning appears to have sprung up overnight.

But it has actually been simmering for years, decades,
centuries. Women have had it with bosses and
Opinion
co-workers who not only cross boundaries but don't
presents the issue from the perspective of women (i.e.
even seem to know that boundaries exist. They've had it
based on women’s beliefs)
with the fear of retaliation, of being blackballed, of being
fired from a job they can't afford to lose. They've had it
with the code of going along to get along. They've had it
with men who use their power to take what they want
from women. These silence breakers have started a
revolution of refusal, gathering strength by the day, and
in the past two months alone, their collective anger has
spurred immediate and shocking results: nearly every
Fact
day, CEOs have been fired, moguls toppled, icons
can be verified
disgraced. In some cases, criminal charges have been
brought.
Fact
Emboldened by Judd, Rose McGowan and a host of
highlights precise information (e.g. specific names)
other prominent accusers, women everywhere have
that can be verified
begun to speak out about the inappropriate, abusive and
in some cases illegal behaviour they've faced. When
multiple harassment claims bring down a charmer like
former Today show host Matt Lauer, women who
Opinion
thought they had no recourse see a new, wide-open
presents a conclusion based on one’s beliefs, and
door. When a movie star says #MeToo, it becomes
has yet been proven to be true
easier to believe the cook who's been quietly enduring
for years.
Fact
can be verified
The women and men who have broken their silence
span all races, all income classes, all occupations and
virtually all corners of the globe. They might labour in
California fields, or behind the front desk at New York
City's regal Plaza Hotel, or in the European Parliament.
They're part of a movement that has no formal name.
But now they have a voice.

We are still at the bomb-throwing point of this revolution,

Opinion
a reactive stage at which nuance can go into hiding. But
presents a sceptical view, based on one’s beliefs
while anger can start a revolution, in its most raw and
feral form it cannot negotiate the more delicate dance
 steps needed for true social change. Private

13
1 Concepts and Critical Reading
conversations, which can't be legislated or enforced, are
essential.

Norms evolve, and it is long past time for any culture to

Opinion
view harassment as acceptable. But there's a great deal
presents a call to action, based on one’s beliefs
at stake in how we assess these new boundaries—for
women and men together. We can and should police
criminal acts and discourage inappropriate, destructive
behavior.

Adapted from ‘Time Person of the Year - Silence Breakers’

(http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/)

TASK: Read and identify the main claim, claims, reasons, and evidence.

Why are some Singaporeans so ashamed to call Charles & Keith a luxury brand?
By Grace Ho | The Straits Times

If it’s any consolation to Zoe, just because her critics own more expensive branded bags does not mean that they
have “arrived” and she has not. The process of moving up the taste hierarchy is a never-ending rat race. First, those at
the top of the social totem pole also demand that their peers’ lifestyle choices reveal congruence, or an internal
consistency with the target sensibility. Incongruence indicates bad taste, for example, layering a tweed Chanel jacket
over a Juicy Couture velour tracksuit from Target, or pouring Tabasco sauce on the main course at a Michelin-starred
restaurant.

Second, in a world where the signalling frequency has increased – because of rising incomes and the greater speed at
which consumables come on and off the market – people have become numb to many traditional status symbols.
Vacation photos of a radiant beach sunset in a faraway land are no longer impressive when they are every other
image on one’s feed. Louis Vuitton bags are no longer exceptional when your own team-mate carries a Neverfull tote
to work.

Third, globalisation has made universal standards of luxury more difficult to define. When one mentions whiskey, one
thinks of a good Scotch made in Scotland, and across the Atlantic, bourbon whiskey made in Kentucky. But in 2010, a
Taiwanese whiskey, Kavalan, bested three home-grown scotches and astounded Scottish tasters at a Burns Night
blind tasting contest in a bar in Leith, Scotland, which for 250 years housed a Scotch whiskey warehouse.Burns Night,
named after the 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns, is traditionally commemorated with whiskey- fuelled
celebrations in Scotland and by Scots around the world.

And, coming back to Charles & Keith, its bags and shoes have been spotted on many international celebrities from
Rita Ora to Angela Bassett. Clearly, it’s not just Zoe who thinks it’s red carpet-worthy.
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/she-called-a-charles-keith-bag-luxury-there-s-no-shame-in-that

1.3.5 Uncovering Assumptions

What are assumptions?

● Assumptions are beliefs, be it positive or negative, that are held to be true without proof. ●
Assumptions are generalisations that are derived from one’s emotions, beliefs and preferences. ●
Assumptions underlie the opinions we express when we form arguments.
 14
1 Concepts and Critical Reading

Assess - Is the assumption necessarily true / valid / justified / acceptable? And to whom?
Short run v. Long Run Are these ideas accepted in the past?
Why is it accepted today?
Will it continue to be accepted in the future?

Perspectives Is there bias, as a result of one’s beliefs?

i.e., parenting, culture, religion, nationality

Optimism v. Pessimism Does the view reflect the tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe
that the worst will happen?

Ideal v. Reality Is the view too idealistic, neglecting to consider the current challenges and
the reasons why there is resistance in reality?

Limited v. Widespread Will most people accept the view presented?

Do the consequences presented apply to the majority in society?

In-Class Practice - Competition is always a good thing.

Read critically and uncover assumptions. Explain why they are/ are not valid.

Ask any economist whether competition is always a good thing, and the answer will be a resounding
yes. After all, competition powers what the late William Baumol termed the “innovation machine” of
the modern market economy. Through competition, businesses spur each other to increase sales by
serving customers better, whether by cutting prices, improving service, or offering innovative products.
Innovation has driven the extraordinary improvements in health and quality of life over the past two
centuries. And the world will need further creativity to solve pressing challenges such as providing
low-carbon energy and transport or developing new vaccines and medicines to tackle the next
pandemic. Competition is the only driver of innovation. The contest among businesses sparks brilliant
ideas that serve society. There is ample evidence that strong competition is associated with higher
productivity.
 Adapted from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2022/05/06/commentary/world-commentary/economic-competition/ 15

1 Concepts and Critical Reading

Additional Practice - Social media platforms should be free from regulation.

Read critically and uncover assumptions. Explain why they are/ are not valid.

After years of controversy over President Trump’s use of social media to share misleading content and inflame his
millions of followers, social media giants Facebook and Twitter finally took a clear stand, banning Trump from their
platforms. Could this indicate a turning point in how social media companies handle potentially harmful content shared
on their platforms? But this issue is not so cut and dry and society may soon realise that regulating social media will
only make matters worse.

The internet is to be a healthy public sphere, built on the belief that it should be free, open and unregulated. Social
media are platforms, not publishers. They merely provide the means for large numbers of people to produce and
consume information. They are open to both producers and consumers. So, unlike traditional news content produced
with editorial oversight, social media platforms should be subject to much, much less moderation. No one is forced to
read anything because the user controls what he or she views. In other words, they are platforms for free speech and
assume no responsibility for what users communicate.

Furthermore, regulation violates a basic human right – the freedom of expression. As certain information becomes
inaccessible, regulation defies the purpose of social media, which is the rapid spread of information. Shadow banning
refers to social media posts being taken down, muted or hidden from followers without telling the creator. For instance,
Black creators’ content received less exposure when compared to that of their white peers on TikTok during the Black
Lives Matter protest movement. This deprives their right of sharing information through the platform.

Additionally, the reliance on algorithms to filter and censor will backfire. According to The Financial Times, a
text-to-speech service launched by TikTok last year in collaboration with Disney could not say the word “gay”, for
example. Supposedly, social media allows users to raise awareness of social issues, but such regulations only
increase discrimination against sexual orientation, race and political belief. On the contrary, the diversity of opinion is
certainly positive and must be celebrated.

With democracy at stake, the decision whether to regulate will determine the future of public

discourse. Adapted from

https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/why-government-should-not-regulate-content-moderation-social-media
 16
1 Concepts and Critical Reading

1.4 Introduction to Paper 1 Skills

Refer to the Appendix for the list of essay question types

1.4.1 Question Analysis

1 Identify key words

1. Value terms → Conflict
2. Topic words
3. Context

2 Unpack: Ask questions about the key words you’ve identified

1. Expectations of value terms, i.e., non-negotiable requirements
2. Limits and parameters of any contexts
3. Emphasis / focus of the topics
● Who: Stakeholders
● What: Clarify the topic by identifying trends and recent events
● What: Clarify the question type and the criteria for evaluation
● Where: Context, past → current reality → future
● How: Relevance to the context

3 Deconstruct the question

1. Claim: Statement of opinion in the question
2. Belief: Who would subscribe to this view? What values would they hold onto?
3. Assumption: What must be true to validate this claim?

“Only the foolish follow trends.” What is your view?

On tackling an Absolute question -
It is often easier to disagree with the absolute claim and provide alternatives / exceptions.

Approach
1. Identify the enduring / unchanging nature of the idea / outcome
2. What are the reasons for / causes of the enduring nature of the idea / outcome?
3. The absolute term must be challenged

1.4.2 Crafting Arguments

An argument is an informed opinion that is made up of reasons (opinions and facts), which are used as evidence to
support it. Clarify
17
1 Concepts and Critical Reading

1. What is your claim?

2. What is your point of view?
3. What are you including this point of view?

EXERCISE 1. Write arguments that address the question ‘“Only the foolish follow trends.” What is your view?’
1

1.4.3 Paragraph Development

ARGUMENT
= MAIN CLAIM + REASON

Supporting reasons
Supporting evidences
Link to the claim

Description / Contextualisation Cause-effect Relationship Comparison / Contrast

Describe when and/or how an Offer a logical explanation of effects

event unfolds or how an existing
problem came to be
Note that this should not be done
in excess
Present similarities and/or
of a particular event which can be
differences to explain why you agree
attributed to specific causes
and/or disagree

Only provide what is necessary Demonstrate how one option is

for the purpose of superior to another based on a set of
contextualisation criteria for evaluation

1.4.4 What Are Good Examples?

Any good GP essay requires you to have examples. It is the “meat” to your nicely crafted arguments. You really do not
want to leave your examiners hungry for substantiation after reading your essay. You need to leave them satisfied
with a wealth of relevant and significant examples.

What is a good example?

 relevant to the argument presented (the onus is on you as a writer to make the relevance clear)
significant and credible – reflects larger trends; widespread/ severe impacts

EXERCISE 1. Select the best example to substantiate the following topic sentences. Provide reasons for your
selection.
Many argue that digital platforms are used to propagate divisive ideas among people in the world.

1. Local website, Stomp, is often filled with a myriad of insensitive rants about foreigners in Singapore. 2.
Republican politicians in America leveraged on social media platforms such as Twitter to disseminate the
erroneous view that the 2020 presidential election in America was rigged in favour of the Democrats. 3. Social
media platforms like Facebook have allowed for the freedom of speech, no matter what the content.

18
1 Concepts and Critical Reading

Reasons:
1. These online rants may spread divisive ideas (Us vs. Them) though the nature of these are usually
“complaints” which may not necessarily be an active act of spreading divisive ideas.
2. Fair example of how divisive ideas are spread ( Us vs. Them / Republicans versus the
Democrats) 3. Too vague. What is the link between freedom of speech and the spreading of divisive
ideas?
Contrary to the argument that globalisation is a monolithic force that has led to the flattening of cultures,
globalisation has actually led to the commingling of different cultures which adds more cultural diversity and
vibrancy to a country.

1. There are more foreigners living in Singapore today as compared to the past. Many of these foreigners get
along with local Singaporeans.
2. It is common to see people of different cultures enjoying different ethnic cuisines in ethnic enclaves such as
Chinatown and Little India in Singapore.
3. In Japan and South Korea, Mcdonald’s has incorporated quintessentially Japanese and Korean flavours into its
burgers to appeal to locals. For example, Mcdonald’s offers a bulgogi burger in South Korea.

Reasons:
1. The presence of foreigners does not necessarily lead to the ‘commingling of different
cultures’. 2. The link to globalisation is tenuous.
3. Fair example of how globalisation may not necessarily be synonymous with Americanisation. Global
food corporations have to adapt to local palettes in order to thrive. This leads to the commingling of
cultures.
Xenophobia often stems from irrational and misinformed beliefs that locals harbour towards foreigners.

1. The Australia Talks National Survey conducted in 2021 found that around three in four Australians have been
discriminated against because of their ethnicity.
2. There was a sharp increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the wake of the pandemic—crimes that are motivated
by a knee-jerk hatred of Asian immigrants and visitors who are deemed as responsible for the pandemic—in
America and the United Kingdom. For example, a Singapore student who was studying in London was
physically assaulted by a group of teenagers in 2020 for, in their words, bringing the coronavirus to their
country.
3. In 2021, an erstwhile Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer verbally abused an interracial couple. As part of his racist
 tirade, he expressed his disapproval of Indian men who prey on Chinese girls.

Reasons:
1. What are the misinformed beliefs that are driving the discrimination? Also, ethnicity is not the same as
nationality. 2. Fair example which is clearly linked to the argument.
3. Racism is not the same as xenophobia (although there can be overlaps). It is important to have a sound
understanding of key concepts!

EXERCISE 2. Come up with one good example to support the following argument:
Social media has served as a platform to spread awareness of important and meaningful causes.

Example:

19
1 Concepts and Critical Reading

Appendix

A. Reading Guide: Paul’s Wheel of Reasoning

 Paul’s Wheel of Reasoning

Purpose What is the main purpose of this argument?

*Question at Issue What is the key question that the author is addressing in the argument?

*Information
What is the supporting information?
(Facts, reasons, experiences, data)

Conclusion What is the author’s conclusion in this argument?

Concepts What are the concepts in this argument?

Assumptions What does the author believe to be true?

Implications/ Consequence What consequences are likely to follow if people take/ do not take the author’s
argument seriously?

*Points of view What is the author’s point(s) of view?

What other perspectives are presented in the argument?
*denotes the aspects of the Wheel of Reasoning that are essential in constructing and deconstructing (i.e. understanding) an argumentative piece

1 Concepts and Critical Reading

B. Essay Question Types

A good practice is always, always, always to ask yourself how you will go about proving your stand after your question
analysis. Consistent relevance to the question and its demands is absolutely necessary if one wishes to score.
Remember, GP is not about content knowledge per se, but about reasoned arguments.
Essay Question Types Key Words Sample Questions

ABSOLUTE Always “Science and religion will always conflict.” Discuss.

Never / ever Can prejudice ever be eliminated?

Only To what extent is it acceptable for technology to be used only for financial
benefit?

RECOMMENDATION Should Should people be allowed to have children by artificial means?

EXCESS Too much / little “Too much faith is placed in statistics.” Discuss.

COMPARISON Still (past v. present) Does the book still have a future?

Rather / more than Consider the view that efficient government is more
important than democracy.

EMBEDDED CONDITION As long as As long as people in the public eye do their job well, does it matter
what they do in private?

Note: This list is not exhaustive

 21
1 Concepts and Critical Reading

C. Good Essays

“Only the foolish follow trends.” What is your view?

by Lee Leo, 1T11 (2021)
Marker’s Comments
 As it becomes increasingly easy for not just youths, but the general public to access Thesis / POV presented
and consume media, it is natural that trends will spread more quickly and
uncontrollably. The fact that all of one’s actions can be broadcast to the rest of the
world with just a click of the button is undoubtedly the reason that there are countless
trends being both created and followed every single day. In particular, the release of
the social media application, TikTok, is largely a factor when considering this increase
in trends being participated in. With other social media platforms such as Facebook,
YouTube, Twitter and Instagram also playing a part in spreading trends, it is no wonder
that trends are seeing this exponential growth in popularity. What is a trend exactly? A
trend can be loosely defined as an action or activity repeatedly being done by many
people, often having a common or shared theme or motif. Considering this definition, I
disagree that only foolish people follow trends. While there is no shortage of people
who blindly follow trends for the sole purpose of growing their audience or getting
more ‘likes’, often, there are trends that spread a positive message and are created or
followed by those who truly wish to spread good into the world and have a positive
impact on the world. Thus, it is untrue that only the foolish follow trends and in
reality, people who follow trends come from all walks of life and therefore do not
consist of only foolish people, but are made up of the good-willed and even those who
are neither foolish nor good-willed.

Although it is untrue that only foolish people follow trends, there is definitely no
shortage of foolish people, and arguably even a surplus of them. Much of this does
not exclusively stem from foolish people and oftentimes it is the creator of the
trend who has created a foolish or even a downright idiotic action or trend to Good point
follow. For example, in 2018, there was a trend that exploded with popularity not just
because of the sheer number of people who followed but due in part to its
unquestionable notoriety. This ‘Tide Pod Challenge’ involved ingesting a substance
known as tide pods, a laundry detergent. Indeed, people who follow the trend willingly
ingested laundry detergent, obviously leading to a slew of numerous health issues. In
fact, at the peak of this trend’s popularity, many governments had to send out
messages explicitly discouraging people from following this trend. This trend, no
matter how one looks at it, is definitely foolish to say the least. However, having said
this, it is arguable whether some people who followed the trend are to blame. This
trend came to be after a video of someone eating these tide pods went viral and many
content creators and influencers with sizable followings helped perpetuate its
Point is well explained
popularity. Without question, these people are foolish. Mature teenagers and grown
adults were participating, and this stupidity is inexcusable. However, much of the
damage was due to young children, being impressionable, seeing these videos and
mindlessly following the trend. These children, in my opinion, are not to blame. Tide
pods are colourful and do resemble sweets. Hence, that in combination of
impressionable children wanting to be just like their favourite content creators, makes
a case for these children not acting foolishly per se, but instead being influenced or
misled by foolish people. Thus shows that even when the action of a trend appears
outrightly foolish, not every follower of the trend is participating due to his or her
foolishness. Hence, the idea that only the foolish follow tends is invalidated.

Despite this, there are also trends whose followers are all foolish as they are
derailed by selfish ambition. One recent example of such a trend would be the
‘devious licks’ trend. This trend involves stealing government or school property, then
showing off their loot online. Those who took part in this challenge seemingly hope to
keep upping the stakes, outdoing each other’s stupidity by stealing things typically
deemed as more secure or protected. In Singapore, two teenage boys were recently
charged for theft after stealing a street sign and boasting about it on TikTok. All who
take part in this trend are undoubtedly foolish as it is a conscious choice to steal and it
is much harder and more inaccessible than laundry detergent. Since it takes a
conscious effort and choice to take part in this illegal trend, most, if not all of its
participants are

22
1 Concepts and Critical Reading
 definitely foolish. Good transition to
In stark contrast, there are also trends whose followers and participants have the conclusion
good intentions and carefully deliberate before participation. These trends are
often created to spread a positive message or to bring light to a topic that is regularly
ignored or suppressed. A recent example of trends like this is the Black Lives Matter
(BLM) movement, initiated due to the tragic death of George Floyd, an unfortunate
victim of racially motivated police brutality. The BLM movement spread like wildfire,
justifiably so, and sought to raise awareness about these issues and seek justice for
the late George Floyd as well as the many victims before him. Followers of this trend
follow because they want to be part of a good cause. These people want to incite
change through spreading a message and its values. These trends push for social
justice for those oppressed and suffering and allow people to speak out for others
whose voices have been silenced. It is nearly impossible to justify calling these people
foolish. Another example would be the ‘ALS Bucket Challenge’ whose participants
dumped a bucket of ice water over their heads to momentarily feel what those
suffering from ALS would feel. This movement sought to raise awareness for people
suffering from this debilitating medical condition and one would be hard pressed to
find reasons to disagree with the message of this trend. Even though there is evidence
of good will and intentionality, this is not to say that all who follow these trends are not
foolish. In fact, there are once again countless content creators and influencers who
jump on the bandwagon of the trend simply to grow their following. Although not
explicitly foolish, many would agree that these creators are stupid in their own way,
mindlessly amassing followers without thinking about the process or the cause.

Lastly, there also exists trends which are neither foolish nor well intended. These
trends are created and many participate in them simply for fun or entertainment,
containing no moral message and are not explicitly foolish either. The ‘Chubby
Bunny Challenge’ is an example of such a trend - one simply competes to see how
many marshmallows he or she can fit into the mouth. Other dance trends merely
involve participants performing a set of dance moves. Although there is a propensity
for foolish acts, such as choking when attempting the ‘Chubby Bunny Challenge’,
these risks or dangers can usually be completely circumvented by using one’s
common sense to judge the consequences of their own actions. Thus, trend followers
are not necessarily foolish by nature just because they participate in trends.

In conclusion, trends are generally a way to have some harmless fun and bond with
others who also participated in the trend. While there will exist foolish trends, I believe
and feel that one should be able to carefully consider the potential implications while
participating in any given trend and thus decide for himself or herself whether the
trend is worth participating in. If the majority could just learn to think before they act,
many of these hazards and unnecessary damage or harm can be easily prevented
and mitigated.

38/50. Content: 23, Language: 15

Comments:
● Insightful and fully relevant to the requirements of the question
 23
1 Concepts and Critical Reading

“Only the foolish follow trends.” What is your view?

by Celine Goh, 1T06 (2021)
Marker’s Comments
 When we think of trends, usually social media comes to mind, with all of its Your examples take
questionable challenges that youths around the world seem to have the urge to up too much real
piously keep up with them, the way normal people keep up with the news. However, estate for your
with trends such as the ‘Fire Challenge’, ‘Blue Whale Challenge’ or ‘Tide Pod argument to be
Challenge’ causing harm to the youths who are foolish enough to attempt them, properly developed
seemingly unaware of the consequences. One may think that all who seek to follow
the latest fads may be a little off their rockers. They would not be entirely wrong.

As they were growing up, many people may have been asked by their parents, “If your Evaluation of the
friend jumps off the building, will you jump too?” These days, the answer may be possible root cause
“yes”. There may be more trends with questionable motives and often dire of the ‘foolish’
consequences. One may not even have to dig into the past or look too far to find one nature of followers
such trend with the rise of the new social media platform, TikTok. One creatively titled
challenge, ‘Devious Licks’, basically provokes damage of government property by
stealing street signs and filming their ‘devious’ acts for the sake of internet clout.
Another example could be the act of panic buying all over the world when countries
were going into lockdown in view of the tragedy that befell humanity in early 2020,
Covid-19. It truly brought to light that many fools and selfish people live among us,
stocking up groceries with a care for others who may too need the food, or the highly
demanded toilet paper. Additionally, the supply of toilet paper was not of any issue to
most countries but Hong Kong, where the trend of buying toilet paper originated. For
them, their major supply chains were blocked and thus it was somewhat justifiable that
they sought to secure enough resources for themselves. The rest of those around
the world who followed suit are simply so myopic that they could not see the
rational view to the lack of necessity of their actions. Thus, all these people who
blindly followed the trends must be the most insolent in our society.

Though, perhaps there may be some redemption for these people. Some may argue
that following trends are simply instinctive. Besides all the utterly nonsensical
trends listed previously, society is littered with other trends and a supposed ‘hive mind’ Interesting
instinct that permeates all our thoughtful ‘noggins’. The need to follow trends may evaluation,
stem from our biology, where humans are social creatures, thus the need to fit into challenging the
society is crucial for our survival. Take for instance how we are compelled to follow definition here
customs. The refusal to participate would probably lead to one being ousted and
rendering his or her existence quite impossible.

Therefore it is quite clear that there are certain benefits to fitting in with society or
gaining the approval of society. That is why people follow diet fads or the latest
fashion. They desire to be in a more advantageous position in society, being more
socially accepted and would thus be treated better and given more benefits. Following
the latest news and today’s memes are a necessary part of our lifestyle if we seek to
relate to those around us and gain social points. Therefore, it may not seem too
foolish after all that one would seek to follow trends to appease the other apes in
society. As they say, there is strength in numbers.

However, humans like to see ourselves as above such fickle animalistic behaviour.
Surely that cannot justify all the actions that have been committed in the name of
‘fitting into society’. Surely we must have some sort of self-control that differentiates
us from the ignorant fools of society that blindly follow trends. We ought to follow
logical trends only, and the follow only follow nonsensical ones. But what really defines
a logical trend and how is that different from a theoretical nonsensical trend? How
different are those who follow logical trends from those who follow the ‘Fire
Challenge’? Fundamentally, the idea is the same: follow the trend, appease the
masses, gain social points and reap the benefits. The same way one may call the ‘Fire
Challenge’ stupid or irrational, others would say the same about fashion and art. There
is no sense in human creativity?

24
1 Concepts and Critical Reading
 Everyone follows trends one way or another. It is an innate response with our socially Metacognition
driven nature. It could be true that only the foolish follow trends, if we were bold somehow works here
enough to accept the reality that we are all fools. Though, if foolish is to represent - the
some lower being, we ought to lower our noses and reflect upon why we may see demonstration of the
‘trend following’ as foolish. It is actually a very logical and intelligent action that hopeful human
has been responsible for the great civilisations that mankind has built. The condition
cooperation that we established among each other, all thanks to the need to follow
social norms has aided us in much of our great progress that we are so sure about.
Perhaps, it is the trends that seem to be foolish. For that, we ought to reflect on what
we have been teaching our youths today, or the effects of the algorithms that are
giving people like these a platform to share public vandalism. The reason they get
social clout is because we give such social validation. This sort of daredevil stunts is
intriguing and entertaining, even for those who do not follow the trend. We argue our
views on the issue, writing reports and essays commenting on their ‘foolish behaviour’,
yet we only drive them further. If their actions are foolish and we entertain them, it
could become a trend, since others see it as a way to gain clout. So perhaps, it is not
so much the trend followers who are fools, but the whole society that enables such
trends who are fools.

There is still hope for our society of course. Humans love the idea of hope and
therefore they dislike it when the essay ends off on such a pessimistic note. The
actions of those who start the trends are foolish, though perhaps more simply put,
uneducated of the consequences of their actions. We are still in the early age of
internet culture and mass media with such global connections that it seems impossible
to control. Though that would be the case for most new things. We may have
unleashed a whole lot of power on a very irresponsible world, thus it is crucial that in
the coming years we sek to educate everyone on how to better use such power like
social media or the internet which are common vehicles for trends today. The first
step, of course, would be admitting to ourselves that we, as society, share the blame
and it is not just the followers of the trends who are responsible for the consequences
that come with them so that together as a bunch of foolish apes, we can take a few
steps closer to living up to the egocentric name that we gave ourselves - the
homosapiens (wise men).

35/ 50. Content: 21, Language: 14

Comments:
● Not quite the expected arguments! Very thoughtful, provocative and insightful; concepts and thoughts /
sensitivity to the topic are there
● However, your thesis needs examples to show knowledge and not just sentiment. At least have examples for
the positive trends to show some concrete balance in your essay.
25