Sample essay 1

The world is becoming more modern day by day. There are numerous modern items, concepts,
ways of doing things that emerge as time passes, which sometimes could affect not only the
tranquility of our life and mind but also our finances. Is it true that modernisation has robbed us
of our peace of mind? In my opinion, I agree with the statement because the process of
modernisation requires the acquisition of new knowledge, it demands the use of some tools and
traditions could be forgotten.

First of all, modernisation would require new knowledge. After a long time of living with the
knowledge that most of us already have, modernisation might require or even force most of us
to take up new knowledge. For example, for those among us who are around 50 years old and
above, they are more familiar with the “old” system of banking: that is to go to the bank and
carry out almost all banking transactions at the bank counter. However, with the modern way of
banking now, these same people might have to conduct their transactions via e-banking on the
Internet. They would then have to acquire some new knowledge, for instance to learn how to
use the computer or laptop, to surf the Internet and also to utilize the bank’s e-banking
platform. For a person of 50 years old and above, acquiring technological knowledge like this
could be difficult, especially when they would have to do it on their own. This is due to a
person’s abilities to learn new skills would be diminishing as one gets old and older. Yet, not
learning this required new knowledge could be troublesome too as they might not be able to
withdraw money or might have to ask for assistance, which then could lead to more risks. So, to
move together with this modern time, these people would have to force themselves to learn
and relearn these new skills and knowledge, and later could be experiencing negative effects
like stress, fear of the devices or anxiety of making mistakes online thus losing their peace of
mind. In short, modernisation has robbed us of our peace of mind could be a true fact.

Next, modernisation could rob us of our peace of mind as it demands the use of some tools.
Sometimes, to access some modern facilities, we would have to own a particular tool such as
the mobile phone. Let’s take the pandemic period as an example. During the Covid-19 attack,
the Ministry of Health had come up with an app – MySejahtera - to track one’s movement as an
effort to restrict the spread of the virus. Almost all shopping venues, eateries and outlets then
made the use of MySejahtera compulsory for their customers. This app would need to be
downloaded into each citizen’s mobile phone, and every person was required to scan a QR code
in order to enter a facility or building. In other words, if you do not own a mobile phone, you
could not enter some premises. Although mobile phones could be considered a necessity
nowadays, some people might still not own one. Contrary to the times before the pandemic, an
individual could just freely enter any shop; and if he forgets to bring his phone or does not own
one, he could still access the stores of his choice. There was no worry of not being able to
purchase goods or to carry out some errands had that been the case. However, as of during the
pandemic , if one does not own a mobile phone, forgets to bring it with him or even if it runs out
of battery, he would find himself not able to buy things, have a meal or a drink or even board a
public transport as he could not scan the QR code for entrance. In this light, there is so much to
worry when one goes out of his home – whether he has his phone, brings it with him or the
phone has enough battery. This episode of the pandemic could show us how modernisation has
robbed us of our peace of mind as we always need to have some tools, like a functioning mobile
phone, with us all the time when we are outside our homes.

Finally, modernisation could cause the loss of traditions. Some traditions have been the practice
of our society and communities for decades, if not years. Let us take the example of the
tradition of sending Hari Raya cards or those of other festivals to family members and friends.
This tradition has been existing in our society for a long time. Yet, with today’s advancement of
technology that brought the mobile phones and the Internet, a modern style of wishing for
these festivals has emerged -by sending online greeting cards. As we struggle and learn to use
our mobile phones and Internet-linked devices optimally, many among us are pulled into the
waves of this new trend and then start sending the online greeting cards instead of the printed
versions. The trend is so strong and perhaps has accumulated a lot of followers that the printed
greeting cards are very difficult to be found now. This can be said as one tradition lost. Perhaps,
as the world turns more modern, more traditions could be lost, resulting in worry and the loss of
our peace of mind. Some of us, especially the elderly, might be feeling that the foundations of
our societies, the very things that make us who we are and the practices of our culture could be
disappearing due to our need to adapt to the modern items and the trends that they brought
with them. They might no longer feel as secured and grounded in their traditions and cultural
identity as before; and in fact might feel threatened with the disappearance or diminishing
traditional beliefs and customs. In short, it is in this way that modernisation has robbed us of our
peace of mind.

In a nutshell, it is undeniable that modernisation has robbed us of our peace of mind as it

requires the acquisition of new knowledge, it demands the use of some tools and our valuable
traditions could be lost. As most of us are praising modernisation for the ease and technology it
brings us, it is hoped that we could also realise that modernisation is not always good; as once
commented by a wise man: “We thought modernisation would make us better but in some
cases, it has made us even worse. We became emotionless as if our emotions [are] transferred
into those emojis”.

Sample essay 2

The world is becoming more modern each day. We would hear of so many modern items,
equipment or technology being produced, advertised or even launched daily. The most recent
would be the launching of the MEASAT satellite that would provide our country with the 5G
Internet coverage. Would you believe then that modernisation has robbed us of our peace of
mind? I, for one, would not believe that and so disagree with the statement as I feel
modernisation makes life easier for us, it gives us many options and it widens our horizons.
First and foremost, modernisation makes life easier for us. As we can see now, there are so
many errands that can be done just by using the phone or laptop without having to go out of
our house. For example, to do some banking transactions like transferring money to one’s
parents or children, he or she can just access the bank’s e-banking platform and send the money
to the receiver just by pressing some buttons on the phone or laptop keypad. Another example
would be shopping. Nowadays, we could buy almost all necessary items like clothes, cleaning
detergents or stationeries online through platforms like Lazada or Shopee without having to go
out to the actual stores or shops. All this is made possible by the advancement of technology
and the Internet, in other words, modernisation. Before, we might have to dress up, drive our
vehicles, find a parking space, get into a queue to approach a bank counter or an Auto Teller
Machine (ATM) to transfer money. Then, we would perhaps have to drive to another spot or
shopping area, find a parking space again before patronising 3 shops should we after that want
to buy clothes, detergents and stationeries. However, with modernisation now, we do not even
need to get into our vehicles to go to the town to complete these errands. Everything can be
done from the comfort of our home with just some clicks on the phone or laptop keypad.
Subsequently, we could then have not only more time at home but also more ease and peace of
mind to complete other chores or just to enjoy life and quality time with our family. It is in this
way that I truly believe modernisation has made our life easier and so has not robbed us of our
peace of mind.

Secondly, modernisation has brought to us a lot of options. We could take the field of
communication as an example. Today, there are various channels, avenues and methods for us
to communicate with each other. First, there is the phone either a mobile or the one with a land
line. Next, if there is a need for us to see each other’s’ faces as we communicate, we could opt
for a Google Meet session, Face Time, video call and other similar camera-included ways of
communication. At times when we would only prefer texts messages, there are apps for such
communication like WhatsApp, Telegram and WeChat. In times when land or mobile phone lines
fail to connect us, there are also WhatsApp and Telegram calls that could be made. For those
who love writing long messages, the e-mail is always accessible and available as a channel to
communicate. If that is not enough, the social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter are readily available for our posts, comments and tags to ease communication among
us. This is what modernisation has provided us with. To view a situation in which we might not
be able to use the landline phone, there are other various ways we could utilize to connect with
someone as Internet coverage is also widely available now. We would not run out of alternatives
as so many are available, and thus would not lose our calm and peace of mind. If we take a step
into the past when it was not very modern, not technologically-advanced and of course, no
Internet, we would be able to see that there was not much being offered for communications –
only landline phones, telegrams and post mails, which if they fail to function, we would be left
without any alternative to communicate. Hence, as modernisation has provided us with so many
options and alternatives., I do not believe that it has robbed us of our peace of mind.
Last of all, modernisation widens our horizons. It is not apt not to link the Internet with
modernisation. With the Internet, came other opportunities and possibilities, for example, the
world is linked and wired up. Therefore, we could be connecting, talking, communicating with
people from different parts and regions of the world. They could also be promoting and
advertising something that would also reach us, although we are thousands of miles away from
them. For work, especially, some companies could be promoting or advertising vacancies in
their countries or other areas that in the past could only be available to their countrymen or
neighbouring nations. With the use of the Internet, several platforms like Facebook, Instagram
and LinkedIn, and websites like Indeed.com or Jobstreet.com; almost everyone all over world
would have equal chances to apply and get hired. Those in countries with low economic status
like Bangladesh and Nepal could then apply to work overseas than just to rely on the scarcely-
available and lowly-paid jobs back home. From this perspective, our horizons are widened.
There is still light at the end of the dark tunnel. Some could still be getting jobs to sustain
themselves and their families should they not get hired in their own country. In addition, with
modernisation and technology that brought faster vehicles which reduce travel time like the
speed train, one could still work elsewhere but travel from home or return home more
frequently than perhaps a decade ago, thus opening more opportunities of working in a distant
land, in some cases without the necessity of migrating. With all these possibilities, there could
be no loss of peace of mind especially regarding one’s sustenance and survival to continue life.
One could still get a job although none is available around him. With this widening of our
horizons, especially in the employment and work sector, I am confident that modernisation has
not robbed us of our peace of mind.

As a conclusion, modernisation definitely has not robbed us of our peace of mind as it actually
makes our life easier, it brings us many options and it truly widens our horizons. Modernisation
is also about the disappearance of physical borders, the acceptance of things foreign, the display
of traits hidden or obscure before, and the establishment of connections that were perhaps not
in existence before. Park Won-soon, the former mayor of Seoul, has aptly suggested this
through his words when he commented on the “Psy” phenomenon: “…now as we have reached
modernisation . . . many citizens can display their potential for arts and culture and I believe
that’s why Psy has become so popular.”