Exercise - Identify the examples used in the following paragraphs.

How were the examples used to

illustrate the writers’ points?

1. Consider the value of play. Comments

Play has also been considered a form of therapy. It is especially useful in the case of young
children who have been abused. Often, due to their immaturity, they are unable to express in
words their thoughts and emotions because they cannot make sense of the abuse which they
have been subjected to. Through play, psychologists are able to help these children come to
terms with the abuse, and more importantly, find out details to identify and prosecute the
perpetrator. For example, by allowing young children to play with dolls with predefined roles
like ‘father’, ‘mother’ , or the child himself, psychologists can, through the child’s manipulation
of the dolls during play, obtain an accurate depiction of the child’s family situation. This is
especially useful in cases of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Play has also been used by
hospitals like the National University of Singapore Hospital (NUH), which has a ‘Play Unit’ to
prepare children for and allay their fears of new and ‘scary’ medical procedures, offering
them a psychological resilience which is essential to their being able to cope with the medical
treatment they will undergo. Hence, play can be an effective form of therapy and is thus a
valuable tool for aiding young children in their understanding of the world around them. The
incorporation of play activities into medical treatment protocols serves as an
acknowledgement of play’s value to psychologists and doctors.

2.“Education heightens inequality.” Discuss. Comments

However, in spite of the flaws in its workings within a society, education remains more
desirable than a lack of education as a tool for generating greater equality worldwide. As
people learn technical and cognitive skills, they are better equipped to gain access to
productive employment. For society as a whole, this elevates living standards, closing the
gap between the rich and the poor. Japan, one of the most developed nations now, had its
rapid economic transformation premised upon widespread access to education during the
Meiji Restoration. Now on par with many Western nations, Japan had emphasised there was
to be no illiterate person in any family. Likewise, since instituting compulsory primary
education in the 1980s, China has seen millions of rural poor taking advantage of the
employment opportunities opened by China’s liberalisation, allowing the Chinese to acquire
standards of living, and equalising China’s living standards with the rest of the world’s to a
greater degree. Beyond economic equality, education can also allow the individual to
seek equality where previously people were marginalised. In African nations, countless
women remain oppressed by males in society partly because of their illiteracy; they are
unable to even read the books that stipulate what rights they as women are entitled to, much
less exercise their rights. The education of women can allow women greater equality with
men in the household as they begin to advance their interests in decision making, which can
in turn generate more economic equality by removing the pressures of overly large families
that tend to result when women are unable to enact a limit on procreation. Thus education
can allow people to move into gainful employment and also exercise their rights, leading to
greater equality in terms of economic standards and gender (or minority rights).

3. To what extent does your country challenge the current state of affairs? Comments
Moreover, some also argue that Singapore is quick to challenge the current state of affairs in
terms of managing the economy. Since independence, Singapore has been renowned for
its tight budget position and fiscal prudence. Even in times of crises like in 1973-74 where
inflation hit nearly 25% due to OPEC’s decision to triple the price of oil, the 1987 Black
Monday crash, the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis where the Singapore dollar depreciated by
20%, or the global slowdown after the 2001 World Trade Centre bombing, Singapore has
staunchly refused to back down from its stand on balancing the budget. Yet the 2008-2009
financial crisis prompted the slashing of a ‘sacred cow’, by dipping into the reserves for the
first time, using S$20 billion to strengthen the economy for long-term capabilities. Similarly,
while the first Central Provident Fund (CPF) policy of 20% employer contribution rate and
20% employee contribution rate was implemented in 1965, the Singapore government has
shown that this is not cast in stone, instituting changes, notably in 1998 where the employer
contribution rate was slashed by 10 percentage points. Furthermore, Singapore has shown
itself to be ready to challenge this current state when it increased the employer contribution
rate in 2009 after a period of economic boom. It is with such nimble deftness that Singapore
operates its economic and financial policies, which lead people to believe that it challenges
the current state of affairs, having no qualms of changing the status quo.

(paragraphs adapted from KS Bull essays)

Exercise - Identify the examples used in the following paragraphs. How were the examples used to
illustrate the writers’ points?

1. Consider the value of play. Comments

Play has also been considered a form of therapy. It is especially useful in the case of young
children who have been abused. Often, due to their immaturity, they are unable to express in
words their thoughts and emotions because they cannot make sense of the abuse which they
have been subjected to. Through play, psychologists are able to help these children come to
terms with the abuse, and more importantly, find out details to identify and prosecute the
perpetrator. For example, by allowing young children to play with dolls with predefined roles
like ‘father’, ‘mother’ , or the child himself, psychologists can, through the child’s manipulation
of the dolls during play, obtain an accurate depiction of the child’s family situation. This is
especially useful in cases of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Play has also been used by
hospitals like the National University of Singapore Hospital (NUH), which has a ‘Play Unit’ to
prepare children for and allay their fears of new and ‘scary’ medical procedures, offering
them a psychological resilience which is essential to their being able to cope with the medical
treatment they will undergo. Hence, play can be an effective form of therapy and is thus a
valuable tool for aiding young children in their understanding of the world around them. The
incorporation of play activities into medical treatment protocols serves as an
acknowledgement of play’s value to psychologists and doctors.

1. Consider the value of play. Comments

Play has also been considered a form of therapy. It is especially useful in the case of young Sufficient
children who have been abused. Often, due to their immaturity, they are unable to express in elaboration is
words their thoughts and emotions because they cannot make sense of the abuse which they provided after point
have been subjected to. Through play, psychologists are able to help these children come to
is stated.
terms with the abuse, and more importantly, find out details to identify and prosecute the
perpetrator. For example, by allowing young children to play with dolls with predefined roles
like ‘father’, ‘mother’ , or the child himself, psychologists can, through the child’s manipulation Eg 1 (+explanation)
of the dolls during play, obtain an accurate depiction of the child’s family situation. This is Pertinence of Eg 1.
especially useful in cases of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Play has also been used by Eg 2 (specific eg)
hospitals like the National University of Singapore Hospital (NUH), which has a ‘Play Unit’ to
prepare children for and allay their fears of new and ‘scary’ medical procedures, offering Pertinence of Eg 2.
them a psychological resilience which is essential to their being able to cope with the medical
Link of egs to the
treatment they will undergo. Hence, play can be an effective form of therapy and is thus a
valuable tool for aiding young children in their understanding of the world around them. point (purpose of
The incorporation of play activities into medical treatment protocols serves as an egs)
acknowledgement of play’s value to psychologists and doctors. Link back to the qn.
 2.“Education heightens inequality.” Discuss. Comments
However, in spite of the flaws in its workings within a society, education remains more
desirable than a lack of education as a tool for generating greater equality worldwide. As
people learn technical and cognitive skills, they are better equipped to gain access to
productive employment. For society as a whole, this elevates living standards, closing the
gap between the rich and the poor. Japan, one of the most developed nations now, had its
rapid economic transformation premised upon widespread access to education during the
Meiji Restoration. Now on par with many Western nations, Japan had emphasised there was
to be no illiterate person in any family. Likewise, since instituting compulsory primary
education in the 1980s, China has seen millions of rural poor taking advantage of the
employment opportunities opened by China’s liberalisation, allowing the Chinese to acquire
standards of living, and equalising China’s living standards with the rest of the world’s to a
greater degree. Beyond economic equality, education can also allow the individual to
seek equality where previously people were marginalised. In African nations, countless
women remain oppressed by males in society partly because of their illiteracy; they are
unable to even read the books that stipulate what rights they as women are entitled to, much
less exercise their rights. The education of women can allow women greater equality with
men in the household as they begin to advance their interests in decision making, which can
in turn generate more economic equality by removing the pressures of overly large families
that tend to result when women are unable to enact a limit on procreation. Thus education
can allow people to move into gainful employment and also exercise their rights, leading to
greater equality in terms of economic standards and gender (or minority rights).

2. “Education heightens inequality.” Discuss. Comments

However, in spite of the flaws in its workings within a society, education remains more
desirable than a lack of education as a tool for generating greater equality worldwide. As Sub-point 1 +
people learn technical and cognitive skills, they are better equipped to gain access to Elaboration
productive employment. For society as a whole, this elevates living standards, closing the
gap between the rich and the poor. Japan, one of the most developed nations now, had its
rapid economic transformation premised upon widespread access to education during the Eg 1 + explanation -
Meiji Restoration. Now on par with many Western nations, Japan had emphasised there was Japan
to be no illiterate person in any family. Likewise, since instituting compulsory primary Eg 2 +explanation -
education in the 1980s, China has seen millions of rural poor taking advantage of the China
employment opportunities opened by China’s liberalisation, allowing the Chinese to acquire
standards of living, and equalising China’s living standards with the rest of the world’s to a
greater degree. Beyond economic equality, education can also allow the individual to
Sub-point 2
seek equality where previously people were marginalised. In African nations, countless
women remain oppressed by males in society partly because of their illiteracy; they are Eg 3 +explanation –
unable to even read the books that stipulate what tights they as women are entitled to, much Africa
less exercise their rights. The education of women can allow women greater equality with Good range of
men in the household as they begin to advance their interests in decision making, which can worldwide egs
in turn generate more economic equality by removing the pressures of overly large families
that tend to result when women are unable to enact a limit on procreation. Thus education Link back to the
can allow people to move into gainful employment and also exercise their rights, leading to
points and qn.
greater equality in terms of economic standards and gender (or minority rights).
 3. To what extent does your country challenge the current state of affairs? Comments
Moreover, some also argue that Singapore is quick to challenge the current state of affairs in
terms of managing the economy. Since independence, Singapore has been renowned for
its tight budget position and fiscal prudence. Even in times of crises like in 1973-74 where
inflation hit nearly 25% due to OPEC’s decision to triple the price of oil, the 1987 Black
Monday crash, the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis where the Singapore dollar depreciated by
20%, or the global slowdown after the 2001 World Trade Centre bombing, Singapore has
staunchly refused to back down from its stand on balancing the budget. Yet the 2008-2009
financial crisis prompted the slashing of a ‘sacred cow’, by dipping into the reserves for the
first time, using S$20 billion to strengthen the economy for long-term capabilities. Similarly,
while the first Central Provident Fund (CPF) policy of 20% employer contribution rate and
20% employee contribution rate was implemented in 1965, the Singapore government has
shown that this is not cast in stone, instituting changes, notably in 1998 where the employer
contribution rate was slashed by 10 percentage points. Furthermore, Singapore has shown
itself to be ready to challenge this current state, when it increased the employer contribution
rate in 2009 after a period of economic boom. It is with such nimble deftness that Singapore
operates its economic and financial policies, which lead people to believe that it challenges
the current state of affairs, having no qualms of changing the status quo.

3. To what extent does your country challenge the current state of affairs? Comments
Moreover, some also argue that Singapore is quick to challenge the current state of affairs in CA + elaboration
terms of managing the economy. Since independence, Singapore has been renowned for Egs - statistics &
its tight budget position and fiscal prudence. Even in times of crises like in 1973-74 where
inflation hit nearly 25% due to OPEC’s decision to triple the price of oil, the 1987 Black S’pore’s historical
Monday crash, the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis where the Singapore dollar depreciated by background
20%, or the global slowdown after the 2001 World Trade Centre bombing, Singapore has (details included)
staunchly refused to back down from its stand on balancing the budget. Yet the 2008-2009 Pertinence of egs
financial crisis prompted the slashing of a ‘sacred cow’, by dipping into the reserves for the
first time, using S$20 billion to strengthen the economy for long-term capabilities. Similarly, More egs –
while the first Central Provident Fund (CPF) policy of 20% employer contribution rate and statistics and facts
20% employee contribution rate was implemented in 1965, the Singapore government has (Reliable?) In-
shown that this is not cast in stone, instituting changes, notably in 1998 where the employer depth knowledge
contribution rate was slashed by 10 percentage points. Furthermore, Singapore has shown
itself to be ready to challenge this current state, when it increased the employer contribution of Spore
rate in 2009 after a period of economic boom. It is with such nimble deftness that Link back to the
Singapore operates its economic and financial policies, which lead people to believe that it CA and qn.
challenges the current state of affairs, having no qualms of changing the status quo.
(paragraphs adapted from KS Bull essays)