GP Tuition: Sample GP Examination Paper – EJC
Looking for a quality online General Paper Tutoring specialist who is familiar with the teaching sequence Eunoia Junior College or aka EJC? Let us at Ace Specialist Hub help you to securing your GP distinction!
Here’s a sample of GP Essay Paper (Paper 1) shared by our ex – EJC student who attended our GP tutorials:
1. Why is it that, in spite of international efforts, world peace remains elusive?
2. Is the internet more powerful than traditional forms of the media?
3. ‘To ensure Singapore does not fail, we must think of how it might fail. (Kishore Mahbubani).
Explore the wisdom of this advice.
4. ‘The hardest job in modern society is being a good parent.’
Discuss with specific reference to the changing roles and responsibilities of parents in your country.
5. Modem technology is making us all lazy and stupid.’ How far do you agree with this assertion?
6. Advertising is legalised lying – its constructive contribution to humanity is absolutely zero. Do you agree?
7. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Is fear always a destructive and counterproductive emotion?
8. ‘Television is indeed a true mirror of modern society; unfortunately, the image it reflects is an extremely ugly one. Comment.
9. ‘Is art anything more than a pleasurable pastime?
10. There is nothing more powerful than a great idea.’
In your opinion, which two ideas in history have been most influential in changing the world for the better and why?
11. A true leader must earn respect before he can command it.’ Discuss.
12. ‘Singapore is powerless in the face of global tsunamis- be they economic or otherwise. All it can do is try to stay afloat and ride out the storm.” How far do you agree?
EJC General Paper Tuition – Sample Model GP Essay Answer
Here is a full length sample answer to the following GP essay question:
Q2. Is the internet more powerful than traditional forms of the media?
The internet is a powerful tool for communication and information. It enjoys massive usage all over the world, be it for business or leisure, everyone has access to it This rate is likely to increase in the years to come as better computers and faster modems are developed, and as governments around the world promote the use of information technology in this millennium.
With such success worldwide, the internet seems poised to take over traditional forms of media, such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio et cetera. Within minutes, to the extent of seconds, people are able to view the things that they desire. Compared with the traditional forms of media, the internet is the fastest method of obtaining information. Say a person wishes to know the latest happenings worldwide. If he reads the newspaper, he will only learn about it one day after the incident has occurred. If he watches the news over radio or television, chances are that it will be broadcast upon the hour, if it is not ground-breaking. With the internet, however, he is able to digest the information at any time. With regard to the speed that new information is delivered, the Internet scores, and this is a possible explanation for newspapers such as the Herald Tribune in the United States and the Times of London establishing an online tabloid, in addition to their traditional task of printing newspapers. It is a fight to maintain readers’ loyalty to their papers. It is also an avenue for quick news, as the details are explained in their printed newspapers. The power of the speed at which the Internet conveys information has thus forced traditional forms of media to follow up.
With regard to choice, the Internet has much more flexible “programming”. This means to say that the user is able to make his preference over the genre he wishes to explore. The World Wide Web is displayed for him; he has the will to drop in at any site and view its contents. On the other hand, programmes belonging to the traditional forms of media are pre-determined by the editors and the heads of programmes. Audiences are thus forced to bear with whatever these forms of media publish or broadcast. They are forced to change channels or publications if they are discontented with the information conveyed. At times, audiences may be frustrated upon realising that alternatives do not please them as well. Furthermore, there is a limit to the amount of information that is presented at each time.
With the aid of search engines, however, one is able to obtain more details with regards to the same topic that is displayed on traditional media. Take the role of the media after the terrorist attack on the United States of America on September 11. The news on television and radio covered the hard facts of the tragedy Reports arrived in the newspapers later. These forms of media portrayed the horrors of the disaster. Such information was displayed on the Internet, but it went deeper – it touched upon the lives of the lives of the people, both terrorists, victims their families and other people, over how the incident had affected each of them. These came up alongside the ground-breaking reports immediately preceding the tragedy. The traditional forms of media only followed the humanitarian side of the disaster much later. Out of this example, it is possible to see how the Internet has enabled audiences to decide which aspect of an incident they wish to see.
The Internet invites instant audience participation Like the newspapers and magazines, viewers may write in their opinions and queries to be shared with others on the web Unlike the former, the Internet permits more flexibility in the content of views posted on the forum pages Newspapers and magazines have limited printing space, and therefore accommodate selected letters Furthermore, the contents of each letter have to be endorsed by the editor before they make their appearance Generally, these editors are careful about what is posted in their publications, therefore audiences do not get to see radical viewpoints. The language used is usually profound, compared to that used on the Internet. The latter allows active and more open discussion – with the introduction of chat rooms, there is instant communication The informality of it all encourages more people to participate.
Audiences are thus subjected to a wider range of viewpoints and new ideas that could never be seen on traditional forms of media Singapore schools have played on this kind of openness by introducing such forums on their websites, in a bid to encourage students to voice their opinions, as well as being an alternative for students who are too shy to speak up in class. The entire school benefits from being able to experience differing viewpoints, whether they are proposing or opposing. At the end of the day, the audience decides who is right and who is wrong, at their own analysis of unbiased, personalised opinions.
On the other hand, the features that make the Internet a powerful tool for communication have their drawbacks. The ability to choose one’s desired type of programme may lead to the danger of people, especially young people, viewing unhealthy websites. The traditional forms of media are controlled by censorship, therefore the programme displayed are generally acceptable in content. Few people subscribe to Internet filters; even so, webmasters may have the means to slip through this obstacle. At the same time, if the contents posted over the Internet are not subjected to stringent checks, writers may make slanderous remarks, or even blackmail others. The dire consequences would be the spread of such spiteful messages around the globe, and absorbed by people who take such information for granted The people who control the material that is presented over the traditional forms of media ensure that such messages are not released to the public.
Lastly, where speed is concerned, accuracy is questionable sources from the Internet may be derived from any place, they could have been posted by the author of the webpage, or taken from an external source For the traditional forms of media, their respectability and actual live coverage of events ensure the people that the information they present is credible Broadcasters and journalists are checked to ensure they do not add their own views, with the exception of talk shows and columns.
Despite the disadvantages, the Internet will continue to be a powerful tool in the media world, due to its speed, flexibility and openness, as compared to the traditional forms of media
Comment from GP Tutoring teacher: Generally sensible, but some concrete examples would be more convincing, e.g. China’s censorship and blocking of web contents.
More answers and essays (Paper 1) exam skills in our GP tuition revision guide, especially for EJC GP tutoring students.
How to get to EJC?
Eunoia Junior College (EJC) is located at 2 Sin Ming Place, Singapore 573838. The nearest MRT is either Marymount MRT (CC16) station station, or from Bishan station (NS17/CC15) on the (Circle Line or CCL). Many buses – 13, 74, 88, 162, 410G, 410W, 852, etc go to EJC.
It is also a seven-minute walk from the future Bright Hill (TE7) station on the Thomson-East Coast line (TEL).
Busy EJC students can sign up our GP revision course, if time is tight for 1-on-1 lessons and small group GP classes.