CATHOLIC HIGH SCH 2019 Sec 4 Prelim SS

[Turn over Name: Index Number: Class: CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Preliminary Examination Secondary 4 (O-Level Programme) Humanities (Social Studies, Geography) Humanities (Social Studies, History) Humanities (Social Studies, Literature) Social Studies Additional Materials: Writing Paper 2272/01 2273/01 2274/01 2 September 2019 1 hr 45 mins READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your name, index number and class on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen. You may use a soft pencil for any rough working. Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid. DO NOT WRITE ON THE MARGINS. Section A Answer all parts of Question 1. Section B Answer both parts of Question 2. Write all answers on the Writing Paper provided. For examiner’s use only: Section A / 35 m Section B / 15 m Total / 50 marks At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. This document consists of 6 printed pages.

2 ©CHS 2019 SECTION A (Source-Based Case Study) Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates. 1 Exploring Citizenship and Governance Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you to answer the questions, in addition to those sources, which you are told to use. In answering the questions, you should use your knowledge of the issue to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. (a) Study Source A. Do you think the cartoonist is a supporter or opponent of online vigilantism? Explain your answer using details from the source. [5] (b) Study Sources B and C. How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7] (c) Study Source D. How useful is this source as evidence that online vigilantism is appropriate in Singapore? Explain your answer. [7] (d) Study Source E. (e) Are you surprised by it? Explain your answer. ‘Online vigilantism is bad for society in Singapore.’ Using sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. [6] [10]

3 ©CHS 2019 Is online vigilantism the best way to serve justice in Singapore? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. Online vigilantism is an act of carrying out vigilante activities through the internet. The objective of these vigilantes is to draw attention to perceived injustices to the public in order to deter similar irresponsible behavior or crimes. Some of these a cts have resulted in police action being taken against the wrongdoer. However, some vigilantes go to the extent of doxxing, which is an act of identifying and shaming wrongdoers online by publishing their personal information. These actions have not only affected the wrongdoer but also other innocent people such as their family and friends. At the same time, there have been instances whereby wrongdoers have been mistakenly identified and had to suffer the ill-treatment and abuse from netizens. In April 20 19, the Singapore government criminalised ‘doxxing’. Study the following sources to assess whether online vigilantism is the best way to ensure justice in Singapore. Source A: A cartoon depicting online vigilantism, published in an online magazine with the caption “That’s Her!”

4 ©CHS 2019 Source B: A comment by a Singaporean journalist, published in the Straits Times on 30 April 2018. Experts have argued that while the free flow of information online has opened up the possibility of free expression and communication, it also has a dark side. The Internet has obviously amplified the potency of gossip and public shaming. If you have had a bad day at work and are rude to a sales assistant as a result, you perhaps deserve to be condemned for not considering others’ feelings, but do you deserve to be stalked or have your family or employer be dragged through the mud as well? Do you deserve to possibly lose your job or have your career ruined because of one transgression*? *A transgression is an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct. Source C: Adapted from a Straits Times newspaper article published on April 2017. While there is no doubt that online vigilantism has helped in some cases to draw attention to irresponsible behavior and catalyse* enforcement action by the police, this must be balanced with what has been done to the wrongdoer. Online vigilantes often work with incomplete information and the danger of misidentification is real. Even if the truth surfaces later, the damage has already been done. Even if the wrong identification is corrected, by the very nature of the Internet, it will be very difficult to remove all association with the incident. * Catalyse means cause an action to begin Source D: An excerpt from an article published on TODAY in June 2018. It would be wise to bear in mind that in our quest for social justice, by going to the extent of harassing the wrongdoers, we ourselves are committing a crime if we cross certain lines. Lawyers have pointed out that the Prevention from Harassment Act could be used against vigilantes if their sense of social justice results in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. Those who are incorrectly identified as wrongdoers by online vigilantes can also turn to defamation* laws. Aside from this, vigilantes should also consider that they may be working with incomplete information and may end up instigating** attacks on innocent people. This, in itself, should give us pause. * Defamation refers to the action of damaging the good reputation of someone. ** To instigate is to bring about or initiate.

5 ©CHS 2019 Source E: Adapted from a post by a blogger about online vigilantism in Singapore, published in November 2017. The blogger has been known to practise online vigilantism on several occasions. Online vigilantism originated to seek justice for perceived transgressions. It sought to bring the offending deeds of the perpetrator to the attention of a critical mass of people, then let the virtual crowds act as investigator, judge and executioner. The long arm of the law has its limits and cannot pursue every instance of perceived injustice. When the situation is serious enough to warrant police intervention, detection of all crimes is challenging. This is when a vigilante community can fill the gap. It als o sends out a signal to would-be criminals such as sexual predators, who are usually anonymous, that they could be being watched. This develops a self-policing habit. It also helps bring to light these crimes that might otherwise go undiscovered. Source F: An adapted blogpost by a student published in an online youth website in 2018. With all that said, online vigilantism, when done right, may serve as a way to strengthen the moral code of the society and discipline the citizens. What this means is to ensure that we express opinions in neutral and objective ways as much as possible, and refrain from turning them into personal attacks or cyberbullying. When used correctly, online vigilantism could be a positive force that helps instead of wounds. SECTION B (Structured-Response Question) Question 2 is compulsory for all candidates 2 Being Part of a Globalised World Study the extracts carefully, and answer the questions. Extract 1 With a score of 83.5 out of a possible 100 in the ranking released on Wednesday, Singapore came in behind only the United States; the Republic was ranked third in last year's Global Competitiveness Index. Switzerland, ranked top in 2017, is fourth in the latest index. The countrie