MJC ZENITH 2016

ZENITH 2016 General Paper @ Meridian JC Page 1 of 27 ZENITH 2016 This is a special compilation of the best ZENITH es says from 2010 - 2015, organised according to topics. In order to make this a useful tool for revision, do attempt to unpack each question thoroughly before reading the accompanying essay. You may even add on other points and illustrations you have thought of while reading the essay. Also, some of the facts and statistics in the essays may no longer be current as some of t hem were written up to five years ago, so do update them for your own benefit! While you may find the examples and points in these essays useful in answering other questions, please be judicious in using such inform ation in a manner that is relevant to the POC of the question you are answering. Lastly, do n ote that while the essays provide a convenient source of ‘inspiration’ for your own P1 assignments, as the great writer Samuel Johnson said, no man ever became great by imitation . You have been warned: do not attempt to copy these essays and hand them in as your own work! You are most welcome to send feedback and suggestio ns in enhancing future issues of ZENITH. The ZENITH Editorial Team Content Page Gender, Family & Children ‘Women will never enjoy the same rights as men.’ Do you agree? (2006 A levels Q6) ‘The grievances of women are a thing of the past.’ To what extent do you agree? (SRJCJ2PE13Q12) ‘Too much attention has been given to gender equal ity.’ Discuss. (MJCJC2MYE2013Q5) ‘The family, not the state, is responsible for a c hild’s well-being.’ Comment. (MJCJC2MBT12Q5) 3 5 7 9 Education ‘The word failure should never be used in education .’ Discuss. (07AlvlQ12) ‘The best thing that schools can give to their stu dents is self-confidence.’ Do you agree? (MJCJ2MBT2015Q8) Should education be a profit-seeking business? (MJCJC2PE11Q10) 11 12 14 The Arts ‘Contemporary music has no artistic value.’ Is this a fair comment? (2008 A levels Q10) To what extent is it necessary for your society to promote the Arts? (MJCJC1MYE12Q2) 16 17 Media & Censorship Do media reports on scandals do more harm than good ? (MJCJ2MBT15Q3) To what extent does social media pose a challenge for governments? ( M J C J C 2 P E 1 3 P 1 Q 1 ) Is it fair to suggest that the media manipulates m ore than it informs? (MJCJC2MBT2013Q11) 20 22 24 Writing, Reading & Language ‘The world would be a better place if everyone spoke the same language.’ Discuss. (2006 A levels Q7) 'A picture is always more powerful than mere words.' What is your view? (2006 A levels Q2) Are certain types of writing superior to others? (2009 A levels Q3) 27 28 30 Mathematics & Statistics Consider the view that mathematics possesses not on ly truth, but supreme beauty. (2012 A levels Q7) Consider the view that the study of mathematics is i ntellectually satisfying, but of little practical u se. (2005 A levels Q10) 32 33 History & Geography ‘National boundaries make little geographical or ec onomic sense nowadays.’ Discuss. (2006 A levels Q4) ‘History is unreliable, being based more on opinion s than on facts.’ How far do you agree with this 36 38

ZENITH 2016 General Paper @ Meridian JC Page 2 of 27 statement? (MJCJ2MBT14Q6) Crime & Punishment Should crimes that were committed many years ago si mply be forgotten? (2006AlvlsQ5) Should the police have unlimited powers when dealing with crime? (02AlvlQ7) Can the killing of a fellow human being ever be just ified? (MJCJC2MBT11Q8) 41 43 45 Leadership, Governance & Politics ‘A good leader must always look beyond the needs of his or her own country.’ Do you agree? (2003AlvlsQ2) Is it ever justifiable for a government to use vio lence against its own people? (MJC2013JC2MBTQ1) ‘Wealthy countries are not necessarily successful countries.’ How far do you agree? (MJCJC12013MYEQ11) 47 49 51 International Intervention, Conflict & War Can small countries have a significant voice in worl d affairs? (2004 A levels Q7) Is interdependence among nations really beneficial ? (2014MJCJ2MYEQ12) How far is a world without conflict a realistic aim? (MJCJ214MBTQ1) 53 55 57 Economics, Business & Poverty Is it realistic to expect businesses to be sociall y responsible? (MJCJC2MBT2013Q6) Are the poor an inevitable feature of any society? (2004 A levels Q2) ‘Poverty is the fundamental cause of crime.’ To wha t extent do you agree? (2010MJCJ2MYEQ2) 60 62 64 Science & Technology ‘Science is unreliable, being based as much on the ory as on fact.’ Is this a fair comment? (2011 A levels Q12) To what extent has technology had a negative impact on the skill levels of people? (2010 A levels Qn6) ‘The more science advances, the more religion will decline’. To what extent do you agree? (2008 A levels Q3) 66 68 69 Medicine & Health Should everyone be expected to donate suitable org ans after death? (2012 A levels Q9) Should research into expensive medical treatments be allowed when only a few can afford them? (2007 A levels Q11) To what extent do medical advancements complicate o ur lives? (MJCJ2MBT2015Q6) 72 73 75 The Environment Examine the claim that the world is too dependent o n oil. (2005AlvlsQ7) How far is recycling the answer to the problem of wast e? (2004 A levels Q6) ‘Our attempts to save the environment cause more h arm than good.’ Do you agree? (MJCJ2MBT2010Q6) Is clean energy for all a realistic aim? (MJCJC2PE10Q6) 77 78 80 82 Your Society / Singapore How far, in your society, should unpopular views be open to discussion? (2013 A levels Q12) How far is your country prepared for future crises? (2006 A levels Q6) ‘The tourist does not see the country the inhabita nts know.’ How far is this true of Singapore? (2005 A levels Q8) 85 86 88 Miscellaneous Can humour ever be serious? (2012 A levels Q10) Discuss the importance of religion in society today . (2004 A levels Q11) As long as people in the public eye do their job w ell, does it matter what they do in private? (2009 A levels Q12) ‘There is no such thing as luck. People determine their own lives.’ Do you agree? (2005AlvlsQ2) Do you agree that city life is becoming increasingl y unattractive? (2002AlvlsQ9) ‘Fashion is much a good thing as a bad thing.’ To what extent go you agree? (2009 A levels Q11) Do you agree that efforts to regulate population si ze are necessary and effective? (MJCJC2PE13Q3) ‘The key to happiness is good relationships rather than money.’ Discuss. (MJCJC2MYE11Q4) Does space exploration merit the vast sums of money that are spent on it? (MJCJC2MBT11Q9) Is it important to love what you do? (MJCJC2P210Q1) 90 91 93 95 98 99 101 103 105 107

ZENITH 2016 © MJC English Department Page 3 Gender, Family & Children ‘Women will never enjoy the same rights as men.’ Do you agree? (2006 A levels Q6) orld War II, although a bloody reminder of humanity ’s capacity for violence, was also the spark of a more subdued and important revolution fo r mankind: a proliferation of women’s rights. From the American housewives who were allow ed to vote, to the creation of an all- women air brigade in the Soviet Union, World War II was an important catalyst for women’s righ