TMJC 2022 JC2 MBT GP Bulletin

1 General Paper Bulletin 2022(JC 2) Welcome to the first issue of TMJC’s GP Bulletin for 202 2! We bring you a selection of the essays written by your schoolmates during the recent JC 2 March Block Test. We would like to express our thanks to the students who have contributed their essays. While these essays are not perfect or model essays, there is a lot of merit in them, and they are clear evidence that good quality writing is possible! While reading these essays, you may find some of the content useful for application to other questions ; do be judicious in using such information in a manner that is relevant to the question you are answering. Pay extra attention to the comments on the right column, which corresponds to the marking rubrics on which essays are assessed. Lastly, you should not attempt to copy and hand them in as your own. We wish you all the best in your upcoming Mid-Year Examinations. Editorial Team ___________________ Mdm Aslindah Ms Jacqueline Tan Mrs Annie Clayton Mr Max Cheong Contents Q4: ‘For young couples today, having children is neither appealing nor practical.’ How far is this true of your society? …………………………………………………………………………………… 2 Q4: ‘For young couples today, having children is neither appealing nor practical.’ How far is this true of your society? ………………………………………………………………………………….… 5 Q6: Are influencers paid too much? ....………………………………………………………………… 8 Q8: ‘In today’s world, a country’s domestic issues are never just its own.’ Discuss. ……………. 12

2 Q4. ‘For young couples today, having children is neither appealing nor practical.’ How far is this true of your society? (TMJC JC2 MBT 2022) Sample Essay Marker’s Comments In today’s society, the idea of buying a home with your significant other, or having ch ildren with them has become something that is rare. The widely perpetuated ‘American Dream ’ has transcended different societies and time, yet it has been challenged countless times in the past few decades as its idealistic goals and outcomes can rarely com e into fruition in the present economy. It remains nothing more than an outdated belief, amongst the many other conservative ideals that failed the test of time. In the present, young couples define what they call home, or a family differently. Hence, there has been a stark decline in birth rate, as they rethink the pros and cons of having children. Hence, I agree to a large extent that for young couples in Singapore, having children is neither appealing nor practical. Relevance to Question Requirements: Clear and relevant context of the current, modern world is highlighted: the idea that some conservative beliefs simply cannot stand given the changes in our present time Suggestions for Improvement: Might need to clarify the idea of ‘American Dream’, what it entails, and to better link it to the context of Singapore. Fir