With the coming exams, many of you out there must be feeling stress in finding information for your essays. Without proper examples, statistics or events, it would be difficult to put forward a coherent argument. Your examples provide your argument with backbone to demonstrate how you came to your opinion in a logical manner. Finding the right sort of information through research is the key to unlocking your fullest potential.
In this short write up, I’ll describe some of the usual pitfalls that students encounter in looking for information.
- Being overly fixated on the topic rather than the issue
- The topic in the question merely forms the boundaries for your essay
- Merely putting the key words (e.g energy consumption) will throw back a myriad of results
- Another common problem is copying and pasting the question into the search bar in a lazy attempt to discover the right answer (e.g ‘Traditional marriage is an outdated concept.’ To what extent is this true of your society?)
- The biggest issue is being given an information dump without a single clue about how to synthesize your information
Solution: Find someone you trust to walk you through the topic. Either your teacher or a tutor would be more equipped to tackle difficult questions in a more effective way. If you’re seeking help in the west of Singapore, approach Gerald Chew at singaporelearner.com to enquire about classes.
- Obsession with statistics
- Statistics are a means to an end
- Statistics without relevance provide a false sense of security that you are able to logically map out an argument
Solution: Pick and choose the most relevant facts. Knowing 5 key statistics that you know at your finger tips will be more helpful than a book full of redundant facts.
- Not starting with your own assumptions
- Looking for the “right” answer dulls your ability to come up with your own arguments
- Assuming there are “right” answers will be a big stumbling block to creative thinking
- Learn to adapt your opinions
- Picking evidence from poorly sourced sites
- Learn to understand Google best practices in searching to avoid outdated or biased bits of information. Remember, the more incredulous it sounds, the more it should be double checked
- Depending on pseudo scientific research papers or preliminary papers instead of curated content
Gerald Chew
- Mr Chew is a BBA (Hons) graduate from the National University of Singapore Business school. He is also an ACCA affiliate after completing the ACCA examinations with a specialisation in audit and performance management. He has been teaching General Paper for over 6 years. Gerald always aims to shore up his students’ foundation in order to help them logically solve problems. He is a firm believer in engaging students on their level in order to enhance their understanding of current affairs and their implications. At Singapore Learner, Gerald offers classes for General Paper, English, Accounting, Management of Business and Economics. For details, click on A-LEVEL | JC | GENERAL PAPER TUITION.
Copyright © 2015 by Singapore Learner. All Rights Reserved.
A-LEVEL | JC | GENERAL PAPER TUITION
GP TUITION 2023
Our Master Tutor for GP is Mdm Lyn.
Background of tutor:
A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) graduate from the National University of Singapore, Mdm Lyn is an NIE-trained GP teacher who has more than 18 years’ experience teaching General Paper in a Junior College. An alumnus of RGS and NJC, Mdm Lyn is a highly competent, friendly and patient tutor whose students continue to meet up with her long after their A-Level exams.
Currently, Mdm Lyn conducts only 1-1 online GP lessons of duration 1 hour each.
One-time non-refundable Registration fee: $30
Monthly fee (four 1-hr lessons): $600
Availability: Whole year except 25 October to 15 November, and 15 December to 15 January.
CALL/MSG 65694897 OR 87762711.
TUITION CLASSES:
Our General Paper Advisor’s comments on the 2014 GP Paper
From Mdm Lyn:
Those who thought new media and social media concerns make a ‘hot’ topic, got our way – sort of. It turned out to be the topic of the passage in Paper 2.
The inequality question emerged yet again – this time with a narrower focus on workers’ rights.
The current affairs question helped those who heeded the reminder to, well, BE CURRENT.
The other reminder was THINK BIGGER / DEEPER. Those who chose the broad question about always getting what we want may have included :
– self-actualisation and other innate desires
– the need to consider the impact on our values & our treatment of others (e.g. Are their rights sacrificed ? Do our relationships suffer ? What or How much are we prepared to lose ?)
– the struggle to balance aspiration and other conflicting responsibilities
– the consideration of whether what we want is really good for us, or just a perception
– the good and bad of material pursuits
(All points have been rehearsed when we covered this : http://prezi.com/7kefucggtfhq/inside-insights-brainstorming-toolkit/ )
The marriage question rehearsed a very very familiar skill : what has changed over time
Marriage is a little tied to gender… And didn’t we talk about gender ?
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To read the rest of her comments and discussion with students, please visit her webpage:
http://h1generalpaper.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/gp-down-the-rest-to-go-and-guess-what-id-like-to-say/
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TUITION CLASSES:
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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:
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By EX-MOE TEACHERS & EXPERIENCED TUTORS
@ BLK 644, BUKIT BATOK CENTRAL, #01-68. S(650644).
CALL 65694897 OR SMS 98530744 OR 97860411.
Our JC1 GP weekly tuition starts this friday, 10 Jan, for IP students
JC1 General Paper: Every Friday, 8.30 pm – 10.00 pm (Start 7 Feb); Code: J1G1.
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The Tutor:
Mdm Lyn: A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) graduate from the National University of Singapore, Mdm Lyn is an NIE-trained GP teacher who has more than 13 years’ experience teaching General Paper effectively in a Junior College. Mdm Lyn is a highly competent, friendly and patient tutor whose students continue to meet up with her long after their A-Level exams.
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The GP intensive coaching programme comprises
1. Content Scaffolding using concepts that connect topics to help students cope with a greater variety of questions
2. Current topical content and pertinent cross-topical case studies tailored for different question types
3. Thinking skills and practice to apply the concepts and content to specific essay questions
4. Language skills through generic and topic-specific sample writing
5. Reading comprehension, summary and application question skills using texts that are related to essay questions
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Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640. It is just a 3-min walk from the Bukit Batok MRT station as well as the Bukit Batok Bus Interchange.
Max Class Size: 8
Monthly fee for each JC subject or slot is $240, inclusive of materials fee. Discounts apply for multiple subjects or slots.
TO REGISTER, SMS <FULL STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
For enquiries, kindly call or sms to 9786 0411.
Our JC2 GENERAL PAPER weekly tuition starts on Sat, 11 Jan 2014
JC2 General Paper: Every Saturday, 11.00 am – 12.30 pm (Start 11 Jan); Code: J2G1.
JC1 General Paper: Every Friday, 8.30 pm – 10.00 pm (Start 7 Feb); Code: J1G1.
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The Tutor:
Mdm Lyn: A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) graduate from the National University of Singapore, Mdm Lyn is an NIE-trained GP teacher who has more than 13 years’ experience teaching General Paper effectively in a Junior College. Mdm Lyn is a highly competent, friendly and patient tutor whose students continue to meet up with her long after their A-Level exams.
———————————————————————————————————–
The GP intensive coaching programme comprises
1. Content Scaffolding using concepts that connect topics to help students cope with a greater variety of questions
2. Current topical content and pertinent cross-topical case studies tailored for different question types
3. Thinking skills and practice to apply the concepts and content to specific essay questions
4. Language skills through generic and topic-specific sample writing
5. Reading comprehension, summary and application question skills using texts that are related to essay questions
———————————————————————————————————-
Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640. It is just a 3-min walk from the Bukit Batok MRT station as well as the Bukit Batok Bus Interchange.
Max Class Size: 8
Monthly fee for each JC subject or slot is $240, inclusive of materials fee. Discounts apply for multiple subjects or slots.
TO REGISTER, SMS <FULL STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
For enquiries, kindly call or sms to 9786 0411.
General Paper: Tuition Timetable (2013)
For our latest timetable, click here => 
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
(1) JC2 General Paper:
Fri 7pm to 9pm (Mr Virgilio);
Sun 9.30am to 11am (Ms Foo);
(2) JC1 General Paper:
Sat 5pm to 6.30pm (Ms Foo) ;
DETAILS:
Location: Bukit Batok Central
Tutor(s):
Ms June Foo, NUS graduate, NIE-trained, Master of Arts degree, ex-MOE school teacher (including GEP and JC), alumnus of MGS and RJC.
Mr Virgilio E. Hollen, SMU undergrad, experienced tutor for General Paper, supported by Current JC GP teacher who wishes to be anonymous.
To register, kindly call, or send an sms to 97860411, indicating the Student Name, Subject and Level.
General Paper One-to-One Tuition
Objective: Intensive Revision or Crash Course for A-Levels or Promos 2013
Focus: Essay Writing Skills, Answering Skills & Techniques for Paper 2.
DETAILS:
Investment Amt: $100 per hr
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central
Available Time Slots: Sun 9 am – 11 am.
Tutor: Experienced, committed tutor / current JC GP teacher with 11 yrs’ experience. Website: http://generalpaperlessons.wordpress.com/
For appointment, call or sms to 97860411. Thank you.
New GP (General paper) group tuition slot on Saturdays ….
For our latest timetable, click here =>
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
Updated 6 May 2012.
General Paper: (Investment amt: $240 per mth; 2 hr lesson)
Thur 7.45 pm to 9.45 pm; Course Code: gpthur745; (2 vacancies)
Sat 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm; Course Code: gpsat130; (no vacancies)
Sat 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm; Course Code: gpsat500; (3 vacancies)
To register, kindly call, or send an sms to 97860411, indicating the Student Name and the Course Code, or send an email with the same information to ilyasa@conceptlearning.sg.
JC 1 General Paper Reflections …
For our latest timetable, click here =>
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
Last night we covered the following items:
For Paper 1: (a) Selection of essay qn based on personal strength and preparation; (b) sample essay outlines.
For Paper 2: (a) Intro to AQ and short exercise; (b) Vocab explanation, how to derive answer from passage, how to find relevant points frm passage for your answer.
I had a chat with a parent and I understood her concerns abt her son in relation to GP. Yes, GP is a demanding subject. You need to have good (i) qn analysis skills, (ii) brainstorming skills, (iii) essay writing skills (intro, body, conclusion), (iv) demonstration of maturity, (v) use of language including grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure and style, (vi) inference skills, (vii) summary skills and other skills such as synthesis and evaluation.
New GP small group tuition classes starting Feb 16 …
For our latest timetable, click here =>
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
General Paper: (Investment amt: $280 per mth; 2 hr lesson)
Thur 7.45 pm to 9.45 pm; Course Code: gpthur745; (3 vacancies)
Sat 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm; Course Code: gpsat130; (3 vacancies)
To register, kindly call, or send an sms to 97860411, indicating the Student Name and the Course Code, or send an email with the same information to ilyasa@conceptlearning.sg.
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SINGAPORE LEARNER
Singapore Learner provides Group Tuition, Individual Tuition, Intensive Revision, Enrichment Workshops, Headstart Classes and Crash Courses at the Primary, Secondary and Junior College levels in the areas of A.Math, Pure Physics, Pure Chemistry, Science, Economics, General Paper and English.