H1 General Paper

8807
A Levels
Video Course Instructor: Sarah-Kei Lauw
(Raffles Institution)
Module 1: The General Paper
Overview:
1. Introduction to GP
2. Understanding Issues

H1 General Paper

8807
A Levels
Video Course Instructor: Sarah-Kei Lauw
(Raffles Institution)
Module 1: The General Paper
Overview:
1. Introduction to GP
2. Understanding Issues

General Tips
1. Read. Books, magazines, newspapers. Fiction,
non-fiction, celebrity news, Actually Important
News, anything.
2. Understand that GP essays are unique
3. Understand that GP is more open-ended and
subjective than other subjects
4. Study for GP just as hard as for other subjects
5. Seek help teachers, tuition teachers, online
6. Read. If you think no time is a valid excuse,
you are wrong.
7. Keep reading.

Making A Study Plan [Essay]

What?
Content: read to expand general knowledge
o What topics/areas do you want to focus on?

Language: read to improve language

Practice:
o Type 1: Skeletal essay plans
o Type 2: More detailed essay outlines
o Type 3: Full essays
End goal: full essays, written under exam conditions

Get feedback: teacher consultations

When?
Reading is constant. Do it always
Essays One a week? Two a week?

Making A Study Plan [Compre]

What?
Content: read to improve comprehension abilities
Language: read to improve language
Practice:
o SAQ: past year papers, prelim papers
o AQ/summary: If you run out of TYS and prelim papers,
use articles that look similar to GP compre articles

When?
Same as for Essay

Recap
Module 1: The General Paper
Overview:
1. Introduction to GP
2. Understanding Issues

H1 General Paper

8807
A Levels
Video Course Instructor: Sarah-Kei Lauw
(Raffles Institution)
Module 1: The General Paper
Overview:
1. Introduction to GP
2. Understanding Issues

What is
Understanding Issues" about?
Having a good grasp of common topics
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Media
Science
The State
Development
Environment
Globalisation
Aid
Elderly
Tradition/Culture

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Leadership
Business
History/Art/Math/Reading
Youth
Social Inequality/Poverty
Justice
Gender
Sport

Comes from:
o Extensive reading
o Discussions in class or with study groups
o Exposure to more questions (i.e. practice)

Consolidate knowledge especially for exams

Understanding Issues
Fundamental Concepts

Expansion

Expansion

Real-world
knowledge

Areas of Contention

1. Fundamental Concepts
What is this topic all about?
What must you understand before you can write
an essay on this topic?
o What is democracy?
o What is poverty? How does it come about?
o What is aid? What kinds of aid are there? Why do
countries give aid?
o What is science? What is the purpose of science?

This aspect must be rooted in real-world

knowledge

2. Areas of Contention
What is worth discussing about this topic?
Where is the conflict? Where are areas of
uncertainty, where there are no clear answers?
o Is democracy good? Are the alternatives better?
o Who should be responsible for helping those in poverty?
o Is aid useful? When should countries be expected to give
aid?
o Should scientific research be pursued indefinitely?
Should science be regulated?

These look a bit like some of our essay questions

Example: Science & Technology

Fundamental
Concepts

Areas of
Contention

What is Science?
Purposes of
Science

Regulation of
Science

Uses of Science

Science and Profit

Is Science
reliable?

Science vs. Arts

Real-world Knowledge
Should science be regulated?
Why should science be regulated?
To check the soundness of research
o Of all scientific papers retracted, 2/3 are retracted
because of fraud (and 1/3 because of genuine error)
So that people are not exploited with the use of science
o XCell-Center in Dusseldorf, Germany charged 20 000
British pounds for stem cell infusions that were not
proven to have worked
So that science is used in the right ways
o Former US President Bush prevented the use of federal
funds for further research into stem cells

Example: Democracy
Fundamental
Concepts

Areas of
Contention

What are the principles of

democracy?
Do Democratic
governments effectively
represent their people?

Alternatives to
Democracy

Does Democracy create

inequality?

Is Democracy effective
in all countries?

Real-world Knowledge
Is democracy good?
Issues with democracy:
o Leaders may be populist, pandering to the majority to secure votes for
the next elections instead of implementing sound policy
o The personas leaders portray during election campaigns are not always
reflective of who they will be when in office
o The people may not have a say in everyday decisions
o Tyranny of the majority minority voices not well-represented

Are the alternatives better?

o
o
o
o
o

Communism China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Laos

Fascism North Korea
Monarchy Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Swaziland, Oman
Oligarchy
Anarchy Somalia

Recap: Understanding Issues

What is Understanding Issues
about?
Fundamental Concepts
Areas of Contention
Constant use of Real-World Knowledge

Recap
Module 1: The General Paper
Overview:
1. Introduction to GP
2. Understanding Issues