2008 Hot Questions for Social Studies

Source-Based Question - Can be set on most chapters. So don't take the short cut...popular questions in the past were based on Conflict or Diplomacy and Deterrence.

Structured Essay Questin - With the revised syllabus this year, they could well be Peace and Security: Regional and International Conflict (as well as how conflict is managed) and Globalization. If you are thinking of just spotting on Governance, think twice. Governance can also be related to Growth of City States - Venice and Singapore. There is also a chance for Social Bonding to be set for SEQ.

The important thing is to focus on the questions asked and respond accordingly. Stay relevant, show connections and draw parallels. For source-based questions, always support your inferences and never forget to cross-refer to other sources and give your reasons for doing so.

For similarity or difference, don't forget to comment on simlarity or difference in tone. For utility and reliabililty questions, always look at issues from both perspectives - e.g. why useful and why not useful OR why reliable and why unreliable or biased.

Good luck!

Social Studies Forum

Need help for Social Studies or the Combined Humanities? Join us to explore global issues every Friday in the AVA Room from 2.30 to 4 pm. Express your views ranging from the avian flu virus to international terrorism. Here are some useful tips:

1. Practise your skills based on the LORMS templates given.
2. Try attempting questions set for your Mid-Year and Prelim Exam papers without looking at the answer scheme first. (If you don't already have a copy of the answer scheme, you can make a request.
3. If you need further practice, request for papers set by cluster schools. They are available for you.

Many of you have asked if you can 'spot' questions. The wiser thing to do is to cover your themes sufficiently. The problem why some of you are struggling is you do not read enough. Apart from your text, you should make it a point to go into 'search' engines such as google.com or yahoo.com for the latest update.

The popular themes are: Harmony (focus on how best citizens can promote racial and religious harmony); Conflict (as in Northern Ireland and Sri Lanka); Diplomacy and Deterrence (e.g. water issue or fishing rights, etc and how ASEAN and UN can resolve these disputes); Growth of Nations (particularly policies concerning education and health, population issues, use of CPF for the elderly etc - not forgetting the principles of governance and how these could be applied). Why not post your thoughts or ideas?

If you have not started reflecting over what you have read, this is a good opportunity for you to do so. Just post your comments or reflections! Why wait? Register yourself as a blogger and start immediately! For a start, why not try this structure essay question:

"The problem of ageing population will be more serious in Singapore by 2030 than the problem of declining population." Do you agree? Explain your answer.

At your service always,
Alan Au Yong