ENGLISH ZONE

SAMPLE 1) YEAR END 2008: MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION 2

“People are becoming more materialistic. They are concerned with making more money and what money can buy.” What is your opinion on being materialistic? You should write at least 350 words. [60 marks]
They say that money makes the world go round. And indeed it does as without money, life would be very difficult as in today’s society, nothing is free. The side effect however is that people are becoming more materialistic; more concerned with making money and what money can buy. But how much money is enough? Is it ever enough? To some, it will never be enough. In my opinion, I truly believe that this statement is true and that people are becoming more materialistic in nature. In this essay, I will discuss how materialism has affected modern society’s way of life on an individual level, the country’s economy as well as our spiritual and moral beliefs.

First and foremost, each individual is affected by materialism to some extent in this day and age because hedonism is becoming an uprising trend. This is because today's generation are geared towards making more and more money so that they can enjoy the carefree lifestyle that is so popular these days. Moreover, people now are striving to earn more income in order to afford things that are more expensive and branded. For example, people spend their hard earned money on material objects like genuine LV and Coach handbags, expensive gadgets like Iphones and Tablet pcs and so on which in my opinion is a waste of money when regular goods may prove to be good enough. Therefore, while individuals become more focussed on their pursuit of material wealth and improving their standard of living, they may forget that what matters most in life is quality time spent with family and friends and not the quantity of their material goods.

Secondly, when society starts spending in a materialistic manner it will surely have a domino effect on the country’s economy. This means that the spending power of society will help boost the economy and create more business opportunities for the booming trade. However, when a society overspends, using plastic money or credit cards, or when they take loans they cannot afford to repay, then the country’s debt margin will be higher. For instance, USA today is facing an economic crisis because banks have approved home loans to people who aspire to own bigger houses than they can actually afford and this is causing the collapse of the country’s economy there. Thus, while a society’s spending habits helps our economy to grow, overspending due to materialism will have an adverse effect to the country’s financial stability.

Last but not least, materialism affects our spiritual and moral beliefs. This is due to the fact people who are materialistic may become ‘amoral’ whereby they disregard their spiritual and moral upbringing and instead turn to crime to satisfy their materialistic needs. In fact, the crime rate is increasing because criminals these days have developed many ways to gain more money from society. Take for example, there are more reports of snatch thefts, burglaries, kidnapping for ransom, credit card fraud, internet banking hacking and others that are driven by materialistic criminals. Hence, when people lose sight of their spiritual and moral beliefs and believe instead in the greed of materialism, therefore the crime rate is bound to increase.

In a nutshell, materialism is a common agenda in the 21st century as more people are working hard to afford things beyond their reach. While this may spur individuals to work harder to improve their standard of living, overspending due to materialism may cause the downfall of a country’s economy and their morality. In my opinion, I still firmly believe that materialism has a strong hold on today’s society; both positive and negative effects. Our government can encourage society to be less frivolous and wasteful in spending by running campaigns such as ‘Consumer Awareness’ and ‘Buy Malaysian Made Products’ in order to educate our younger generation for the prosperity of our nation.



BY:   VIKRAM




SAMPLE 2) MID YEAR 2010: MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION 2

The world today is turning more to electronic communications such as the e-mail, Facebook and Short Message System (SMS). What is your opinion of this growing trend? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. [60 marks]

Everywhere we turn today, the world is crowded with people busy typing SMSes on their Nokias or iPhones or someone is staring unblinkingly at a Facebook or Yahoo page on the computer screen. Whether you like it or not, the age of Information Technology is upon us, and we can either learn new skills and adapt to this new technology, or be forever lost and stuck in the older generation. In my opinion, I am fully convinced that this growing trend is the way of the future, and it brings countless benefits to mankind. In this essay, I will discuss three positive effects of electronic communication, namely its efficiency, enhances communication and creates a borderless world community.

First and foremost, more and more people are relying on e-mail, Facebook, Short Message System (SMS) and other types of electronic communication tools because of its high efficiency. This is because in today's age of globalisation, we need information at the tip of our fingers. Moreover, with the use of these tools, we can increase the speed of getting the necessary and relevant information within seconds and this will increase our productivity. For example, gone are the days of using 'snail mail' or regular letters using stamps and envelopes and many more examples of 'old' technology because it is simply too slow and inefficient. Therefore, these e-communication tools increases the access to important information which is why the new generation is fully accepting this growing trend.

Secondly, this form of technology enhances communication among people today. This means that when we use SMS, e-mails and websites like Facebook, we are able to communicate clearly and directly to our target audience. Furthermore, people today find that the message is more important than the form it comes in as an e-mail in short but clear sentences is just as good or even better than a long and formal letter. For instance, an SMS can give clear instructions in just a few words and this communicates what needs to be done quickly and directly. Thus, when the intended message can be spread clearly using short and clear information like in SMSes and emails, communication can be enhanced and there will be less problems of miscommunication.

Last but not least, e-communication creates a borderless community in the world we live in today. This is due to the fact that the boundaries that separate each country becomes less relevant when information is transferred without limitations. In addition, the world would be a better place because there is a sense of 1-World commitment, respect and tolerance for the global community through efficient and clear e-communication. Take for example, we are able to connect with people on an international basis using Facebook, Friendster, Tagged, Hotmail, Yahoo and others. Hence, these tools will enhance global unity and create a more peaceful world.

In a nutshell, this growing trend has many positive effects not just to individuals but the global society in terms of efficiency, enhancing communicative skills and shaping a borderless community. In my opinion, I still firmly believe that this latest trend is the best way forward and if we do not catch up, we will be left behind by the tide of development. Our government can encourage the proper usage of electronic communications by increasing communication amenities and free broadband accessibility especially in rural areas so that they can enjoy the same facilities as city-folks therefore balancing the development of our country towards achieving Vision 2020.



BY:  VIKRAM





SAMPLE 3) MID YEAR 2011: MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION 2

The most valuable thing in life is friendship. Do you agree? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words.
[60 marks]


It is true that no ‘man is an island’ meaning that no one in this world can live alone without friendship. That person would be very socially challenged as he or she would miss the camaraderie and life experiences that come with friendship. However, I completely disagree with the statement that the most valuable thing in life is friendship as there are certainly more important and priceless things in life besides this. In this essay, I will outline how life itself is more valuable than friendship, and elaborate on why family and the individual’s principles in life are ranked higher.

First and foremost, before one can enjoy the beauty of friendship, one must surely value life itself or in other words, we should value our health. This is because, the quality of our life is the single most important criteria in life if we are to live a meaningful and wholesome life. Moreover, without good health, we will be hard pressed to do even the simplest of tasks like feed ourselves or relieve ourselves without the help of doctors, nurses and caregivers. For example, if we are paralysed, lost our sight, hearing or ability to speak or even a simple case of a fever or allergic reactions, then the quality of our life is greatly reduced and no amount of friendship can make us healthy again. Therefore, while friends can stand by us in our time of need, pristine health is still the most valuable asset in our lives.

Secondly, we are no one without our family as indeed blood is thicker than water. This means that however you analyse it, friendships will almost always play second fiddle because family always comes first. Furthermore, if we do not value our family above others, then there must be a problem among the family members that has caused their relationship to be strained. For instance, people tend to turn away from family if the family member(s) themselves are the ones to cause them to react negatively such as divorced parents, abusive parents or siblings and so on. Thus, when people consider friendship to be the most valuable thing in life, more often than not they may come from a troubled household.

Last but not least, a person’s principles in life is by far more valuable than friendship alone. This is due to the fact that each person needs to have a code of ethics, quite often prescribed by their individual religions. In addition, this code will guide each person to live their lives according to the good and right principles. Take for example, if an individual has set his principles to do good, then no amount of friendship especially negative influence from friends, can shake his hold on his principles and cause him to commit undesirable deeds like smoking, stealing, raping, murdering and others. Hence, if a person values friendship so much to the point where he is willing to break his principles, then he has done a serious misdeed against himself and will most likely regret his actions later in life.

In short, friendship is the rainbow of life as it colours our horizons with invaluable experiences but without good health, a supportive family and strong principles, life becomes empty and meaningless. In my opinion, it is beyond a shadow of a doubt that I still firmly believe that friendship is not the most valuable thing in life. Our government can encourage people to prioritise health, family and principles in life by organising awareness campaigns especially in primary schools where the younger generation should learn about priorities in life because they are the leaders of tomorrow.


BY:  VIKRAM





SAMPLE 4) MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION 2

The rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products. How will this affect the society? Give your opinion. You should write at least 350 words.
[60 marks]


Money is always an issue in today's era of materialism. Most people need it for basic survival while the lucky few indulge in luxuries without worrying about money. In my opinion, I strongly agree that the rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products and this will definitely affect the society. In this essay, I would like to touch on the effects this price increase has on society today, namely increasing vice activities, widening the gap between the rich and the poor and affecting the population trend in the long term.

First and foremost, society will immediately be affected by the rise in fuel prices because consumer products will be more costly and this leads to an increase of vice activities. This is because basic necessities such as rice, flour, sugar and so on will be in great demand and some warehouses will store or hoard the items to further increase the price of the product. Moreover, in the newspapers today, reports of smuggling of these items prove that this vice activity is on the rise. For example, the recent sugar price hike caused a furor among the Malaysian society as it costs more fuel to travel to and from the supermarket and when arriving, most places had run out of stock even though the government had allocated 2kg of sugar to one person. Therefore, the fuel price increase had definitely caused more hardships to society today.

Secondly, it is undeniable that the rise in fuel prices leads to the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. This is due to the fact that people are greatly affected by the price of basic necessities such as food and fuel in particular. Furthermore, the rich people will still be able to afford such things but the poor will face greater challenges as the popular saying goes: "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer." For instance, when money is used to purchase consumer products that are necessary for survival, then less money will be spent on health and dental check-up, educational purposes and others. Thus, it is clear that the fuel price hike will further stress on the differences between the rich and the poor which is such a tragedy.

Last but not least, in the long term the population trend or demographics of the society will be greatly affected. This means that new families will consciously decide not to have too many children in order to increase their quality of life. In addition, society is now more aware of birth control and family planning so this will greatly reduce the population as most families will have 1 to 5 children instead of more. Take for example, new families with less children will surely spend less on basic necessities like food, clothes, transport and many more. Hence, the demographics of the whole country will be affected and this in turn will reduce our workforce which will affect our country's productivity and prosperity.

In short, there are many short term to long term effects of a fuel price increase which includes more crimes like hoarding and smuggling will occur and this leads to the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor as well as a change in the society's demographics. I still strongly believe that the rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products and this will surely cause a negative impact to society. The government must find a way to stabilise the fuel price at a reasonable rate so that it does not affect the productivity of this country towards achieving the aspirations of the nation for Vision 2020.


BY:  VIKRAM





A university education is better than a college educaton.Give your opinion.


After the SPM examination,many students have to decide their future on which education to pursue.Some of my friends chose to enrol in college.I decided to study in matriculation college as a Pre-U qualification to enter university.My reason is university education is better than college education.
This is because university has a better education system,more dedicated lecturers and better facilities.

First,university education provides a better education system than college does.A SPM certificate is enough for you to enrol in a college but to enter a university you need a Pre-U qualification such as STPM or A-level.This simply shows that it is harder to study in university as you need some qualifications in which the college does not demand
.Besides,the grading system in university is stricter than that of college.So,students have to work harder to get a good result.On the other hand,most college change their grading system,according to the overall result of their students.Moreover,the the syllabus in university is well designed.Besides giving knowledge,it helps to develop the social skills of students.For example,Students have to do survey on public about topics related to their study.This ensures that the graduates can have critical thinking skill and communication skill.

Universities usually hire more experienced lecturers with better knowledge.According to a research, these lectures possess a Master or PhD degree and some even graduated overseas.Thus,they have higher level of of knowledge which benefits the students.Besides,Most of them have years of teaching experience and so they know how to guide their students,developing their skills and exploring their potential.For instance,a Physics lecturer does not only talk on theories.Instead,he teaches the students to analyse a problem logically.
They are also more caring and responsible to their students.These qualities are hard to seen in college lecturers,who are mostly bachelor degree holder and work just for money. (very serious generalisation here!)

Last but not least,university usually has better facilities,for example,the state-of-art computers.Unlike those college such as Inti College which are run by private companies,university has a better management.Thus every single thing in the university,including the infrastructure is planned and developed well.This is beneficial to students.For instance,university with advanced laboratories is beneficial to students as they can learn science better by being explored to the real situation while conducting experiments.Besides,university with better sports facilities can help the students to relax their mind.In other words,better facilities means a more conducive environment for university students.

In a nutshell,university education is better than college education for its better education system,lecturers and facilities.Despite the growing number of college in our country,I advice fellow friends to choose university education so that when you graduate,you are competitive enough to survive in this ever developing world.



BY:  VIKRAM




University Education Guarantees a Successful Professional Career

     Walt Disney said, "All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them,” and education is a tool which equips individuals with the power of knowledge coupled and the will to achieve success in the world. The primary reason why students opt for university education for the successful completion of the degree programs which are an important milestone in the academic achievements of students. The attainments of these programs enable students to establish themselves firmly on the path to an enterprising career.

     University education is the ideal way to achieve success as the achievement of good grades and a sound degree ensures the route to a successful career in future life. Achievement in academics tends to be the sole motive of students the world over and the aims of academic achievement are by and large similar in most educational organizations. Educators stress on the importance of academic achievement in university education, stating that it is the most crucial way of establishing a student firmly on his path to a successful career. But, is that all? Is that the only aim of university education? No, it is not. There are a multitude of reasons why university education has gained such importance in today’s world.

     Rational and logical thinking have always been associated with learned and educated people. Excellence in education opens the mind of students to think rationally about the issues surrounding life in any situation. As a result, a rational thinker tends display sensitivity towards the different perspectives on delicate issues. Education opens the mind of an individual to think about the issues surrounding life in any situation. A rational thinker tends display sensitivity towards the different perspectives on several issues and positive attitudes in life. Cultural sensitivity and the development of necessary skills can be attained by education. Education is indeed a powerful tool in the hands of students and has immense value in today’s rapidly changing global world.

     The aim of college or university education is not to merely gain bookish knowledge; it develops and enhances the ability of an individual to think and perceive the various situations that life offers. The cognitive development and progress of the mental ability due to education will obviously have a positive impact on the culture and society in which I co-exist. Thus, education ensures the social development of not only the individual but also the culture and society with which am closely related, enabling graduated and educated students to work towards a better tomorrow, not only for themselves but also the society in which they function.

     Educational institutions and educators can proudly claim to have achieved academic excellence when their students develop positive attitudes in life. The aim of academics is not to merely gain bookish knowledge; it develops and enhances the ability of an individual to think and perceive the various situations that life offers. The cognitive development and progress of the mental ability of the academician will obviously have a positive impact on the culture and society in which he/she survives. Thus, academic excellence ensures the social development of not only the individual but also the culture with which he/ she is closely related to. 

     The primary drivers of academic achievement are the educators and the educational institutions. The role and importance of responsible families and parents, however, cannot be undermined. Edmunds (1979) pointed on the role of the teachers and their expectations in setting high standards for student accomplishments. There has to be a greater emphasis on making the student aware of the importance of reading and writing at all stages of learning.  Regular feedback regarding the progress of the student, not only to the students but also the parents, is known to play an important factor in academic excellence.

     In order that individuals and students develop academically cultured values and perspectives, the ‘climate’ and atmosphere of the institutes in which they study has to be conducive. Maintenance of order and discipline by the authorities enables students to develop a sense of responsibility and value for ethics and morals in their educational as well as their societal life.
The effectiveness of schools and universities in the processes of learning and excellence in academics has been the focus of study and research of numerous academic scholars (Purkey & Smith, 1983). Cohen (2006) elucidates that the subjective experience, which a student/academician acquires, plays an important role in academic progress. Besides the teaching patterns, there are other dimensions which enable successful academic achievement among students.
 
     The list includes the dimensions of school environment, educational structure of the, methods of teaching and learning, interpersonal relationships between students and tutors, effective boosting of morale and motivation, (not only among the academicians but also the educators) and last but not the least, the partnerships between the university and the students, by way of communication and mutual support to encourage excellence in academics. 

     A responsive climate, which involves students and teachers in the process of education, has a positive effect in the educational as well as the social development of the student. Positive feedbacks regarding progress of students, from teachers have been known to benefit the child in more ways than one. Not only do they provide the necessary encouragement and motivation, but they also go a ling way in building a positive and self-confident personality.
 
     Thus, we can conclude that academic achievement aims to nurture students and aid their professional, societal and personal growth which would be beneficial to the entire community.  Education is crucial in today’s life to building a positive and self-confident personality to walk that extra mile. Educational and academic achievement has the power to nurture individuals and aid their professional, societal and personal growth which in turn would be beneficial to the entire community.
Anthony Robbins has said, “It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives.” University education grants students the ability and the capability to build and work towards a better tomorrow, an honest tomorrow, a clean tomorrow. It enables them to take the road less traveled and make a difference to the community.


References
Cohen, J., 2006. Social, emotional, ethical and academic education: Creating a climate for learning, participation in democracy and well-being. Harvard Educational Review, Vol. 76, No. 2.
Edmunds, R (1979). Effective schools for the urban poor. Educational Leadership, 37.
Purkey, S., and Smith, M., 1983. Effective schools: a review. The Elementary School Journal, 83(4), 427-452.


BY :   VIKRAM






MUET Report Writing sample



The Various Types of Cooking Oil Used in the Kitchen

The stimuli present a line graph on 'Global production of cooking oil (2000-2006)', a bar graph on 'Fat content in commonly-used cooking oils' and an article excerpt on the healthiness of oils. In general, palm oil is the most produced oil while the least produced but healthiest option is sunflower oil.

According to the line graph, the highest world oil production is palm oil increasing steadily from 25 million tonnes in 2000/01 to 35.5 million in 2005/06, beating soya oil by a small margin. Among the 5 types of oil, sunflower has the lowest production stabilising at just under 10 million tonnes from 2000 to 2006. Based on the bar graph, the healthiest oil is sunflower because it contains the second lowest fat (12%) content and the highest healthy polyunsaturated fat (71%). This is followed by other healthy oils with lower fat like canola (7%), olive (15%) and soya (16%). The unhealthy oils are very high in fat and very low in polyunsaturated fat such as palm oil (51%) and coconut oil (91%). The article states that we cannot be sure about how healthy the oils we eat are because it may contain too much trans fats leading to heart diseases and cancer.

In conclusion, coconut and palm oil should be avoided because fo the high fat content while the healthiest oils are sunflower, canola, olive and soya.

-fuza-


Grammar confusing you? This mind map might help. 

click on image for enlargement


Report Writing Sample #2


Crimes Involving Foreign Workers in Malaysia


The stimuli show a line graph on 'Number of crime cases involving foreign workers (2006-2008)', a bar graph on 'Types of crime committed by foreign workers (2006-2008)' and a newspaper headline on 'Overworked and Underpaid foreign workers'. In general, the number of crimes are increasing steadily from 2006 to 2008 especially petty crimes like robbery and snatch theft by underpaid foreign workers.


According the the line graph, every year the number of crimes increases by about 200 cases which is 1535 in 2006, 1780 in 2007 to 1926 in 2008. These crimes can be divided into petty crimes including robbery and snatch theft and hardcore crimes like rape and murder. Based on the bar graph, the highest incidence of crime is robbery that rose from 65 in 2006 to 75 cases in 2008. This is followed by snatch thefts from 15 in 2006 to 18 cases in 2008. Conversely, rape and murder cases have reduced drastically by 50% or more from 2006 to 2008. The reasons given for the increase of crimes in the headline are that foreign workers are unhappy with their meagre incomes which result in them being overworked and underpaid.


In conclusion, foreign workers are committing more petty crimes like robbery and snatch theft because they are overworked and underpaid.


Epah


Education: The Challenge and The Opportunity

Introduction

   In this globalization era, we know that education is one of the most important thing in someone's life in other to succeed in his/her life. Around the globe, each of the country try to lift up their education level in other to educate their people. Therefore, more and more schools and colleges being build and the syllabus keep on being improve from time to time. However, in other to improving the education system, there are challenges and opportunities existed whether to the people or the country itself. The challenges are lack of access to quality education and unable to make adequate investments in quality whilst the opportunity are high yield investments in the developing world.

The Challenge

   Lack of access to quality education is preventing millions of people from escaping the cycle of extreme poverty around the world. Most of the 67.5 million children still out of school are some of the poorest and hardest to reach. More than half of them are girls and most are living in countries in conflict and in rural areas. Although many governments have eliminated the biggest obstacle to enrollment by abolishing school fees, other financial barriers such as uniforms and testing fees still prevent many of the poorest children from enrolling. In addition, for many poor families the long-term benefits of sending their children (especially their daughters) to school are outweighed by the immediate benefit of sending them to work or keeping them at home to help with chores.
   Many countries that have experienced a surge in primary school enrollment have not been able to make adequate investments in quality, such as recruiting and training teachers, expanding classrooms and purchasing materials. Sub-Saharan Africa faces the most pressing need for teachers, with 1.2 million more needed order to reach the goal of universal primary education (UPE) by 2015. In Madagascar, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, for example, there are more than 80 students in a classroom with one trained teacher. As a result of deficiencies like these, learning outcomes across the developing world remain low and many children go through primary school without gaining a minimum level of literacy and math skills. Moreover, in countries where classrooms are crowded, supplies are scarce and the opportunities to move on to secondary school limited, many children drop out before graduating. Primary completion is especially poor in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 70% of children who enter first grade go on to graduate.

The Opportunity

   Research indicates that investment in education, with a focus on girls, may be one of the highest yield investments in the developing world. By equipping a child with necessary knowledge and skills, education delivers society-wide development returns. Countries that increase the number of women with a secondary education by 1% could boost their annual per capita income by 0.3%.  Educating girls for five years could increase child survival rates by up to 40%, and a study in Uganda found that children who finished secondary education were seven times less susceptible to HIV (and those who finished primary education half as likely) as those who received little or no schooling. Moreover, education is one of the central building blocks of a strong, cohesive society. According to a study of 100 countries, educating girls and reducing the gender gap can promote democracy.
   In recent years, many governments have recognized the potential of education by making substantial new investments into the sector. Many sub-Saharan African countries, for example, allocated some of the billions of dollars freed up by debt cancellation towards education. Along with development assistance for education, debt savings helped send an additional 46.5 million African children to school for the first time between 1999 and 2008.
   In addition to debt relief, donors have acknowledged that they have a vital ongoing role to play in supporting governments who commit to the goal of expanding access to education. At the World Education Forum in Dakar in 2000, donors and developing countries set forth the goals of Education for All (EFA) and established 2015 as a target date for achieving Universal Primary Education.  They also made a commitment: if developing countries committed the political and financial resources to providing free and compulsory primary education by 2015 and created credible and achievable education plans, donors would provide the technical know-how and extra funding needed to make it happen. The agreement was reaffirmed at three subsequent G8 summits, including the 2008 summit in Hokkaido.
   These agreements gave rise to the first-ever global compact on education in 2002. Formerly known as the Fast Track Initiative, the Global Partnership for Education is a partnership between donors and developing countries to accelerate progress toward a quality primary education for all. The Global Partnership coordinates increased bilateral and multilateral funding for countries whose education plans have been technically vetted and endorsed by a team of policy experts and donor countries. Partner countries made some notable progress towards universal primary education in the past few years. Between 2002 and 2009, 19 million more children were enrolled in school in Global Partnership countries worldwide.
    Despite these encouraging results, the Global Partnership faces persistent funding shortfalls. Donor leadership in education is needed for the Global Partnership to finance its multilateral fund, encourage bilateral support for education, and provide predictable funding for education plans in partner countries over the next three years.
Conclusion
  All in all, those challenges and opportunity is nothing if we are determine to succeed in education. Therefore, as a part of this system, we as a student, are responsible to study and achieve a good result in order to have a good and bright future.
Source: www.one.org
All the best for your MUET!!





Essay Sample


QUESTION:

Since achieving independence in 1957, Malaysia has been known for its peaceful and multi-racial society. What can be done to further enhance national unity and solidarity among the various races? Elaborate and give relevant examples in more than 350 words.


Sample answer:

Nowadays, Malaysia is a leading tourist destination because we are famous for our multi-racial society who live in peace and harmony. In my opinion, I strongly agree that national unity can be enhanced to strengthen solidarity among all the various races in this country. In this essay, I will discuss three solid strategies for enhancing national unity which are every individual needs to be more patriotic, be respectful of each different culture and mould a future generation that is tolerant and grateful to be Malaysian.


First and foremost, every individual can play a part in enhancing national unit by being more patriotic.This is because when we are patriotic we will appreciate being a Malaysian citizen who has the right to live a peaceful and war-free life. Moreover,having high patriotism will ensure that we really love our country and we will not do anything to harm the peace and harmony. For example, every one of us can respect the ‘Negaraku’ song and our‘Rukunegara’, fly our national flag during Independence day and so on. Therefore, if everyone plays their part and becomes more patriotic, this will easily enhance the spirit of national unity.

Secondly, as loyal Malaysians, we should always be respectful of each and every culture found in this country. This is due to the fact that respecting the main races like Malays, Chinese and Indians as well as the indigenous races will ensure that we will continue to live side by side in harmony. In addition, every race that makes up the Malaysian society is unique and should be cherished for its special traditions and cultures. For instance, we should visit one another during ‘Open House’ or wedding celebrations, religious festivals and many more. Thus, by respecting the uniqueness of every culture, this helps us promote racial solidarity and enhance national unity .

Last but not least, truancy can be curbed by encouraging cooperation with local police authorities and the general public. This means that we can get assistance from the police as they are the higher authority and they can even set up a ‘Police Hut’ within the school grounds. Furthermore, the public can report students wearing uniform who escape by calling or sending sms messages to the school authorities or even the police. Take for example, to solve this problem we can organise regular spot checks by police, give the school emergency number to the shop owners, neighbourhood residents and othersHence, everyone can cooperate to reduce cases of truancy.

In conclusion, the three strategies I have suggested are to be more patriotic and respectful of each unique culture as well as teach our children to be more grateful Malaysian citizens. In my opinion, I still strongly believe that national unity can be enhanced if we all play an active role. I hope that our government can highlight this issue in the media by organising more patriotism campaigns so that we can produce a united society that can contribute productively to the achievement of Malaysia.


element : 
Green -> thesis statement
Blue -> point
Orange -> example
Red -> conclusion on every point (in a particular paragraph)

Begins with some definition, ends with a paragraph of overall conclusion.
default color is elaboration..

Make sure all of this element are to be put in your essay.
Good luck for MUET writing then!

source: muet my way


GOOD SAMPLE FOR MUET ESSAY

Sample MUET essay on fuel price

Question:
The rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products. How will this affect the society? Give your opinion. You should write at least 350 words.


When tackling this question, one should think in terms of : 1. short term effect, 2. mid term and finally 3. long term. This question gauges a student's level of critical thinking and prediction. 

I would like to stress that it is unnecessary to pepper the entire essay with bombastic words. Better to keep it short and simple. 

Note: affect (verb), effect (noun)


Here's a sample answer. 

Money is always an issue in today's era of materialism. Most people need it for basic survival while the lucky few indulge in luxuries without worrying about money. In my opinion, I strongly agree that the rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products and this will definitely affect the society. In this essay, I would like to touch on the effects this price increase has on society today, namely increasing vice activities, widening the gap between the rich and the poor and affecting the population trend in the long term.

First and foremost, society will immediately be affected by the rise in fuel prices because consumer products will be more costly and this leads to an increase of vice activities. This is because basic necessities such as rice, flour, sugar and so on will be in great demand and some warehouses will store or hoard the items to further increase the price of the product. Moreover, in the newspapers today, reports of smuggling of these items prove that this vice activity is on the rise. For example, the recent sugar price hike caused a furor among the Malaysian society as it costs more fuel to travel to and from the supermarket and when arriving, most places had run out of stock even though the government had allocated 2kg of sugar to one person. Therefore, the fuel price increase had definitely caused more hardships to society today.

Secondly, it is undeniable that the rise in fuel prices leads to the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. This is due to the fact that people are greatly affected by the price of basic necessities such as food and fuel in particular. Furthermore, the rich people will still be able to afford such things but the poor will face greater challenges as the popular saying goes: "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer." For instance, when money is used to purchase consumer products that are necessary for survival, then less money will be spent on health and dental check-up, educational purposes and others. Thus, it is clear that the fuel price hike will further stress on the differences between the rich and the poor which is such a tragedy.

Last but not least, in the long term the population trend or demographics of the society will be greatly affected. This means that new families will consciously decide not to have too many children in order to increase their quality of life. In addition, society is now more aware of birth control and family planning so this will greatly reduce the population as most families will have 1 to 5 children instead of more. Take for example, new families with less children will surely spend less on basic necessities like food, clothes, transport and many more. Hence, the demographics of the whole country will be affected and this in turn will reduce our workforce which will affect our country's productivity and prosperity.

In short, there are many short term to long term effects of a fuel price increase which includes more crimes like hoarding and smuggling will occur and this leads to the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor as well as a change in the society's demographics. I still strongly believe that the rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products and this will surely cause a negative impact to society. The government must find a way to stabilise the fuel price at a reasonable rate so that it does not affect the productivity of this country towards achieving the aspirations of the nation for Vision 2020.


Report writing sample




Reasons of adults choose to take up adult education coarse and the costs of their  coarse should be shared


The following charts show the result of the survey of the reasons adults study and how they think they would cover the costs of their studies.They reasons given were,for current job,interest in subject,to gain qualification,own satisfaction and to meet people.The top three reasons which are current job,personal interest and to gain qualification did not show any significant difference as they were 50%,48% and 46% respectively.

             Personal satisfaction was significantly lower than the motivation earlier and was about 20%. Finally, the lowest two percentages were adults who were thinking of changing careers at 10% and those who wanted to study as a means of meeting people at 8%.

             The pie chart shows that the percentage of people who believe individual,employers and taxpayers should share the cost of adult education.The majority believed that the student should bear the highest proportion of the cost
for their at 40%.This was slightly more than their belief that the employer should pay the couse fees at 35%.Significantly,the adults believed that the government should bear exactly a quarter of the costs.     

                                                                                                              - RIZALZEN- 



SAMPLE OF MUET WRITING PAPER 800/4 QUESTION 2


The world today is turning more to electronic communications such as the e-mail, Facebook and Short message System (SMS). What is your opinion of this growing trend? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. 

 


TIPS :
Generally, in answering academic essays, you need to really focus on a higher level of thinking which befits a Band 6, university style response.  If you were to just answer that this electronic communication trend is good and that you can chat with your friends and keep in touch, then you really haven't explored the question in a mature and critical way. 

How do you train your mind to be more critical and mature in approaching the question? Well, you need to focus not just on the effects of the concept to yourself and the people around you, but focus on how it will affect society not just in your country but globally. 

Below is a sample of answer script for the above question which can be used as a guide for you to write your essay. 




      Everywhere we turn today, the world is crowded with people busy typing SMSes on their Nokias or iPhones or someone is staring unblinkingly at a Facebook or Yahoo page on the computer screen.  Whether you like it or not, the age of Information Technology is upon us, and we can either learn new skills and adapt to this new technology, or be forever lost and stuck in the older generation.  In my opinion, I am fully convinced that this growing trend is the way of the future, and it brings countless benefits to mankind.  In this essay, I will discuss three positive effects of electronic communication, namely its efficiency, enhances communication and creates a borderless world community. 

     First and foremost, more and more people are relying on e-mail, Facebook, Short Message System (SMS) and other types of electronic communication tools because of its high efficiency.  This is because in today's age of globalisation, we need information at the tip of our fingers.  Moreover, with the use of these tools, we can increase the speed of getting the necessary and relevant information within seconds and this will increase our productivity.  For example, gone are the days of using 'snail mail' or regular letters using stamps and envelopes and many more examples of 'old' technology because it is simply too slow and inefficient.  Therefore, these e-communication tools increases the access to important information which is why the new generation is fully accepting this growing trend.

    
     Secondly, this form of technology enhances communication among people today.  This means that when we use SMS, e-mails and websites like Facebook, we are able to communicate clearly and directly to our target audience.  Furthermore, people today find that the message is more important than the form it comes in as an e-mail in short but clear sentences is just as good or even better than a long and formal letter.  For instance, an SMS can give clear instructions in just a few words and this communicates what needs to be done quickly and directly.  Thus, when the intended message can be spread clearly using short and clear information like in SMSes and emails, communication can be enhanced and there will be less problems of miscommunication. 

     Last but not least, e-communication creates a borderless community in the world we live in today.  This is due to the fact that the boundaries that separate each country becomes less relevant when information is transferred without limitations.  In addition, the world would be a better place because there is a sense of 1-World commitment, respect and tolerance for the global community through efficient and clear e-communication.  Take for example, we are able to connect with people on an international basis using Facebook, Friendster, Tagged, Hotmail, Yahoo and others.  Hence, these tools will enhance global unity and create a more peaceful world. 

     In a nutshell, this growing trend has many positive effects not just to individuals but the global society in terms of efficiency, enhancing communicative skills and shaping a borderless community.  In my opinion, I still firmly believe that this latest trend is the best way forward and if we do not catch up, we will be left behind by the tide of development.  Our government can encourage the proper usage of electronic communications by increasing communication amenities and broadband accessibility especially in rural areas so that they can enjoy the same facilities as city-folks therefore balancing the development of our country towards achieving Vision 2020.










BY :   VIKRAM



MUET Speaking Guidance


MUET FEVER!!!
Since MUET speaking test is just around the corner, I would like to share some tips with you guys on MUET speaking guidance~

Usually the questions are based on ;


So, what the question wants in your reason ?


Don't forget to add some examples and if you can, using idioms can rise your marks  ( of course, according to the situation.. jgn hentam kromo jaaa.. ) ~

Additional tips ;

  • Don't borrow words from Task B (for task A)
  • Don't give single sentence response or elaboration (for task B )
  • Don't repeat the format of task A in task B
  • Don't repeat points or elaboration in task A for task B (if possible)
  • Don't use fillers such as ( aaah...,mmm..,) if possible
  • TALK as much as you can. OPTIMISE the time. 
So..are you ready for MUET guys??
Lastly, Biro Akademik JPP KMPP all wishes you guys the best for this upcoming MUET speaking test..GOOD LUCK!
Love,SYE.