The Application Question

Introduction

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Objectives of this LectureStudents would have a better idea of the expectations of the AQ through understanding :

The AQ assessment criteriaQuestion Analysis skills

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What is the examiner looking for in an AQ answer? (Refer to the Gippy Times pg 122)

• Critical examination of ideas discussed in the passage(s)

• Taking a personal stand based on the question given (personal conviction)

• Making points using ideas from the passage(s) to support your stand (engaging the text in discussion)

• Supporting your points using your own examples (showing personal awareness of the world/society)

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Assessment CriteriaRefer to Gippy Times Pg 121

ALL 4 components must be present. If they are not, your answer will fail miserably.

REquirement

EValuation EXplanation

COherence

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Too Many acronyms?

• Remember P.E.E.E.L. in GP Essays?• Remember Point, Elaboration and

Concluding Remark to link back to Question in PW?

• They all mean the same thing.

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Different Ways of putting the Same ideas

Re(stand/point)Ev aluationEx planation

Co herence

P oint

E laboration

C oncludingRemark

P oint

E laborationE valuationE xampleL ink back to question

AQPWEssaysAnd

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REquirement• Meeting task re quirements – question

analysis

• Reference to text – identify arguments of writer[s] (Not a summary, don’t misread/misunderstand/distort writer’s views)

• Must make relevant references, at least 3

• Refer to the writer/passage (use surname: According to Yim…)

• line reference – in brackete.g. According to Yim, “all pigs can fly” (line 56)…

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EValuation

• Personal opinion/response to the issue• Assessment of the factors/arguments

brought up (E.g. Arguments mentioned by writer)

• No misreading /misinterpretation• (As a general rule, all Topic Sentences are

evaluative statements)

Quiz! Which of the following statement carries evaluation?

1. The writer has brought up the fact that crime does not pay

2. The writer has rightly brought up the fact that crime does not pay.

Summary point

Suggesting your opinion

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Explanation/Examples/Elaboration

• Support / reasons that give your viewpoint credibility

• Includes logic to argue your point• Authentic examples you garner from your

readings and research (importance of reading the newspaper)

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COherence• Basic level – evidence of linking devices eg. firstly,

secondly, another reason, besides• Constant focusing on the task requirement (RE)• Systematic tackling of the task requirements (RE)• Logic in explanation• No contradiction of personal stand• Structure in paragraph• Structure of argument – eg. need a conclusion to

tie up the whole argument • A (brief) introductory paragraph and concluding

paragraph

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Your useful experience with AQ so far…The Gippy Times pg 7

• (3): Argument Analysis (Developing skills for the Application Question)

• Read an article / articles of your choice• Using the worksheet found on the next page, write

the list of claims / arguments / ideas made by the author in the left hand column.

• In the middle column, write down the evidence the author presents in support of each argument

• In the right-hand column, provide your own arguments and examples to support / refute the writer’s, and evaluate them (i.e. Do you think they are valid? Why?)

• Do the analysis for at least 3 claims / arguments / ideas in the article.

Reading Task 3

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Task 3 – Argument Analysis (The Gippy Times pg 8)

My evaluation of the writer’s claims/arguments/ ideas (supported by my own examples)

Reasons and evidence given by the writer to support his/her claims/arguments/ ideas

Claims/Arguments/Ideas of writer

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Your closest experience with AQ so far….HIGHER FENCES, BIGGER PROBLEMS? BEING ALERT IS CRUCIAL See something, say something

QuestionIn the article, the writer highlights the issue of security threats and the importance of being more vigilant in today's world.

Do you think your society's security awareness is sufficient and should more be done to raise the level of security?

In your answer, refer to points raised by the writer and your own experience.

UbDLessons

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A Closer look at an AQ

• In the article, the writer highlights the issue of security threats and the importance of being more vigilant in today's world.

• Do you think your society's security awareness is sufficient and should more be done to raise the level of security?

• In your answer, refer to points raised by the writer and your own experience.

Preamble

Question

Instructions

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A Closer look at the parts of an AQ

• Preamble (Lead in to the question) In the article, the writer highlights the issue of security threats and the importance of being more vigilant in today's world.

• Identifiesthe main ideas covered in the passage(s)the focus the question wants you to takeMay or may not be given

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A Closer look at the parts of an AQ

• InstructionsIn your answer, refer to points raised by the writer and your own experience.

– Standard instructions:• Give your own view on the issue(s) discussed• Refer to ideas in the passage(s)• Support your points with your own evidence

– Specific instructions• E.g. Select at least 2 arguments from each

passage• May or may not be given

Standard InstructionAnd

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A Closer look at the parts of an AQ

• The QuestionDo you think your society's security awareness is sufficient and should more be done to raise the level of security?

Identifies the most impt part of the AQThe question which you must addressMandatory part and can exist on its own

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Examples of AQ

GCE 2008Anna Banatvala thinks an understanding of history is essential, whereas Lee Min Yen thinks history has no value. How important is an understanding of history for you and your society, and how far has your view been challenged or confirmed by these two passages?

Preamble

Question

No Instructions

2 parts to the Qn

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Examples of AQ

GCE 2009• How far do you agree with the author’s

views on work and leisure? Illustrate your answer / own view by referring to the ways in which you and your society regard work and leisure.

No Preamble

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To be able to answer the AQ well, you need to understand the text[s] well enough

• Know the issue(s) to be discussed • the various relevant viewpoints /

arguments raised by the writer[s] in the passage[s]

• Need to analyse the AQ carefully• Do the AQ as the last question in P2

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Meeting Requirements

• Meeting Requirements will depend on the Accuracy of your Question Analysis.

• Remember your TICKS?

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Requirements & Qn Analysis• Victoria Sherborne argues

strongly in favour of choice, whereas Tim Parks has grave reservations about the benefits it is supposed to bring.

• Do you regard the increased degree of choice available to you and your generation as broadly beneficial or harmful?

• In your answer, develop some of the points made by the authors, and give your own views and some account of the experiences which have helped you to form them.

Stand (on issue)Personal evaluation

Own view

Text reference

Outside evidence/explanations/reasons

Topic

Issue- Key words

Context –Key Words

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Question analysis

No Instructions here!

Topic

Issues

Context: the society

Keywords

Having reviewed the apparent inevitability and compensating benefits of aggression in the past, Arthur Woolgar suggests some reasons why aggression may play a much reduced role in the future.

How convincing do you find these reasons, and do you consider the gains would outweigh the losses if aggression ceased to be a central feature of human behaviour?

Stand

Reasons for?And

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Sample 2: Question Analysis

Preamble

Question

Topic

Issue

Stand

No problem Loss of morality

Instruction

Chapman in Passage 1 saw the hysteria over casinos as unwarranted, whereas Galstonand Wasserman in Passage 2 argued that we are gambling away our moral capital. In your opinion, which position should your society support? Justify your choice. Your answer must refer to ideas raised in BOTH passages as well as your own views and knowledge.

May not be logical to adopt either extreme view

How about a position that takes

elements from both passages

with your stand clearly stated?

SA Prelim 2005

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Your Question Analysis MYCT 2011: Topic – Censorship

• The authors argue that censorship brings with it possible dangers to a society.

• How far do you agree with the authors’views where your society is concerned?

• Justify your answer with reference to the text and experience drawn from your society.

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Question Analysis

• The authors argue that censorship brings with it possible dangers to a society.

• How far do you agree with the authors’ views where your society is concerned?

• Justify your answer with reference to the text and experience drawn from your society.

Topic

Issue

Key words

Context

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After TICKSSelect text references from the text(s) relevant to the issue(s)

• Identify possible dangers from censorship

• Evaluate whether such problems could occur in your society – consider extent of the danger (hence how far you agree with the authors’ views)

• Explain your answer (giving your own examples / evidence from your society to support your arguments)

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Bad Sample

I agree with the authors to a large extent.

The authors argue that censorship can weaken the society. I agree with this view. This is true as a society willing to suppress ideas in print and other media is likely to censor those ideas wherever they appear.

Moreover, the best way to deal with evil speech is to counter it with better speech. For instance, in Singapore, instead of censoring racially-sensitive material, we should be allowed to air our views and give constructive feedback where racist speech occurs. This will promote racial harmony.

Re (stand)

Re (text) Re (stand)

Re / Ex

Re (text)

ExCo?(what is

the issue?)

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Good Sample

I admit that the authors have valid arguments but have too easily dismissed the positive role censorship can play in a society.

The authors assert that censorship restricts the exchange of ideas, thus restricting good ideas from emerging and bad ones from being eliminated (line 23). They are right in saying so as without interaction, one would not be able to think critically and assess ideas objectively. With free speech, a continual debate could encourage good for society.

Re / EV (stand) more balanced

Re (text)

Ev (of writers’opinion)

Ex (of Ev)

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Take the recent General Elections in Singapore as an example. Unlike previous years, political parties were able to use new media in their campaigning. This allowed many to voice their views, especially views concerning their unhappiness over how the People’s Action Party (PAP) had seem to not truly consider the needs and concerns of the ordinary citizens. As a result of such avenues for discussion being open and citizens’ views were not censored, we now see more ministers taking greater initiative in engaging residents when deciding matters that concern them. Such examples include the open forums by the Education and National Development Ministers.

• Ex - explained point in greater details (elaboration)

• Ex is evaluated to show positive consequences of freedom of speech, hence showing that censorship has its dangers and where the writer is right.

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Continued…However, censorship is not

all bad. As acknowledged by the authors, it can “protect the vulnerable” (line 1). Given the pervasiveness of media today, it is imperative that some form of censorship exists to protect our young, who are impressionable. In my society, mainstream television still censors vulgarities and sexually explicit content. I feel this is acceptable as children have access to these shows and need protection from being negatively influenced.

• Co- tie back to stand about dismissing the positive role of censorship

• Re (text)• Ex

• Re: society/ own ideas

• Ex – explain point

• Could be elaborated more

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Moreover, given that Singapore is a multi-racial country, some censorship on racism is beneficial for the well-being of society. Although it may not be an ideal situation, such censorship “(has prevented) social unrests” (line 2) here.Thus, I believe that although censorship can bring with it possible dangers to a society, that is not always the case.

Re (engaging writers’argument/issue

Ev – showing awareness of the less than ideal situation

More elaboration is needed here

Co – consistent to stand seen in conclusion.

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