“O$P$” kids
Name: Lim Shi Wei
Class: 3A
Register No.: 15

Title: English Social Commentary
O$P$ Kids


Imagine for a moment. A group of teenagers, ranging from 12-15, including both girls and boys, writing words and they are splashing paint all over a house. What do you think they are doing? No, they are indeed not attending an art class, but instead helping loan shark syndicates to collect their debts. It might even look comical than intimidating as you see a small kid, aged 12, at your doorstep. However, this is indeed a tragic sight for most parents to see; having to see a child with bright future being destroyed by a foolish act.

Just a few months ago, I had recently seen a group of loan sharks spraying paint on one of my neighbor’s houses. Surprisingly, the loan sharks came at daytime, and they did it quietly and stealthily. Their methods are simple: Spray paint over the gate of the house and write the words “O$P$” all over the block with the unit number to embarrass the family. Having a chat with them, I found out that they actually spotted a group of teenagers loitering around the lift area in the afternoon but did not really mind them at first. But only having to find their gate splashed with paint in the evening, they realized what these boys might have done.

In my opinion, this is indeed a tragic truth for most parents.

Firstly, these young children have a bright future ahead, but are misled by their friends into such foolish acts. According to the article, children as young as 12 to 19 years of age, were caught. In 2007, 59 youths were caught and in this year, surveys made by Channel NewsAsia, according to mid-year crime statistics, out of 417 people arrested, 81 were youths, compared to 21 in the same period last year. To our surprise, girls were even part of the statistics given. This is an alarming increase, with a 400 percent increase. Imagine the number of youths who will get criminal records just out of a moment of folly. Having a criminal record, doesn’t really mean a scar for life, however, it will drastically decrease the opportunities given. For example, having a criminal record means you might have problems being a banker or jobs that require trust. One would not really tend to hire someone who has a criminal record. Thus, if a teenager out of folly went to do such things, it would indeed diminish their portfolio when entering society.

Secondly, the number of teenagers joining gangs and helping loan sharks syndicate might indicate a sign that parents are not really communicating well with their child. According to the police, there are about 2242 youth offenders caught for petty offences. This is sign that offenders are usually persuaded by gangsters or when they join gangs to commit crimes as to show their bravery and one of these acts are collecting debts. One of the main reasons why the teenagers turn to gang members is because they are either too scared to face their parents after doing a wrong doing, or they are not communicating well with their parents. Some of them get into gambling debts with their friends or with loan sharks and do not have the ability to pay what they owe. Thus, they are forced to help to collect debts for loan shark to pay off their debts. For example, according to the article, a teenage boy was introduced to this job as he had to pay off his $800 debt due to soccer betting.

However, it might be such a tragic truth after all. All these children have been under probation after being caught, and they might turn over a new leaf. Being caught by the police might be a good thing as they would realize their mistake Instead of continuing on with their wrong doings for life, projects such as the yellow ribbon project has been set up to help ex-offenders such as the teenagers to get back to society. The yellow project in Singapore has distributed over 320,000 yellow ribbons island wide to symbolize the ex-offender’s hope for forgiveness as well as acceptance into society.

In conclusion, loan shark syndicates of using teenagers to become runners are a depressing truth for most of us. Although projects such as the yellow ribbon project have been set up, prevention is better than cure. We would rather much try to prevent these from happening rather than waiting to let it happen and then try to help those kids. However, if parents try to communicate more with youths, and with youths also playing their part, this tragic truth might not be that tragic after all!





Class Activity 3: Writing a personal commentary

Topic: Scrap the CCTs

Have you ever thought about it? Does it mean that by getting a high GPA of 4.0, one is actually proficient in that subject, and one who get a GPA of 2.8 or such, is poor in the subject? Many students burn the midnight oil and study hard for their Class Tests and then after the Test, they compare results. In my opinion, I feel that the Common Class Test is not a reflective of the ability and knowledge of a student and it should be scrap.

Firstly, most students do well in the PSLE is not that they are really intelligent in those subjects, but it is just as a representation of how well they structure their answers and how they use the correct key phrases. The pupils are taught the same things and technically they should be on pile with each other. In the real world, does it really matter if you use the correct key phrase or answer the question differently though your idea is great? Would a CEO fire you because your presentation was not used or presented in a correct “key-phrased” answer? The answer is no. So long as you get the gist or the idea properly, you should be awarded the mark, but this is not what is done in examinations.

Secondly, an examination is held so as to test what a student learnt throughout a course or module. Students sometimes burn the midnight oil just before the day of the examination and memorize the “perfect” answer. It is proven that these kind of students although does well in examinations scoring all A’s, it does not mean that when they enter society, they will be successful. The students do not really understand the concept behind it and does not find the link between it and the real world. They are just purely memorizing how to do it rather than how to use it.

Thirdly, students sometimes during an examination get a mental block, causing them to forget what they have learnt or studied for a temporary amount of time due to stress. For example, an intelligent student who has studied for a test but due to stress and exam conditions, gets a mental block, and could not remember what he has learnt. What he answers would be the same as someone who has not studied for a test and it is extremely unfair for him. In my opinion, an ideal test condition is when the candidate is under no stress. However, if there is a test, there would surely be stress.

Well, no matter how insignificant a Common Class Test is, given the nature of Singaporeans, even I for a fact would indeed try to score well. Although it is not reflective what the student have learnt, would you rather be exam smart and get 6 A’s rather than none.


Class Activity 2: Controversial Statements
Mode: Pathos
Topic: Murderers should be executed.

Think about it. If a person killed someone you deeply treasured and loved, would you want revenge? If a person killed someone you knew on purpose, would you want to avenge for his death? If a person killed someone you knew, and continued this with others, would you want the officials to execute him in case he does it again? Singapore's death penalty to murderers is the right thing to do. It not only scares people or makes people think thrice about murdering, it prevents the person to do it again in case he is being let out.





What is an Expository Writing

Expository writing is a type of writing, the purpose of which is to inform, explain, describe, or define the author's subject to the reader. Expository text is meant to ‘posit’ information and is the most frequently used type of writing by students in colleges and universities. A well-written exposition remains focused on its topic and listing events in chronological order. Examples of this type of writing are cooking instructions, driving directions and instructions on performing a task.