Mock Examination (samples to qns 5 and 6, by Ms Lam)

Qn 5: What qualities does a parent need to have in order to be a good parent?

* This is a discussive essay. Discussive essays are usually easy to handle because you need not take a stand. All you need to do is brainstorm about 3/4 points that are RELEVANT to the question and discussing them at length.

* One very important point to note is that in the body of your essay, you have to include a topic sentence, elaboration/ give suitable examples and a concluding statement. Some students make the mistake of stating just a topic sentence without any form of elaboration. This mistake is fatal. Please take note.

Parental care has always been viewed as centrally important to the physical, mental and emotional development of a child. Indeed, the raising of a child is no simple task. Since it is such a demanding task, it is essential that parents possess certain qualities before they can provide an optimum environment for the child to grow up in.

--> In the intro, DO NOT start talking about the qualities that a good parent must posess. Give a brief summary of the role of parents , how important and demanding they are. In the last sentence, you can rephrase the question to show the examiner that you are about to answer the question. E.g. "Since it is such a demanding task, it is essential that parents possess certain qualities before they can provide an optimum environment for the child to grow up in." /" There are several qualities that a parent need to possess, which will be discussed in this essay."

One of the most salient qualities that a parent must possess in order to be a good parent is the ability to provide a child with unconditional love. ( --> give a clear topic sentence) Mothers and fathers should be entirely accepting of their children, regardless of whatever shortcomings and faults the child may have. This is because, it is an enviornment filled with love that a child will feel safe to make mistakes in (--> some elaboration going on). Indeed, love is a necessary ingredient/quality in fostering (= creating) a strong bond between children and their parents. (--> concluding statement)

Another crucial (=important) quality that a good parent must have is the ability to respect their children. (--> have a clear topic sentence again. State clearly the second quality) Although parents are older than their children and children have to respect the authority of their parents, it is just as important for parents to respect their children. For instance, parents should realise that all children too are deserving of their own privacy and they should not attempt to secretly read their child's diary or blog entries. Parents should also be sensitive to their child's feelings and not shame/humiliate the child in the public by scolding or beating him or her. (--> elaborate on what it means to respect a child). In other words, a good parent is one who respects their children as much as they expect their chiildren to respect them. (--> a clear concluding sentence that reinforces the idea conveyed in this paragraph)

However, while love is a necessary quality for good parenting, parents also need to have the wisdom and maturity to determine what is best for their child.(--> clear topic sentence) Loving a child does not mean giving him or her everything he or she wants for this will only encourage an unhealthy over-indulgence in the child’s wants on the parent's part. There are some cases of parents who grant their children all their wishes. As a result, their children grow up to become spoilt brats. As the common saying goes, "Spare the rod and spoil the child". Loving a child also does not mean not correcting the child and punishing him or her when they have done something wrong. (--> elaborate on what it means to love a child but not to the extent of adoration (= treating him like an idol and not correcting him or her when he/she makes a mistake) A good parent should seek to inculcate good moral values in his or her children so that they will be able to distinguish between right from wrong and grow up to become law-abiding citizens. (--> concluding statement)

In conclusion, the role that parents play in the growing up years of a child is unquestionable. Good parenting ensures that the well-being of a child is well taken care of. Thus, a good parent should be one who is able to love his or her child with no strings attached, be sensitive and respectful towards the needs of a child. At the same time, a good parent is also responsible for ensuring that the child does not grow up becoming a self-centred/self-conceited individual. Thus, there is still a need for a loving parent to correct his or her child when a wrong is done.

--> like the introduction, mention the role that parents play. Next, summarise the qualities of a good parent.

Qn: Parents should be punished when the children commit crimes. Discuss.

* This is an argumentative essay. In the LAST SENTENCE of your introduction, you have to state your stand clearly on whether or not you think parents should or should not be punished. However, please note that for argumentative essays, you ARE NOT ALLOWED to begin your essay with a "Yes, I agree" or "No, I disagree."

* In an argumentative essay, your job is to PERSUADE readers to take your stand.

* However, you should still talk about arguments from both sides. Reasons why they should be punished and reasons on why they should not be punished.

Today, in many parts of the world, the crimes committed by juveniles (= teenagers) have increased. This is a cause for alarm (= valid reason for us to worry) and there are many factors for this trend. There have been debates on whether the parents of children should be held responsible for the crimes committed by their children. (--> you can talk about the two differering views on this issue first before telling readers about your belief in the very last sentence of your introduction). There has also been an increasing number of cases where parents had been reprimanded by judges for not taking their children in hand. However, I am of the view that children rather than parents deserve the punishment. (--> notice how in this last sentence of the intro, I am actually stating my stand on this issue)

One of the most salient reasons why parents should be the one punished is that the role of the parents is to impart moral values to their children. (-> toipc sentence) More often than not, parents tend to place a lot of emphasis on the academic achievements of their children, neglecting the moral behaviour of their children. Due to ignorance, their children may commit crimes. (--> elaboration) If this is the case, then parents should be punished as they have failed to teach their children the rights and wrongs in society. (--> concluding statement)

Another reason why parents should be pumished is because they are responsible for the upbringing of their children. (--> topic sentence) Some parents do not believe in the saying “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” As a result, their children are unaware of their wrongdoings. Parents, in their effort to protect their children, will shield (= protect) them even if they have committed wrongdoings. These children will feel that they have not done anything wrong since their parents condone (--> seem to approve of) their actions. When they grow up, they may commit the crimes again but instead of having their parents to protect them, they will face the harsh punishment of society. (--> a lot of elaboration going on on how parents may be responsible when their children go astray. Thus, they are to be punished). Therefore, parents should be punished for this mistaken ‘love’ which has caused their children to go astray instead of learning from past mistakes. (concluding statement)

Although parents play a crucial (= important) role in the upbringing of their children,the role of peers in juvenile crimes should not be overlooked as well. (--> after talking about reasons for punishing parents, you have to talk about reasons that are AGAINST punishing them). Peer pressure can cause many children to join gangs, smoke, shoplift in order to be accepted by their parents. In this case, parents are too powerless to stop their children from committing crimes and should not be punished.(--> elaborate on why parents do not deserve to be punished). It would thus be very unfair to punish them. (--> concluding statement)

Furthermore, by punishing the parents, the children would only be more irresponsible. (--> topic sentence) They may think that they will never get into trouble as their parents will be the ones punished and become more bold in their actions. This will only lead to a further moral degradation of society. The children will also never learn from their mistakes as they do not face any consequences.(--> elaboration) With parents being punished, this will only further increase the crimes committed by children. (--> concluding sentence)

In conclusion, I am inclined to thinking that parents should not be punished for their childrens’ crimes in most cases. (--> in your conclusion, state your stand very clealry once again)Most of the time, children are influenced by external circumstances like their peers. Parents always want the best for their children although some may not express it in the right way. When children disregard their parents’ teachings and commit crimes, they themselves should be responsible and punished or they will never learn their mistakes. Other times, instead of punishing parents, they should be made to go for counselling with their children. (--> you may offer solutions to a problem in your conclusion)