DISCURSIVE ESSAY

You have watched a debate competition on television. The following

comment was made by one of the debaters:

‘Fashion is fast becoming a new craze among today’s youths.’

Model Answer
Fashion is a popular aesthetic expression at a particular time,
especially in clothing, footwear, makeup, hairstyles, lifestyle, and body
proportions. Fashion is something we deal with every day. It is used for
self-expression. If we observe carefully, we will notice that fashion
trends have evolved a lot over time. Fashion trends affect society
greatly. In my opinion, I agree that fashion is fast becoming the new
craze for today's youth. This is because youths want to express
themselves through fashion, they want to be accepted by society, and
fashion can lead to job creation. [INTRODUCTION]

First and foremost, fashion is becoming a new craze among today’s

youth because it is one of the best ways for youth to express
themselves. Fashion gives youth the opportunity to be who they are
through their fashion sense. Fashion, like clothing, is a personal
statement for an individual. For example, teenage girls tend to follow
Western fashion in dressing to highlight their individual style, such as
being athletic, girly, nerdy, or tomboyish. The clothes allow youths to
express their personalities and preferences. Next, since rebellion is often
a huge aspect of youth’s lives, youths tend to use shocking fashion to
rebel against their parents, classmates, and society. For instance, some
rebellious teenage girls follow the fashion of going braless to showcase
their rebellion against society. Fashion is also a way for young people to
enhance their appearance and make a good impression. Young people
will feel better about themselves if they look attractive and wear
fashionable clothes. To illustrate, the right clothing, makeup, and
accessories will make youths feel confident and able to impress others. A
youth who has no knowledge of how to dress and accessorise in current
styles may lack confidence. Fashion can bolster confidence among
youths and increase their self-esteem. Therefore, fashion allows youths
to express themselves, and this is why fashion is becoming a new craze
among today’s youths. [BODY PARAGRAPH 1 - TOPIC SENTENCE 1]

Furthermore, youth follow the latest fashion trends because they

want to be accepted by society. Many teens pick up on fashion trends in
an effort to stave off humiliation and mocking from their peers. Poor
fashion choices may cause youths to lose their friends or be ostracised.
For example, if a teenage girl dresses in inappropriate clothes or does
not apply the latest makeup, she may be mocked by her friends, and this
may result in a decline in her confidence level. Hence, peer pressure is a
factor that causes youths to pay a lot of attention to their dress in order
to appear up-to-date and accepted by their peers. The way youth dress
up identifies them as belonging to specific cliques or groups who wear
similar apparel. It will give them a sense of belonging and togetherness
with other like-minded youths. They will feel included and accepted,
which is essential to a youth's self-esteem. Moreover, youths have the
desire to be like a celebrities. Celebrities have a great influence on young
people's choices of dress and ideas about fashion. When the people
around them are following the current fashion trend started by
celebrities, youths will be influenced to follow the trend too. For
instance, bike shorts are all the rage among Instagram celebrities.
Another example is the pixie cut, inspired by Korean celebrities. Thus,
youth follow the latest fashion trends in order to be accepted by society.
[BODY PARAGRAPH 2 - TOPIC SENTENCE 2]

Last but not least, it is an undeniable fact that fashion leads to job
creation, as fashion is becoming a new craze for today's youth. A career
in fashion is a glamorous idea. The fashion industry is diverse and has
different roles. For example, being a garment technologist is an
innovative job that involves working on the design and development of
new materials for garments. Fashion designers and fashion stylists are
also in high demand due to the popularity of the latest fashion trends.
The increasing demand for the latest fashions like clothing, footwear,
accessories, and makeup has resulted in the fashion industry's
expansion, which creates a wide range of job opportunities. For
instance, the soaring demand for makeup products like L'Oréal Paris and
Maybelline New York has created more job opportunities in the
cosmetic industry. In addition, youths’ increasing spending on fashion
clothing has boosted online clothing sales. E-commerce platforms like
Shopee, Lazada, and Amazon offer opportunities for online retailers to
sell their clothes online. This has created a lot of online jobs for online
retailers and entrepreneurs. The creation of jobs can reduce a country’s
unemployment rate and increase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
which is beneficial for economic growth. Hence, as fashion is fast
becoming a new craze among today’s youth, it can create lots of jobs,
which is important for a country’s development.
[BODY PARAGRAPH 3 - TOPIC SENTENCE 3]

In conclusion, there is a strong connection between fashion and

youth. In my opinion, I still strongly believe that fashion is fast becoming
a new craze among today’s youth. This is due to youth’s desire to
express themselves, be accepted by society, and fashion can create a lot
of job opportunities. Youths are quick to follow fashionable trends to fit
in. Fashion may cause stress and anxiety among young people who take
it too seriously. Hopefully, being trendy will not enslave them, but they
will instead learn to adopt a stronger positive mindset and exercise
moderation in their thoughts and actions. [CONCLUSION]

{883 words}

3 Topic sentences

Tie up paragraph

Examples

Future suggestion

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
You attended a talk by a youth speaker talking about international
sporting events. The following comment was made by the guest
speaker:

‘International sporting events such as Olympic Games and the football

world cup provide an outlet for patriotic feelings and help to reduce
international tensions.’

Model Answer
The word ‘sport’ itself is magical enough to thrill people, especially
those who love sports in their own way. Generally, sports promote the
idea of physical and mental well-being. The globalisation of sports has
led to the introduction of international sporting events. International
sports refer to sports in which participants represent at least two or
more countries. I agree with the statement that international sporting
events such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup provide an outlet
for patriotic sentiments and contribute to the reduction of international
tensions. This is because international sporting events provide a
platform to express patriotic emotions, develop understanding among
nations and promote world peace. [INTRODUCTION]

First and foremost, international sporting events provide an outlet

for patriotic feelings, as the sporting events serve as a platform to
express patriotic emotions. Malaysia is a fine example of a country
where sports enable Malaysians from all walks of life to express their
patriotism. For example, Malaysia hosted the 1998 Commonwealth
Games, which involved Commonwealth member nations. When
Malaysians support their team and cheer for them whenever they
defeat the rival team, they forget about their differences and exhibit
their patriotic emotions. Ever since Nicol David and Lee Chong Wei went
on to win international games, namely squash and badminton,
Malaysians have faithfully rallied behind them when they were on the
court defending their championships. The moral support gives them the
impetus to defend world titles and show sheer determination to bring
glory to Malaysia. Athletes can show their nationalism and patriotism by
giving their best effort in the games. Although they lose the games, they
still display great sportsmanship in defeat. Other nations are also
involved in international sporting events to express their patriotism. For
instance, during the Football World Cup, the Brazilians experience
exhilaration and patriotic feelings as the Brazilian football team is
supposed to be the best in the world. People wear shirts with their team
names and buy national flags to showcase their patriotism. Football is
said to have the power to bring people together regardless of their age,
race, or gender. During the World Cup, fans from the same country unite
to support their team, and this can raise their patriotic spirit. Therefore,
international sporting events can give vent to patriotic feelings.
[BODY PARAGRAPH 1 - TOPIC SENTENCE 1]

Furthermore, international sporting events can help reduce

international tensions because they develop understanding among
nations. Rivalry will encourage rival countries to compete with each
other through sporting events. For example, the 1998 World Cup in
France managed to ease political tensions between the United States
and Iran as they got to develop mutual understanding through sports.
International sports provide opportunities for people to explore the
cultures of their rival countries. They closely observe the host country,
and many misconceptions or cultural barriers are eliminated. This is a
great way to banish hatred, racism, and class division. For instance,
during the SEA Games, people from different nations obtain suitable
information about each other's cultures, traditions and religious beliefs.
This assists governments in understanding each other and has a direct
impact on international relations, which strengthens diplomatic ties with
other countries. Besides, citizens from different nations tend to forget
their differences when they gather in stadiums or sports arenas to watch
their teams play in global events. To illustrate, during the Olympic
Games, people gather from all over the world to witness the games.
They can experience local customs, traditions, and hospitality in the host
country. When they spend time together, they will develop reciprocal
respect, which will release tensions among nations. Thus, there is no
doubt that international sports can ease international tensions and
promote understanding among nations.
[BODY PARAGRAPH 2 - TOPIC SENTENCE 2]

Last but not least, international sporting events can help promote
world peace. It is an undeniable fact that global sports can be an
icebreaker as competitors from different nations create a platform for
athletes, global leaders, and organisations to interact in a more
sophisticated way. For example, a good illustration is the Olympic
Games, in which the whole world gets the opportunity to interact and
maintain global harmony. Sportsmen and sportswomen from developed
nations can compete with world-class sportsmen and sportswomen from
third-world countries. It can be seen that during international
tournaments, athletes from various nations compete against each other
in a sporty way. For instance, the World Cup has been proven to be a
catalyst for change as it brings people of different nationalities together.
These international games open new avenues in the world that bestow
boons on different foe nations. This is because during international play,
the presidents of different countries go to the host country to watch the
games, which provides opportunities to discuss issues between the
enemy countries. To illustrate, during the FIFA World Cup, many nations’
leaders get to meet each other, which enables them to ease the tensions
among nations and helps prevent war and bloodshed. The world is
already in turmoil with discrimination, political instability, and sporting
events can act as a remedy by promoting international harmony. Hence,
international sporting events can lead the world to live in peace.
[BODY PARAGRAPH 3 - TOPIC SENTENCE 3]

In conclusion, international sporting events indeed help promote

and sustain many positive benefits for different nations. I strongly agree
that international sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the
FIFA World Cup provide an outlet for patriotic feelings and help to
reduce international tensions. This is due to the fact that international
sports provide a platform to express patriotic emotions, improve
understanding between countries and develop world peace. Sport
delivers a clear message of peace and paves the road to building world
harmony, which helps reduce international tensions. This will ensure the
sustainable development and growth of the nations in the world and
ensure prosperity in the future. [CONCLUSION]

{950 words}
3 Topic sentences Future suggestion

Tie up paragraph

Examples

PROBLEM-SOLUTION ESSAY
You attended a talk by a non-governmental agency, which was
organised by the local town council. The following comment was made
by the speaker:

‘Public health is becoming a serious problem in our nation.’

Model Answer
Health is very important to ensure a normal and happy life. As the
saying goes, ‘health is better than wealth’. Although we may have a lot
of wealth, we will not be able to enjoy it without a healthy body.
Recently, people have become more aware of topics related to public
health. The increasing number of people suffering from obesity and
diabetes has become a major concern in developing countries like
Malaysia. Obesity and being overweight lead to other health problems,
including coronary disease, diabetes, cancer, or even mental illness. The
ways to improve public health are through the education and the media,
which raise public awareness. [INTRODUCTION]

First and foremost, millions of people pass away before they really
should due to health issues caused by changing lifestyles. Work patterns
have changed dramatically in modern times, so there has been a massive
shift from physical work, like agriculture and manufacturing to more
office work, which involves sitting at a computer for long periods of time.
Also, another problem is changing diets. For example, far too many
people today are eating too much fast food, such as pizzas, burgers and
french fries. In addition, life threatening diseases like cancer, diabetes
and stroke will probably increase in the future because of changing
leisure activities. In fact, most young people play computer games
excessively, which can lead to obesity. So, all in all, public health issues
can, may result in serious outcomes if they are not addressed
accordingly. Education and the media must play a role and act swiftly to
save many people’s lives in this world.
[BODY PARAGRAPH 1 - PROBLEM DISCUSS]

Furthermore, educational institutions play a vital role in educating

the public about ways to improve public health. Physical education in
schools that focuses on developing physical fitness among students can
benefit students. Juvenile diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses
are becoming increasingly common among children and teenagers.
Through physical education, teachers can impart knowledge to students
about ways to keep fit and healthy. For example, during physical
education classes, students can engage in various physical activities like
badminton and football. This will help students burn deposited fat from
their bodies and release the accumulated stress due to study. Next, a
health awareness campaign can be launched in schools and universities
nationwide that involves students, teachers, and parents. Many
activities can be carried out during the campaign. For instance, health
educational materials or brochures can be distributed so that parents or
students can gain health knowledge by reading those materials. By doing
so, health awareness among students and parents can be increased.
Moreover, educational institutions can also launch several meetings that
involve teachers and parents to introduce the concept of a healthy
lifestyle. During these meetings, teachers and parents will be exposed to
the importance and ways of living a healthy life. To illustrate, parents
and teachers can broaden their knowledge of unhealthy foods to avoid,
such as junk food and fast food, as these foods frequently lead to a
variety of health problems. As a result, teachers and parents will be able
to inculcate health awareness among their students. This will eventually
improve public health. Therefore, educational institutions play an
important role in improving public health.
[BODY PARAGRAPH 2 - SOLUTION 1]

Apart from that, the media plays an important role in raising public
awareness about public health. The advent of the digital era and the
ubiquitous internet enabled the media to spread information easily.
People can use digital devices like mobile phones to assess various types
of information through digital media, such as online newspapers. The
media should be more concerned about public health by spreading
information about it as the media has become a main channel of
information for people. The media has a big influence on shaping
people’s positive attitudes towards public health. The media can
broadcast suitable programmes about health in order to raise public
awareness. For example, the media should launch health promotion
campaigns through television, newspapers, and radio. A health
promotion campaign should cover a variety of topics, such as a balanced
diet and exercise. Besides, articles on health should be published in
newspapers or health magazines so that readers can gain knowledge
about health. For instance, through newspapers, people can read
articles on the importance of having adequate sleep. This will raise
people’s awareness of the consequences of sleep deprivation, which
makes them more susceptible to cardiovascular disease. Newspaper
articles on the effects of sedentary lifestyles can also raise public
awareness so that people will realise that physical inactivity is a silent
killer. Additionally, television can be an effective channel to spread
information on health. To illustrate, since people like to watch TV shows,
health and lifestyle TV shows can raise public awareness about ways to
live a healthy life. People will be more likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle,
such as reducing their intake of fast food, as they gain knowledge
through watching related TV shows. Thus, the media has a great
influence on raising public awareness in terms of public health.
[BODY PARAGRAPH 3 - SOLUTION 2]

To conclude, various measures can be implemented to improve

public health. I strongly agree that public health is becoming a serious
issue in our country. Educational institutions and the media play
significant roles in improving public health. Public health should be
improved to reduce mortality and morbidity. This will ensure the
sustainable development and prosperity of a nation. [CONCLUSION]

{884 words}

2 solution

Examples

Tie up

Add point