elderly ppt and suggested essay outline

Content: The Elderly

Development of an coherent and balanced GP essay.Subject: Problems faced by the elderly

Developing your essay• Content knowledge is important because only then can you provide

compelling arguments and relevant evidence in each paragraph.

• However, content knowledge is not everything.

• Identifying Question Type is equally, if not more, important. Only then will you understand what is required in your response.

Try this:

Do government initiatives really address the challenges faced by the elderly? Discuss with reference to your society.


Identifying question type:

This is a question containing STATEMENT OF DOUBT.

Key Terms: ‘Really’: Suggests doubt and skepticism. ‘Address the challenges’: Meet the needs/ Alleviates the problems faced by the elderly

Assumption(s):

Contention:




Key Terms: ‘Really’: Suggests doubt and skepticism. ‘Address the challenges’: Meet the needs/ Alleviates the

problems

Assumption(s): (a)That some hold the perception that government initiatives DO address these challenges; but(b) that this perception is misinformed and that in reality,

they DO NOT fully address the challenges faced by the elderly.

Contention:




Key Terms: ‘Really’: Suggests doubt and skepticism. ‘Address the challenges’: Meet the needs/ Alleviates the

problems

Assumption(s): (a)That some hold the perception that government initiatives DO address these challenges; but

(b) that this perception is misinformed and that in reality, they DO NOT fully address the challenges faced by the elderly.

Contention: Whether or not the perception that government initiatives address challenges faced by the elderly meet the needs of

the elderly is a justified claim.



So this question requires you to:(a) Discuss why there is a perception that initiatives do address the

challenges;(b) Acknowledge the doubt in the question.(c) Evaluate whether the perception is justified by:• Identifying the challenges faced by the elderly• Discuss the successes and limitations of government initiatives in

meeting the needs of the elderly.


Brainstorm using PRESM:

So what are the challenges faced by the elderly in Singapore?




P: Physical health, Psychological health, Perceptions (of society)R:E:S:M:




P: Physical health, Psychological health, Perceptions (of society)R: Relationships (with family), Religious Beliefs (at odds with beliefs of

youth?)E:




P: Physical health, Psychological health, Perceptions (of society)R: Relationships (with family), Religious Beliefs (at odds with beliefs of

youth)E: Economical (high cost of living and healthcare), Employability S:M:




P: Physical health, Psychological healthR: Relationships (with family), Religious Beliefs (at odds with beliefs of

youth?)E: Economical (high cost of living and healthcare), Employability S: Social Integration, Social-Emotional Wellbeing M:




P: Physical health, Psychological healthR: Relationships (with family), Religious Beliefs (at odds with beliefs of

youth?)E: Economical (high cost of living and healthcare), Employability S: Social Integration, Social-Emotional Wellbeing M: Media (prevalence of ageism), Moral Values (at odds with morals of

society)

How to organize these ideas in my essay?

To simplify matters:Concessions: Acknowledging that these are views which

are partially true. You need not reject them entirely, but you should

identify their limitations (eg. why they are only partially true.)

Opposing views: Views that are contradictory to yours andwhich you should therefore rebut/ reject.

Rebuttals: Rejection of an opposing view.

(Reasons for rejecting an opposing view): The opposing view MISREPRESENTS issuesThe opposing view IS LOGICALLY FLAWEDThe opposing view MAKES SWEEPING STATEMENTSThe opposing view IS OVERLY IDEALISTIC and NOT PRACTICAL


Suggested Essay Outline (Structure 1)

Introduction

Body Para 1: Opposing View: Reason why people perceive that government initiatives DO address challenges faced by elderly



Introduction


Reasons as opposed to Examples.

Reason: WHY people have certain perceptionsWHAT makes people hold these perceptions


Which of the following Topic Sentences identify Reasons as opposed to Examples?

1. Some may hold the belief that government initiatives, like the introduction of Medishield Life, do indeed address the problem of rising healthcare costs in Singapore.

2. Some hold the mistaken belief that government initiatives do alleviate the problems faced by the elderly because reports in the local media tend emphasize the benefits of such initiatives rather than the limitations.



1. Some may hold the belief that government initiatives, like the introduction of Medishield Life, do indeed address the problem of rising healthcare costs in Singapore.

2. Some hold the mistaken belief that government initiatives do alleviate the problems faced by the elderly because reports in the local media tend to emphasize the benefits of such initiatives rather than the limitations.

Reason: WHAT makes people hold certain

perceptions



Introduction


Body Para 2: Rebuttal/ Rejection of OV: Identify flaws in the above perception. Go on to show what, in reality the situation is

like.



Introduction


Body Para 2: Rebuttal/ Rejection of OV: Identify flaws in the above perception. Go on to show what, in reality the situation is like.

Body Para3-5: Arguments supporting your chosen stand: In each paragraph, identify challenges and argue how challenges have not really been addressed in reality because of limitations in government initiatives.

Conclusion


So the 1st body paragraph might look like this:

Topic Sentence/ Point: Some hold the mistaken belief that government initiatives do alleviate the problems faced by the elderly because reports in the local media tend to emphasize the advantages of such initiatives rather than the limitations.



Topic Sentence: Some hold the mistaken belief that government initiatives do alleviate the problems faced by the elderly because reports in the local media tend to emphasize the advantages of such initiatives rather than the limitations.

Explanation/ Elaboration: (WHY do I say this?)



Topic Sentence: Some hold the mistaken belief that government initiatives do alleviate the problems faced by the elderly because reports in the local media tend to emphasize the advantages of such initiatives rather than the limitations. Explanation/ Elaboration: This is unsurprising, given that Singapore’s press is largely regulated by the government, who would wish to tout the benefits rather than the drawbacks or limitations of their policies. Consequently, many may only be exposed to government rhetoric and be unaware of how far these policies have really succeeded the in addressing the needs of the elderly.



Topic Sentence: Some hold the mistaken belief that government initiatives do alleviate the problems faced by the elderly because reports in the local media tend to emphasize the advantages of such initiatives rather than the limitations. Explanation/ Elaboration: This is unsurprising, given that Singapore’s press is largely regulated by the government, who would wish to tout the benefits rather than the drawbacks or limitations of their policies. Consequently, many may only be exposed to government rhetoric and be unaware of how far these policies have really succeeded in addressing the needs of the elderly.

Evidence: Majority of us know that lifelong financial security is a challenge for the elderly. Also, many believe the government’s rhetoric, broadcasted by mainstream media, that our CPF scheme, the compulsory savings scheme, indeed provides adequate financial support for retirees.



Topic Sentence: Some hold the mistaken belief that government initiatives do alleviate the problems faced by the elderly because reports in the local media tend to emphasize the advantages of such initiatives rather than the limitations. Explanation/ Elaboration: This is unsurprising, given that Singapore’s press is largely regulated by the government, who would wish to tout the benefits rather than the drawbacks or limitations of their policies. Consequently, many may only be exposed to government rhetoric and be unaware of how far these policies have really succeeded in addressing the needs of the elderly. Evidence: Majority of us know that lifelong financial security is a challenge for the elderly. Also, many believe the government’s rhetoric, broadcasted in mainstream media, that our CPF scheme, the compulsory savings scheme, indeed provides adequate financial support for retirees. Evaluation: Those who rely solely on the mainstream media would therefore be blind to the reality of the situation and misinformed. Without further clarifications about how far the CPF scheme has succeeded in ensuring financial security, majority might hold the misguided perception that such government initiatives are indeed adequate.


So the 1st body paragraphmight look like this:

Some hold the mistaken belief that government initiatives do alleviate the problems faced by the elderly because reports in the local media tend to emphasize the advantages of such initiatives rather than the limitations.This is unsurprising, given that Singapore’s press is largely regulated by the government, who would wish to tout the benefits rather than the drawbacks or limitations of their policies. Consequently, many may only be exposed to government rhetoric and be unaware of how far these policies have really succeeded in addressing the needs of the elderly. Majority of us know that lifelong financial security is a challenge for the elderly. Also, many believe the government’s rhetoric, broadcasted in mainstream media, that our CPF scheme, the compulsory savings scheme, indeed provides adequate financial support for retirees. Those who rely solely on the mainstream media would therefore be blind to the reality of the situation and misinformed. Without further clarifications about how far the CPF scheme has succeeded in ensuring financial security, majority might hold the misguided perception that such government initiatives are indeed adequate.



Introduction


Body Para 2: Rebuttal/ Rejection of OV: Identify flaws in the above perception. Go on to show what, in reality the situation is like.

Body Para3-5: Arguments supporting your chosen stand: Identify flaws in the perceptions and argue that the perception does not reflect reality. (In each paragraph, go on to argue how challenges have not really been

addressed in reality because of limitations in government initiatives.

Conclusion


So the 2nd body paragraph might look like this:

Topic Sentence: In reality, even if government initiatives may alleviate some of the challenges faced by the elderly, they are currently inadequate because not all of the elderly are eligible for such initiatives. .

Rejection Rebuttal

Point of topic Sentence


So the 2nd paragraph might look like this:

Topic Sentence: In reality, even if government initiatives may alleviate some of the challenges faced by the elderly, they are currently inadequate because not all of the elderly are eligible for such initiatives.

Explanation/ Elaboration: (Why do I say they are inadequate?)Even those who are eligible for the policies intended to address their needs may not be educated or mobile enough to understand and access the benefits provided by such policies.


So the 2nd body paragraph might look like this:

Topic Sentence: In reality, even if government initiatives may alleviate some of the challenges faced by the elderly, they are currently inadequate because not all of the elderly are eligible for such initiatives. Explanation/ Elaboration: Even those who are eligible for the policies intended to address their needs may not be educated or mobile enough to understand and access the benefits provided by such policies.

Evidence: On the topic of financial planning, for instance,, many believe the government’s rhetoric that our CPF scheme indeed provides adequate financial support for retired seniors. On closer inspection, however, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnan revealed in 2012 that only around 55% of Singaporeans are able to meet the Minimum Sum by the time they are 55.

Signals a clear rebuttal/ rejection of the claim made in earlier paragraph


So the2nd body paragraph might look like this:

Topic Sentence: In reality, even if government initiatives may alleviate some of the challenges faced by the elderly, they are currently inadequate because not all of the elderly are eligible for such initiatives. Explanation/ Elaboration: Even those who are eligible for the policies intended to address their needs may not be educated or mobile enough to understand and access the benefits provided by such policies. Evidence: On the topic of financial planning, for instance, many believe the government’s rhetoric that our CPF scheme indeed provides adequate financial support for retired seniors. On closer inspection, however, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratneman revealed in 2012 that only around 55% of Singaporeans are able to meet the Minimum Sum by the time they are 55.

Evaluation: (What are the IMPLICATIONS of the evidence cited?)



Topic Sentence: In reality, even if government initiatives may alleviate some of the challenges faced by the elderly, they are currently inadequate because not all of the elderly are eligible for such initiatives. Explanation/ Elaboration: Even those who are eligible for the policies intended to address their needs may not be educated or mobile enough to understand and access the benefits provided by such policies. Evidence: On the topic of financial planning, for instance, many believe the government’s rhetoric that our CPF scheme indeed provides adequate financial support for retired seniors. On closer inspection, however, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratneman revealed in 2012 that only around 55% of Singaporeans are unable to meet the Minimum Sum by the time they are 55.

Evaluation: This implies that under the CPF scheme, only 55% of Singaporeans aged 55 do have enough savings to meet the basic needs for their retirement age. This financial problem is compounded with rising costs of living and rising healthcare costs as well.

Use language that signals Evaluation



Topic Sentence: In reality, even if government initiatives may alleviate some of the challenges faced by the elderly, they are currently inadequate because not all of the elderly are eligible for such initiatives. Explanation/ Elaboration: Even those who are eligible for the policies intended to address their needs may not be educated or mobile enough to understand and access the benefits provided by such policies. Evidence: On the topic of financial planning, for instance, many believe the government’s rhetoric that our CPF scheme indeed provides adequate financial support for retired seniors. On closer inspection, however, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratneman revealed in 2012 that only around 55% of Singaporeans are unable to meet the Minimum Sum by the time they are 55. Evaluation: This implies that under the CPF scheme, only 55% of Singaporeans aged 55 do not have enough savings to meet the basic needs for their retirement age. This financial problem is compounded with rising costs of living and rising healthcare costs as well.

Linking Sentence: Therefore, while the CPF scheme may provide some financial security who are able to meet the Minimum Sum, it does not adequately address the financial challenges faced by a significant proportion of the elderly.



In reality, even if government initiatives may alleviate some of the challenges faced by the elderly, they are currently inadequate because not all of the elderly are eligible for such initiatives. Even those who are eligible for the policies intended to address their needs may not be educated or mobile enough to understand and access the benefits provided by such policies. On the topic of financial planning, for instance,many believe the government’s rhetoric that our CPF scheme indeed provides adequate financial support for retired seniors. On closer inspection, however, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam revealed in 2012 that only around 55% of Singaporeans are unable to meet the Minimum Sum by the time they are 55. This implies that under the CPF scheme, only 55% of Singaporeans aged 55 do have enough savings to meet the basic needs for their retirement age. This financial problem is compounded with rising costs of living and rising healthcare costs as well. Therefore, while the CPF scheme may provide some financial security for who are able to meet the Minimum Sum, it does not adequately address the financial challenges faced by a significant proportion of the elderly.


Alternative Essay Outline (Structure 2)

Introduction

Body Para 1: Reason why people perceive that government initiatives DO address challenges faced by elderly.

Body Para 2: Rebuttal: Identify flaws in the perception and argue that the perception does not reflect reality. reality.

Body para 3 -4: Repeat for Body paras 3 and 4, using different reason why people perceive that initiatives DO address challenges.

Body Para 5: One more argument on why in reality, the challenges have not really been addressed because of limitations in government initiatives.

Conclusion


• Not recommended at this juncture because there is a high tendency for candidates to end up sounding schizophrenic.

• Structure 1 offers a more cohesive response.


Alternative Essay Outline (Structure 3 – TO AVOID): Example-driven Essay

Introduction

Body Para 1: Identify one initiative and discuss why people perceive that it does address a challenge.

Body Para 2: Identify another initiative and discuss why people perceive that it does address a challenge.

Body para 3: Rebuttal: Discuss why the initiative in Para 1 does not in address challenge in reality.

Body para 4: Repeat for initiative in Para 2.

Conclusion


Alternative Essay Outline (Structure 3 – TO AVOID): Example-driven Essay

Introduction

Body Para 1: Identify one initiative and discuss why people perceive that it does address a challenge.

Body Para 2: Identify another initiative and discuss why people perceive that it does address a challenge.

Body para 3: Rebuttal: Discuss why the initiative in Para 1 does not in address challenge in reality.

Body para 4: Repeat for initiative in Para 2.

Conclusion

Example rather than Reason

So in essence, Structure 1 is the recommended approach you take. And it looked like this:

Scroll for another Reason for people holding misconceptions



1. Furthermore, initiatives which are meant to enhance the employability of elder workers, like the Workfare Training Scheme (WTS) and the raising of the employment age are not adequate.

2. Another reason why people believe government initiatives are adequate measures is because they are unaware of the needs of the elderly, and as a result, believe that current government initiatives are adequate.



1. Furthermore, initiatives which are meant to enhance the employability of elder workers, like the Workfare Training Scheme (WTS) and the raising of the employment age are not adequate.

2. Another reason why people believe government initiatives are adequate measures is because they are unaware of the needs of the elderly, and as a result, believe that current government initiatives are adequate.

Reason: WHY people hold certain perceptions

elderly ppt and suggested essay outline

Entertainment & Humor

challenges b

elderly assumptions

elderly development

physical health

psychological health

question type

religious beliefs

statement of doubt