8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
1/27
GENERAL APAPER TIPS AND TRICKS GUIDELINES
Contents
1 What is General Paper?
2 Which slla!"s is easier #or $e to enter #or this s"!%ect?
& Which tpe o# '"estions sho"l( I atte$pt?) *i+e Was o# Writin, GP Essa Intro("ction
- .o/ to /rite a ,oo( para,raph?
0 Writin, a Thesis State$ent
Reasonin, A!ilit
3pinions +s *acts in GP Essas
4 .o/ to a+oi( irrele+ant an( "nnecessar in#or$ation?
15 Approachin, the +a,"e '"estions in GP
11 .o/ to research #or General Paper essas?
12 So"rces o# In#or$ation #or Research
1& What is Wor(We! an( ho/ to "se it #or !est res"lts?
1) Pro!a!le 6"estion
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 1
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
2/27
What is General Paper?
In the words of Cambridge:
The AS Genera Pa!er is m"ti#dis$i!inar%& its s"b'e$t matter drawn from a$ross the $"rri$""m( The
s%ab"s en$o"rages in $andidates the abiit% to ma)e $ross#$"rri$"ar in)s* to de+eo! a mat"rit% of tho"ght
a!!ro!riate to st"dents at this e+e* and to a$hie+e an "nderstanding and "sage of the ,ngish ang"agewhi$h enabes them to e-!ress arg"ments& ideas and o!inions in a refe$ti+e and a$ademi$ manner(
In the words of st"dents:
GP is a to"gh s"b'e$t( It demands )nowedge and "nderstanding in amost a the fieds of h"man endea+o"r
in$"ding the word histor%( It re."ires the "se of so!histi$ated +o$ab"ar% and error free ang"age and so on(
In m% words:
It is not a diffi$"t s"b'e$t be$a"se %o" get man% aternati+es d"ring e-ams /o"t of 10 ."estions %o" ha+e to
$hoose on% 2 and it is ."ite !robabe that %o" wi find a to!i$ that is most a!!ro!riate to %o"( It '"st
demands %o" to )now what %o" are good at( It on% tests whether %o" $an gi+e a mat"re and rationa
'"stifi$ation of %o"r arg"ments on a !arti$"ar to!i$ or not(
Genera Pa!er is a m"st read s"b'e$t of A Le+es in m% o!inion( I ha+e benefitted a ot from st"d%ing this
s"b'e$t and I thin) e+er%one $an get simiar benefits if the% !"t some effort into it( It3s a +er% en'o%abe
s"b'e$t on$e %o" start feeing $omfortabe with writing( As a res"t of that& I3m !"rs"ing it e+en to this date(
I !edge %o" a to read this s"b'e$t with sin$erit% and de+otion be$a"se this s"b'e$t has e+er%thing to !"t
%o" ahead of others whene+er %o" $om!ete with others( I $an sa% this be$a"se writing is rea% +er% essentia
whene+er %o" want to do something s"$h as writing a $oege a!!i$ation or 'ob a!!i$ation etter( ,+en if%o" are thin)ing to be$ome a b"sinessman in the f"t"re %o"r 'o"rne% wi start b% writing a good b"siness
!an( And the most rewarding benefit of writing is that %o" be$ome more s!e$ifi$ whene+er %o" do
something( This means %o" )now the reason and !"r!ose of whate+er %o" do and that wi ma)e %o"
s"$$essf" in %o"r aim as %o" don3t ha+e to beat abo"t the b"sh be$a"se %o" )now %o"r target(
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
3/27
Which slla!"s is easier #or $e to enter #or this s"!%ect?
As far as m% $on$ern goes& I m%sef had $hosen 4556 and had fet that this s%ab"s is ."ite eas%( Simiar%&
this !a!er is a+aiabe in both e-amination sessions howe+er& 4551 is on% a+aiabe in No+ember session(
Considering these benefits and m% !ersona e-!erien$e I wo"d re$ommend %o" to go for it( Howe+er&
ma)ing a good $hoi$e de!ends arge% "!on +ario"s fa$tors in$"ding %o"r abiit% and nat"re(
I re$ommend Genera Pa!er 4556 for the st"dents who are:
moderate to high% $reati+e
in the range of wea) to good at the "sage of ,ngish
oo)ing forward to !assing the s"b'e$t easi%
$onf"sed whi$h s"b'e$t to go for
7hat I beie+e is that an a+erage st"dent $an generate some ideas on an% gi+en s"b'e$t easi%( So& if she $an
be trained to write on% the short& sim!e& grammati$a% $orre$t and semanti$a% sensibe senten$es then
haf of the batte for her is o+er( Rest haf of the batte ies in $ontent& that is& how far she $an go on to
resear$h on the s"b'e$t matter of the s%ab"s and how she $an ma)e "se of her )nowedge and fa$ts to !ro+e
her own arg"ments or tho"ghts( 8ost of the st"dents $an be$ome abe to do this easi% b"t with some
!ra$ti$e and sin$ere efforts( Therefore& I thin) that this !a!er sho"d be $onsidered b% most of the st"dents(
If %o" ha+e +er% good ,ngish and +er% good ana%ti$a s)i then on% I re$ommend %o" to a!!ear for 4551(
This s%ab"s is more to"gh and re."ires good s)is in $om!rehension and ana%sis( Howe+er& d"e to the
GPA grading s%stem %o"r grades ma% not be affe$ted se+ere% and therefore& %o" needn3t worr% too m"$he+en if %o"r e-am doesn3t go as e-!e$ted(
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 9
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
4/27
Which tpe o# '"estions sho"l( I atte$pt?
See$ting a ."estion to attem!t $an be a to"gh tas) for %o" be$a"se of man% aternati+es gi+en in the GP
e-am !a!ers( In Genera Pa!er 4556& %o"3 get 10 ."estions $ategorised into 9 se$tions and %o" ha+e to
$hoose on% two of them& ea$h from a different se$tion( /It is ."ite simiar in Genera Pa!er 4551* %o" get 1
."estions to $hoose on% one from the ist(2 7hi$he+er& the !a!er %o" are going for& %o" sho"d e+a"ate the
gi+en ."estions on the basis of %o"r )nowedge of the s"b'e$t matter( o" need to )now what %o" are goodat& at first( Then& %o" need to e+a"ate whi$h ."estions best mat$h %o"r $a!abiit% and $ons$ien$e( o"
sho"d go for those essa%s whi$h %o" $an write better than an% other ones( Howe+er& %o" need some !ra$ti$e
to be good at see$ting ."estions& at first !oint( o" wi e-$e more at this with some e-!erien$e& )nowedge
and other s)is i)e good inter!retation and ang"age s)is( Good ang"age s)is wi he! %o" "nderstand
the ."estion better and th"s %o" $an be abe to fig"re o"t whi$h ."estions to attem!t more easi%(
In most of the $ir$"mstan$es& I re$ommend %o" to $hoose those ."estions whi$h ha+e a famiiar to!i$& and
on whi$h %o" $an gi+e %o"r best arg"ments with as man% e-am!es& and fa$ts !ossibe( Choosing more
famiiar to!i$ red"$es the ris) of "n$ertaint% and boosts %o"r $onfiden$e as %o" are s"re of what %o" write(
Howe+er& with "nfamiiar to!i$s %o" '"st thin) %o" ha+e an arg"ment b"t %o" won3t be abe to generate more
ideas and moreo+er& %o" won3t be m"$h $onfident in what %o" write(
Sin$e genera !a!er is a m"ti#dis$i!inar% s"b'e$t %o" are i)e% to get ."estions from s"b'e$ts i)e !h%si$s&
e$onomi$s& b"siness st"dies& mathemati$s& arts& et$( In s"$h a $ase& whi$h is ."ite i)e%& dire$t% attem!t the
."estion reated to one of %o"r s"b'e$ts( Howe+er& %o" sho"d not "nderestimate it as eas% and do not forget
to ma)e s"re that %o" "nderstand what the ."estion is rea% abo"t(
;or those who want to do their best in GP& I re$ommend %o" to be !re!ared on some to!i$s beforehand b%
writing one good essa%s on ea$h to!i$ from the s%ab"s after a thoro"gh resear$h(
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
5/27
*i+e Was o# Writin, GP Essa Intro("ction
7riting an introd"$tion in the absen$e of !ro!er )nowedge $an be a $haenging tas)( Simiar%& getting
different ideas from different !eo!e on this matter might $om!i$ate the sit"ation e+en more( And there are
times when %o" $annot manage to write a singe word( o" thin) of different ideas and %et none of the ideas
he! %o" get on the board( =r %o" get st"$) in the midde of the senten$e and no matter how hard %o" tr%
%o"r $an>t mo+e on( Now& in this arti$e I wi tr% m% best to wi!e awa% a the $onf"sions s"rro"nding %o"and ma)e %o" abe to write an introd"$tion for different t%!es of essa%s( I ho!e %o" won>t ha+e these
!robems after reading this arti$e(
Now& being $andid% honest& there are no hard#and#fast r"es abo"t how %o" sho"d write %o"r introd"$tion
!aragra!h( Therefore& if two different !eo!e gi+e %o" two different ideas on writing an introd"$tion& then
$han$es are that both of them are right& es!e$ia% if the% ha+e some )nowedge on the fied( And this is
e-a$t% what ha!!ens most of the time with st"dents& when st"dent $om!ain that one tea$her said this whie
another said it was wrong(
Sin$e there are no s!e$ifi$ r"es& first %o" need to "nderstand the !"r!ose of introd"$tion !aragra!h to write
it we( The introd"$tion !aragra!h genera% ser+es the foowing !"r!oses:
It introd"$es the to!i$(
It sets ba$)gro"nd and a%s the fo"ndation for %o"r f"rther arg"ments(
It states the thesis and informs readers abo"t what to e-!e$t in the essa% ater(
Now& if %o" meet these !"r!oses& then %o"r introd"$tion wi be ."ite good& no matter howe+er %o" frame it(
et& I3+e des$ribed fi+e wa%s of writing the introd"$tion for genera !a!er essa%s& beow& to sim!if% this !ro$ess e+en f"rther(
17 De#inin, Ke/or(s
=ne wa% to introd"$e is b% defining the )e%words of %o"r essa% ."estion( ?sing definition in introd"$tion is
a!!ro!riate when the meanings of $ertain terms need to be $arified& when it is either ne$essar% or sim!%
a!!ro!riate and when %o" need to set imit to the s$o!e /or fo$"s2 of %o"r essa%(
Here are two e-am!e essa%s whi$h "se this method to introd"$e the essa%:
Dis$"ss the arg"ments for and against +egetarianism(
7hat roe wi Artifi$ia Inteigen$e a$t"a% !a% in h"man affairs in the ne-t few de$ades@
27 Usin, Anec(ote
Another wa% of beginning %o"r essa% is to "se ane$dote( An ane$dote is a short and interesting stor% abo"t a
rea in$ident( S"$h ane$dotes $an set a good ba$)gro"nd for %o"r essa% and $omm"ni$ate %o"r arg"ment to
the reader im!i$it%( If %o" $an $ome "! with one& %o"r essa% $an be +er% attra$ti+e to %o"r readers as we
as effe$ti+e in $on+e%ing %o"r message(
,ssa% "sing this te$hni."e:
7o"d it be ad+antageo"s if a the !eo!e thro"gho"t the word $o"d s!ea) one $ommon ang"age@
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 0
http://general-paper.com/discuss-the-arguments-for-and-against-vegetarianismhttp://general-paper.com/what-role-will-artificial-intelligence-actually-play-in-human-affairs-in-the-next-few-decadeshttp://general-paper.com/would-it-be-advantageous-if-all-the-people-throughout-the-world-could-speak-one-common-languagehttp://general-paper.com/what-role-will-artificial-intelligence-actually-play-in-human-affairs-in-the-next-few-decadeshttp://general-paper.com/would-it-be-advantageous-if-all-the-people-throughout-the-world-could-speak-one-common-languagehttp://general-paper.com/discuss-the-arguments-for-and-against-vegetarianism
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
6/27
&7 Usin, '"otations an(8or rhetorical '"estions
"otations $an in$"de an% famo"s sa%ings& or !ro+erbs whi$h are s"itabe in the $onte-t of the ."estion(
S"$h ."otations not on% ma)e it easier to begin %o"r essa%& b"t aso !ro+ide %o" with more ideas on the
to!i$( So& it is another "sef" wa% to introd"$e %o"r essa%(
,ssa% "sing ."otation for introd"$tion:
Consider the +iew that the )e% to good heath is not medi$ine& b"t ifest%e
)7 9o+in, #ro$ ,eneral to speci#ic
Another wa% to begin %o"r essa% is b% ma)ing a genera statement abo"t the to!i$( o" first introd"$e the
genera ideas on the to!i$ and then !ro$eed towards more s!e$ifi$ ideas& whi$h %o"> be dis$"ssing in the
essa% ater(
,-am!es of the essa%s& "sing this st%e in introd"$tion:
Sho"d so$iet% !"nish $riminas more harsh%@
7hat are the ad+antages and disad+antages of banning smo)ing in !"bi$ !a$es@
Is there an% !oint in !redi$ting the weather when we ha+e no $ontro o+er it@
-7 When none o# the a!o+e are "se#"l
If %o" find the abo+e dis$"ssed te$hni."es "ns"itabe or diffi$"t to im!ement on %o"r essa% then there>s
this ast wa%( This norma% doesn>t fai and is ."ite eas%( As said aread%& there>s no fi-ed r"e that %o"
sho"d foow in writing %o"r introd"$tion( t wor) with the abo+e ones& this one $an be %o"rfi-ed r"e whi$h wor)s(
;irst of a& brainstorm the ideas %o"> dis$"ss ater in %o"r essa%( ;o"r to fi+e ideas are eno"gh for A e+e
genera !a!er( Se$ond& ma)e one or two genera statements abo"t the to!i$ and write them in the beginning(
Afterwards& dire$t% state the ideas %o" '"st brainstormed( The% $an be e-!ressed either as short !hrases&
ea$h of whi$h se!arated b% a $omma& or in the form of $om!ete senten$es( ;ina%& write down %o"r thesis
statement( In this setting& %o"r thesis statement wi e-!ress %o"r o+era in$ination( ;or e-am!e& it wi
he! the reader )now whether %o" are going to dis$"ss for the to!i$& against the to!i$ or remain ne"tra on
the iss"e(
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
7/27
Lastl: if %o" fo"nd %o"rsef st"$) in the midde of writing& sear$hing either for the ideas or for the e-a$t
word that des$ribes what %o" want to e-!ress& then here are m% s"ggestions( 7itho"t tr%ing to be
!erfe$tionist& e-!ress %o"r ideas howe+er %o" $an( If %o" $an>t get an% idea e+en after m"ing o+er for a
few se$onds& then $ross the senten$e and write a different idea atogether whi$h %o" $an $omfortab% write( I
mean do not hesitate to $ross %o"r answer and thin) o+er on the new ideas( A few mista)es won>t do m"$h
harm b"t if %o" $annot $om!ete %o"r essa% for that matter& !erha!s %o"> ose more( So& mo+e on e+en if
%o" )now that %o"r idea is '"st o)a% and not !erfe$t( # See more at: htt!:www(genera#
!a!er($om515fi+e#wa%s#of#writing#g!#essa%(htmEmore
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS F
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
8/27
.o/ to /rite a ,oo( para,raph?
;irst thing %o" need to )now abo"t !aragra!hs is that one !aragra!h $ontains one and on% one idea( This is
the most im!ortant $on$e!t that %o" sho"d "nderstand !rior to writing an% !aragra!hs( This $on$e!t
e-!ains "s wh% some !aragra!hs& we en$o"nter in boo)s and magaines& are +er% short& with on% 1 or
senten$es& and wh% some !aragra!hs are +er% ong $onsisting of man% man% senten$es( As %o" wi earn
beow& %o" $an $ontra$t a onger !aragra!h into a shorter one& e+en $onfining the whoe !aragra!h within a
singe statement& and e-!and a shorter !aragra!h into a onger one b% adding +ario"s s"!!orting detais tothe main idea(
.ere are the steps to /rite a si$ple !"t lo,icall correct para,raph;
;irst of a& write down %o"r main idea on the first senten$e( This senten$e is aso )nown as the to!i$
senten$e and $an be !a$ed an%where on$e %o" master how to write a good !aragra!h( Howe+er& it3s a good
idea to !"t this senten$e in the beginning whie %o" are earning how to write( After that !ro+ide some
detais& e-am!es and so on to !ro+e or s"!!ort that main idea( ;or this& %o" $an as) some $riti$a ."estions
i)e: How far is the idea +aid@ 7hat is the ba$)gro"nd of the idea@ 7i the idea sti be +aid in +ario"s
other $ir$"mstan$es@ 7h% is the idea +aid and wh% are other ideas not +aid in the gi+en sit"ation@ 7hat do
the o!!onents of the idea sa%@ How far is their reasoning +aid@ and so on( Then draw a $on$"sion based onthis short dis$"ssion and !a$e this senten$e at the end of the !aragra!h( Howe+er& as %o" master writing&
%o" $an o"tine the !aragra!hs in %o"r own wa%( o" $an begin them with e-am!es& ane$dotes i(e( a short
stor%& %o"r own o!inion& a reated ."estion& ."otation and so on( In short& %o" are free to $onstr"$t %o"r
!aragra!h in an% wa% howe+er& %o" sho"d not forget the one !aragra!h one idea r"e and that3s a(
Se$ond%& "se the $onne$ti+es to in) se."en$e of tho"ghts or $onne$t one senten$e with another in some
wa%& so that when reading we $an infer or )now that the e+ents %o" state are o$$"rring in some )ind of order
or se."en$e( The words "sed for this !"r!ose are )nown as $onne$ti+es or in)ing words and e-am!es
in$"de first%& se$ond%& ast%& e+ent"a%& moreo+er& f"rthermore& therefore& th"s& then& et$( ?sing these
)inds of in)ing words is the se$ond basi$ r"e of writing a !aragra!h /as we as essa%s or a no+e2(
Not on% %o" sho"d "se $onne$ti+es to $onne$t two senten$es& %o" sho"d aso "se some )ind of
$onne$ti+es to $onne$t two !aragra!hs of an arti$e( o" $an "se words i)e& first& se$ond& third& ast& et$( or
first%& se$ond%& third%& moreo+er& f"rthermore& fina%& et$ to in) the !aragra!hs of %o"r essa%s(
3"tline o# a tpical para,raph
Now from the two basi$ r"es that %o" '"st earnt& %o" $an write a t%!i$a !aragra!h in the foowing form:
P"t %o"r main idea at the beginning( Then gi+e %o"r reasons or detais in an order i)e: #irst $omes this an(
then that( An( again $omes this( *or e
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
9/27
E
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
10/27
Writin, a Thesis State$ent
7hat is Thesis Statement@
Thesis statement is a statement that $on+e%s the "timate message& intention or the main arg"ment of %o"r
essa%( In other words& thesis statement $an s"mmarie %o"r whoe essa% within a singe senten$e( o"r thesis
statement wi be eno"gh for the e-aminers abo"t whi$h side or !osition %o" are ta)ing in the dis$"ssion ordebate( ;or e-am!e& in the ."estion of Jdo %o" agree@ t%!e& this statement wi te the reader whether %o"
agree and to what e-tent(
There are $haos s"rro"nding how the thesis statement sho"d be i)e( It is nat"ra for %o" to thin) that this
senten$e sho"d be ong and $om!e-& sin$e it sho"d s"mmarie the whoe essa%( !resent a few ob+io"s e-am!es abo"t how thesis statement $an be written
,-am!e 1
ames Tan Ch"an M"n& ,d"$ator in Chief at ;"t"re Perfe$t ,d"$ation& wrote a thesis statement for the
foowing essa% tite as:
67 >There is little in the 25th cent"r o# /hich /e can !e pro"( o#> Disc"ss7
There is m"$h to be !ro"d of& m"$h to be ashamed abo"t& and m"$h to ho!e for in the 5 th $ent"r%(
This senten$e $ear% refe$ts his o+era +iew on the ."estion( He is aware of the !ositi+e de+eo!ments of
whi$h we sho"d be !ro"d of* the negati+e as!e$ts of those de+eo!ments of whi$h we sho"d be ashamed
abo"t* and des!ite what ha!!ened there sti is a need for "s to be ho!ef" and o!timisti$(
;rom this singe senten$e we $an frame o"t how his whoe essa% wi oo) i)e( 7e $an more or ess !redi$t
what he is i)e% to dis$"ss in his bod% !aragra!hs( In a n"tshe& we $an )now his o+era +iew on this to!i$(
,-am!e
Simiar%& here are other e-am!es demonstrating how to write thesis statement:
67 To /hat e
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
11/27
7hie ra$ism is absent& $aste and gender dis$riminations are sti h"ge !robems in m% so$iet%(
Here we $an easi% infer that ra$ism is none-istent b"t $aste dis$rimination and gender dis$rimination are the
b"rning iss"es in the a"thor>s so$iet%( 7e $an aso e-!e$t that the a"thor wi o"tine the reasons behind s"$h
dis$riminations as we as '"stif% wh% the !robems $on$erned are high% intense in his so$iet%(
This ."estion is see)ing answer to two !arti$"ar ."estions:7hat )inds of dis$rimination !robems are !resent in %o"r so$iet%@ /Identifi$ation and '"stifi$ation of the
!robem(2
To what e-tent are the% !robemati$ in %o"r so$iet%@ /Assessment of the intensit% of the !robem( Is the
!robem serio"s or mid@2
The thesis statement abo+e has $on$ise% answered these both ."estions(
,-am!e 9
67 Can (e$ocrac !e i$pose( or $"st it ,ro/ nat"rall?
Demo$ra$% wi sti be the 3r"e of !eo!e3 e+en if estabished b% im!osition& howe+er& for f" a$$e!tan$e of
the !eo!e it sho"d be aowed to grow nat"ra%(
;rom this thesis statement& we are $ear that the a"thor is +er% !ositi+e abo"t demo$ra$%( Demo$ra$% is the
r"e of !eo!e no matter how we introd"$e it to a $o"ntr%( Peo!e are !owered with +ario"s rights in a
demo$rati$ nation and their de$ision& e-!ressed thro"gh +oting andor referend"m& on the ma'or iss"es of
nationa interest is the fina one( The a"thor seems to "nderstand these fa$ts abo"t demo$ra$%(
Howe+er& we $an infer from his thesis statement that he is aso aware of the !ossibe $onse."en$es of
im!osing demo$ra$%( In the ."estion& the word Jim!osing $ontradi$ts dire$t% with the !rin$i!e ofdemo$ra$%( JCan we im!ose !eo!e to be free& e+en if the% don>t want to@ $an be an ethi$a ."estion& a
."estion for debate( Perha!s& the !eo!e do not want to ta)e their de$ision themse+es( Perha!s the% find it
easier& and tota% $omfortabe to foow a di$tator( ;or man% reasons in$"ding reigio"s& $"t"ra and so$io#
e$onomi$& !eo!e might be a$$e!ting the r"e of a non#demo$rati$ eader( In s"$h $onditions& the% ma% e+en
retaiate or re+ot against an% other forms of go+ernment& es!e$ia% if im!osed b% some other !eo!e( The
a"thor aso "nderstands this !ossibiit%( Hen$e& he thin)s that if the demo$ra$% has to gain f" s"!!ort from
!eo!e& it sho"d be aowed to grow nat"ra%(
Con$"sion
A thesis statement need not be diffi$"t and $om!e-( In fa$t& sim!er and $earer thesis statements are betteras the% $an $omm"ni$ate %o"r arg"ment more effe$ti+e% than the diffi$"t ones( 8oreo+er& thesis
statements are not that diffi$"t to write if %o" !ra$ti$e writing them whene+er %o" write a new GP essa%(
"st be $ear in %o"r mind what %o" are writing and remember that the ength or str"$t"re of the
senten$e doesn3t matter( =n% what matters is that it sho"d be abe to gi+e a big !i$t"re of the whoe essa%(
o"r thesis statement is %o"r answer to the ."estion in a singe senten$e( # See more at: htt!:www(genera#
!a!er($om5115writing#thesis#statement(htmEmore
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 11
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
12/27
Reasonin, A!ilit
Reasoning is the s)i to gi+e %o"r arg"ments or o!inions in a ogi$a wa% so as to $on+in$e %o"r a"dien$e
that %o"r o!inion is the most a!!ro!riate one in the gi+en $ir$"mstan$es( It is aso %o"r abiit% to arg"e on a
gi+en to!i$ and !ro+e it b% means of ogi$a ideas and ree+ant e-am!es(
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
13/27
3pinions +s *acts in GP Essas
St"dents genera% thin) that GP ."estions need a ot of fa$t"a data& statisti$a information& and so on( This
is one ma'or b"nder the% $ommit to "n)nowing%( 7hie )nowedge of +ario"s things ob+io"s% he!s %o"&
it>s not in the wa% %o" thin)( o" thin) that %o" got good mar)s for writing data and fa$ts( be $ear abo"t what I>m tr%ing to sa%(
"ite $ontrar% to what st"dents thin)& the reait% abo"t GP ."estions is that rather than !"tting "! diffi$"t
to!i$s& the% !"t %o" in a diffi$"t sit"ation( Consider this ."estion& for e-am!e:
Sho"d the )e% ind"stries of a $o"ntr% be $ontroed b% the State@
Is there an% diffi$"t to!i$ in this ."estion@ The words are rea% sim!e( The ."estion is ."ite
straightforward( Howe+er& $an %o" write an essa% on this ."estion easi%@
Now $onsider another ."estion&
How far is it !ossibe for so$ieties to !ro+ide e."a o!!ort"nities for a its $itiens@
Again& ana%e this ."estion( This isn3t an% diffi$"t if we $onsider the to!i$ area: so$iet% and e."ait%( 8ost
of "s ha+e ade."ate )nowedge abo"t o"r so$ieties and e."ait% /in terms of rights the $itiens get2(
Howe+er& writing an essa% on this to!i$ is e."a% !ainf"( 7h%@
These two are the re!resentati+e ."estions of GP !a!er and %o" wi most% get these t%!es of ."estion(
These are diffi$"t be$a"se the% are as)ing %o" for %o"r !ers!e$ti+e& %o"r o!inion& %o"r '"dgment& %o"r
e+a"ation& %o"r +iews& %o"r ana%sis& %o"r assessment& et$( on the gi+en $ir$"mstan$es( o" are findingthem diffi$"t !erha!s be$a"se atho"gh %o" ha+e fa$ts& %o" are being "nabe to form o!inions on these
to!i$s GP as)s %o" to e+a"ate a sit"ation from %o"r !ers!e$ti+e( Not b% m"gging "! the fa$ts and writing
e+er%one ese>s ideas& fa$ts& detais& et$( in a '"mbed manner(
;or most of the ."estions on the $ontro+ersia iss"es& %o" are i)e% to find $ontradi$ting fa$ts& e+en if %o"
resear$h we( To gi+e %o" an e-am!e& et "s $onsider the to!i$ goba warming( 7e were ta"ght a ot abo"t
it in s$ien$e d"ring o"r se$ondar% e+e ed"$ation( 7e were ta"ght that the amo"nt of $arbon dio-ide gas&
whi$h tra!s the heat of the s"n and doesn3t aow it to es$a!e ba$) into the s!a$e& is in$reasing( So& if these
two s$ientifi$ fa$ts are tr"e then the goba warming sho"d $ertain% be ta)ing !a$e( Howe+er& there is no
a$) of e+iden$e to !ro+e it otherwise( =ne !arti$"ar% interesting !ie$e of e+iden$e is the tem!erat"re
re$ords of !ast de$ades whi$h re!orts that the earth is a$t"a% $ooing(
Therefore& in s"$h $ontro+ersia iss"es& it is diffi$"t e+en for the e-!erts to rea$h a $on+in$ing $on$"sion
abo"t what is rea% going on( In fa$t& if %o" do more and more resear$h on the to!i$s i)e this& %o"> end "!
being e+en more $onf"sed( Therefore& atho"gh %o" $an !resent both side of the arg"ments and $on$"de
that it is not !ossibe to rea$h a +aid $on$"sion for %o"r essa% %o" m"st "nderstand that data and
information aren3t awa%s the dea brea)er(
7hat I don>t mean to sa% is that data and information are "nne$essar%( A$t"a%& if %o" ha+e more
)nowedge then %o" are more i)e% to ha+e more o!inions on !"bi$ iss"es( So& more )nowedge is awa%s
a!!re$iabe( Howe+er& don>t forget the rea matter whie tr%ing to sear$h for data and statisti$s( The most
im!ortant thing in %o"r essa% is %o"r ana%sis& %o"r o!inion& %o"r e+a"ation& %o"r arg"ment( ?se fa$ts tos"!!ort it( Don>t dis$"ss o+er fa$ts on% witho"t !resenting %o"r arg"ment /o!inion2( And %o"r o!inion
sho"d be i)e that of mat"red& whi$h is rea$hed "!on after $aref" $onsideration and e+a"ation of the both
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 19
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
14/27
sides of the stor%iss"e at hand(
;or the first ."estion abo+e& I wi go for a Ono> answer be$a"se I thin) that !ri+ate management of ind"stries
is better and ess $orr"!ted Now& oo) at the gi+en iss"e: It is abo"t effi$ien$% of the management( It is
abo"t whi$h organiation $an better manage the )e% ind"stries: go+ernment or the !ri+ate $om!anies@ If
go+ernment is more effi$ient then& %es& the go+ernment sho"d own the )e% ind"stries( =therwise& !ri+ate
ind"stries sho"d be gi+en the $han$e( Howe+er& in a more reaisti$ sit"ation some ind"stries are either too
arge for a !ri+ate instit"tion or "ns"itabe as the% are nat"ra mono!o% /s"$h as water s"!!%2( In s"$h
$onditions& go+ernment>s management might be better or more a!!ro!riate( These !oints $an be dis$"ssed in
other !aragra!hs of %o"r essa% ater( o" might ta$)e this essa% tota% different% than m% a!!roa$h as
we(
Considering more bases in e+a"ating the gi+en !robem& ma)es %o"r '"dgment more !a"sibe and more
mat"red( So& tr% to +iew the sit"ation from different anges and !ers!e$ti+es of different !eo!e( In the abo+e
!aragra!h& I3+e drawn $on$"sion b% $onsidering on% one !ers!e$ti+e: effi$ien$%( This is o)a% to !resent
%o" an e-am!e b"t not o)a% in %o"r GP essa%( Tr% to get more bases for $om!arison whie writing the
$om!ete essa%( And end the essa% b% stating whi$h side of the arg"ment %o" are more in$ined to(
Simiar%& the se$ond ."estion wi ma)e %o" thin)& how far the $on$e!t of e."ait% is !ra$ti$a and to what
e-tent@ 7hat are the bases of e."ait% and $an so$ieties im!art e."ait% on those bases@ Perha!s !ro+iding
e."a rights and o!!ort"nities is e."ait%( =r !erha!s& res!e$ting e+er%one e."a% for howe+er the% are and
whate+er the% do is eno"gh to $aim e."ait% Perha!s& there sho"d be a ist of bases on whi$h !eo!e
sho"d be not dis$riminated& on foowing whi$h e."ait% $an be ens"red( Now what e+e of e."ait% is
desirabe and what e+e of e."ait% is attainabe in rea ife@ o" are free to !resent %o"r +iews b"t be
!re!ared to gi+e strong reasons for the e-aminers to $on+in$e them that %o"r +iews are +aid(
Now whie gi+ing strong reasons& it wo"d be a!!ro!riate to remind them what the% aread% beie+e to be
tr"e( es& this is where %o"r )nowedge of fa$ts and information $omes into !a%(
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
15/27
.o/ to a+oi( irrele+ant an( "nnecessar in#or$ation?
Wh is o$ittin, in#or$ation necessar?
Some so"r$es of information are not reiabe& and !ro+ide %o" with o"tdated or fa)e data(
Some a$) ."ait%& th"s ma)ing reading a waste of time(
Reading a the information $a"ses information o+eroad be$a"se there are a ot of te-ts e+en on a singes"b#to!i$ of a broad to!i$ and reading a of them is neither !ossibe nor ne$essar%(
Therefore& determining the ."ait%& ree+an$e and +aidit% of the information so"r$e is e-treme% im!ortant
to get '"st the ne$essar% information(
.o/ to ens"re the +ali(it o# the in#or$ation so"rce?
;irst& ens"re that the so"r$e is reiabe or it $an be tr"sted( This is ."ite diffi$"t b"t not im!ossibe( =ne wa%
to $he$) this is b% oo)ing at the $itation( Some sites i)e 7i)i!edia ba$) "! their $aims /arg"ments2 with a
referen$e /or the so"r$e of that information2 to ma)e the arti$e more a"thenti$( So& oo) for these
$hara$teristi$s( Genera%& these t%!es of sites $an be tr"sted( Then& what abo"t the so"r$e itsef@ "dge it b%
other ."aities s"$h as goodwi& fame or re!"tation& and so on( ;or e-am!e& some news $or!orations ha+e
earned re!"tation for their reiabiit% s"$h as the s not we written or the writer is '"st an amate"r then don>t read
it "ness %o" are ass"red of its reiabiit%( Aso& there are sites in the internet whi$h '"st a"tomate the $ontent
based "!on %o"r sear$h( S"$h sites don3t ha+e an% fa$t"a and origina $ontent and when %o" s"rf two three
!ages %o" $an )now whether the site is a"tomating its $ontent or not( o" $an aso ta)e he! of %o"r
)nowedge and e-!erien$e to '"dge if the information is $redibe(
=e selecti+e /ith rea(in, to a+oi( in#or$ation o+erloa(
Don>t read e+er% to!i$ min"te%( Read on% the im!ortant and !o!"ar ones more dee!%( To )now whi$h
to!i$ is im!ortant is ."ite a $haenging tas)( Howe+er& %o" sho"d earn a wa% with this too( ;or e-am!e&
when %o" read abo"t the histor% of the word& there are some e+ents whi$h sho"d not be a+oided& for
instan$e the ;ren$h re+o"tion& the Renaissan$e of the 1Bth $ent"r%& the two great word wars& et$( Therefore&
sear$h for s"$h e+ents and read them( The e+ents whi$h bring abo"t the re+o"tionar% /drasti$2 $hange in the
ife& and ifest%e of !eo!e are among the im!ortant ones and these sho"d be read( =ther "nim!ortant
e+ents $an be ignored(
Gi+e $ore pre#erence to the topics o# o"r interests
Read more to!i$s of %o"r interests and don>t waste m"$h time on to!i$s that %o" are not interested in at a(
Don>t worr% for the e-ams be$a"se %o" ha+e man% aternati+es and so read !assionate% and in a rea-ed
manner( I am ad+ising this to %o" be$a"se it wi be eas% to "nderstand as we as to remember the matters of
%o"r interest( Th"s& %o"r reading wi be more effe$ti+e(
Choose !oos o+er other so"rces #or '"alit an( relia!ilit
If !ossibe read !h%si$a boo)s more atho"gh a habit to resear$h onine is ne$essar%( 7hene+er %o" ha+e an
o!tion& I re$ommend boo)s be$a"se the% wi be better in terms of ."ait% and reiabiit%( Aso the% are goodfor %o"r menta heath too( =nine resear$hes $a"se more stress to %o"(
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
16/27
Approachin, the +a,"e '"estions in GP?
There are $ertain ."estions in GP whi$h $reate $onf"sion in st"dents( ;or e-am!e:
To what extent is design important in your society?
7hat does Jo"r societ mean in this ."estion@
Thin) for a se$ond and %o"> find o"t that this is tota% s"b'e$ti+e( o"r so$iet% $an mean:
o"r o$ait% /the immediate geogra!hi$a !a$e where %o" i+e e(g(& %o"r +iage& town& $it%& et$2
o"r $omm"nit% /reated to %o"r ra$e& $"t"re& reigion: e(g(& Hind" $omm"nit%& 8"sim $omm"nit%& and the
i)e(2
o"r $o"ntr%
o"r region /for e-am!e& 8idde ,ast& So"th Asia& and so on2& et$
Here& the term J%o"r so$iet% has m"ti!e meanings& whi$h ma)es the whoe ."estion J+ag"e So& doesn3tthis $reate $onf"sion@
es& it does( So& what>s the wor)aro"nd@
?!on e+a"ating the mar) s$hemes and e-aminer re!orts& abo"t whi$h %o" $an earn more in the in)s I ha+e
inserted here& I ha+e fo"nd o"t that s"$h GP ."estions $an be attem!ted +er% +er% fe-ib% I mean& %o" $an
inter!ret the meaning of the terms i)e 3%o"r so$iet%3 to mean an% of those meanings I ha+e mentioned abo+e
or whate+er %o" "nderstand b% so$iet% That definition sho"d be somehow agreeabe and %o"r essa% wi be
fine( # See more at: Simiar%& in the foowing ."estion:
How are young offenders dealt with in your country?
7hat is the meaning of the word J%o"ng here@ Isn3t a 0 %ears od offender& %o"ng@ If he is then& is it the
sensibe ."estion@ "st thin)
Howe+er& I g"ess %o" aread% )now that J%o"ng here means the age at whi$h we one $annot be hed
a$$o"ntabe ega% for hisher iega a$t( Genera%& the offenders "nder the age of 14 %ears are $onsidered
minor* howe+er this is not a "ni+ersa r"e( Laws in different $o"ntries ha+e defined Jminor different%(
8oreo+er& different a$ts within the same $o"ntr% define it different%( This $onf"sion !ro+ides %o" an
o!!ort"nit% to inter!ret the meaning of the !hrase J%o"ng offender as %o" wish( ;or e-am!e& %o" $an
inter!ret the term as ess than 16 %ears Howe+er& in)ing it to %o"r $o"ntr% and "sing the )nowedge abo"t
%o"r $o"ntr% $an he! %o" ded"$e the $oser meaning of s"$h +ag"e words and get more mar)s( Howe+er&%o" sti ha+e the freedom to inter!ret the meaning on %o"r own and write an essa% a$$ording% (
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 1B
http://www.general-paper.com/search/label/Mark%20Schemeshttp://www.general-paper.com/search/label/Examiner%20Reporthttp://www.general-paper.com/search/label/Mark%20Schemeshttp://www.general-paper.com/search/label/Examiner%20Report
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
17/27
.o/ to research #or General Paper essas?
The pro!le$ /ith ,eneral paper an( a nee( #or a research
Genera Pa!er doesn>t ha+e a te-tboo)* neither does it ha+e an eaborate s%ab"s( The to!i$s gi+en in the
s%ab"s are s"ggestion on% and these are not e-a$t% the $ontent of the s%ab"s( Perha!s& this is wh% it is
$aed genera !a!er& and not s!e$ifi$ !a!er Th"s& witho"t s!e$ifi$ g"ideines and s%ab"s it>s ob+io"s for%o" to get fr"strated abo"t what to read& how to get the ed"$ationa materias& how to get better grades in
e-ams& et$( In this arti$e I wi tr% to soothe %o"r fr"stration b% e-!aining %o" what and how to resear$h for
GP essa%s to get ree+ant $ontent& fa$ts and e-am!es(
;irst& et "s )now abo"t the basi$s of resear$h( o" don>t ha+e to do it forma% and reg"ar% b"t $onsidering
$ertain as!e$ts $o"d red"$e m"$h of %o"r heada$he and dei+er %o" with better res"ts( ( 7hat wo"d %o" sear$h with this to!i$@This to!i$ is +er% broad be$a"se histor% histor% of /the ?SA the ?K German% a!an China
R"ssia a other $o"ntries2 and war /a the wars fo"ght within and among the $o"ntries in$"ding the
great 7ord 7ar I Q II2( And terrorism& reated to war and other form of +ioen$e& is a broad to!i$ too( 7hat
to sear$h@ Therefore& %o" need to narrow down %o"r to!i$s into sim!e s"bto!i$s to ma)e %o"r resear$h
more effi$ient and effe$ti+e(
.o/ to narro/ (o/n the topics an( si$pli# research?
As %o" earned abo+e that broad to!i$ $reate more !robem and $onf"sion %o" sho"d brea) these broad
to!i$s into sim!er ones( ;irst of a& sear$h information on the broad terms whi$h wi he! %o" get
s"bto!i$s on whi$h %o" $an sear$h more to find o"t the s"bto!i$s of s"bto!i$s( ;or e-am!e& %o" $o"d get+ario"s res"ts when sear$hing for histor%& war& or terrorism( ;rom these %o" $o"d earn abo"t ietnam 7ar
or the 7ord 7ar( Now& sear$h again for these terms to )now more abo"t them( And in $ase if %o" find more
s"bto!i$s& whi$h seem to be im!ortant as we as interesting& %o" $an sear$h on them as we( In this wa%&
%o" $an narrow down %o"r sear$h(
So"rces o# In#or$ation
o" might be "nware of a the so"r$es of information and th"s getting de!ressed( o" $an gi+e a oo) on
this !age to dis$o+er whi$h so"r$es of information are a!!ro!riate for %o" and whi$h are not(
How to a+oid irree+ant and "nne$essar% information@
Howe+er& %o" sho"d earn to omit the "nne$essar% information to a+oid information o+eroad be$a"se thereLHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 1F
http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?answer=35890http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/static.py?hl=en&page=guide.cs&guide=1221265&answer=136861&rd=1http://general-paper.com/sources-of-information-for-researchhttp://general-paper.com/sources-of-information-for-researchhttp://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?answer=35890http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/static.py?hl=en&page=guide.cs&guide=1221265&answer=136861&rd=1http://general-paper.com/sources-of-information-for-researchhttp://general-paper.com/sources-of-information-for-research
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
18/27
are a ot of te-ts e+en on a singe s"b#to!i$ of a broad to!i$ and reading a of them is neither !ossibe nor
ne$essar%( Therefore& determining the ."ait%& ree+an$e and +aidit% of the information so"r$e is e-treme%
im!ortant whi$h is e-!ained here in detai(
So$e $ore Tips
7hen %o" !erform resear$h with a !"r!ose %o" $an ma)e notes of what to resear$h and what %o" fo"nd o"t
from a resear$h( Aso %o" $an )ee! a 'o"rna or diar% reg"ar% and this wi aso ma)e %o" more aware
abo"t where& when and how to resear$h( A good resear$h s)i de+eo!s grad"a% and %o" sho"d !erform
resear$h $ontin"o"s% to be abe to sear$h and get information abo"t a !arti$"ar to!i$ more ."i$)%(
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 14
http://general-paper.com/how-to-avoid-irrelevant-and-unnecessary-informationhttp://general-paper.com/how-to-avoid-irrelevant-and-unnecessary-informationhttp://general-paper.com/how-to-avoid-irrelevant-and-unnecessary-information
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
19/27
So"rces o# In#or$ation #or Research
7hie doing a resear$h don>t ta)e a +er% stri$t a!!roa$h( Instead ma)e a fe-ibe !an and see) for +ario"s
aternati+e so"r$es of information( To draw )nowedge from +ario"s so"r$es %o" sho"d )now abo"t the
benefits of ea$h of them first( ;or e-am!e& internet is a h"ge so"r$e of information b"t the information
fo"nd there ma% not be reiabe( =n the other hand& boo)s /not et need that information right then or sim!%
%o" fee that %o" don>t need it at an% !oint of %o"r ife( Howe+er& from now on& I s"ggest %o" to isten to that
)ind of information as we be$a"se it $an be "sef" ater in %o"r GP essa%s as we as rea ife and this is
how %o" a$$"m"ate )nowedge& b% earning things one b% one( So& tr% to isten to others intent% e+en if it
doesn>t $on$ern %o"( This wa% %o" get information effortess%( Howe+er& that information ma% not fa$t"a
/based "!on fa$ts2 and therefore& %o" need to +erif% it on$e from a reiabe so"r$e s"$h as !rinted boo)s and
tr"sted websites(
In short& what I mean is that %o" sho"d tr% to )now more from +ario"s so"r$es "tiiing %o"r imited time
and energ%( In the ne-t !age %o" wi earn How to a+oid irree+ant and "nne$essar% information@ whi$h is
+ita to a+oid information o+eroad(
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 1
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
20/27
What is Wor(We! an( ho/ to "se it #or !est res"lts?
What is Wor(We!?
7ord7eb is a digita di$tionar% a+aiabe in both free and !ro +ersions( It is hand% and ."ite f"fiing for
o"r $"rrent needs( It o$$"!ies ess s!a$e in memor% as it is sma in sie& it has eas% interfa$e and it $an be
easi% downoaded from the internet( So& I re$ommend %o" to "se it(
Wh "se Wor(We!?
Imagine that %o" are reading e
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
21/27
GP Pro!a!le 6"estion
;irst of a& I wo"d i)e to share something with %o":
I ha+e tried to g"ess !robabe ."estions i)e this for fo"r sessions with this one being the atest and in m%
!ast g"ess#wor)s& what I ha+e e-!erien$ed is that most of the st"dents bind% re% on them and !re!are on%
on the to!i$ areas isted here( And when the ."estions do not fa from the areas I ha+e isted there the%sim!% show aggression( =ne !erson wrote in m% ;a$eboo) Gro"! in a satiri$a manner that& J155
."estions were as)ed from m% !redi$ted to!i$s(
Now& read an arti$e on another bog( 8s Adrienne de So"a writes how st"dents get tri$)ed b% reading
!robabe ."estions( She fran)% sa%s that her !redi$tions ha+e been wrong before& i)e mine And I3+e
awa%s in$"ded a note of warningdis$aimer in ea$h of the earier !redi$tions (
The reait% is that& GP ."estions aren3t diffi$"t or from different to!i$s than isted in !robabe ."estions
andor s%ab"s( The% are '"st $onte-t"a& and sit"ation#based( o" need to answer the ."estion b% being
bo"nd within the imits or bo"ndar% set b% the ."estion on a s!e$ifi$ to!i$( Therefore& a sight $hange inwording ma)es a GP ."estion tota% different from the !re+io"s one( o" are as)ed to ana%e
the sit"ation and b"id a!!ro!riate answer based on it( And %o" thin) that it is a abo"t fa$ts when& in
reait%& the ."estions demand %o"r o!inions and reasoning( Pease "nderstand this( I3+e written an arti$e on
this matter aread%(
8% ad+i$e for %o" here is: Re% on these !redi$tions at %o"r own ris) =r don3t ta)e them as !redi$tions at
a and read '"st for information(
Rationale o# this Article
;rom what I ha+e said earier& %o" ma% infer that %o" sho"d not read this arti$e an% f"rther( I do not mean
so If I was to sa% so& wh% wo"d I write this arti$e in the first !a$e@
I rea% want %o" to read this arti$e( ea& I rea% want %o" to read& not be$a"se m% !redi$tions wi be
$orre$t b"t be$a"se this arti$e $an !ro+ide %o" a ot of ideas on the to!i$s isted in s%ab"s( Aso these
."estions wi he! %o" a$."aint %o"rsef with the nat"re of ."estions that wi be as)ed in the GP e-ams(
Another reason I wrote this arti$e is be$a"se man% st"dents as)ed me to do so( So& here %o" are g"%s( Ta)e
them as !robabe& not as $ertain :D
Pro!a!le Areas #or 6"estion selection
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 1
http://thegeneralpaper.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/key-events-in-2010/http://thegeneralpaper.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/key-events-in-2010/http://thegeneralpaper.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/key-events-in-2010/
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
22/27
Section 1; .istorical: social: econo$ic: political an( philosophical topics
9arria,e an( #a$il li#e
The !robabe ."estion from this to!i$ in$"de
Dis$"ss the $hanging !attern of marriage in %o"r $o"ntr%(
Has the te$hnoogi$a re+o"tion bro"ght $hange in the ifest%e of !eo!e /in %o"r $o"ntr%2@
• Assess the im!a$t of n"$ear fami% "!on the so$iaiation of $hidren /in %o"r $o"ntr%2(
How are disabed !eo!e treated in %o"r $o"ntr%@
Sports
Re$ent =%m!i$s games in London $an be a $"rrent iss"e for this to!i$( Simiar%& Para%m!i$s is the
=%m!i$s of the handi$a!!ed and disabed athetes& whi$h ta)es !a$e in winter( To earn more abo"t these
to!i$s& !ease Googe them(
7hat are the im!a$ts of s!orting e+ents i)e Para%m!i$s in the ife of disabed !eo!es@
Disabed !eo!e are "seess at s!orts( How far do %o" agree with this statement@
.istor
Histor% is another to!i$ area for ."estion see$tion from whi$h the ."estions as foows $an be as)ed(
Dis$"ss the most im!ortant histori$a e+ent of %o"r $o"ntr%(
Te$hnoogi$a de+eo!ments ha+e made histori$a )nowedge "bi."ito"s( Is this tr"e@
Is the h"man $i+iiation going to end in De$ember 1& 51@
A(+ertise$ent
Is so$ia ad+ertising an% worth@ Dis$"ss in the ight of ;a$eboo) ad+ertising(
Is onine ad+ertising the f"t"re of ad+ertising@
T ad+ertising is obsoete( How far do %o" agree@
It is not ne$essar% to ad+ertise %o"r b"siness an%more( Peo!e wi find %o"r !rod"$t themse+es b% "sing
Googe& if the% need it( Is this a fair $omment@
Tele+ision sho/s
How far is it tr"e that tee+ision r"ins o"r ife@
Tee+ision is s%non%mo"s to ad+ertising( Do %o" agree@
Econo$
The ga! between ri$h and !oor $annot be minimied( How far do %o" agree@
7hat is the sit"ation of "nem!o%ment in %o"r $o"ntr%@
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
23/27
The effe$ts of gobaiation ha+e been fet far and wide( 7hat is %o"r +iew@
Has the goba finan$ia $risis setted down@
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 9
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
24/27
Section 2; Science: incl"(in, its histor: philosoph: ,eneral principles an( applications
en+iron$ental iss"es $athe$atical topics
Science an( Technolo,
Is s$ien$e s"!erior to nat"re@
In the f"t"re& there wi be more robots than h"mans( How far do %o" agree@
Smart!hones and the internet te$hnoog% are 'oint% $hanging the wa% !eo!e ead their ife( Dis$"ss(
En+iron$ent
Is it eno"gh to $eebrate O7ord ,n+ironment Da%> on% on$e a %ear@
,n+ironmenta iss"es ha+e ost im!ortan$e in the re$ent %ears( How far is this tr"e@
7i s$ien$e e+er be abe to re$o+er o"r en+ironment to the state !rior to ind"stria re+o"tion@
Ener,
How far wi s$ien$e be s"$$essf" in in+enting a $ean energ%@
7i it e+er be !ossibe to meet the e+er growing demand for energ% thro"gh green energ% so"r$es@
Is %o" $o"ntr% !re!ared to dea with the e-ha"stion of fossi f"es@
Section &; Literat"re an( lan,"a,e: arts an( cra#ts
Art Bphoto,raph: paintin,: sc"lpt"re: arti#acts
Art has ost im!ortan$e be$a"se of !hotogra!h%( Do %o" agree@
A$$o"nt for the im!ortan$e of an$ient arts(
Are a rare ob'e$ts of arts +a"abe@
The digita arts and i"strations are re!a$ing the oder forms of arts( How far is this tr"e in %o"r $o"ntr%@
Is 9D Printer a new s$"!tor@
Literat"re an( lan,"a,e
7rite a re+iew /or $riti$ism2 of the no+e %o" read re$ent%@
The internet is !romoting ,ngish ang"age on%( How far is this tr"e@
Is the im!ortan$e of an$ient iterat"re fading nowada%s@
So$e .ot8C"rrent Iss"es
Arab S!ring is a term "sed to denote a series of !rotests and demonstrations from the !eo!e in $o"ntries
i)e T"nisia& Lebanon& ordan& ,g%!t& emen& Ira.& Lib%a& et$ of the 8idde ,ast and North Afri$a against
the di$tatorshi! or abso"te monar$h%& h"man rights +ioations& go+ernment $orr"!tion& e$onomi$ de$ine&"nem!o%ment& e-treme !o+ert%& et$( The mo+ement started in 515 in T"nisia& and after its s"$$ess it
re!i$ated to other $o"ntries(
Patent wars in ?S are the ega battes $aiming the ownershi! "!on the intee$t"a !ro!erties i)e design of
hardware& software& et$( The% are $o"rt trias& where one $om!an% either $aims "!on the intee$t"a
!ro!ert% of another& or bames another $om!an% for infringing its !atents b% $o!%ing"sing them witho"t
i$ensing them from the inno+ating $om!an%( The re$ent tria of Sams"ng and A!!e& where Sams"ng was
ordered to !a% one biion ?S doars to A!!e& was rea% a s!e$ta$"ar e+ent in the te$h ind"str%(
Sin$e these are on% the g"ess#wor)& I s"ggest %o" to read other to!i$s as we(
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 6
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
25/27
7hat are the !robabe ."estions /g"esses2 for the "!$oming e-ams@
The ."estions of Genera Pa!er are as)ed in s"$h a wa% to in$or!orate as man% +ariations !ossibe( ;or
e-am!e& %o" get ."estions on a sorts of dis$i!ines s"$h as arts& h"manities& anthro!oog%& so$ioog%&
s$ien$e and te$hnoog% and so on& ranging from histori$a e+ents to the most re$ent ha!!enings( Therefore& it
is not eas% to fig"re o"t and !ro+ide %o" with some g"essings abo"t whi$h ."estion is !robabe( Howe+er
there are some wa%s %o" $an get he!ed on this(
o" $an $hoose some to!i$s from the s%ab"s and !re!are them for %o"r e-ams( ;or e-am!e& %o" $an
!re!are for some s!e$ifi$ se$tions s"$h as S$ien$e and Te$hnoog% and Arts or an% s"itabe $ombination for
%o"( Regardess of the to!i$s& get in to"$h with the atest news and their en+ironmenta and so$ia
im!i$ations be$a"se whether it is s$ien$e& arts& or !hioso!h% most of the $on$erns are for man)ind and
therefore& so$ia and en+ironmenta $onte-ts are +er% im!ortant in amost a of the areas of h"man $on$ern(
And %o" sho"d ta)e $are of them most
Aso do not forget to see !ast !a!ers( The% are +er% "sef" when it $omes to getting better grades( Again
there are two ma'or ad+antages of so+ing ."estions from the !ast !a!ers( ;irst& is that the ."estions from
those !a!ers are i)e% to re!eat in the $oming e-ams( If %o" $om!are among the !ast !a!ers of different
%ears %o" $an find some ."estions being re!eated( Therefore& there is !ossibiit% that the% $an be as)ed againin the "!$oming e-ams( Se$ond benefit is that the !ast !a!ers $an gi+e %o" insights on what t%!es of
."estions wi be as)ed in the e-ams( This wi he! %o" be$ome !re!ared for the e-am as we as g"ess the
!robabe ."estions %o"rsef to some e-tent(
Sho"l( e+er co"ntr !e ,i+en a ri,ht to possess /eapons o# /ar?
Note: This !ost is not a $om!ete essa% b"t wi he! %o" brainstorm to write one(
In the ."estion i)e this& it wo"d at first seem that !ossessing wea!ons b% e+er% $o"ntr% wo"d be"ndesirabe or e+en dangero"s es!e$ia% for the !ro!onents /or ad+o$ates2 of !ea$e and harmon%( Howe+er&
I wo"d ta)e the side of O%es> and show %o" how we $an ha+e stronger !oints from that !ers!e$ti+e(
;irst of a& whi$h bod% is there to grant or ta)e awa% the right of the $o"ntries to !ossess wea!ons@ As far as
I )now& there is no s"$h bod% whi$h $an di$tate whi$h $o"ntr% $an !ossess wea!ons and whi$h $an>t( So&
this ."estion in itsef is a h%!otheti$a ."estion(
Again if s"$h rights are granted to some nations and !rohibited for others wo"dn3t it be an "nfair a$t@
=b+io"s% and hen$e s"$h !ro+isions wi arise Je."ait% iss"es among the nations( Therefore& on% +iabe
aternati+es wi be to either aow a nations to !ossess the wea!ons or disaow a of them for the same(
Now& if we disaow a of the $o"ntries to !ossess the wea!onr% again there wi be an iss"e of Jtr"st( How$an the $o"ntries be s"re that the other $o"ntries do not se$ret% !ossess the arms and amm"nition of war@
There is either a diffi$"t wa% or no wa% to )now this( Therefore& aowing the $o"ntries to ha+e wea!ons
wo"d be a better aternati+e(
;"rthermore& if s"$h rights aren3t granted& then there wi be a h"ge debate on who wi enfor$e s"$h aw that
!rohibits the right to !ossess wea!ons( If for e-am!e& an indi+id"a $o"ntr% too) s"$h a !osition to disaow
other $o"ntries in !ossessing wea!ons then that $o"ntr% might ab"se its !ower( Again& if the ING=s i)e the
?nited Nations too) $harge of this res!onsibiit% then it wi sti be "ntr"stworth% for a nations be$a"se of
the !ossibiit% of bias s"$h as fa+o"ring one $o"ntr% o+er another and aowing it to !ossess wea!ons( In
other words& s"$h organiations wo"d aso not be $om!ete% tr"sted b% a nations( So& there wi be a h"ge
debate as the iss"e is ."ite sensiti+e one( ,+en if the% s"$$eed in gaining the tr"st of a nations and rea$hed
a $onsens"s that no one wi !rod"$e wea!onr%& the im!ementation of this agreement wi be s)e!ti$a(
LHS GP TIPS AND TRICKS 0
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
26/27
8oreo+er& s"$h a aw be$omes an o!!ort"nit% to nations with e+i intentions( 7hie the rest of the word
destro%s its wea!ons& s"$h nations wi start to b"id wea!ons e+en more aggressi+e%& to materiaie their
e+i $a"se as soon as !ossibe( So& this aw wi essentia% ea+e a h"ge se$"rit% hoe( Howe+er& more
reaisti$a%& e+en if s"$h $onsens"s is rea$hed and ena$ted& amost a the $o"ntries wi se$ret% f"rther their
wea!on resear$h be$a"se the% ass"me that other $o"ntries are aso doing so and that the% might !ose threat
to them in the f"t"re( Therefore& e+er% $o"ntr% sho"d be gi+en the right to own wea!ons( Granting rights to
!rod"$e wea!ons wi not be as m"$h a +i$e as we thin) of it( Sin$e& a $o"ntries wi be in+esting some of
their reso"r$es in wea!onr%& a wi !ossess wea!ons( Howe+er& no $o"ntr% wi be abe to estimate the
!ower of other nations e-a$t%(
8/17/2019 00 General Paper Tips and Tricks Guideline Complete (1)
27/27
What (oes Gra(e Threshol( $ean?
The minim"m mar)s re."ired to obtain a grade is )nown as grade threshod( ;or e-am!e& if at east 90
mar)s are re."ired to obtain grade A then the grade threshod for A is 90(
Simiar%& CI, !"bishes grade threshods for < and , grades( The threshods for C and D are obtained b%
di+iding the mar) inter+a /range2 between the threshods of < and , into three e."a di+isions( ;ore-am!e& if grade threshod for grade < and , are 95 and 14 res!e$ti+e%( Then the inter+a of 1 is di+ided
into 9 di+isions of 6 mar)s ea$h( Now& the grade threshod for C and D are $om!"ted as B and
res!e$ti+e%( If di+iding the inter+a b% three res"ts in a fra$tion of a mar)& then the threshod is norma%
ro"nded down( This in$reases %o"r $han$es of getting a better grade(
The threshod for AU grade is $a$"ated "sing the differen$e between A and < as a starting !oint( Howe+er&
AU grade does not e-ist for Genera Pa!er sin$e it is an AS e+e s"b'e$t(
The threshods for the s%ab"s are determined first b% adding together the threshods for the
$om!onents ta)en b% the $andidate( A red"$tion ma% be made at the higher grades de!ending on the
$orreation of the !a!ers( If the ma-im"m raw mar)s for the $om!onents are not in the
weightingreationshi! s!e$ified in the s%ab"s& a weighting is a!!ied to arri+e at the o+era threshods(
A$$ording to Cambridge Internationa ,-aminations /CI,2& grade threshods are !"bished for a GC,
AAS and IGCS, s"b'e$ts where a $orres!onding mar) s$heme is a+aiabe(
Sam!e Grade Threshod
To !ro+ide %o" a sam!e +iew of grade threshod !ro+ided b% Cambridge& I ha+e $ro!!ed the tabe from a
Grade Threshod fie