IS YOUR SOCIETY TOO

RESULTS-DRIVEN?
Essay Outline for JC2 General Paper Revision 2014
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STEP 1 : INTERPRET
Results-driven = focussed on outcomes that are
visible, tangible, measurable
Opposite = to be concerned with the process and
what can be gained or learnt from the process,
irrespective of the outcomes
Too = excessive How can we tell when something
is excessive ?
When the benefits of the process are lost
When the pursuit of results leads to other harms

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STEP 2 : CRAFT POINTS

STEP 3 : ADD SUPPORT

STEP 4 : ORDER


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Education it all starts here ...
We want results, grades
Individuals grades to uni
Schools, institutions
build reputation, be
accountable to the
Ministry
Ministry / Govt want
world ranking for the
countrys reputation, part
of the economic agenda
BUT our paper chase has
gone too far...
Sacrifice joy of learning,
curiosity, exploration, creativity
Limited options of study in
tertiary institutions potential
employability, starting pay, job
prospects supersede learning
deeply about seemingly less
relevant subjects
Fear of failure & risk-taking
Cannot see the big picture =
Stress (Every test a Big test?)
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Economy always in survival mode
We want prosperity
Indiv : Higher pay,
promotion
Businesses : Profit
Govt : Econc growth
But we do so at the expense of
quality of life
Indiv : give up on passion ?
Delay or forego marriage &
family
Businesses : sacrifice welfare
of workers in terms of their
pay, physical and emotional
health
Throw away what seems
outdated & disregard its
intrinsic worth if it obstructs
money-making
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Family life
We want a good life
Middle class aspirations :
Improvement in standard
of living (material
possessions), for children
to have a good chance to
do well (grades become a
yardstick)
But what are the quality of
relationships like ?
Depends on what philosophy
the family lives by
Some have sacrificed
happiness
Others choose to
emphasize important
aspects that cannot be
quantified or assessed,
precisely to cope with the
results-driven world outside
home
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Peoples Relationship with the Govt
We want judge each
other using data
Voters want to assess the
govt by various criteria,
make the govt
accountable to the people
The Govt wants to
measure results for future
planning purposes
But this kind of judging
has created tension
Results of surveys may not be
enough & can be misleading
Textbook solutions to real
human problems >> anguish
for ordinary people

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STEP 5 : Thesis Statement
There is nothing wrong with being
results-driven but my society has
become excessive in wanting
results, as seen from what we
have sacrificed.
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