Secondary School Literature

[Zeal mummy]

D3@n\" post_id=\"2069590\" time=\"1654352528\" user_id=\"124020:

Yes, there are certain famous key quotes for every text. But some teachers will advise students not to go for the \"usual suspects\" as they have become somewhat cliche. For me, if it is a strong evidence, I don't see why the student should avoid it simply because it has been \"overused\".
Literary devices common in Shakespeare will be metaphor, diction, pun, alliteration, symbolism, dramatic irony and repetition.
I used to teach SS. Students do not need to cross reference any of their combined Humanities.
It is separate study. Only in JC GP, then cross-reference may be required.
I am teaching in a Secondary School, but I tutor from Primary to JC.

Hi Dean, thank you for the reply! glad you’re here to help!

Oh I am referring to the book “Fahrenheit”—Would like to know what are the common literary devices, key quotes or phrases used in it. Are they the same as Shakespeare? What other books (similar theme) would you make reference to when you do this book Fahrenheit?

Regarding SS, is it the same when combined with any of the other humanities subjects, or are they dealt with differently? Boy just told me that his SS is weaker than his Lit… sigh. May I ask how do you help a student improve SS quickly in the fastest time? Thanks!

[Zeal mummy]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2069595\" time=\"1654353703\" user_id=\"143605:

What do you mean by best of both worlds?
If SS+Geo are two unrelated subjects, how abt SS+Lit?

What he meant is that, you can take both Geo and lit. By taking one of them as a pure subject, and the other as a combined one with SS.

.. I have heard that history is the humanities subject that requires similar answering techniques as SS. Both Geo and lit are unrelated, however lit is less content heavy.

[Zeal mummy]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2069594\" time=\"1654353505\" user_id=\"143605:

I noticed that Hist and Geo O level exams are in midst of other main papers but Lit is more spaced out from other main papers.

I think that by exam time, most of the students would be well prepared for the subjects that they are doing. They would most likely love to clear it asap and dragging it out is not ideal.

[Zeal mummy]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2069588\" time=\"1654350523\" user_id=\"35251:

….
That is why some Triple Science students, because Biology itself already is a heavy intensive memory subject, so these students will \"siam\" (avoid) History, because History is another equally memory intensive subject. In other words, try not to take (Bio + History) together.

…..

I see. Thanks for sharing! You have pointed out why most of my dd’s seniors are doing only lit or Geo.

[sharonkhoo]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2069595\" time=\"1654353703\" user_id=\"143605:

What do you mean by best of both worlds?

Repeating D3@n's reply:
Actually you can have the best of both worlds.
Your child can do either
1. Pure Geo
2. SS + Lit
or
1. Pure Lit
2. SS + Geo
Of course this also depends on the combinations available in that particular school.

I think this is a good idea, if the child isn't considering History and is equally interested in Lit and Geog. At sec school level, I feel it's good to have a wider coverage of subjects (and a wider range of skills learnt) as they will have to narrow things down in JC/Poly. There is no need to put History in the mix if the child is not keen if the main reason is that the skills required are more akin to SS compared to Lit/Geog.

[phtthp]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2069593\" time=\"1654353232\" user_id=\"143605:

This is useful, thanks phtthp. A novel seems doable without much stress if SS+Lit is taken as second humanities subject, a back up. And just focus on Geo as 1st humanities.... Exam strategy.

Yes, good exam strategy.

In your illustration (above),
here is a Double Humanities subject combination. So, students will take the better of their two Humanities' grade, to compute their L1R5.


Example

Let's say a pupil (X) scored like this, in his Double Humanities (O-level) :-

1) combined
(Social Studies + Elective Literature novel) : scored \"C5\"

pupil X may have been pulled down by the Social Studies (SS) component, because many O-level students find it hard to tackle SS, even though X might have done well in his second component, \"Elective Lit\".


2) Pure Geography : scored \"A1\"

So, which subject will X choose, to compute his L1R5 ?

He chooses ... Pure Geography, because scored \"A1\" ! That's why Double Humanities is a popular Sec 3 subject combination nowadays.

Imagine.
If pupil X never taken 2nd Humanities, then no choice, got to accept \"C5\" to compute his L1R5.

In L1R5, Total there are 6 subjects.
Assuming that X scored \"A1\" for each of his remaining 5 subjects, and assuming that he only taken Single Humanities, not Double, then what will his L1R5 be ?

Answer -

X Raw (L1R5) will be
5 + 5 (from his \"C5\" Single humanities), equal Raw (10).


============================


IP students do not study Social Studies. IP students no need to sit for O-level National exam, so no need to study any SS. IP students already have a JC1 seat awaiting them in Year 5, in their affliated Junior College.

[phtthp]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2069601\" time=\"1654364843\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2069601 time=1654364843 user_id=58173]
I see. Thanks for sharing! You have pointed out why most of my dd’s seniors are doing only lit or Geo.[/quote]

Triple Science students,
since they are already taking Bio, usually they will \"siam\" taking History.

For O-level (\"Triple\" Science) students, if they were to take (History + SS + Geog) as Double Humanities, not take Lit, some students call (name) this a \"suicidal\" subject combination, because it is very intensively heavy, since you are dealing with heavy intensive subjects (Bio, History, Geog, SS), over & above your (A-Maths + E-Maths, that require plenty of practice) !

However, for \"Double\" Science students,
if they are taking Bio, not Physics, they still can choose Sec 3 (Bio + History) combination,

because

after all, Physics is already out of the picture, no need to study Physics anymore. These students have more time readily, on hand.

The same,
apply to students who are exempted in Chinese in Secondary schools, because no need to spend time on Mother Tongue anymore. That means with one subject (Standard Chinese) less or with 2 subjects less since no need to study gao-hua, they surely have a lot of time on hand, to concentrate / focus on their Humanities and Sciences, and naturally will end up doing well.

This one, we know.
Once a pupil is exempted from Chinese, in terms of time availability, it is such a huge big difference, compared to students who are taking both (pu-hua Standard Chinese & gao-hua Higher Chinese). How not to do well in Upper Sec, since such pupil(s) clearly have a great, upper-hand, distinct advantage in getting exemption from Chinese ? Those of u who are doing Secondary Chinese will know :-

you all know, right ?
how much substantial amount of time one need to spend on Chinese, since there are so many components involved,
in either / both (pu-hua or gao-hua) :-

- Chinese Oral
- Chinese vocab
- Chinese Comprehension
- Chinese zuowen (composition)
- Chinese Listening Comprehension

[00skyblue00]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2069599\" time=\"1654364113\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2069599 time=1654364113 user_id=58173]
What he meant is that, you can take both Geo and lit. By taking one of them as a pure subject, and the other as a combined one with SS.

.. I have heard that history is the humanities subject that requires similar answering techniques as SS. Both Geo and lit are unrelated, however lit is less content heavy.[/quote]

Sou desu agree

[00skyblue00]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2069600\" time=\"1654364339\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2069600 time=1654364339 user_id=58173]
I think that by exam time, most of the students would be well prepared for the subjects that they are doing. They would most likely love to clear it asap and dragging it out is not ideal.[/quote]

True for many straight As students. For some laid back ones, if Geo turns out terrible, still have chance to buck up for the 2nd humanities subj... Hopefully

[00skyblue00]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2069604\" time=\"1654390769\" user_id=\"28674:

Repeating D3@n's reply:
Actually you can have the best of both worlds.
Your child can do either
1. Pure Geo
2. SS + Lit
or
1. Pure Lit
2. SS + Geo
Of course this also depends on the combinations available in that particular school.

I think this is a good idea, if the child isn't considering History and is equally interested in Lit and Geog. At sec school level, I feel it's good to have a wider coverage of subjects (and a wider range of skills learnt) as they will have to narrow things down in JC/Poly. There is no need to put History in the mix if the child is not keen if the main reason is that the skills required are more akin to SS compared to Lit/Geog.

Yes, choosing subjects for learning shld be based on mainly interest and aptitude first.
But for learning and for doing well in exam are different matter altogether.

I had personally experienced, putting more effort in 1st humanities and less on 2nd, it turned out 2nd humanities scored better. Could be many reasons, std of paper, students...