Article:The Best Way for Teenager to Save Money

STUDENT'S WORK

The Best Way for Teenagers to Save Money

Written by:Yam Pui Sie

      Nowadays, there is a growing concern over the issue of teenagers squandering money unwisely. According to a community survey in Malaysia, young people spend too much money on online shopping. They are attracted by great offers which cause them to buy more. This problem which seems trivial and negligible to some can lead to terrible ramifications if it is not combated at an early stage. For this outcome to become a reality, it is pivotal for adolescents to manage and save their money prudently. This article will shed some light on the best way for teenagers to save money.

         In my opinion, there are a few effectual ways to save money among teenagers. Among them are avoiding debt and storing money in the bank. To illustrate with an example, we should avoid debt by not overspending on unnecessary things which may lead to borrowing funds from other people. Besides that, young people are encouraged to save money in the bank. No one can deny that banks are the most safe place for us to store money without any risk of loss of money. However, I reckon that the best way for teenagers to save money is by buying second hand things. The following paragraphs will elaborate more on this simple yet ingenious method of stretching the dollar.

             In recent years, young people tend to buy new products and follow the trend to satisfy their vanity.If we think from a  different viewpoint, we can gain a lot of benefits by buying second hand things.Firstly,the price for second hand goods is affordable so we can save  money to buy the things that we really need.It is good way to ease our parents’ financial burden.Moreover,don't doubt that the quality of second hand products can be assured if we buy them from legitimate sites. Although there will be some flaws in the goods,it will not influence our daily user experience.A good example could be purchasing second hand reference books or gadgets like handphones and laptops.To wrap it all up, buying second hand things can reduce financial problems which are really important especially for needy families.

           Furthermore,this action is profitable for the environment.In this day and age,the volume of garbage is increasing by leaps and bounds.By practicing the action of buying second hand things,we can minimize the space of landfills to create a clean and favorable environment.For instance,reusing clothes or sports equipment such as badminton rackets are able to prevent them from ending up in landfills.All in all,buying second hand things is not only an extraordinary way to save money,but also an approach to decrease negative impact on the environment.

             There are numerous mediums for us to get second hand products.First and foremost,we can get them at charity shops or car boot sales.In some cases,we can get the second hand things that we want by exchanging our possessions with another person instead of utilizing money.Other than that,we can buy second hand products online through apps dedicated to second hand sales. It is convenient and able to save our time so we do not need to spend our time going out. By doing this,we can bargain the price of products to get high quality products at a cheaper price.

           In a nutshell,saving money is a crucial habit that we need to practice from the time we are young.This is necessary to ensure that we have a better and bright future without monetary concern.Everyone including educational and social institutions as well as social media platform must cooperate to cultivate the habit of money saving and wise management of money among adolescents.

ARTICLE : SAY NO TO PLASTIC

Say No to Plastic

By Liliana James

        Without realising it, plastics have become ubiquitous in our daily lives. Indeed, one can scarcely go more than 24 hours without encountering a piece of plastic whether in the form of packaging or a disposable piece of cutlery. With its undeniable benefits, have we gone too far in our use of this man-made material? While some have called for an outright ban on all plastic, others have taken the more moderate route and urged the public to say no to disposable plastics. In my opinion, I concur with the latter viewpoint that the general public should cease and reject the production of single-use plastics. 

        Single use plastics can be found in everyday routines. For instance, shopping bags used in supermarkets are typically made of plastic. In addition, drinking straws in fizzy or cold beverages as well as takeaway food packaging are also most commonly in plastic form. Once these items are used, they are often disposed of instead of being reused especially if they are wet or stained from food or drinks.  Consequently, most of this type of plastic waste ends up in landfills where their non biodegradable nature prevents them from breaking down into the soil. In the long run, we will have no land space to contain the trillions of kilos of plastic waste that we accumulate. 

            Another horrifying outcome is, some plastic finds its way to the rivers and oceans where they cause a lot of harm to marine creatures. Many cases of sea life like turtles and seagulls washed ashore with pieces of plastic lodged in their throats have made headlines globally. However, it is disheartening to see that human beings continue to treat this as if it were a trivial matter. 

              For all its dangers and disadvantages, ridding the world of plastic is no easy feat. Having said that, I believe that progress however little, is still a step forward. Afterall, Rome wasn’t built in a day.  In order to enjoy some measure of success, I opine that  governments should play a more active role in ensuring that nations drastically reduce their use of single-use plastics. This can be done by enforcing “no plastic bag” days in shopping malls, stores and supermarkets. It might inconvenience shoppers at first, but in the long term, bringing their own bags on a shopping trip will become second nature for consumers. Along with this enforcement, shoppers who still insist on plastic bags should be charged a small fee to deter them in the future. 

            Apart from that, whenever possible, governments should power “go green” campaigns in which schools can organise activities to educate students about the downside of using plastics. Pupils should also be encourage to bring their own food containers and reusable water bottles instead of relying on single-use packaging in the canteen. 

             At a consumer level, government bodies should promote and fund the development of greener alternatives to plastic. For example, items that are normally made of plastic could be replaced with paper or cloth. To illustrate the point, restaurants could switch to recycled paper or cardboard for their packaging and utilize paper or stainless steel straws for beverages. This in turn will greatly reduce the amount of non biodegradable waste material produced daily. 

              

             In conclusion, there is no question that we should work towards banning the use of disposable and single use plastic. Although it may take decades before we observe any notable change, the future generations only stand to reap the benefits of this gargantuan effort that begins with the simple action of saying no.

ARTICLE : Only Child VS Siblings

 (STUDENT'S WORK) 

Introduction:  Many children thrive on being the only child and many do well with siblings. However, this begs the question, which is truly better, being an only child or having siblings? This essay will attempt to compare and contrast the benefits of both being an only child and growing up with siblings.
Only Child	Growing up with Siblings
You will learn how to be independent  You would enjoy all your parents’ attention and love  You would enjoy the best of everything that money can buy.	Can help with issues, like studies / personal  Elder siblings will often treat younger siblings to a good meal or help with picking up or sending  Your first bestie. never feel bored at home  Teaches responsibility and how to care for others Childhood squabbles among siblings teaches us to stand up for ourselves
Conclusion : (your opinion)

    Many children thrive on being the only child and many do well with siblings. However, this begs the question, which is truly better, being an only child or having siblings? This essay will attempt to compare and contrast the benefits of both being an only child and growing up with siblings.

On the one hand, being an only child offers the opportunity for us to learn how to be an independent person. For instance, when we face a difficulty about our school work, we will try to find the answer ourselves instead of relying on our siblings to give us the solutions. What is more, we can enjoy all our parents’ attention and love. We will not experience the feeling of isolation and discrimination. The reason seems to be obvious; our parents are willing to sacrifice all their time to keep us company. In addition, we are able to enjoy the best of everything that money can buy. The reason for this is, our parents will satisfy our demands as much as possible. In short, being an only child can be a blessing.

On the other hand, growing up with siblings provides countless benefits as well. Firstly, we can share our feelings and secrets with them. As a result, we will not unleash our resentment or unpleasant feelings just on social media. Besides, we will not be lonely and bored at home. By having a sibling, we can carry out a lot of fascinating activities such as baking and playing chess rather than spend all our time on our handphones.

In addition, our ability to take good care of someone will be enhanced. This is because we will tend to take care of each other if our parents are not available. We are also helped by our siblings when we face some issues about studying or personal problems. To wrap it up, with the company of siblings during our growth, we will be surrounded by gaiety and gladness.

From my point of view, I would say I would prefer growing up with siblings without any hesitation. Despite some inevitable squabbles, I enjoy the moment when all the siblings gather together and have a chitchat to exchange our own ideas as well as share our feelings. I reckon it was the perfect way to release my pressure and cheer me up.

ARTICLE : Teenagers and Stress

 Article wanted! 

1. Factors contributing to stress among adolescents 

1. Parents’ expectation to succeed in examinations/ education

2. Poor Time management

3. Relationships with friends - argument / disputes 

2. Effects of stress on adolescents

1. Detrimental mental health - anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide (in severe cases) 

2. Experience hair-fall, dark circles from lack of sleep, look skeletal in appearance/ malnourished, on the other hand some people overeat and end up piling on the kilos.

3. Feel like an outcast/ alienated / isolated - by friends who don’t understand what you are going through

3. How to lead a stress-free life? 

1. Exercise regularly - great way to release pressure and relieve stress (eg.)

2. Share feelings with friends / siblings whom we can trust. - lend a listening ear/ provide a shoulder to cry on/ provide advice

3. Make a list of tasks to be done and schedule time for them (time management) - enjoy a more balanced lifestyle, not be overworked. 

Write an article answering these questions. The best article will be displayed in the school magazine. 

Stress management 

By Yam Pui Sie

        Stress can be defined as a state of mental or emotional strain from adverse circumstances. It is a part and parcel of every student’s life. A little stress is good for us especially when we need the push to work harder. However, if we allow the stress to get out of hand, it can bring numerous repercussions to our daily work. Therefore, we must be more conscious about the seriousness of this issue. This essay will shed some light on the factors contributing to stress, effects of stress on adolescents as well as the measures to manage our stress.

             There are many factors that lead to stress among students. First and foremost, the greatest source of stress is our studies. The reason for this is the high expectation from the parents who long for their children to perform well in their examinations. As a result, the teenager will study diligently to fulfill the expectation of their parents and eventually omit the importance of unwinding. Furthermore, poor time management can also lead to terrible stressed-out adolescents. To elaborate, too much studying at any single time can cause unnecessary stress and lead to burnout. Nowadays, students have to complete a lot of assignments or projects before the deadline. Unwise allocation of time to finish their work can lead to restlessness and an uptight mood. What is more, relationship with friends or family undoubtedly is the main cause of stress. To illustrate with an example, altercations or arguments between friends result in anxiety and difficulty in concentrating. To sum up, relationship, poor time management and studies are the major causes of stress in the majority of students’ lives.

           What are the effects of stress on teenagers? Firstly, uncontrolled stress will give rise to detriment of mental health. The reason seems to be obvious, unchecked stress will bring on the feeling of fear, self-criticism, headaches and sleep disturbances. For severe cases, some sufferers may even commit suicide to  terminate their stressful life. They might reckon that demise is the best way to solve the problem they face. In addition, being stressed will also spell out many physical problems. A good example could be experiencing hair fall, looking skeletal in appearance due to malnutrition. On the other hand some people overeat and end up piling on the kilos. Besides, social life will also be affected. This is because the people who suffer critical stress have a high probability to be isolated by friends who don’t understand what they are going through. They may feel like an outcast and this will further compound the problem. To wrap it all up, stress can induce a myriad of dreadful consequences.

         To curb stress, initiatives must be taken. To begin with, one ought to exercise regularly. Sitting around to study or leading a sedentary lifestyle can cause stress to mount and make you feel nervous and upset. By doing appropriate physical exercises such as bowling, boxing and swimming will allow you occasional breaks and temporarily forget the hassles which annoy you. What is more, one way to release your pressure is learn to express your feelings and do not bottle them up. For this to become a reality, you should share your feelings with a friend, a family member or someone whom you trust. I am sure they are willing to lend a listening ear and provide a shoulder to cry on.

        Other than that, to alleviate stress, you should become competent at organizing your time prudently. This can be achieved by making a list of tasks that should be done and scheduling time for them. To illustrate, you can give priority to the most important tasks and do them first. Try to kick the habit of procrastination and this action is conducive to time saving. Finally, you will be able to  enjoy a more balanced lifestyle instead of being overworked. If you feel that you are unable to handle stress, seek help or see a counselor or doctor. All in all, there are innumerable effective way to prevent stress from getting out of hand.

       In a nutshell, effectual stress management is the elixir of life. Everyone including educational and social institutions, parents as well as individuals must cooperate to combat the stress that seems trivial and negligible afflicting adolescents. This is vital to prevent the dreadful ramifications from becoming a reality and affecting our lives.

ARTICLE - WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE BEING BULLIED

Write an article in your school magazine about school bullying based on the notes given below.

What to do if you’re being bullied

·         Talk to an adult you trust – don’t keep your feelings inside

·         Stay away from places where bullying happens

·         Stay near adults and other kids. Most bullying happens when adults aren’t around.

When writing out your article

-       Use all the notes given

-       Give suitable examples to support your points

-       Add 2 suggestions on how to avoid being a victim of bullying

-       Write in not less than 150 words.

What To Do if You’re Being Bullied By Lizamaria R. P Have you ever been bullied before? Did you know that most victims of bullying remain silent about it their whole lives? Bullying is a terrible act of hurting someone either physically or mentally. The number of cases is increasing at an alarming rate due to the fact that most of them go unreported and unsolved. This article will discuss the steps that you can take if you are being bullied.  Most importantly, do not keep silent about being harassed. Always talk about it to an adult you can trust. For example, you could share your problem with the school counsellor, a teacher or your parents. Never bottle up your feelings and suffer alone. This is unhealthy and may cause mental issues in later life. Hence, it is always advisable to seek help from a trustworthy person. Secondly, you can avoid conflict by staying away from places where bullying frequently happens. This includes deserted areas and dark places. You are asking for trouble if you walk these areas alone. Instead constantly surround yourself with adults and other kids. Most bullies do not act up around grownups. In short, being wise about the places you hang out can prevent you from becoming a victim. Furthermore, you can avoid being bullied by being confident. Bullies typically prey on shy, scared students. Therefore build your self esteem and carry yourself well. Another bonus point is you will make friends easily and this can act as an added barrier against bullies. Thus, remember, confidence will go a long way in protecting you from bullies. Finally, never take matters into your own hands. Whenever we face a problem or misunderstanding in school, do not resort to fights or violence to solve it. You may be overpowered or outnumbered. Instead have faith in the authorities and believe that justice will be served. In a nutshell, keeping your nose out of trouble may save you from being a victim. In conclusion, instead of living in the shadow of fear, take some proactive measures to ensure you lead a balanced and happy school life. Being smart and reaching out to people are two of the most important ways to succeed with this.

HOOK (QUES) DEFINITION OF TERM OPINION THESIS STATEMENT POINT 1 EXAMPLE GIVEN INFO WHY CONCLUSION POINT 2 EXAMPLES WHY HOW (TO SOLVE) CONCLUSION ADDITIONAL POINT 3 WHY, HOW WHY CONCLUSION ADDITIONAL POINT 4 WHAT (MEANING) WHY, HOW (TO SOLVE) CONCLUSION CONCLUSION PARA SUMMARY OF POINTS