Saturday, 25 June 2022

MUET TASK 2 ESSAY SESSION 1 2022: "MODERNISATION HAS ROBBED US OF OUR PEACE OF MIND" - Sample Essay (Answer/AGREE)

   REMINDER: 
PLEASE DO NOT PLAGIARISE THIS ESSAY. 
PLAGIARISM IS A SERIOUS ACADEMIC  OFFENSE!


You have been asked by the school editorial board to write for the school bulletin. You have decided to write on the following topic:

 Modernisation has robbed us of our peace of mind

 Write an essay stating your opinion on the above statement. Write at least 250 words.

 

The world is becoming more modern day by day. There are numerous modern items, concepts, ways of doing things that emerge as time passes, which sometimes could affect not only the tranquility of our life and mind but also our finances. Is it true that modernisation has robbed us of our peace of mind? In my opinion, I agree with the statement because the process of modernisation requires the acquisition of new knowledge, it demands the use of some tools and traditions could be forgotten.

 

First of all, modernisation would require new knowledge. After a long time of living with the knowledge that most of us already have, modernisation might require or even force most of us to take up new knowledge. For example, for those among us who are around 50 years old and above, they are more familiar with the “old” system of banking: that is to go to the bank and carry out almost all banking transactions at the bank counter. However, with the modern way of banking now, these same people might have to conduct their transactions via e-banking on the Internet. They would then have to acquire some new knowledge, for instance to learn how to use the computer or laptop, to surf the Internet and also to utilize the bank’s e-banking platform. For a person of 50 years old and above, acquiring technological knowledge like this could be difficult, especially when they would have to do it on their own. This is due to a person’s abilities to learn new skills would be diminishing as one gets old and older. Yet, not learning this required new knowledge could be troublesome too as they might not be able to withdraw money or might have to ask for assistance, which then could lead to more risks. So, to move together with this modern time, these people would have to force themselves to learn and relearn these new skills and knowledge, and later could be experiencing negative effects like stress, fear of the devices or anxiety of making mistakes online thus losing their peace of mind. In short, modernisation has robbed us of our peace of mind could be a true fact.

 

Next, modernisation could rob us of our peace of mind as it demands the use of some tools. Sometimes, to access some modern facilities, we would have to own a particular tool such as the mobile phone. Let’s take the pandemic period as an example. During the Covid-19 attack, the Ministry of Health had come up with an app – MySejahtera - to track one’s movement as an effort to restrict the spread of the virus. Almost all shopping venues, eateries and outlets then made the use of MySejahtera compulsory for their customers. This app would need to be downloaded into each citizen’s mobile phone, and every person was required to scan a QR code in order to enter a facility or building. In other words, if you do not own a mobile phone, you could not enter some premises. Although mobile phones could be considered a necessity nowadays, some people might still not own one. Contrary to the times before the pandemic, an individual could just freely enter any shop; and if he forgets to bring his phone or does not own one, he could still access the stores of his choice. There was no worry of not being able to purchase goods or to carry out some errands had that been the case. However, as of during the pandemic , if one does not own a mobile phone, forgets to bring it with him or even if it runs out of battery, he would find himself not able to buy things, have a meal or a drink or even board a public transport as he could not scan the QR code for entrance. In this light, there is so much to worry when one goes out of his home – whether he has his phone, brings it with him or the phone has enough battery. This episode of the pandemic could show us how modernisation has robbed us of our peace of mind as we always need to have some tools, like a functioning mobile phone, with us all the time when we are outside our homes.

 

Finally, modernisation could cause the loss of traditions. Some traditions have been the practice of our society and communities for decades, if not years. Let us take the example of the tradition of sending Hari Raya cards or those of other festivals to family members and friends. This tradition has been existing in our society for a long time. Yet, with today’s advancement of technology that brought the mobile phones and the Internet, a modern style of wishing for these festivals has emerged -by sending online greeting cards. As we struggle and learn to use our mobile phones and Internet-linked devices optimally, many among us are pulled into the waves of this new trend and then start sending the online greeting cards instead of the printed versions. The trend is so strong and perhaps has accumulated a lot of followers that the printed greeting cards are very difficult to be found now. This can be said as one tradition lost. Perhaps, as the world turns more modern, more traditions could be lost, resulting in worry and the loss of our peace of mind. Some of us, especially the elderly, might be feeling that the foundations of our societies, the very things that make us who we are and the practices of our culture could be disappearing due to our need to adapt to the modern items and the trends that they brought with them. They might no longer feel as secured and grounded in their traditions and cultural identity as before; and in fact might feel threatened with the disappearance or diminishing traditional beliefs and customs. In short, it is in this way that modernisation has robbed us of our peace of mind.


 In a nutshell, it is undeniable that modernisation has robbed us of our peace of mind as it requires the acquisition of new knowledge, it demands the use of some tools and our valuable traditions could be lost.  As most of us are praising modernisation for the ease and technology it brings us, it is hoped that we could also realise that modernisation is not always good; as once commented by a wise man: “We thought modernisation would make us better but in some cases, it has made us even worse. We became emotionless as if our emotions [are] transferred into those emojis”.

        

Written by,
MUET Mzsa
Twitter@MzsaMUET



 


1 comment:

  1. hi i hope u can make shorter essays as it's quite impossible for students to write essay this long in only about 50 minutes. thank you

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