SAMPLE 2: ARGUMENTATIVE National Service should be abolished. Do you agree?

The National Service Programme was introduced to help our present teenagers become useful citizens. Through well-developed modules and counseling from experts, it is hoped that these students will learn to endure the hardship and challenges at the National Service camps and become good citizens. The National Service is actually an avenue to teenagers become better citizens of the country. Therefore, I am of the opinion that National Service should not be abolished. I strongly believe that this three-month programme will benefit students in various ways. First of all, students can develop some good habits and become more independent. Before joining the National Service many students who attended NS hardly did any housework such as making their own beds or washing their own clothes. However, now they do not depend on their mothers or maids because they have learnt to do it themselves Another benefit of the programme is that students will be able to make new friends. They will get the chance to meet people from different races and religions from all over Malaysia. This will help them broaden their circle of friends. Students will also learn leadership skills, responsibility and teamwork. They will learn all these when they participate in the community services such as painting town halls, cleaning up parks and other types of projects that benefit the community. Apart from that these students will be involved in many exciting and interesting activities. They will surely enjoy them. Besides, they will also get the opportunity to see different parts of Malaysia. This is because they will have to travel to another state to attend the programme. Furthermore, they will also go on field trips. They may be taken to visit orphanages or old folks homes. Students will learn to be independent when they are far away from their families. By taking part in the activities carried out there students will surely gain a lot of new experiences. In addition, they will also learn the importance of national independence and patriotism. Students are instilled with the sense of love for their country, the spirit of patriotism and unity. This will surely strengthen the love for our country. On top of that, students will undergo physical training which will help them to keep fit and healthy. They will go jungle trekking and also practice marching every day. The programme will also teach them survival skills such as, giving first aid treatment, reading maps and the compass and learning some martial arts. Therefore, they will learn to be more disciplined. This is one thing students cannot learn from the books in school. Last but not least, students will learn the true meaning of racial harmony. Students from all walks of life, race and religion live together under one roof. They will learn the importance of racial integration and unity. As the saying goes, United we stand, divided we fall. Hence, the National Service provides the platform that is needed to instill positive effort towards racial integration. In conclusion, the National Service will help to foster a strong generation of responsible people who will love their country and offer their invaluable service to their motherland. It will help to mould them into active, intelligent and self-confident individuals in line with the One Malaysia culture.