NiE Life 2017 (Vol 478)

Vol 478

WEDNESDAY 23 AUGUST 2017

Intermediate The voice of conscience Advanced Digital deception BRATs More than just a match

Tel: 03 7967 1388 Fax: 03 7955 4039 thestar.com.my/education

Supported by the Ministry of Education

-NiE ,

23 AUGUST 2017

Elementary Honesty

The nose of deceit YOU may not have heard of Italian writer Carlo Collodi, who lived in the late 1800s, but you may have read a famous tale of his: The Adventures of Pinocchio. In 1940, Walt Disney produced a musical animation based on the story, after the success of its first cartoon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The story revolves around a poor and lonely woodcarver named Geppetto. One day, he carves a beautiful wooden puppet which he calls Pinocchio. Pinocchio literally means “Little Wooden Head”. Not long after, the puppet is brought to life by the Blue Fairy. The Blue Fairy promises Pinocchio that he can become a real boy if he proves himself to be brave, truthful and unselfish. Therein begin the adventures of the puppet that longs to become a real boy.

Pinocchio faces many dangers in a world of crooks, villains and monsters. One of the first lessons Pinocchio learns is that honesty is the best policy.

Whenever Pinocchio tells a lie, he realises that his nose grows longer. It gets to a point where his nose becomes a tree limb, complete with leaves and a bird’s nest!

Pinocchio finally promises the Blue Fairy that he will never lie after she tells him that “a lie keeps growing and growing until it’s as plain as the nose on your face”.

Note to the teacher

century learning skills

OUR children are riding the great wave of technology today. They now have facts and procedures at their fingertips.

Teachers have to equip their students with new skills that allow them to thrive in today’s global economy.

The activities in The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education pullout combine literacy skills with current content to build this set of skills.

The key below indicates the skills integrated into the activities in this pullout.

Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason ● Measure ● Organise

Creative thinking

NiE Activity

1 2

Problem solving ● Question ● Research ● Recreate ● Present

Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal ● Written

● Identify ● Reason ● Measure

● Imagine ● Brainstorm ● Connect ● Invent

Problem solving ● Question

Ironically, the first lie in the story is not told by Pinocchio but by Geppetto, Pinocchio’s “father”.

Geppetto, in wanting to buy schoolbooks for his “son”, sells his coat. But Geppetto tells his “son” that he sold the coat because “it was too hot”. Geppetto told this lie but he did it out of love and kindness. Was it wrong of Geppetto to lie to his “son”? Look at the following examples and discuss the questions:

Situation

White Lie

Truth

Taking a cough mixture

“It’s just medicine. It tastes good!”

It tastes like kerosene.

Getting your vaccination

“This won’t hurt.”

It will sting.

Going to visit a relative

“We’re going to Aunty Uma’s place. We won’t stay long.”

Any visit to Aunty Uma’s is a long time.

Based on the examples in the table above, what do you think a white lie is? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6

A. Did Nelson tell his Grandmother a white lie? Explain your answer. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 4 5

Have you ever told a white lie?

B. What should Nelson say in order to tell his Grandmother the truth?

Write the answer in the speech bubble:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Why did you tell the lie? Did it help improve the situation or worsen it? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Complete the table below based on the white lie you told:

Situation

White Lie

Truth

7

● Listen

How would you define honesty? Here are seven words that are jumbled up. Rearrange them to get the definition:

and

you

in

truthfulness what

do

say

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

● Aural

Collaborating

Now read this comic strip taken from Star2.

Do these white lies sound familiar? Have your parents ever used them on you? Give one example where an adult told you a white lie. Explain how it made you feel. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

● Brainstorm ● Invent

Creative thinking

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

● Imagine ● Connect

Critical thinking

(Answer: Truthfulness in what you say and do.)

2

8

Look through The Star for three words that can replace the expressions used in the definition provided in Question 7. Cut them out and paste them below to form a similar definition.

● Contribute respectfully ● Compromise ● Attain goal nie editorial manager: SHARON OVINIS senior nie executive: ROWENA CHUA writer: S. SIVAM layout designer: SHOBA illustrator: HASSAN BAHRI To order The Star for NiE lessons, call: Sundarrajan 03-7967 1388 ext 1437 or 016-288 3682 We welcome feedback; write to: Star-NiE, Star Media Group, 15 Jalan 16/11, 46350 Petaling Jaya or e-mail us at: starnie@thestar.com.my

-NiE ,

Elementary Honesty

NiE Activity 1 Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Brainstorm ● Connect ● Invent

23 AUGUST 2017

Blessings that come from being honest Problem solving ● Question ● Research ● Recreate ● Present

Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal ● Written ● Aural

Collaborating ● Listen ● Contribute respectfully ● Compromise ● Attain goal

TELLING the truth – is that easy to do? Can you think of one reason why we should not lie?

Telling the truth clears the air about what has really happened. There’s less chance of misunderstanding, confusion and conflict if people tell the truth. It also protects innocent people from being blamed and punished.

People trust you more when they know you tell the truth. That’s a fantastic reputation to have. And best of all, telling the truth helps you sleep better! Why? Because it helps you feel secure and peaceful.

Here’s a story that appeared in The Star on April 12, 2017. Read the adapted story about how a taxi driver’s honesty pays off.

One good turn deserves another

Here are five values that are clear in the story:

A TAXI driver’s honesty is reaping long-term benefits for two of his children who will receive RM18,000 cash each in total.

Naza World Group of Companies group executive chairman Datuk Wira SM Faisal presented a mock cheque for the amount to Zamrod Adam in a simple ceremony at BLVD House, Naza Towers, Kuala Lumpur…

When asked, Zamrod was modest about his good deed.

“It is the responsibility of all individuals to return other people’s belongings,” he said.

“This money will help ease our father’s burden,” said Muhammad Zain.

Zamrod’s honesty went viral on social media after he returned a wallet that Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng had left in his taxi at Subang airport.

Truthfulness

Trustworthiness

Dependability

Honour

Sincerity

Discuss the definitions of these values as a class. Give an example that shows how each value is portrayed in the story.

Value

Example of how the value is shown in the story

Example: Truthfulness

Zamrod was honest. He believed that holding on to someone else’s belongings was wrong.

Trustworthiness Honour Dependability Sincerity

NiE Activity 2 Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal ● Written ● Aural

Collaborating ● Listen ● Contribute respectfully ● Compromise ● Attain goal

Now that you have learnt what these values mean and how they are portrayed in the story, gather in groups of four. Write a short play entitled: One good turn deserves another.

This story will revolve around the honest taxi driver, Zamrod, and his passenger, Miss Ong. Your story will begin with Miss Ong calling for a taxi to go to Subang Airport. It will end with Miss Ong posting her experience on Facebook.

Work in groups of four for this activity. Try and memorise your script so that your performance looks smooth. Take turns performing your skit in front of your classmates. Vote for the most entertaining and touching portrayal of this real-life story. Use the scenes below to help you:

Scene 1 ● ● ●

Miss Ong has to rush to the airport.

Be creative. Enact why Miss Ong has to rush to the airport.

Miss Ong phones or uses an app to call for a taxi.

Scene 3 ● ● ●

Miss Ong is in the taxi. She is on her way to the airport.

Consider the possible conversation between Zamrod and Miss Ong. Write out the script.

Scene 5 ● ● ● ●

Zamrod discovers the wallet.

What is this scene like?

He decides to call Miss Ong. What happens during the phone conversation?

Scene 2 ● ●

The taxi arrives.

Think of possible exchanges between the driver and the passenger.

Scene 4 ● ●

The taxi arrives at the airport.

What is this scene like? What causes Miss Ong to leave her wallet behind?

Scene 6 ● ●

Miss Ong posts her experience on Facebook.

Two friends read the post. How do they react?

How do they cause the post to go viral?

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4

-NiE ,

23 AUGUST 2017

The voice of conscience

INTERMEDIATE Honesty

IS there such a thing as telling a little lie or a big lie? How many lies do you get to tell before you are called a liar? Now, now, answer truthfully.

In the story entitled The Adventures of Pinocchio, the Blue Fairy gives life to a little wooden puppet.

(For a synopsis of the story, turn to page 2.) To make certain that he knows right from wrong, she bestows a tiny cricket with a huge responsibility. He becomes Pinocchio’s conscience – you know, that voice you hear in your head; the one that tells you if you are doing something right or wrong.

This “conscience” goes by the name of Jiminy Cricket.

In the animated cartoon by Disney, the Blue Fairy says to Jiminy Cricket: “I dub you Pinocchio’s conscience, the high keeper of right and wrong, counsellor in moments of high temptation, and guide along the straight and narrow path.”

Now that’s a colossal job for a little fellow. Thank goodness we all don’t have little irritable crickets in our heads! But we do hear whispers of do’s and don’ts in our ears? Yes, we all have a conscience.

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Identify

● Reason

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent

Communicating ● Oral ● Aural ● Non-verbal

Conscience is sometimes symbolised in many cultures by different objects. Do these look familiar? In groups of four, discuss how they represent the voice of conscience.

Next, in a group of four, craft an image that you think best represents the voice of conscience. Use words and pictures from The Star to design this symbol of yours. Do this on a sheet of A4 or A3 paper. Present your final piece to your classmates, explaining the symbolism in your piece. Next, paste your work on the noticeboard. The class will then do a gallery walk. Everyone is encouraged to draw a star on his favourite piece.

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure

Creative thinking ● Connect

Problem solving ● Question ● Research

● Recreate ● Present

Communicating ● Oral

● Written

There are many people in society who are sometimes the voices of society’s conscience. You don’t need to be someone famous like Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr to put forth your ideas and speak your mind.

All it takes is to be humane. Look through the Views section of your copy of The Star. Read the letters to the editor. Pick one that resonates with you. Then, complete the task below.

Fill in the relevant information where applicable. You can carry out this activity in your exercise book. ● The person who wrote this article. ● His position or the organisation he represents. ● Introductory background information, including any accomplishments. ● Can you draw any conclusions on the impact he has had on society? ● Write an inspirational or meaningful quote you gained from reading the article. ● Based on the article, list four adjectives you would use to describe this person (explain why). ● Share a few interesting, surprising or unexpected facts you learned about this person’s life and experiences by reading the article. ● What new insights did you gain as a reader? ● Do you think that you must be famous to lead a purposeful life?

Explain.

-NiE ,

INTERMEDIATE Honesty

23 AUGUST 2017

9

Bending the truth THESE days, everyone knows you can’t take advertisements at face value – or profile photos on your apps for that matter!

There are all kinds of advertisements out there that use Photoshop, misleading words or deliberate omission of certain facts to make their products more exciting and amazing. For example, in 2013, Australian consumers realised that a sandwich company’s “Footlong” sandwiches did not measure up to its 12-inch mark. The sandwich company was quick to retort on its Facebook page that the “Footlong” term was a registered trademark as a descriptive name for its sandwich. It was not intended to be a measurement of length.

NiE Activity 1 Creative thinking

Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent

Problem solving ● Question ● Research

● Recreate ● Present

While not all advertisements can be generalised in this category, consumers need to be more conscious of what advertisements are “selling”.

In groups of four, select an advertisement from The Star. Analyse it for honesty. Discuss the following points as a group. Prepare notes as each group will take turns to present their findings.

Truthfulness

Trustworthiness

Integrity

A.

Does the advertisement explicitly say anything you think is untrue?

B.

Is it trying to make you believe something that might not be true?

C.

Is it lying by omission, i.e. leaving out important information that would make a difference to you?

D. E. F.

Is it misleading in any way?

Does it present any half-truths?

On a scale of 1 to 5, rate the advertisement in terms of the following:

Sincerity

Ethics

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

Problem solving

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Brainstorm

● Connect ● Invent

● Question ● Research

● Recreate ● Present

Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal

● Written ● Aural

Collaborating ● Listen

● Compromise

● Contribute respectfully

● Attain goal

‘Doctor fostered trustworthy image’ CHICAGO: Three years before dozens of women accused former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual assault, a podcast interview with him captured his views on treating athletes.

“We protect our athletes... not just physically but mentally,” Nassar said. “You have to let them know that you care... Let them feel it.”

The more than one-hour interview appeared on a December 2013 episode of GymCastic, a podcast popular in the US gymnastics world. Founder and host Jessica O’Beirne now listens to those words in horror.

“You can hear how we’re all manipulated,” O’Beirne said in an interview. “I think it’s super important to serve as an example of how predators work.”

Law enforcement officials have accused 53-year-old Nassar of using his position with the governing body that sets rules and selects US Olympic gymnasts to sexually assault dozens of athletes and other patients over decades.

The Star, Mar 25, 2017

1. What is a phony?

2. Do you consider Nassar a phony?

3. How does dishonesty turn people into phonies?

Explain your answer using Nassar as an example.

4. Why do you think Nassar got away with the heinous acts for so long?

5. To some extent, we are all impostors. We have a

public life and a private life. We change according to demands and circumstances. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

6. What does it mean when you say that a person is “real” or “authentic”?

7. In this next assignment, each member contributes one sign

that has helped him spot a “fake friend”. (This can be based on your personal experiences.)

After sharing your experiences, pick one scenario all of you would like to role-play in class. Draft your script and do your best to role-play on an impromptu basis. Act out the scene for your classmates to see. Discuss how many of you have had such experiences. How common are these experiences among people?

We know that many advertisers do their best to pull the crowd in by bending the truth. Are you guilty of doing that, too? Some of us portray ourselves differently in terms of how we look on our profile photographs. Some of us share on social media lifestyles that appear more exciting than they really are. These, too, fall into the category of “false advertising”.

Do you think people have a right to portray themselves in a different light? Where do we draw the line? Read the article on the left. Then, tackle the questions that follow in groups of four.

EXAMPLE I met a friend I had not seen in a long time. When I bumped into him, we shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. He then said, “Let’s meet up at a mamak stall sometime!” He dashed off without leaving his contact number. So, did he really mean it?

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-NiE ,

23 AUGUST 2017

ADVANCED Honesty

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Brainstorm

● Connect ● Invent

It’s a fake world IT’S a fake world out there. First, there were fake wigs, then came fake eyelashes and fake toupees. Next came fake wine and fake body parts. Now, we even have fake relationships (think mail-order bride scams)! There are also recent videos on social media showing fake milk, fake eggs, fake rice and fake cement.

In groups of four, scan The Star for items or concepts that have been counterfeited over the years (many examples have already been listed above). You have five minutes to complete the task.

When your teacher says that time is up, compile the items. Which group has the highest number? Check the answers as a class. What types of items do you have that other groups do not?

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

Problem solving

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm

● Question ● Recreate ● Research ● Present

Rampant these days are scams run by ruthless criminals. Such criminals are trying to take on “fake” personalities by stealing other people’s identities.

This is known as identity theft.

Millions of people around the world have become victims of identity theft through physical theft, hacking and phishing, to name a few. It is a fastgrowing crime.

Identity theft is when a person acquires and uses your name (address and MyKad) in order to apply for a credit card or purchase products in your name.

Communicating ● Oral

● Aural

Collaborating ● Listen

● Compromise

● Contribute respectfully

● Attain goal

Phishing, as defined by Oxford Dictionary, is the fraudulent practice of sending e-mails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

Here’s a story about an identity theft that was reported in The Star a while back. Before your teacher begins reading it aloud, cut out the trafficlight cards: red, amber and green (refer to the illustration).

As the story is read, your teacher will stop when

she feels there is an action (or ought to be an action) the character must take. Your teacher will facilitate by asking the question, “If there is an action he must take, what must it be?”

A volunteer must answer the question. If you agree with the answer, show your green light. If you disagree with it, display your red light. If you disagree with the action taken by the victim, express your opinion with your traffic lights. The discussion will continue in this manner until the next critical point.

IT Manager falls victim to identity theft PETALING JAYA: It all started with a barred handphone line, but a quick call to check with his service provider revealed something much more sinister – identity theft and credit card fraud.

IT manager Pang, 44, was out for a jog on Aug 16 last year when he realised that there was no service on his work phone. After two hours without any change in status, Pang called his service provider to check.

But to his surprise, the agent told him that the records showed that Pang had changed his SIM card at the provider’s outlet at eCurve that afternoon. He was informed that someone using his details via a temporary IC had initiated the change.

“I tried to figure out why anyone would want my number. Then I remembered a credit card that I had yet to receive,” said Pang.

His fears were confirmed when his checks showed that not only had the credit card been delivered, but it was also activated via SMS, before seven transactions were made.

The total transactions amounted to RM26,428 and all were made that day.

A police report was made at the Damansara station the following day and the bank nullified the seven transactions after Pang showed proof, including CCTV footage of the thieves when they used his card.

On Jan 6, Pang received two overdue bills from a different telco, citing outstanding broadband and phone bills amounting to RM1,420.

Activity Break into groups of three. Your teacher will randomly assign each group one of the following questions:

Group 1: Describe why it is important to protect one’s financial documents or identity.

Group 2: What can you do to protect your identity from being stolen?

Group 3: What steps should you take if your identity is stolen?

Group 4: What kinds of phishing tactics are used online?

Each group has 10 minutes to discuss before sharing their answers in class.

-NiE ,

ADVANCED Honesty

WHAT is a scam? A scam is a dishonest plan, usually to get money without offering anything in return. Scammers (people who carry out the scams) look for effortless ways to get something of value in the easiest ways.

How do scams start? The scammer gathers some public information about a person. Sometimes, these types of information (like your name and address) can be found from a telephone book, for example. At other times, such information can be taken from business cards. The scammer then checks records to see who owns houses and where the person lives. The scammer tries to trick a person into buying some unnecessary products.

Critical thinking ● Measure

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Brainstorm

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Digital deception

NiE Activity 1 ● Identify ● Reason

23 AUGUST 2017

● Connect

Good food!

There are many types of scams out there. Here are a few:

Fake prizes, lottery scams, free gifts

Read these headlines about people who have fallen prey to scams. Their plights have appeared in The Star. If applicable, which categories would they fall under? Discuss your opinions in groups of four.

Internet merchandise

Type of scam

Twice entangled by scams Clerk lured into taking personal loans to pay processing fee for a ‘financial gift’ Money game scourge Poor wealth management experiences fuel money games

Online dating

Housewife poorer after falling for love scam

Phone scams

Woman loses RM32,500 to parcel scam AirAsia warns of ticket scams

Loan scams

On the receiving end of scams A glimpse at con jobs in Malaysia with call from unknown number and suspicious invitation

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent

Communicating ● Oral ● Written

● Aural

Problem solving

Creative thinking

● Question ● Recreate ● Research ● Present

Collaborating ● Listen

● Compromise

● Contribute respectfully

● Attain goal

In December last year, Edgar M. Welch, a 28-yearold father of two, read online that Comet Ping Pong, a pizza restaurant in Washington, the United States, was harbouring children as sex slaves as part of a child abuse ring led by Hillary Clinton.

The allegations were widespread across the web, Twitter and Facebook. The concerned father drove six hours from his home, arrived at the pizza restaurant and fired an assault rifle in the restaurant. Fortunately, no one was hurt in

the incident.

As social media takes centre stage in our lives, we are bombarded with information overload. Do you believe everything you read on the Internet or on social media? Discuss these questions as a class: 1. How do you get your news?

2. If you get it from social media, can you name the sources where the information comes from?

3. What have you heard about fake news? Why are people concerned about it?

Read this article that appeared in The Star on June 14, 2017.

No, there’s no plastic in rice pack, says ministry JOHOR BARU: There is no fake rice in Johor as an analysis on a Thai fragrant rice brand available in hypermarkets here found no foreign element as alleged.

Johor Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism

Would you have believed that fake rice was being sold at the hypermarket? How would you evaluate the facts? In groups of four, discuss the questions in this table.

Next, share answers as a class.

Ministry (KPDNKK) director Khairul Anwar Bachok said the ministry took three samples of the rice for analysis following a 60-year-old man’s claim about buying “plastic-smelling” rice from a Kulai hypermarket.

He said after the man’s claim went viral on social media, enforcement personnel collected samples of the rice from

Am I using a trusted website?

the hypermarket chain on June 7.

Samples of the Thai fragrant rice from its 5kg and 10kg packs as well as rice from the brand’s packing factory in Jitra, Kedah, were sent to the Johor Baru Chemistry Department for tests and the results showed that there was no trace of plastic in the rice, he said.

Am I getting my news from Can I source for information What are some trusted a trusted newspaper or from a trusted sites I can verify this magazine? organisation? information from?

Who are some trusted people I can go to?

Had a story on fake rice been written and circulated, what impact do you think this story would have had on society?

What steps should the government, media outlets and individuals take to address the problem?

Write an essay exploring the issue of fake news. Support your essay with points taken from the class discussion, as well as the article on “fake rice”.

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-NiE ,

23 AUGUST 2017

©

BORROW FROM Anyone who has ever needed something has probably used this term. When we borrow from someone, we accept something from the person with the intention of returning it, or returning something of the same kind or value. “For example, when I’m hungry, I borrow some sugar from the nearest kitchen,” Tina said.

EVEN OUT “I have noticed,” Whozit said thoughtfully, “that when things are going well, they continue going well. On the other hand, when things go wrong, everything seems to go wrong! I sure wish I could even things out!” Orly overheard that and made some adjustments to Whozit’s calendar. Even out means to distribute or spread something fairly and equally over a period of time or among a group of people.

“There, the good days and the bad ones are now evened out,” Orly smiled.

Episode 24

By: Dean Pitchford Finally, all four lanes of traffic came to a stop. Just then, a huge shadow passed over us.

We all went back to my house where we collapsed in the living room, still trembling from the terrifying adventure.

What brought traffic to a standstill that afternoon? Motorists have some fascinating explanations.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The way the lanes just opened up...

Freeway

expressway; a wide road for fast-moving traffic (with a limited number of places drivers can enter or exit).

Collapsed

Fell down because of exhaustion.

Standstill

The Appleton police are very anxious to speak to the character who stopped traffic on the Westside Highway this afternoon.

We could all hear the high-pitched squeal as the plane’s tyres hit the wide-open freeway up ahead.

A situation where there is no movement at all.

We’re famous, we’re famous!

. . . m o o Zoo That’s twice in two days you’ve been the lead story on the news.

QUESTION

Describe the two different reactions of motorists who had been part of the incident on the Westside Highway.