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IN AND WRITE IT RIGHT


JABATAN PENDIDIKAN NEGERI PERAK
2014

ZOOM IN AND WRITE (REVISITED)

2014

JABATAN PENDIDIKAN PERAK


KEMENTERIAN PENDIDIKAN MALAYSIA

BAHASA INGGERIS
SPM

ZOOM IN
AND
WRITE
MODULE
(REVISITED)
2

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TABLE OF CONTENT

NO CONTENT

PAGE

1.0

Table Of Content

2.0

Acknowledgement

3.0

Introduction to Module

4.0

Analysis of Past Year Questions

5.0

Zoom Into Directed Writing

10

Report

15

Speech / Talk

27

Formal Letter

39

Informal Letter

49

Zoom into Continuous Writing

59

Narrative

64

Reflective

70

Descriptive

74

Argumentative

83

Open Essay

90

Reference

97

6.0

7.0

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The State Education Office, Perak Darul Ridzuan would like to thank the
following for their contribution in the production of the module for writing
ZOOM IN AND WRITE.

2.1

State Programme Coordinators


Tn. Hj Mohd Yasin bin Mohamod
Assistant Deputy Director of English Language
En Mohd Salleh b. Mohd Arshad
Curriculum Supervisor for English Language
Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri Perak

2.2

Module Panelists
1.
Pn. Hjh Nuri Mina bt Mahalil
SMK Tun Saban
33100 Pengkalan Hulu
2.

En Aimran b Mohamed Yasin Aini


SMK Pangkor
32300 Pulau Pangkor

3.

Pn Norzidah bt Bakri
SMK Dato Abd Rahman Yaakob,
32600 Bota

4.

En Michael a/l Gregory


SMK Seri Iskandar
32600 Bota

5.

En Ignatius Ben a/l Stepen Julianose


SMK Sultan Yussof,
31000 Batu Gajah.

6.

En Nicholas Nathan
SMK Yuk Kwan,
31000 Batu Gajah

7.

Pn Monica Yeo
SMK St. George
34000 Taiping

8.

Cik Ling Peck Leng


SMK Seri Manjung
32040 Seri Manjung

9.

Pn Theresa Wong
SMK Nan Hwa
32000 Setiawan.

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2.3

2.4

2014

State Programme Coordinators (Revised Module)


2.3.1

YM Raja Yusoff bin Raja Baniamin


Principal Assistant Director of English Language

2.3.2

En Md Faisal b. Md Yusuf
Assistant Director of English Language
Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri Perak

Revised Module Panelists


2.4.1

Pn. Hjh Nuri Mina bt Mahalil


SMK Raja Lope Nor Rashid
34500 Tg Piandang

2.4.2

En Harjit Singh Ojala A/L Ajit Singh


SMK Bandar Baru Putra
31400 Ipoh

2.4.3

Pn Khalidah Ashikin bt Adzman Omar


SMK Idris Shah
31600 Gopeng

2.4.4

En Ahmad Azhar b. Lub Muhammad


SMK Seri Kampar
31900 Kampar

2.4.5 Pn Monica Yeo


SMK Treacher Methodist
34000 Taiping
2.4.6 Pn Khairun Nisa bt Kamaruddin
SMK Pantai Remis,
34900 Pantai Remis
2.4.7 Pn Kamariah bt Ibrahim
SMK Slim
35800 Slim River
2.4.8 Muhammad Faisal bin Abdullah
SABK Daerah Batang Padang,
Jalan Tapah 35500 Bidor

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INTRODUCTION

ZOOM IN AND WRITE


3.1

Rationale:

1.

The students achievement in the English Language paper affects the


overall performance of a school, district and state.
Writing is identified as the main cause for low achievement.
Insufficient relevant materials on writing that are tailored to cater to the
needs of students who are sitting for the SPM examination.
Students are not adequately exposed to the latest tips and relevant
techniques in answering English Language 1119 Paper 1.

2.
3.
4.

3.2

Objectives:

1.

6.

To increase the percentage of passes in English Language 1119 Paper


in the State of Perak.
To motivate and enhance students confidence in writing.
To assist teachers and students to zoom in (focus) on important aspects
of writing for SPM examination.
To provide teachers with tips and techniques needed for students to
acquire the skills in writing.
To help teachers with suitable materials to be used by students in their
writing lessons.
To assess studentscompetency in writing for examination purpose.

3.3

Organisation of the module

2.
3.
4.
5.

This module has been designed to facilitate teachers and students in enhancing
their writing skills. It is organised based on the requirements of the SPM Paper 1
Section A (Directed Writing) and Section B (Continuous Writing) only. Selective
topics in this module are specially chosen to show the strategies in tackling the
questions effectively. Sample essays with guidelines and examination tips are
given. In addition, different formats, analysis of past years questions and mark
schemes are provided for easy reference.

3.4

Format Of Paper 1

The English Language 1119/1 Paper deals with writing skills


Section A
Section B

: Directed Writing
: Continuous Writing
TOTAL

35 marks
50 marks
85 marks

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ANALYSIS OF PAST YEAR QUESTIONS (2004 2013)


Analysis of Directed Writing (2004 2013)
Year

Type of
Directed Writing

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Formal Letter

Informal Letter

Report

Speech

Article

2013

Analysis of Continuous Writing (2004 2013)


Type

Year
2004

Write a story ending with: We had never laughed so much in our lives.

2005

Write a story entitled: An Unexpected Visitor.

2006

Narrative

Topic

Write a story ending with: If only I had been more careful, that wouldnt
have happened.

2007

Write a story beginning with: Kim was nervous when the door opened

2008

Write a story ending with, Now I realized the value a true friend.

2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

Write a story ending with : We said goodbyes and went our separate
ways.
Write a story beginning with : It had been raining all day
Write a story that ends with : They looked at each other and smiled
meaningfully.
Write a story beginning with ; The teacher walked into the classroom. It
was the first period
Write a story that ends with ; and so I became a better person.

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Analysis of Continuous Writing (2004 2013)


Type

Descriptive

Year
2004

Describe a festival celebrated in your area.

2005

Describe the biggest challenge in your life.

2006

Describe an enjoyable weekend you have experienced.

2007

Describe an embarrassing experience in your life.

2008

Write about a person who has worked hard to success.

2009

Describe an unforgettable incident that you saw on your way home from
school.

2010

Describe the most popular student in your school.

2011

A famous person you admire.

2012

Describe an outing with your friends.

2013

Truly Malaysian. Describe what this means to you.

2004

2005

2006

2007
Argumentative

Topic

Teenagers today are only interested in entertainment. Do you agree?


Support your opinion.

2008

Examinations good or bad.

2009

School children should not have long holidays. Do you agree?

2010

The Internet is mostly a good thing. Do you agree? Support your opinion.

2011

Should school students have part-time jobs? Discuss.

2012

Should parents give children more freedom?

2013

Is tuition necessary? Discuss.

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Analysis of Continuous Writing (2004 2013)


Type

Year

Topic

2004

My Ideal School

2005

If you were given a chance to be anybody, who would you like to be and why?

2006

What changes would you like to see in your life in the next ten years.

2007

My early years

2008

My perfect future husband or wife

2009

My favourite day of the week

2010

2011

The best things in life are free

2012

Saving money for the future.

2013

Write a story about being alone.

2004

How can we help promote tourism in school.

2005

How to keep oneself healthy.

2006

How can television help students in their studies

2007

Factual /

2008

Expository

2009

2010

What can we do to save the environment?

2011

Should school students have part-time jobs? Discuss.

2012

2013

2004

Clothes

2005

Music

2006

Foods

2007

Tomorrow

2008

Stars

2009

Beauty

2010

Home

2011

Peace

2012

Cleanliness

2013

Reality shows

Reflective

Open

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ZOOM INTO
DIRECTED
WRITING

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________________________________________________________________
5.0

DIRECTED WRITING
________________________________________________________________
5.1

Examination Guidelines

The Directed Writing is assessed in two parts:

Content
Language
TOTAL

15 marks
20 marks
35 marks

Candidates will be assessed on their ability to carry out the


instructions given.
Marks will be awarded for mentioning the points given.
Candidates are also expected to analyse the stimulus provided and to
develop the ideas.
In writing tasks, marks would be allocated for the usage of the correct
format.
5.2

Types of Directed Writing

No

Types

Break down

Report

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

General Report
*
Newspaper Reports *
Minutes of Meeting
Police reports
Book reports

Speech / Talk

i.
ii.
iii.

A Farewell Speech
A Welcoming Speech
General Speech
*

Informal Letter

i.
ii.
iii.

A Letter of Apology
A Letter to the newspaper
A General Letter
*

Formal Letter

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

A Letter of Complaint *
A Letter to place an Order
A letter of Enquiry
*
A Letter Application

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Story Writing (Guided)

i.

A Story on Moral Value

Articles

i.

Describing Processes and


Procedures
Describing People , Places
and Events

ii.

Dialogue / Interview

i.
ii.
iii.

An Informal Discussion
An Interview
A Telephone Conversation

* These parts will be zoomed in in this module.


5.3

Allocation of Marks for Language

Grades / Marks

A
19 - 20

Descriptors

B
16 - 18

The language is accurate apart from occasional draft slips.


Sentence structure is varied and shows that the candidate is
able to use sentence length and type to achieve an intended
effect.
Vocabulary shows some sophistication and is used with
precision.
Punctuation is correct.
Spelling is correct across the whole range of vocabulary used.
Paragraphs have unity.
The tone is appropriate for a talk to students.
The language is almost always accurate but there may be more
minor or first draft slips.
Errors may also arise from more ambitious structures which are
imperfectly understood.
Sentences show some variations in length and type, including
the confident use of complex sentences.
Vocabulary is wide enough to show intended meaning.
Spelling is nearly always accurate.
The tone is quite suitable for a talk to students. The reader is
satisfied that a genuine attempt has been made.

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C
13-15

D
10-12

E
7-9

2014

The language is largely accurate to communicate meaning


clearly to the reader.
Simple structures are used without error; mistakes may occur
when more sophisticated structures are attempted.
Vocabulary is adequate to convey intended meaning although it
may not be sufficiently developed to achieve precision.
Sentences shows some variety of length and structures
although there is a tendency to repeat some sentence types,
giving it a monotonous effect.
Punctuation is generally accurate although errors may occur in
more complex uses.
The talk is written in paragraphs which show some
unity,although links may be absent or inappropriate.
The tone of the talk lapses into slang or informal language.
The language is sufficiently accurate.
There will be patches of clarity particularly when simple
structures are used.
Mistakes will occur when more complex sentences are used.
There may be some variety of sentence length and type but this
may not be successful in enhancing meaning or arousing
interest.
Vocabulary is adequate but lacks precision.
Simple words spelt correctly, but errors may occur when
unfamiliar words are used.
Punctuation is generally correct but does not enhance or clarify
meaning.
Sentence separation errors may occur.
The talk is written in paragraphs which may show some unity in
topic. The style may fail to achieve the informality required for
this task. Lapse in slang or formal language may occur
consistently.
Meaning is never in doubt, but single errors are sufficiently
frequent and serious to hamper precision and speed of reading.
Some simple structures will be accurate but accuracy is not
sustained for long.
Vocabulary is limited and either too simple to convey precise
meaning or are imperfectly understood.
Simple words will usually be spelt accurately but mistakes will
occur when more difficult words are used.
The talk will have paragraphs but these lack unity and links are
incorrectly used or the speech may not be paragraphed at all.
There may be errors of sentences separation and punctuation.
The tone may be appropriate for a talk to students.

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U (i)
46

U (ii)

2-3

U (iii)
0-1

2014

Meaning is fairly clear but high incidence of throughout the


writing will definitely impede the reading.
There will be many serious errors of various kinds throughout
the script but they are mainly of the single word type, i.e. they
could be corrected without rewriting the whole sentence.
A script at this level will have very few accurate sentences.
Although communication is established, the frequent errors may
cause blurring.
Sentences will be simple and very often repetitive.
Punctuation will sometimes be used correctly but sentence
separation errors may occur.
Paragraphs lack unity or there may not be any paragraphs at all.
There may be frequent spelling errors.
The tone may not be appropriate for a talk or, if it is, may not
show understanding of the detailed requirements of the task.
The reader is able to get some sense out of the script but errors
are multiple in nature, requiring the reader to read and re-read
before being able to understand.
At this level, there may be only a few accurate but simple
sentences.
The content may be comprehensible, but the incidence of
linguistic error is so high as to make meaning blur.
This type of script may also be far short of the required number
of words.
Whole sections of the article may make little or no sense. There
are unlikely to be more than one or two accurate sentences.
The content is comprehensible, but its tone is hidden by the
density of errors.
Scripts in this category are almost entirely impossible to read.
Whole sections of the article may make little or no sense at all
or are copied from the task.
Where occasional patches of clarity occur, marks should be
awarded.
Award 1 mark if some sense can be obtained.
The mark 0 should only be awarded if the letter makes no
sense at all from beginning to end.

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REPORT
Reports are accounts giving information about specific happenings. Reports can be :
v General reports
v Newspaper reports
v Book reports / reviews
v Police reports
v Minutes of meetings
For the purpose of this module, we are zooming into
v General reports
v Newspaper reports
LETS ZOOM INTO:
GENERAL REPORT
Format A:
-

title

name of person making the report

details of events in paragraphs

Format B.
-

title / issue

name of person making the report

name of person the report is addressed to.

Useful Tips:
1. Use all the points given in the question.
2. Elaborate on the points given.
3. Use formal language

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Sample Question and Strategy Used:


Question
Discipline in your school has deteriorated to such an extent that it has become a matter
of great concern to many teachers and parents. You have a few suggestions on how to
help reduce the seriousness of the situation. As the Head Prefect of your school, write
a report to your principal regarding this issue and suggest ways to lessen discipline
problems in your school. Use the points below to help you.

Ways to lessen the discipline problems in school:

Give demerits for bad behaviour

Mandate for teachers to carry out corporal punishment

Peer group counselling

Introduce public caning

Seek police assistance

Expulsion from school

When writing out your report, you should remember to:


- give a title for your report
- mention the name of the person making the report
- mention the name of the person the report is addressed to
- use all the points given
- elaborate on the points given

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Strategy to answer the question

STRATEGY

SAMPLE ANSWER

1. Title

Dealing with the disciplinary problems in school

2. Name of person the

To :

Haji Kassim bt Mohamad

to.

Principal of SMK Kelapa Laut

report is addressed
3. Name of person
making the report

From : Azmi bin Dahali


Head Prefect
I would like to draw your attention to the alarming rate
of discipline problems in our school. The discipline in our
school is getting from bad to worse. Nowadays, the prefects in
this school are facing serious indiscipline which includes

Paragraph 1 :

extortion, gang fights, truancy and open defiance of teachers. I

Introduction

would like to suggest some actions that could be taken to


alleviate the rate of discipline cases in this school.
The first thing we can do is to have the demerit
system. Each time a student misbehaves, certain demerits
will be recorded against him.

When he leaves school, the

Paragraph 2 :

grade for his conduct will be given according to the number of

Use point 1 given.

demerits he has accumulated. If the student has no or few

Develop it into a topic

demerits, he will be given a good grade for his or her conduct.

sentence and

However, if the student has accumulated a lot of demerits, he

Give Elaboration

will be given a low grade. This will definitely spoil ones future.
As such, students would be more careful before they think of
misbehaving.

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Paragraph 3 :
Use point 2 given.

2014

Teachers should be given the mandate to carry out


corporal punishment.

Develop it into a topic


sentence.
Students of the past behaved well because they were afraid of
being punished by the teachers. Nowadays, modern parents
love their children too much. A teacher cannot even scold their
children. If he does, the parents will rush to school to confront
or even assault him. This has made students lose their fear of
and respect for their teachers. So, teachers should be given
Elaboration of the point

the mandate to mete out corporal punishment so that students


would have some fear of the teachers if they are given some
authority to punish them. If not, teachers will not be able to
control their students.

*** All the other points should be discussed in the same manner
Discipline determines the standard of reputation of a
9. Conclusion

school and thus, it would always be a matter of great concern


to many parties. The above are my suggestions to lessen the
discipline problems in our school. I hope you will take what I
have suggested into consideration.

Glossary:
alarming causing fear
indiscipline trait of lack of being well-behaved
extortion obtaining by force
playing truant being absent from school without permission
defiance.- open resistance
alleviate - lessen
accumulated - gathered.
assault physical attack
mandate assign authority to
corporal punishment punish by beating the body

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Past-year Question for Reference


SPM Examination Paper 2004

(Report Writing)

Question 1
There are a few matters in your school which could be improved. The school Prefects
Board has had a meeting. The prefects have decided to write a report for the principal.
As the secretary to the board, you have been asked to write the report.
In your report, include the following:

The unsatisfactory service and high food prices in the school canteen

The urgent need to improve the cleanliness of the school

The request for a pedestrian or zebra crossing in front of the school

Do remember to:

Give your report a title

Use all the points given

Provide two relevant details/ examples for each of the four points

Write in paragraphs

Sample Answer
Title:

Suggestions for improving Facilities in SMK Toh Puan Saban

To:

Puan Raihanah bt Ramli,


The Principal of SMK Toh Puan Saban

From:

Anita bt Harun
Secretary of the Prefectorial Board

Introduction
The Prefectorial Board of SMK Toh Puan Saban had a meeting on 14 September
2004 at 2.00 p.m. in the Prefectorial Room. The meeting was called by our Head
Prefect, Wong Ah Teck because there have been many complaints about the situation in
school. Here, we would like to present a detailed report of the meeting to the principal of
SMK Toh Puan Saban for further action and consideration.

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Content Point
The first issue that was discussed was the unsatisfactory service and high
food prices in the school canteen.
Elaboration
The canteen seems to be short of workers because there are only three people handling
the huge crowd of pupils during recess. Due to this, some pupils are not able to buy
their food on time. Furthermore, the prices of food are very expensive for school pupils.
For instance, a price of a plate of fried noodles is RM2.50. Most of the students only
bring about RM2.00 to school. As a result, they cannot afford to buy good, nutritious food
at the canteen. Instead, they can only buy local cakes and buns. We feel very concerned
over this matter because most students do not take their breakfast before coming to
school.
Content Point
There is an urgent need to improve the cleanliness of the school.
Elaboration
The first place to start is the school toilets. Usually after recess, the toilets are in a
terrible condition. The workers need to clean the pupils toilets once recess is over.
Furthermore, the corridor and the staircase to the main office is rather dirty with dust and
pieces of papers strewn everywhere. It is really an eyesore.
Content point
Finally, we would like to touch on the issue of the safety of the students.
Elaboration
Since the traffic is very heavy before and after school is over, we feel that there is an
urgent need for a pedestrian crossing. This is due to the fact that there have been
accidents in the past couple of months. A traffic warden should also be placed at the
pedestrian crossing so that the pupils can cross the congested road safely.
Conclusion
We hope that the school authorities would take the necessary action to
improve the condition of the school so that our students would have an environment
which is conducive to study.

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LETS ZOOM INTO:


NEWSPAPER REPORT

Newspaper reports cover: Accidents (road/ rail/ sea/ air/ house, etc)
Robberies (house/ bank/ supermarkets/ jewellery shops, etc)
Natural disasters (fire/ floods/ storms/ earthquakes/ tsunami)
Events (sports/ festivals/ special occasions)

Zooming An accident
v

Format:

A newspaper report must have:


- An interesting headline
- The place of incident
- The day of incident
- A by-line (name of the person who wrote the report)
Useful tips:
Ensure the report is written in the past tense.
Use all the points given and add relevant details.
Use Wh questions to guide your writing (who, where, what, when,
how?)
Ensure the first (introductory) paragraph is interesting and give a general
overview of the incident.
Include dialogues/ words spoken by the eyewitness(es) and the
authorities to make the report authentic.
Use formal language.
Keep language simple and not flowery to ensure clarity of thought.
Normally, the last paragraph includes suggestions/advice/warnings given
by the authorities.

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Additional tips:
People who were involved in the incident.
The eyewitnesses.
The authorities concerned (manager, police inspector, )
The exact words spoken by the eyewitnesses/ authorities.
Actions taken by the authorities.
Suggestions to prevent such incidents from happening.
Words normally used in reports about accidents.
A

Nouns

People: victim(s), motorist(s), motor-cyclist(s), passenger(s),


pillion rider, lorry driver(s), pedestrian(s), cyclist(s), lorry
attendant(s),
rescue team, rescuers, firemen, passer(s)-by, eyewitness(es)
Vehicles: car (sedan / coupe / hatchback), van, station wagon,
lorry, four-wheel drive, trailer, tow-truck, train, bus, ambulance,
police patrol car, fire engine
Others: tree, kerb, divider, lamp post, railway track, railings,
slippery roads, potholes

Verbs

collided with, knocked into, crashed into, skidded, swerved,


overturned, turned turtle, involved, occurred, took place, sped,
overtook, towed,
pinned under, extricated, saved, rescued,
injured, wounded, hurt,
groaned, shouted, screamed, cried

Adjectives

wrecked, damaged, dented, smashed, serious, severe, grim,


slight/minor injuries, cuts and bruises, fatal, painful,
excruciating, agonizing, helpful, caring, kind, lent a hand,
oncoming, opposite, misty night, poor vision, heavy rain,
weather condition, accident-prone

Linkers

later, next, unfortunately, immediately, as a result,


consequently, when, soon after that, a few minutes later

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Sample question and strategy used:


Question
You are a reporter with a local newspaper. You have been assigned to cover an
accident that has occurred along a busy road. You have taken down some notes.
Based on the notes, write out a newspaper report.

Place: Kuala Lumpur


Day: Friday
14-year old boy - car hit - Thursday afternoon - Jalan Ampang missing left
mothers confectionary stall- Ampang Park Supermarket- to change clothes
not returned - mother received phone call son hit- eyewitness car speeding
overtaking vehicle slammed into boy driver took Gleneagles hospital mother
searched no sign made police report police found driver questioned
claimed - put boy in taxi - Inspector Police similar case - appealed for public helpcontact police - solve mystery.

Strategy to answer question

Strategy

Sample Answer

*Headline

Accident victim vanishes - Driver questioned

*By-line

by Horatio Tan

*Place, day
*Introductory paragraph
(Who was involved? When
and where it happened?)

Kuala Lumpur, Fri A 14-year-old boy who was hit by a


car on Jalan Ampang on Thursday afternoon was found
missing by his family.

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Mohamad Helmy bin Samad of Taman Ampang


Jaya left his mother at her confectionary stall at the
Ampang Park supermarket on Thursday afternoon to go
*Body

to change his clothes but he never returned.

Paragraphs 2-3
According to Mohamad Helmys mother, Puan

(details names of
people, place, time and
how the incident occurred)

Zaharah bt. Mohd Yusof, she received a phone call shortly


after 1.30 pm that afternoon. They told me that my son
was hit by a car and the driver had taken him to the
nearest hospital, she said.
An eyewitness told Puan Zaharah that the

Paragraphs 4-5

driver of a blue Proton Wira in an attempt to overtake

Account from an

another vehicle was speeding. He slammed into her son

eyewitness /family

who was trying to cross the road. The driver said that he

members/ passers-by

would take the boy to Gleneagles Hospital.


Puan Zaharah had lodged a police report for
a missing person when her son did not return home.

Account from the

Upon investigation, the police had found the driver and

police/authorities

questioned him. He said that he took Mohamad Helmy to


Gleneagles Hospital for treatment and then put him in a
city taxi at 5 p.m., the Inspector of Police said.
The police are still looking for the taxi driver
who plied the route to Gleneagles Hospital at that time
last Thursday. The Inspector of Police said that there had

*Conclusion:

been a similar incident last week when a factory worker

advice given/

who was on the way home after work was knocked down

appeal/suggestion

and was reported missing. He appealed to the public and


any eyewitnesses for information that could help in the
investigation to contact the Ampang Police Station at 0388649991.

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Glossary:

confectionary cakes, buns, pies, biscuits


attempt
- try
slammed
- hit with force
lodged
- made a formal complaint
plied
- travelled to and fro
route
- a way from one place to another
appealed
- requested for help

Sample question and answer:


You are a reporter with a local newspaper who had gone to cover a theft that has
occurred. You have taken some notes to be used later in writing your report.

* Place: Klang

Day: Thursday

* gang of robbers carted away containers scrap copper RM 1 million


* godown Northport
* robbers armed tied up three security guards
* drove away three container lorries
* freed themselves alerted police
* arrested four suspects 4.30 am two others- around Klang
* stolen lorries abandoned Kampung Sungai Rasau and Puchong
* Klang OCPD Assistant Commissioner investigating
* another scrap-metal robbery two guards killed Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Shah
Alam .

Mark Scheme for Sample Question:


A) Format

3 marks

F1

Headline

(1 mark)

F2

Place and day

(1 mark)

F3

By-line

(1 mark)

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B) Content

2014

12 marks

Content marks should be identified by the letter C followed by the content


number and circled. Award one mark for the mere mention of the main idea:
C1 Klang, Thurs.
C2 gang of robbers carted away, containers of scrap copper
C3 - worth RM 1 million
C4 godown at Northport
C5 robbers armed, tied up three security guards
C6 drove away, three container lorries
C7 freed themselves, alerted police
C8 arrested four suspects, 4.30 a.m. two others around Klang
C9 stolen lorries, abandoned in Kampung Sungai Rasau and Puchong
C10 Klang OCPD Assistant Commissioner, police investigating
C11 another scrap metal robbery where two guards were killed
C12 incident in Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Shah Alam.
Robbers escape with RM1 mil worth of scrap copper
Klang, Thurs A gang of robbers carted away three containers of scrap copper worth
about RM1 million from a godown in Northport here early yesterday.
The gang armed with parangs, stormed the place at about 3 am and tied up three
security guards. They drove away three lorries loaded with scrap copper. The guards, who
sustained minor injuries in the incident, freed themselves after the robbers left and alerted
the police.
Barely two hours after the incident, police arrested four suspects at about 4.30 am near
Northport. They led the police to two other suspects who were also picked up around
Klang. The suspects are Malaysians aged between 17 and 25.
Two of the stolen lorries were found abandoned by the roadside in Kampung Sungai
Rasau and Puchong some six hours after the robbery. Klang OCPD Assistant
Commissioner Mohamad Mat Yusop said police were investigating if the gang was
involved in another scrap-metal robbery in which two security guards were murdered.
During the 5.30 am incident in Jalan Bukit Kemuning in Shah Alam last Saturday, Supil
Rasban, 75, and Nepalese Gangga Bahadur, 32, were killed after they were attacked by a
group of parang-wielding robbers who escaped with metal worth several thousand ringgit.
( Adapted from: The Star - June 19th 2009)

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SPEECH/ TALK
LETS ZOOM INTO:
Guidelines
v Speeches are talks delivered in
o

Formal occasions

Social occasions

v A speech would include


o

Welcoming someone

Thanking someone

Saying farewell to someone

Sharing information on a specific topic/issue

Format
v A speech will have the following format
-

Greeting and addressing of audience

Audience must be addressed according to protocol


For eg: The Chairperson, members of the board, ladies and gentlemen.....
The Principal, teachers and fellow students.....

State the purpose of the speech in the introduction

The other contents of the speech will follow

Thank the audience for their attention when ending the speech.

Useful Tips
v The speech should be well-organised in order for ideas to flow smoothly.
v Be connected with the audience with phrases like
-

Im sure youll agree with me .....

Is this what you and I want?

v The audience must be aware that you are communicating with them.
v Your speech should contain humour but not in excess.
v Provide examples and credible evidence to strengthen your points.
v Use the present tense.
v Use simple and clear language.
v Go through your speech and search for grammatical errors.

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USEFUL EXPRESSIONS NORMALLY USED IN SPEECHES


A. Greeting your audience and introducing yourself

A very good morning I wish to the principal, teachers and fellow students. It
gives me great honour to stand here to give this speech.

Good morning boys and girls. First of all, before I begin my speech today, I would
like to take this opportunity to thank the school for inviting me to give a talk on .....

Good morning/afternoon/evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for giving me


this opportunity to give a speech.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much for giving me the
opportunity to talk to you about .....................................................

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to give a talk on


...................................................

Boys and girls, a very good morning to you. Before I begin my talk today, let me
introduce myself. I am .................................... from
....................................................

Ladies and gentlemen, I feel honoured to be able to give a talk entitled


....................

Good morning to everyone present here. I am greatly honoured to stand here


before you to give a speech.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am ........................................ from ..................................


I feel privileged to be able to give a speech on ....................................................

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B. Introducing the topic

Today, I am going to talk on the topic


........................................................................

The topic I am going to discuss today concerns all of us.

Without wasting any more time, I would like to introduce my topic today, and that
is, .......................................................

My talk is entitled, ...................................................................

C. Closing the topic

In a nutshell, ..

I hope / I wish

As a conclusion / To sum up / In conclusion


..

D. Ending the speech

Thank you

Thank you for lending me your ears.

Thank you for your attention

Thank you for listening

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SAMPLE QUESTION AND MARK SCHEME


Question
As the school head prefect, you have been chosen to make a speech at a farewell party
for your class teacher. Based on the notes below, write out your speech.

farewell

discipline teacher

promotion

Education Ministry

18 years in school

English Language teacher

District debate champion

sportsman

Perak team squash coach

Scout leader

Love outdoors

All the best

When writing out your speech, you should remember:

you are talking to your fellow schoolmates and teachers

to use the correct speech format

to write in paragraphs

to include all the points given and elaborate on them

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Mark Scheme (35 marks)


Award marks as follows:
Content:
15 marks
Language: 20 marks
___________________
Total:
35 marks
___________________
Detailed Marking for Content (15 marks)
Format

3 mark

Content

12 marks

__________________________
Total

15 marks

__________________________
Format ( F )

= 3 marks

F1 - appropriate greeting
F2 - appropriate opening remarks

write in paragraphs

F3 appropriate closing remarks


Content points ( C ) :
C1 farewell
C2 - discipline teacher
C3 - promotion
C4 - Education Ministry
C5 - 18 years in school
C6 - English Language teacher
C7 - District debate champion
C8 - sportsman
C9 - Perak team squash coach
C10- Scout leader
C11- Love outdoors
C12- All the best

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LETS ZOOM INTO:


SAMPLE 1: (A Farewell Speech)
General explanation
A farewell speech is given when someone is going off to another place. In schools,
we have farewell speeches for classmates, teachers and principals who are going on
transfer. The farewell speech begins with the greeting and addressing of the
audience, stating the purpose of the speech in the introduction, stating and
elaborating the contents of the speech and thanking the audience at end of the
speech.
Question
You are the chairman of the Malaysian Students Association in Northern Ireland. One of
your members has completed his university studies and will be returning to Malaysia. At
his farewell party, you are asked to make a farewell speech. Write your speech based on
the following notes:

farewell - sad

Northern Ireland - eight years

worked hard - degree

title Doctor

fulfilled - dream

go back - hometown and family

organised - activities

native dance - dancing classes

helpful - kind

patience reliable

souvenir - appreciation

all the best

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Sample Answer
STRATEGY
Paragraph 1

SAMPLE ANSWER
A very good evening to all the members of the Malaysian

Greeting

Students Association.

Purpose of

I feel very privileged to stand here to give a farewell speech and yet I am

speech

very sad because we have to say goodbye to a very good friend, Dr


Nicholas Michael, who has been here with us for the past eight years. In
our association with him, we have grown to be like brothers and sisters.

Paragraph 2

I feel proud in addressing him as a Doctor because I know how

Content and

hard he had worked to attain the degree. He has finally fulfilled his dream

elaboration

and is able to go back to his hometown and family in Julau, Sarawak.


During the past eight years, Dr Nicholas Michael has organised and has
been actively involved in many activities carried out by the association.

Paragraph 3

Being a very good performer, Dr Nicholas has always impressed


everyone with his Iban native dance, the ngajat. Moreover, he also gave

Content and

dance classes for young Malaysian and Irish children in Northern Ireland.

elaboration
Content and

Everyone here will definitely miss our dear friend. He has been helpful,

elaboration

kind, patient and reliable to anyone who needed a helping hand.

Paragraph 4
Closure

On behalf of the Malaysian Students Association in Northern


Ireland, I would like to present you with this little souvenir as a token of our
appreciation for all your contribution to our association. We wish you all
the best in your new undertakings back in Malaysia. Please do keep in
touch and may you have safe journey home.

Ending

Thank you

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GLOSSARY
privileged honoured

impressed amazed

farewell goodbye

reliable dependable

attain achieve

contribution - involvement

fulfilled - satisfied
SAMPLE 2 ( Past-year Question : SPM Examination Paper 2007 )
Question
You have been asked by your teacher to give a talk on a reference book that is
useful for secondary students. You have decided to talk about a science book.
Use the following notes about the book to write your talk.

Details of the book

Reasons why the book is useful

Title : Science Made Simple

Attractive presentation

Author: Sharifah Shazana

Clear explanations

Publisher : Bunga
Publications

Helpful diagrams

Variety of exercises

Sample answers

Practice question papers

Useful tips

When writing the talk, you should remember :


-

To use an appropriate greeting and closing

To state the purpose of the talk

To use all the notes given

To give two other reasons of your own

That the talk is for school students

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Sample Answer
Good morning dear students. I am here to give a talk on a science book that is useful
for all secondary students. The book is Science Made Simple by Sharifah Shazana and
the publisher is Bunga Publications.
This book is popular because of its attractive presentation. The cover of the book is
attractive and the contents of the book are also presented in a very attractive manner. It
also has clear explanations and each topic is explained in detail to help students to
remember important details. So, students from the weaker classes can understand the
topic well.
In addition, this reference book provides helpful diagrams that are colourful and
clear. Students will not get bored and can understand the processes explained. This
reference book also has a variety of exercises in it. Each topic is accompanied by
various exercises and students can check their understanding by attempting the
exercises given. The answers for the exercises are provided in the book for reference.
There are also various examination format practice questions that are useful for
group discussion. Students can use these question papers for revision purposes and
sample answers are provided as well.
Apart from the reasons mentioned this reference book consists of relevant short
notes and is useful for students in preparing for the examinations. Each topic starts with
a discussion of the topic. So, students can express their ideas before making use of the
contents of the book.
Finally, there are useful tips for examination preparation in the reference book. I am
sure this is what all students need in their preparation for the coming SPM examination.
I hope all of you will buy this science reference book and benefit from it. Before I end my
talk, I would like to thank all of you for listening attentively.
SAMPLE 3 ( A Speech To Share Information )
Question
You are the President of the Environment Club in your school. In view of the current
water crisis in your area, you have been asked by the teacher adviser to give a talk to
the club members on ways to save water.

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Use the notes given below to write out the talk.

Water crisis

Currently dry season

Value of water public awareness

Water rationing use water wisely

Simple measures reduce water waste

Brushing teeth use a glass of water

Turn off tap when not in use

Take showers avoid taking baths

Install half-flush system

Washing cars use pails instead of hose

Wash clothes full load

Make every drop counts

When writing the talk, you should remember to include the following:

greeting and introduction


purpose of talk
ending of talk
all the notes given

Sample Answer
STRATEGY
Greeting

SAMPLE ANSWER
Good morning to the Principal, teachers and my

addressing

fellow friends. As the President of the Environment Club, I

audience

have been asked to give a talk about saving water. As you

introduce yourself know, currently we are facing water crisis throughout the
and topic

country due to the dry season. Therefore, it is wise for us to


conserve this precious resource as it is not unlimited.

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Body

2014

Malaysia is rich in water resources as we received


purpose of talk

about 3000 mm of rain a year. However, we must not take it


for granted. In recent examples, some states have carried out
water rationing as there is insufficient water available. Due
to the lack of public awareness, we waste a lot of water in our
daily lives. So, we need to implement simple measures to
reduce water waste.

Body

First and foremost, use a glass of water when you


steps to conserve brush your teeth. Do not leave the water running while you
water

are doing this. Besides, cut down on your showers. This will

brush teeth

help conserve water and your water bill too. Turn off the tap

less showers

when soaping and shampooing. Also, avoid taking baths in

avoid taking baths

bath tubs. It needs at least four times the amount of water.

Body

Another area to help water conservation is flushing


steps to conserve after toilet use. You could install the half flush system after
water

urination or flush only after the second urination. But, make

flushing

sure your hygiene is not jeopardized. One flush is about nine


litres of water. Do the calculation and you will see how much
water and money you will be saving.

Body

Most Malaysians have the habit of using the running


steps to conserve hose for washing cars. We should instead use two pails of
water

water which should be enough to clean even a Mercedes

wash cars

Benz. Furthermore, washing clothes is another aspect where

wash clothes

we waste a lot of water. We should only wash clothes when


there is a full load.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, water is a valuable commodity. Thus,


saving water is an issue that should not be taken lightly. I
hope that you will start practising these measures at home as
it is imperative for us to conserve it for the years to come.
Remember, make every drop count.
Thank you.

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GLOSSARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Conserve protect something from destruction


Precious - valuable
Resources - supplies
Rationing allow each person to have only a fixed amount of something
Insufficient not enough
Implement carry out
Jeopardized in danger
Commodity raw material

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FORMAL LETTER
FORMAL LETTER
Formal letters are official or business letters that can be sent to organizations like
schools, companies, factories, government departments and places of interest.
Examples of formal letters:
v Letter of Job application
v Letters to ask permission for educational visit
v Letter of inquiry
v Letter of complaint
v Letter of recommendation as referee
Formal letters follow a definite format.
The language for formal letters is simple, clear and concise.

Guidelines
Formal letters have the following features:
v Heading
v Salutation
v Heading of letter
v Body of letter
v Subscription

Heading
v The writers name and address is written at the top left-hand corner
v A line is drawn below this
v The name and full address of the receiver is written below this line
v Underline the postcode and state of the address
v The date is written on the right-hand side on the same line as the line of
receivers address
v The date must be written in full and capitalised 19 JUNE 2009

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Salutation
v Use the polite expression Dear Sir / Madam.
v If a person has a title, address him/her e.g. Datuk or Datin.
Title
v It is written on the second line after the salutation.
v It states the purpose of the letter.
v It needs to be underlined
Body of the letter
v The contents of the letter depend on the purpose of the letter
v It should be written in paragraphs
v Number the paragraphs or points starting with the second paragraph
v Be direct and concise and the tone must be serious
v Do not use contraction like Ill , Im, Youre
v Conclude the letter with a thank you note emphasising appreciation for taking the
persons time
Subscription / Closure
v End with the subscription Yours faithfully.
v This is written on the left.
v Below the subscription is the signature of the writer of the letter.
v Name and position of the person should be written after the subscription.

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Format of a formal letter


Senders name
Senders address
Name of receiver
Position of receiver
Address of the receiver
Date
Salutation
Title
Body of letter
I would like to ......................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
2. ..................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
3. .......................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
Complimentary close
Subscription

Signature
(Name)
(Post)

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Sample question and mark scheme


Question
You are the secretary of the English Society.
The members would like to make a visit to USM in Penang. Write a letter to the
president of the Student Union of the university requesting the unions help to arrange
accommodation and a tour of the university.
v In your letter, include the following:
o

Day

Date

Time of visit

Objectives of the visit

Number of Form 5 students and teachers making the visit

Alternative dates if proposed date is not suitable

Request for a guided tour places of interest in the university

Accommodation

Duration of visit

v When writing the letter you should remember:


o

To lay out the letter correctly

To use paragraphs

That the letter is to make a request for a visit

Two other points of your own

Mark Scheme (35 marks)


Award marks as follows:
Content:

15 marks

Language:

20 marks

____________________
Total:

35 marks

____________________

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Detailed Marking for Content (15 marks)


Format

3 marks

Content

12 marks

Total

15 marks

Format (F)

- 3 marks

F1

- Address

F2

- Salutation

F3

- Closure

CONTENT 12 MARKS

Award one mark for the mere mention of the main idea
Content Points (C)
C1-Day
C2-Date
C3- Time of visit
C4-Objectives of the visit
C5-Number of form 5 students and teachers making the visit
C6-Alternative dates if proposed date is not suitable
C7-Request for a guided tour places of interest in the university
C8-Accommodation
C9-Duration of visit
C10-Activities
C11, C12-Two other relevant points of your own

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LETS ZOOM INTO:


SAMPLE 1 (Letter of Request)
Question
You are the secretary of the Science Society.
The members would like to make a visit to the National Science Institute to watch the
exhibition on robotics. Write a letter to the director of the National Science Institute
asking for permission to visit the National Science Institute.
v In your letter, include the following:
o

Day, date and time of visit

Objectives of the visit

Number of form 5 students and teachers making the visit

Alternative dates if proposed date is not suitable

Request for a guided tour and special discount for your group visit

v When writing the letter you should remember:


o

To lay out the letter correctly

To use paragraphs

That the letter is to make a request for a visit

Sample Answer
SAMPLE ANSWER

STRATEGY

SMK Seri Iskandar,


Bandar Baru Seri Iskandar,
32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar.

Make sure the format


of the address is

The Director,

correct

National Science Institute,


75000 Kerteh

19 JUNE 2009

Dear Sir/Madam,
Request For Permission To Visit National Science Institute

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As the secretary of the Science Society, I am writing to ask you for


permission to visit Star World Studio.
2.

2014

Begin by stating the


purpose of your letter

The Science Society members would like to visit the National

Science Institute on 3 August 2009. The objectives for the visit are to:
v watch the robotics exhibition and other exhibition areas
v organizing trips to science-related places In conjunction with our

mention about the


rationale of your visit

science month
v expose Form 5 students to potential careers in robotics
engineering
3.

There will be 22 Form 5 students, 22 Form 4 students and 4

Provide useful

teachers. We hope to reach the institute by 9.30 a.m. We hope that you

information for the

can provide us with a guided tour around the institute.

receiver

4.

If the time and date stated is not convenient, we would be most

obliged if you would suggest another date. Please do not hesitate to


contact the teacher advisor, Mr Ryan at 012-5986631.
Thank you and we hope for a favourable reply.

Conclude your letter


by requesting
alternative suggestion
Thank the receiver

Yours faithfully,

Munirah Rahman

Subscription

(MUNIRAH RAHMAN)
Secretary of the Science Club
Glossary
Exhibition

presentation

Conjunction

Combination

Potential

Possible

Convenient

Suitable

Sample
question and mark scheme
Obliged
Thankful

Hesitate

Be uncertain

Favourable

Positive

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SAMPLE 2 ( Letter of Complaint )


Useful Tips :
a)

State what you wish to complain about.


e.g. I wish to complain about ..

b)

Give details about your complaint and the inconvenience caused.


Use connectors:
first
second
moreover
another point is
furthermore

c)

State the action you want taken.


e.g. :
I would be grateful if you could
I hope you would look into this matter and make sure that

d)

Conclude with :

I hope you would look into my request immediately.

I am sure you would act immediately.


Question:

You are unhappy about the condition and services of the town library. You decided to write a
letter to the Chairman of the Town Council to complain about the unsatisfactory condition and
services of the public library.
Write your letter based on the notes you have made below:
books outdated
not many reference books
unhelpful librarians
boring activities
no attractive layout of the library
When writing the letter, you must remember:
-

to layout your letter in its correct format (address, date, salutation, title, closing)
to use all the notes given
to give two suggestions on how to improve the library***

*** in the past few years, all 12 points are given in the question

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Sample Answer
SAMPLE ANSWER

STRATEGY

Sharifah bte Taib,


17A, Kampung Baharu,
Jalan Menderang,
35600 Sungkai,
Perak Darul Ridzuan.

Senders name and


address

The Chairman,
Tapah Town Council,
75, Jalan Besar,
35000 Tapah,
Perak Darul Ridzuan

Name/ Post and


address of recipient.

25 June 2014

Date

Dear Sir/Madam,

Salutation

Poor Condition and Services of the Tapah Town Library.

Topic

I am writing this letter to draw your attention to the poor condition Introduction : What
the letter is about
and services of the Tapah town library.
2.
First, the collection of library books and magazines need to be
expanded and improved upon. The books are outdated and the
library is not stocked with the latest titles. There are not many Point 1 -elaboration
reference books, only revision books aimed at passing examination Point 2 -elaboration
for secondary school pupils.
3.
Second, the librarians are unhelpful. To quote just one
example, when asked for help to find a title, one librarian was quite Point 3- elaboration
indifferent. She just pointed to the computer. Surely, librarians should
be more willing to assist users. Another librarian was not even sure of
the location of the books herself.
4.

4.
Third, the activities organised by the library are boring.
There is only one activity storytelling for children. It follows the Point 4- elaboration
same format that has been going on since I was in primary one.
Someone reads a story, children sit around on the floor and try to
crane their necks to look at the illustrations as the reader points from
the book. Many interesting activities could have been organised for
children. Alternatively, the library can also hold talks and exhibitions
based on selected themes. For example, when pupils are going to sit
for their major public examination, prominent speakers should be
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invited to motivate them as part of their preparation.


5.

5.
Finally, the layout of the library is equally boring. It looks Point 5- elaboration
more like a classroom rather than a library. One section has all the
shelves for the books. The other section, there are tables and chairs
for reading. Public libraries should look more innovative and
conducive.

6.

Let us bear in mind that the main objective of a public library is Closure
to encourage the public to use it as frequently as possible; not to put
them off. I hope that the relevant authorities will look into the matter.
Closing phrase
Thank you.

7.
8.
9.

Yours faithfully,
Sharifah

(SHARIFAH BTE TAIB)

Signature
Full name in capital
letters

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INFORMAL LETTER
INFORMAL LETTER
v Informal letter is a letter written to friends and family members.
v It also includes letter written to the newspapers expressing concern over certain
social issues.
Guidelines
-

A stimulus in the form of a letter, text or advertisement provides the question.

An informal letter has the following format:


o

Address on right hand corner followed by date.

Salutation or addressing the person you are writing to, for example, Dear
Shima.

If the letter is addressed to a newspaper, the salutation can be Dear


Sir/Madam

End your letter with Yours sincerely or something more affectionate for
family members and close friends, for example, Yours affectionately,
Your loving son/daughter.

Use informal language, (for eg, Ive, Im).

Be casual but use proper language with correct grammatical sentences.

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FORMAT OF AN INFORMAL LETTER

Senders address
Date
Salutation
Opening remarks
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
............
Body of letter
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
............
Closing remarks
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
............
Signature

LETS ZOOM INTO:


Letter to a brother
SAMPLE QUESTION AND ANSWER
Question
Your brother in Johor writes to you telling that he would like to come to Sungai Petani
to spend his holiday with you. Since, you have other holiday plans you made other
arrangement for your brother.Write a letter to your brother telling him of yourholiday
plans and the arrangements for him based on all the notes below;
o

In your letter, include the following:

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Holiday plans trip to Kuala Lumpur KL Tower Planetarium Putrajaya

Arrangements for brother parents friends

Activities you have planned Penang tour Penang Hill


Botanical Garden Butterfly Farm Gurney Drive

v When writing the letter you should remember :


o

To lay out the letter correctly

To use paragraphs

To address your letter to your brother


SAMPLE ANSWER

STRATEGY

44, Jalan GC44,


Taman Cemerlang

Make sure the format of

08000 Sungai Petani

the address is correct

Kedah Darul Aman


18 June 2014
Dear Ivan,

Salutation
Thank you for your letter which I received last

week. Im glad to know that you will be coming to Penang

Begin by stating the


purpose of your letter

for a holiday. Of course you will be staying with us.


However, Im sorry to say that I will not be
able to be with you. My Hockey Club is going on a trip to
Kuala Lumpur for three days. We will be leaving on the
same day of your arrival. The trip is a reward for our school
team winning the district championship. It is subsidised by

Write about the rationale

the Parent Teacher Association. We plan to spend a day

of your visit

and a night at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex. It should be


fun for me as this will be my first trip there. In Kuala
Lumpur, we plan to visit the KL Tower, Planetarium and
Putrajaya. On the last day, we will be watching a hockey
game between Malaysia and Thailand.
I know that you are disappointed that I cant be

Provide useful information

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here for you but I hope you understand my situation. Dont

for the receiver

worry, mum and dad have promised to look after you well. I
have arranged with a friend, Ben who is most willing to take
you around Penang. He has a car and he is on his
semester break for a month.
Mum is already making plans to cook your
favourite dishes and to take you shopping. Mum, dad and
Ben have lined up some activities for your stay here.
Among the places that you will visit are the Penang Hill,
Botanical Garden and the Butterfly Farm. Since you love
good food, Ben will take you to Gurney Drive to enjoy a
sumptuous meal there. Im sure youll enjoy yourself.

Thats all for now. Im looking forward to

Closing remark

hearing from you. Bye


Your loving brother,

Closure

Gershon

Glossary

Subsidised

funded

Disappointed

let down

Situation

condition

Favourite

desired

Sumptuous

splendid

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Past -Year Question for reference ( SPM examination paper 2005 )


You have just returned from a three- day outdoor activity camp. You have decided to
write a letter to your friend about your experience at the camp. Write your letter based on
all the notes below.

Who organised the camp

Date of the camp

Transport to the campsite

Accommodation

Give two relevant examples of :


-

activities

benefits

problems

When writing the letter you should remember:

to layout the letter correctly

to use paragraphs

that your letter is to your friend

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Sample Answer
41, Jalan Maju,
Taman Maju,
31450 Ipoh,
Perak.
20 July 2009
Dear Jane,
Hi, there! How are you? I am sorry I was not able to reply to your letter any earlier. I was at
a camp. The camp was called Discover Yourself. It was an enriching experience as I have never
attended such camp before. My uncle, who was one of the organizers, rope me in. At first I was
very apprehensive about the whole thing. But later I realised I needed some motivation for the
coming SPM examination.
Let me give you some details. The organisers were a group of people who called
themselves The Millennium People. They were basically teachers, trainers and leaders from
various social groups who have come together to help young people to excel. The camp was from
6th December to 8th December. It was a three- day outdoor activity camp. We went to the camp by
bus and later took a ferry to Pangkor Island. About 120 participants and 12 trainers participated in
the camping. The camp was conducted in the East of Pangkor Island. It was quiet and peaceful,
overlooking the beautiful hills. It was a superb place for us to unwind and discover ourselves.
There were little chalets reserved for us.
We enjoyed many interesting activities. I cannot describe them all, but I need to tell you
about some of the interesting activities. The first activity was called loosen up. We got to know
each other in this ice-breaking session. Then came the difficult section. Here we were practically
yelled at and scolded by trainers. The purpose was to break our egos. After that we listened to
series of motivational talk, self-improvement and time management. I greatly benefited from this
camp. I have discovered my own potentials. Now, I know that I have a good memory and can
socialise easily. I also identified my weaknesses. My greatest weakness is procrastination but we
have learnt to deal and overcome our weakness.
However, the camp had its own problems. Some participants did not co-operate because
they refused to participate in the hiking and jungle trekking activities. Another problem was that,
we did not have water supply on the first day. However, these are all small matters compared to
the benefits and the lifelong experience that I have gathered in the camp. For the next camp, I will
surely take you along.
Thats all for now. I hope to hear from you soon. Take care.
Your friend,
Rufena

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SPM examination question 2006


Your friend, who lives in another town, wants to know whether he/she should run for the
post of Head Prefect. Write a letter to your friend giving reasons why he/she would make
a good head Prefect.
Use the notes given below to write your letter.

Academic Performance:

Other points :

Intelligent student

lives near school-able to sacrifice time

Hard-working

good study habits-academic

Problem solver

performance will not be affected

popular with students and teachers

Personal Qualities :

Co-curricular Involvement :

Friendly

Blue House Captain

Responsible

secretary of English Language society

Helpful

school debater

When writing your letter, you should remember to include the following:

address

salutation/greeting

close

all the notes given

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Sample answer
55, Taman Gemilang,
Bukit Lalang,51400,
Pahang.
22 July 2009
Dear Steven,
It has been quite a while since I last heard from you. However, I was happy to receive the
birthday card from you last week, together with the message note in it. I understand that you are in a
dilemma in deciding whether to run for the post of Head Prefect. Do not worry. I want to reassure
you that you would make an excellent Head Prefect.
You should accept this post because you have great personal qualities that would make you
a good Head Prefect. You are well-liked and respected by the students of your school. Besides, your
responsible nature is a well-added advantage too. You are always fond of helping others. As such,
this helpful characteristic of yours is indeed a pleasure to others.
Furthermore, your academic performance outshines your peers, It shows that you are an
intelligent student. You are always willing to walk an extra mile to achieve something. Besides, you
are also a problem solver. Whenever your classmates face any problems, you always seem to find
ways of solving them.
Regarding your co-curriculum involvement, I would be happy to say that you are active .As a
Blue House Captain, you have proven your great leadership qualities and skills. Being elected as
the Secretary of the English Language Society also proves that the students of the school have
much faith in you to entrust you with such a huge responsibility. Apart from this, you have always
represented your school as a school debater. This shows your confidence and self-esteem.
The strategic location of your house should also give you an extra shove towards
running for the post. As it is within walking distance, you would be able to sacrifice time and effort in
carrying out your duties as Head Prefect. You have had good study habits since young. Therefore
your academic performance will not be affected and you will remain as a top student.
Last but not least, you are also popular among students and teachers because of your
achievements. I am sure you can be a good role model if you are the Head Prefect.
I hope I have convinced you enough to run for the post of Head Prefect. You deserve it. So,
go for it. Anyway my advance congrats to you if you are selected.
Bye, till I hear from you again.
Your friend,
Brian

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(Adapted from Cerdik)


Sample question and mark scheme
Question
Your uncle in England writes to you telling that he would like to come to Ipoh to
spend his holidays with you. Since, you will be engaged with your new posting you
have made other arrangement for your uncle. Write a letter to your telling him of
your plans and the arrangements for him based on all the notes below;
o

In your letter, include the following:

New office new position promotion new organisation

Arrangements for uncle parents will take care friend


accompany

Activities you have planned Langkawi cable car underwater


world island hopping

Ipoh limestone caves

v When writing the letter you should remember :


o

To lay out the letter correctly

To use paragraphs

To address your letter to your uncle

Mark Scheme (35 marks)


Award marks as follows:
Content:

15 marks

Language:

20 marks

__________________
Total:

35 marks
___________________

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Detailed Marking for Content ( 15 marks )


Format

3 marks

Content

12 marks

Total

15 marks

Format ( F )

- 3 marks

F1
F2
F3

CONTENT

Address
Salutation
Subscription

1 mark
1 mark
1 mark

15 marks ( 12 content points )

Award one mark for the mere mention of the main idea
C1

New office

C2

New position

C3

Promotion

C4

New organisation

C5

Parents will take care

C6

Friend accompany

C7

Langkawi

C8

Cable car

C9

Underwater World

C10

Island hopping

C11

Ipoh

C12

Limestone caves

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ZOOM
INTO
CONTINUOUS
WRITING

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_________________________________________________________________
6.0

CONTINUOUS WRITING
_________________________________________________________________
6.1

EXAMINATION GUIDELINES

The Continuous Writing is assessed by *holistic impression*. Marks for language


will be awarded for:
language accuracy
sentence structure / variety
paragraphing
vocabulary
relevant points
spelling
style and tone

6.2
No

Language
TOTAL

50 marks
50 marks

Types of Continuous Writing


* These parts will be zoomed in in this module.
Types

Narrative*

Reflective *

Break down
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

introduction of plot and setting


characterization
development of plot
the resolution / ending

i.

introduction : definition / quotation /


anecdote
expressing personal views, thoughts and
feelings
use of warms tones of language
show depth of thought and well organised
ideas
describe qualities / traits
add humour if possible

ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
3

Descriptive*

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

description of people / places / events


description of physical traits / qualities
use of adjectives to describe sensory
perception
use suitable expressions / idioms /
proverbs
in chronological order of time and space
indicate the lesson learnt or moral values

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4

Types
Argumentative*

2014

Break down
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

make a stand
advantages and disadvantages
expressing opinion / providing solutions to
problems
expressing arguments for and against a
topic / issue by supportive evidence
compare and contrast something or
somebody

Factual /
Expository

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

definition of issues and topics


identify at least 8 content points
advantages and disadvantages
reasons and factors
measures / steps / solutions

Open Essay*
( factual or
narrative )

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

factual account ( provide statistics )


definition of issues and topics
advantages and disadvantages
reasons and factors
measures / steps / solutions
narratives

6.3

Allocation of Marks

The continuous writing is basically assessed by *general impression*. However, the


following levels can be noted:
Marks
Allocated

Remarks / Description

A
44 - 50

The language is entirely accurate apart from very occasional first draft
slips.
Sentence structure is varied and sophisticated shows that the
candidate is able to use various types of sentences to achieve a
particular effect.
Vocabulary is wide and is used with precision.
Punctuation is accurate and helpful to the reader.
Spelling is accurate across the full range of vocabulary used.
Paragraphs are well-planned, have unity and are linked.
The topic is addressed with consistent relevance.
The interest of the reader is aroused and sustained throughout the
writing.

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Marks
Allocated

Remarks / Description

B
38 - 43

C
32 - 37

D
26 - 31

2014

The language is accurate; occasional errors are either minor or first draft
slips.
Sentences show some variation of length and type, including some
complex sentences.
Vocabulary is wide enough to convey intended shades of meaning with
some precision.
Punctuation is almost always accurate and generally helpful.
Spelling is nearly always accurate.
Paragraphs show some evidence of planning, have unity and are
usually appropriately linked.
The piece of writing is relevant to the topic and the interest of the
reader is aroused and sustained through most of the composition.
The language is largely accurate.
Simple structures are used without error; mistakes may occur when
more sophisticated structures are attempted.
Sentences may show some variety of structure and length but there is a
tendency to use one type of structure, giving it a monotonous effect.
Vocabulary is wide enough to convey intended meaning but may lack
precision.
Punctuation of simple structures is accurate on the whole but errors
may occur in more complex uses.
Simple words may be spelt correctly but errors may occur when more
sophisticated words are used.
The composition is written in paragraphs which may show some unity,
although links may be absent or inappropriate.
The writing is relevant but may lack originality and planning. Some
interest is aroused but not sustained.
The language is sufficiently accurate to communicate meaning clearly to
the reader.
There will be patches of clear, accurate language, particularly when
simple vocabulary and structures are used.
There is some variety of sentence type and length but the purpose is
not clearly seen. Punctuation is generally correct but does not clarify
meaning.
Vocabulary is usually adequate to show intended meaning but this is
not developed to show precision.
Simple words will be spelt correctly, but more spelling errors will occur.
Paragraphs are used but show lack of planning or unity.
The topic is addressed with some relevance but the reader may find
composition at this level lacking in liveliness and interest value.

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Marks
Allocated

Remarks / Description

E
20 - 25

U(i)
14 - 19

The high incidence of linguistic errors is likely to distract the reader from
any merits of content that the composition may have.

Meaning is fairly clear but the high incidence of errors throughout the
writing will definitely impede the reading.
There will be many serious errors of various kinds throughout the script
but they are mainly of the single word type, i.e. they could be corrected
without rewriting the whole sentence.
A script at this level will have very few accurate sentences.
Although communication is established, the frequent errors may cause
blurring.
Sentences will be simple and very often repetitive.
Punctuation will sometimes be used correctly but sentence separation
errors may occur.
Paragraphs lack unity or there may not be any paragraphs at all.

U(iii)
07

Meaning is never in doubt, but errors are sufficiently frequent and


serious to hamper reading.
Some simple structures may be accurate, but a script at this level is
unlikely to sustain accuracy for long.
Vocabulary is limited either too simple to convey precise meaning or
more ambitious but imperfectly understood.
Simple words may be spelt correctly but frequent mistakes in spelling
and punctuation make reading the script difficult.
Paragraphs lack unity or are haphazardly arranged.
The subject matter will show some relevance to the topic but only a
partial treatment is given.

U(ii)
8 - 13

2014

The reader is able to get some sense out of the script but errors are
multiple requiring the reader to read and re-read before being able to
understand.
At this level, there may be only a few accurate but simple sentences.
The content may be comprehensible, but the incidence of linguistic error
is so high as to make meaning blur.
This type of script may also be far short of the required number of
words.
Scripts in this category are almost entirely impossible to read.
Whole sections may make little or no sense at all.
Where occasional patches of clarity occur, marks should be awarded.

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NARRATIVE
1. LETS ZOOM INTO:
NARRATIVE WRITING
Writing stories requires a vivid imagination and ability to describe different situations like
setting, characters, actions and feelings of characters.
2. FORMAT

2.3. Climax (most interesting part)


2.4. Falling Action
2.2. Rising Action

2.5. Resolution
(ending of story)
2.1. Introduction-short introduction
(setting, characters)

5 things to remember when writing stories.


1. Introduction The plot and the setting of the story must be planned from the
start.
2. Characterisation The characters can be made interesting by describing them
physically, their personalities and feelings or emotions of the characters involved
in different situations.
3. Complication of the plot Complication occurs when a problem or conflict
arises in the course of the story. The conflict can be a personal conflict, between
the different characters in the story or between the main character and external
factors such as the environment.
4. Development of the story The events or incidents in the story should be in
proper sequence and lead to the climax which is the most interesting part of the
story.
5. The ending or the resolution of the conflict The ending of the story must not
be abrupt and it must leave the reader satisfied.

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3. STRATEGY
Composition Outline
3.1.

Pre-writing
- Brainstorm for ideas and specific vocabulary
- Create an outline for your essay
- Organise details

3.2.

Writing
- Capture your readers attention with appropriate techniques of writing
- Relate events in the order they occur
- Make sure the events are clear

3.3.

Revising
- Improve work by making sure that the development of the story is clear

3.4.

Editing
- Check for style and grammatical errors

4. SAMPLE ESSAY 1
STRATEGY

SAMPLE ANSWER

1. Introduction

I had promised my mother that I would be the most


responsible child she had ever come across. Mum and dad had to
visit my maternal grandmother, who broke her hip after a bad fall.
Mum had agreed to take care of grandma throughout her stay at the
hospital. There I was, left to be in charge of my younger siblings
while dad sent mum to Kertih. The journey would take a whole day,
taking into consideration of my dads driving. Thus, dad would take
another day to come home.

2. Rising Action

After they left, everything went about without a hitch. Much of


everything went on like a routine. Dad had called two hours later to
check on us. As evening set in, I got busy preparing dinner for my
siblings. I made sure that they finished their homework. By the
time I got my charges to bed, I was literally dragging my feet to my
own bed.
Just as my head was about to hit the pillow, a scream from
Megans room got me wide awake. I felt a chill running down my
spine. I got out of bed as quickly as I could but before I reached the
door, it swung open and there stood a stout, burly man with a mask
over his face. All I could see was his fierce looking eyes and a
sharp dagger pointing at my neck. He warned me not to make any
noise. From the corner of my eyes, I saw my siblings being held by
two other men. One was thin and lanky while the other was short
and lean.

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At that moment, my only concern was for my siblings,


Brendan and Megan. We were ushered into the living room and
shoved to one corner. Brendan and Megan clung on very tightly to
me and I could feel them shivering in fear. The burly one kept
watch over us while the others ransacked the house for valuables.
3.

Climax

While they were busy with the house search, I realized that I
had not changed into my pyjamas and my mobile phone was still in
my jeans pockets. Pulling Brendan and Megan to shield me, I
quickly dialled my neighbours telephone number. After a few
moments of deafening silence, I heard Uncle Yeohs telephone
ringing and prayed that Uncle Yeoh would answer the call. I could
hear my heartbeat which was beating extremely fast. I glanced at
Megan who was teary-eyed and looked as if she was about to burst
out crying. Brendans hold on me was tightening and I was trying
hard to breathe normally when actually, I was close to suffocating.
Hello! Whos this? Uncle Yeohs annoyed tone could be
heard.
Uncle! Mama! we cried out in unison. The outburst
brought the other two burglars back into the living room. The burly
one rushed over and grabbed hold of Megan. She was now
screaming her lungs out as he held the knife at her throat.
Dont hurt her! Brendan and I yelled. Megan went limp and
lost consciousness. The burglar dropped her and said I havent
done anything to her. She just fainted. Why did you have to make
so much noise?

4.

Falling
Action

A few minutes later, we were tied together with our mouths


gagged with duck tapes. I thanked my lucky stars that they did not
find my mobile phone which was safely tucked in my pants. The
burglars went about ransacking the house. Thankful that Megan
was not hurt, I decided not to do anything until the burglars left.
Suddenly, the front door was kicked open and police officers
rushed in. I saw the burglars running helter-skelter with the officers
hot on their heels. Realising that they had no way of escaping, the
burglars held their hands up in surrender. Immediately, they were
handcuffed and escorted out. Uncle and Aunty Yeoh rushed in
while the police officers untied us. Uncle Yeoh explained that when
he heard our screams over the phone, he knew something was
amiss and immediately informed the police.

5. Resolution

Inspector Ismail informed us that the burglars were hot on


the wanted list for similar crimes. He said the apprehension of the
three burglars will solve some of the burglary crimes in the district.
He praised me for being brave and doing what I had done to ensure
the safety of my siblings. In the meantime, Aunty Yeoh would care
for us until my parents return.

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5. GLOSSARY
Nouns

consideration, dagger, concern, apprehension, safety, burglary,


routine, outburst, valuables, duck tapes, crimes,

Verbs

dragging, clung, glanced, ushered, gagged, suffocating, fainted,


tucked, ensure, handcuffed, escorted,

Adjectives

responsible, maternal, fierce, burly, stout, lanky, annoyed,

Idioms

without a hitch, run helter-skelter, hot on their heels, hot on the list,

PAST YEAR QUESTIONS FOR REFERENCE


Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

Question
Write a story ending with: we had never laughed so much in our lives.
Write a story with the title An Unexpected Visitor
Write a story ending with: If only I had been more careful, that wouldnt
have happened.
Write a story beginning with : Kim was nervous when the door opened
Write a story ending with: Now I realized the value a true friend.
Write a story ending with: We say goodbyes and went our separate
ways.
Write a story beginning with : It had been raining all day
Write a story ends with: They looked at each other smiled meaningfully.
Write a story beginning with : The teacher walked into the classroom. It was
the first period
Write a story ends with: and so I become a better person.

7. SUGGESTED QUESTIONS
1. The most embarrassing moment of my life.
2. Every cloud has a silver lining
3. my eyes followed the silhouette of the trio as they walked away.
4. I could not believe the news that I heard ..
5. A trip that turned out to be an unexpected adventure.

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SAMPLE ESSAY 2 ( Ending sentence is given )


Question
Write a story ending with: Alls well that ends well.
Sample Answer
Not wanting to burden my parents with extra financial expenses, I decided to take
up a job in the Diamond Jewellery Shop after my SPM examination. The money would
come in handy for my college education.
The surrounding of the workplace was luxurious and I enjoyed working there.
The staff was friendly and helpful and one particular person whom I could relate to was
Pak Zaki, the security guard. He was a jovial and generous man. He even treated me
to a plate of mee rebus to welcome me.
On Pak Zakis birthday, I bought him a hand-carved wooden horse which
weighed about one and a half kilogrammes. He had always talked about the need for
Malay warriors to be horsemen. I guessed he was a Malay warrior in some ways. I
placed the wooden horse carefully on the counter so that Pak Zaki would notice it when
he came on his rounds.
Moments after opening time, a well-dressed man walked into the shop asking to
see some diamond pendants. He said he wanted to get a gift to surprise his girlfriend for
her birthday.
When I turned around to get the tray of pendants from the showcase, the man
pulled out a pistol and pointed it at my head. I froze in fear. He then ordered the rest of
the employees to empty the jewellery into a bag which he pulled out from his suit.
Everyone obeyed him as they feared for their lives.
All of a sudden, I heard Pak Zakis loud and clear voice screaming, Freeze! as
he lifted his rifle. Without warning, the robber turned and fired a shot at Pak Zaki. The
bullet hit Pak Zakis shoulder forcing him to fall backwards.
You old man! What do you think you are trying to do? Trying to be a hero?
The robber shouted as he moved towards Pak Zaki.
The angry robber released me from his grip and I saw the opportunity to act
when my eyes fell on the wooden horse on the counter. As quick as lightning, I grabbed
it and hurled it across the room with all my might. The robber did not see the blow
coming. The horse struck him hard on the back of his head. With a loud groan, he
dropped his pistol and sprawled on the floor.

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My action encouraged two other employees to charge forward and apprehend


the semi-conscious robber.
One worker had called the police. The police officers arrived shortly and got to
work. They took the robber away and at the same time, the ambulance arrived to take
Pak Zaki to the hospital. I was thankful that Pak Zaki was not seriously injured as the
bullet had just grazed him at his shoulder. Both of us looked at the wooden horse on the
floor and somehow Pak Zaki seemed to understand. No words were needed. He smiled
at me and nodded his head.
My employer thanked me and praised me for my brave action. I told him that
Pak Zaki was the real hero. Who would have thought that an impulsive action would
save the day as the saying goes alls well that ends well.

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REFLECTIVE
LETS ZOOM INTO:
REFLECTIVE WRITING
1. INTRODUCTION

Reflective writing is expressing personal views, thoughts and feelings

The tone is warm, with a simple style and familiar topic.

At times, this form of writing may seem to be either argumentative or narrative.

1.1 DOS

Choose this topic only if you have clear opinions on the subject.

Support your opinion or stand with relevant examples.

It should show depth of thought, well organised ideas with a fresh/witty approach.

Add a bit of humour with interesting anecdotes

1.2 DONTS

Do NOT choose this type if you do not have much to say on the topic.

Do NOT choose this type if you do not have relevant ideas.

2. FORMAT
2.1

APPROACH
v Introduction
o

Write personal views

v Content
o

Supporting personal view : 4 content points

v Conclusion
o

Reaffirming your views

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SAMPLE 1
Question
What makes an effective teacher?
Strategies To Answer
STRATEGY
INTRODUCTION

SAMPLE ANSWER
For most part of our younger days, teachers played an
important part in our lives. During my schooling days, many teachers
walked in and out of the classroom and imparted their knowledge to
me. A good number of them inspired and influenced me because
they were good at what they did. However, some of them left a bad
impression about teachers with me.

PERSONAL
VIEW

What can be considered as an effective teacher? Students


start to lose respect for teachers who are not credible and are not
able to solve problems related to their respective fields. A good
teacher, in my opinion would readily admit that he or she does not
know the answer and would get back to the students as soon as
possible. A teacher must also be effective in conveying his
knowledge in order for the students to understand wholly what is
being taught. A good teacher would be able to get across to his
students in order to make them understand better.

CONTENT

Another issue that teachers need to take notice is the fact that
some of them do not keep abreast of the latest development in their
field as the students may seem to know more than the teachers. The
teachers should not keep using their same old notes year after year.

CONTENT

Furthermore, teachers need to be fair and treat all their students


equally regardless of race, colour and religion. He must not show
favouritism among his students. If a teacher is biased and pays extra
attention to a certain student, it will demoralise the other students.

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CONTENT

2014

Moreover, a teacher needs to stay calm and never let his personal
problems interfere with work at school. It is vital to put aside any
worries and place all effort in his work as the students needs come
first.

CONCLUSION

Finally, I believe that an effective teacher will not just teach his
students but educate them. He is the role model who will shape the
future of the students and motivate them to be productive individuals
in time to come.

GLOSSARY
Imparted pass on
Inspired motivated
Influenced affected
Impression idea
Credible reliable
Creed faith
Vital important

Past Year Questions For Reference


Year

Questions

2004

My ideal school

2005

If you were given a chance to be anybody, who would you want to be and why?

2006

What changes would you like to see in your life in the next ten years?

2007

My early years

2008

My perfect future husband or wife

2009

My favourite day of the week

2010

What can we do to save our environment?

2011

The best things in life are free

2012

Saving money for the future

2013

Write a story of being alone

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Suggested Essay Question :

2014

My Ideal School 2004

Sample answer
It is a Monday again and here comes the usual routine of getting up early and
doing what my friends and I regard as the most boring thing to do going to school! It is
coming up to the eleventh year of schooling for me and I have to admit that it has
become quite monotonous. If I had a choice, I would like to change certain things in
school so that it would become an ideal place for one to study.
The classroom is the one place where students spend most of their time. I
believe that it should be made more conducive for us. All classrooms should be airconditioned for our comfort. There should be a coffee corner for the students in case any
one should feel sleepy or there is a need for some refreshments. This way, no students
would want to sneak out to the canteen during lessons. There should also be an
attached washroom for our convenience and once again, this would deter anyone from
constantly running off to the toilets.
What if theres no coffee corner? Well then, there must be changes at the
canteen too. After all, it is also here that students spend a great deal of their time while
in school. Firstly, there should be a wide variety of food. European, Mediterranean,
Middle Eastern and of course Asian cuisine must be made available. I realize that this
may be asking too much but adults must be reminded that we are growing children!
There should be entertainment too during recess. This is to help us unwind after all the
effort put in whilst in the classroom. All these services will also help to digest the food in
a more comfortable manner.
Next, let us look at the conditions of the toilets. Generally, toilets are in an
extremely deplorable condition. They are usually dirty and in a sorry state. Students are
to be blamed for this because they are the only ones who use this facility. To counter the
problem of vandalism and filthy toilets, I would suggest that the toilets be built entirely
from stainless steel. This will help in maintaining the cleanliness of the toilets and any
attempt to damage them will be thwarted.
With all these suggestions, I believe that my ideal school would also be the ideal
school for most students. It may be a high price to pay but at the end of it all, we
students need the perfect conditions to be able to study and perform excellently at
school.
7.0 SAMPLE QUESTION
What are the things that you would consider when choosing a career?

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DESCRIPTIVE
LETS ZOOM INTO:
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
1.0 INTRODUCTION

Descriptive writing vividly portrays a person, place, or thing in such a way that the
reader can visualize the topic and enter into the writers experience.

2.0 General Guideline

Be creative when choosing your descriptive essay topics. Your topic can deal
with a particular event or refer to a general topic of an activity.

Use detailed observations and descriptions rather than facts and statistics.

Use a variety of adverbs and adjectives in your essay.

Try to create a vivid picture for the reader to catch his attention. This may be
fulfilled with the help of imaginative language, comparisons of places, objects,
people and events that appeal to the senses.

Focus on the five senses in your work: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste.

The reader should have the opportunity to imagine what the story is about in as
much detail as possible. Focus on descriptive details of a situation, activity or a
personality.

ZOOM INTO
DESCRIBING PEOPLE
1.0 Introduction

Descriptions of people can be found in articles, letters, narratives, etc. The


writing style you use depends on the situation and the intended reader. For

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example, if you are writing an article for a magazine, you should use semi-formal
style and a polite, respectful tone.

You should use the present tense. When describing someone who is no longer
alive, or someone you knew a long time ago and you do not see any more, you
should use the past tense..

2. 0 Format

Introduction
Give general information about the person, saying when, where and how you
first met him/her

Body
Describe their physical appearance, personal qualities and hobbies/interests.

Conclusion
Write your comments and/or feelings about the person.

3.0 Sample Question


Write an essay entitled My Best Friend.
4.0 Strategy to answer question.
My Best Friend
Strategy

Introduction

Sample Answer
Mary is one of my best friends. I don't
even remember when we met for the first time,
but it was many years ago. Probably, it was at
primary school and since then we are still good
friends. Now, we are 17 years old and Mary
goes to the same secondary school with me.

Main body

Section

Mary is a tall and slim girl. She is about 180 Para 2


cm tall and she looks like a model. Sometimes
because of her height, she finds it difficult to Physical appearance
and attribute
buy suitable clothes.

Para 1
Name of the person &
when, where and how
you both met.

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2014

Her tanned face is pretty and round. She


has an expressive glance and blue-grey eyes.
Her eyelashes are long and eyebrows are very
dark. Mary has a sharp nose and full lips. She
has shoulder-length brown hair.
My friend usually wears comfortable
clothes They are always casual. She often has
striped tops and she likes wearing silver
jewellery. Mary likes shopping and she is used
to buy designers and fashionable clothes. She
doesn't like wearing skirts. So, she often wears
trousers. Her clothes are tasteful and modest,
as she doesn't want to attract attention of other
people to herself.

Para 3

Mary is a sensitive girl. She is also


romantic and sometimes she writes poems.
Mary is a person with a great sense of humour.
Everyone enjoys her company. When we are
together, we dont get bored. Mary is the only
one I can rely on and I tell her about important
things. She is always ready to listen to me and
often helps me to solve my problems.
What is more, Mary is extremely intelligent
and very ambitious. She is one of the top
students in our group. Sometimes she can be
jealous of her boyfriend, Peter. It is the result
of the fact of her being too sensitive. I know
that she is very reasonable. Besides that her
hobbies include writing poems, travelling and
reading interesting books and novels. Mary
dreams about the trip to Egypt to see pyramids.

Para 5

Facial description
Eyes
Para 4
Clothing preference

Hobbies
Interest

Para 6
Personal qualities

We will always be friends and even if we Para 7


move out to another city, we will keep in touch.
Personal feeling
Our friendship will last forever.

5.0 Glossary
5.1

Noun

Friend, jewellery,
friendship, glance

trousers,

poems,

sense

of

humour,

5.2

Adjective

Tall, suitable, slim, difficult, tanned, expressive, shoulderlength, comfortable, fashionable, sensible, ambitious,
extremely, easygoing.

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6.0 Past Years Questions for Reference


2004

2005

An Unexpected Visitor

2006

2007

2008

Write about a person who has worked hard to succeed in life.

2009

2010

Describe the most popular student in your school.

2011

A famous person you admire.

2012
2013

Truly Malaysian. Describe what this means to you.

6.0 A sample question.


Describe a person who perseveres to achieve success.
When we mention the name Madonna everybody knows who the name refers to.
She has become a big name in the entertainment industry. You may have wondered
how the performer who has reinvented herself several times to remain among the
leaders of the music industry got to be the way she is.
She knew something special. She knew that she had to be among the best in her
field--whatever field she chose to enter--and she committed herself to work extremely
hard to the best of her ability to reach that goal and to stay there.
That may seem trite, she has to work hard. However, in Madonna's case she worked
hard in a field in which she was considered an outsider, because she was a woman,
because she was aggressive, because she was talented, because she was bright and
because she would not allow anyone to put her down. She was determined to be who
she wanted to be. Not many people can say that they plotted the course for their lives
and have followed it through relentlessly. The reason is that most of us face too many
setbacks that cause us to take detours, so many that we lose our way and become
someone we didn't plan to be. This is not so for Madonna, she worked hard and stayed
the course to achieve what she needs to do.
Staying the course for a lifetime is very difficult because there are always people who
want to divert her, for their own reasons and often for their own benefit. She ignores the
naysayers. This requires a kind of devotion of its own. She must develop a kind of
emotional armour to let attacks against her bounce off while she continues on their
chosen path. No doubt detours will happen along the way. Life's detours get most
people lost from their course. Madonna however eventually reach her goals in finding
her way back to the direction she was headed after every detour.

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Along the way she found others who want to either join or to support her. They
become the few good friends that she has. She was grateful to them because she knows
they will be with her through thick and thin. The going has got rough again many times
for Madonna. Recently, it was because she wanted to adopt a child from Africa. The
media searched endlessly for some way to trash what she wanted to do. To help the
media, several people were prepared to lie along the way to get their share of attention.
She will win again because she has that winning attitude. According to her, "Id
spent my whole life feeling like a freak and an outsider and that nobody understood me
and suddenly I felt like it's OK to feel different." Sometimes winners can only succeed by
turning and walking away from detractors. Over the long term, the critics disappear while
the winners continue on. The winners work harder and never lose sight of their goal.

LETS ZOOM INTO


DESCRIPTION OF A PLACE
1.0 Introduction
Description of a place portrays people, places, things and moments with enough vivid
details to help the reader create a mental picture of what is being written about. This is
done by using lots of descriptive language and details. Descriptive writing can be done in
an essay form.

2.0 Format
INTRODUCTION

CONCLUSION

FACILITIES

LOCATION

DESCRIPTION
OF A PLACE

DISTANCE

CLIMATE/WEATHER
ACTIVITIES

ATTRACTIONS
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3.0

A Sample Question
Describe a tourist destination in your country.

4.0

Strategy to answer.
Pangkor Island.

Aspects
Para 1

Sample Answer
It is a bliss to live next door to Pangkor Island in the
Malaysian state of Perak. Pangkor Island fully deserves the name
"Beautiful Island" as it is a scenic place. Pangkor Island is a small

Location

island on the North West coast of Malaysia in the Straits of

Distance

Malacca. I live only a few kilometers away in the little town of


Sitiawan.

Weather/climate

The weather is sunny throughout the year. Most foreigners


especially from the west enjoy sunbathing in the hot sun.
Depending in which month of the year you visit Pangkor Island,
you will experience some occasional rain.
Pangkor Island, The Malaysian tourism destination, is very

Attraction

well-known for the white sandy beaches, crystal blue waters and
bright stars.

Activities

Tourist can enjoy canoeing, jungle trekking, excellent food,


snorkelling, jet-skiing and tropical fruits.You can go to one of the
beaches and enjoy the tropical sun. However, in the heat of the
day, you may want to hire a boat for fishing or waterskiing. For
those who want to do some serious fishing, you may want to
organize a boat trip to Pulau Sembilan, an uninhabited island, a
mere 40 minutes away. Don't forget to bring your snorkel. If you
forget to bring your snorkelling equipment, they can be rented at
the hotels. The corals around some of the smaller islands are
beautiful and not to be missed.

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Facilities

2014

There are a few small fishing villages with traditional


Malaysian houses. The food stalls in Pangkor town and the other
villages sell some of the local products such as cuttlefish and

Food

anchovies.

The locals call anchovies ikan bilis and no nasi

lemak meal would be complete without it. If you are interested,


visit the shop of Mr. and Mrs. Beh in the heart of Pangkor town.
The more reputable hotels offer a range of Asian and Western
cuisines.
Conclusion

Pangkor Island is a must see for tourists who love the sea.
They will not be disappointed when they leave the island.

5.0 Glossary
4.1

Noun

Bliss, sunbathing, destination, anchovies, dishes

4.2

Adjective

Sunny, occasional, crystal


excellent, Asian, western

blue,

tropical,

uninhabited,

6.0 Past Years Question for Reference


2004

2005

2006

2007

2008
2009

Describe an unforgettable incident that you saw on your way home


from school.

2010
2011
2012

2013

Write a story of being alone.

Describe an outing with your friends.

7.0 A sample question


Describe a memorable place you have visited.

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DESCRIPTION OF AN EVENT
Sample Question : Describe a memorable national event that you attended.

SECTION

SAMPLE ANSWER

STRATEGY

National Day Celebration


Introduction
State what is
being
described

Body
Detail 1 how
it begins

Detail 2
how it
progresses

Detail 3
the highlight of
the event

I was among the sea of eager faces that


Describe how
thronged Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, the
you feel to be
capital city of Malaysia. We waited with bated
part of the event
breath for the commencement of the celebration in
the early morning hours on the thirty-first of August,
2013. This annual celebration marked the
independence of Malaya since 1957.
To kick off the event, ten parachutists flying See - who/ what
the Jalur Gemilang landed on Dataran Merdeka.
The celebration started at 8.30 am with the raising of
the national flag and the singing of the national
anthem, Negaraku. The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri
Najib Tun Razak, then inspected the guards of
honour, who were all proudly mounted on horses in
their smart uniforms .

The spectators, including the Prime Minister, See - who/ what
local and foreign dignatories were then treated to anhour long mammoth parade of 101 contingents and
musical bands. They comprised more than 7000
participants from schools, associations and
government departments. The skies were filled with
a myriad of colours as balloons were released into
the air. The celebration continued with the members
of the armed forces forming a human pyramid on
their motorcycles. This was followed by a
demonstration of the art of self-defence, using rifles
and bayonets by a group of commandos.

A showcase of Malay, Chinese and Indian Hear - what
drums livened up the event. The crowd showed their
appreciation of the parade of motorcycles and
antique cars by the national Vespa and Mini Club
Associations. The parade was also participated by
the Paralympic Council contingent consisting of a
team in their wheelchairs and a seventy-member
University of Malaya contingent in their mortarboards and gowns. To add to the glamour of the
occasion, sixty-nine horses and riders paraded in
front of the VIP stand, followed by an array of our
national car models.

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Detail 4
how it ends

Conclusion
Overall
opinion/
feeling

The parade ended with flying-fox stunts and


a colourful display of contemporary and traditional
Malay dances which have always
been our
signature closure. The pomp and pageantry of drum
beats, music and dance filled the streets. The
spectators were enthralled by this magnificent
display of talents and gaiety.

The mood was created by all and sundry.
From the ordinary man-in-the-street to the VVIPs,
unparalleled enthusiasm and appreciation were
expressed in the thunderous applause, cheers and
unceasing smiles. I was as mesmerised as the next
stranger to be a witness to and a participant of the
grandeur of the occasion.

2014
See who /
what
Hear - what

Opinion
feeling / thought

GLOSSARY
WORDS
thronged (verb)
bated breath (idiomatic
expression)
kick off (idiomatic expression)
mammoth(adjective)
myriad (noun)
enthralled (verb)
thunderous (adjective)

MEANING
crowded
breathless (with excitement)
start
gigantic/ huge
variety
fascinated
loud

PAST YEAR QUESTIONS FOR REFERENCE


2009
2012
2013

Describe an unforgettable incident that you saw on your way home from school.
Describe an outing with your friends.
Truly Malaysian. Describe what this means to you.

SUGGESTED TOPICS USING THE SAME OUTLINE AS THE SAMPLE ANSWER:


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Sports Day Celebration


Federal Territories Day Celebration
Malaysia Day
Opening Of The SEA Games
Opening of The Commenwealth Games

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ARGUMENTATIVE
Lets Zoom Into
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
1.0

INTRODUCTION

An argumentative essay is helpful when you have an issue with which your readers may
agree or disagree. The writer of an argumentative essay has several goals. The primary
goal is to persuade and move the audience to accept his position on an issue, but that is
often a very difficult challenge. The secondary goal is for the writer to articulate why he
chooses the stance that he does on an issue. It recognises the fact that to persuade is a
difficult objective but that at least the writer can explain his reasoning behind his position.
1.1

2.0

Here are some types of argumentative compositions:

Advantages and disadvantages

Expressing opinions/providing solutions to a problem

Expressing arguments for and against a topic

Compare and contrast something or somebody


FORMAT

Any argumentative essay needs to be written according to the following steps:


Introduce the subject
state your stand
discuss background, supporting evidence and information
present the evidence for the position in rebuttal
3.0

STRATEGY

A few basic principles will help present a successful argumentative paper.


3.1

SIMPLE LANGUAGE
Use language to clarify your point of view. Avoid using technical
that will only confuse the reader.

expressions

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3.2

2014

USE QUESTIONS
Use well thought-out questions to help the reader accept your argument.
Questions encourage a person to think and reason on the matter.

3.3

ACCURACY
It is important to present only accurate information and statistics when attempting
to support your argument.

3.4

USEFUL TIPS
Organising Argumentative Essays
1. Four Steps to write an Argumentative Essays

Step 1: Read the question


Read the question. Decide what kind of question it
is : opinion, compare and contrast, problem and
solution, cause and effect, or a mixture. The type of
question will decide the layout of your essay.

Step 2:
Approach A
State your stand
Decide if you are for or against the idea.
Approach B
Give both sides of the arguments for discussion.

Step 3:
Brainstorm Ideas
List points for discussion
Support with examples.

Step 4: Write
After you have written your plan, write your essay.

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4.0

2014

STRATEGY TO ANSWER QUESTION.

Question
Should parents be responsible if their children behave badly? (Approach B)
Sample Answer
SAMPLE ANSWER

STRATEGY
Paragraph 1

Many crimes and social problems are caused by children.

Introduction

Despite the damage these teenage criminals have caused, parents

Present situation
What this essay
will do (Thesis
Sentence)
Paragraphs 2-3:
Against
Topic Sentence

are not held responsible in most countries.


This essay will discuss whether parents should be responsible for
their children's crimes.

There are many reasons why parents should not be


responsible for crimes committed by teenage children.

Reason 1:

First of all, teenagers today are independent. They often move out of

Independence

their parents house right after they finish school. They are expected
to learn to take care of themselves and make their own decisions,
and not stay like small children attached to their parents. They insist
on leading their own life.

Paragraph 3

Secondly, parents are working. They cannot watch their

Reason 2:

adolescent children all the time. We cannot hold them responsible

Parents working

for their childrens wrong doings, as they have performed their duties
to provide for them.

Reason 3:

Thirdly, even children from good families can sometimes commit

Parents have

crimes. Parents should not be responsible if they have worked hard

done their job

to raise their children properly. Do not allege them as irresponsible


parents when they have taught their children good values.

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SAMPLE ANSWER

STRATEGY
Paragraphs 4 - 5:

However,

because

of

the

many

problems

For

young troublemakers cause, I feel we should hold parents to be

Topic Sentence

responsible. They should be accountable for the bad behaviour of


their children.

Reason 1: Lack

Firstly, most juvenile crimes are committed by adolescents whose

of Parental

parents do not care or make any effort to control their children. If

Control

they have to pay fines, they might be more committed to discipline


their children.

Paragraph 5

Another point is that even though the children may seem

Reason 2:

matured, they are not really able to make good decisions. Parents

Children not

should be responsible for raising and teaching their children until

mature

they are adults.

Reason 3:

Furthermore, if children know that their parents will be penalised for

Children will think

their wrong doings, they will think carefully before getting into
trouble.

Paragraph 6
Conclusion

In short, there are good reasons both for and against making
parents responsible for acts committed by their children.

Summary
Future/Personal
Opinion

However, I strongly feel that if we want to reduce the number of


such crimes, we need parents to be more responsible for their
children.

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5.0

2014

GLOSSARY
to say firmly and often that something is true,
insist

especially when other people think it may not be

vocabulary

true

to give a satisfactory explanation of why


accountable

something has happened or why you did

Linking Words

something

6.0

Firstly

A third point

Despite

First of all

Another point is

However

Secondly

Furthermore

In summary

PAST YEAR SPM QUESTIONS FOR REFERENCE


YEAR

QUESTION

2004

2005

2006

2007

Teenagers today are only interested in entertainment. Do you


agree? Support your opinion.

2008

Examinations good or bad?

2009

School children should not have long holidays. Do you agree?

2010

"The internet is mostly a good thing." Do you agree? Support your


opinion.

2011
2012
2013

Should school students have part time jobs? Discuss.


Should parents give children more freedom?
Is tuition necessary? Discuss.

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7.0

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS

1.

We are too dependent on computers. Do you agree?

2.

Tourism is a mixed blessing. Do you agree?

3.

Animals should be used for scientific research? Do you agree?

4.

Should drivers of automobiles be prohibited from using cellular phones? Discuss.

5.

Should there be a curfew for people under 18 years to reduce crime? Discuss.

8.0

SUGGESTED ESSAY QUESTION & SAMPLE ANSWER

Teenagers today are only interested in entertainment. Do you agree? Support


your opinion. (2007)
SAMPLE ANSWER
(Approach A)
Teenagers are people between the age of 13 to 19. They are a group of
adolescents who are at schooling age or towards the end of schooling age. These are
children who are free from major responsibilities and very much trying to be independent
from their parents. Teens become increasingly aware of how others, especially their
peers, see them and they are desperately trying to fit in by trying on different looks and
identities. They may want more independence than what their parents are willing to give.
These teenagers are prone to fulfilling themselves with activities that are pleasant and
enjoyable for them. Therefore, going for entertainment will be a satisfaction for them. I
agree that teenagers today are only interested in entertainment.
Firstly, entertainment can be in many forms. Teenagers today can find
entertainment through gadgets as simple as from their handsets to computers. Todays
teens are more interested in fashion, music, arts and the internet. Fashion today has
become a statement among teens. With role models like celebrities and popular artistes,
teens are influenced by their style of dressing and behaviour.

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Music plays a major role in the lives of teenagers. They generally prefer music
such as hard rock, rap and others. Teens are so addicted to music so much that they
cannot do without it. They like to hang out at entertainment centres and spend their time
there until late at night. Homework and studies will come after entertainment.
Another thing that teenagers of today are hooked on is the internet. Most teens
today pass their time online. Chatting and dating online is becoming a preferred hobby
today among this age group. To these teens, a computer is merely for entertainment and
not for beneficial purposes such as studying.
Teenagers have a lot of potentials to make something good out of their lives.
Unfortunately many choose to lead a carefree life. In doing so, they lose certain positive
values that are essential in a society. They cut school without feeling guilty, indulge in
immoral activities and show disregard to rules and regulations.
In conclusion, I agree that teenagers today are only interested in entertainment.
However, adolescents do need parents to guide them. Teenagers whose parents talk to
them regularly are less likely to experiment with cigarettes, drinking and drugs. Proper
guidance and education will help them to make correct judgments. They should be made
aware that there has to be a balance between entertainment and responsibility for
themselves and towards society.

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OPEN ESSAY
LETS ZOOM INTO :
OPEN ESSAYS
1.0

INTRODUCTION

Open essays or one-word essays are feared by teachers and students. This is
because they find it difficult to zoom in and develop or expand ideas.
1.1

The following mind map can offer helpful and useful ways to attempt open essays.

v factual accounts

v advantages /
benefits

v narrative
accounts

v disadvantages

Themes for
open essays

v measures /
steps
v solutions

2.0

v reasons
v factors

FORMAT

Introduction
Body of essay
Conclusion

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Zooming into Factual Essays


3.0

STRATEGY

Topic: Being Healthy


3. 1

Composition outline

Introduction:
v Paragraph 1 : definition of good health
Body of essay : There are 6 ways to achieve and maintain good health
v Paragraph 2 : eat wisely. nutrition what to eat,
v Paragraph 3 : exercise regularly kinds of exercise and the benefits of exercise
v Paragraph 4 : control your weight ways to achieve the ideal body mass index
v Paragraph 5 : go for regular medical check up
v Paragraph 6 : avoid stress go for holidays and enjoy hobbies and recreation
v Paragraph 7 : avoid bad habits
Conclusion :
v Paragraph 8 : expression of positive hopes and wishes
4.0 STRATEGIES TO ANSWER QUESTION
Strategy
.
P1 : Introduction
v Factual definition
v What is the definition of
being healthy?

Body of Essay
P2
TS :good nutrition
v How can we maintain
good nutrition?
v What should we choose
to eat?

Sample answer
Being healthy is a condition in which we do not
suffer from any illnesses and we feel well. Our bodies
are free from illnesses or have the ability to resist
illness. How can we stay healthy? To stay healthy,
we need to work on six aspects - good nutrition,
exercise, weight control, regular medical checkup
and avoiding stress and bad habits.
First and foremost, we should eat balanced
meals and eat wisely. Choose to eat more wholewheat grains, fruits, vegetables and fish. Try to eat
less fats, sugar and salt. Drink at least six to eight
glasses of water a day. Water helps to cool our

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v What must we eat less?
v How much water must
we drink daily?
v How can it help us?
v What food must we
avoid?
v Why must we avoid
them?
P3

P4

P5

P6

TS : Exercise regularly
v How regular must we
exercise?
v What are the benefits of
exercises?
v What types of exercises
are suitable?

TS : Control weight
v Why must we control our
weight?
v What are the health
problems of being over
weight?
v How can we control our
weight?
v What is the best BMI
range of value?

TS : Go for regular
medical checkup.
v How often should it be
done?
v What should be
checked?
v Why is checking helpful?

TS : Avoid stress
v How are students
stressed?
v What are the dangers of
stress?

2014

bodies and flush out harmful toxins. Avoid eating


junk food and other processed food because they are
high in preservatives, sugar and salt content. This is
because they have little nutritional value.

Next, we should exercise regularly. We should


exercise three times a week for at least half an hour
per session. Exercise keeps us fit, strong and
healthy. It tones the muscles, strengthens the bones,
and makes the heart and lungs function better.
Choose the form of exercise you enjoy. Aerobic
dancing is effective and fun. Exercises like jogging
and cycling strengthen our heart. People who are fit
enjoy a better quality lifestyle. At the end of the day,
exercise makes us look and feel good.
Furthermore, we must control our weight.
Being obese is harmful. Being overweight can lead to
a lot of health problems. We may suffer from heart
ailments and high blood pressure. Remember, we
are what we eat. To control our weight, we must
watch the amount and the type of food we eat. Eat
more fruits and vegetables. They provide plenty of
fibre and vitamins. Besides, we can control our
weight by exercising. They help to burn excess
calories. In fact, make exercise a part of our lifestyle.
Let us maintain our body mass index (BMI) value
from 20 to 25.
Besides, we must go for regular medical
check-up. It should be done twice a year. We should
check our teeth, blood pressure, cholesterol and
blood sugar levels. In doing so, we can take the
necessary preventive measures to avoid illnesses
that can be caused by them. In fact, early detection
can save lives because prevention is better than
cure.
Moreover, we should avoid stress. Students
are stressed by monthly tests, term examinations,
folios and other duties in school. Too much stress
can be very harmful. It leads to poor appetite and

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v What are the ways to
manage stress?
v What are the ways to
prevent stress?

P7

TS : Avoid bad habits


v What are the common
bad habits?
v Why is smoking harmful?
v Why is drinking alcohol
bad for our health?

2014

sleepless nights. We can manage stress by using a


check list to prioritise our needs and work
commitments. A planned time table helps to divide
and balance our time for work, rest and recreation.
Besides that, we can manage our stress by having
more fun-filled hobbies like dancing and going for
holidays with our friends and family members.
Therefore, take quality time off to enjoy hobbies and
recreation.
In addition, we should avoid bad habits like
smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking is harmful.
Cigarettes contain tar and nicotine which are bad for
our lungs. They may cause lung cancer. They reduce
our appetite for food too. Next, avoid drinking
alcohol. Alcohol in any form can harm our lives. Be
wise and say NO to cigarettes and alcohol.

P8: Conclusion
Being healthy is not a faraway dream. We
have the power and will to make it come true. We
can enjoy life to the fullest. Good health offers pure
pleasure and happiness; ill health offers absolute
misery. We can choose to stay healthy or otherwise.
Threats to health are always there to challenge us
but if we can remember the points discussed above,
we can overcome them to enjoy good health.
Remember health is wealth. Good luck.

5.0 GLOSSARY :
The following items of glossary may be helpful for the sample essay.
No

Items / Aspects

5.1

Nouns

5.2

Verbs

Examples
Illness, ability, nutrition, weight control, stress, food
toxins, preservatives, content, session, muscles,
body mass index, detection, cure, prevention,
commitments, recreation, misery, nicotine, tar,
pleasure, challenges

pyramid,
calories,
appetite,
alcohol,

Suffer, resist, avoid, maintain, balance, flush, avoid, tones,


strengthens, perform, manage, prioritise, balance, discover

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2014

5.3

Adjectives

Healthy, regular, harmful, junk, processed, nutritional, aerobic,


effective, obese, harmful, overweight, complex, excess,
preventive, wise, absolute

5.4

Adverbs

Wisely, regularly, weekly

5.5

Linkers

First and foremost, next, besides, moreover, furthermore,


apart from that, in addition, last but not least

5.6

Proverbs /
catchy phrases
for certain ideas

v Health is wealth
v Prevention is better than cure
v Look and feel good

v exercise
v recreation
v health

6.0

PAST YEAR QUESTIONS FOR REFERENCE


Year

Questions

SPM 2004

Clothes

SPM 2005

Music

SPM 2006

Food

SPM 2007

Tomorrow

SPM 2008

Stars

SPM 2009

Beauty

SPM 2010

Home

SPM 2011

Peace

SPM 2012

Cleanliness

SPM 2013

Reality Show

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7.0

2014

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS.
Topics

Ideas for themes

1.Inflation

1.1 factual definition


1.2 reasons for inflation
1.3 measures to curb inflation

2. Being Healthy

2.1 ways to stay healthy

3. Candle

3.1 narrative account

4. Hobbies

4.1 factual definition


4.2 benefits

5. Happiness

5.1 ways to achieve it


5.2 narrative accounts.

7. SUGGESTED QUESTION & SAMPLE ANSWER


Topic: Hobbies
Hobbies are activities that we enjoy during our spare time. Definitely, they are
exciting, enjoyable and beneficial. Some examples of interesting hobbies are singing,
playing games, dancing and stamp collecting. The following provide insights into the
ways we can benefit from hobbies.
First and foremost, hobbies have the power to release stress and tension. As
students, we are constantly stressed by endless homework, assignments, folios, tests
and duties. We can reduce our stress by enjoying hobbies. For instance, if we love
singing, just switch on our karaoke set and sing the songs along with our favourite
singers. Simply sing our hearts out and feel the meanings of the lyrics. Indeed, we will
feel much better after the singing session.
Besides, hobbies are good forms of exercise. Exercises are very helpful. How can
exercises benefit us? Well, exercises in any form always keep us fit, strong and healthy.
They burn away excess fats and calories. They make us feel and look good. There are
ample ways to exercise. In a group, the old can simply go for tai chi or brisk walking in
the morning or evening. The young can choose to do aerobics or other vigorous games.
They are fun.
Moreover, hobbies offer great entertainment. This is because some hobbies like
singing and dancing are greatly enhanced by music. Most of us love and enjoy music.
We enjoy singing the latest pop songs by our idols. We can even participate in contests
and win prizes.

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2014

Furthermore, popular hobbies can widen our circle of friends. This is because
they are done in groups. One popular hobby is playing football. Boys are crazy about it
and practicing or competing give them the opportunity to widen their circle of friends.
Later, these friends may be their supporters and fans. In life, friends are helpful and
useful. This is because friends often care for one another. They share and solve
problems together too. Remember, Sadness shared is sadness halved, and happiness
shared is happiness doubled. As such, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
In addition, hobbies can enhance our skills, knowledge and experiences in
certain fields of interest. The best example of hobbies is cooking. When we love cooking
we are attracted to buy recipe books whenever we see them at the bookstores. Besides,
we definitely enjoy watching cooking channels on the Asian Food Channel on the
television because we can learn, discover and explore more secrets and techniques
from the professional chefs. Among them are Jamie Oliver and our local Chef Wan.
Then, I believe, we will apply them to improve our cooking.
On top of that, hobbies can be a great source of extra income. One such hobby is
stamp collecting. If there is a need, we can always sell the stamps. The older and rarer
the stamp is, the higher the price it fetches. Do not be surprised that one day, we might
be the proud owner of the rarest stamp.
Last but not least, hobbies enable us to use our spare time wisely. Remember
that time is gold. Do not be idle because an idle mind is the devils workshop. By
engaging in interesting and exciting hobbies, we stay clear off vices like vandalism, drug
abuse and loafing aimlessly at the shopping malls. For instance, by taking up reading,
we can enrich our minds as we enter into a limitless world of information and knowledge
because reading is the window to the world.
Based on the discussion above, it is without a doubt that hobbies can enrich our
lives. They have so much to offer. So, let us welcome and embrace hobbies and make
them a part and parcel of our lives. This is because we have nothing to lose but all to
gain from them.

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REFERENCE
1. Ministry of Education, 2009. Koleksi Kertas Peperiksaan Sebenar. Kuala Lumpur:
CERDIK.
2. Lee, A and Nan Y.A et al, 2002 150 Model Compositions for SPM, Kuala
Lumpur: Fajar Bakti.
3. R Tan, J and Ainon Zubaar, 2007 Longman Reference Text Series, Shah Alam:
Pearson Longman.
4. Koh S.C 2002 Bahasa Inggeris 1119 Petaling Jaya; Sasbadi
5. Sebastian, Mary 2004: Step by Step Series, Model Compositions for SPM 1119
English, Penerbit ESPI.
6. Sebastian Mary, Roy, Jayati 2007: Spot On Model Composition and Summaries
for SPM 1119 English Oxford Fajar.
7. Tuomey Enda, 2003: writefix.com, http://www.writefix.com/argument/
8. Lai Heng, Choy, Vijayarajoo, Angeline Ranjethamoney, 1992: Towards Better
SPM Compositions for KBSM Students, Kuala Lumpur: Penerbit Fajar Bakti
9. Ho Jenny, Omar, Ainun, Muthusamy Nali and Semanjalan Devi, 2009 Focus
ACE SPM English, Bangi, Penerbit Pelangi.

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