Writing Module SPM
Writing Module SPM
Class :
Presented by :
Mohana Ram Murugiah
019 - 5469941
SMK (P) Methodist
No, 2 Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun
What to write
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ALI’S FATHER BOUGHT A HAND PHONE FOR HIM FOR HIS BIRTHDAY
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TASK A
It was a hot a afternoon and Jason was walking home after school and he felt
his skin was burning intensely due to the radiating heat from the sun.
Perspiration wet his body. He was having a head ache because of the heat. He
wished he had an umbrella to cover him from the sun.
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TASK B
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Distribution of marks
Marks
Continuous Description
Writing
44 – 50 - My essay is excellent
- I used impressive vocabulary and a variety of structures
- There are only a few errors in my essay.
38 – 43 - My essay is excellent but with some errors
32 – 37 - My esay is very simple and has no errors
Or
- I used impressive vocabulary and structure correctly but with errors
26 – 31 - There is at least one patch of accuracy in my essay.
20 – 25 - There is at least one correct sentence in my essay.
- My essay is longer than 350 words.
14 – 19 - There is no correct sentence in my essay
- My essay is longer than 350 words.
Or
- There is at least one correct sentence in my essay.
- My essay is shorter than 350 words.
8 – 13 My teacher only understands some parts of my essay.
0–7 My teacher cannot understand most parts of my essay.
Narrative checklist
It was a very hot day and I was walking home with my heavy bag on my back. When I was climbing
the overhead bridge, I was very tired and breathing heavily. By the time I reached the top, I was
already panting.
Suddenly, someone shouted in a frightened voice, “A lorry is coming!” Then, I heard a very loud bang
and I was shocked!
Everyone on the bridge stopped moving. When we recovered from the shock, we looked down from
the bridge. It was very quiet and the vehicles around had stopped moving. A lorry had collided with
a car in the middle of the road. Other drivers in the distance did not know what had happened. They
began to honk angrily.
We looked at one another before running down the overhead bridge to see if we could help. I took
out my mobile phone and called for the police.
When I saw the unconscious driver in the car, I was scared because there was blood on her hair and
face. Her white blouse had blood too! The Lorry driver got off from his vehicle and his face was very
pale. He looked very scared. When he saw the woman, he started to cry loudly.
The whole accident was like a bad dream and everyone watched very quietly. We waited for the
ambulance and police. It was an accident that I would never forget.
It was a very hot day and I was walking home with my heavy bag on my back. When I was
climbing the overhead bridge, I was very tired and breathing heavily. By the time I reached the
top, I was already panting.
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Suddenly, someone shouted in a frightened voice, “A lorry is coming!” Then, I heard a very
loud bang and I was shocked!
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Everyone on the bridge stopped moving. When we recovered from the shock, we looked down
from the bridge. It was very quiet and the vehicles around had stopped moving. A lorry had
collided with a car in the middle of the road. Other drivers in the distance did not know what had
happened. They began to honk angrily
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We looked at one another before running down the overhead bridge to see if we could help. I
took out my mobile phone and called for the police.
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When I saw the unconscious driver in the car, I was scared because there was blood on her
hair and face. Her white blouse had blood too! The Lorry driver got off from his vehicle and his
face was very pale. He looked very scared. When he saw the woman, he started to cry loudly.
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The whole accident was like a bad dream and everyone watched very quietly. We waited for
the ambulance and police. It was an accident that I would never forget .
Melissa walks to school every day with lunch she packs from home. Somehow, she looks different
from other school children but nobody knows what she is actually holding back. Her friends are
laughing at her because she is wearing the same dress she wore a day before. Her friends do not
notice that she is actually hiding the bruises with the linen and lace of her school uniform. Even her
teacher notices the bruises on her hand but she dares not asking her. This because she looks too
happy to have any sufferings or sadness in her. It is hard to see any pain behind the façade she puts
on.
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englishvibes.blogspot.com Page 8 Mohana Ram Murugiah
Expressive Phrases
A bag of nerves : I remember you were a bag of nerve on your wedding day
A bolt from the blue : was this money a bolt from the blue or did you know you were
going to get it?
A slap in the face : The harsh question was like another slap in the face.
Come to fruition : Many people have worked together to bring this project to fruition.
Dispel all my fears : we want to dispel the fear the you cannot eat well in Britain.
Prance for joy : I prance for joy when my mother bought me an i-phone 5.
Protest vehemently : “I disagree!” Anita protested vehemently.
Wry smile : He looked across at Josh with a wry smile.
Last straw : Making me work late on Friday was the last straw.
Left without an option : He was left with no option but to report it to the police
Patched things up : He went back to patch things up with his wife.
Prod him in the chest : Sergeant Thomson raised his stick and prodded the soldier in the
chest.
Etched in his/her mind : How the teacher soaked them in the pond will be etched in their
mind.
Adjectives
Useful phrases
Nouns
Euphoria - happiness and excitement which usually last for a short time
- The whole country experienced a period of euphoria after winning the match
Clique - a small group of people who think they are special and do not want others to
join them.
- Most of the kids were friendly, apart from a clique of girls who came from rich
families.
Tyranny - cruel or unfair control over other people
- He was eager to tell every one of his father’s tyrannies.
Verbs
Chide - to tell someone that you do not approve of something they have done/said
- Don’t be ridiculous! She chided herself
Mustered - to get enough courage, confidence, support etc to do something
- Finally I mustered up the courage to ask her out.
Flinch - to move your face or body away because you are in pain, frightened or upset
- The boy flinched away from him
Jeer - to laugh at someone
- The fans jeered as it became obvious that their team was going to lose.
Lament - to express feelings of great sadness about something
- the nation lamented the death of its great war leader
Squirm - to feel very embarrassed or ashamed
- Laura’s face reddened and she squirmed with embarrassment
Slog - to work hard at something without stopping
- Mother slogged all her life for us
Double emphasis
abashed and ashamed lamented in sighs and resignation agony and despair
nger and fury anguish and hopelessness celebrated and praised
congratulations and welcoming enthusiasm and zeal fame and fortune
gaiety and grace glitter and glamour ignominy and misfortune
jabber and chatter jeer and scoff jest and sarcasm
Triple Emphasis
The adage ‘no man is an island’ presupposes that an individual cannot possibly live on his or her own. To
a large extent, this is true. However, the merits of privacy should not be underestimated as it allows for
the recharging of one’s energy. My personal preference is a healthy mixture of both, depending on the
situation.
I enjoy the company of others when I am on high spirits and want to share my joy. Trying to keep my joy
to myself will only dissipate it, which will render my happiness null and void. Thus, I will prefer to have my
friends around when I am high – spirited. The company of my friends will result in the trading of jokes,
experiences and stories which enhances the sense of camaraderie that I enjoy. Such company certainly
add to my joy. Also, when I am depressed, the concern of my friends will naturally lift my spirits. Their
presence will go a long way towards helping me get over the unhappy circumstance that plagues me. At
times like this, I can fully understand the meaning of ‘friendship’.
When I take my meals at public places like the hawker centres or fast food restaurants. I dislike eating
alone. It is very awkward to try to avoid looking at people around you and usually, I will end up trying very
hard to finish my meal quickly. Eating alone seems to be a sign of loneliness, especially when everyone
else around me is happily interacting in groups. Thus, I will always rather have my meals packed and
brought home to be eaten in front of the TV set than to sit alone at a public place.
However when I am shopping, I like being alone. Having people with me at such times serves only to
distract me, as I will always feel obliged to devote my attention to the company. This will mean that I will
not be able to concentrate on the business of shopping. Also, having company while shopping will mean
having to compromise on the places to go. This will undoubtedly cramp my style as my taste in clothes and
accessories may clash with my friend’s. Thus, I will prefer to be alone when shopping.
When I feel exhausted by my schoolwork or family problems, I prefer to be left alone. This is because such
occasions require time for reflection, which will help me to sort out my problems and begin to recuperate
from the stress. Thus, such times will be better spent on my own. I will not be disturbed by the opinions
of other people, who might affect the decisions that I need to make. Furthermore, when alone, I will be
best able to judge the situation without the need for bias or defensiveness.
Thus, I am not a person who totally enjoys the company of others or my own solitude. Like all things,
different responses are needed for different situations. When I need to be alone, I will enjoy the time by
myself but when I feel the need for company, I will certainly not deprive myself of that.
Technology, the buzzword of the 21st century, has become such an integral part of our
lives that it is almost impossible to imagine what would happen if it ceases to exist. Through
technology, man has learned to apply tools and methods to improve his life on earth. Technology
has provided man the means to study, develop and apply his skills and knowledge on devices
and machines; hence make advancements towards better manufacturing and productive
processes. Since the advent of technology, the way we live, work and play has been radically
transformed. A tool that empowers the individual and society, technology has given us many
benefits, not least of all, greater efficiency and increased inter-connectedness. Ironically, it is
also this same set of benefits that caused many to ponder over the true value of technology and
whether our growing reliance on technology is pushing us towards undesirable consequences.
The advantages of technology are limitless. Technology is the main engine of growth and
the key thing that fuels a country's development and progress. It churns out newer and more
efficient ways of production that can help cut cost and time. Developing countries credit their rapid
growth to the ability to utilise cutting edge technology and for developing countries, it is a
bandwagon that they are all too eager to jump upon in order to advance economically. For a
society, technology weaves the connections between its members, be it in the form of
telecommunications or social networking sites. Zooming in on the individual, technology
introduces a great deal of convenience, helping us get to places in a faster and more comfortable
manner, and also offers us a multitude of sources for entertainment.
Technology has come to dominate all the aspects of our everyday lives and as such, the
question is not to weigh the merits and demerits of it, but how to ameliorate the undesirable
effects. We want to continue to live with the convenience of cars, planes and other speedy
transportations, then we will learn to reduce our carbon footprints via using eco-friendly petrol.
Whilst enjoying the convenience of all our plastic materials, we learn to embrace the 3 Rs - reduce,
reuse and recycle. All in all, technology has provided us with many indispensable advantages
that we cannot live without and it has a vital role to play in the way countries, societies, and
individuals function.
In this day and age, where the Internet has gained such a large influence in our day -to
day living, more children and teenagers are involved in what is known as cyber -bullying.
Essentially, cyber- bullying is a term used to describe the use of the Internet as an avenue to
deliberately hurt others. Given the rampant increase of such activities amongst the youth in
our country, certain measures must be implemented to prevent more cases of cyber-bullying
from taking place.
To begin with, one would have to understand that there are two main groups of people
who have to be dealt with. The first group would be the bullies, the people who initiate such
acts of cyber- bullying. More often than not, society is quick to label such a group of individuals
to be in the wrong, without doubt. However, taking an objective approach would
unquestionably be the better alternative in handling these bullies.
In this aspect, the role of schools and the police force would be vital, as both
organisations would have to strike" an" effective partnership to combat this problem of cyber-
bullying. Schools may organise talks or exhibitions to create a greater awareness of cyber -
bullying amongst students, while the police may further emphasise the severity of cyber-
bullying and the consequences that could follow. In this way, a strong message against cyber-
bullying would be sent to a l l students, making all acts of cyber-bullying inexcusable. This
would also serve as a form of deterrence to potential aggressors, who would now have second
thoughts before deciding to engage in cyber-bullying.
The second group would be the victims of cyber-bullying. Similarly, the importance of
schools and the police force cannot be further emphasised, as they would be the people to
provide much- needed support to this group of victims, with many possibly feeling hopeless , in
a state of distress, and some even emotionally scarred.
In most instances of cyber-bullying, victims tend to suffer in silence, fearing that a revelation of the truth
would be too shameful a matter. This would therefore result in youths being "bullied in the dark”.
*
To prevent such bullying from occurring, the school would have to constantly remind their students that
they have the right to stand up against the perpetrators of bullying, and that the school would always be
there for them. At the same time, the school should also highlight the importance of their students'
responses to acts of bullying. They have to help them to understand that if they remain silent and choose
to suffer in silence, the hands of the school and those of the police force would remain tied.
Lastly, but by no means the least, would be the rest of the school population. They are the ones who
constantly interact with the victims of cyber-bullying during school hours, they need to be alert and keep
an eye out for any signs which may point to emotional hurt. These students may choose to inform any
teacher or simply choose to provide encouragement and support to victims of cyber-bullying for it would
undeniably go a long way in healing and mending their broken hearts.
In conclusion, the anonymity of cyber-bullying is one of the key factors that leads to its rampancy. However
if this three-pronged approach is adopted, there would most definitely be no lingering doubt that the issue
of cyber-bullying can be significantly reduced. Nonetheless, one should be warned that the process could
potentially be a long one, for it takes time, accompanied by a concerted effort before positive results can
be seen.
There was pandemonium. Unintelligible screams reverberated through the decrepit stadium,
stemming from the sea of students in red, blue, green and yellow in the stands as they yelled
themselves hoarse, trying to win the cheering competition. The segregation was distinct. Every
single students was clearly defensive of their respective houses. Zesty enthusiasm was pouring
forth from the fervent supporters. The grandstand was exploding with the synergy of the
adrenaline – filled crowd. In stark contrast, there was a flurry of prefects and teachers that
dashed around the worn out track or the neatly mown field in a bid to complete certain last minute
preparations for the annual sports day event, a competition to see which house had the most
outstanding athletes and the most vivacious cheers. A smorgasbord of riotous fervour filled
every nook and cranny of the stadium, breathing zeal and life into the seemingly rundown sports
arena.
The scorching midday sun blazed down on the backs of all, the multi – coloured crowd being the
most affected as they, unlike the teachers and athletes, had no respite from the intense blistering
heat. Beads of perspiration formed on many foreheads and backs; the heat was intensified by
the stale air around the students and the close proximity of their peers. Despite the discomfort,
emotions ran high as the crowd belted out cheer after cheer whilst stamping their feet on the
grainy floor in rhythm to the uproarious clamour. None was to be outdone by the other. All this
while, humongous banners and flags of the respective house colours filled the pillars in the
stadium. The flags were being swung at breakneck speed by a few individuals, their faces
contorted in concentration as these flag bearers struggled to keep steady under the wearisome
weight of the bulky items they held.
The cheering weakened and gradually died down, enveloping the stadium in silence as the
prolonged wait caused the crowd to feel exasperated, with seemingly nothing to look forward to
as they faced the empty pitch. Soon, murmuring and exasperation at the wait became more
pronounced, sounding very much like a swarm of angry bees. It was not long before a chorus of
“why are we waiting” originated from a cheeky group of seniors at the top of the stands, with the
rest of the school catching on swiftly, reiterating the phrase incessantly in a nasal tone.
The chant thoroughly peeved the teachers below who were having an intense discussion. Their
faces broke into similar scowls as they glared reproachfully at the students, unable to continue
with their meeting due to the din the students were causing. It was not long after that a few
observant members of the crowd started making shushing noises, elation on their faces as they
jabbered and pointed at the grassy field. Everyone soon found the source of the excitement
and fixed their eyes on the lone gargantuan figure in the middle of the field, waiting with bated
breath. A small black object was raised into the air in the middle of the pitch and a sound like
gunshot emanated from the tiny thing. The crowd roared; the first race had finally begun.
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