Dear Form 3 Students ... read the letter below..identify the errrors..rewrite the letter in the correct version and e-mail it to me at :kalry60@hotmail.com..the earliest to response will get a Raya present from me..........
Dear Ah Lian,
Thanks you for your letter. Wrong time no see you. How everything? For me, I am quiet find. You say in your letter your taukeh soh want you to chain your look?
Somemore you must wear kick kok soo, hope you can wok properly.
You know, Ah Kau Kia working in a soft where company now. Last week, he take
I, Muthu & few of his friend to May Nonut to eat barger. After that he take we all go to kalah ok. Muthu sing and sing no stop until the sky bright.
Next week, my father mother going to sellerbread 20 years annie wear sari. My father mother going to give a fist to all the kampong people. So you must come with your hole family. I only hope one day we no need to write and send letter to you and to me. Better I e-meow you, you e-meow me.
I will ketchup with you soon. And when you got time, please few free to call me.
Goo bye.....
Worm regard,
Ah Beng
Aug 31, 2010
Aug 30, 2010
PMR Tips_ Writing Essay
Analysis of past years questions and ..... prediction and tips- Guided Writing
- 2000 Informal letter & picture series
- 2001 Giving opinion & newspaper article
- 2002 Newspaper article & report for magazine
- 2003 Giving opinion & description of robbery
- 2004 Speech & Article
- 2005 Report on National Day Celebration (picture series & note expansion)
- 2006 Informal letter - Letter to uncle (note expansion)
- 2007 Story (picture series & note expansion) •
- 2008 Speech – ‘Safety Measures in School’ (picture series & note expansion)
- 2009 Article - experience at an old folks' home (picture series & note expansion)
- 2010 What will come out this year???? It could be a report, a letter (formal or informal) or a story. And maybe opinion based essay that has not been tested since 2001.
Tips in writing essays
- Understand the task given
e. g. a. Study the pictures carefully. Imagine you are one of the people in the picture. Describe
what happened. Basically understand the situation stated in the question.
b. Look at the task at hand. Write a speech / Write an article. Do look
at the structures wanted... for example: persuade your uncle.
c. Determine the tenses/ time for the task. If it is an article recount – Past tense/ time
- Use the rubrics in their given form.
e. g. Shopping – many people – curious- crowd – watching – snake charmer
– saw – pick pocket – wallet -
- Use all the notes given in the question.
- Always write in paragraphs to organize your ideas. (Main point, elaboration, examples)
- Use linkers to correlate one paragraph to the other.
e.g.
To show difference - On the other hand, In contrast, On the contrary, However,
Despite,
- Use the correct format
a. formal / informal letter – know where the address and signature should be.
Remember: "yours faithfully" is use only for formal letter.
b. Talk / speech – must have title, greetings to the audience, end with thank you.
c. Report – must have title and the name of the person who wrote the report at the bottom.
d. Article – must have title and appear formal
e. Giving opinion – must make sure to state your opinion at the beginning of the essay.
Letter of Complaint: More Sample Essay and tips on elaboration of points
Your class is unhappy with your school canteen. As the monitor of your class, you have been asked to write to your principal, to complain about the following:
- food left uncovered
- attract many flies
- food served is stale
- food too expensive
- oily plates and cups
- rude workers
- workers not properly attired
- dustbins not cleared daily
- same menu daily
In your letter, you would also like to offer three suggestions from your classmates:
- stringent checks
- cheaper food
- serve a variety of food
When writing the letter, you should remember:
- to set out the letter correctly
- to include all the points given
- to write in paragraphs.
(35 marks)
Look at the model answer below to revise the format of a formal letter and see how the points are elaborated.
The Class Monitor,
Form 3 Amanah,
SMK Kayu Ara Pasong,
82010 Pontian,
Johore.
Encik Juhair bin Jumaat,
The Principal,
SMK Kayu Ara Pasong,
82010 Pontian,
Johore.
6 OCTOBER 2010
Dear Sir,
Unsatisfactory School Canteen
On behalf of the students of 3 Amanah, I would like to lodge a complaint about the school canteen.
2. First and foremost, the food served is not covered and many flies can be seen hovering over the food. This may lead to food poisoning. Moreover, the canteen also serves stale food. The ‘nasi lemak’ turns bad by the time the upper forms have their recess. Last week, a few of us had diarrhoea after consuming food from the canteen.
3. Apart from that, the food is also too expensive. A small plate of fried mee costs RM1.50 and many poor students cannot afford it. Besides that, the canteen serves the same menu daily. The students are bored with fried rice and fried mee every day.
4. Another complaint is that the cups and plates are oily and not washed properly. The workers are also not appropriately attired although they have been told to wear aprons and caps. Moreover, these workers are rude to students. They shout at us and use foul language whenever they get angry. They also do not clear the dustbins and rubbish daily. This is very unhygienic. As a result, there is a foul stench whenever we eat in the canteen.
5. Thus, we would like to suggest that the school authorities make stringent checks on the canteen daily or weekly. They should also ensure that the canteen serves a variety of food at a reasonable price.
We would like to appeal to your sense of fairness and hope prompt action will be taken regarding these matters.
Yours faithfully,
(NORLISSA BT DUSUKI)
3 Amanah
Note how the points given are arranged into paragraphs and elaborated where needed.
The last paragraph states the action you want taken.
To elaborate on a point, you may:
- give a reason
- state one effect/outcome
- give details
- explain further with facts or statistics
- give an opinion
Let’s look at some examples from the sample essay.
1. food left uncovered - attract many flies
First and foremost, the food served is left uncovered and many flies can be seen hovering over the food. This may lead to food poisoning.
Since the two points are connected, group them in one sentence. It is all right if you do not wish to use the exact words given but you must stick to the original meaning when writing. The underlined sentence are elaborated by stating one possible effect of the flies.
Remember that you only need to give a sentence or a phrase. Do not elaborate more than three or four lines. You will be wasting your time and effort.
2. same menu daily
Besides that, the canteen serves the same menu daily. The students are bored with fried rice and fried mee every day.
The phrase “same menu” is elaborated by giving a few examples.
Can you identify more examples of elaboration and the methods used?
Pay attention to the structures in the sample essay above.
Notice how the use of First and foremost, Moreover, Apart from that, Besides that, Another complaint is and so on. These are transitional words and phrases which help to make the essay flow smoothly and to lead the reader from one point to another.
You can use many other transitional words and phrases to make your essay more cohesive.
- To add to what you have just said: also, similarly, furthermore, in addition, then, moreover, in other words, in the same way
- To use a specific example to support what you have said: For example, especially, for instance, to illustrate, as an illustration, such as
- To show sequence: First and foremost, first, The second advantage is, Next, Another reason is, Lastly, Finally
- To indicate that you are about to contrast what has just been said: but, on the other hand, yet, nevertheless, on the contrary, however
- To indicate a conclusion: In conclusion, consequently, thus, therefore, in summary, therefore, as a result
Aug 29, 2010
Prisoner of Zenda_Tips/Quiz
Analysis of past years questions ..... prediction and tips- Novel PMR
* 2002 Write about a character that you think is brave.
* 2003 Write about an interesting incident from the novel you have learnt.
* 2004 Write about one of the themes you learned in the novel.
* 2005 Write on one of the moral values – honesty/ responsibility.
* 2006 Explain why you like/dislike the ending of the story.
* 2007 Write about two characters who work together to obtain success.
* 2008 Write about an incident that you think important.
* 2009 Write about a relationship between friends in the story.
* 2010 What will come out this year???? Could be values or themes.
Tips on answering novel questions
USE THIS FORMULA - I. M. E. J.
I - IDENTIFY WHAT THE QUESTION WANTS.
M - MAKE A STATEMENT
E - ELABORATE ON THE ANSWERS.
J - JUSTIFY THE ELABORATION BY GIVING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE FROM THE NOVEL.
Example:
–Write about an incident that changes the life of a character in the story. Give evidence to support your answer.
Identify - i. The character - Rudolf Rassendyll
ii. The incident - The first meeting with King Rudolf V, Sapt and Fritz.
Make a statement - An incident that changes the life of Rudolf Rassendyll in the
story is when Rassendyll meets King Rudolf V, Sapt and Fritz for the first time...
Elaborate - Answer the questions - Where, When and What happened?
Justify - Answer the question - Why do you say so? using the evidence from the text
REMEMBER: The answer should be in the present tense. But if you answered in the past, make sure that all must be in the past tense/time.
1. Rassendyll and the King of Ruritania look like each other. How?
a They both have red hair and a long thin nose.
b They both have blond hair and green eyes.
c They both have black hair and a wide nose.
d They both have brown hair and big brown eyes.
2. Rassendyll and the King are related. How?
a They have the same great-grandmother.
b They have the same great-grandfather.
c They have the same grandmother.
d They have the same grandfather.
3. Why does Rassendyll go to Zenda?
a He wants to see the castle.
b He takes the wrong train.
c He is following Madame de Mauban.
d He can stay at the inn there.
4. Duke Michael of Strelsau has another name. What is it?
a Bloody Michael
b Michael the Cruel
c Evil Michael
d Black Michael
5. Where does Rassendyll first meet the King?
a in the castle
a in the inn
c in the forest
d in the royal palace
6. Why do Duke Michael and Rupert Hentzau fight?
a Hentzau is in love with Madame de Mauban.
b Hentzau does not want the Duke to kill the King.
c Hentzau wants to be King.
d Hentzau is a spy.
7.Who owns Zenda castle?
a the King
b Duke Michael
c Princess Flavia
d Madame de Mauban
8 Choose the correct words and fill in the blanks:
( 1 ) coronation ( 2 ) drawbridge ( 3 ) gate ( 4 ) lodge ( 5 ) wine ( 6 ) ledge ( 7 ) the Six ( 8 ) moat.
The King drank too much ( ) in the ( ) and could not wake up in time for his ( ). ( ) took him to Zenda castle. Rassendyll saves the King. He had to swim across the ( ) and walk along the ( ). Johann had to open the ( ) and put down the ( ).
Read the sentences and circle True (T) or False (F).
9 T or F Madame de Mauban screams because Hentzau is in her room.
10 T or F The midnight meeting at the summer-house is a trap.
11 T or F Hentzau kills Duke Michael and runs away.
12 T or F Rassendyll loves Princess Flavia, but she doesn’t love him. She loves the King.
13 T or F Rassendyll becomes a diplomat. He never marries.
Prisoner Of Zenda: Questions and Answers
1. Dangerous situation
In the Prisoner of Zenda, Rudolf Rassendyll faces great danger when he plans to free King Rudolf from his captors. Rassendyll is an ordinary man with no special military or police training. Yet, he feels a strong moral duty to play his part in ensuring that the right king ascends to power. He works together with Colonel Sapt, who is loyal to the king. The king is abducted by his brother, who is a ruthless man, and is guarded by an equally ruthless group of men, known as the Famous Six. Rassendyll first rescue attempt is not successful. His second rescue attempt is, but only after he changes the plan dramatically at the last minute. Both situations are very dangerous and lives are lost.
2. Admirable character
I find Rudolf Rassendyll an admirable character in the novel The Prisoner of Zenda because he is brave and has a strong sense of responsibility and public duty. On several occasions, he risk his life to save the King. Rassendyll does not have special military training or skills to use weapons. But that does not stop him from challenging the Famous Six. Rudolf continues to pursue Rupert even though he is injured and tired. He does all this because he hopes to bring justice to Zenda and to return the country to its rightful leader.
3. The character I like most
The character I like most in ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is Rudolf Rassendyll. He is adventurous, brave and honourable. In Zenda he risked his life to impersonated king Rudolf V. While impersonating the king, he fell in love with Princess Flavia. However, he knew that her duty to her country was more important than their love. This shows his sense of honour. Their last meeting was very touching and sad.
4. Enjoyed reading the novel
I have enjoyed reading the novel ‘Prisoner of Zenda’. The story is interesting and is about the adventures of Rudolf Rassendyll and how he impersonates King Rudolf V. He went on to save the king and finally part from Princess Flavia, the women he loved. Its message is we should handle crises with courage like Rudolf Rassendyll. He also showed that honour was more important than love. I am so inspired by the honourable nature of these two characters.
5. The Brave character
The character who is very brave is Rudolf Rassendyll. He showed great courage by impersonating King Rudolf V though it was dangerous of doing so. Later, when the king is imprison in then castle, he courageously rescued the king. He fought with the king’s enemies and even got wounded in doing so. His courage paid off when King Rudolf was finally rescued and regained his throne.
6. Theme of honour
The theme of honour is well portrayed in ‘the prisoner of zenda’. Rudolf Rassendyll impersonated King Rudolf V who was kept prisoner in Zenda Castle. He fell in love with Princess Flavia who was betrothed to the real king. But his sense of honour made him feel guilty for he was not the real king. In the end, they agreed to part for, to them, honour was more important than their love. Princess Flavia’s duty to her country must come before her love for Rudolf Rassendyll.
7. Lesson that I have learnt
I have learnt an important lesson from ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. It is facing challenges with courage and honour. Rudolf knew the danger of impersonating King Rudolf V. Yet, he did it to save the throne from the evil Duke Michael. While playing the part of king, he had fallen in love with Princess Flavia. But he part with her as she had a duty to fulfill for her country. Like him, I have learnt that we must handle problems and challenges with courage and honour.
8. Message of loyalty to its readers
The novel ‘Prisoner of Zenda’ has the message of loyalty for its readers. Colonel Sapt sowed loyalty to his king. It was he who suggested to Rudolf Rassendyll to impersonate the king to save the throne. Later, with Rudolf’s Rassendyll’s help, he helped to rescue the king from the castle. Princess Flavia also showed loyalty to her country by sacrificing her love for Rudolf Rassendyll to marry the king Rudolf V. Like them, we should loyal to our country.
9. Brings attention to the value of love
The novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ brings attention to the value of love. While impersonating king Rudolf V, Rudolf Rassendyll fell in love with the beautiful Princess Flavia. She had also fallen in love with him. However, their love was not mean to be, for Princess Flavia was betrothed to the king. In the end, they sacrifices their love for honour and duty. In doing so, Princess Flavia showed that her love for her country was stronger.
10. The title ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is relevant to the novel
The title ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is relevant to the novel. The story is about the king of Ruritania who was imprisoned by his evil brother, Duke Michael in Zenda castle. Rudolf Rassendyll who bore a striking resemblance to king Rudolf V impersonated the king. While Rudolf Rassendyll was playing the part of king, King Rudolf V was becoming very ill in prison. Rudolf Rassendyl risked his life to rescue the king who got back his throne.
11. An interesting incident
An interesting incident in the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ was when Rudolf Rassendyll met the king of Ruritania for the first time. For a time, it seemed almost unreal. There was a lot of confusion in this part. This ‘lookalike’ element added intrigue and mystery to the story. It also brought all the earlier questions and riddles to an end. The feeling in this part is like looking at a live image of oneself. I find this is most interesting indeed.
* 2002 Write about a character that you think is brave.
* 2003 Write about an interesting incident from the novel you have learnt.
* 2004 Write about one of the themes you learned in the novel.
* 2005 Write on one of the moral values – honesty/ responsibility.
* 2006 Explain why you like/dislike the ending of the story.
* 2007 Write about two characters who work together to obtain success.
* 2008 Write about an incident that you think important.
* 2009 Write about a relationship between friends in the story.
* 2010 What will come out this year???? Could be values or themes.
Tips on answering novel questions
USE THIS FORMULA - I. M. E. J.
I - IDENTIFY WHAT THE QUESTION WANTS.
M - MAKE A STATEMENT
E - ELABORATE ON THE ANSWERS.
J - JUSTIFY THE ELABORATION BY GIVING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE FROM THE NOVEL.
Example:
–Write about an incident that changes the life of a character in the story. Give evidence to support your answer.
Identify - i. The character - Rudolf Rassendyll
ii. The incident - The first meeting with King Rudolf V, Sapt and Fritz.
Make a statement - An incident that changes the life of Rudolf Rassendyll in the
story is when Rassendyll meets King Rudolf V, Sapt and Fritz for the first time...
Elaborate - Answer the questions - Where, When and What happened?
Justify - Answer the question - Why do you say so? using the evidence from the text
REMEMBER: The answer should be in the present tense. But if you answered in the past, make sure that all must be in the past tense/time.
1. Rassendyll and the King of Ruritania look like each other. How?
a They both have red hair and a long thin nose.
b They both have blond hair and green eyes.
c They both have black hair and a wide nose.
d They both have brown hair and big brown eyes.
2. Rassendyll and the King are related. How?
a They have the same great-grandmother.
b They have the same great-grandfather.
c They have the same grandmother.
d They have the same grandfather.
3. Why does Rassendyll go to Zenda?
a He wants to see the castle.
b He takes the wrong train.
c He is following Madame de Mauban.
d He can stay at the inn there.
4. Duke Michael of Strelsau has another name. What is it?
a Bloody Michael
b Michael the Cruel
c Evil Michael
d Black Michael
5. Where does Rassendyll first meet the King?
a in the castle
a in the inn
c in the forest
d in the royal palace
6. Why do Duke Michael and Rupert Hentzau fight?
a Hentzau is in love with Madame de Mauban.
b Hentzau does not want the Duke to kill the King.
c Hentzau wants to be King.
d Hentzau is a spy.
7.Who owns Zenda castle?
a the King
b Duke Michael
c Princess Flavia
d Madame de Mauban
8 Choose the correct words and fill in the blanks:
( 1 ) coronation ( 2 ) drawbridge ( 3 ) gate ( 4 ) lodge ( 5 ) wine ( 6 ) ledge ( 7 ) the Six ( 8 ) moat.
The King drank too much ( ) in the ( ) and could not wake up in time for his ( ). ( ) took him to Zenda castle. Rassendyll saves the King. He had to swim across the ( ) and walk along the ( ). Johann had to open the ( ) and put down the ( ).
Read the sentences and circle True (T) or False (F).
9 T or F Madame de Mauban screams because Hentzau is in her room.
10 T or F The midnight meeting at the summer-house is a trap.
11 T or F Hentzau kills Duke Michael and runs away.
12 T or F Rassendyll loves Princess Flavia, but she doesn’t love him. She loves the King.
13 T or F Rassendyll becomes a diplomat. He never marries.
Prisoner Of Zenda: Questions and Answers
1. Dangerous situation
In the Prisoner of Zenda, Rudolf Rassendyll faces great danger when he plans to free King Rudolf from his captors. Rassendyll is an ordinary man with no special military or police training. Yet, he feels a strong moral duty to play his part in ensuring that the right king ascends to power. He works together with Colonel Sapt, who is loyal to the king. The king is abducted by his brother, who is a ruthless man, and is guarded by an equally ruthless group of men, known as the Famous Six. Rassendyll first rescue attempt is not successful. His second rescue attempt is, but only after he changes the plan dramatically at the last minute. Both situations are very dangerous and lives are lost.
2. Admirable character
I find Rudolf Rassendyll an admirable character in the novel The Prisoner of Zenda because he is brave and has a strong sense of responsibility and public duty. On several occasions, he risk his life to save the King. Rassendyll does not have special military training or skills to use weapons. But that does not stop him from challenging the Famous Six. Rudolf continues to pursue Rupert even though he is injured and tired. He does all this because he hopes to bring justice to Zenda and to return the country to its rightful leader.
3. The character I like most
The character I like most in ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is Rudolf Rassendyll. He is adventurous, brave and honourable. In Zenda he risked his life to impersonated king Rudolf V. While impersonating the king, he fell in love with Princess Flavia. However, he knew that her duty to her country was more important than their love. This shows his sense of honour. Their last meeting was very touching and sad.
4. Enjoyed reading the novel
I have enjoyed reading the novel ‘Prisoner of Zenda’. The story is interesting and is about the adventures of Rudolf Rassendyll and how he impersonates King Rudolf V. He went on to save the king and finally part from Princess Flavia, the women he loved. Its message is we should handle crises with courage like Rudolf Rassendyll. He also showed that honour was more important than love. I am so inspired by the honourable nature of these two characters.
5. The Brave character
The character who is very brave is Rudolf Rassendyll. He showed great courage by impersonating King Rudolf V though it was dangerous of doing so. Later, when the king is imprison in then castle, he courageously rescued the king. He fought with the king’s enemies and even got wounded in doing so. His courage paid off when King Rudolf was finally rescued and regained his throne.
6. Theme of honour
The theme of honour is well portrayed in ‘the prisoner of zenda’. Rudolf Rassendyll impersonated King Rudolf V who was kept prisoner in Zenda Castle. He fell in love with Princess Flavia who was betrothed to the real king. But his sense of honour made him feel guilty for he was not the real king. In the end, they agreed to part for, to them, honour was more important than their love. Princess Flavia’s duty to her country must come before her love for Rudolf Rassendyll.
7. Lesson that I have learnt
I have learnt an important lesson from ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. It is facing challenges with courage and honour. Rudolf knew the danger of impersonating King Rudolf V. Yet, he did it to save the throne from the evil Duke Michael. While playing the part of king, he had fallen in love with Princess Flavia. But he part with her as she had a duty to fulfill for her country. Like him, I have learnt that we must handle problems and challenges with courage and honour.
8. Message of loyalty to its readers
The novel ‘Prisoner of Zenda’ has the message of loyalty for its readers. Colonel Sapt sowed loyalty to his king. It was he who suggested to Rudolf Rassendyll to impersonate the king to save the throne. Later, with Rudolf’s Rassendyll’s help, he helped to rescue the king from the castle. Princess Flavia also showed loyalty to her country by sacrificing her love for Rudolf Rassendyll to marry the king Rudolf V. Like them, we should loyal to our country.
9. Brings attention to the value of love
The novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ brings attention to the value of love. While impersonating king Rudolf V, Rudolf Rassendyll fell in love with the beautiful Princess Flavia. She had also fallen in love with him. However, their love was not mean to be, for Princess Flavia was betrothed to the king. In the end, they sacrifices their love for honour and duty. In doing so, Princess Flavia showed that her love for her country was stronger.
10. The title ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is relevant to the novel
The title ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ is relevant to the novel. The story is about the king of Ruritania who was imprisoned by his evil brother, Duke Michael in Zenda castle. Rudolf Rassendyll who bore a striking resemblance to king Rudolf V impersonated the king. While Rudolf Rassendyll was playing the part of king, King Rudolf V was becoming very ill in prison. Rudolf Rassendyl risked his life to rescue the king who got back his throne.
11. An interesting incident
An interesting incident in the novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ was when Rudolf Rassendyll met the king of Ruritania for the first time. For a time, it seemed almost unreal. There was a lot of confusion in this part. This ‘lookalike’ element added intrigue and mystery to the story. It also brought all the earlier questions and riddles to an end. The feeling in this part is like looking at a live image of oneself. I find this is most interesting indeed.
PMR Tips_Summary Writing
HOW TO DO WELL IN SUMMARY WRITING
* Understand the passage and messages conveyed clearly
* Understand the requirement of the question
* Identify the main ideas
* Ability of word substitutions
* Omit unnecessary details, examples and repeated points
* Linking all the points in one paragraph as a summarized text.
Strategies and Guidelines
1. Steps to take note of when writing a summary
You should:
o Read and understand the passage well.
o Pick out the main points in the passage.
o Express these points in good and fluent English.
o Express these points in your own words as far as possible.
o Make sure that the points flow smoothly one into the other.
o Keep to the required number of words.
o Write a summary in one paragraph.
2. Number of word
o A word, whether it is a one-letter word or more, is a word and every word should be counted as such.
o A proper nouns and names of events can be counted as one word. For example Petronas Twin Towers, Speech Day, PJ Half Marathon, Mother’s Day.
o If the question states ‘in not more than 60 words’, then you are allowed to have a summary of between 58 to 60 words.
o If the questions states ‘about 60 words’, then you are allowed to have a summary of between 57 to 63 words.
3. What to omit
o Omit unnecessary details.
o Ignore points that are repeated.
o Leave out examples.
o Ignore information that is irrelevant to the main points.
4. How to lengthen or shorten your summary
o To lengthen, add in points that might have left out. Do not just add extra words.
o To shorten, look for unnecessary details or replace phrases or clause with single words or short expressions. Do not just drop lines.
5. Grammar check
o Read the final draft thoroughly to check for grammatical errors.
o Check for noun – verb agreement, spellings, correct usage of linking words and the appropriate form of tense.
* Understand the passage and messages conveyed clearly
* Understand the requirement of the question
* Identify the main ideas
* Ability of word substitutions
* Omit unnecessary details, examples and repeated points
* Linking all the points in one paragraph as a summarized text.
Strategies and Guidelines
1. Steps to take note of when writing a summary
You should:
o Read and understand the passage well.
o Pick out the main points in the passage.
o Express these points in good and fluent English.
o Express these points in your own words as far as possible.
o Make sure that the points flow smoothly one into the other.
o Keep to the required number of words.
o Write a summary in one paragraph.
2. Number of word
o A word, whether it is a one-letter word or more, is a word and every word should be counted as such.
o A proper nouns and names of events can be counted as one word. For example Petronas Twin Towers, Speech Day, PJ Half Marathon, Mother’s Day.
o If the question states ‘in not more than 60 words’, then you are allowed to have a summary of between 58 to 60 words.
o If the questions states ‘about 60 words’, then you are allowed to have a summary of between 57 to 63 words.
3. What to omit
o Omit unnecessary details.
o Ignore points that are repeated.
o Leave out examples.
o Ignore information that is irrelevant to the main points.
4. How to lengthen or shorten your summary
o To lengthen, add in points that might have left out. Do not just add extra words.
o To shorten, look for unnecessary details or replace phrases or clause with single words or short expressions. Do not just drop lines.
5. Grammar check
o Read the final draft thoroughly to check for grammatical errors.
o Check for noun – verb agreement, spellings, correct usage of linking words and the appropriate form of tense.
Aug 28, 2010
SPM Tips_Continuous Writing _ Guidelines
WRITING is a difficult skill. It is for this reason that continuous writing is the bane of many students. Unlike directed writing, the students have to start from scratch and deal with content as well as language. They have to think of what to write and how to write. The question on directed writing gives them a context within which to write, so they do not have to worry about their roles as writers or who their audience is.
With continuous writing, they have to consider these two factors besides having to explore ideas and watch out for language. In continuous writing, candidates are given five topics, from which they select only one. The topics can be categorised as follows:
1. Narrative
e.g “Write a story beginning with: I never knew what happiness was until….” or
“Write a story ending with: Finally, he walked away without saying a word.”
2. Descriptive
e.g. “The worst day in my life”
3. Factual/expository
e.g. “The Effects of Pollution” or “Ways to Make School Interesting”
4. Argumentative
e.g. “Students should be allowed to wear casual clothes to school. Do you agree?”
5. One-word essays
e..g. “Freedom”
General guidelines for continuous writing.
• Read all the questions given. Some students make the mistake of selecting the first question that they read, or zooming in on a question they think is manageable only to realise, later, that they could have handled another question with more ease. Do not make the mistake of selecting the first question that you read or a question which you think is manageable. You might realise later that you could have handled another question with much more ease.
• Choose a topic you are familiar, or comfortable with, which is within your scope of experience, so you do not have to struggle with content.
• Opt for something that is within your linguistic ability. Do not select a topic just because you think it is challenging. This is not the time for experimentation. As for weak students, it is generally advisable to write a narrative
• Plan your essay: the outline, points/ideas/thoughts and supporting points (if you are writing an argumentative or factual essay).
• Remember to use a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound and complex).
Competent candidates should use more of the latter as your competency will be made obvious by your ability to use these structures accurately. Do not use too many simple sentences as, at SPM level, more is expected of you.
• Use sentences of varying lengths. A short sentence can be very effective after several long sentences
• Choose words carefully. You should be able to use words with different nuances. For instance the word “walked” can be replaced with synonyms such as ambled, strolled, sauntered, staggered, strode
• Write out your essay in neat, legible handwriting. There is nothing more annoying than small or untidy handwriting, or a combination of both, as the reader has to spend valuable time deciphering what you have written
• Write in paragraphs. You may leave a line between paragraphs as it is easy on the examiner’s eye
• Edit and revise language if necessary. Allocate 10 minutes for this and make sure spelling and punctuation are accurate
• Do heed the length of the essay. You are required to write an essay of not less than 350 words. Anything shorter would definitely be penalised. But do not write too long an essay. Some students can easily write anything between 600 and 800 words. Remember, the more you write, the more mistakes you may make. Weak students are strongly advised not to write a lengthy essay.
Narrative essays.
Narrative essays are a favourite among students as they are easier to handle. This type of essay enables the writer to use and share experiences with the reader.
Guidelines to remember when writing a narrative essay.
• You have to decide whether to write your essay from your own perspective or someone else’s. The first person or third person singular is the most popular voice.
If you choose to write from your own perspective, then use the first person singular, that is, “I”.
If you choose to write from someone else’s perspective, use third person pronouns (he, she, it). Be consistent in your choice of pronouns. Do not switch perspectives mid-way through the essay.
• Engage your reader. Make the story real for him. Get him involved in your experience.
• Bring your characters to life. Make them real. Make them memorable
. It is always more interesting to read about flawed characters.
• Have a simple plot. You will be better off using chronological order. Flashbacks are a wonderful device but you should only engage in this if you can carry it off
• Use the simple past tense if you cannot handle the past perfect tense
• Use verbs and adjectives to enable your reader to visualise things in his mind’s eye
• You may use dialogue but use it sparingly and effectively. Remember, you are writing a narrative, not a script
• Avoid using informal language
• Avoid clichés
As mentioned earlier, narrative writing is a better option for weak students.
Guidelines to remember when writing a narrative essay:
You have to decide whether to write your essay from your own perspective or someone else.
The first person or third person singular is the most popular voice. If you choose to write from your own perspective, then use the first person singular i.e. ‘I’. If you choose to write from someone else’s perspective, use third person pronouns (he, she, it). Be consistent in your choice of pronouns. Do not switch perspectives mid-way through the essay.
The choice of pronoun also depends on the question. In the question “Write a story beginning with: I was tired and…”, you have to use the first person singular ‘I’.
Engage your reader. Make the story real for him. Make him involved in your experience.
Have a simple plot. You will be better off using the chronological order. Flashbacks are a wonderful device where you merge the past with the present. But be careful; only engage in this method if you can carry it off.
Use only the simple past tense if you cannot handle the past perfect tense.
However, you will need to use the past perfect tense if you are referring to more than one action in the past.
Bring your characters to life. Make them real. Make them memorable. It is always more interesting to read about flawed characters.
Use nouns, verbs and adjectives to evoke your reader’s senses.
You may use dialogue, but use it sparingly and effectively. Remember you are writing a narrative, not a script.
Before you write your essay, it is a good idea to plan what you are going to write.
A good narrative should have:
1. An introduction
This is to set the scene and present the character/characters
Complications or problems
In your story, the character/characters might have a problem to overcome.
2. A climax
A good story should have a climax which is the most exciting part of the story
3. A resolution (end)
Never leave your story hanging although accomplished writers use this technique (which is called an open ending) to get their readers to confront certain issues the writer may have raised in his story.
A resolution tells how the complications/problems were resolved or how they (the problems) affected the characters.
Specific guidelines for continuous writing:
Make sure your essay is longer than 350 words.
This means that you need to develop your essay/ideas to a considerable degree.
Avoid lengthy essays.
Some students believe that they will obtain more marks if they write a lengthy piece. This is definitely not true, especially if your essay has considerable grammatical errors.
Do not waste time counting the number of words.
By now you should be able to gauge how many words you write on one page, so do not waste precious time counting the number of words in your essay.
Pay attention to language.
As in directed writing, avoid informal language, clichés, contractions and slang words.
Avoid using unnecessary idiomatic expressions/proverbs.
Some students have this notion that they will obtain more marks if they use idiomatic expressions/proverbs, and so, they memorise as many idiomatic expressions/proverbs as they can.
Reading an essay littered with idiomatic expressions/proverbs can be a pain. Also, not all idiomatic expressions are formal.
Use a variety of sentences (simple, compound, complex and compound-complex) of varying lengths.
We will look at these in the next article.
Use precise vocabulary.
E.g. He told me to be careful as there were crocodiles in the river.
He warned me to be careful as there were crocodiles in the river.
The word ‘warned’ is more precise.
Do not use spoken language.
These days, it is quite common to come across the usage of spoken language not only in newspaper articles, but also in magazines and novels.
Remember, there are differences between spoken and written language.
If you are unsure whether a phrase is spoken or written, ask your teachers.
Do not leave your sentences hanging.
Remember, every English sentence must have a subject and a verb.
E.g. “I saw many types of marine life. For example, seahorses and starfish.” (The second sentence is hanging.)
Do not use repetitive words, phrases or structures.
a) Examples of repetitive words:
i. It was a very hot day. I was feeling very thirsty.
(You could replace the word ‘very’ with ‘extremely’ in the second sentence.)
ii. My mother scolded me for coming home late. My father, who was just as angry, scolded me for not listening to his advice.
(You could use ‘admonished’ instead of ‘scolded’ in the second sentence.)
b) Examples of repetitive phrases:
i. Murni and I were best friends. We had been best friends since kindergarten. We had promised to remain best friends till the end of our lives.
(You could rewrite it this way: Murni and I were best friends. We had been close since kindergarten. We had pledged to maintain our friendship till the end of our lives.)
ii. It was the end of the year. My father had promised to take us on a holiday. He had promised to take us to Perth.
(There are several ways to rewrite this:
It was the end of the year. My father had promised to take us on a holiday. He told us that we would be going to Perth that year.
It was the end of the year. My father had promised to take us on a holiday to Perth.)
c) Examples of repetitive sentences:
My mother is one person who is admired by many people. She is a strong and determined person. She does not let problems stop her from doing what she wants. She sees problems as challenges.
(As you can see the structure ‘She…’ is repeated as in ‘She is… She does not… She sees…’
Learn to use other structures to overcome this problem.
‘My mother is one person who is admired by many people. She is strong and determined. Problems do not stop her from doing what she wants. According to her, problems are challenges.’)
*You may, however, use repetitive structures for emphasis.
Avoid redundancy,
E.g. “In my opinion, I think…”
‘In my opinion’ and ‘I think’ have the same meaning.
E.g. “It was a happy and merry occasion. I felt satisfied and contented.”
The words ‘happy and merry’ mean the same thing, so does ‘satisfied and contented’.
Here is a sample question:
Write an essay ending with “… with tears in her eyes, she hugged me tightly.”
Sample answer
It was the wettest December I had ever experienced. The torrential rains had ruined my holiday plans as floods continued to wreak havoc in several states. I had pleaded with dad to allow me to go to the east coast with my friends but he had been unyielding. The thought of having to stay indoors for the next two weeks was not only depressing but also unbearable. Television did not excite me anymore. I was fed up of watching the same old movies on cable television. Even the other channels had nothing exciting to offer. Finally, I decided to go into the attic to retrieve some books which I had not read for a long time.
The attic was surprisingly clean – a sign that mum had finally completed the chore that she had kept putting off. I looked around and noticed a teak chest that I had never seen before. Curiosity got the better of me and I walked towards it. I lifted the lid slowly and was pleasantly surprised to see a variety of things in it – all of them reminders of my childhood. I looked nostalgically at the clothes I had worn as a child and the toys I had played with. ‘Bobo’ the teddy bear, which I had slept with until I was ten, had been dry-cleaned and kept in a box which also contained the first Mother’s Day card I had made myself. I was not prepared for what I saw next. Lying at the bottom of the cardboard box was an old black and white photograph of a young woman. I stared at it incredulously. It was as if I was looking at a female version of myself. All sorts of questions and dreadful thoughts flooded my mind. I held the photograph tightly in my hand and dashed out of the attic, only to bump into my mother.
“Mum….who is this?” I asked in a quivering voice.
From the look on her face, I knew it was a question she did not want to answer. Quietly, she held my hand and led me towards the study where dad had been working all morning. She knocked on the door once before opening it. Dad looked up, and his expression of annoyance disappeared when he saw the photograph in my hand.
What I heard that day is something I will never forget for the rest of my life. The woman in the photograph was my mother, my biological mother — Lily Lee.
“Son, Lily loved you very much; just as much as Janet here loves you.”
Dad’s use of the past tense made me uncomfortable. It took a great deal of effort on his part to narrate the painful past.
My biological mother was six months pregnant when the incident happened. She had been walking towards her office when a motorcyclist came from behind and grabbed her handbag before speeding off. As a result of the sudden assault, she had lost her balance and fallen on the kerb. The head injuries she had sustained had a devastating effect on her health. The only option was to perform surgery, but due to her condition, this option was risky. The doctors had wanted to terminate her pregnancy to save her life but she had refused. A month later she fell into a coma. Although the doctors had given up hope, Lily continued to live, though in a comatose state. It was as if she was not giving up on life till her baby was born. When the doctors deemed it safe, they performed an emergency C-section. Lily breathed her last the moment I was born into this world.
Dad sobbed softly as he finished relating the heart-wrenching story. All sorts of emotions consumed me. I was sad, confused and angry. Was I adopted? What about my father? Who was he? Had he abandoned me? After a while, I braved myself and stated what I thought was obvious.
“So, that means you are not my real parents. I am adopted!”
“No, son. You are not adopted. I am your father. Lily was my first wife. She made me promise her that I would marry her younger sister, Janet, so that you would not grow up motherless.”
The sense of relief that I felt at that moment was indescribable. I looked at mum and I saw the pain and anguish in her eyes, as though she was anticipating rejection. Quickly, she looked down.
Slowly, I got up from my chair and walked towards her. I went down on my knees and held her hands in mine. Her eyes remained downcast, fearful of rejection.
“Mum, I know I am only seventeen but I am more mature than you think. You might not have given birth to me but you are and will always be my mother.” I comforted her as much as I comforted myself.
She looked up slowly, her eyes searching my face for sincerity. Then with tears in her eyes, she hugged me tightly.
With continuous writing, they have to consider these two factors besides having to explore ideas and watch out for language. In continuous writing, candidates are given five topics, from which they select only one. The topics can be categorised as follows:
1. Narrative
e.g “Write a story beginning with: I never knew what happiness was until….” or
“Write a story ending with: Finally, he walked away without saying a word.”
2. Descriptive
e.g. “The worst day in my life”
3. Factual/expository
e.g. “The Effects of Pollution” or “Ways to Make School Interesting”
4. Argumentative
e.g. “Students should be allowed to wear casual clothes to school. Do you agree?”
5. One-word essays
e..g. “Freedom”
General guidelines for continuous writing.
• Read all the questions given. Some students make the mistake of selecting the first question that they read, or zooming in on a question they think is manageable only to realise, later, that they could have handled another question with more ease. Do not make the mistake of selecting the first question that you read or a question which you think is manageable. You might realise later that you could have handled another question with much more ease.
• Choose a topic you are familiar, or comfortable with, which is within your scope of experience, so you do not have to struggle with content.
• Opt for something that is within your linguistic ability. Do not select a topic just because you think it is challenging. This is not the time for experimentation. As for weak students, it is generally advisable to write a narrative
• Plan your essay: the outline, points/ideas/thoughts and supporting points (if you are writing an argumentative or factual essay).
• Remember to use a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound and complex).
Competent candidates should use more of the latter as your competency will be made obvious by your ability to use these structures accurately. Do not use too many simple sentences as, at SPM level, more is expected of you.
• Use sentences of varying lengths. A short sentence can be very effective after several long sentences
• Choose words carefully. You should be able to use words with different nuances. For instance the word “walked” can be replaced with synonyms such as ambled, strolled, sauntered, staggered, strode
• Write out your essay in neat, legible handwriting. There is nothing more annoying than small or untidy handwriting, or a combination of both, as the reader has to spend valuable time deciphering what you have written
• Write in paragraphs. You may leave a line between paragraphs as it is easy on the examiner’s eye
• Edit and revise language if necessary. Allocate 10 minutes for this and make sure spelling and punctuation are accurate
• Do heed the length of the essay. You are required to write an essay of not less than 350 words. Anything shorter would definitely be penalised. But do not write too long an essay. Some students can easily write anything between 600 and 800 words. Remember, the more you write, the more mistakes you may make. Weak students are strongly advised not to write a lengthy essay.
Narrative essays.
Narrative essays are a favourite among students as they are easier to handle. This type of essay enables the writer to use and share experiences with the reader.
Guidelines to remember when writing a narrative essay.
• You have to decide whether to write your essay from your own perspective or someone else’s. The first person or third person singular is the most popular voice.
If you choose to write from your own perspective, then use the first person singular, that is, “I”.
If you choose to write from someone else’s perspective, use third person pronouns (he, she, it). Be consistent in your choice of pronouns. Do not switch perspectives mid-way through the essay.
• Engage your reader. Make the story real for him. Get him involved in your experience.
• Bring your characters to life. Make them real. Make them memorable
. It is always more interesting to read about flawed characters.
• Have a simple plot. You will be better off using chronological order. Flashbacks are a wonderful device but you should only engage in this if you can carry it off
• Use the simple past tense if you cannot handle the past perfect tense
• Use verbs and adjectives to enable your reader to visualise things in his mind’s eye
• You may use dialogue but use it sparingly and effectively. Remember, you are writing a narrative, not a script
• Avoid using informal language
• Avoid clichés
As mentioned earlier, narrative writing is a better option for weak students.
Guidelines to remember when writing a narrative essay:
You have to decide whether to write your essay from your own perspective or someone else.
The first person or third person singular is the most popular voice. If you choose to write from your own perspective, then use the first person singular i.e. ‘I’. If you choose to write from someone else’s perspective, use third person pronouns (he, she, it). Be consistent in your choice of pronouns. Do not switch perspectives mid-way through the essay.
The choice of pronoun also depends on the question. In the question “Write a story beginning with: I was tired and…”, you have to use the first person singular ‘I’.
Engage your reader. Make the story real for him. Make him involved in your experience.
Have a simple plot. You will be better off using the chronological order. Flashbacks are a wonderful device where you merge the past with the present. But be careful; only engage in this method if you can carry it off.
Use only the simple past tense if you cannot handle the past perfect tense.
However, you will need to use the past perfect tense if you are referring to more than one action in the past.
Bring your characters to life. Make them real. Make them memorable. It is always more interesting to read about flawed characters.
Use nouns, verbs and adjectives to evoke your reader’s senses.
You may use dialogue, but use it sparingly and effectively. Remember you are writing a narrative, not a script.
Before you write your essay, it is a good idea to plan what you are going to write.
A good narrative should have:
1. An introduction
This is to set the scene and present the character/characters
Complications or problems
In your story, the character/characters might have a problem to overcome.
2. A climax
A good story should have a climax which is the most exciting part of the story
3. A resolution (end)
Never leave your story hanging although accomplished writers use this technique (which is called an open ending) to get their readers to confront certain issues the writer may have raised in his story.
A resolution tells how the complications/problems were resolved or how they (the problems) affected the characters.
Specific guidelines for continuous writing:
Make sure your essay is longer than 350 words.
This means that you need to develop your essay/ideas to a considerable degree.
Avoid lengthy essays.
Some students believe that they will obtain more marks if they write a lengthy piece. This is definitely not true, especially if your essay has considerable grammatical errors.
Do not waste time counting the number of words.
By now you should be able to gauge how many words you write on one page, so do not waste precious time counting the number of words in your essay.
Pay attention to language.
As in directed writing, avoid informal language, clichés, contractions and slang words.
Avoid using unnecessary idiomatic expressions/proverbs.
Some students have this notion that they will obtain more marks if they use idiomatic expressions/proverbs, and so, they memorise as many idiomatic expressions/proverbs as they can.
Reading an essay littered with idiomatic expressions/proverbs can be a pain. Also, not all idiomatic expressions are formal.
Use a variety of sentences (simple, compound, complex and compound-complex) of varying lengths.
We will look at these in the next article.
Use precise vocabulary.
E.g. He told me to be careful as there were crocodiles in the river.
He warned me to be careful as there were crocodiles in the river.
The word ‘warned’ is more precise.
Do not use spoken language.
These days, it is quite common to come across the usage of spoken language not only in newspaper articles, but also in magazines and novels.
Remember, there are differences between spoken and written language.
If you are unsure whether a phrase is spoken or written, ask your teachers.
Do not leave your sentences hanging.
Remember, every English sentence must have a subject and a verb.
E.g. “I saw many types of marine life. For example, seahorses and starfish.” (The second sentence is hanging.)
Do not use repetitive words, phrases or structures.
a) Examples of repetitive words:
i. It was a very hot day. I was feeling very thirsty.
(You could replace the word ‘very’ with ‘extremely’ in the second sentence.)
ii. My mother scolded me for coming home late. My father, who was just as angry, scolded me for not listening to his advice.
(You could use ‘admonished’ instead of ‘scolded’ in the second sentence.)
b) Examples of repetitive phrases:
i. Murni and I were best friends. We had been best friends since kindergarten. We had promised to remain best friends till the end of our lives.
(You could rewrite it this way: Murni and I were best friends. We had been close since kindergarten. We had pledged to maintain our friendship till the end of our lives.)
ii. It was the end of the year. My father had promised to take us on a holiday. He had promised to take us to Perth.
(There are several ways to rewrite this:
It was the end of the year. My father had promised to take us on a holiday. He told us that we would be going to Perth that year.
It was the end of the year. My father had promised to take us on a holiday to Perth.)
c) Examples of repetitive sentences:
My mother is one person who is admired by many people. She is a strong and determined person. She does not let problems stop her from doing what she wants. She sees problems as challenges.
(As you can see the structure ‘She…’ is repeated as in ‘She is… She does not… She sees…’
Learn to use other structures to overcome this problem.
‘My mother is one person who is admired by many people. She is strong and determined. Problems do not stop her from doing what she wants. According to her, problems are challenges.’)
*You may, however, use repetitive structures for emphasis.
Avoid redundancy,
E.g. “In my opinion, I think…”
‘In my opinion’ and ‘I think’ have the same meaning.
E.g. “It was a happy and merry occasion. I felt satisfied and contented.”
The words ‘happy and merry’ mean the same thing, so does ‘satisfied and contented’.
Here is a sample question:
Write an essay ending with “… with tears in her eyes, she hugged me tightly.”
Sample answer
It was the wettest December I had ever experienced. The torrential rains had ruined my holiday plans as floods continued to wreak havoc in several states. I had pleaded with dad to allow me to go to the east coast with my friends but he had been unyielding. The thought of having to stay indoors for the next two weeks was not only depressing but also unbearable. Television did not excite me anymore. I was fed up of watching the same old movies on cable television. Even the other channels had nothing exciting to offer. Finally, I decided to go into the attic to retrieve some books which I had not read for a long time.
The attic was surprisingly clean – a sign that mum had finally completed the chore that she had kept putting off. I looked around and noticed a teak chest that I had never seen before. Curiosity got the better of me and I walked towards it. I lifted the lid slowly and was pleasantly surprised to see a variety of things in it – all of them reminders of my childhood. I looked nostalgically at the clothes I had worn as a child and the toys I had played with. ‘Bobo’ the teddy bear, which I had slept with until I was ten, had been dry-cleaned and kept in a box which also contained the first Mother’s Day card I had made myself. I was not prepared for what I saw next. Lying at the bottom of the cardboard box was an old black and white photograph of a young woman. I stared at it incredulously. It was as if I was looking at a female version of myself. All sorts of questions and dreadful thoughts flooded my mind. I held the photograph tightly in my hand and dashed out of the attic, only to bump into my mother.
“Mum….who is this?” I asked in a quivering voice.
From the look on her face, I knew it was a question she did not want to answer. Quietly, she held my hand and led me towards the study where dad had been working all morning. She knocked on the door once before opening it. Dad looked up, and his expression of annoyance disappeared when he saw the photograph in my hand.
What I heard that day is something I will never forget for the rest of my life. The woman in the photograph was my mother, my biological mother — Lily Lee.
“Son, Lily loved you very much; just as much as Janet here loves you.”
Dad’s use of the past tense made me uncomfortable. It took a great deal of effort on his part to narrate the painful past.
My biological mother was six months pregnant when the incident happened. She had been walking towards her office when a motorcyclist came from behind and grabbed her handbag before speeding off. As a result of the sudden assault, she had lost her balance and fallen on the kerb. The head injuries she had sustained had a devastating effect on her health. The only option was to perform surgery, but due to her condition, this option was risky. The doctors had wanted to terminate her pregnancy to save her life but she had refused. A month later she fell into a coma. Although the doctors had given up hope, Lily continued to live, though in a comatose state. It was as if she was not giving up on life till her baby was born. When the doctors deemed it safe, they performed an emergency C-section. Lily breathed her last the moment I was born into this world.
Dad sobbed softly as he finished relating the heart-wrenching story. All sorts of emotions consumed me. I was sad, confused and angry. Was I adopted? What about my father? Who was he? Had he abandoned me? After a while, I braved myself and stated what I thought was obvious.
“So, that means you are not my real parents. I am adopted!”
“No, son. You are not adopted. I am your father. Lily was my first wife. She made me promise her that I would marry her younger sister, Janet, so that you would not grow up motherless.”
The sense of relief that I felt at that moment was indescribable. I looked at mum and I saw the pain and anguish in her eyes, as though she was anticipating rejection. Quickly, she looked down.
Slowly, I got up from my chair and walked towards her. I went down on my knees and held her hands in mine. Her eyes remained downcast, fearful of rejection.
“Mum, I know I am only seventeen but I am more mature than you think. You might not have given birth to me but you are and will always be my mother.” I comforted her as much as I comforted myself.
She looked up slowly, her eyes searching my face for sincerity. Then with tears in her eyes, she hugged me tightly.
PMR Tips_Idioms
Using English Idioms in Writing Good Essays
Use English idioms properly
A nice piece of writing will not be a good essay without some relevant English idioms in it. You should always add some suitable English idioms in writing your essay. However, you are advised not to use irrelevant idioms in your essay with the sole purpose of scoring a better grade. Use English idioms with caution – contextually targeted to the particular essay only.
Examples of common English idioms being used:
Buying essays online would not cost the buyer much money.
Buying essays online would not cost the buyer an arm and a leg.
The essay writer must finish writing the essay by tomorrow by any means.
The essay writer must finish writing the essay by tomorrow by hook or by crook.
Some undergraduates in university or college like to study until late at night at the last moment.
Some undergraduates in university or college like to burn the midnight oil at the eleventh hour.
Importance of English idioms in essay writing
Examiners will be impressed when marking essays with a lot of English idioms contextually being used in them. First impression counts!
Besides that, you should always check idioms used in the essay you buy online. Most of the time, the number of correctly-used English idioms indicates the quality of the essay. It is easy to master some common English idioms if you practise using them a number of times.
Idioms Meanings
Above all > Before everything else
A wet blanket > A discouraging person
A bookworm > One who likes to read
A good for nothing > A useless person
A daredevil > A fearless person
A white elephant > Something which is expensive but useless
At the eleventh hour > At the last moment
A good Samaritan > A person who helps another in need
A close shave > A narrow escape
Behind one’s back > Without one’s knowledge
By hook or by crook > By fair or foul means
By any means > In any way possible
Carried away > Excited
Dirt cheap > Sold at very low price
Dead beat > Exhausted
Dead broke > Without any money
Hard up > Short of money
In the same boat > Facing the same problem
In black and white > In writing
In the nick of time > Just before it is too late
Next of kin > The nearest relative
Out of date > Old fashioned
Once in a blue moon > Rarely (once in a month, year)
Red tape > Something official
The apple of one’s eye > Favourite
To face the music > To take the punishment
To sit on the fence > To avoid taking sides
To get into hot water/hot soup > To get into trouble
To blow one’s trumpet > To boast
To pull one’s leg > To bluff
To smell a rat > To be suspicious
To build a castle in the air > To dream something that hasn’t happened
To foot the bill > To make payment
To be caught red handed > To be caught in the act of doing something wrong
To be red > To be very angry
To stand on one’s own feet > To be independent
To let the cat out of the bag > To let out a secret
Black sheep > Person who disgrace his family
Cat’s eyes > Able to see in the dark
Crocodile tears > Insincere tears
Fishy story > An untrue story
Rat race > Competitive world
Snake in the grass > Cunning person who pretends to be a friend
Wild goose chase > Futile or useless chase
Wolf in sheep’s clothing > An enemy who pretend to be friendly
Wolf whistle > Male whistle to attract a female’s attention
Change hands > Pass from one owner to another
Give the cool shoulder > To ignore someone
Keep a cool head > To keep quiet
Lend a hand > To help someone
See eye to eye > To agree
Slip of the tongue > Something said unintentionally
Tight lipped > Silent, unwilling to speak
Turn a blind eye > Refuse to see
Turn a deaf ear > Refuse to hear
Red faced > Embarrassed
Red tape > Official rules which cause delay
Blue collar job > Factory job
Out of the blue > Suddenly
Give the green light > Give permission
Have green fingers > Natural skills in making plants grow
Blacklist > List of people who have done wrong
Black market > Illegal sale of things
White collar job > Office job
Show one’s true colour > Show one’s true character
With flying colours > To achieve great success
Be in hot water > Be in serious trouble
Born with a silver spoon > Born into a rich family
Break the ice > Take the first step to start a conversation
Build castle in the air > Daydream
Burn the midnight oil > Work till late at night
Bury the hatchet > Forget past quarrels and make peace
Cry over spilt milk > Be unhappy about something that can’t be undone
Keep a person in the dark > Keep something hidden from a person
Kill two birds with one stone > To accomplish two things with one action
Play with fire > Do something which is dangerous
Rain cats and dogs > To rain very heavily
Read between the lines > To detect the hidden meaning
Spread like wildfire > Spread quickly
Turn over a new leaf > Give up bad habits and start anew
Turn the tables > To reverse the situation
Use English idioms properly
A nice piece of writing will not be a good essay without some relevant English idioms in it. You should always add some suitable English idioms in writing your essay. However, you are advised not to use irrelevant idioms in your essay with the sole purpose of scoring a better grade. Use English idioms with caution – contextually targeted to the particular essay only.
Examples of common English idioms being used:
Buying essays online would not cost the buyer much money.
Buying essays online would not cost the buyer an arm and a leg.
The essay writer must finish writing the essay by tomorrow by any means.
The essay writer must finish writing the essay by tomorrow by hook or by crook.
Some undergraduates in university or college like to study until late at night at the last moment.
Some undergraduates in university or college like to burn the midnight oil at the eleventh hour.
Importance of English idioms in essay writing
Examiners will be impressed when marking essays with a lot of English idioms contextually being used in them. First impression counts!
Besides that, you should always check idioms used in the essay you buy online. Most of the time, the number of correctly-used English idioms indicates the quality of the essay. It is easy to master some common English idioms if you practise using them a number of times.
Idioms Meanings
Above all > Before everything else
A wet blanket > A discouraging person
A bookworm > One who likes to read
A good for nothing > A useless person
A daredevil > A fearless person
A white elephant > Something which is expensive but useless
At the eleventh hour > At the last moment
A good Samaritan > A person who helps another in need
A close shave > A narrow escape
Behind one’s back > Without one’s knowledge
By hook or by crook > By fair or foul means
By any means > In any way possible
Carried away > Excited
Dirt cheap > Sold at very low price
Dead beat > Exhausted
Dead broke > Without any money
Hard up > Short of money
In the same boat > Facing the same problem
In black and white > In writing
In the nick of time > Just before it is too late
Next of kin > The nearest relative
Out of date > Old fashioned
Once in a blue moon > Rarely (once in a month, year)
Red tape > Something official
The apple of one’s eye > Favourite
To face the music > To take the punishment
To sit on the fence > To avoid taking sides
To get into hot water/hot soup > To get into trouble
To blow one’s trumpet > To boast
To pull one’s leg > To bluff
To smell a rat > To be suspicious
To build a castle in the air > To dream something that hasn’t happened
To foot the bill > To make payment
To be caught red handed > To be caught in the act of doing something wrong
To be red > To be very angry
To stand on one’s own feet > To be independent
To let the cat out of the bag > To let out a secret
Black sheep > Person who disgrace his family
Cat’s eyes > Able to see in the dark
Crocodile tears > Insincere tears
Fishy story > An untrue story
Rat race > Competitive world
Snake in the grass > Cunning person who pretends to be a friend
Wild goose chase > Futile or useless chase
Wolf in sheep’s clothing > An enemy who pretend to be friendly
Wolf whistle > Male whistle to attract a female’s attention
Change hands > Pass from one owner to another
Give the cool shoulder > To ignore someone
Keep a cool head > To keep quiet
Lend a hand > To help someone
See eye to eye > To agree
Slip of the tongue > Something said unintentionally
Tight lipped > Silent, unwilling to speak
Turn a blind eye > Refuse to see
Turn a deaf ear > Refuse to hear
Red faced > Embarrassed
Red tape > Official rules which cause delay
Blue collar job > Factory job
Out of the blue > Suddenly
Give the green light > Give permission
Have green fingers > Natural skills in making plants grow
Blacklist > List of people who have done wrong
Black market > Illegal sale of things
White collar job > Office job
Show one’s true colour > Show one’s true character
With flying colours > To achieve great success
Be in hot water > Be in serious trouble
Born with a silver spoon > Born into a rich family
Break the ice > Take the first step to start a conversation
Build castle in the air > Daydream
Burn the midnight oil > Work till late at night
Bury the hatchet > Forget past quarrels and make peace
Cry over spilt milk > Be unhappy about something that can’t be undone
Keep a person in the dark > Keep something hidden from a person
Kill two birds with one stone > To accomplish two things with one action
Play with fire > Do something which is dangerous
Rain cats and dogs > To rain very heavily
Read between the lines > To detect the hidden meaning
Spread like wildfire > Spread quickly
Turn over a new leaf > Give up bad habits and start anew
Turn the tables > To reverse the situation
Aug 16, 2010
SPM Tips_Novel: The Pearl (Sample Q&A)
Question 1:
‘In life a person sometimes faces problems."
How is this shown in the novel you have read? Support your answer with close reference to the text.
To answer the above question you need to ask yourself the following questions:
* Who is the character who faces problems?
* What are these problems?
Answer:
Kino, the main character in the novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck, is initially a contented man despite living in extreme poverty. He is satisfied with life although he is only a poor pearl diver whose only material possessions are a canoe and a brush house. He is not concerned about his lack of material comforts. Life is difficult but he is happy. However, all this changes very soon and he is plagued with problems.
The first problem Kino faces is lack of money. This problem surfaces when his only son Coyotito is stung by a scorpion. Desperate to save the life of his child, he goes to the doctor’s house to seek treatment. Unfortunately, he is denied treatment simply because he has no money to pay the doctor. Until this moment, his poverty, or rather lack of money has not been a problem. Now, he realises that he needs money to save his child. This is when he goes pearl diving because he does not want to take chances with his son’s life. Luckily, he finds a big pearl and he believes he will be able to solve his problem by selling the pearl. Unfortunately, things do not get better for him. Instead other problems crop up.
The second problem Kino faces is insincerity on the part of people around him. People who were disinterested in his life suddenly turn up at his doorstep. The priest, who has never been concerned about Kino or his family, now hopes that Kino will donate money to the church. Likewise, the doctor who had turned him away now comes to the settlement on the pretext of treating the baby. He deliberately poisons the baby and then gives him an antidote just to gain Kino’s confidence. Kino, who had no worries before, is now suspicious of the people around him. He is unsure of who he can trust. He even becomes suspicious of Juana who steals the pearl one night because she wants to get rid of the evil it has brought.
Another problem is Kino’s and his family’s safety. He is attacked not once but thrice by unknown people who are out to steal the pearl from him. During the first two attacks he suffers slight injuries but in the third attack he accidentally kills a man. This leads to even bigger problems because he has no choice but to flee the village as no one will believe him that he killed the man in self defence. More problems surface when his brush house is burnt by people searching for the pearl. He knows that whoever is after him will not leave his family alone. Worse still, his precious canoe is damaged to prevent him from escaping by sea. He is left with no choice but to flee the village. Unfortunately, Kino faces more problems when he flees the village. Even as he is fleeing, he is pursued by three trackers, two on foot and one on horseback. Kino has to go to extreme lengths to cover his tracks to ensure his family’s safety. He knows that the trackers will not spare his family even if they find the pearl. Kino knows that he has no choice but to kill his trackers to safeguard his family. He takes a great risk by singlehandedly taking on his pursuers using only a knife as a weapon. Unfortunately, during the struggle with the three attackers, a bullet is accidentally fired from the rifle killing his beloved son. With the death of his son, Kino has nothing to look forward to. Finally, he returns to his village unafraid of the consequences.
It is clear from the evidence above that Kino faces many problems, with each problem getting worse than the
one before it. Eventually, these problems have a terrible effect on him.
Taken from the blog of ShadyOakAug 12, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)