Beam Module 2018 - Cemerlang 6
Beam Module 2018 - Cemerlang 6
Beam Module 2018 - Cemerlang 6
1
PREFACE
This module is aimed at helping English teachers in Kluang district to prepare their
students for the SPM English Language Papers 1 and 2. It consists of exam-focussed
tasks which are accompanied by sample answers to improve students’ performance in
the examination.
The teacher should find the module useful to supplement his or her teaching in the
classroom and propel the English performance.
I sincerely hope this module would be beneficial as well as used effectively in schools
in adherence to the right approach and the latest examination format.
I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the efforts of the panel of module writers
and advisors in preparing this module. It is hoped that Kluang will continuously
improve its ranking in the SPM results.
2
PREFACE
The District English Panel takes great pleasure in assisting our teachers in the
classroom hence the production of this module. This module focusses on fine-tuning
students’ exam skills in the hope they will excel in the SPM English Language papers
1 and 2.
It is my sincere hope that this module will be a great resource for teachers in the
district. I would like to extend my gratitude to the panel of writers and the District
English Language Officer for their cooperation in making this project a success. Let me
also congratulate and thank all the module builders for their time and effort in
producing this module.
LIOW MIIN YI
CHAIRPERSON
KLUANG DISTRICT ENGLISH LANGUAGE PANEL
3
Module Committee
Advisors:
Module Writers:
1. Rozman Bin Mohammad Sharif
SM Sains Johor
3. Ng Bee Ling
Sekolah Tinggi Kluang
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Table of Contents
1. Preface 2-3
2. B.E.A.M Committee 4
4. Poem –Form 4:
i) The Living photograph
ii) The Charge of the Light Brigade 20-31
Form 5:
i) A Poison Tree
ii) ii) What Has Happened to Lulu?
8. References 86
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INFORMATION
TRANSFER
(SECTION B)
6
Easy Information Transfer Steps
What students need to do:
1. Read the materials given carefully. When answering, copy directly from the materials given
and avoid using your own words. However, in some cases, you may have to make some
changes to suit your answer.
2. Make sure that the spelling in your answer is exactly the same as the spelling in the
materials given, otherwise your answer will be considered wrong and no mark will be given.
3. Follow whatever CAPITAL LETTERS used in the stimuli. Capital Letter is for special nouns.
4. Answers should be short and precise.
5. For very weak students, they may not know which part of the text to select although they have found
the keywords. Let them copy the entire sentence if it is not too long (less than 5 words).
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Practice 1
Read the article below and use the information given to complete the following task.
Birth name:
1. _____________________
_____________________
Nationality:
2. ______________________
______________________
5. _______________________ 3. _______________________
6. _______________________ 4. _______________________
8. He decided to focus on creating content for his videos after failing to earn an apprenticeship
with ___________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
10. In June 2018, his channel has received more than ______________________________
_________________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(10 marks)
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Practice 2
Read the following descriptions and answer the questions that follow.
SUPER CALCIUM
The 1000 mg Super Calcium supplements give you strong bones and teeth.
It is highly recommended for those who do not take enough calcium-rich
products daily.
100% pure orange juice. One tablespoon of Joy supplies enough vitamin C
for the day. It helps you maintain a healthy digestive and nervous system,
as well as improve your appetite.
MULTI-VITS
KEYSKIM MILK
This milk powder contains nutrients for hair and nails. It is recommended
for women over 40 as it is rich in calcium but low in calories. It provides
you with enough energy for the day. Contains no artificial flavouring or
additives.
Iron is important for replacing red blood cells. Each capsule contains the
necessary amount of iron each day. It is recommended for those who lack
intake of iron-rich food such as fish and meat.
10
Using the information from the labels given, identify which product would be suitable for each
person in the table below.
(5 marks)
________________________________________________________________________
7.Why is Key skim Milk highly recommended for women over 40?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(5 marks)
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Practice 3
Read the following article and answer the questions that follow.
COCONUT
Coconut oil is considered as the best and safest oil to use for cooking as it does
not form polymerized oils or dangerous trans-fatty acids in our bodies, which can raise
our cholesterol level and clog our arteries. It also makes a superb topical oil that can help
to naturally rid the skin of dangerous toxins.
Coconut cream arises from coconut milk. Creams derived from the coconut can
actually replenish the skin. The skin is moisturised, giving it a more youthful look and
healthy glow. Beauty products such as a makeup remover, facial cleanser and skin
moisturiser are getting more popular among women.
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Questions 1 – 10
COCONUT
3 __________________
6 _________________ 8 __________________
4 __________________
9 __________________
topical oil
Used as 10 _________________
[10 marks]
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Practice 4
Read the following article and answer the questions that follow.
WHALES
Whales are large, intelligent, aquatic mammals that belong in the cetacean group. Unlike
fish which breathe using gills, they breathe air through their blowholes into their lungs. They have
sleek, streamlined bodies that helpthem move easily through the water. They are the only
mammals, other than manatees, that live their entire lives in the water, and the only mammals that
have adapted to the life in the open oceans.
Like all mammals, whales are warm-blooded in which they maintain a high body
temperature. They also have mammary glands with which they nourish their young. Whales have
hair, although they have a lot less than other land mammals and almost none as adults as it would
cause drag while swimming. The biggest whale is blue whale, which can grow to be approximately
29 metres long. These gigantic animals eat about 4 tons of tiny krill each day. The smallest whale
is the dwarf sperm whale which only reaches 2.6 metres long as adults.
Whales give birth to their young which are nourished with milk from their mothers. The
gestation periods range from 9 to 18 months. Whale calves can swim soon after birth. They breed
seasonally, usually in warm tropical waters, and females usually have one calf every 1 to 3 years.
Mother whales care for their young for an extended period of time, usually at least a year, feeding
them milk and protecting them.
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Questions 1 to 10
Based on the article given, complete the following table.
WHALES
1. ________________________________________________
Differences than other
mammals 2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
Similarities with other
mammals 5. ________________________________________________
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Practice 5
Read the following magazine article and complete the graphic organiser on the following page.
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Questions 1 to 10
Using the information given, complete the graphic organiser below.
BULLYING
What is bullying?
1.________________________________________
• Isolation
Types of Bullying
4._____________________________________________
5._____________________________________________
2._______________________
6.____________________________________________
Verbal Bullying
• Ignore the bully
7.____________________________________________
3._______________________
Cyberbullying 8._____________________________________________
9.______________________________________________
10.____________________________________________
[ 10 marks]
• Make a police report
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Practise 6
Read the brochure below and answer the questions that follow.
SUMMIT TRAIL
To reach the start of the Summit Trail, climbers must walk the 4km Kamborongoh Road leading
from Mt. Kinabalu Park Headquarters to the Power Station at 1,829 m. Getting there is the
beginning of the challenging climb to Mt. Kinabalu.
KINABALU PARK
Kinabalu Park covers an area of 754 sq km and includes vegetation types ranging from the rich
lowland through the montane oak and conifer forests to the alpine meadows with one of the
richest flora in the world.
KOTA KINABALU
Capital of Sabah and international gateway to the rest of Sabah. Here, you can get a combination
of unbelievable food and unbelievable shops. Enjoy trying our mouth-watering cuisine, tourist
attractions and fun places.
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Questions 1 to 5
Using the information given, complete the table below.
Questions 6 - 10
Write short answer based on the information given.
6. The height of Mount Kinabalu above the sea level is .…………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………...……... [1 mark]
7. At Poring Hot Springs, besides the sulphur bath, visitors can …………………..……..
……………………………………………………………………………………. [1 mark]
8. Kinabalu Park would be a good place to study plant life because it has
………………………………………………………………………………….... [1 mark]
9. In order to arrive at the start of the Summit Trail, trekkers have to start from
…………………………………………………………………………………….. [1 mark]
10. In the Capital of Sabah, one can get pleasure from …………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………... [1 mark]
[ 10 marks ]
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POEMS
(SECTION D)
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Practise 1
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
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(a) In stanza 1, what does the phrase grey bun symbolize?
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(b) What does the phrase ‘white hand in black hand’ reveal about the relationship
between the child and the grandmother?
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(c) If you have an old and senile grandparent, what will you do to make life easier for
him or her? Give two ways.
Way 1: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________ [1 mark]
Way 2: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(d) What does the last stanza tell you about the photograph?
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(e) We must treasure our elders while they are alive. How would you do this? Give two ways.
(f) The poet shows she loves and appreciates her grandmother in the poem. Give two other
ways how you can show your love and appreciation towards your family members.
(g) We should spend more time with the elderly members in our family. Do you agree?
Provide a reason for your answer
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________ [2 marks]
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(h) Being forgetful is a sign of old age. Suggest two others.
i. __________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(i) Apart from keeping photos, suggest another way of remembering people you love.
Give a reason for your answer.
(j) Would you send your grandmother to the old folk’s home? Why?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________ [2 marks]
(k) Give two examples how you cope with the loss of someone.
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Practise 2
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
I
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
II
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
III
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.
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(a) In stanza 1, who is he and what command does he give?
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(c) Why is the location of this battle called ‘the valley of Death’?
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(d) In stanza 2 line 2, do you think the man is dismayed to go to the battlefield?
Provide a reason to support you answer.
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ [2 marks]
(e) How was the value of patriotism shown in the poem The Charge of Light Brigade?
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(f) Do you think the Light Brigade won the battle? Give your reason.
___________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(g) One of the consequences of war is loss of lives. State two others.
(h) Why would anyone choose to serve in the army? Give two reasons.
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(i) Suggest two ways to protect your country.
i. ________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(j) How do you think we should reward the soldiers who had fought for our country?
Suggest two ways.
i _____________________________________________________ [1 mark]
ii _____________________________________________________ [1 mark]
___________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(l) If you were one of the soldiers, would you have followed the given orders? Why?
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ [2 marks]
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Practice 3
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
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4. Why do you think the persona did not tell his foe about his wrath?
________________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
6. Do you think revenge solves problems? Give a reason for your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ [2 marks]
7. How does the persona feel about his/her foe lying under the tree in the morning? Give a
reason for your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ [2 marks]
10. What lessons have you learnt from the poem? State two.
(i) _____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(ii) _____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
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Practise 4
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
Charles Causley
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1. What is the emotion expressed in stanza 6? State your reason.
Emotion :_________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
Reason :_________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
2. In stanza 6,
(i) why does the persona feel that his mother is avoiding his questions?
_______________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(ii) why do you think Lulu ran away from home?
_______________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
5. Lulu has left the house. Give two reasons why do you think Lulu decided to do so.
(i) ______________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(ii) ______________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
6. In your opinion, why do you think teenagers run away? Give two reasons.
(i) ______________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(ii) ______________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
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8. In your opinion, did Lulu run away or was she kidnapped? Give a reason for your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ [2 marks]
9. Why doesn’t the mother tell the truth to the persona? Give two possible reasons.
(i) _____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(ii) _____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
10. Suggest two things that the mother should do about Lulu’s disappearance.
(i) ______________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
(ii) ______________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
11. In your opinion, where was the persona’s father when Lulu disappeared?
_________________________________________________________________ [1 mark]
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NOVEL
(SECTION D )
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MARKING CRITERIA FOR BAND A & B
• Vocabulary LANGUAGE
• Sentence patterns
• Organisation of ideas
ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
• Introduction
• Point 1
• Point 2
• Point 3
• Conclusion
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SAMPLE QUESTION 1 (CHARACTER) :
Based on the novel, who do you think is the most interesting character in the novel you have studied?
Support your answer with close reference from the text.
Introduction
The novel I have studied is Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford + Answer the question +
In the following paragraphs, I will discuss the topic with close reference from the text.
The novel I have studied is Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford. In my opinion, the
most interesting character is Cecil Butterworth. This is because he is creative,
determined and supportive to his friends. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss
the topic with close reference from the text.
POINT 1
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POINT 2
POINT 3
Cecil is a true friend to Newton and JJ [POINT]. He is always supportive to his friends
through thick and thin. For example, although Cecil is shorter and skinnier that Newton,
he stands up for Newt when Newt is threatened by Ricky Ratner and his gang. Similarly,
Cecil encourages and supports Newt in the audacious plan to climb Appleton Tower to
persuade Reggie Ratner not to jumps [EVIDENCE].This shows that Cecil helps Newt
to overcome his fear of height. He always fights alongside his friend Newt who is also
known as Captain Nobody [OPINION].
CONCLUSION
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SAMPLE QUESTION 2 (CHARACTER) :
Which character in the novel you sympathize with? Explain why you sympathize with this character
with close reference to the text.
The novel that I have studied which is Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford is about a kid
named Newton Newman who had been overshadowed by his brother Chris Newman, a famous football
player. Chris got into a coma supposedly because of Reggie Ratner when in fact Reggie was absolutely
innocent. Therefore the character that I sympathize with the most would be Reggie Ratner.
One of the evidences that proved this is when Reggie received many hateful comments from
people after the Big Tackle. He was blamed for putting Chris into coma although the incident was not
his fault. This would probably be because Reggie and Chris were seen as rivals. People just assumed it
without any concrete proof. In my opinion, we shouldn’t jump into conclusions. We should also
avoid believing in rumours without any evidences.
Secondly, Reggie’s house was vandalized by people from Chris’ school. They placed
garbage all over the house. As if doing so wasn’t enough, they also scattered tissue paper all over the
garden. This action can only be concluded as childish. In my opinion, vandalizing is a serious crime
because it is mortifying to both the owner and the neighbours nearby.
Lastly, Reggie was bullied when he had to pay for the Chinese takeout that he didn’t order.
The takeout was addressed to him as a punishment for supposedly putting Chris into coma. There was
not much for Reggie to do except to pay for it. In my opinion, we should think before we act because
our action can cause harm to others. For example, they can end up being depressed or violent.
Which is why, these action taken on Reggie are not acceptable. Bullying is never an answer.
As a conclusion, I really sympathise with Reggie Ratner because throughout the story he was
portrayed as the bad person when in fact he never did anything wrong.
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SAMPLE QUESTION 3 (EVENT) :
Write about an event that has shown you the importance of making a responsible decision.
Support your answer with close reference to the text.
Based on the novel Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford that I have studied, the story has
an event that shows the importance of making a responsible decision. Newt was a kid that happened to
become the town hero - Captain Nobody. Along his journey in being known in the society, Newt had
shown the importance of making a responsible decision.
Firstly, the event that showed the importance of making a responsible decision is when
he decided to save Reggie Ratner at the water tower. Newt would not have been able to climb the
water tower without his friends, JJ and Cecil’s help. I think that JJ and Cecil helped Newt to get to Reggie
because they believed that he, as Captain Nobody, had made the right decision to help Reggie. I think
that Newt had decided to turn his back on Reggie, JJ and Cecil might have lost their respect and
faith in him.
Secondly, Newt was afraid of heights, but as everyone assumed that Reggie would commit
suicide, Newt was determined to continue climbing the ladder even though the water tower was way
too high and dangerous. By deciding to save Reggie, Newt overcame his fear of heights. In this incident,
Newt succeeded in conquering his fear of heights which is why I believe his decision to save
Reggie no matter what was a responsible decision.
Finally, after reaching the top of the water tower, Newt somehow got to know Reggie Ratner as
a better person and that unfortunately he was stuck at the tower because his feet was wedge between
the beams on the water tower. If Newt did not make the decision to finish climbing the water tower
till the top, nobody would have known that Reggie got stuck on the tower and cannot get down.
In my opinion, Newt’s choice in saving Reggie was a responsible choice as it was important to
get Reggie down from there.
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SAMPLE QUESTION 4 (EVENT) :
It is important to stand up for what is right. Discuss how this is portrayed in the novel you have
read. Support your answers with close reference to the text.
Based on the novel that I have read in the literature component in form five which is titled „Captain
Nobody‟ by Dean Pitchford, there are loads of events that showed the importance of standing up
for what is right.
Standing up for what is right was portrayed when Captain Nobody retrieved the big bass drum
from the top of the dumpster for Cecil. At first, Newt was deciding whether he should help Cecil or
ignore the call but then decided to go and help him to get the drum because he thought of his responsibility
as superhero. If Newt had ignored his friend‟s call for help, maybe Cecil would have lost faith in him. In
my opinion, Newt standing up for what was right was the best decision and that made his
friends’ faith in him became much stronger. That event truly showed that standing up for what is right
is important.
Other than that, Newt showed that he stood up for what was right in the event where he tried to
chase Ferocious the ferret and unexpectedly made space for an aeroplane to land safely. When
Ferocious ran away, Newt could have chosen to just leave it be but when he remembered that Ferocious
was his responsibility, Newt decided to chase Ferocious because that was the right thing to do. Newt
stood up for what was right and at the same time he saved many lives in the aeroplane. In my opinion,
if Newt had not stood up for what wasright the aeroplane would have crashed and many lives
would have been lost. That event clearly showed that standing up for what is right is important because
it can benefit us as well the people around us.
The next event that showed how Newt stood up for what was right is when Newt saved Reggie
Ratner on top of the water tower. When Newt saw on the news that Reggie who everyone believed
wanted to commit suicide from the top of the Appleton water tower, he went straight to the scene to help
Reggie and to tell the truth about who knocked out Chris Newman. I think that if Newt had not decided
to go and help Reggie which was the right decision, Reggie might have been stuck at the top of
the Appleton water tower for a long time and the truth would have not been unveiled. That event
really showed that Newt stood up for what was right as Captain Nobody.
As the conclusion, standing up for what is right is very important and it can also benefit not
only one’s life but other people’s lives too.
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SAMPLE QUESTION 4 (VALUE) :
Based on the novel that you have studied, write about a value that is important to one of the
characters in the story.
Based on the novel that I have studied, Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford, the character
that I will choose is Newton Newman which possess the value bravery that is very important for him
throughout his journey from an unknown to a well-know. I will provide three evidences to support my
statement.
The first of evidence is when Newt Newman climbed up the dumpster to retrieve the big bass
drum in order to fulfil Cecil’s dream. Cecil noticed the big bass drum on top of the dumpster. He
thought that it was the Captain Nobody’s job to help him retrieve the big bass drum. When Newt arrived
at the dumpster, Cecil asked him to climb and help him. At first moment, Newt did not want to climb up
but did not want to disappoint Cecil. Newt then overcome his fear of height, acrophobia and out of
bravery, he succeed in retrieving the big bass drum even though he was so scared that he was going to
fall. From my point of view, Newt Newman has proved to us that without bravery he would not
have climb up the dumpster. If we wanted something, we need to have bravery in ourselves. This
has shown that bravery is very important to Newt Newman.
Secondly, Newt Newman saved Ferocious the Ferret when he knew that he was risking his
life. Ferocious the Ferret escaped from the cage and bolted. Newt, Cecil and JJ chased the ferret until
the ferret jumped on the busy highway. Newt was still determined to retrieve the ferret. He was brave
enough to go through the highway and stopped the traffic while risking his life. The drivers might be mad
towards Newt’s sudden action but when they knew that an aeroplane suddenly makes an emergency
landing on the highway that was cleared by Newt. In my opinion, this evidence have shown to us that
without bravery inside Newt Newman, Ferocious the Ferret might have been lost and the
passengers of the aeroplane might have died. It proves that, without bravery in Newt, these things
would not happened.
The third evidence is when Newt climbed up the Appleton Water Tower to save Reggie Ratner
and told him the truth. Newt was brave enough to climb up the water tower despite the fact that it was
very dangerous, he could have died. He overcame his fear of height to get to Reggie and told the truth
about the Big Tackle incident. Newt did not only succeeded in telling the truth but also he saved Reggie
when Reggie’s foot was stuck in the wooden base. After the incident, everyone knows the truth about the
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Big Tackle incident. From my perspective, Newt was very brave and he did the right thing to
overcome his fear of height. This proves that if newt is not brave, none of this would happen.
In a nutshell, the value of bravery is very important to Newt Newman. With this value in him, he
got to achieve greater thins and save many life. From my point of view, I learn that we have to be brave
to experience the best life the world could offer, just like Newt Newman.
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CONTINUOUS
WRITING
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1. TYPES OF WRITING
2. TYPES OF QUESTIONS
NARRATIVE
Write a story beginning with : “When I woke up, I found myself lying down...”
Write a story ending with : “Finally, she walked away without saying a word.”
ARGUMENTATIVE
It is better to study the Science subjects than the Arts. Do you agree ?
DESCRIPTIVE
A person I Admire.
FACTUAL
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3. MARKING CRITERIA FOR BAND A & B
^ choose a topic you are familiar or comfortable with – so that you will not have to struggle with
content
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NARRATIVE ESSAYS
➢ a favourite among students as they are easier to handle. This type of essay enables the writer to
use and share experiences with the readers.
1. Read the question carefully and know exactly what you are supposed to write Give a title
to your essay (refer to the example essay given below; it has a title). The title itself must be
relevant to the plot. So, does the title 'Stranded' relevant to the plot? Yes, it is because the plot is
about a person was trapped in an island after a tragedy on a cruise ship. The title of an essay can
be anything as long as it fits the story.
2. Use simple plot – WH questions will help to develop ideas- list in chronological order.
3. Must write more than 350 words. But, the essay must not too long. Remember this; the longer
you write, the more mistakes you write. An ideal essay should be around 350 to 400 words.
4. Use only one hour to write the essay and the same for Directed Writing; only use 45 minutes.
Be fair when writing the essay.
5. Include wide range of sentence structures, vocabulary and must have at least one
dialogue (MUST HAVE - one of the characteristics of excellent essay). Why you should have
dialogue in your essay? When you include a dialogue in your essay, it shows that you have the
knowledge in punctuation.
6. At least include a word that plays a specific sound. For example, the word
'RIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!!'. In English, it does not mean a thing, but it gives the reader a feel to the
story you wrote.
7. Include a wide range of vocabulary to your essay to keep the interests of the readers –
adjectives, adverbs, proverbs/idioms.
8. Check for any grammatical error after finishing the essay. Use the past tense form. Make sure it
is grammatically correct in order to get high marks.
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WRITING A NARRATIVE ESSAY
A narrative is a story with a sequence of connected events. It could be about a personal experience or
an imagined event or events.
1. Write a story of a man who returns to his home after many years.
2. The day I lost my temper.
3. Write a story ending with, “I shall never forget this day for the rest of my life.”
4. Write about an occasion when you got into trouble.
5. Write a story beginning with, “I could not believe my eyes….”
A. PLANNING
Let’s say you have chosen question 3:
Write a story ending with, “I shall never forget this day for the rest of my life.”
1. Read the question carefully and underline important phrases. Pay particular attention to the
ending.
2. Brainstorm for ideas by using the 5Ws and 1H approach and jot down notes.
• Who is the character?
• When is the event taking place?
• Where is it happening?
• What is happening?
• Why is there a problem?
• How is the problem solved?
Example:
Introduction
• Who - main character, first person narrator (I) and cousin from Cambodia
• When - holidays, one Sunday
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Body
Conclusion
Now that you have got the skeleton of your story, it is time to begin writing.
1. Use linkers and phrases which link the events to move your story in a chronological order.
Some phrases that are suitable :
• It was very dark….
• I will never forget …..
• A few minutes later….
• Suddenly,…
• When the disaster happened, …
2. Use the past tense forms. Check all the verbs you have used.
3. Use descriptive language (adjectives, adverbs).
4. Use sensory details to reveal the events and to get the readers involved. Do not merely tell but
show the events through words and phrases.
Example 1:
a. I went into the restaurant.
b. I walked into the restaurant.
c. I sauntered into the restaurant.
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Example 2:
Telling : The girls were excited
Showing: Giggles and screams filled the arrival hall. Their hair were now damp with perspiration
They held tight to each other, trying to contain themselves. The moment was there.
Example 3:
Telling : She was angry.
Showing: Her hands held tightly to the sides of her table. Her jaw tightened. Her eyes flashed
heat waves at me. She hissed at me, “I want to see you outside right now.”
5. Use direct speech, but use it sparingly and effectively. Remember, you are writing a narrative, not
a script.
6. Avoid using informal language
C. CHECKING
Read your essay once through and check for the following things:
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DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
A. PLANNING
1. Read the question carefully. (eg. An Unforgettable Character)
2. Understand the question.
a. What does the phrase ‘Unforgettable Character’ mean?
He/She is a person you will always remember.
b. What is your focus?
A favourable or unfavourable impression of the character.
3. Brainstorm for ideas. Expand and elaborate the points.
Introduction
• Who is being described - the canteen lady
Body
Conclusion
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B. WRITING THE ESSAY
1. Use details – Focus on the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch). Details are very
important and when properly used, enable descriptions to come to life. Use nouns, adjectives and
verbs to evoke these senses. Nouns and adjectives help the reader see; verbs help the reader
feel.
2. Use a lively tone – Show your own feelings, responses and reactions as these make your
description more vivid and lively.
3. Describe different aspects – If you are describing a person, do not limit your description to the
person’s physical appearance. Include a detailed description of the person’s character and
personality and how other people react to him. Include a detailed paragraph of an incident which
highlights one of these aspects.
Let’s look at the two extracts below on the topic “An Unforgettable Aunt”.
Sample 1
Aunt Eleanor had a sharp nose and a pair of black eyes. She was thin, and had a thin, long face,
an aquiline nose and sunken cheeks. Her hair was always tied in a knot and her clothes were only
of one colour – grey. My cousins and I were afraid of her and always found an excuse to disappear
whenever she was around.
Sample 2
Aunt Eleanor was thin and scrawny and her protruding bones almost made her look like a walking
skeleton. Her aquiline nose and sunken cheeks added to her witch-like looks and her dark eyes,
when they flashed in anger, were capable of sending tremors of fear down one’s spine. The dreary
grey tones of her clothes and her sparse dark hair, which was always tied in a knot, further
emphasised her sternness. My cousins and I cringed with fear and were reduced to silence when
she glared at us with her smouldering dark eyes. Her serious demeanour and scrooge-like
appearance did nothing to endear her to us.
• Sample 1 is a plain description of the narrator’s aunt. Although there are several verbs and adjectives,
the description is somewhat dull. Sample 2, on the other hand, is a vivid and interesting description
which brings the character to life. We can almost see her in our mind’s eye and this effect is achieved
through the description of the person’s features that are prominent and striking.
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• Note the details about
- her overall physical appearance (thin, skeleton-like)
- her manner of dressing and grooming (dreary grey tones, tight bun)
- feelings stirred by her appearance (tremors of fear, reduced to silence, cringed with fear).
The description of her physical appearance supports and reinforces her character and personality,
and this makes the essay interesting and engaging.
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TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE A GOOD ESSAY
1. Brush Up Your Grammar - Get help from your friends and English teacher. Buy if you can afford
to, if not borrow grammar books, example of English essays, and anything that is related from
friends or library because by reading it will improve your English skills
2. Try to find time to write an additional essay (which is your own personal essay; not homework) for
two or a week times and asked for your teacher's comments.
Unlike the other types of essays, a narrative essay requires you to have a wide repertoire of
vocabulary in the story you wrote. This is to avoid a dull story to be presented to the reader; in this
case the examiner. Thus, to give good impression to the examiner on the essay you wrote, you must
include a wide range of vocabulary and some interesting phrases. Study the examples given below:
Example 1
"It was a boring weekend. We were lazy to read books and study, so we planned for a camping trip.
After gaining permission from our parents, we brought necessary camping things and food for the
camping trip. Then, we went to Mount Tahan."
Example 2
"It was a mundane and lacklustre period after the school final examination. Danny, Erik and I had
had enough of reading books and studying, so we all set on going a camping trip. After getting the
green light from our parents, we equipped ourselves with the necessary camping gear and enough
food to last us for the two-day camping trip. Then, we embarked on our journey to Mount Tahan with
high spirits."
Between both examples, Example 1 depicts a dull story but Example 2 depicts a colourful story
although both are mainly telling the same idea. Why? Here are the answers:
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So, how to make your essay more interesting to read?
a. Find words or phrases that can replace a common word that you think can be
used for every essay you want to write. For example happy can be replaced
by cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, light-hearted, jovial, gleeful, buoyant, carefree,
blithe, glad, elated, ecstatic, euphoric, overjoyed, exuberant, in seventh heaven,
propitious, auspicious and fortuitous. Actually these replaceable words for happy
just only a portion of it. A thesaurus may come handy for this job. Try searching
for sad, shocked, scared and so on.
b. Insert at least two idiomatic expressions in your essay like Example 2 that uses
the idiom green light which means giving permission and high spirits which
means happy. From Example 2 which is a complete paragraph there are already
two idiomatic expressions. So, imagine if there are five similar paragraphs!
c. This next tips could be very ambitious. Try to insert common words and
phrases from Latin and modern languages which had been accepted and
used in English Language. Such words like ad initio (Latin) meaning from the
beginning, esprit de corps (French) meaning team spirit, genre (French) meaning
style and so on. These words can be found in english dictionary.
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4. Have a fixed plot when writing narrative essays
Here is another important part in narrative essay writing. Plot. A good narrative must have a strong
plot. Beginning with an introduction, then there is rising action, a climax, then falling action and lastly
a resolution.
Stranded
I could not sleep throughout that night. Not even a minute. It was just because
I might miss the ships or boat that passed by the island. I was shivering in
cold even it was just a gentle breeze. I thought to myself that things would
have been different if I did not take part in that vacation. Never in my wildest
dream that a spectacular vacation on a cruise ship at the beginning turned out
to be a nightmarish affair. Introduction
The day before was a joyous one. I embarked on a three-day vacation trip on
a cruise ship. The vacation was amazing. The scenic view
was splendid across the horizon of the sea as far as the eyes could see. The
sea water was crystal clear and the sky was a magnificent azure.
My blissful day did not stop there. The dusk thrilled me as I sat on a chair. The
sky gave its golden appeal and the Sun looked like it was sinking into the sea Raising
as night began to unfold. Then, the golden yellow background of the sky action
changed to twinkling stars. I was staggered to see the view of
the opulent God's magnum opus.
As the night grew older, something totally different started to appear up to the
sky. The sky was too dark. It darken so much as the glimmering stars started
to disappear. To my instinct, something bad would happen any time soon, but
I just could not figure it out. I went into my room and soon dived into a deep
slumber.
'RIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!!'
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"This is your captain speaking. Abandon the ship! This ship is about to sink!"
Climax
The loud ringing sound really woke me up from my comfort bed and I was
taken aback to hear the announcement. To my horror, the ship was in topsy-
turvy. High jinks enshrouded the air. Then I realised, there was a storm
happening outside. To my flummox, I dragged myself outside and saw people
running higgledy-piggledy as they did not know what to do. As for me, the only
thing I could remember is that a huge wave came crushing upon the ship and
then everything seemed to darken.
Streaks steaks of light awaken me found out that I was on a beach. At last I
thought that my misery had ended. But a little exploration did not bring much
hope. There was no one there. So, being an optimistic person, I built up a
settlement near the beach. I laid upon my leaves bedding. I wondered. Could
I survive? Did my family know that I loved them? For how long did I have to
wait?
Falling
Out of the blue, an abrupt siren was heard from afar. Swiftly, I arose from my
action
leaves bedding and ran nearer to the beach. I shouted for my life while waving
my hands up on the air.
"Help! I'm here! On the island! Help! Help! I'm here!"
Then, the siren became louder and louder. At the moment, I knew they had
noticed me. Unexpected, tears of joy started to drop from my eyes. Before I Resolution
even thought my life was over, now the door back to my life was widely
opened. By the moment I stepped into the rescue boat, I know that it was the
time for me to go home.
Note: the underlined words or phrases in the essay really help in earning a high marks.
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What is the meaning of fixed plot?
A fixed plot is the plot that you will be using during your examination. How to do that?
The example essay above is from the question; beginning with "I could not sleep throughout that
night..."
But, what will happen if the question says; ending with "...It was truly the experience of a lifetime."
Suggestion : keep on using the same plot, NOT the same essay by means memorising word by
word, but change either the beginning or ending with respect to the question given.
This an example for changing the ending with the same plot:
"...Then, the siren became louder and louder. At the moment, I knew they had noticed me.
Unexpected, tears of joy started to drop from my eyes. Now, looking back to what had happened to
me I realised that I am surviving alone at a deserted island. Not everyone could say that they slept
on leaves bedding and have the sky as the roof. It was truly an experience of a lifetime."
By practising two or three times, you can easily remember the plot. When writing the essay, try as
much as you can to relate the plot to the question asked.
Note: the benefit of having a fixed plot is that the time that you usually used to plan for your essay
can be used to write.
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WHAT TO AVOID?
See the underlined word? Most of us do not understand the word "propitious", some may guessed that it
means sad, surprise and so on where the real meaning is happy. Avoid to write something that you do
not sure.
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WAYS TO START A NARRATIVE ESSAY
Describe characters Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan,
Edmund and Lucy.
Describe the setting It was a Monday in June. It was early in the morning. The school
was quiet.
Start with a dramatic Suddenly the scream pierced the night. I leapt to my feet.
action
Pose a question What does it mean to be happy?
Use dialogues “That’s the last time I’m ever going to listen to you!” I snapped
angrily.
Use noisy actions Whizz! Zoom! The rockets sped upwards and illuminated the dark
sky.
End with a moral lesson I swear I will listen to my parents from now on and so I became a
(the main character in the better person.
story grows, changes or
learns something at the
end of the story)
End with a question Will Lynn and I ever be friends? Will she forgive me?
I sure hope so!
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WAYS TO START A DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
List qualities of the Kind, caring, attentive, cheerful and, not to forget, as handsome
person/place/event as a movie star- that’s my father, Annuar bin Salleh. He’s tall and
tough-looking. His skin is dark because he is a farmer. When I
was born, he and my mother decided to move back to Muar and
work the land given to him by my grandmother.
Pose a question Who is the man in your life? The man in my life is 42 years old.
He does not look it though. He is very energetic. He jogs with me
for 10 kilometers every Saturday! He is fun and exciting. His
hobbies are mountain-climbing and snorkeling. I am only sixteen,
and it is difficult for me to keep up with him. He says taking care of
our bodies is important. Of course he would say something like
that. He’s a doctor.
Use dialogues “Rasyad, make sure you’re wearing your sweater. It’s cold out
there.” I could hear my father even though I was already out of the
gate, which was about 20 feet away from the front door. Since my
mother died five years ago, Pa has taken the roles of both mother
and father to my sisters and I.
Use a quotation “A father is like a tree that gives shelter to all his children.” I read
that once in an old Reader’s Digest magazine. My father is like
that. He not only gives us shelter, he also provides love and
support no matter what we do. My father is truly an amazing man.
He has time for us even when he is busy at work.
Give your opinion My father is the best father in the world. I say that not because he
is my father but because of what he has done for my family. He
loves us very much.
End with a reflection I wished she could be beside me so that I could search her face
for answers which only the future would give me now.
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WAYS TO START A FACTUAL ESSAY
Pose a question Do you know that the invention of the Internet has revolutionized
the business world? What are the pros and cons of the Internet?
…
Have you ever thought of how many people die of lung cancer
every day?
Use statistics A recent survey on the Internet suggested that more than 60 per
cent of the users receive spam emails daily.
Tobacco use kills more than five million people every year, more
than HIV.
Use a quotation JK Rowling once said, “The Internet has been a boon and a curse
for teenagers.”
3 Give reader food for Make a positive difference in your life – go get a cat!
thought
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WAYS TO START AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
State your stand I disagree with the statement that school is boring.
Pose a question Have you ever thought why students find school boring?
Recess is usually a student’s favourite time of day, so why should
food sold at the canteen be so horrible? The food served at
school does not taste good. The menu does not offer options to
hungry students. The food served is sometimes unhealthy. There
is no doubt that school food needs to be improved.
Use an anecdote Think of what the world would be like if there were no schools.
2 Present one or two general We can no longer tolerate unnecessary cruelty to animals for
sentences which accurately science and entertainment.
summarise your arguments
3 Provide a general warning of If we continue with crimes against animals, we will be
the consequence of not remembered as cruel and inhuman by the generations of the
following the premise future.
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Exercise 1
Write a story beginning with :
“I wish he would give me a second chance …”
Introduction
________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
Exercise 2
“ If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
Introduction
________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
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Exercise 3
Why is having smartphones is a necessity?
Introduction
________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
Exercise 4
It is better to spend your holidays locally than abroad. Do you agree?
Introduction
________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
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A SAMPLE STORY-LINE
CLIMAX
D
R
E
E
V
S
E
O
L
L
O
U
P
T
M
I
E
O
N QUESTION :
N
T
Begin your story with :
“It was a sunny
afternoon.......”
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A SAMPLE STORY-LINE
CLIMAX
D R
* Suddenly, plane started losing height – spinning over and over
E * I heard tremendous crash – passed out E
V - DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES S
- SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS
E * I leaned and peered through the window – plane shuddered O
* regain consciousness
violently
L * (feeling) pain, scared – to – death L
* baggage from the racks fell – cries of panic broke out
O *(reactions) screamed for help, cried , shivered U
- USE DIRECT SPEECH (DIALOGUE)
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
P * (old man) : “Something is wrong…” T
* looked around – no sign of life – blood splattered
M * (I) : “There seem to be dark sky, lighting and loud I
thunder.” * struggled to stand up – legs weak – hands trembling
- SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS - DESCRIBE CHARACTERS
E O
* suddenly someone tapped shoulder-old man sat by * just sat down on the ground – closed eyes –
N the window woke up many times – thirsty N
T *old man explained – plane gone into some rain clouds *howling wind – cries of jungle insects
- INTRODUCE & DESCRIBE NEW SETTING
* (feeling) I – frightened TITLE : * sunlight peered through thick forest canopy
* (reactions) sweating , heart beat faster,
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES Write a story ending * on feet again- floundered ahead
went weak at the knees
* look out- magnificent view with the following * reached muddy stream – slaked my thirst
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
* some passengers watch movies – brows sentence : “I could
magazines * stayed another night
* dozed&off
-INTRODUCE DESCRIBE THE SETTING
hardly believe my
* in pain- numerous cuts and bruises all over
* passengers took seats
eyes.” body
INTRODUCTION
ENDING
INTRODUCTION * returned home-legs started hurt – could
* I – high school student – personal breathtaking experience hardly walk
* first hike to the mountain * but – every time face wrinkled of ache,
* my best pal – Reimy- persuaded to join his journey to the remembered the feeling of being high above –
Rocky Mountains head touching the skies- clouds swimming
* used to be a homebody- comfortable spending hours on TV- below
demands of novelty were satisfied by – the Discovery and
National Geographic channels
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SYNONYMS FOR 95 COMMONLY USED WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
5. Ask — question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request,
expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz
7. Bad — evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted,
harmful, injurious, unfavourable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper,
inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible,
atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable,
dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul,
rank, ghastly, execrable
10. Big — enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand,
great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout,
tremendous, titanic, mountainous
11. Brave — courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious,
bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome
12. Break — fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize
13. Bright — shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colourful,
lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual
14. Calm — quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-
headed, unexcited, detached, aloof
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18. Cry — shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl
19. Cut — gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce
21. Dark — shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad
25. Describe — portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record
26. Destroy — ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish
28. Do — execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain
29. Dull — boring, tiring„ tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead,
insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary
31. End — stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance
32. Enjoy — appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savour,
like
36. False — fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive,
groundless, fallacious
37. Famous — well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted,
notorious
38. Fast — quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily,
speedily, lickety-split, post-haste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash
39. Fat — stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky,
burly, bulky, elephantine
40. Fear — fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension
41. Fly — soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise
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42. Funny — humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly
43. Get — acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch,
net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage
45. Good — excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvellous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper,
capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable,
satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honourable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favourable,
profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious,
estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb,
respectable, edifying
46. Great — noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much,
mighty
47. Gross — improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous,
shameful, uncouth, obscene, low
48. Happy — pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay,
tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed
49. Hate — despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavour, dislike, disapprove, abominate
50. Have — hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy,
absorb, fill, enjoy
51. Help — aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succour, benefit,
befriend, abet
52. Hide — conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil
53. Hurry — rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle
55. Idea — thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief
56. Important — necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary,
principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known
57. Interesting — fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive,
inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving,
titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing,
consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting,
bewitching, appealing
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61. Little — tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited,
itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute
62. Look — gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare,
contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness,
perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore
63. Love — like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate,
savour
64. Make — create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce,
build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire,
get
65. Mark — label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed,
notice, designate
67. Move — plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse,
mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak,
stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle,
scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander,
roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble,
stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace,
swagger, promenade, lunge
68. Moody — temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, modish, irritable,
testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy
69. Neat — clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable,
spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely
70. New — fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent
71. Old — feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down,
former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passé, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional,
archaic, conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct
73. Place — space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site,
station, status, state
74. Plan — plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device,
contrivance, method, way, blueprint
76. Predicament — quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam
77. Put — place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build
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78. Quiet — silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful
79. Right — correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable,
apt, legal, fair
80. Run — race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee
81. Scared — afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy,
skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked,
petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive
82. Show — display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate,
expose
84. Stop — cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit
85. Story — tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote,
record, memoir
86. Strange — odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious,
unique, exclusive, irregular
87. Take — hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove,
steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume
88. Tell — disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge,
declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat
89. Think — judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate
90. Trouble — distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief,
misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort
91. True — accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal,
dependable, sincere, staunch
92. Ugly — hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross,
grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome
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LIST OF USEFUL IDIOMS/PHRASES
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10. Dyed in the wool (holds certain principles/believes strongly since small)
➢ For a person dyed in the wool, it was difficult for him to change his
ideas and values.
13. Fall on deaf ears (did not pay attention to the advice/warning)
➢ The teacher’s advice to him seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
15. Fish out of water (someone who is uncomfortable with the surroundings)
➢ I was like a fish out of water as I was not familiar with the place.
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21. Haste makes waste (doing something in a hurry will spoil the work)
➢ She was in such a hurry that she spilt the milk on the floor. Haste makes waste.
22. In hot water (in serious trouble)
➢ The principal caught him red-handed vandalizing. Now, he is in hot water.
25. Pride and joy (a special object that is someone’s love and pride)
➢ The table that he built on his own, is his pride and joy.
27. Show one’s true colours (to show one’s true character)
➢ He pretended to be generous but he showed his true colours when he refused to
donate money to charity.
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SAMPLE OF NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS
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Write a story beginning with, “I could not believe my eyes”…
I could not believe my eyes as I saw the skinny lady who was walking slowly towards the medicine
counter. She looked old, haggard and depressed. She looked so familiar to me, but a younger, happier
version. There was no way I could be wrong.
Quietly, she sat on one of the chairs and waited patiently for her turn to collect her medicine. I
suddenly remembered, it had to be Diana, my best friend in secondary school. But this person looked
too old to be 30. Anyway, I braved myself to approach her. Hearing my footsteps, she looked up slowly.
She nodded her head silently. “Hello, Amira? You are looking good.”
Her remarks reminded me of how beautiful she had been once. Diana had been the school
beauty. Everyone had admired her for her looks, her brains and her beautiful character.
One day, Diana had stopped coming to school. No one knew where her family had gone and why
they had left so suddenly. Taking a seat next to her, I wondered what had happened to her.
She looked at me nervously. I could sense that she was reluctant to talk and expose a part of her
life. After a long silence, finally, she started telling me her story.
Her mother had been diagnosed with cancer and there was nothing the doctors could do. They
said that she had only three months to live. Her father decided to return to their hometown, to let her live
in peace. Her father, distressed by his wife’s death, started to neglect his own health and three months
later, he too died, leaving Diana in the care of her aunt.
Tears rolled down Diana’s cheeks as she related the difficult years with her aunt. Her aunt treated
her badly. She forced her to quit school and to work at a restaurant. The cruel old lady often beat her.
Her cousins, jealous of her beauty, were nastier than their mother.
Now that the aunt was old, her five children had left her when they realised that she needed
special care. Despite her aunt’s poor treatment of her, Diana felt sorry for her.
“She has no one else,” she said. “I have promised to take care of her.”
I looked at Diana and saw her goodness. Instead of seeing a gaunt and weary figure, I saw an
amazingly beautiful human being. My heart went out to her. Just then, her name was called. She got up
and collected the medicine which, I knew, was for her aunt. Her story reminded me of something my
mother used to say,
“Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.”
Before leaving, Diana turned and smiled sadly at me. I never saw her again after that.
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Write a story with the following ending: "... I felt I was the luckiest person alive."
Sunlight filtered through the window blinds and as I took a peek at the world outside, the skies were
charmingly blue. It was as if Mother Nature was welcoming me home after a long stay in the hospital. A sudden
gush of emotions swept through me as I packed my bags together with my family members to leave the
hospital. My excitement was hard to contain as I took my first step into the outside world.
It took one accident to change my perspective of life. The day it happened was my birthday, 21 st
June. After having a grand celebration together with my family and friends, I drove back home alone. As I was
driving smoothly on the paved road, a truck suddenly swerved into my path and the vehicles collided with
much force. Later, someone said that I was thrown forward while the truck driver was unhurt. It was the truck
driver who sent me to the hospital to receive treatment.
The next day, I woke up with my mother sitting at my bedside. The hospital had contacted her the
previous day. She caressed my hair and told me I had crushed ribs and a broken femur. I had to be hospitalised
for a few months. After delivering the news, mum comforted me and gave me words of strength. Knowing that
I would like to have some time alone, she patted me on my shoulder before leaving the ward.
As soon as mum had left, tears started flowing uncontrollably when the harsh fact sank in. I was going
to spend a few months of my life here in the hospital, unable to work or travel. My life was too short to do
anything really bad and I am a good person, why must God treat me like this? These thoughts kept swirling in
my head and depression soon followed suit. Family members and friends noticed the drastic change in my
personality and tried to life my spirits, but their attempts were futile. I was in a world of my own, with misery
as my only companion.
One day, as I peered down the streets and admired the lives of people outside the ward, a family of
four begging caught my eye. They wore ragged clothings and looked thin and scrawny. This sight brought me
to my senses. Why should I waste my life and let depression chain my soul? If there are many less fortunate
people in the world and yet they can go on with their lives, why should not I feel grateful for all that I have?
Since then, I started to appreciate all the small yet wonderful things happening around me. The soft rays
of the sunlight, the blooming flowers outside the window and the swaying of trees outside in sync with the wind
soothes my senses. The beauty of Mother Nature mesmerised me and kept me in high spirits. Then, I had
caring nurses, supportive family members and friends to help me go through this rough patch of my life. I
became grateful for all that had happened to me and believed that the accident was a life lesson that ought to
be learnt.
Besides, my time in hospital was spent beneficially reading self-help books. These books not only
increased my knowledge but also helped me to gain wisdom. As such, I felt an enthusiastic spirit in me ready
to return to the challenging world of the 21st century. I was more prepared mentally to resume my life as a
university student.
My dream finally came true. I was finally discharged from the hospital. Although I did not fancy the
healing process, valuable life lessons were learnt. As I walked into the outside world together with the ones I
loved, I could only conclude that everything happens for a reason. I felt I was the luckiest person alive.
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ANSWER
KEY
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Answer Scheme
9 selling prints of his Photoshop art projects/ working at a hot dog stand 1 mark
3 Multi-Vits 1 mark
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Practice 3 (10 MARKS)
3 warm-blooded 1 mark
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Practice 5 (10 MARKS)
4 Depression 1 mark
5 Self-harm 1 mark
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POEM FORMS 4 & 5
THE LIVING PHOTOGRAPH
(a) The grandmother is old
(b) The persona and the grandmother are very close to each other
(d) The persona could still feel the presence of her grandmother every time she looks at the photo.
(e) Give presents/spend some quality time together /celebrate special days like birthdays and
anniversary/show and convey our love and respect all the time
(f) Buy them presents/cook their favourite dishes/take them on holidays/compose songs for them
(g) Yes – this is because they are the most important people in our lives
(j) No because I love my grandmother and I want her to be with us as she grow old.
(b) Cannons
(c) All the soldiers died as they were attacked by the enemies
when they reached the valley
(e) The soldiers knew they will die in this fight but they still follow their commander’s order .
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(g) Loss of money/loss of property/loss of home/loss of pet
(h) To defend their beloved country/to show their patriotism towards their country/to show love for
their country
(i) i. Be patriotic
ii. Appreciate the natural resources
iii. Value the history of the country for the new generation
iv. Be loyal to one’s country
Accept other reasonable answers
(j) They should be given medals for their bravery/they should be given special treatments like free
housing/ they should be recognised as heroes/ they should be given monetary rewards.
(k) trapped
POISON TREE
(Any other relevant answers are acceptable)
5 Hatred breeds hatred/We should not suppress our anger./ We should talk about
our anger or our feelings./We should forgive and forget.
Reason: revenge does not solve any problem, it just makes it worse.
Reason: Because rumours can be wrong and can bring bad consequences.
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/Because rumours can destroy friendship.
Solution: Make sure you get the right facts about an issue before you get angry.
6 Teenagers should not run away from home because it will not solve their
problems.
7 He is concerned about his sister and he also calls her ‘Lu’ which may be her
nickname.
8 I think she ran away because she escaped through her bedroom window and took
along her money.
OR
I think she was kidnapped because the persona heard her crying out, some voices
outside the house and the engine of a vehicle.
CONTINUOUS WRITING
Exercise 1
Introduction I wish he would give a second chance but I could see in his eyes that he was not going
to. He was just too angry to see reasons at all
Conclusion What happened next just happened fast. The car lurched out of the garage, straight into
mom’s flowerpots. Unfortunately, my feet got confused between three-peddled manual
car and two-peddled auto car. Instead of stepping the brake, I just kept stepping on the
accelerator. As the car flew out of the driveway, I heard dad shouting like a madman
beside me. Suddenly he pulled the handbrakes and the car did a 360-degree stunt turn
and stopped just inches from my neighbour’s gate. Luckily, we were not hurt. I nervously
peeped at my dad. He sat very still, his face livid. I knew I blew it.
Exercise 2
Introduction Benjamin Franklin was known for the following saying, “By failing to prepare, you are
preparing to fail”. It is true that if you do not set goals beforehand or plan ahead in life,
you cannot succeed in life. I believe that preparation is integral to success in any field or
any situation and we need a plan to accomplish our goals.
Conclusion a. Charles Dickens once said, “I never could have done what I have done without the
habits of punctuality, order, diligence, and the determination to concentrate myself on
one subject at a time”. These are the key ingredients for the ‘success’ recipe.
b. If you are hardworking and prepared in advance you will succeed in everything you
do. It will be definitely noticed by people around you. It shows your attitude to work
and to life in general.
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Exercise 3
Introduction Smart phone is a product of human’s imagination and innovation. People were able to
make the impossible possible. Now touch screen technology is widely through almost all
smartphones today. With touch screen technology, a phone’s capabilities are redefined
and abilities are extended. Smart phone is now considered a necessity because of it can
find information, be as portable entertainment and other features.
Conclusion Smart phone is considered as a necessity because the things it can do like search for
information, as a portable entertainment and other mentioned features. But with all the
additional features it include. Communication is a need to people and it has been around
during early times and will next be forgotten. It is also part of our culture and defines
what one is. In the end , Smart phone is a necessity because it can be used to
communicate other people and at the same time can do the things one need to do in a
computer.
Exercise 4
Introduction In today's world, many people decide to spend the holidays abroad. Deciding where we
going to go to the holidays, depends on different factors.
Conclusion a. Personally, If we can afford it, and we have the opportunity to travel abroad, I would
do it. It should to be a wonderful experience and everything that entails is positive.
b. To wrap it up, traveling abroad is not a good choice to spend holidays because of
unfamiliar language, culture, attitude and even foods. It is more convenient to spend
money in our own country that cause to improving tourist industry. Furthermore many
people are not familiar with they own history, traveling locally is a motivation to learn
more about our native country.
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References
http://www.bumigemilang.com/smart-module-english-bahasa-inggeris-spm/
http://englishvibes.blogspot.com/p/my-modules.html
A Collection of the Best Essays for Kertas 1 Bahasa Inggeris SPM, Cerdik Publication 2017 by Chan
Swee Kip, Cordelia Mason and Noriza Abu Hassan Shaari
Understanding New Lit: Selected Poems, Short Story and Novel Form 5- Captain Nobody, Pelangi
Publication by AzriqAimanAzman
https://sarjanapintar2.wordpress.com/2017/10/29/poem-what-has-happened-to-lulu-form-5-practice-2-
hots-questions-answers/
http://citrusyellow.blogspot.com/2017/10/poem-poison-tree-hots-questions-answers.html
Selected Poems and Novel: Captain Nobody Form 5, IlmuBakti Publication by Choo Wan Yat
Achieve! SPM English Model Test Papers, Oxford FajarPublication by J. Thiruselvam, Jasmine C., and
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Kertas Model Intelek SPM Bahasa Inggeris, BestariKarangkraf Publication
Skor A+ SPM Bahasa Inggeris, Pelangi Publication
Wikipedia
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