YEAR
|
DIRECTED WRITING
|
2000
|
Informal letter
|
2001
|
article
|
2002
|
speech
|
2003
|
Formal letter
|
2004
|
Report to the
Principal
|
2005
|
An informal letter
to a friend
|
2006
|
An informal letter
to a friend
|
2007
|
A talk on a
reference book
|
2008
|
An article
|
2009
|
Report on lack of
interest in sports
|
2010
|
Informal letter
|
2011
|
Speech/Formal Letter ?????
|
Showing posts with label WRITING. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WRITING. Show all posts
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Directed Writing Analysis
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A Horrifying Swim
Here is an example of a story with a good plot. Read and highlight the use of interesting phrases which are precise. Many students tend to memorise bombastic words and try to insert into their essays. The words or phrases must be suitable. Originally, this was just a 150-word essay. I have expanded it by using dialogues and more details.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
What is an 'A' script for Continuous Writing?
An 'A'script has the following features:
1 accurate language - few slips only, no serious errors like errors in tenses
2 accurate spelling across the board
3 precise vocabulary - do not be too obsessed with idioms and flowery phrases. many students use bombastic words but it is not suitable.
4 interesting and original...write from the heart
5 correct tone - if it is formal, then use a formal tone, if it is a friendly letter, then it should sound informal...
Jun, go ahead and write your imaginative essays but be careful about your errors. Do not write too long. Leave about 10 minutes for editing.
1 accurate language - few slips only, no serious errors like errors in tenses
2 accurate spelling across the board
3 precise vocabulary - do not be too obsessed with idioms and flowery phrases. many students use bombastic words but it is not suitable.
4 interesting and original...write from the heart
5 correct tone - if it is formal, then use a formal tone, if it is a friendly letter, then it should sound informal...
Jun, go ahead and write your imaginative essays but be careful about your errors. Do not write too long. Leave about 10 minutes for editing.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Continuous Writing
Tips:
1 Do not memorise whole essays and try to fit it into the given titles. You may try to memorise certain phrases or interesting introductions but if your language does not match the directed writing, your marks will be pulled down.
2 Write about what you know. For example, if your interest is football, then write a story about football. If you like Korean drama, write something Korean, making use of your knowledge and vocabulary. Originality will get you more marks.
3 If you are quite weak in narrative writing, go for the reflective or factual essays.
Topics: How can I help save the environment?
What are the changes I would like to see in my school?
1 Do not memorise whole essays and try to fit it into the given titles. You may try to memorise certain phrases or interesting introductions but if your language does not match the directed writing, your marks will be pulled down.
2 Write about what you know. For example, if your interest is football, then write a story about football. If you like Korean drama, write something Korean, making use of your knowledge and vocabulary. Originality will get you more marks.
3 If you are quite weak in narrative writing, go for the reflective or factual essays.
Topics: How can I help save the environment?
What are the changes I would like to see in my school?
Friday, August 13, 2010
Show, Not Tell
One of the ways to write better narrative essays is to use the technique - Show,Not Tell
Below are some examples which I have adapted from the internet.
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 here.
Telling: The room was vacant.
Showing: The door opened with a resounding echo that seemed to fill the house. Cob webs once attached flowed freely in the air. The light revealed the peeling paint on the walls and to the silhouettes once covered by pictures. Faded and torn white sheets covered the furniture now drowning in dust.
Telling: The pizza was delicious.
Showing: Steam rising up off the melted cheese made my mouth water. At the first bite, my teeth sinked into the cheese through the tomato sauce and into the moist crust. I chew and swallow rapidly. Even the cheese and tomato sauce, sticking to my fingertips, begged to be licked.
Telling: She is 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."
Now, try to do the following:
Telling: The morning was beautiful.
Showing:
Telling: The meal was delicious.
Showing:
Below are some examples which I have adapted from the internet.
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 here.
Telling: The room was vacant.
Showing: The door opened with a resounding echo that seemed to fill the house. Cob webs once attached flowed freely in the air. The light revealed the peeling paint on the walls and to the silhouettes once covered by pictures. Faded and torn white sheets covered the furniture now drowning in dust.
Telling: The pizza was delicious.
Showing: Steam rising up off the melted cheese made my mouth water. At the first bite, my teeth sinked into the cheese through the tomato sauce and into the moist crust. I chew and swallow rapidly. Even the cheese and tomato sauce, sticking to my fingertips, begged to be licked.
Telling: She is 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."
Now, try to do the following:
Telling: The morning was beautiful.
Showing:
Telling: The meal was delicious.
Showing:
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
From Basic To Complex
In order to write a good essay, students should learn how to write complex sentences.
1. Take a basic sentence:
Julie lost her bag.
2. Expand on it: (add an adjective)
Julie lost her pink handbag.
3. Expand again with additional information:
Julie lost her pink handbag in a bus station.
4. Combine two sentences:
Julie lost her pink handbag. She was waiting for her bus.
Julie lost her pink handbag while waiting for her bus.
Julie lost her pink handbag while waiting for her bus at the bus station.
5. Make substitutions:
Julie lost her handbag ...
Juan lost her mobile phone...etc.
6. Add information and construct a short narrative around the sentences students have created:
Julie was waiting for her bus at the bus station when she lost her handbag. She also lost her mobile phone and everything else in the handbag.
Now, try expanding the following sentences.
1 She likes to play badminton.
2 Cigarette smoking is hazardous to health.
3 A thief entered my house.
In order to write a good essay, students should learn how to write complex sentences.
1. Take a basic sentence:
Julie lost her bag.
2. Expand on it: (add an adjective)
Julie lost her pink handbag.
3. Expand again with additional information:
Julie lost her pink handbag in a bus station.
4. Combine two sentences:
Julie lost her pink handbag. She was waiting for her bus.
Julie lost her pink handbag while waiting for her bus.
Julie lost her pink handbag while waiting for her bus at the bus station.
5. Make substitutions:
Julie lost her handbag ...
Juan lost her mobile phone...etc.
6. Add information and construct a short narrative around the sentences students have created:
Julie was waiting for her bus at the bus station when she lost her handbag. She also lost her mobile phone and everything else in the handbag.
Now, try expanding the following sentences.
1 She likes to play badminton.
2 Cigarette smoking is hazardous to health.
3 A thief entered my house.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
How to start your essay?
I am sure many of you have a problem in starting your essay. Many of my students take a long time to start their introduction or worse, they use the overused intro.:
Everyone in this world has a friend......
Everyone in this world love to watch television..
Your introduction must be something that grabs people’s attention. Use the following ideas:
1 Use some startling information or fact
Start with a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the point you wish to make. Then, elaborate with a sentence or two.
Example:
Topic: Teenagers and their problems
o A recent survey on teenagers provided some food for thought for parents. It was found that about 70 per cent of them smoked, 40 per cent watched pornographic videos and 14 per cent took drugs.Several factors have been identified as contributing to these problems.
2 Use an anecdote
An anecdote is a short story that illustrates a point.
Example:
Topic: The loafing syndrome among teenagers
Raj and his friends do not go home after school. They hang out daily at a shopping complex to while their time away. There, they join many other students from other schools. Sometimes, they play some video games or just enjoy each other’s company. Raj and his friends are just the tip of the iceberg of the loafing syndrome among teenagers.
3 Dialogue
Use an appropriate dialogue to start your story or convey a point. Use only two or three exchanges between speakers to make your point.
Topic: An unforgettable incident
“Help! Someone just snatched my purse!” The screams shattered the still of the night. Suddenly, lights were switched on and heads popped out of doors and windows. “Hey, what’s the matter?”
4 Use a question
You can also use a rhetorical question which jolts people into attention.
Topic: Reduce, reuse and recycle
Did you know that Malaysians throw away 1.2 million tonnes worth of newspapers daily? For every ten newspapers bought, only four are recovered for recycling. Thus, the government spearheaded a recycling campaign to encourage Malaysians to separate their waste.
Topic: Coping with peer pressure
What choice do you have if your friends are pressuring you to do something which you think is wrong? Would you walk away? Are you able to say ‘no’?
5 Use a definition
Define your topic.
Example:
Topic: Gawai Dayak Festival
In Sarawak, the word Gawai is the equivalent to a Festival. Numerous Gawais are celebrated throughout the year by the State’s indigenous people but Gawai Dayak marks the end of the harvest season and heralds a new year.
6 Use a quotation
Topic: How to save water
It is better to be safe than to be sorry. That is the message of the environmentalists to those who take water for granted. For one day, we may be faced with the situation whereby there is not enough water for everyone. Thus, we should take steps to save water.
7 Use a general statement
Use a general statement about your topic, then narrow it to a specific point of view.
Topic: Ways to reduce pollution
Of late, there has been increasing concern with the impact of pollution on the environment and our society. The public outcry over the various environmental disasters in our own country should be lauded. How do we resolve these problems?
Everyone in this world has a friend......
Everyone in this world love to watch television..
Your introduction must be something that grabs people’s attention. Use the following ideas:
1 Use some startling information or fact
Start with a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the point you wish to make. Then, elaborate with a sentence or two.
Example:
Topic: Teenagers and their problems
o A recent survey on teenagers provided some food for thought for parents. It was found that about 70 per cent of them smoked, 40 per cent watched pornographic videos and 14 per cent took drugs.Several factors have been identified as contributing to these problems.
2 Use an anecdote
An anecdote is a short story that illustrates a point.
Example:
Topic: The loafing syndrome among teenagers
Raj and his friends do not go home after school. They hang out daily at a shopping complex to while their time away. There, they join many other students from other schools. Sometimes, they play some video games or just enjoy each other’s company. Raj and his friends are just the tip of the iceberg of the loafing syndrome among teenagers.
3 Dialogue
Use an appropriate dialogue to start your story or convey a point. Use only two or three exchanges between speakers to make your point.
Topic: An unforgettable incident
“Help! Someone just snatched my purse!” The screams shattered the still of the night. Suddenly, lights were switched on and heads popped out of doors and windows. “Hey, what’s the matter?”
4 Use a question
You can also use a rhetorical question which jolts people into attention.
Topic: Reduce, reuse and recycle
Did you know that Malaysians throw away 1.2 million tonnes worth of newspapers daily? For every ten newspapers bought, only four are recovered for recycling. Thus, the government spearheaded a recycling campaign to encourage Malaysians to separate their waste.
Topic: Coping with peer pressure
What choice do you have if your friends are pressuring you to do something which you think is wrong? Would you walk away? Are you able to say ‘no’?
5 Use a definition
Define your topic.
Example:
Topic: Gawai Dayak Festival
In Sarawak, the word Gawai is the equivalent to a Festival. Numerous Gawais are celebrated throughout the year by the State’s indigenous people but Gawai Dayak marks the end of the harvest season and heralds a new year.
6 Use a quotation
Topic: How to save water
It is better to be safe than to be sorry. That is the message of the environmentalists to those who take water for granted. For one day, we may be faced with the situation whereby there is not enough water for everyone. Thus, we should take steps to save water.
7 Use a general statement
Use a general statement about your topic, then narrow it to a specific point of view.
Topic: Ways to reduce pollution
Of late, there has been increasing concern with the impact of pollution on the environment and our society. The public outcry over the various environmental disasters in our own country should be lauded. How do we resolve these problems?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Descriptive essay
Describe an afternoon at the bus station (SPM 97)
It was two o’clock in the afternoon. I was heading towards the bus station with Mohan after Mrs Wong’s extra class. The sun was beating mercilessly on my back and I could feel my sweat trickling down my spine. I have often wished that my mother would allow me to ride a motorcycle to school. She says that I am not ready but we both know that she is terrified that a car would knock me down.
When I reached the bus station, it was nearly empty except for a handful of boys. Mohan and I strode to a bench near the stationmaster’s office. I could feel the tension on my shoulders as the straps of my school bag ate into my shoulder. “Where is the bus?” I sighed to myself. An elderly woman came and asked me where I was going. She started a conversation but gave up after my monosyllable answers.
Suddenly, someone shouted and I saw a bus swerved into the station. I got up, thankful for the chance to escape from the woman. . It was Mohan’s bus. The group of boys were jostling each other to get into the bus. “Masuk! Masuk!” shouted the conductor but nobody seemed to be moving. The black fumes made me nauseous. All of a sudden, people started appearing from all directions to board their bus. In no time, the passengers were packed like sardines in the bus. It started to move, leaving some unfortunate passengers behind. I waved at Mohan when I noticed him dangling on the steps of the bus. The bus swerved out of the station again. It left another trail of black smoke.
I decided to go to Panjang’s ice stall. The iced sugar cane juice soothed my parched throat as I sipped slowly, all the while keeping an eye on the bus. Then I saw the bus heading towards the station. I paid for my drinks. “See you tomorrow,” I waved to Panjang.
Once more, the crowd began to swell near the bus. I noticed that the elderly woman was being shoved around by the boys. She started hitting them with her umbrella. Then, I saw Raja, my classmate at the back of the bus. I hurled my bag through the window and he caught it. By the time I got into the bus, it had already started moving. I got into my seat and told myself that I must really try to convince my mother about the motorcycle again.
(415 words)
(SPM Essential English, Pearson by Jenny Tan)
DESCRIBING PLACES AND SCENES
SUGGESTED VOCABULARY
Apart from the common words such as nice and beautiful, there are other words which you can use to describe a place or scene.
Marvellous time
Terrific place
Exciting activities
Breathtaking beach
Magnificent buildings
Fascinating sunset
Spectacular view
Picturesque beach
Delightful play
Inspiring show
Thrilling performance
Panoramic view
Captivating sight
Relaxing room
Lively town
Vibrant people
Delicious food
Mouth-watering desserts
Unique
Unpleasant day
Dull show
Nerve-wrecking journey
Awful time
Dreadful room
Depressing scene
Disappointing show
Miserable time
Frustrating weather
Upsetting news
Tiring event
Crowded room
Chaotic roads
Deserted town
Crammed room
Feel discontented
Boring film
It was two o’clock in the afternoon. I was heading towards the bus station with Mohan after Mrs Wong’s extra class. The sun was beating mercilessly on my back and I could feel my sweat trickling down my spine. I have often wished that my mother would allow me to ride a motorcycle to school. She says that I am not ready but we both know that she is terrified that a car would knock me down.
When I reached the bus station, it was nearly empty except for a handful of boys. Mohan and I strode to a bench near the stationmaster’s office. I could feel the tension on my shoulders as the straps of my school bag ate into my shoulder. “Where is the bus?” I sighed to myself. An elderly woman came and asked me where I was going. She started a conversation but gave up after my monosyllable answers.
Suddenly, someone shouted and I saw a bus swerved into the station. I got up, thankful for the chance to escape from the woman. . It was Mohan’s bus. The group of boys were jostling each other to get into the bus. “Masuk! Masuk!” shouted the conductor but nobody seemed to be moving. The black fumes made me nauseous. All of a sudden, people started appearing from all directions to board their bus. In no time, the passengers were packed like sardines in the bus. It started to move, leaving some unfortunate passengers behind. I waved at Mohan when I noticed him dangling on the steps of the bus. The bus swerved out of the station again. It left another trail of black smoke.
I decided to go to Panjang’s ice stall. The iced sugar cane juice soothed my parched throat as I sipped slowly, all the while keeping an eye on the bus. Then I saw the bus heading towards the station. I paid for my drinks. “See you tomorrow,” I waved to Panjang.
Once more, the crowd began to swell near the bus. I noticed that the elderly woman was being shoved around by the boys. She started hitting them with her umbrella. Then, I saw Raja, my classmate at the back of the bus. I hurled my bag through the window and he caught it. By the time I got into the bus, it had already started moving. I got into my seat and told myself that I must really try to convince my mother about the motorcycle again.
(415 words)
(SPM Essential English, Pearson by Jenny Tan)
DESCRIBING PLACES AND SCENES
SUGGESTED VOCABULARY
Apart from the common words such as nice and beautiful, there are other words which you can use to describe a place or scene.
Marvellous time
Terrific place
Exciting activities
Breathtaking beach
Magnificent buildings
Fascinating sunset
Spectacular view
Picturesque beach
Delightful play
Inspiring show
Thrilling performance
Panoramic view
Captivating sight
Relaxing room
Lively town
Vibrant people
Delicious food
Mouth-watering desserts
Unique
Unpleasant day
Dull show
Nerve-wrecking journey
Awful time
Dreadful room
Depressing scene
Disappointing show
Miserable time
Frustrating weather
Upsetting news
Tiring event
Crowded room
Chaotic roads
Deserted town
Crammed room
Feel discontented
Boring film
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Descriptive Essays
In the next few weeks, I would be posting some excellent essays written by my students.
My Best Pal
Close friendships are hard to come by these days. In an ever-changing world with people striving to achieve their interpretation of preordained success, it is hard to know who your true friends are. Fortunately, I found my best pal early at the tender age of seven. We were both enrolled at the same school and were at wits’ ends as we searched tirelessly for our designated classes.
Samantha and I got acquainted as both of us were in the same class and sat next to each other. Samantha was a happy-go-lucky girl who always managed to breathe fresh air into the sometimes arid classroom. She always knew what to say and would voice them at the best possible moments. Both pupils and teachers alike enjoyed her company and liveliness. There was hardly ever a dull moment when she was around with her funny quips and expressions.
Samantha was born with a silver spoon. Her father was a businessman and her mother owned and ran a boutique. Both her parents were very caring towards her as she, just like I, was the only child of the family. Samantha came to school each day with a perpetual smile. She was a very nice person to be around with. She and I used to go everywhere together and both of us were rarely seen apart. We used to talk about so many things as we walked, thoroughly enjoying our time together.
One day, I went to school and forgot to ask my parents for lunch money. At first, I was not hungry and thought I could bear going without a meal but soon, my stomach began to growl. Without asking, Samantha generously paid for my meal and drinks during recess. The incident revealed to me how lucky I was to have such a caring and compassionate friend.
As time went on, people started teasing us as we were spending more and more time together. We seemed to know what each other thought and we cared for each other deeply. Was I in love with her? I did not know then and we both knew we were too young for all that emotional roller coaster.
Currently, Samantha and I are studying at different schools. It was hard to be apart at first, but technology in the form of instant messaging and e-mails have helped to bridge the gap in our friendship. I sincerely wish our friendship will never end as it would be equivalent to waking up from a beautiful dream.
Written by, Manu Menon (2007) (edited version)
My Best Pal
Close friendships are hard to come by these days. In an ever-changing world with people striving to achieve their interpretation of preordained success, it is hard to know who your true friends are. Fortunately, I found my best pal early at the tender age of seven. We were both enrolled at the same school and were at wits’ ends as we searched tirelessly for our designated classes.
Samantha and I got acquainted as both of us were in the same class and sat next to each other. Samantha was a happy-go-lucky girl who always managed to breathe fresh air into the sometimes arid classroom. She always knew what to say and would voice them at the best possible moments. Both pupils and teachers alike enjoyed her company and liveliness. There was hardly ever a dull moment when she was around with her funny quips and expressions.
Samantha was born with a silver spoon. Her father was a businessman and her mother owned and ran a boutique. Both her parents were very caring towards her as she, just like I, was the only child of the family. Samantha came to school each day with a perpetual smile. She was a very nice person to be around with. She and I used to go everywhere together and both of us were rarely seen apart. We used to talk about so many things as we walked, thoroughly enjoying our time together.
One day, I went to school and forgot to ask my parents for lunch money. At first, I was not hungry and thought I could bear going without a meal but soon, my stomach began to growl. Without asking, Samantha generously paid for my meal and drinks during recess. The incident revealed to me how lucky I was to have such a caring and compassionate friend.
As time went on, people started teasing us as we were spending more and more time together. We seemed to know what each other thought and we cared for each other deeply. Was I in love with her? I did not know then and we both knew we were too young for all that emotional roller coaster.
Currently, Samantha and I are studying at different schools. It was hard to be apart at first, but technology in the form of instant messaging and e-mails have helped to bridge the gap in our friendship. I sincerely wish our friendship will never end as it would be equivalent to waking up from a beautiful dream.
Written by, Manu Menon (2007) (edited version)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Directed Writing
You will be required to write the following:
1 Letters - Formal
Informal
2 Report - for a survey, for a school magazine/newsletter
3 Articles
4 Speech
5 Description of an event/person/place
6 Recount (e.g. retelling of events in a diary)
The first thing you need to know is the format for each of the above for they garner about 3 marks.
Letter - the usual addresses, date, salutation, etc should be there. You should sign off with "Yours faithfully" for formal letters and not 'Yours sincerely'.
Salutations: Dear Sir or Dear Madam or Dear Edmund
For informal letters: Dear Susan,
For report, follow the format given by the textbook.
Title of the report
End with:
Reported by:
Jenny Ho
Secretary
English Society
For articles:
Title of article
By: Jenny Ho
1 Letters - Formal
Informal
2 Report - for a survey, for a school magazine/newsletter
3 Articles
4 Speech
5 Description of an event/person/place
6 Recount (e.g. retelling of events in a diary)
The first thing you need to know is the format for each of the above for they garner about 3 marks.
Letter - the usual addresses, date, salutation, etc should be there. You should sign off with "Yours faithfully" for formal letters and not 'Yours sincerely'.
Salutations: Dear Sir or Dear Madam or Dear Edmund
For informal letters: Dear Susan,
For report, follow the format given by the textbook.
Title of the report
End with:
Reported by:
Jenny Ho
Secretary
English Society
For articles:
Title of article
By: Jenny Ho
Monday, March 2, 2009
Useful chunks
One of the fastest way to learn English is see how good writers write. Have a special section called 'useful chunks' where you copy down interesting words and phrases each time you read the newspaper, articles from magazines or essays. These useful chunks show you how the words are used and comes in handy when you write your essays. I am not saying you should copy whole chunks into your essay. That is plagiarism. Rather, you should read those phrases and let it sink into your memory and become part of your working vocabulary.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Excellent model essays
There are many excellent essays written by my students which might be helpful to you as you prepare for your exam.
Friends by Manu Menon
Friends are people whom we turn to when our spirits need a lift. They are always by our side through thick and thin. They stand beside us even when our disposition is not perfectly right and will fight for us if we are oppressed. Therefore, it is clear that friends play a vital role in shaping who we are today. But what qualities exactly do we need to look for in a friend?
A friend should always be caring towards you. He or she should take interest in your problems no matter how big or petty your problem may be. A friend should be able to sit beside you and encourage you to keep your chin up even when everyone else is against you. A friend’s empathy and lovingness will also replenish your worn-out soul and will make you realize how important a friend really is.
Apart from that, a friend should be an honest person. An honest friend will dissipate any worries that he or she is lying towards you. A friend’s honesty will enable you to trust his or she’s opinion when it comes to telling you the truth about yourself. For example, an honest friend will remand you on your declining grades and will ask you to work harder while a dishonest friend will see it with a blind eye. Therefore, an overall improvement in yourself will be noticeable if you have an honest friend.
Moreover, a friend should be generous both emotionally and knowledge wise. A friend who is generous ought to be able to connect with you and provide emotional support. He or she should also be generous when it comes to sharing knowledge. A true friend must be ever-ready to help you when you are inept in certain subjects. A friend can easily guide you towards understanding the subject matter better as he or she is often on the same page as you. The only difference is that you can’t quite grasp the content of the page per se.
Besides that, a friend must also be able to humour you. Humour plays a quintessential role in making your day more lively and enjoyable. Friends who pull your leg and mess about will indefinitely make life seem so much better. As they say, laughter is the best medicine and a little levity on rainy days is always welcomed.
In conclusion, friends are people we spend most of our time with. Thus, we have to be selective when it comes to choosing our friends.
Friends by Manu Menon
Friends are people whom we turn to when our spirits need a lift. They are always by our side through thick and thin. They stand beside us even when our disposition is not perfectly right and will fight for us if we are oppressed. Therefore, it is clear that friends play a vital role in shaping who we are today. But what qualities exactly do we need to look for in a friend?
A friend should always be caring towards you. He or she should take interest in your problems no matter how big or petty your problem may be. A friend should be able to sit beside you and encourage you to keep your chin up even when everyone else is against you. A friend’s empathy and lovingness will also replenish your worn-out soul and will make you realize how important a friend really is.
Apart from that, a friend should be an honest person. An honest friend will dissipate any worries that he or she is lying towards you. A friend’s honesty will enable you to trust his or she’s opinion when it comes to telling you the truth about yourself. For example, an honest friend will remand you on your declining grades and will ask you to work harder while a dishonest friend will see it with a blind eye. Therefore, an overall improvement in yourself will be noticeable if you have an honest friend.
Moreover, a friend should be generous both emotionally and knowledge wise. A friend who is generous ought to be able to connect with you and provide emotional support. He or she should also be generous when it comes to sharing knowledge. A true friend must be ever-ready to help you when you are inept in certain subjects. A friend can easily guide you towards understanding the subject matter better as he or she is often on the same page as you. The only difference is that you can’t quite grasp the content of the page per se.
Besides that, a friend must also be able to humour you. Humour plays a quintessential role in making your day more lively and enjoyable. Friends who pull your leg and mess about will indefinitely make life seem so much better. As they say, laughter is the best medicine and a little levity on rainy days is always welcomed.
In conclusion, friends are people we spend most of our time with. Thus, we have to be selective when it comes to choosing our friends.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Using idiomatic expressions
50 IDIOMATIC EXPRESSSIONS YOU MUST KNOW
The correct use of idiomatic expressions will earn you merit points when you write your essays.
1 ace
Get an "A" on a test, homework assignment, project, etc.
I heard that Susie aced the test yesterday
2 As easy as a pie
very easy
The test was as easy as a pie.
3 at the eleventh hour
at the last minute; almost too late.
He finished the project at the eleventh hour and he nearly lost his job.
4 all ears
eager to hear what someone has to say.
Tell me about your latest trip overseas. I’m all ears.
5 be broke
be without money.
I need to borrow some money. I am broke.
6 be on the go
be very busy (going from one thing or project to another).
I am very tired. I've been on the go since 5 in the morning.
7 beat
exhausted; very tired
I need a break after this. I'm beat!"
8 beat around the bush
evade an issue; avoid giving a direct answer.
Stop beating around the bush! Just tell me what happened to my car.
9 bite off more than one can chew
take responsibility for more than one can manage.
Mrs Lee finds it difficult to finish all her work. She has bitten off more than she could chew!"
10 blow one's top
become extremely angry.
My father blew his top when he found out I had taken his car without his permission.
11 burn the midnight oil
study/work all night or until very late at night.
Johan is not ready for the test. He will have to burn the midnight oil."
12 call it a day
stop work for the day.
The labourers call it a day after working for five hours on the field.
13 can't make heads or tails of something
can't understand something at all;
find something confusing and illogical.
I cannot make heads or tails of your notes. Were you sleepy during the class?
14 catch one's eye
attract one's attention/interest.
This colourful advertisement caught my eye when I was in the bus.
15 change one's mind
decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier.
David did not go to Australia. He changed his mind when he heard that his mother is ill.
16 cost (someone) an arm and a leg cost a lot;
be very expensive.
This car costs him an arm and a leg. He has to get another job to help pay for it.
17 couch potato
someone who spends too much time watching TV.
You are becoming a couch potato. You need to get out and do some exercise.
18 Don't count your chickens until (before) they hatch (they've hatched) Don't assume that something will happen until it has happened.
I think you should not count your chickens until they’ve hatched. Wait till the boys win the competition this Sunday.
19 drop someone a line
write to someone
Do drop me a line when you have time.
20 drag one's feet delay;
take longer than necessary to do something.
Why are you dragging your feet? You should have finished your homework by now.
21 an eager beaver
a person who is always willing to volunteer or do extra work.
Rahim is an eager beaver. He is the first to volunteer for any job to be done.
22 feel blue
feel sad and depressed.
Rita is feeling blue because she has not heard from her boyfriend for a long time.
23 fire someone
dismiss someone from a job because of poor performance. Lokman might be fired if he continues to be late for work.
24 get it
understand something (often negative).
I don’t get it. Could you please explain it to me again?
25 get on one's nerves
irritate someone; make someone upset.
His constant chatter is getting on my nerves. Please tell him to keep quiet.
26 get out of hand:
become out of control; become badly managed.
The situation is getting out of hand. The relief centre can only hold forty people but we have one hundred people to care for.
27 give someone a hand
i. help someone.
ii. applaud someone
Please give a hand to the poor old lady. She is trying to cross the road.
The gardener has done a wonderful landscaping job. Let’s give him a hand.
28 Hard-headed
have one's hands full stubborn; inflexible; unwilling to change.
It’s pretty difficult to get Simon to change his mind. He is hard-headed.
29 have one's hands full
extremely busy
Peggy usually has her hands full in the beginning of a new school term.
30 in the black:
profitable; not showing a financial loss.
The company is back in the black after suffering from great losses the last two months.
31 in the red:
unprofitable; showing a financial loss.
The company is in the red. We have to stop some of the workers if the situation continues.
32 keep an eye on
check something regularly.
Please keep an eye on the children while I go to the bank.
33 keep one's fingers crossed
hope for the best.
He is keeping his fingers crossed while waiting for the results of his interview.
34 lend someone a hand
help someone.
Can you please lend a hand at the relief centre for the flood victims?
35 live from hand to mouth
survive on very little money; have only enough money
to pay for basic needs.
Ros and the children live from hand to mouth after the fire destroyed their house.
36 make a mountain out of a molehill
make something seem much more important than it really is.
Susila is making a mountain out of a molehill. I am sure the boys are perfectly capable of looking after themselves.
37 make up one's mind
decide what to do
Moses has to make up his mind whether to continue his studies or take up a job.
38 on the dot exactly at a given time.
If you do not come on the dot, we will leave without you.
39 (on the) cutting edge
using the most recent technology
This car boasts of having a cutting edge technology. It has a computer and tracking system.
40 pull someone's leg tease someone by trying to make her/him believe something that's untrue.
She pulled my leg when he said that he had quit his job to get married.
41 Rain or shine
no matter what the weather
"We're leaving for Cameron Highlands, rain or shine."
42 rain cats and dogs
Rain heavily
It’s raining cats and dogs now. You better leave later.
43 read someone's mind:
know what someone is thinking.
I can read your mind. I know you are very hungry and I have ordered pizza.
44 rub someone the wrong way
irritate someone
I cannot stand Robert. He seems to rub me the wrong way every time we discuss something.
45 sleep on it take some time to think about something before making a decision.
You should sleep on it first and we will discuss again tomorrow.
46 To make his own bed; now let him lie in it.
Someone has caused his/her own problems; he/she will have to solve them himself/herself.
He insisted that he should take up the project alone. So, he has made his own bed, let him lie in it.
47 under the weather
ill; unwell.
Susan was feeling under the weather yesterday, so she decided not to go to work."
48 until you're blue in the face
forever
You can advise him until you're blue in the face, but he won’t change his ways.
49 wet behind the ears inexperienced and naive.
I do not think Suresh is suitable for this project. He is still wet behind the ears, having only joined us last month.
50 wishy-washy:
without an opinion of one's own.
You better check with the other members. John can be wishy-washy at times.
The correct use of idiomatic expressions will earn you merit points when you write your essays.
1 ace
Get an "A" on a test, homework assignment, project, etc.
I heard that Susie aced the test yesterday
2 As easy as a pie
very easy
The test was as easy as a pie.
3 at the eleventh hour
at the last minute; almost too late.
He finished the project at the eleventh hour and he nearly lost his job.
4 all ears
eager to hear what someone has to say.
Tell me about your latest trip overseas. I’m all ears.
5 be broke
be without money.
I need to borrow some money. I am broke.
6 be on the go
be very busy (going from one thing or project to another).
I am very tired. I've been on the go since 5 in the morning.
7 beat
exhausted; very tired
I need a break after this. I'm beat!"
8 beat around the bush
evade an issue; avoid giving a direct answer.
Stop beating around the bush! Just tell me what happened to my car.
9 bite off more than one can chew
take responsibility for more than one can manage.
Mrs Lee finds it difficult to finish all her work. She has bitten off more than she could chew!"
10 blow one's top
become extremely angry.
My father blew his top when he found out I had taken his car without his permission.
11 burn the midnight oil
study/work all night or until very late at night.
Johan is not ready for the test. He will have to burn the midnight oil."
12 call it a day
stop work for the day.
The labourers call it a day after working for five hours on the field.
13 can't make heads or tails of something
can't understand something at all;
find something confusing and illogical.
I cannot make heads or tails of your notes. Were you sleepy during the class?
14 catch one's eye
attract one's attention/interest.
This colourful advertisement caught my eye when I was in the bus.
15 change one's mind
decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier.
David did not go to Australia. He changed his mind when he heard that his mother is ill.
16 cost (someone) an arm and a leg cost a lot;
be very expensive.
This car costs him an arm and a leg. He has to get another job to help pay for it.
17 couch potato
someone who spends too much time watching TV.
You are becoming a couch potato. You need to get out and do some exercise.
18 Don't count your chickens until (before) they hatch (they've hatched) Don't assume that something will happen until it has happened.
I think you should not count your chickens until they’ve hatched. Wait till the boys win the competition this Sunday.
19 drop someone a line
write to someone
Do drop me a line when you have time.
20 drag one's feet delay;
take longer than necessary to do something.
Why are you dragging your feet? You should have finished your homework by now.
21 an eager beaver
a person who is always willing to volunteer or do extra work.
Rahim is an eager beaver. He is the first to volunteer for any job to be done.
22 feel blue
feel sad and depressed.
Rita is feeling blue because she has not heard from her boyfriend for a long time.
23 fire someone
dismiss someone from a job because of poor performance. Lokman might be fired if he continues to be late for work.
24 get it
understand something (often negative).
I don’t get it. Could you please explain it to me again?
25 get on one's nerves
irritate someone; make someone upset.
His constant chatter is getting on my nerves. Please tell him to keep quiet.
26 get out of hand:
become out of control; become badly managed.
The situation is getting out of hand. The relief centre can only hold forty people but we have one hundred people to care for.
27 give someone a hand
i. help someone.
ii. applaud someone
Please give a hand to the poor old lady. She is trying to cross the road.
The gardener has done a wonderful landscaping job. Let’s give him a hand.
28 Hard-headed
have one's hands full stubborn; inflexible; unwilling to change.
It’s pretty difficult to get Simon to change his mind. He is hard-headed.
29 have one's hands full
extremely busy
Peggy usually has her hands full in the beginning of a new school term.
30 in the black:
profitable; not showing a financial loss.
The company is back in the black after suffering from great losses the last two months.
31 in the red:
unprofitable; showing a financial loss.
The company is in the red. We have to stop some of the workers if the situation continues.
32 keep an eye on
check something regularly.
Please keep an eye on the children while I go to the bank.
33 keep one's fingers crossed
hope for the best.
He is keeping his fingers crossed while waiting for the results of his interview.
34 lend someone a hand
help someone.
Can you please lend a hand at the relief centre for the flood victims?
35 live from hand to mouth
survive on very little money; have only enough money
to pay for basic needs.
Ros and the children live from hand to mouth after the fire destroyed their house.
36 make a mountain out of a molehill
make something seem much more important than it really is.
Susila is making a mountain out of a molehill. I am sure the boys are perfectly capable of looking after themselves.
37 make up one's mind
decide what to do
Moses has to make up his mind whether to continue his studies or take up a job.
38 on the dot exactly at a given time.
If you do not come on the dot, we will leave without you.
39 (on the) cutting edge
using the most recent technology
This car boasts of having a cutting edge technology. It has a computer and tracking system.
40 pull someone's leg tease someone by trying to make her/him believe something that's untrue.
She pulled my leg when he said that he had quit his job to get married.
41 Rain or shine
no matter what the weather
"We're leaving for Cameron Highlands, rain or shine."
42 rain cats and dogs
Rain heavily
It’s raining cats and dogs now. You better leave later.
43 read someone's mind:
know what someone is thinking.
I can read your mind. I know you are very hungry and I have ordered pizza.
44 rub someone the wrong way
irritate someone
I cannot stand Robert. He seems to rub me the wrong way every time we discuss something.
45 sleep on it take some time to think about something before making a decision.
You should sleep on it first and we will discuss again tomorrow.
46 To make his own bed; now let him lie in it.
Someone has caused his/her own problems; he/she will have to solve them himself/herself.
He insisted that he should take up the project alone. So, he has made his own bed, let him lie in it.
47 under the weather
ill; unwell.
Susan was feeling under the weather yesterday, so she decided not to go to work."
48 until you're blue in the face
forever
You can advise him until you're blue in the face, but he won’t change his ways.
49 wet behind the ears inexperienced and naive.
I do not think Suresh is suitable for this project. He is still wet behind the ears, having only joined us last month.
50 wishy-washy:
without an opinion of one's own.
You better check with the other members. John can be wishy-washy at times.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Reflective Essays
Here’s a model answer for a reflective essay. Read through the essay and identify the topic sentences of each paragraph and the supporting details.
Question: What would you do if you had a lot of money?
When I was small, I often dreamt about being rich as my parents were quite poor. We had difficulty making ends meet each month. So, if I had a lot of money, I would certainly fulfill my dreams.
First and foremost, I would buy a house for my parents, preferably a bungalow, in a quiet town. I would equip the house with the latest technology so that it would be a smart home. My mother would have a state-of-the-art kitchen as she loves cooking. I would also get a maid to help her with the household chores. I will ensure that my family is comfortably settled in this house.
The second thing I would do is to go on a world tour with my parents. I have never been overseas but I long to see the places I have only read or dreamt about. First, I would like to visit Europe, especially Italy, the city of romance. I would visit all the museums and buildings I have heard so much about. My next stop would be Hong Kong or China. There is something mystical about China and her people. This would be my dream come true.
Apart from that, I could finally go on a shopping spree, which is my favourite pastime. Thus far, I could only go window shopping and if I had a lot of money, I would go into these stores and buy whatever I fancy. Just imagine that for once in my life, I do not need to look at the prices of the items that I like. I could just shop till I literally drop. The salesgirls would be hovering near me with their latest outfits and my wish would be their command. Ah, I would not be ignored anymore as I walk into their stores!
Besides shopping, I would also remember the poor and the less fortunate. First, I would certainly build a better home for the orphans in my town. In fact, I would also sponsor their education till they could stand on their own. They would receive an allowance monthly and I would definitely take them shopping.
Finally, I would take the opportunity to further my studies. When I was younger, my parents could not afford to send me overseas. So, I would love to pursue a course in interior decorating in London and once I graduate, I would like to set up my own business with the rest of the money.
They say that a fool and his money are soon parted. Thus, I would be very careful with how I spend my money. I would invest my money with my parents’ advice and keep some for rainy days.
Question: What would you do if you had a lot of money?
When I was small, I often dreamt about being rich as my parents were quite poor. We had difficulty making ends meet each month. So, if I had a lot of money, I would certainly fulfill my dreams.
First and foremost, I would buy a house for my parents, preferably a bungalow, in a quiet town. I would equip the house with the latest technology so that it would be a smart home. My mother would have a state-of-the-art kitchen as she loves cooking. I would also get a maid to help her with the household chores. I will ensure that my family is comfortably settled in this house.
The second thing I would do is to go on a world tour with my parents. I have never been overseas but I long to see the places I have only read or dreamt about. First, I would like to visit Europe, especially Italy, the city of romance. I would visit all the museums and buildings I have heard so much about. My next stop would be Hong Kong or China. There is something mystical about China and her people. This would be my dream come true.
Apart from that, I could finally go on a shopping spree, which is my favourite pastime. Thus far, I could only go window shopping and if I had a lot of money, I would go into these stores and buy whatever I fancy. Just imagine that for once in my life, I do not need to look at the prices of the items that I like. I could just shop till I literally drop. The salesgirls would be hovering near me with their latest outfits and my wish would be their command. Ah, I would not be ignored anymore as I walk into their stores!
Besides shopping, I would also remember the poor and the less fortunate. First, I would certainly build a better home for the orphans in my town. In fact, I would also sponsor their education till they could stand on their own. They would receive an allowance monthly and I would definitely take them shopping.
Finally, I would take the opportunity to further my studies. When I was younger, my parents could not afford to send me overseas. So, I would love to pursue a course in interior decorating in London and once I graduate, I would like to set up my own business with the rest of the money.
They say that a fool and his money are soon parted. Thus, I would be very careful with how I spend my money. I would invest my money with my parents’ advice and keep some for rainy days.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Power Writing - Writing effective paragraphs
Today, we will look into ways of elaborating an idea in a paragraph.
POWER WRITING – WORKSHEET 1
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is made up of sentences.
What is a good paragraph?
A good paragraph has a clear topic sentence and it is well supported or elaborated. This means that the paragraph has one main idea and a few supporting details.
Look at the following paragraph:
According to a newspaper report, snatch thieves are
getting more violent. Some of the criminals have resorted
to slashing their victims with knives before escaping with
their victims’ bags. On May 18, a woman was attacked
by two men on a motorcycle while she was walking home
from work at night.
1. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
2. What are the supporting details?
3. There are many ways to support your topic sentence such as giving examples, explaining by giving reasons, stating facts or statistic, or giving further descriptions.
What method did the writer use to support the main idea?
4. Now, it is your turn to write a good paragraph (add three or four more sentences) with the following topic sentences. The first one has been done for you.
a. I like hot and spicy dishes. ( give examples and a reason)
I like hot and spicy dishes such as asam laksa and chicken curry. I also cannot resist a hot bowl of tomyam, a sweet and sour dish. These dishes never fail to lift up a dull and boring day.
b. Playing computer games is a good pastime. (explain or give reasons)
c. Homework is a waste of time. ( explain)
d. School life can sometimes be very boring. ( give examples)
e. Cigarette smoking is hazardous to health. (give facts)
f. Boys should learn how to cook. (give reasons)
g. I dislike people who cannot keep a secret. (describe or give examples)
POWER WRITING – WORKSHEET 1
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is made up of sentences.
What is a good paragraph?
A good paragraph has a clear topic sentence and it is well supported or elaborated. This means that the paragraph has one main idea and a few supporting details.
Look at the following paragraph:
According to a newspaper report, snatch thieves are
getting more violent. Some of the criminals have resorted
to slashing their victims with knives before escaping with
their victims’ bags. On May 18, a woman was attacked
by two men on a motorcycle while she was walking home
from work at night.
1. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
2. What are the supporting details?
3. There are many ways to support your topic sentence such as giving examples, explaining by giving reasons, stating facts or statistic, or giving further descriptions.
What method did the writer use to support the main idea?
4. Now, it is your turn to write a good paragraph (add three or four more sentences) with the following topic sentences. The first one has been done for you.
a. I like hot and spicy dishes. ( give examples and a reason)
I like hot and spicy dishes such as asam laksa and chicken curry. I also cannot resist a hot bowl of tomyam, a sweet and sour dish. These dishes never fail to lift up a dull and boring day.
b. Playing computer games is a good pastime. (explain or give reasons)
c. Homework is a waste of time. ( explain)
d. School life can sometimes be very boring. ( give examples)
e. Cigarette smoking is hazardous to health. (give facts)
f. Boys should learn how to cook. (give reasons)
g. I dislike people who cannot keep a secret. (describe or give examples)
Monday, May 12, 2008
How to improve my writing?
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING?
I receive a lot of e-mails and queries from my students asking me to give them advice on how to improve their English, especially their essay-writing. Here is my advice.
1 Use it or lose it
There are times when I wish I have a magic pill that I could give to students. The fact is, there are no shortcuts. To learn a language, one has to use it. Start today. Speak to your friends.
If you are shy, start with a few words or phrases in your conversation. Practise speaking in front of the mirror.
2 Read it
Read the newspapers. I would recommend the sports pages if you are a sports enthusiast, or the letters to the editor. You will learn how to give opinions, to complain and to elaborate your ideas. Go to your school library and borrow a book.
Make use of pockets of time during school such as in between classes. I am quite sure you are able to squeeze ten minutes a day for reading. Do not get bogged down if there are words that you do not know. Just read the easier stuff first.
3 Write it
My students are required to keep a journal in my classes. What is a journal? Is it like a diary? A diary is a record of your daily experiences but a journal is more than that. It is a collection of your thoughts, responses to events in your life and it may also include any interesting article, poems or even a song. I keep a journal of articles and quotations that are motivating.
There are many types of journals which you can keep. Check out the bloggers on the Internet for more examples. Search also for examples of journals to help you get started. (To read all about journalling and how to get started, go to www.wakimbo.com/htdocs/tools/jrn/pyp/jar.html)
I would like to invite you to join my students in a journalling programme. I have provided seven prompts below to help you get started. Get a notebook or any old diary and begin your writing journey with me. Make the notebook special by decorating it. Just use the prompts (questions) to help you get started.
Read the prompt and respond instantly with the first thing that comes to your mind. Do not stop at one sentence or two. Write for as long as you want without worrying about your grammar.
We will come to errors later. Apart from writing, you can also add pictures, photographs, poems, drawings. Be creative. See you next week with more prompts. Remember, use it or lose it. Bye.
Day 1: What is something that you like about yourself?
Day 2: Write about three fears of your life.
Day 3: Which quality do you dislike most about yourself? Is it laziness, selfishness, or childishness and why?
Day 4: What is something that makes you happy? Why?
Day 5: Do you have a favourite subject in school and one that you dislike? Write about these subjects.
Day 6: Do you have a favourite teacher?Write about his/her class qualities. What makes you look forward to his/her class?
Day 7: Have you ever had a crush on someone? Write about your experience(s). If you have never had a crush, what do you think about falling in love? Is it advisable? Is it a waste of time?
I receive a lot of e-mails and queries from my students asking me to give them advice on how to improve their English, especially their essay-writing. Here is my advice.
1 Use it or lose it
There are times when I wish I have a magic pill that I could give to students. The fact is, there are no shortcuts. To learn a language, one has to use it. Start today. Speak to your friends.
If you are shy, start with a few words or phrases in your conversation. Practise speaking in front of the mirror.
2 Read it
Read the newspapers. I would recommend the sports pages if you are a sports enthusiast, or the letters to the editor. You will learn how to give opinions, to complain and to elaborate your ideas. Go to your school library and borrow a book.
Make use of pockets of time during school such as in between classes. I am quite sure you are able to squeeze ten minutes a day for reading. Do not get bogged down if there are words that you do not know. Just read the easier stuff first.
3 Write it
My students are required to keep a journal in my classes. What is a journal? Is it like a diary? A diary is a record of your daily experiences but a journal is more than that. It is a collection of your thoughts, responses to events in your life and it may also include any interesting article, poems or even a song. I keep a journal of articles and quotations that are motivating.
There are many types of journals which you can keep. Check out the bloggers on the Internet for more examples. Search also for examples of journals to help you get started. (To read all about journalling and how to get started, go to www.wakimbo.com/htdocs/tools/jrn/pyp/jar.html)
I would like to invite you to join my students in a journalling programme. I have provided seven prompts below to help you get started. Get a notebook or any old diary and begin your writing journey with me. Make the notebook special by decorating it. Just use the prompts (questions) to help you get started.
Read the prompt and respond instantly with the first thing that comes to your mind. Do not stop at one sentence or two. Write for as long as you want without worrying about your grammar.
We will come to errors later. Apart from writing, you can also add pictures, photographs, poems, drawings. Be creative. See you next week with more prompts. Remember, use it or lose it. Bye.
Day 1: What is something that you like about yourself?
Day 2: Write about three fears of your life.
Day 3: Which quality do you dislike most about yourself? Is it laziness, selfishness, or childishness and why?
Day 4: What is something that makes you happy? Why?
Day 5: Do you have a favourite subject in school and one that you dislike? Write about these subjects.
Day 6: Do you have a favourite teacher?Write about his/her class qualities. What makes you look forward to his/her class?
Day 7: Have you ever had a crush on someone? Write about your experience(s). If you have never had a crush, what do you think about falling in love? Is it advisable? Is it a waste of time?
Monday, May 5, 2008
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF ESSAY WRITING
THE REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Let’s say we are going to write a reflective composition titled “What would you do if you had a lot of money?” Use the acronym B.A.G. to help you plan your essay.
B – Brainstorm for main ideas
A – Add supporting details
G – Get Organised.
STEP 1 BRAINSTORM for main ideas
Write any idea that you may have concerning the topic above in the box below.
STEP TWO: Add supporting details
From the main ideas, add more facts or ideas that support each main idea.
STEP 3 GET ORGANISED
Look at all the points and determine which paragraph is stronger and should have top priority. Rearrange the points and make them into a list. Think of an interesting introduction and a suitable conclusion. Your basic structure should roughly look like this.
TOPIC:
INTRODUCTION:
BODY
Main Idea 1.
Supporting details
Main Idea 2
Supporting details
Main Idea 3
Supporting details ……..
CONCLUSION
There are many ways to organise your essay depending on the types of essays.
i. Chronological order – according to the order of how the events occurred
ii. Cause and effect – discuss the causes (reasons) first, then give the effect.
iii. Problem to solution – discuss the problems, then give the solutions
iv. Spatial order – describe from one spot to the next . This is suitable for descriptive writing.
v. Climactic order – starts with the least important to the most important.
Reverse climactic order – starts with the most important to the least important
WRITING THE ESSAY
1. IDEAS FOR INTRODUCTIONS
The introduction should be designed to attract the reader's attention and give her an idea of the essay's focus.
Introduce your essay with an attention grabber.
Here are some ideas:
• Use some startling information or facts
A recent survey on teenagers who smoked revealed that 20% picked up smoking before they were 13.
• Use an anecdote.
An anecdote is a short story that illustrates a point.
Be sure your anecdote is short and relevant to your topic.
Raj and his friends do not go home after school. They hang out daily at shopping complexes after school. They are just the tip of the iceberg of the loafing syndrome.
• Use a question
Do you know that Malaysians throw away 1.2 million tonnes worth of newspapers daily? For every ten newspapers bought, only four are recovered for recycling.
• Use a general statement and lead to your topic
Use a few sentences to explain your topic in general terms. Then, lead the reader gently to your main point or thesis of the essay. Each sentence should become gradually more specific, until you reach your thesis.
Example:
Of late, there has been increasing concern about the impact of pollution on the environment and our society. How do we reduce pollution?
AVOID THESE INTRODUCTIONS:
1. Nowadays, we hear of many snatch theft cases…..
2. Everyone in this world needs a friend …….
3. The dictionary defines a computer as …………….
These are overused introductions and teachers are tired of reading these introductions.
Conclusion
The conclusion (in three or four sentences) sums up your points or provides a final perspective on your essay.
IDEAS FOR CONCLUSION
• Express your hopes about the topic
Finally, it is hoped that as people become more aware of the need to recycle, more will come forward and get involved in environmental issues.
• Call for action
Shall we just sit back and wait till all our landfills overflow? Let’s get involved and do something to save our environment.
Other ideas:
• include a brief summary of the essay's main points.
• ask a provocative question.
• compare with other situations
Let’s say we are going to write a reflective composition titled “What would you do if you had a lot of money?” Use the acronym B.A.G. to help you plan your essay.
B – Brainstorm for main ideas
A – Add supporting details
G – Get Organised.
STEP 1 BRAINSTORM for main ideas
Write any idea that you may have concerning the topic above in the box below.
STEP TWO: Add supporting details
From the main ideas, add more facts or ideas that support each main idea.
STEP 3 GET ORGANISED
Look at all the points and determine which paragraph is stronger and should have top priority. Rearrange the points and make them into a list. Think of an interesting introduction and a suitable conclusion. Your basic structure should roughly look like this.
TOPIC:
INTRODUCTION:
BODY
Main Idea 1.
Supporting details
Main Idea 2
Supporting details
Main Idea 3
Supporting details ……..
CONCLUSION
There are many ways to organise your essay depending on the types of essays.
i. Chronological order – according to the order of how the events occurred
ii. Cause and effect – discuss the causes (reasons) first, then give the effect.
iii. Problem to solution – discuss the problems, then give the solutions
iv. Spatial order – describe from one spot to the next . This is suitable for descriptive writing.
v. Climactic order – starts with the least important to the most important.
Reverse climactic order – starts with the most important to the least important
WRITING THE ESSAY
1. IDEAS FOR INTRODUCTIONS
The introduction should be designed to attract the reader's attention and give her an idea of the essay's focus.
Introduce your essay with an attention grabber.
Here are some ideas:
• Use some startling information or facts
A recent survey on teenagers who smoked revealed that 20% picked up smoking before they were 13.
• Use an anecdote.
An anecdote is a short story that illustrates a point.
Be sure your anecdote is short and relevant to your topic.
Raj and his friends do not go home after school. They hang out daily at shopping complexes after school. They are just the tip of the iceberg of the loafing syndrome.
• Use a question
Do you know that Malaysians throw away 1.2 million tonnes worth of newspapers daily? For every ten newspapers bought, only four are recovered for recycling.
• Use a general statement and lead to your topic
Use a few sentences to explain your topic in general terms. Then, lead the reader gently to your main point or thesis of the essay. Each sentence should become gradually more specific, until you reach your thesis.
Example:
Of late, there has been increasing concern about the impact of pollution on the environment and our society. How do we reduce pollution?
AVOID THESE INTRODUCTIONS:
1. Nowadays, we hear of many snatch theft cases…..
2. Everyone in this world needs a friend …….
3. The dictionary defines a computer as …………….
These are overused introductions and teachers are tired of reading these introductions.
Conclusion
The conclusion (in three or four sentences) sums up your points or provides a final perspective on your essay.
IDEAS FOR CONCLUSION
• Express your hopes about the topic
Finally, it is hoped that as people become more aware of the need to recycle, more will come forward and get involved in environmental issues.
• Call for action
Shall we just sit back and wait till all our landfills overflow? Let’s get involved and do something to save our environment.
Other ideas:
• include a brief summary of the essay's main points.
• ask a provocative question.
• compare with other situations
Monday, April 28, 2008
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
let’s look at another type of essay called argumentative writing. Here, you may be required to either state your stand on a certain issue (agree or disagree) or to present your point of view.
Some typical exam questions:
1. Co-curricular activities are a waste of time. Do you agree?
2. Large families make happy families.
3. More land should be used for agriculture than for industry. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons to support you opinion.
4. Parents do not spend enough quality time with children. Do you agree or disagree?
5. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of homework.
ANALYSING THE QUESTIONS
Question 1, 3 and 4 require you to make a stand and proceed to support your stand with a few paragraphs.
For question 2, you may present both sides of the argument and finally, state your stand.
For question 5, present both sides of the argument as you are required to discuss the issue.
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT
Let’s say you have chosen question 1 –
Co-curricular activities are a waste of time. Do you agree?
STEP 1: Analyse the question carefully to make sure you understand exactly what you have to do.
TOPIC: Co-curricular activities (The general subject)
THE FOCUS: Co-curricular activities are a waste of time. (The part you are asked to concentrate on)
THE COMMENT: Do you agree? (You have to make a stand whether you agree or disagree).
STEP TWO:
Then, apply the acronym B.A.G. which stands for B – Brainstorm, A – Add supporting details and G – Get organised. (as discussed last week in Lesson 5)
Brainstorm for ideas. Note down all the points you have about co-curricular activities. You should have at least four points. Let’s say you have made your list below. Add supporting details.
Get organised. Throw out any ideas that are not relevant.
Decide the order of the points.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE A WASTE OF TIME
STAND: agree
Why?
Benefits:
Provide a chance for students to learn about themselves, …
Develop other skills not learnt in the classroom
Provide leadership training
Provide an outlet for students to rest and relax
STEP THREE: WRITING THE ESSAY
THE WRITING PLAN:
1. INTRODUCTION: Give some background information about the topic and state your stand.
Example: Co-curricular activities are activities that are planned for students after school through activities in clubs and societies. Students in schools are required to join at least one uniformed society and a club. In my opinion, co-curricular activities play an important role in a student’s life and it is certainly not a waste of time.
2. BODY: PRESENT YOUR ARGUMENTS TO SUPPORT YOUR STAND.
There should at least be three or four paragraphs with good topic sentences and body sentences.
Example: First and foremost, co-curricular activities provide students with a chance to develop their talents in music, sports and other living skills. Some students are unable to shine in the classroom but they are superb athletes and musicians. Co-curricular activities provide an avenue for them to become fulfilled individuals.
3. CONCLUSION: STATING YOUR STAND AGAIN
Example: Many students and parents are of the opinion that co-curricular activities are a waste of time and they should be substituted with more beneficial activities. I certainly disagree with that. As we have seen, co-curricular activities play an important role in a student’s life. They complement the activities of the classroom. A well-planned co-curricular programme helps students become wholesome individuals. Thus, co-curricular activities are definitely not a waste of time.
4. Remember to edit your work.
Read your first draft once through and check the following things:
a. Have you arranged the points well? Is the first point the most important or the least important?
b. Have you included all the points and left out all the irrelevant points?
c. Are there any phrases that are not very clear or sentences that are too long?
d. Are there are spelling mistakes?
e. Have you used punctuation correctly?
f. Are there any grammatical errors?
Some typical exam questions:
1. Co-curricular activities are a waste of time. Do you agree?
2. Large families make happy families.
3. More land should be used for agriculture than for industry. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons to support you opinion.
4. Parents do not spend enough quality time with children. Do you agree or disagree?
5. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of homework.
ANALYSING THE QUESTIONS
Question 1, 3 and 4 require you to make a stand and proceed to support your stand with a few paragraphs.
For question 2, you may present both sides of the argument and finally, state your stand.
For question 5, present both sides of the argument as you are required to discuss the issue.
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT
Let’s say you have chosen question 1 –
Co-curricular activities are a waste of time. Do you agree?
STEP 1: Analyse the question carefully to make sure you understand exactly what you have to do.
TOPIC: Co-curricular activities (The general subject)
THE FOCUS: Co-curricular activities are a waste of time. (The part you are asked to concentrate on)
THE COMMENT: Do you agree? (You have to make a stand whether you agree or disagree).
STEP TWO:
Then, apply the acronym B.A.G. which stands for B – Brainstorm, A – Add supporting details and G – Get organised. (as discussed last week in Lesson 5)
Brainstorm for ideas. Note down all the points you have about co-curricular activities. You should have at least four points. Let’s say you have made your list below. Add supporting details.
Get organised. Throw out any ideas that are not relevant.
Decide the order of the points.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE A WASTE OF TIME
STAND: agree
Why?
Benefits:
Provide a chance for students to learn about themselves, …
Develop other skills not learnt in the classroom
Provide leadership training
Provide an outlet for students to rest and relax
STEP THREE: WRITING THE ESSAY
THE WRITING PLAN:
1. INTRODUCTION: Give some background information about the topic and state your stand.
Example: Co-curricular activities are activities that are planned for students after school through activities in clubs and societies. Students in schools are required to join at least one uniformed society and a club. In my opinion, co-curricular activities play an important role in a student’s life and it is certainly not a waste of time.
2. BODY: PRESENT YOUR ARGUMENTS TO SUPPORT YOUR STAND.
There should at least be three or four paragraphs with good topic sentences and body sentences.
Example: First and foremost, co-curricular activities provide students with a chance to develop their talents in music, sports and other living skills. Some students are unable to shine in the classroom but they are superb athletes and musicians. Co-curricular activities provide an avenue for them to become fulfilled individuals.
3. CONCLUSION: STATING YOUR STAND AGAIN
Example: Many students and parents are of the opinion that co-curricular activities are a waste of time and they should be substituted with more beneficial activities. I certainly disagree with that. As we have seen, co-curricular activities play an important role in a student’s life. They complement the activities of the classroom. A well-planned co-curricular programme helps students become wholesome individuals. Thus, co-curricular activities are definitely not a waste of time.
4. Remember to edit your work.
Read your first draft once through and check the following things:
a. Have you arranged the points well? Is the first point the most important or the least important?
b. Have you included all the points and left out all the irrelevant points?
c. Are there any phrases that are not very clear or sentences that are too long?
d. Are there are spelling mistakes?
e. Have you used punctuation correctly?
f. Are there any grammatical errors?
POWER WRITING
WRITING BETTER PARAGRAPHS
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph can be divided into three different sections. The first section is the topic sentence which is usually at the beginning of the paragraph, the body and the closing.
The Topic Sentence
This topic sentence tells you what the paragraph is going to be about, and how it relates to the subject of the essay and the previous paragraph.
Body Sentences
Body sentences support the topic of the paragraph. There are supporting details and elaboration in these sentences.
Closing Sentence
This sentence completes the idea expressed in the paragraph. It should also set up a connection to the next paragraph.
1. A good paragraph has only one main idea and one or two supporting details.
Example:
First and foremost, I would buy a house for my parents, preferably a bungalow, in a quiet town. I would equip the house with the latest technology so that it would be a smart home. My mother would have a state-of-the-art kitchen as she loves cooking. There would also be a robot to clean and vacuum the house. I will certainly make sure that my family is comfortably settled in this house.
The main idea of the sentence is ‘buying a house for my parents’ and I go on to describe in detail what the house would be like.
2. How to elaborate or add supporting details?
To support a topic sentence, consider some of these possible ways:
• Add examples
• Supply further details or explanation
• Tell a story that illustrates the point you're making
• Discuss a process
• Compare and contrast
Example:
Most word processing software gives you several options for printing. You can print a copy or several copies of the same document with different fonts. Besides that, you can also print a range of pages. What is more, you can even preview a document before printing it out. You can finally say goodbye to the good old typewriter.
Topic sentence: word processing software – several options for printing.
Body sentences (Supporting details): print a copy, several copies, different fonts, a range of pages, preview.
Note that I have given examples and explanation to support my main idea.
Closing sentence: I end the paragraph by implying that now that you have the software, you can say goodbye to the typewriter.
3. Choice of words
i. Do not use tired words like ‘beautiful’ or ‘nice’. Use: magnificent, breathtaking, inspiring, fantastic, and so on.
i. Do not pepper your essay with words that are superfluous. If a sentence means the same thing with a word taken out, take it out. Using extra words and phrases which do not add anything to what you are saying will imply to the examiner that you are running out of things to say.
Example:
Do not write:
Ever since Mr Tan came into my class, he transformed it, changing it so that it was altogether different from what it has been like before.
Write:
Mr Tan transformed my class. (Here, give examples of how he did it.)
ii. Do not use words or phrases that are either unheard of or too bombastic.
Chin Yit, a student from Pahang wrote to ask whether using ‘beatiful words’ will gain her more marks. She had taken these words from a thesaurus. Her teacher is right. She will not gain more marks as she is testing the examiner and boring her readers.
Example: propitious (favourable), ebullient(cheerful),affray(scuffle,fight), edacious.
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph can be divided into three different sections. The first section is the topic sentence which is usually at the beginning of the paragraph, the body and the closing.
The Topic Sentence
This topic sentence tells you what the paragraph is going to be about, and how it relates to the subject of the essay and the previous paragraph.
Body Sentences
Body sentences support the topic of the paragraph. There are supporting details and elaboration in these sentences.
Closing Sentence
This sentence completes the idea expressed in the paragraph. It should also set up a connection to the next paragraph.
1. A good paragraph has only one main idea and one or two supporting details.
Example:
First and foremost, I would buy a house for my parents, preferably a bungalow, in a quiet town. I would equip the house with the latest technology so that it would be a smart home. My mother would have a state-of-the-art kitchen as she loves cooking. There would also be a robot to clean and vacuum the house. I will certainly make sure that my family is comfortably settled in this house.
The main idea of the sentence is ‘buying a house for my parents’ and I go on to describe in detail what the house would be like.
2. How to elaborate or add supporting details?
To support a topic sentence, consider some of these possible ways:
• Add examples
• Supply further details or explanation
• Tell a story that illustrates the point you're making
• Discuss a process
• Compare and contrast
Example:
Most word processing software gives you several options for printing. You can print a copy or several copies of the same document with different fonts. Besides that, you can also print a range of pages. What is more, you can even preview a document before printing it out. You can finally say goodbye to the good old typewriter.
Topic sentence: word processing software – several options for printing.
Body sentences (Supporting details): print a copy, several copies, different fonts, a range of pages, preview.
Note that I have given examples and explanation to support my main idea.
Closing sentence: I end the paragraph by implying that now that you have the software, you can say goodbye to the typewriter.
3. Choice of words
i. Do not use tired words like ‘beautiful’ or ‘nice’. Use: magnificent, breathtaking, inspiring, fantastic, and so on.
i. Do not pepper your essay with words that are superfluous. If a sentence means the same thing with a word taken out, take it out. Using extra words and phrases which do not add anything to what you are saying will imply to the examiner that you are running out of things to say.
Example:
Do not write:
Ever since Mr Tan came into my class, he transformed it, changing it so that it was altogether different from what it has been like before.
Write:
Mr Tan transformed my class. (Here, give examples of how he did it.)
ii. Do not use words or phrases that are either unheard of or too bombastic.
Chin Yit, a student from Pahang wrote to ask whether using ‘beatiful words’ will gain her more marks. She had taken these words from a thesaurus. Her teacher is right. She will not gain more marks as she is testing the examiner and boring her readers.
Example: propitious (favourable), ebullient(cheerful),affray(scuffle,fight), edacious.
The Narrative Essay
GREETINGS EVERYONE! I have decided to create another blog just for SPM students. Some of the articles have been published in my previous blogs or from my books and articles.
This week, I would like to look at writing stories.
Writing a narrative essay
THE NARRATIVE COMPOSITION
A narrative is a story with a sequence of connected events. It could be about a personal experience or an imagined event or events.
Let’s look at some typical exam questions:
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….”
How do I write a narrative essay for the exam?
ACTION PLAN: (1 hour)
A. Planning = 15 minutes
B. Writing = 35 minutes
C. Checking = 10 minutes
This plan is for those who are quite weak in English. For those who are proficient, you may only need 10 minutes for planning.
This is how we do it.
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 and jot down notes. For exam purposes, the simplest way is to divide it into three parts:
i. ii. iii.
B. WRITING THE ESSAY
Now that you have got the skeleton of your story, it is time to begin writing. Use linkers and phrases which link the events to move your story in a chronological order. Some phrases that are suitable are:
It was very dark….
I will never forget …..
A few minutes later….
Suddenly,…
When the disaster happened, …..
Use sensory details to reveal the events and to get the reader involved. Do not merely tell but show the events through words and phrases.
Example:
a. I went into the restaurant.
b. I walked into the restaurant.
c. I sauntered into the restaurant.
Sentence a. merely states that I went into the restaurant and sentence b. gives a little more information as to how I went into the restaurant. Sentence c. uses a more specific word to show clearly the idea of how I went into the restaurant. Sentence c. allows the reader to see what I am doing. The word ‘sauntered’ means ‘to stroll’. It gives the image of a person walking slowly into the restaurant. Thus, sentence c. is more effective in narrative and descriptive writing.
C. Checking
Read your essay once through and check for the following things:
• Is the spelling accurate?
• Is the punctuation appropriate? Did you use too many commas in a sentence?
• Did you vary the sentence structure? Are your sentences too long?
• Does one thought follow the next in a logical order?
• Did you stick to the topic? Did you use words so that your reader could experience the incident?
• Did you use the appropriate tense of the verb throughout?
Make any corrections neatly.
This week, I would like to look at writing stories.
Writing a narrative essay
THE NARRATIVE COMPOSITION
A narrative is a story with a sequence of connected events. It could be about a personal experience or an imagined event or events.
Let’s look at some typical exam questions:
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….”
How do I write a narrative essay for the exam?
ACTION PLAN: (1 hour)
A. Planning = 15 minutes
B. Writing = 35 minutes
C. Checking = 10 minutes
This plan is for those who are quite weak in English. For those who are proficient, you may only need 10 minutes for planning.
This is how we do it.
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 and jot down notes. For exam purposes, the simplest way is to divide it into three parts:
i. ii. iii.
B. WRITING THE ESSAY
Now that you have got the skeleton of your story, it is time to begin writing. Use linkers and phrases which link the events to move your story in a chronological order. Some phrases that are suitable are:
It was very dark….
I will never forget …..
A few minutes later….
Suddenly,…
When the disaster happened, …..
Use sensory details to reveal the events and to get the reader involved. Do not merely tell but show the events through words and phrases.
Example:
a. I went into the restaurant.
b. I walked into the restaurant.
c. I sauntered into the restaurant.
Sentence a. merely states that I went into the restaurant and sentence b. gives a little more information as to how I went into the restaurant. Sentence c. uses a more specific word to show clearly the idea of how I went into the restaurant. Sentence c. allows the reader to see what I am doing. The word ‘sauntered’ means ‘to stroll’. It gives the image of a person walking slowly into the restaurant. Thus, sentence c. is more effective in narrative and descriptive writing.
C. Checking
Read your essay once through and check for the following things:
• Is the spelling accurate?
• Is the punctuation appropriate? Did you use too many commas in a sentence?
• Did you vary the sentence structure? Are your sentences too long?
• Does one thought follow the next in a logical order?
• Did you stick to the topic? Did you use words so that your reader could experience the incident?
• Did you use the appropriate tense of the verb throughout?
Make any corrections neatly.
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