Paper 1: Directed Writing:35 marks:45 minutes Analysis of Past Years Questions

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Article to persuade friends to join the Friends of the Environment Club Formal letter asking for permission to visit YUM YUM Chocolate Factory. Report about poor conditions and services of the school library Informal letter to mother asking for money to buy a gift for brother. Article on how to cope with stress Formal letter to teacher giving a choice on where to go for the holiday Talk on road safety Report on unsatisfactory service at school canteen Informal letter about camping experience Informal letter about why your friend makes a good Head Prefect Talk on why the Science reference book is useful Article to introduce your friend who is chosen as the best group leader Report to Principal giving reasons for the lack of interest in sports Informal letter to your cousin telling him/her about the benefits to take part in the National Service Programme and encourage him to go.

Guidelines for Informal Letter Writing 1. Some useful expressions on how to begin an informal letter.

Thank you for your letter which I received yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from you. It was wonderful to hear from you after so long. Thank you for your letter. I was pleased to hear that you are in good health. It was really nice hearing from you. I am glad that you like your new school. I hope this letter finds you in the pink (of health). Thank you for the lovely birthday card.

2. Some useful expressions on how to end an informal letter.

I promise to write to you soon. I hope you will reply soon. Give my best wishes to your parents. I am looking forward to seeing you.
37

I look forward to hearing from you. Do write and tell me how you are progressing. Do write soon.

For examination purpose, it is advisable to avoid the usage of informal language (stuff and jampacked), contraction (youre and didnt) slang words (lah and la), and other languages (addressing father as "Abah"). Please ensure that in the format given below, the usage of indentation, punctuation and capitalisation are applied when necessary.

38

Sample 1 Question Your friend, who lives in another town, has written to you to ask for advice on how to be a successful student. Write a letter to your friend advising him/her what he/she should do to be an outstanding student. Use the note below to write your letter. Suggestions:

Set goals Be motivated Pay attention Ask questions Be organized Complete homework on time Prepare well for exams Take part in co-curricular activities Respect everyone Avoid

Wasting time Skipping school When writing your letter, remember to include the following:

Your address A proper salutation/greeting A complimentary close All the note given above

39

Answer

40

Sample 2 Question Your father wants to buy a computer but he is not sure whether it is better to buy a laptop or a desktop computer. He asks for your opinion. After doing some research, you come up with some information on both computers. Using the notes given below, write an informal letter to your father stating your choice and supporting it with reasons.

LAPTOP COMPUTER Portable Slim and light Can function on battery More expensive More fragile Easier to steal

DESKTOP COMPUTER Cheaper Easier to upgrade Harder to steal Bulkier- difficult to carry around Require more space Rely on direct supply of electricity

When writing out your letter, you should remember to include the following: To state your choice To make comparisons To state the purpose of the letter To give appropriate greeting and closing Use all the points given SAMPLE ANSWER

122,Taman Pearlview Avenue, High Tech Park, 09000 Kulim, Kedah Darul Aman. 2 April 2012 Dear father, How are you over there? I hope you are fine. I am doing okay here. I am writing this letter to let you know about my opinion on whether to buy a laptop or a desktop computer. I think you should buy a desktop computer. Firstly, desktop computers are_______. They are also _________. It is ___________________________________ because they are heavy. However they have some weaknesses too. They are _______and_________________________. They also ___________________and _________________________________________.
41

On the other hand, _______ are______, __________and________________. However I do not recommend it to you because laptops are ________and _______.Besides, they are _____________ I hope that I have been helpful. I know that you will make a right choice. If you still have doubts, feel free to contact me again. Till then,goodbye . Your loving son / daughter, Signature ..

SECTION B: CONTINUOUS WRITING:50 marks:1hour PAST YEARS QUESTIONS 2007 a.Describe an embarrassing experience in your life.[Descriptive] b.Teenagers today are only interested in entertainment. Do you agree? [Arguementative] c. My early years. [Reflective] d. Write a story beginning with: [Narrative] "Kim was nervous when the door opened" e. Tomorrow. [One Word] 2008 a. Write about a person who has worked hard to succeed in life. [Descriptive] b Examinations good or bad? [Arguementative] c. My perfect future husband or wife. [Reflective] d Write a story ending with: [Narrative] Now I realise the value of a true friend. e. Stars [One Word]

42

SPM ESSAY - NARRATIVE ESSAY (Beginning) 2007 : Write a story beginning with: Kim was nervous when the door opened Sample 1 Kim was nervous when the door opened. She was hoping that it would be the police. Kim prayed hard in her heart that it would be so. As she slowly lifted up her head to see, she could only see a dark figure standing at the entrance of her room door. It was the intruder who had broken into her parents house. She could see him still holding the knife in his hand. He was searching for her. The intruder stepped into the room. He moved slowly. He banged into few things in the room. The room was pitched dark. The electricity got cut off due to the heavy storm.

Sample 2 Kim was nervous when the door opened. Sweat drops trickled from her forehead onto the carpeted floor. She bit her lips in agitation. In her heart, she prayed hard that it would be the police. Slowly but reluctantly she lifted up her head to see, she could only see a dark visage standing at the entrance of her room door. She could not see clearly who it was as the room was pitch dark. Then, to her horror, she saw his face, the face of one she prayed that she would not see again. A glimmer of light from the lightning outside gave his face away. It was the intruder who had broken into her parents house. He was still clutching the Rambo knife in his hand. He moved slowly, breaking and showing everything that blocked his path. He had only one thing in his mind, that is to find the girl who knows his true identity, and to finish her off.

Sample 3 Kim was nervous when the door opened. The door burst open with a deafening sound, breaking the silence that Kim was enjoying for almost fifteen minutes now. The sound startled her, she almost jumped out from her hiding place screaming her head off but fear not senses kept her glued to her spot. She held her breath, her heart beat faster than ever. Sweat drops trickled onto the carpeted floor like a running tap water. She edged cautiously further into a corner fearing for the worst. She clasped her hands hard and prayed like she had never prayed before, hoping in her heart that it was the police who had come to her rescue. A dark tall visage stood at the entrance of the room door. At the same time, a glimmer of light from the lightning outside burst through

43

the room window giving away the identity of the figure. To her horror, it was the visage of the one who had made her life a living hell for the past one hour."I will get you, pretty one!, his cold and merciless words echoed in her ears sending shivers into her spine. SPM ESSAY - NARRATIVE ESSAY (Ending) 2011 : Write a story that ends with: "...They looked at each other and smiled meaningfully."

Sample 1 Ai Ching and Mary knew that Miss Sarimah was now in safe hands. They watched the ambulance slowly disappear into the horizon. Bystanders, and all those who had witnessed the miraculous incident slowly started to disperse. Slowly the place transformed back into its old rustic look. There was a dead silence. The words "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back" echoed in their ears- Miss Sarimah's favourite words. Slowly it began to dawn on Ai Ching and Mary that they had actually witnessed it happen in Miss Sarimah's life today. They looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.

Sample 2 Miss Sarimah managed to give a smile before she was whisked away into the ambulance. Ai Ching and Mary could only look helplessly, but they knew that Miss Sarimah was now in safe hands. As the dust began to settle, souls that had witnessed the incident slowly started to disperse. The busy and noisy road slowly transformed back into its old rustic nature - quiet and deserted. As silence engulfed the surrounding, the phrase " I have found that if you love life, life will love you back" resonated in their ears-Miss Sarimah's favourite phrase. A phrase which not only they, but the whole class was familiar with. Miss Sarimah, their English teacher loved to use it to encourage her students to love and appreciate life. She would frequently tell them that life is short therefore they must live a meaningful life. It slowly began to dawn on Ai Ching and Mary how true it was. They had witnessed how life trully had smiled back at Miss Sarimah today. As they took hold of their hands, they looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.

44

Sample 3 Her face grimaced in pain but Miss Sarimah still managed to engrave a faint yet serene smile across her contorted face as the paramedics rushed her to the ambulance. Ai Ching and Mary could only watch helplessly, but deep in their heart they knew that Miss Sarimah was now in safe hands. As the dust began to settle, bystanders and eye witnesses slowly started to disperse. The busy and noisy road slowly transformed back into its old rustic state - quiet and deserted. As silence coyly slithered back into the surrounding, Ai Ching and Mary could hear the phrase "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back" echo in their ears as if Miss Sarimah was whispering it to them. "Life is short therefore we must live a meaningful life" she would say. Slowly it began to dawn on them how they had played a pivotel role in making it a reality today. Their bold and courageous act had kept Miss Sarimah from meeting a certain but sure death. Life has truly smiled back at their beloved teacher. As they picked up their bicycles they looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.
IMPORTANT GRAMMAR POINTERS FOR ESSAY WRITING

1. How to use "To" correctly "To" can only be used with the root word. "To" cannot be used with a verb ending in "ing" or "ed". Alice is going to jogging in the park tomorrow. (WRONG) Harry liked to ate late at night.(WRONG) I am going to bathing afterwards.(WRONG) Don't go to shopping alone.(WRONG) Alice is going to jog in the park tomorrow. (RIGHT) Harry liked to eat late at night. (RIGHT) I am going to bath afterwards. (RIGHT) Don't go to shop alone. (RIGHT) *jog,eat,bath,shop - root words/verbs 2. Has/Have/Had + Past Particple Jim has finish his homework. (WRONG) Cathy and Sally have prepare some food. (WRONG)

45

Darian has sweep the floor. (WRONG) Carly had go to Paris. (WRONG) Jim has finished his homework. (RIGHT) Cathy and Sally have prepared some food. (RIGHT) Darian has swept the floor. (RIGHT) Carly had been to Paris. (RIGHT) 3. After,While,Before,While,As,When,For,By + "ing" After eat. (WRONG) Before sleep. (WRONG) While walk. (WRONG) As they were eat. (WRONG) For drink. (WRONG) By wash. (WRONG) After eating. (RIGHT) Before sleeping. (RIGHT) While walking. (RIGHT) As they were eating. (RIGHT) For drinking. (RIGHT) By washing. (RIGHT)

Practices 1)Write your essay with the beginning "I heard footsteps coming from the kitchen..." 2) Write your essay ending with "I was glad that I listened to my mother."

46