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DIRECTED WRITING

 This section carries 35 marks and students are expected to spend 45 minutes on
this essay.
 READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.
 Use ALL the information in the question.
 Identify the situation, task and content of the question.
 Marks are awarded for the following:
o Format
o Content
o Elaboration
o Language

1. LETTER WRITING

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Practice 1

Letter of Complaint
The Green Environment Club of your school made a visit to Bukit
Mutiara, a forest reserve, to find more about protected plants and
animals. During the visit you saw that the park is in danger of being
closed due to a few problems faced by the management. After a
discussion with the club members, you were asked to write a letter
of complaint to the
management of the reserve.
In your letter include the following:
 The indiscriminate disposal of rubbish by visitors to the park
 No qualified personnel to provide a guided tour
 Insufficient signs in the reserve
 Facilities in need of repair

Do remember to
 Use ALL the points given.
 Provide two relevant details for each of the point.
 GRAMMAR – past tense, future tense and modals ( should, could may etc)

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Point 5Ws + 1 H Elaboration

1. The indiscriminate a. What were thrown? (1) Mineral bottles, food containers,
disposal of b. What is the effect newspapers, cans.
Rubbish by visitors to (2) Spoilt the beauty of the place.
the park (3) Pollute the environment

2. No qualified a. What happened (1) The guide who was there could not
personnel to give a during visit? help much.
guided tour. b. Why is a tour guide (2) The guide is important so that he
needed? can explain about the plants and
animals to the visitors.

3. Insufficient signs in a. What kind of signs is (1) To show directions to various

the reserve. needed? places and facilities and to help
b. Why are the signs identify; some of the plants.
needed? (2) So that visitors would not get lost
and some one can go around on their
own and read signs and learn about the
plants and animals there.
4. Facilities in need of a. What facilities are in (1) Toilet – broken down – dirty, with
repair need of repair? no doors.
b. Why is this (2) Wooden seats – dirty and broken.
important? (3) Basic facilities – important for
visitors and to attract more children to
the park.

Complete the letter below using the notes given above:

Senders’
Address

To whom?
Date
Salutation

Title

The Green Environment Club made a visit to the reserve on 25

MAY 2007 . On behalf of the members, I wish to make a
complaint of the condition of the reserve

Point 1 2. Firstly,
&
Elaboration

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Point 2 3. There were no qualified personnel to give us a guided tour.

&
Elaboration

Point 3 4. Insufficient signs

&
Elaboration

Point 4 5. Many of the facilities

&
Elaboration

6. I hope the management

Thank you.

Signing off Yours faithfully,

Signature

Full Name
Post

2. ARTICLES

Format:
 In newspaper  Title
 Magazine  Name of writer
 School newsletter /
magazine

ARTICLE – a piece of writing

on a particular topic
in a newspaper or magazine.

1. Read the question and notes to understand the situation.

2. Determine:
a. The title of the article
b. The people who are going to read the article

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c. The writer of the article.

3. Identify the relevant points.
4. Elaborate on the points.

Model Question 1
Part 1 : Identify the relevant points in the question

You attended a talk on

Part-time Work For Students. Your school
Counsellor has requested you to write an article Situation
to be published in the school magazine. Write the Task
article based on the notes you have taken during the talk. Part 2 :
A. Reasons for working part-time: Elaborate on
Content points

- to pay for daily expenses the content

- for extra pocket money points:
- help to pay for tuition fees.
B. What are the advantages? Fill in the table
- make more friends below with the
- gain experience elaboration
- learn to be responsible provided for the
In your article, remember to provide a title and Requirements
content points.
elaborate on the points.
CONTENT POINTS ELABORATION
REASONS FOR WORKING PART TIME

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1. To pay for daily expenses

2. For extra pocket money

3. To help pay for tuition fees

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
4. To make more friends.
5. To gain experience
6. To learn to be responsible
• Food, books, toiletries
• Will give them an advantage when they apply for jobs in the future
• Entertainment (watching movies)
• A student will know about the difficulties in earning money.
• Need for tuition to improve in some of the subjects
• Improve social skills – make more friends
• Feel proud about earning own money.

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Complete the article below using the points and elaboration given.

Give a
suitable title
Name of
writer

Many students work part-time during the school

holidays. Some of them work in fast-food restaurants
such as

Point 1
&
Elaboration

Point 2
&
Elaboration
Give
extra
information

Point 3
&
Elaboration
Point 4
&
Elaboration

Point 5
&
Elaboration

Point 6
&
Elaboration

Conclusion

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3. REPORT

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Model Question 1 (Reports)

Report on an Incident / Investigation
A wallet belonging to a teacher in your school was stolen from the staff room. As the Head prefect, you
were asked to assist in the investigation and search of the wallet. You have to send in a report on the events
to your discipline teacher. Write your report based on the notes taken from interviews and the actions you
took.

♦ Wallet discovered missing by teacher at 9.00 a.m.

♦ Prefects carried out spot checks in all classes- nothing found
♦ Searched the school compound and buildings
♦ Found wallet near bushes near canteen
♦ No money in wallet – documents still intact
♦ Questioned all class monitors
♦ Form five students – seen entering staff room at 8.45 a.m. and leaving in a hurry.

In your report, remember to:

i.) state the date
ii.) add necessary information
iii.) give your recommendations
Point 5Ws + 1H Elaboration
1.Wallet discovered missing •Who was the teacher? • Puan Salmah Kassim
by teacher at 9.00 a.m. •Where did she put her • Wallet was in her handbag on her
wallet? table
2. Prefects carried out spot checks in •Who conducted the • Two discipline teachers and prefects.
all classes- nothing found spot checks? • Class by class – prefects searched
•How was it done? bags, tables, students’ pockets and
wallets.
3.Searched the school compound •What time was the • From 9.30 a.m. till 12 noon.
and buildings search? • Prefects, security guards.
•Who helped in the • Drains, storerooms, toilets, rubbish
search? bins, lockers.
•Which areas were
searched?
4.Found wallet near bushes near Who found the wallet? • Misnan bin Adnan – prefect.
canteen When was the wallet • At 1.30pm
found?
5.No money in wallet – documents What were the • Identity card, credit cards
still intact documents?

6. Questioned all class monitors •What questions were •Class attendance at 9 a.m.
asked? •Did anyone leave the class?
•What were the •Any talk of money found?
answers? •Form Five Arts 1 – one student left
class at 8.30am and came rushing back
at 9.10a.m.
7. Form five students – seen Who saw students •Monitor of Form Five Commerce 1.
entering staff room at 8.45 a.m. and entering and leaving? •Have a record of indiscipline, caught
leaving in a hurry. What kind of students playing truant several times.
were they? •Taken to the Discipline Master’s room.
What action was taken?
Complete the report below using the points and elaboration above.

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Report on Give a
suitable
title

Who is the To:

report for?
Who is From: Date of
the
incident
reporting?
Point 1 + On …………………………., a teacher , Puan Salmah
elaboration Kassim

Point 2 +
elaboration

Point 3 +
elaboration

Point 4 +
elaboration

Point 5 +
Elaboration

Point 6 +
elaboration
Point 7 +
elaboration

I recommend that the discipline teachers

question the students who left the class as well as
the monitor of Five Commerce 1. Any additional
information will help clear up this matter.

Reported by
Rafiq Mahsan

4. TALKS AND SPEECHES

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General Guidelines

1. Read question and notes to understand situation. Determine:

a. type of speech – farewell / thank you / debate
b. main idea / theme of speech – e.g. pollution, child abuse, etc
c. who is your audience?

2. Identify the relevant points in the question.

3. Elaborate on the points. Give examples.
4. Know the format of the speech:
a. Address the audience
b. Introduce yourself
c. State the topic
d. Conclude by summarising all the points
e. Thank the audience

5. Pay attention to grammar and language features.

6. Use helpful expressions
i. Opening expressions
1. Good morning/afternoon/evening Principal, teachers…
2. A very afternoon to the Chairman, honourable judges,
teachers and my fellow friends……
ii. Beginning the speech
♣Today, I would like to talk about…
♣I am Hassan bin Mahmood and this morning I wish to
talk about …..
♣Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk
about…..
♣The title for the debate today is….

iii. Closing the speech

♣I hope I have given you all the information on….
Thank you.
♣Finally, let me end my speech by ………..

Practice Model Question (Speech)

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An anti-smoking campaign was held in your school recently. Since you attended the seminar, your teacher
has asked to give a speech during the launching of the Health Week. Write the speech based on the notes
you took down during the seminar.

Why do youths smoke?

- to fit with the ‘in’ crowd
- see parents or relatives who smoke and think it is acceptable
- makes them feel good
Reasons why smoking is dangerous
- cigarettes contain tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine
- can cause heart attack, stroke, lung cancer
- can be addictive

In your speech, advise students to stop smoking and suggest ways to do so.

Point 5Ws + 1H Elaboration

1. Why do youths smoke? •Why do they want to fit in?
-to fit with the ‘in’ crowd •What should parents do?
-see parents or relatives who •How?
smoke and think it is acceptable
-makes them feel good

2. Reasons why smoking is What is the effect?

dangerous
-cigarettes contain tar, carbon
monoxide, nicotine Why?
-can cause heart attack, stroke,
lung cancer
-can be addictive How?

3. Suggestions to stop How?

Why?

Now write the speech using the points and elaboration above.
Greet the Good morning to the Principal, teachers and fellow students. I am Azman Hamid
audience from form five Amanah. Introduce

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yourself
Introduce In conjunction with Health Week
topic

Point 1
+
Elaboration

Point 2
+
Elaboration

Point 3
+
Elaboration

Smoking destroys your health and it is also an

expensive
habit. It can lead to other addiction like drugs. Stop
puffing and lead a healthy life.

Thank you.

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5. DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS

♣Describe scenes, places, people or feelings.

♣Pay attention to language features.

Title

Introduction (State what is being described) Evoke senses

Body
Detail 1
Detail 2 Give details that are special or interesting.
Detail 3

Conclusion You may end with an opinion or fact.

Practice Model Question (Descriptive essay)

Read the essay below and underline descriptive words.

“My Favourite Restaurant”

Yesterday, I went to The Old Café again. My father and I stopped by the
iron gate leading to a short drive and it was like coming home.

Chattering sparrows welcomed us. The driveway was lined with scarlet
hibiscus blooms, sweet-smelling jasmine and bright butter-yellow allemande flowers. We
turned a corner and in front of us was the restaurant. The old timber and concrete
structure’s white-washed walls had mellowed with age. The roof had red tiles. As I
pushed the main door open, we stepped inside a red and white dominated room. Yes, Joe
was a Liverpool fan and was proud about it.

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There were rows and rows of tables covered with red and white chequered
tablecloths. All kinds of football memorabilia made up the décor of the room. On the
right wall were photographs of the great football players through the years. Under them
were the jerseys of the Reds. Dominating the left wall was a huge television to show the
latest game.

The football team’s colours were very obvious. The walls were red and
lamps from Malacca hung from the high ceiling which was painted white. Sunlight
filtered in from the white flimsy curtains. The room certainly had a bright and cheerful
air. Two big pots of banana plants at the back corner added a touch of green to the
surroundings.

My family’s table was the second one on the right, near a window. As I
walked to our usual table, I noticed everything was spick and span. The day’s menu was
written on a board. It had not changed since I was there, three years ago. The selection of
food was limited but the lamb and chicken were so succulent and tender that I felt my
mouth watering. I peeped through the window- neat rows of tomato plants and herbs
could be seen.

A waft of mouth-watering curry made me turn to my father. The aroma

seemed to pervade the whole room. I was glad when my father said, “Let’s order. The
usual?”
Before I could nod my head, Joe came forward with his wife. “Ah, you are
home. Now, we’ve got mutton curry and nasi beriani – the way you like it. And cendol
too.”
I sighed with contentment. The desert here was out of this world. As
Mama Joe rushed to hug me, I knew I had truly come home.

Write down all the adjectives used in the essay above in the box below:

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6. FACTUAL ESSAYS

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THE ENVIRONMENT

Introduction

Body
Fact 1

Fact 2

Fact 3

Conclusion

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7. NARRATIVE WRITING

Practise Model Question (Narrative Writing)

Write a short story about an occasion when you were frightened.

1. Read the question carefully.

2. Understand the question.
-what does the word “occasion- refer to a time when you
were frightened – it means when you were scared – a car
accident? a robbery? a kidnapping?

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Structure Language
Features
Title
Point of view- first person
Give information Introduction narrator
about who, what, ♣Set the mood Use the simple past tense.
where and why the
event is happening.

Body Use descriptive language

Series of problems/ (adjectives, adverbs,
conflicts faced by the ♣Problem 1 figurative language) to
main character. describe the character’s
feelings.
♣Problem 2
Include some direct
♣Problem 3 speech.
Climax

The solving of the

Conclusion
problem / conflict.
The story ends at an exciting point.

Read the following model essay and complete the worksheet that follows:

A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE

I woke up drenched with sweat. I thought I had forgotten all about the terrifying
experience I had had. After all, it had happened about three years ago.
We had been on a family trip to Penang and had enjoyed ourselves tremendously. It was
the last day of the holiday and my father had suggested that we explore the old part of the town.
“The architecture is really unique,” he said.
“Dad is correct,” I thought as I admired the pre-war shop houses. Armed with my new
camera, I snapped shots of the intricate designs on the doors. “But look, Jin Yu, that side road is
even more interesting. Look at the number of stalls selling all kinds of Penang delicacies. I like
this kind of sightseeing. I’ll just have a quick survey,” I called out to my brother.
It was in fact a maze of side roads. When I tried to get back to my family, I found that I
was truly lost. Just ahead of me, I saw a huge crowd of people. They were standing in front of an

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old abandoned building and looking up at the roof. I joined them and spotted a man on the roof of
one of the buildings. He was not very old, probably in his fifties. Rather dishevelled looking, he
was standing as still as a statue.. To my horror, the crowd started calling out to him. “Don’t just
stand there! Do something!” Another man joined in. “Yes, do something – jump!” Soon the
whole crowd was encouraging him to jump. “Jump! Jump! Jump!” they roared. I was petrified.
Then I became angry. “Go back! Be careful!” Suddenly the man disappeared from sight. I
could breathe again. However the crowd started yelling out to the man. All at once he appeared
and the crowd taunted him further “1, 2, 3…jump!” And the man did.
My eyes were closed as I screamed and screamed. Gentle hands touched me. “Young
lady, look! Look at all those cameras, Hush, do not cry, he’s only making a film.

Answer the following questions.

1. When did the above incident happen?____________________________
2. Where did it happen?________________________________________
3. Who is the main character of the story? _________________________
4. State problem number
1_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
2_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.
5. Why was the main character angry?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.

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Practice Question : Narrative Writing

Read the following paragraphs and rearrange them into a complete story beginning with :
“ It was a dark and storm y night. Suddenly……”
1)Ra y knew he was near his home. However, menacing looking shadows and
strange noises see med to be following hi m. He sensed that so me one or
something was following hi m. He looked over his shoulder. He could see
nothing. Panic stricken, Ra y ran for his life. He ran as fast as a wounded deer
chased b y a pack of h ye nas. He tripped and fell sprawling on the ground.

2)Ra y felt frightened. Shivering with cold, he hurried down the road. Just then
all streetlights went off. It was ver y dark. Luckil y, a streak of lightning showed
he was on the footpath leading to his ho me.

3)It was a dark and stor my night. Suddenl y a huge tree fell. The sound of
crashing ti mber filled the air. Huge trees were snapping like twigs. Ra y walked
as quickl y as he could. It was alread y past mi dnight. The road was deserted.

4)His heart pounded. He stumbled and fell over an uprooted tree. “If onl y I had
not…” Ra y muttered to hi mself.

5)He had been pla ying a computer ga me at the local Internet café and had
forgotten the ti me, mi ssing the last bus. He was supposed to have been ho me
hours ago. Ra y knew his parents would be extre mel y worried. If onl y I had not
stopped at the Internet café, he thought sadl y.

6)As he pulled hi mself out of the mud d y ground, he felt so mething ic y cold and
cla mmy. There was a flash of lightning. Ra y screa me d and screa med. It was a
huma n hand. Then ever yt hing went black.

7)The Stor m

8)The stor m was getting worse. The wind roared. It was blowing so hard that Ra y
could hardl y walk. Then it started to rain again heavil y. The rain lashed at the
trees. All around hi m were uprooted trees and fallen branches.

The essa y should read as: (write the number of the paragraphs in the boxes
below)

Answer the Wh- questions below:

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1)What did Ra y, the main character, hear?______________________

2)What did he see?______________________________________
3)What did he play?_____________________________________
4)Why did he walk home?________________________________
5)What did Ra y feel / do?___________________________________
6)Where was Ra y?_________________________________________
7)What could Ra y see?_____________________________________
8)How did he know?_______________________________________
9)How did Ra y run?_____________________________________
10)What is the climax of the stor y? W hat did Ra y touch? How did the stor y
end?
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Question 1
You are the President of the Consumers’ Association. You are to give a talk during assembly on
“How to be a Responsible Consumer”. Write out your speech.
Use the following notes to help you write your speech.
♣Consumers – people who buy or use products
♣Responsibility of all consumers- to make sure that they receive
services or buy products that are correctly prices.
♣Only few people are concerned about being good consumers.
♣Many are not fussy about damaged goods or pay high prices for
goods without questioning.
♣People careless- never check labels – expiry dates.
♣Consumers wrongly informed – misleading advertisements.
♣Consumers should get good quality products at reasonable prices

Your speech must:

1)Be written in the correct format.
2)Use all the notes provided.
3)Have some elaboration.

*********************************************************

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Question 2
You have a temporary job as a waiter/waitress in a restaurant during the long school holidays.
Describe what happened during the first day of work.

Incident: First day of work.

•Reason for getting temporary employment
•Place of work – fast food restaurant
•Nature work- take orders-inform kitchen staff- serve food on trays-hand bills to customers-
clean tables
•Met different types of customers
•Some rude e.g. one man shouted at me – said I was slow
•Some pleasant – one woman with two children-polite, patient
•Busy-especially at lunch time-big crowd-on feet all the time
•Only half hour break for lunch at 2pm
•Tired- could hardly eat-gulped down sandwiches and drank some water
•Had to mop floor- children spilt drinks on the floor
•Worked under eagle-eyed supervisor- must keep smiling and be courteous
•Exhausted when day was over- relieved – when day over – eye opener – working life is
difficult.

Question 3

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 Good Luck 

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