TARGET: CONTINUOS WRITING, G – E BANDS

TYPES OF ESSAYS:

a) Descriptive

b) Narrative

c) Reflective

d) Argumentative

e) Factual

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY

DESCRIPTIVE: EVENTS

Unlike the directed writing component, there are no obvious marks awarded for

content. Refer to the scoring criteria for more details. To score the 40 language

marks, your writing needs to be firstly, almost error-free; and secondly, impressive.

1. Language

1.1 Vocabulary

You may impress your readers by the use of precise vocabulary/expressions.

Some examples of good vocabulary are:

Adjectives to describe people

Appearance Personality Condition Feelings/ emotions

Positive Negative

adorable adventurous alive amazing annoyed

awkward affectionate careful brave ashamed
attractive aggressive diligent cheerful bewildered
clumsy charming different courageous depressed
Confident crabby foolish delighted devastated
cooperative delightful generous determined disgusted
diplomatic energetic gifted ecstatic disappoint
fancy grumpy lazy elated doubtful
loving glamorous lucky enthusiastic embarrassed
mean handsome powerful jolly enrage
obnoxious homey smart peaceful furious
rude mysterious unwise proud hesitant
shy old-fashioned talented joy offended
silly oriental unwise relaxed irritate
sneaky peculiar truthful peaceful melancholy
stubborn quaint unfortunate satisfied unhappy
unkind wild wise thrilled upset

1.2 Varied Sentence Structures

You may also impress your readers by the use of compound and complex sentence

structures. Some examples of compound and complex sentence structures are:

Compound sentence structures Complex sentence structures

I wanted to go shopping but my sister Although I wanted to go shopping, I

wanted to go swimming. chose to go swimming with my sister.

He is very smart and he knows it. After he passed the school examination,

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 he went directly to the university of his
dreams.

She is famous yet she is humble She worked many long nights before
becoming a famous singer,

It was getting dark and we had not We had a long drive from the countryside
arrived. and as soon as it was getting dark we
reached the city.

They were starving and exhausted so They decided to visit the restaurant
they went to a restaurant to eat. because they were hungry and wanted to
eat.

We went to the mall but it was still closed. Even though we left the hotel quite late,
the mall was still closed for business.

Maria doesn’t like eating vegetables so Maria should take some supplements as
she takes supplements. long as she is not eating any vegetables
and fruits.

The K-pop boys sang while the fans If we are able to save enough aeroplane
danced. fare to Korea then we can attend the K-
pop open air concert.

My sister likes to talk, she is a famous My sister is able to talk on any topic
storyteller. whether it is about science or just about
baking a cake.

1.3 Prior knowledge

Prior knowledge is important, so you must carefully choose which festival you are

more familiar with. This will enable you to come up with more precise words, while

also assisting you in mapping your ideas fast.

1.4 Senses

Create a vivid experience for your readers by focusing on the five senses.

• sight

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 • sound

• smell

• touch

• taste

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

Find synonyms and antonyms.

prevalent forgive faithful create knock down infamous

typical treacherous construct crammed closer absolve

famous nearer notorious distinctive widespread common

crowded limited condemn later committed empty

Exercise 1:
Vocabulary

1. Closer: synonym: nearer antonym: farther

2. distinctive synonym: __________ antonym: _________

3. prevalent synonym: __________ antonym: _________

4. absolve synonym: ___________ antonym: _________

5. crammed synonym: __________ antonym: _________

6. Infamous synonym: __________ antonym: _________

7. create synonym: _____________ antonym: _________

8. faithful synonym: _____________ antonym: _________

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Exercise 2: Sentence structure

Join the following sentences using adverb clause.

Two simple sentences can be combined into one by using an adverb clause. Note

that an adverb clause usually indicates the time, place, manner, purpose or

frequency of an action. Adverb clauses can be introduced by the conjunctions as,

when, because, while, so, so that, that, if, whether, when, after, before etc.

Tips*
E.g:
He looked into the well. He was stunned.
He was stunned when he looked into the well.

1. She finished her studies. She went abroad.

2. You may leave. You have to complete the work.

3. She worked hard. She wanted to pass the examination.

4. We eat. We may live.

5. He is poor. He is honest.

6. I will come. He must invite me.

7. I could not meet him. He was not at home.

8. She was depressed. She didn’t know what to do.

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Exercise
3

Food
On Hari
Raya

Hari Raya

Open
house

Complete the mind map using your own ideas/words

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Exercise 4

List down as many words as possible which relate to each sense. The first one for

each has been done for you.

Sight Sound Smell Touch Taste

Beautiful Clattering Stinky Rough Sour

Descriptive Essay: Place

When describing places, you must convey to the reader the feeling of actually being

at the scenes. Ask yourself these questions:

1. What would you see, hear, smell, touch or taste at this scene?

2. What emotions would you feel at this time?

3. What words would convey your feelings exactly?

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 1. Topic : My Dream Destinations

Sample answer (Errors Identification )

Correction
As a person who loves to dream about exotic places, I often

browse the net just to look for beautiful pictures from all over the

world. However, there are no other images that I loved the most Love

than those of Santorini in Greece.

The first time I saw one of the photographs at Trek Earth

capturing the white little houses that scattered all over the island

which had the expansive view of the Aegean sea in contrasting

bright white and navy blue, I couldn’t help but thinking how it’d Could not
It had
feel like to really be there.

Surprisingly enough, not many people of whom I’ve conversed I have

with have actually ever heard about this place. They know of

Greece but they know nothing about the island. Even in Discovery Travel and

Adventure Channel program called ‘Seductive Seaside Resorts’ –

which I bought because I was thrilled to see any motion pictures

of Santorini when it was mentioned at the back of the DVD cover –

Santorini was placed at the lowest rank, which was no. 10, and that was ironic

considering that Amankila Resort in Bali was placed further up

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the higher scale at no. 2!

But I fell in love with the simplicity of it so much that not even the

glitzy night lights and the designer shops in New York or Paris

can tempt me with. Some people might favour Paris for its

romantic atmosphere, or Rome for its ancient sculptures and

paintings, but it is Santorini that really captured my heart all the

time.

It’s not so much the exoticity of it that really enchants me, but
Exoticism
the idea that this volcanic island is filled with houses that are so

uniformly monochromatic when looked from afar, as if all the

dwellers have had some sort of agreement not to use any other

paints to paint their residencies in any other colours except

white, blue, and various hues of yellows and oranges. And the

uneven path that goes up and down along the houses makes it

seem like there are so many things to be explored there, and

that anywhere you turn, the view of the Aegean Sea welcomes

you always.

When I used to work in the corporate company and there was

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one of those occasional days when I got so stressed out, I’d I had

secretly browse images of Santorini which I’d saved obsessively I had

saved
like there was no tomorrow and all of a sudden, life didn’t feel did not

so difficult anymore. If I could just imagine myself opening that

door and see that deep blue sea stretching out to nowhere ...

And then there was that one night during the weekend when I

was home alone, flicking at the TV channels randomly until I

settled on HBO where it was showing a movie about four girls

who apparently could fit into the same pair of jeans despite the

differences on their body shapes. That’s right, I’m talking about I am

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the movie adaptation of Travelling

the novel written by Ann Brashares. And in that movie, Lena the

Greek girl went to Santorini for her summer holiday and fell in

love with a Greek boy called Kostas who was absolutely

gorgeous but who cares about the boy? I was drooling at the

fact that I got to see Santorini in all its glory being featured in an

enjoyable movie that had became my all-time favourite movie

had
ever. become

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 I’d been obsessing about this island ever I had
since. It was my

secret, my ultimate dream destination that got me thinking,

“Even if I do end up going there someday... it would be fun to be

going there with the person who loves it as much as I do.” As

silly as it sounds to some people, and despite the fact that I’d

probably won’t get there until I’m 50, I do believe that everyone

must have a dream, no matter how silly it may seems, it’s so

much better, as the saying goes, to have a dream than not

having any at all.

I was still pondering (most of the time, obsessing of course) over

this idea, until I met my soulmate. And guess what? It was his

dream destination too. Still is. Sometimes when I’m all

depressed and losing my perspective in life, I often ask him

whether we would actually get there. But he, being the positive

person he is, without fail will always say the same thing, over

and over again, “Yes, we will.”

Someday, we’ll get there.

Key indicator of errors identification
1. Tenses
2. Past perfect tense
3. Word choice

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Source adapted from : http://therrysays.com/2009/03/my-
dream-destination

Descriptive Essay : Place

2. Topic Malaysian Night Market

Sample answer ( Error identification )

Correction
One of the most interesting places in Malaysia is the night

market. You may visit and experience the night market

yourselves. Both locals and foreigners agreed that the night agree

market is the most common feature in the local society.

The night market begin when the vendors arrived in the late begins / arrive

afternoon. More and more goods laden vans arrive to begin a

busily
brisk day of business. Most of the vendors are busily set up

their stalls respectively in order to get ready for a brisk day of

business. The sun gradually sets and the night market picks up

momentum. More cars and vans had arrived. By now, the stalls
are arriving
are neatly and strategically arranged to entice their customers.

There is an assortment of goods sold ranging from food, toys and

clothes, to name a few. A variety of goods were sold at low prices.

are
Large rainbow- coloured parasols are being used to shade
are used

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 the people from rain and shine. A mixture of blaring music could
can
be heard in the night market background amidst the constant

shouting. It was an amazing kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, Is

smells and colour. The night market had been known as a

Is known
haven by local ‘gourmets’ who can enjoy various kinds of
mouth-watering local cuisine. Still more people arrived, they
arrive
come from all walks of life, mingling freely and harmoniously.

Crowds are walking up and down in an endless

stream. Some of them are stopping by the stalls and haggling
before making purchases. Little children tag along, amused and
excited. Sprinklings of tourists joined in to experience the
lifestyle of typical Malaysian folks.

When night falls, lighted lamps brighten up the place,

they added gaiety to this atmosphere, and it is like a funfair. The
Add
night wears on and the traffic of people recedes. Vendors get a
chance to rest their weary legs besides bantering with each
other.

By 10.00 pm, all the stalls call it a day. The vendors packed pack

up and closed the van doors. One by one, they leave, leaving close

behind pieces of papers, plastic bags and discarded boxes. It us

an eyesore! Finally, the night market disappears. The place

becomes quiet and still once more.

Note: Night market is known as "pasar malam" in Malay language.

Key indicator of errors identification

1. Tenses 2. Present Continuous Tense 3. Present perfect tense

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Practice 1

Write a descriptive essay –The experience at the beach

Outline:

1. Introduction: Location - the beach – own reason

2. Why do you like the beach?

3. What you can feel when you are at the beach?

4. What you can see while you are at the beach?

5. What are the activities you can do at the beach?

6. Conclusion – your opinion about your experience at the beach.

Sample answer:

Everyone has a place where they go to escape all the pressures and worries of life.

There is always that one spot that can soothe all your problems and troubles in times

of stress. For me, the beach is the ultimate cure to all of my problems. While I am

there, all of my obligations are suddenly erased.

I like beach because it is the combination of picturesque rocky shores, flowers of

spindrifts and things that depict a strikingly expressive landscape. The crystal clear

ocean reflects its overhead cloudless azure sky. Overlooking from the walkway, palm

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trees and sundecks are sided line upon line throughout the beach.

As I stroll along I can feel the soft smooth sand beneath my feet. I am taking in by the

soothing atmosphere that encircles me. I close my eyes, letting myself absorb the

blistering rays of the sun on a scorching summer day. I am comforted by the sounds

of the ocean; the rhythmic pounding of the waves represses all of my worries. I look
into the cloudless cerulean blue sky and see the perfection of life. I often want to be

like a seagull, seemingly drifting endlessly in the wind without a care in the world. As I

sit in my chair I can see all the sights of

There is nothing more beautiful than the view of sunset from the seaside. The sky is

now blushed into reddish and seagulls soar freely up the sky. Sometimes, there is a

few couples having a sweet strolls. While bare footing along the seaside, they too play

with the gentler waves. The dark falls and the beach has most probably been deserted.

Once in a while, some people chit-chat on the beach and sense the soft and relieving

breeze blowing slightly. The beach is soon totally immersed into darkness and

tranquillity but it is still as adorable as it has always been.

The sandy beach is always congested with crowd. People from all walks of life pursue

their craving for rejuvenation here. It is because the beach is a relaxing and peaceful

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getaway where one can truly slow down and unwind his or her vocation. Also, the

beach never fails to entertain. From extreme to relaxing, many forms of recreation and

leisure that can be carried out to cater the different needs of young and elderly. Most

of the time you can see youth are surfing the waves and the kids are building

sandcastles. Besides, all the traditional beach rituals like sunbathing and playing

volleyball can be seen here.

Beach reveals its outgoing nature. It is always the ideal refuge for the busy lives from

hustling and bustling city. A day at the beach has its interesting own way that is beyond

praise.

Practice 2

Write an essay about a place that you had visited.

Outline:

1. Where is the location of the place that you had visited?

2. When is your visit?

3. How to get there?

4. What are the activities you can do at the place?

5. Closure – what is your opinion about the place that you had visited?

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Sample answer:

Everybody loves holidays because during our holidays we can relax and have fun. We

get enough time to travel, play our favourite sports and practice our hobbies. Most of

all I want to travel all around the world. I want to see new places and learn about

different cultures. I love travelling so by visiting places around the whole world would

be a dream come true. There are so many places I want to visit. One of places that

had caught my interest was Sipadan Island in Sabah, Malaysia. It was one of the top

ten diving spots in the world and was located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast of

Sabah which was on the island of Borneo.

As I was fortunate enough to visit this spectacular diving site two times in just under a

month, I would vouch for this place as a must-dive for any scuba diver. My first trip

here was at the end of October 2011 while my next trip was in early December 2011.

I could not stress how beautiful the island and waters were as you have to visit or dive

to see and experience it for yourself.

How to go to Sipadan Island? First, you needed to get into the town of Tawau in east

Sabah. From here, you would need to take a van taxi towards the coastal town of

Semporna which took about 1 hour and it was the main gateway to Mabul Island and

Sipadan. There were no airports or roads on Mabul therefore the only way there was

via a 30-40 minute boat ride. You could fly into Tawau from Kuala Lumpur or Kota

Kinabalu but that was as far as you fly to. There were a number of budget hotels and

dive centres in Tawau and Semporna town.

There were a total of 13 dive sites around Sipadan and most of them offer an amazing

variety. Among the best known spots was Barracuda Point which rated among the top

five dive sites around the world. Another beautiful spot here was the Hanging Gardens.

Personally, I have dived at Barracuda Point, Coral Garden, White Tip Reef, South

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Point, Turtle Cave and Drop Off. All these dive sites had their own specialties. On my

next dive there, I want to visit the Hanging Gardens, West Ridge and North Point.

From the main jetty, you could see how pristine and beautiful the waters and beach of

the island was. There was absolutely no rubbish or debris seen there. The waters were

crystal clear and in many shades of blue to turquoise. You could consider this as one

of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia.

Sipadan Island was actually a volcanic island therefore the drop is about 600 meters

(2000 feet) from the reef. The island was formed by living corals growing on top of an

extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop. There were more than

3,000 species of fish recorded and hundreds of coral species have been classified in

this ecosystem. Moreover, the coral life seen was simply amazing and unlike any other

I have seen in my life. The pure density of marine life just put me in awe when I got

into the waters there.

In a nutshell, for diving enthusiast, Sabah has several dive sites rated to be among the

top ten in the world and many more sites are yet to truly explore. Whatever your

underwater wish, Sabah’s seas and coral reefs can fulfil and surpass your wildest

dreams.

Suggested Answer Key:

1. Closer: synonym: nearer antonym: farther

2. distinctive synonym: typical antonym: common

3. prevalent synonym: widespread antonym: limited

4. absolve synonym: forgive antonym: condemn

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 5. crammed synonym: crowded antonym: empty

6. infamous synonym: notorious antonym: famous

7. create synonym: construct antonym: knock down

8. faithful synonym: committed antonym: treacherous

Exercise 2: Sentence structure

1. She went abroad after she finished her studies.

2. You have to complete the work before you may leave.

3. She wanted to pass the examination therefore she worked hard.

4. We may live and eat.

5. He is honest although he is poor.

6. He must invite me then I will come.

7. He was not at home hence I could not meet him.

8. She didn’t know what to do because she was depressed.

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Exercise 3 & 4: Any logical answer is acceptable.

NARRATIVE ESSAY
NARRATIVES

Basically, your narrative essay will be judged based on your tenses, vocabulary,

sentence structures and the impression u make to the markers. From there they will

determine your marks.

These are the pattern of narrative essay questions from 2010 to 2019.
Year Question

2010 Write a story beginning with “...it had been raining all day…”

2011 Write a story that ends with “...They looked at each other and smiled
meaningfully.

2012 Write a story beginning with “ The teacher walked into the classroom. It was
the first period.

2013 Write a story that ends with “...and so I became a better person”

2014 Write a story about a fisherman beginning with “

The wind blew strongly out at sea.

2015 Write a story about someone you know who took a big risk and had a good
result. Begin your story with “ Everybody said that the plan would never
work. It was far too risky…”

2016 Write about your experience helping Puan Ramlah, an elderly lady who
lives alone . End your story with “...I learnt a lot about helping Puan
Ramlah”

2017 Write a story of a small town girl who worked hard to become a successful
chef. Begin your story with “ She has used the last of her savings to get to
the cooking competition in the big city and…”

2018 Write a story about a teenager who had an unusual hobby. Explain what is
unusual about the hobby and how the teenager’s friends became interested
in it. Begin your story with. “ Even though is was a strange hobby, everyone
came to love it.

2019 Write a story about two people who had an argument because one of them

19
 had lost a mobile phone. End your story with, “...and they both realised how
foolish they had been.”

We can see that every year narrative essay question is asked and it is about

completing a story either given the beginning or the ending of the essay. You can

determine your own plot of story.

WHY NARRATIVE ESSAY?

✓ you only write the essay in past tense; therefore no confusion on tenses

✓ it lets you to imagine a situation; allowing to express creative ideas

✓ if you are lucky enough, the question given is plot-free (it’s you who create the

plot fitting to the question given)

✓ you can use wide vocabulary

✓ easier compared to open essay, factual essay and argumentative essay

✓ need not remember current issues around you

PRIOR TO THE EXAMINATION: WRITING PRACTISES:

1. To produce a good narrative essay, first you need to brush up your grammar.

It does not work if your grammar is not that good.

2. Buy if you can afford to, if not borrow grammar books, example of English
essays, and anything that is related from friends or library of your school
because by reading it will improve your English skills.

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 3. Identify your friends who have the highest marks in Continuous Writing. Read

his/her essay and try to relate his/her writing to yours. It is not a bad thing

to copy the way they write the essay as long as it involves study and

education.

4. Try to find time to write an additional essay (which is your own personal

essay; not homework) for two or a week times and ask for your teacher's

comments.

MY TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE A BETTER NARRATIVE ESSAY

1. BRUSH UP YOUR GRAMMAR

There is nothing more important than having a good grammar skills. So, language

must be taken into consideration when writing an essay. Refer to the above writing

practises.

2. ESSAY SHOULD DEPICT WIDE USE OF VOCABULARY AND INTERESTING

PHRASES

Unlike the other types of essays, a narrative essay requires you to have

a wide repertoire of vocabulary in the story you wrote. This is to avoid a dull story

to be presented to the reader; in this case the examiner. The marking system for

continuous writing is based on impression.

Thus, to give good impression to the

examiner on the essay you wrote, you must include a wide range of vocabulary and

some interesting phrases. Study the examples given below:

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Example 1

"It was a boring weekend. We were lazy to read books and study, so we planned for

a camping trip. After gaining permission from our parents, we brought necessary

camping things and food for the camping trip. Then, we went to Mount Tahan."

Example 2

"It was a mundane and lacklustre period after the school final examination. Danny,

Erik and I had had enough of reading books and studying, so we all set on going a

camping trip. After getting the green light from our parents, we equipped ourselves
with the necessary camping gear and enough food to last us for the two-day camping

trip. Then, we embarked on our journey to Mount Tahan with high spirits."

Between both examples, Example 1 depicts a dull story but Example 2 depicts a

colourful story although both are mainly telling the same idea. Why? Here are

the answers:

a) Example 1 lacks of vocabulary.

b) Reading Example 1 does not portray sense of maturity in writing unlike Example 2.

c) Example 1 lacks of details but Example 2 has an adequate details in the writing

that added the value of interest.

d) The use of word/phrase like mundane and lacklustre, green light, camping

gear, embarked and high spirits added more sophistication to Example 2.

So, how to make your essay more interesting to read?

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1. Find words or phrases that can replace a common word that you

think can be used for every essay you want to write. For example happy can be

replaced by cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, light-hearted, jovial, gleeful,

buoyant, carefree, blithe, glad, elated, ecstatic, euphoric, overjoyed, exuberant,

in seventh heaven, propitious, auspicious and fortuitous. Actually these

replaceable words for happy are only a portion of it. A thesaurus may come

handy for this job. Try searching for sad, shocked, scared and so on.

2. Insert at least two idiomatic expressions in your essay like Example 2

that uses the idiom green light which means giving permission and high

spirits which means happy. From Example 2 which is a complete paragraph

there are already two idiomatic expressions. So, imagine if there are five similar

paragraphs!
3. This next tips could be very ambitious. Try to insert common words

and phrases from Latin and modern languages which had been accepted

and used in English Language. Such words like ad initio (Latin) meaning from

the beginning, esprit de corps (French) meaning team spirit, genre

(French) meaning style and so on. These words can be found in English

dictionary.

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REFLECTIVE ESSAY

Reflective essay is a form of creative writing where you examine an experience or

situation through self-reflection. Through the course of creating the reflective paper,

you describe insights that you gained or express your views on some

experience. Reflective essays are typically personal writings about an

experience, but they can be made up as well.

Tone and Structure

Self-reflection is a personal experience. Therefore, the tone and voice of the writing

are personal as well. Written typically from a first-person point of view, these types of

essays take the reader through a journey of growth and discovery.

The structure and format follow a typical essay writing outline. Begin with a great

hook and a strong introduction. Pull the reader in without giving too much away, then

provide a quick overview of the reflective topic. Next, in the body of the essay, is

describing your experiences and growth. Round out your writing with a solid
conclusion that concisely restates what you have learned.

How to write a Reflective Essay

1. Think of an event which could become the topic of your essay. When you have

chosen an event, ask yourself how you feel about it, how it affected (or did not

affect) your life and why? This will help you create a thesis, which will serve

as the focal point of your essay.

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 2. Make a mind-map. Write down your thesis and draw a circle around it.

Now identify your main arguments and ideas which will support it and help

readers follow the evolution of your thoughts and experiences, group them into

paragraphs which you will write later, and connect them to your central circle.

Creating this type of flow diagram will help you see the overall structure of your

essay more clearly. Finally, decide on the logical sequence of these paragraphs

and order them accordingly.

3. Write a strong opening paragraph. Your introduction must be

eye-catching, so the readers become engaged immediately.

4. State your supporting arguments, ideas, and examples in the body paragraphs.

Emphasize only one point or experience, as well as reflections on it, within each

paragraph.

5. In the first sentence of the conclusion, briefly summarize your thoughts. Think about
what you have learned and how your experience might be useful to others. Finish
your essay with a rhetorical question to your readers about how they might act in a
similar situation. Alternatively, ask them to think about a related topic on their own.

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Sample of Reflective Essay

My Little Brother

This essay example is written at a middle or high school level, reflecting on the

arrival of a younger sibling.

In my short life, there are many experiences that could qualify as life-changing.

Every new experience was, at one time or another, the first experience. For good or

bad, each instance changed the course that my life has taken. But, the most life-

changing, mind-altering experience was the birth of my youngest brother.

Joel is someone my parents often call a happy accident. At the time that my mother

became pregnant, I was 13, and my other brother, Jake, was 10.

We were what you would call a well-rounded, perfect family of four. We neatly fit into

the perfect classification in nearly every way. We didn't realize what we were missing

until the moment that my youngest brother first opened his striking blue eyes.

In truth, I hated the fact that I would be having another sibling. Nothing needed to be

added to our family, and my mother, already 38 at the time, was considered high risk

because of her age. The pregnancy itself was full of complications. But now, I can

see how the situation had helped me to understand what life was with the presence

of a new brother.

The day Joel was born, my mother took me with her to the hospital rather than my

father. It wasn't a planned move, but Jake and my father were both feverish; I was

the next best alternative. Sitting with her through every contraction, I gained a new

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respect for just how powerful and strong a woman could be in what might be

considered their weakest moment. Holding her hand and feeding her ice chips, I

gained a connection with my mother that I didn't realize we were lacking.

The moment my new baby brother came into this world, I realized two things nearly

simultaneously. First, you don't realize how much you need something until it's sitting

in your lap. Second, my life after this moment would never be the same. The

moment he curled his chubby little finger around mine, I understood the words

"happy accident" completely.

There are many different experiences in life that have changed a part of me as a

person. But, nothing changed my views and outlook on life like the birth of my

youngest brother. Joel's arrival was a life-altering event that caused me to see the

world through new eyes.

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ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

The definition of an argumentative essay is a research paper that takes a position on

a controversial issue and tries to present evidence in favour of that position. The

world is full of argumentative essay topics.

Argumentative Essay Writing Tips

The most important argumentative essay writing tips revolve around two

central concepts: passion and research. Once you decide on a topic you

feel strongly about, start putting your thoughts down on paper and building

an outline. That will eventually translate into the actual argumentative

essay. Here are a few tips to consider as you formulate your ideas into a

cohesive presentation.

Find a Good Argument

First, find a concrete (and potentially controversial) argument to use as your base.

This is the best way to keep your reader hooked. Is there a stance you can take that

contrasts the "typical" world view on the topic?

Truly, the sky's the limit when it comes to finding a heated topic to present. Find out

what people are talking about on social media or your favorite news outlets, and see

if you can take an interesting approach to the subject.

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Pick a Topic You're Passionate About

As you search for topics, you'll probably find several hot button areas. However, just

because it's a potentially controversial topic doesn't mean you should write about it.

Make sure it's a topic you actually care about. It will make all the ensuing research

far more enjoyable. This is one of the most important argumentative essay rules

(second to research).

If you pick a topic you're passionate about, your dedication and passion to the topic

will shine through your writing. When there is no passion in an argumentative essay,

the reader can easily get disinterested. If you do not believe in what you're writing,

no one else will.

Research as Much as Possible

As you conduct your research, be sure to read about your own topic as well as

opposing viewpoints. You can't make a good argument if you don't understand

where the other side is coming from. This can make argumentative essays a little

more labor-intensive than other types of essays.

You have to not only backup your own opinion with solid data, but you also have to

point out why the opposing argument doesn't work. The more you can flesh out a

good argument and back it up with research, the stronger your essay will be.

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Gather All Your Facts

Out of all the tips for writing an argumentative essay, researching as much as

possible is probably the most important. So, let's expand on that a little bit. What

good is an argumentative essay if there are no facts? You need facts to support your

opinion on a controversial topic.

These are known as supporting details. For more on how to gather them, check

out What Are Supporting Details?

To avoid looking like an amateur, you need verifiable facts that will substantiate your

argument. Without these facts, you risk looking unprofessional and unprepared.
Offer statements made by leaders of world organizations or respected authorities.

Cite statistics and figures that relate to your topic. Share a small narrative that

illustrates how your topic has evolved over time.

Formulate an Outline

As you research, it can be difficult to weigh your findings in the balance. What's

worthy of inclusion? What's not as important? This is where an outline comes in.

An argumentative essay outline will help you lay out your facts, choose the strongest

elements, and map them out effectively.

Establish the three core sections of your essay -- introduction, body, and conclusion

-- and then set out subsections with bullet points. Once you see your ideas gathered

and mapped out like this, you'll be able to move forward with writing your essay.

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 Mind Your Formatting

If your essay isn't formatted well, it will detract from the effectiveness of the

potentially sound argument you're trying to make. You can look at an essay as

having three broad sections:

1. Introduction - A typical essay will have an introductory paragraph or two that

contains your thesis statement (or your statement of belief) and offers a bit of a tease

as to WHY the reader should continue reading.

2. Body - The body of your essay will contain the meat of your argument. This is where

you'll include relevant facts, statistics, narratives, testimonials, and more. The body is

your chance to leverage various modes of persuasion too, like appeal to

emotion or logic.

3. Conclusion - Finally, your conclusion will offer a brief summary of what has been

written. It'll reiterate how the "meat" of your essay ties back into your thesis

statement and why your stance is correct. You might consider ending with a

rhetorical question or some other striking comment.

Let Your Passion Bleed Through

Although research is paramount, passion is second in line. Think about the last time

a friend told you to buy a new product or watch some new TV show. They were

probably highly passionate and swayed you to have a look. The same must be true

for your next argumentative essay. Get behind your stance, back it up with credible

sources, and seek to change the world, one mind at a time.

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The cousin to argumentative essays is the expository essay. These require you to

explore an idea, evaluate the evidence, and then explain your opinion. With your

argumentative skills under your belt, we're sure you'll excel in this format, too! Here

are some expository essay writing tips to help you do your best if the time should

ever come.

Sample Argumentative Essay #1

Students Who Study Abroad Achieve Greater Success

Much of our learning takes place outside the classroom. We learn how to maintain

budgets, forge friendships, develop business relationships, and more. Imagine

extending those skills on a global level. We would immediately cease to believe the

world only contains the people and things we can see but, rather, a wide variety of

opinions, customs, beliefs, and ethics. This is why every college-level student must

study abroad during their undergraduate years. They will learn more in that semester

abroad than in any other academic year.

According to IES Abroad, a company that encourages students to become

international leaders, students who study abroad are more likely to be accepted into

the graduate degree program of their choice. In fact, 90% of students who studied

abroad with IES are admitted to their first or second choice for graduate school.

Imagine walking into an interview and being able to discuss preparing the most

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popular dish in India or organizing the best route to take from Sydney, Australia to

Perth. Not only does this strike up a memorable conversation, but it also

demonstrates a student's fierce independence and determination. All this makes

someone who has studied abroad a more desirable candidate for their dream job. As

if IES Abroad's statistic above was not astounding enough, it has been proven that

97% of students who study abroad find employment within 12 months of graduation

(Smith, 2019, p. 17).

Beyond college, students who study abroad will be better equipped to succeed in the

workplace. Their broadened worldview will help them relate to their co-workers,

especially in a worldwide organization. This increased scope of knowledge allows

25% of students who study abroad to receive higher starting salaries. That is clear

evidence that their experiences and views are valued by employers.

In spite of all these benefits, some parents simply will not allow their children to study

abroad. A portion will argue that it is not safe. Others will argue that studying abroad
costs too much money. In these cases, it is important to take a look at one

semester's financial aid statement. How much does it cost to be a student at a local

university? When tuition, housing, textbooks, transportation, and meal plans are

considered, it becomes difficult to argue that there's a stark difference in the cost of a

semester at home versus a semester abroad.

Studying abroad will have long-lasting, positive implications on a student's future as

an academic and a professional. New windows of opportunity will be flung open the

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moment an undergraduate boards a plane. Why not make an appointment with the

study abroad center at your university? You have nothing to lose by starting a

conversation today.

Source: Yourdictionary.com
Sample
Argumentative
Essay #2

School children should not have long holidays. Do you agree?

When asked if school children should have long holidays, the answers of different

individuals will certainly differ. Some people have the opinion that school children

should be entitled to long holidays while the others disagree. From my point of view,

school children should be given long holidays. I have my own reasons for thinking

so. The freedom of school children is normally restricted by their parents during the

school days as they want their children to focus on their studies in order to pass their

examinations with flying colours.

Apart from schooling, they have to spend a lot of time doing their homework and

attending tuition classes as well. As a result, they hardly have any time left for

leisure pursuits. During school holidays, more freedom is usually given and children

are able to spend their time on activities that they are fond of.

For example, if children have green fingers, they can spend more time on

gardening. They can also spend more time on their favourite sports in order to keep

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fit both physically and mentally.

The arrival of long school holidays is also a good time for children to strengthen their

family ties, since families need to spend time together in order to bond. Examples of

activities that assist to develop close family ties are having a picnic at the seaside

and playing sports and games. When children involve in family activities such as

cleaning the house and preparing a meal, they learn about the spirit of cooperation

and burden-sharing, thus promoting strong family ties. Besides, they learn to be

more independent and responsible when they do household chores such as washing

the clothes and dishes, sweeping the floor, laying the table before a meal, making

their own beds, and so forth.

Another reason why long holidays are necessary is that children need to meet other

relatives and to socialise with friends in the community so as to improve their

interpersonal skills, since 'no man is an island'.

This can be extremely beneficial to them and helps them be better equipped

especially when they grow up and starts working in the society.

It is true that many parents face problems during long school holidays as their

children waste their time by spending it on undesirable activities such as playing too

much computer games and getting into bad company. However, I believe that such

problems can be solved through proper planning, guidance and time management.

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Though there are disadvantages for school children to have long school holidays, the

benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. As the saying goes, 'all work and no play

make Jack a dull boy'. Therefore, I disagree that school children should not have

long holidays.

Sample Factual/Expository Essay #1

Why is having good neighbours important?

Neighbours are people who live next door or near to us. If we live in a

neighbourhood with good neighbours, we are fortunate and blessed. Good

neighbours are extremely helpful and make our stay safer and more enjoyable.

I am lucky to live in a neighbourhood with mostly good neighbours. My whole family

is very close to our next-door neighbours. Just like our family, theirs is comprised of

four members - Encik Ramlan, his wife Puan Aini, his daughter Fatim and his son

Asraf. Fatim and Astraf are in the same age group as me and my brother. Every

evening and weekend, we play together and there is never a dull moment. We often

study together and help one another with our homework too. In the mornings, our

mothers visit the market together. After that, they go jogging in the park. Since our

fathers share the same hobby of fishing, they go fishing at weekends by a river

which is nearby our houses.

Good neighbours can be helpful as well. When my family are away on holidays, we

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request our neighbours to keep an eye on our house. They are also willing to help us

water our plants and feed our pets. ‘Neighbours are better than relatives that live far

away’ is a Chinese proverb that explains the importance of having good neighbours.

Due to the fact that they live in close proximity to us and spend more time with us,

they are more intimate to us. Naturally, they can offer us better assistance when we

face problems.

During the previous school holidays while we were visiting my grandparents in a

village, a burglar attempted to break in our house. It was about midnight and Fatim

was doing her holiday assignment by the window of her room when she heard

rustling noises from our house. Upon looking out of the window, she saw a burglar

trying to prise open a window of our house. At once, she raced downstairs. Her

parents, who were watching television in the living room, were quite surprised to see

her in such a hurry. After informing them what was transpiring, Encik Ramlan called

the police immediately. When the policemen arrived, the burglar had broken in our

house and was ransacking it. The policemen acted professionally and apprehended

the burglar successfully within ten minutes. We were extremely grateful to them for

their benevolence.

Having good neighbours is important because it makes our life in a neighbourhood

safer, happier and more fun. We also tend to have more peace of mind. Although we

can choose our friends but not our neighbours, we must remember that we get what

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we give. As the saying goes, ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.

Therefore, we should at least try to be good neighbours in order to build good

relationships with our neighbours.

E to D

1. Narrative essay
1. Write about your experience in helping some villages during a flood. End your story with “ I
was so happy that I had done my part in helping my village people. “

2. Write a story about a woman who sacrificed a lot for the sake of her family. Begin your
story with “ The village was bathed in the morning sunlight. Faridah always started her day
at the break of dawn...

3. Write a story about a time in your life when there was unusual weather and what you did.

2. Descriptive essay

1. Describe a day when you had to deal with your father who was angry with you. Explain
how you handled the situation and he forgave you.

2. Describe a few challenges you had to face in your life.

3. Describe the time you had to stay home and had online lessons from your teachers.

3. Argumentative essay

1. Living in an extended family is very beneficial” How far do you agree?

2. It is the responsibility of the city authorities to keep the city safe and clean. Discuss.

3. “Young people are neglecting their health”, What do you think ?

4. Factual essay

1. How do you plan to improve your examination results?

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 2. How can watching television improve your studies?
https://fatimiestar.blogspot.com/2012/09/tips-to-write-factual-essay-for.html

3. The social networking website helps students widen their knowledge.

5. Reflective essay

1. What can be done to make school life more interesting ?

2. What would you do if you were given a lot of money?

3. Where would you choose to live, in the city or in the countryside?

Reference ; https://www.malaysia-students.com/2014/06/spm-sample-essays-toefl-muet-writing-
ielts.html

Literasi English 1119 form 4 / Sasbadi 2018

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