IMPROVING WRITING SKILLS

A frightening experience: The next morning we went deeper into the jungle and made our way up some steep terrain. After two hours we decided to return to our camp for some food.To our horror we realised that we could not find our way back.We frantically tried retracing our steps but ended up going around in circles. In the fading hours of the daylight, we tried to grope our way through the dense undergrowth. Soon we were drained of our energy. An eerie silence surrounded us. In desperation we tried to find a shelter to spend the night. The cacophonous sound of made by nocturnal only intensified our misery. A National Day parade: The celebration kicked off to a start with the arrival of the King and Queen follwed by other important dignitaries.People from all walks of life turned up in full force to witness the celebrations.The King took the salute from a guard of honour.As the national flag was hoisted , the national anthem was played.The stadium ground was filled with an array of colourful banners and flags of the different states.The excited spectators gave a thunderous round of applause when the contigents from the armed forces and different agencies marched past. Several hundred school children took to the field to forn the national day logo.All attention then swivelled to the fly-past by the Royal Malaysian Airforce. Helicopters whirled overhead bearing national flags while fighter jets soared past billowing trails of colourful smoke.the three hour celebration ended with a concert. Tired but happy , we headed home. Truancy: If left unchecked, truncy can lead to juvenile delinquency and numerous other negative outcomes. Youths who play truant have an increased risk of dropping out of school. School dropouts are more likely to be unemployed as prospective employers are concerned about the attendance of their potential employees.Regular attendance is also important for academic success. If a student plays truant, he may fail in his examinations. These students who have a low self esteem may become social misfits. To curb truancy, initiatives must be taken. Early intervention and prevention is the key to tackle this problem. Interesting neighbours: In this modern world, people are caught up in the never ending rat-race and paper-chase. There seems to be little time left to socialise and get to know members of our community or even our neighbours. However our family has been most fortunate as our neighbours are not only friendly, they are helpful and generous as well. Down the block lives Tok Minah, a grandmother in her seventies. She is one of the most well dressed women I have ever met. Even the younger ladies envy her dress sense. Her house is spick and span and she is always busy as a bee. Unfortunately sometimes she can be over zealous in her desire to help others in their personal matters. Because of her inquisitive nature, some people avoid her like the plague. Mr.Ponnudurai my immediate neighbour who is in his fifties, is a health buff. He goes for brisk morning walks, come rain or shine. At the end of the day, he sits on the balcony of his double storey house, chewing betel leaf and keeping the whole neighhood under surveillance.Nothing will escape his eyes.

JP/2013