INFORMAL LETTER

Your friend in Singapore has written to you to inform you that his cousin in Penang was down with
dengue fever. He would like to know the situation in Malaysia as he plans to bring his family over for
the holidays in June. Write a letter to brief him about the current situation.

In your letter, include the following:

 express concern over the health of your friend’s cousin
 news about the situation
 steps taken authorities
 present situation

Do remember to:
 use the informal letter format
 use all the points given
 expand each of the points given
 write in paragraph

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

No. 34, Street of Fame,

Taman Bukit Bintang,
Bukit Bintang,
67500 Ipoh,
Perak

14 January 2011

Dear John,

How are you? I’m sorry to hear that your cousin had dengue fever. This problem seems to
have become very serious all of sudden. We always feel that the problem is not our concern until
someone close to us is affected.
My neighbour’s daughter who was in Standard 6 last year could not sit for UPSR examination
because she was down with dengue fever on the eve of the exam. Fortunately, the authorities gave
her an exemption so she is now in Form One. There were also a few students taking the examination
in the hospital.
According to the news, students made up nearly 30 per cent of the 1 500 suspected cases
over the first three weeks of the year. About 53 per cent of 621 confirmed cases last year comprised
children and youth under the age of 24. These statistics are quite worrying. This has prompted the
health ministry to increase checks on aedes breeding grounds in school and public areas. The
construction sites are largely to be blamed. The problem is made worse by the rainy season. The
stagnating water attracts the mosquitoes to lay egg and breeding on the areas.
The authorities have taken various steps to control the situation. Fogging has been carried out
in many public areas and most of the housing estates. Contractors at the construction sites have
been instructed to take appropriate actions and warned to clean up. They could be fined up to RM 3
000 for breeding aedes mosquitoes. Lot of campaigns through the television, radio and newspapers
were taken to make people aware of the issue and take precaution rather than cure them.

1
 Before the long holidays for the Chinese New Year, schools all over Malaysia carried out a
clean-up campaign of the school compound. The residents’ association in my housing are also
organised a family day clean-up of the housing estate. There were huge piles of rubbish especially
old tyres and containers littered by the hawkers near the might market site.
The situation in Malaysia has improved since the end of January. There have been no reports
of new cases of dengue. So, don’t worry. You can bring your family for a holiday here in June. I’m
looking forward to seeing them again.
Send my regard to your mom and dad. Do take care.

Yours sincerely,
Harun Din

Remember when you write an informal letter:

> Do not use slang words.
> Do not use words which are in a language other than English. This
means you cannot write ‘Dear Abah’, or ‘Dear Amma’ even if that is how
you address your parents.
> Do not sign off with ‘Love and Kisses’. Keep that for your personal letters.

2
Speech/Talk

Sample answer.

A very good morning to our beloved principal, Pn Laila Mohd Noor, senior assistants,
teachers and friends. On this glorious morning, I, Gary Tan the recipient of this year’s “Best Student
Award” am going to give a talk on “How to Become a Successful Student”. In my speech, I am going
to share with you some tips on how you can be a successful student.

If you want to be successful, you must set goals. Research shows that people who set goals
accomplish more than those who do not. In deciding your goals, ask yourself “What do I want to
be?” and “What do I do to get there?” Besides, you must be motivated. When you are motivated
you will have a strong desire to do well and to achieve your goals.

In addition, you must pay attention in class. Listen actively and focus on what the teacher is
teaching. If you have disruptive classmates, sit in front of the classroom, away from them. Always
ask questions if you do not understand. Seek clarifications from your teachers or your friends if you
are shy to approach the former.

Another important tip to being a successful student is to be organised. You can use a planner
or notebook to write down all your assignments when they are given. This way you will not forget
your homework, dates of tests or projects. Remember, if you are organised you will be well-
prepared and you will have less stress. Moreover, you must complete your homework on time.
Homework helps reinforce what you have learnt. It helps you understand and remember the
information. You must prepare well for exams.

A successful student is one who prepares for exams well in advance, and not at the eleventh
hour. If you study consistently, you will have ample time for revision. Friends, to be a successful
student you must have diverse interests. You should take part in co-curricular activities in order to
become a well-rounded person. These activities help develop leadership skills and teamwork besides
instilling values like cooperation and tolerance. Discipline is an important aspect of our lives. No
matter where you go or what you do, you will be subjected to rules and regulations. Hence, it is
crucial that you obey the school rules.

Dear friends,

What is success if you lack the common courtesies in life? Remember, you must respect
everyone. You must respect your parents, your teachers, the school staff and also your friends. You
must respect other people’s feelings and opinions. There are also several things you must avoid if
you want to be a successful student. You must avoid wasting time. These days, many teenagers
spend hours on social networks such as Facebook or playing computer games. These are a waste of
time and will not benefit you in any way. Remember, ‘Time and tide wait for no man’.

Also, avoid skipping school. Some students feel that school is a waste of time as they can
learn better from their tuition teachers. This is not true. The teachers in our school are experienced
and well qualified. They are also experienced examiners and they know how to impart knowledge
effectively. I have to stop here. I hope you have found my talk helpful. Thank you for listening
attentively.

3
DIRECTED: SPEECH

Your school is having a month-long ‘A Healthy Body Campaign’. As President of the Health Club of
your school, you decide to give a speech on the ‘Tak nak Campaign’ recently launched by the
government.

Tak Nak Campaign

A very good morning to our dear Principal, Mr. Hasnan bin Jaafar, teachers and students.
Recently, our former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched an anti-smoking
campaign called “Tak Nak”. You can now see this short and rhyming catch phrase “Tak Nak”
everywhere – on billboards, posters, TV ads, and sometimes I even hear it on the radio. Though
some people have criticised our government for setting aside a staggering sum of RM100 million
over 6 years for the campaign, it is nothing compared to the huge amounts that tobacco companies
spend to promote smoking.

But in this war against smoking, money definitely talks; it is necessary for the Tak Nak
Campaign to constantly remind us of the hazard of smoking because about 50 Malaysian teenagers
light up for the first time every day. In fact, some of these youth progress steadily from this to
regular use, with addiction raking hold within a few years. And this is despite the warning on every
pack of cigarettes that states unequivocally “Smoking is dangerous to your health”.

What can the Tak Nak Campaign do to combat this? Their aggressive advertising creates
media awareness among the public, especially among the fashionable young crowd, that smokers
have yellowed teeth and suffer from shortness of breath and tells them that it is not cool to smoke.
It is also not responsible of them to affect non-smokers with second-hand smoke.

Also, there is a succession of infomercials on TV and in the papers showing the debilitating
effects of tobacco addiction on the body and gruesome statistics of smoke-related deaths. We are
now familiar with the graphic pictures of damaged lungs on billboards which should scare people
into not smoking. This works, as I know some of my friends are quitting now, or trying to reduce the
number of cigarettes they smoke per week.

However, I feel any anti-smoking campaign is more effective if other people and organisations
are actively involved too. Yes, the first step has been taken by the top, but sad to say, many of our
politicians smoke themselves. Nearer to home, so do some of our parents and teachers.

These adults have to be good role models by not smoking themselves. If they do smoke, they
should tell their children and students that they regret that they ever started, and then take steps to
quit smoking as soon as possible. They must practise what they preach.

On a more positive note, I commend the Malaysia Amateur Athletic Union for its zero-
tolerance of smoking because they know that smoking and health just do not mix. How can our
sportsmen excel if they cannot stop smoking.

Dear teachers and students, thank you for your attention. Let me end my speech by
reiterating that smoking is a bad habit, so make Tak Nak your mantra. If you have started smoking,
say Tak Nak and quit! And if you haven’t started smoking, say know that smoking not only damages
your health but you are also literally burning your money.

4
Report
General guidelines to remember when writing a report:
 Address it to the person concerned.
 Use the points given in a systematic manner – use transition markers to enable your
audience to follow the flow of your thoughts.
 Elaborate on your points with examples or illustrations.
 Conclude your report in an appropriate manner.
 Maintain a formal yet pleasant/polite tone.

Sample 1

Integrated Leadership Camp

The Co-curricular Unit of SMK Setia recently organised an Integrated Leadership Camp at
Perimbun Resort, Cheras, from 27-29th July. The objectives of the camp were to instil leadership
qualities and improve teamwork among the 50 participants who attended this camp. The activities
at the camp were handled by several youth leaders from a local university.

All participants, presidents and secretaries of the various clubs in school, had gathered at
the school hall at 2pm. From there, they were taken to the campsite in two buses. They were
accompanied by five teachers, including the senior assistant of co-curricular affairs Puan Ng. Upon
arrival at the campsite, they were given a briefing by the facilitators. Then, they were put into groups
and asked to set up tents.

By 7pm, most of them had accomplished this task successfully. After dinner, the participants
had to engage in their first group activity. They were required to come up with names and theme
songs for their groups. The second day of the camp was much more hectic. The participants had a
rigorous exercise session which involved aerobics and jogging around the campsite.

Then, after breakfast, they had to display their survival skills. In the afternoon, the
participants had another round of physical activities. They engaged in canoeing in the nearby lake.
The night programme was the most interesting. Participants had to take part in a night hike. There
was only one activity on the third day of the camp? The feedback session! The participants rated the
programme highly and hoped that it would be held annually.

The leadership camp was a huge success because all participants showed tremendous
support by actively participating in all the activities throughout the duration of the camp.

Written by,
Ly LyTAN LY LY
Editor

5
DIRECTED: REPORT – Report to Principal

To : Mr. Hasnan bin Jalal,

The Principal,

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata

From : Malik bin Abdul

Date : 24 March 2011

Report about the School Canteen

I am writing this report is to draw your attention regarding the school canteen. Many of the
students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata are unhappy about the conditions at the school
canteen. There were lots of complaints regarding this issue.

In the first place, there are insufficient tables and benches. Our school has a student
population of over 1 000. There is only one period of recess time for all forms. More than 80 per
cent of the students go to the canteen during recess to buy food and drinks. Unfortunately, there
are only about twenty-five tables and fifty benches which can accommodate less than half the
number of students. As a result, many students have to stand while eating.

The food sold at the canteen not only expensive but lacks of variety. The menu is the same
every day. For the past five years, ever since the present canteen management took over, students
go back to the same food.

The hygiene and preparation of food leave a lot to be desired. The food and drinks are not
covered. They way canteen attendants dress speak volume about hygiene. With their lackadaisical
attitude, the food they sell would one way or the other become contaminated.

My fourth complaint about the canteen pertains to the etiquette of the canteen workers.
They are rude and arrogant. They often shout at students. The students are always on the receiving
end of their bad moods.

We hope that conditions at the canteen will improve. The canteen should provide better
amenities. There should also be a different menu everyday so that students will not have to taste
the same food day in and day out. Cleanliness should be given top priority.

We hope that you will look into our complaints and take steps to remedy the situation. The
students are prepared to boycott the canteen if their complaints go unheeded.

Reported by:
Malik
Malik bin. Mohd Jalil

6
Formal Letter
Guidelines for Writing a Formal Letter:
· Your address should appear on the
· left-hand corner.

2. A horizontal line across the page separates your address from the recipient’s address.

3. Address of the person to whom you are writing

· The recipient’s address should bebelow your address.
· The postcode and name of the town should be underlined.

4. Date
· The date is written on the right along the same line as the last line of the
recipient’s address.
· The month should be spelt out (i.e. it should be in words, not numbers). It
must be written in full (do not use abbreviations such as Sept) and in
capital letters.

5. Salutation/Greeting
· If you know the name of the recipient, then do use his surname (Dear Mr
Tan)
· If you do not know the name of the person to whom you are writing, then
use Dear Sir or Madam

6. Subject heading
· The subject heading gives the reader an idea what the letter is about.
· Write the subject heading directly below the salutation and it should be underlined

7. The body of the letter

· The body of the letter refers to the contents of your letter.
· It should be divided into short and clear paragraphs.
· All paragraphs should be numbered except for the first and last
paragraphs.

a. In the first paragraph, you should state the reason for writing (whether it is to inform, to
complain, to invite etc).
b. From the second paragraph onwards, you should include information that is deemed necessary,
depending on what you are writing about.The number of paragraphs depends on what you are
writing.

c. In the last paragraph, state what you expect from the recipient. This is usually in the form of an
action or response. It is a common practice to end a formal letter with phrases such as I look forward
to hearing from you or I hope prompt action will be taken to solve this problem. A note of thanks is
usually included

· Remember to organise the information in a clear and logical manner.

· Also, do not write lengthy paragraphs.

7
8. Ending
· You can end the letter by writing “Yours faithfully”.
· In practice, we usually use “Yours
· sincerely”, if we know the recipient but for exam purposes I would advise
you to use only “Yours faithfully”.

9. Signature
Do not forget to sign the letter and write your name below it in capital letters with in brackets.

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

Sample Formal Letter

Rajvind Gill,
10, Jalan Jujur,
Taman Jayadiri,
68000 Ampang,
Selangor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Director,
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council,
Bangunan Mentari,
Ampang Jaya,
68000
SELANGOR.

15 SEPTEMBER 2009

Dear Sir,

Poor Maintenance of Taman Jaya

I am writing this letter on behalf of the residents of Taman Jaya to complain about the dismal
conditions we have been putting up with for the past three months.

2. One of the main grouses of the residents’ concerns uncollected rubbish (point 1). Initially, rubbish
was collected three times a week. However, since June this year the garbage collectors have only
been coming once a week. Our litter bins are always filled to the brim and we have no choice but to
leave our bags of rubbish next to the bins. The rotting waste causes a terrible stench (point 2).
Worse still, stray cats and dogs scatter the rubbish (point 3) while looking for food. This is not only
unpleasant but also unhealthy.

3. Most of the drains in Taman Jaya are clogged (point 4) with rubbish resulting in the water
becoming stagnant. It is not uncommon to see plastic bags, bottles and dry leaves in these drains.
There is an urgent need to clear these drains as the stagnant water is an ideal breeding ground for
mosquitoes (point 5). The residents are worried as there has been a sharp increase in dengue cases
(point 6) in the last two months.

8
4. The street lights along several roads are also not working (point 7). This has caused several
accidents at night (point 8), mostly involving motorcyclists as they are unable to see in the dark.
Unfortunately, the dark streets have also led to another problem – an increase in crime (point
9). Several residents, especially women, have fallen victim to snatch thieves.

5. The one and only playground in our area is also not well-maintained (point 10). The grass is
overgrown (point 11) as it has not been cut for almost three months. Besides, the playground
equipment is damaged (point 12). Many of the see-saws and swings have been spoiled by vandals.

I hope the council will look into our complaints and take prompt action to solve our problems.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

RajvindGill
(RAJVIND GILL)

*************************************************
Sample Formal Letter

Chong Mei Lin,

40, Jalan Templer,
Taman Hati Bersih,
76 000 Seremban,
Negeri Sembilan
__________________________________________________________________________________

The Manager,
Lim and Sons Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.,
Lot 123, Interstate Industrial Area,
76 001 Nilai,
Negeri Sembilan 18 JULY 2010

Dear Sir / Madam,

Application for the Post of Accounts Assistant

I wish to apply for the post of Accounts Assistant as advertised in The New Strait Times dated
15th July 2011.

2. I have the necessary qualifications as stated in my curriculum vitae which is attached to this
letter. I have experience working in both food manufacturing and also auto manufacturing fields. I
am currently working in Lazat Ice Cream Sdn. Bhd. in capacity of an Accounts Assistant and have
been here since January 2008. Before this, I was working in TFR Auto Enterprise as an Accounts clerk.
Since my present position offers little prospect for career advancement, I would like to be attached
to a fairly large organisation such as yours.

9
3. I would like to work in Nilai as I intend to further my studies and get professional
qualification. I have registered with a college in Nilai to do ACCA on part-time basis. With this high
additional education level and knowledge, I can perform better in applying the accounts knowledge
in the future job.

4. I can assure you that I am capable person who can work independently. I am able to handle
full sets of accounts, up to three sets at a time. I am interested in working with a company like yours
as I feel I can grow well with the company. I am a team player, adapt easily to any working
environments and can work with people from all works of life.

5. I was active in extra-curricular activities and was considered as responsible and dedicated
worker. I led and organised many activities for the school clubs so I am confident that I can be an
asset to your company in this capacity. Furthermore, i have a good command of English.

6. In view of my qualification and experience, I would expect a salary more than RM 2 000. And
since I have my own car, I would have no problems travelling outstation should the job require.

7. I look forward to hearing from you and I am fully prepared to attend an interview at any time
convenient to you.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
Raju
(RAJU a/l MANIAM)

10
ARTICLE: Factual
When writing the article you should remember:
- to lay out the letter carefully
- to use paragraphs
- that you letter is to the press

Haze: A Danger to Health

The haze is a constant phenomenon faced by Malaysia and her neighbouring countries. The
haze is basically pollution of atmosphere, which is clogged with pollutants and other substances
from forest fires.

The haze is a direct effect of forest fire in Kalimantan and other parts of Indonesia due to
slash and burn method of farming. The Indonesian authorities appear to have no power to control
farmers from practising such methods. The haze is further worsened by open burning practised by
most Malaysians. Open-field burning of rice straw by the rice planters and open burning of dried
leaves and garbage done by the public are a few examples that done by Malaysian. Many are
ignorant of the health effects of open burning.

During the haze, hospitals and clinic often report a dramatic increase in respiratory problems,
lung infections and asthma attack. The Air Pollution Index (API) usually indicates the hazardous and
dangerous levels of pollution during this period. The haze has long-term side effects. Prolonged
inhalation of polluted air will result in serious lung infection which particularly affects the elderly.

The government must play its role to reduce the haze treat. It has to cooperate with the
Indonesian authorities to stamp out forest fires. The culprits must be brought to justice, either
through healthy fine or prison sentence. Constant vigilance would ensure the perpetrators do not
repeat their offence.

The government should also raise the public awareness of the dangers of forest fire.
Continuous campaign of the cause, solutions and steps-need-to-be-taken to reduce the haze need to
be promoted through all types of social media like television, radio, newspaper and even via
internet. The authorities should also provide assistance to farmers and introduce more sophisticated
forest clearing methods.

In Malaysia, strict laws must be imposed to penalise those who practise open burning. On-
going campaigns on the dangers of open burning should be intensified. Individuals too have a role to
play. They must participate in every campaign and stop burning. Students can advise their parents
not to practice open burning.

Every individual has to remember that we do not own the world, but instead we lent it from
our future generations. We must protect our world so that our grandchildren woulh have a healthy
earth to live.

Ahmad Harun bin Hashim

Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

11
 The Importance of Studying English

It is a big concerned for teenagers nowadays as they are unaware of the importance of English
language as they tend to ignore to learn the language. Students’ attitude towards the language is
also crucial to make sure that these teenagers can face the future world better by learning English
language as it is an international language.

Although the government has repeatedly told us of the importance of English, many students
are still not bothered about studying it seriously. There is also a campaign that still on to make all the
Malaysian becomes a better English learner, which is ‘Enhance Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia,
Strengthen the English’. English is the most important and the most useful language in the world
today. There are many reasons why you should study the language properly.

First and foremost, English will definitely help you a lot when you want to further studies.
Almost all books at university are written in English in all subjects. Plus, it is a compulsory for any
candidate to pass English with credit before entering any universities. So, if you are poor in English,
you will blow you chance for better education or worse, you are going to have a big problem
studying at university.

The second reason why you have to study English well is that it will help you to get a job.
When you go for a job interview, the interviewer will surely talk to you in English. The first
impression you should give in order to success and have the job is, to respond in English fluently.
Your chances of getting the job are very slim if you stutter while interviewing.

A good command in of English will also help you greatly in your job. If the company you work
is actively involved in international trade, you have to speak to prospective customers in English.
Miscommunication might occur if your English is bad. And this will put your company at risk and you
will likely be dismissed if this happen.

Good English will also help you a lot when you travel. Every country in the world studies
English. Even the roadside stall-holders in China speak fairly good English! At least some of the
people you meet on your travels in other countries can understand English. The language is certainly
practical when you are lost in your trip. Communication problem will not happen if you can converse
well in English. Inevitably, English is one of the languages used in any airport in the world in making
announcement. Knowing English well, therefore, make travelling overseas easier.

Besides all these, entertainment is one of the major advantages you will experience if you
good in English. You will enjoy television’s best programmes. We must admit that many of the best
programmes are produced by the Americans and British companies. High self confidence influenced
by the programmes will indirect inculcate in yourself when you are fluent in the language. Quality
time is worthily spent if you understand and enjoy the programmes.

Based from all the above elaboration, I hope that students will see the importance and realise
how importance the language is for their own future. Although it is a second language in our
country, it is now a main language all over the world.

544 words

http://englishforallsmkbenut.blogspot.my/p/spm-sample-of-essays-directed-writing.html

12
Literature: Novel
Sample Questions & Answers
QUESTION 1:

Based on the novel you have read, write about a character you can look up to and give reasons to
support your answer.

` Based on the novel "Moby Dick" written by Herman Melville, the character I look up to is
Ishmael. I choose Ishmael because he is a brave person. This can be seen from the early event of the
story. Ishmael has been a sailor earlier but decided to become a whaler instead as he is a brave and
adventurous person. He wants to visit exciting new places and to see the whales. He loves his life on
the ocean and it is never boring. He even feels sad when he is not on the ship.

It is evident that Ishmael is a brave character when he signs up to be a whaler on Pequod.

However before that he meets an old man on the road, Elijah. Elijah warns him of the danger ahead
and the evil Captain Ahab, but this does not stop Ishmael with his plan. When he finally sees
Starbuck on board, Ishmael has been warned again of the dangers and risks. According to Starbuck,
whaling is a hard life. He has to be strong and fast and will have to be away from home for many
years. Starbuck also tells Ishmael about Captain Ahab whose leg is taken by a big whale. This again
does not make Ishmael change his mind.

In conclusion, Ishmael is the character I can look up to as he is brave. He has shown that we
have to be brave in facing challenges and adventures, and to experience new things in life to
succeed. I hope I can be like him when I grow up.

QUESTION 2: http://www.andrewchoo.edu.my/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PT3-NOVEL-MOBY-
DICK-WE-DIDNT-MEAN-TO-GO-TO-SEA.pdf

Moby Dick

Based on one of the novels above, write about one of the themes in the story. Provide
evidence from the text to support your response.

Based on the novel Moby Dick Written by Herman Melville, one of the themes in the novel
'Moby Dick' is revenge. This theme is clear through the actions of the main character, Captain Ahab.
He is obsessed with killing Moby Dick, a great white sperm whale. His need for revenge intensifies as
the story progresses. Moby Dick bit off his leg and Captain Ahab wants to kill it for revenge. He
shows no concern for the lives of his crew members. He takes them on a whaling expedition which
ends with them fighting for their lives against Moby Dick. The captain shows no sympathy for others.
He does not want to help Captain Gardiner look for his missing son because he wants to keep on the
trail of Moby Dick. His desire for revenge makes him act unreasonably. He throws his maps into the
ocean and even threatens to throw a harpoon at any of his men who tries to turn the Pequod
around so they can go home.

13
QUESTION 3:

Based on the novel, write about a character whom you find impressive. Give reasons for your
answer and support your answer with close reference to the text.

The story, Moby Dick by Herman Melville tells the adventures of the whaling crew of the whaling
ship, Pequod, under the command of Captain Ahab. The story portrays a few characters and the
character I find impressive is Captain Ahab, He may have the wrong notion that revenge on Moby
Dick is sweet but he does show strong character traits. Captain Ahab has been in the whaling
business for more than forty years. This shows consistency of character, that is he can hold on to
such a demanding job for such a long time. To control a crew of whalers also requires strength of
character physically and mentally. Another character trait which I find impressive in Captain Ahab is
his determination. On one of his trips, he has an unhappy brush with a white whale named Moby
Dick and this resulted in the captain losing one of his legs. From then onwards, Captain is
determined to take revenge on Moby Dick either by hurting it or taking its life. This character trait is
impressive if it is used for a good purpose. For Captain Ahab, this determination is to take revenge
on Moby Dick. It is not an appropriate thing to do regardless the reasons for his situation. Captain
Ahab goes to the extent of insisting that the crew of Pequod think along the same line as him - to get
rid of Moby Dick. He bribes them with offers of gold and also threatens to get rid of them in the
middle of the sea if they do not listen to his orders. Unfortunately, in the battle with Moby Dick, the
whole crew and Captain Ahab are destroyed by the whale. The character traits if of determination is
good as it shows strength of character but used in the wrong way, it can generate unhappy
consequences. The character does show admirable character traits but they are not put to good use.

QUESTION 4:

Based on the novel, write about two moral lessons you have learnt from the novel. Support your
answer with close reference to the text.

The novel, Moby Dick tells of the whaling ship, the Pequod trip in the Pacific Ocean to hunt for
whales but specifically for Moby Dick, the white whale. Based on the novel Moby Dick Written by
Herman Melville Captain Ahab is determined to take his revenge on Moby Dick for the loss of one of
his legs and destroy it. The story teaches a few moral lessons and one of the lessons I have learnt is
that team spirit and mutual support are essentials for the success of group work. Another lesson I
have learnt is that leadership must lead by example and put the interest of the group first before his
own. 3 WWW.ANDREWCHOO.EDU.MY The crew of the whaling ship, Pequod under Captain Ahab
understands that whaling is their livelihood and the captain is duty bound to set his priorities right.
They catch whales, extract the oil and then put for home. Under such circumstances the crew expect
to work as a team with good team spirit and mutual support. Whaling is not an easy job and it is
important for the whalers to have a common and mutual spirit for the benefit and safety of all.
However, while the rest of the crew of Pequod have the same mutual spirit, Captain Ahab does not
share the crew's feelings and spirit as a team. Captain Ahab as captain of the Pequod should provide
strong leadership and set good examples. First and foremost, he should give priority to the safety of
his crew. Unfortunately, Captain Ahab falls short of good leadership from the aspect of the crew's
safety. He is bent on taking revenge on Moby Dick and his whaling trips are clouded by his personal
feelings so much so that he ignores the welfare of the crew members and forgets the reasons why

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they are whalers. In the ensuing battle between the captain and Moby Dick, the whole crew
including the captain except the narrator are destroyed. The crew and the captain approach the
situation with different frames of mind. There is no mutual team spirit and support in addition to a
selfish leadership. So, the lessons I have learnt is that team spirit, mutual support and strong
leadership are essential ingredients for situations that involve groups of people or teams.

QUESTION 5:

Based on the novel, explain what you like or dislike about the story. Would you recommend the
story to your friends? Support your answer with close reference to the text.

The story, Moby Dick written by Herman Melville tells of the whaling ship, Pequod's whaling trip in
the Pacific Ocean. The Pequod is under Captain Ahab who leads the ship into a whaling trip but it is
more for the purpose of catching Moby Dick than for commercial gains. I like and dislike the story
from different aspects. The story tells of the activities involved in whaling as a livelihood. I find that
interesting and yet sad that people have to work so hard and at risk just to earn a livelihood.
Another reason I do not like the story is because whaling is a threat to the whale population. It
results in depletion of the whales which has now become an endangered species. I like the story for
the character traits the main character portrays. Captain Ahab is out for revenge on Moby Dick. He
shows patience and determination and uses the whaling trips to try and catch Moby Dick. These are
good character traits but to make them into an obsession distorts the traits and turn the person into
an evil man. His determination knows no bounds and he goes all out including bribing and
threatening the crew to get what he wants. I would recommend the story to my friends as I would
like them to understand how good character traits can be misapplied and can lead to bad
consequences. Determination brings success but gaining it at the expense of others around you is
not right.

QUESTION 6:

Based on the novel, write about how the character or characters gained and faced new experiences.
Support your answer with close reference to the text.

The novel, Moby Dick tells of the whaling ship, the Pequod's trip in the Pacific Ocean to hunt for
whales but specifically for Moby Dick, the white whale. Based on the novel Moby Dick Written by
Herman Melville Captain Ahab is determined to take his revenge on Moby Dick for the loss of one of
his legs. He wants to destroy it. The narrator, Ishmael is a sailor and he has worked on different
ships. He loves the ocean which he knows is sometimes dangerous but never boring. He feels sad
when he is not in a ship. So, he decides to become a whaler although he knows that it is a dangerous
work. He does this because he wants to see exciting new places and the whales. This is his first new
experience. He signs up with the Pequod under Captain Ahab. He meets Queequeg and becomes
good friends with him. He meets some good and interesting crew members but not the captain until
three weeks later. Captain Ahab offers gold to the first person who sights Moby Dick. Ishmael is
attracted to the gold. Ishmael's first meeting with a whale comes one night when Fedallah sights it.
Ishmael goes into a small boat with Starbuck as the captain. He is excited and hopes they can catch
it. However, the whale gets away. Later, Ishmael experiences catching whales and extracting fat for
oil from them. Finally, they sight Moby Dick or rather Moby Dick turns up and tempts Captain Ahab
to capture it. They lose the fight with Moby Dick and the captain and the crew except Ishmael are
destroyed in the fight. Ishmael loses a friend for the first time but he is lucky that Queequeg's coffin
saves his life. The narrator has an interesting first whaling trip with the Pequod. He reflects on his

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time here and realises he is very lucky to be alive. They had fought with Moby Dick and many lost
their lives because of one man's hatred for a whale. The Rachel, another whaling ship looked for a
lost boy because of the man's love for his son. This is the narrator's first time experience of how man
can be so revengeful or loving and caring.

QUESTION 6:

Based on the novel, do you like the ending of the story? Why? Provide evidence from the text to
support your response.

Based on the novel Moby Dick Written by Herman Melville, I like the ending of the novel because
the moral of the story teaches us that vengeance does not pay. This is the case of Captain Ahab who
spends ‘three years’ hunting the whale, Moby Dick. The whale had taken his leg and he is now
hunting it ‘to the end of this world’. Finally, after three days, he has an encounter with the ‘most
dangerous animal’ in the Pacific Ocean where he lost his leg years ago. In the ensuing battle, Moby
Dick out manoeuvres Captain Ahab, a man with ‘forty years of hard work’, and drags him down to his
watery grave still entangled in the ropes. I like the ending because it also gives me a sense of justice
for Captain Ahab’s men who no longer have to endure the tyrannical ways of their captain.

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SPM Narrative Essays for Continuous Writing
One of the components of the SPM 1119 English paper that will make or break your grade is the 50
mark’s worth continuous writing (CW). Though others might have different opinions, as far as I am
concerned, writing a narrative essay – a story – is the way to go for CW.

Here is a sample of an excellent story written by one of our Peer Guides of 2017, Syahirunnisa Izzah
for our book Writer’s Recipe 2.0 :

* * * * * * * * *

TRICK OR TREAT?

“Hey! Wait for me!” I yelled.

My long legs quickly sprang towards my two best friends in front of me. I thought
that they were unable to hear me as they just walked away and left me behind. The
costume that I picked tonight really tested my patience too. It was too tight for me.
Unable to catch my breath as every single step was suffocating me, I finally stopped.

“Hey…wait for me…,” I murmured.

The next thing that happened made me ecstatic. My two friends who were walking
in front of me now finally stopped. With that, I excitedly dashed towards them while
holding an empty pumpkin basket.

“Halloween, I’m coming!” I shrieked.

Maybe you thought that this story would be a happy one, but I am sorry to
disappoint you; it is not. I was a 15 year old orphan who lived with my grandmother. She
was the only one at home to hear all of my problems. I loved her so much. Apart from
that, I had two best buddies from school; Adam and Jack. We would always stick together
since we were in primary school. Because all three of us we were the most impoverished
students in the class, we were mostly ignored by the other students. I did not really care
though as I was happy enough with my life. But I soon learned that happiness does not
last forever.

It was a chilly night. The moon had appeared out on the horizon and the sky was
filled with stars. Adam and Jack looked stunning in their Halloween costumes; Adam in
his Death Vader costume and Jack in his Captain America costume. Both of them looked
splendid that night.

“Hey! Nice costume there,” I said to them but they just ignored me as if I was
talking to a wall. I thought that maybe they were angry with me as I was late. Regardless,
the journey of our Halloween night had just started, so I tried to keep on smiling.

“Finally… our first house!” said Jack excitedly while knocking on the house door.
A couple of seconds later, the door was opened by an old man with a grey beard and
moustache with a bowl of candies in his left arm.

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 “Trick or treat!!!” We exclaimed together. Without hesitation, we put out our
empty pumpkin basket.

“Oh! Such marvellous costumes you got there,” said the kind old man while he
gawked amusingly at our costumes. He filled a generous amount of candies into our
baskets one by one. I was waiting eagerly for my turn, but as soon as he filled Adam and
Jack’s pumpkin baskets, he closed the door.

“Hey… what about me?” I whimpered pathetically.

Having had what they came for, Adam and Jack left for the next house. Just like before, I
was left behind dumbfounded with the empty pumpkin basket. My heart sank but I’m
sure my friends were just testing my patience so I was not going to give up easily. I
sprang my legs towards Adam and Jack.

We continued our journey to the other houses around the neighbourhood. Suddenly, my
head became heavy and it ached badly. I wanted to ask for my friends’ help but I did not
want them to think I was making excuses. So, I made up my mind to bear with the pain
and just continued trick or treating until we arrived at a familiar location.

“Hey guys, it’s my house!”

They froze for a few seconds and exchanged glances.

“What’s wrong? Come in! My grandmother must be very excited to meet you
guys,” I noticed that they were acting weirdly.

“Should we really visit her?” said Jack.

“I don’t know… We’ve not come to this house since then. I wonder if what people
say is true. That’s she hasn’t been the same ever since Nick left us,” said the other.

“What?” I was too baffled to utter a sentence at first. “Left you? What are you guys
talking about? I’m right here!” I exclaimed. I was having another headache again.
Suddenly, all of the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. I began to remember
everything.

One bright sunny day, while I was cycling back home from school, I noticed a
white van following me. I did not put any suspicion on it and just continued my journey.
Suddenly, the van blocked my way and I was pulled into the van. I had been kidnapped.

The kidnappers were wearing Halloween masks so I could not see their faces. I
was frightened beyond words. They gave a call to my grandmother and demanded a large
sum of ransom money. But we were poor people; there was no way my grandmother
could afford to pay them. As a result, they brutally murdered me to sell my organs. The
news of my tragic death from the police drove my grandmother to the brink of madness.
The shock of losing her beloved grandchild was too much for the poor old woman to
bear.

Now I knew why Adam and Jack always ignored me. I could only see them but
they could not see me. We live in different worlds now.

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 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)

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 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.

Descriptive Essays

Posted by jenny ho at Tuesday, May 27, 2008

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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

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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?

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