CONTINUOUS WRITING

CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM
Why are you assessed?
To test your ability to:
 PRODUCE A PIECE OF CONTINUOUS PROSE IN ACCURATE STANDARD ENGLISH
 RESPOND RELEVANTLY AND CREATIVELY TO A TASK CHOSEN FROM A NUMBER OF
ALTERNATIVES
Step 1: READING AND CHOOSING THE QUESTION (5 minutes)
 GOLDEN RULE #1: DON’T START WRITING UNTIL YOU ARE SETTLED AND SURE
WHAT SORT OF WRITING FITS YOU BEST?
A) Narrative
B) Descriptive
C) Argumentative
Note: Can you keep it up to 350 words or about 7 paragraphs?
WHEN YOU READ THE QUESTIONS, PLEASE UNDERLINE THE KEY WORDS OF THE QUESTIONS.
MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS TOTALLY BEFORE CHOOSING.
Example of CW questions:

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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM

Note: Don’t limit your options. In class, learn at least 2 genres so that you will have more
options to choose from.
Step 2: PLANNING YOUR ESSAY (5 minutes)
 GOLDEN RULE #2: PLAN TO ORGANISE THE SHAPE OF YOUR COMPOSITION
HOW?
A) CREATE A LIST
B) DRAW A MIND MAP
C) ASK AND ANSWER WH-QUESTIONS
The most suitable methods are ‘creating a list’ for Narrative and the Organisation Structure
Model (OS) for descriptive or factual essays.
You do not have the luxury of time for this, so do it right the first time.
a) The Create a List method

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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM

Note: The list actually consists of TOPIC SENTENCES. If you have 9 sentences, it means you
have 9 topic sentences which is equal to 9 paragraphs.
b) The Organisation Structure Model (OS Model)

Step 3: DECIDE ON THE TENSE TO BE USED
The number one major error made by students is tense errors. So, you should remind
yourself the tense to be used. This is for consistency and to reduce errors.
Narrative: There are 3 basic ways of writing a narrative.
a) A to Z method: Normally, you use past tense throughout
b) Z to A to Z: Start with present. Go back in time – past. Then, come back to the present
c) KL to A, then to Z: Normally, all paragraphs will be in the past tense
Note: After you have decided on the tense(s) to be used, then start writing.

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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM

Step 4: WRITING GOOD OPENING PARAGRAPH

 GOLDEN RULE #3: THE OPENING PARAGRAPH SHOULD SHOW THE WRITER AT HIS/HER BEST

WHY ?

A) IT INFORMS ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER
B) IT SETS THE APPROACH TO THE TOPIC
C) IT SHOULD AROUSE THE READER

It could be ....... 6. IDIOMS/PROVERBS
7. OPINION
1. GENERAL STATEMENT 8. QUOTATION
2. DIALOGUE/ MONOLOGUE 9. DEFINITION
3. QUESTIONS 10. FACTS
4. LISTING
5. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

EXAMPLES OF OPENING PARAGRAPH

1. Definition - According to the English dictionary, Internet is a computer system that allows
millions of computer users around the world to exchange information…

2. Fact - A recent survey on the Internet suggested that more than 60 per cent of the users
receive spam emails daily…

3. Personal experience -The day had started normally enough. I got up as usual, did all the
usual beginning-of-the-day things, and set off to school feeling reasonably happy. In other
words, it had all the signs of a normal, perhaps not very exciting day. How was I to know that
by the time the sun set, I would be running about trying to find someone to listen to my
woes and help me solve my problem – my sister.

4. Monologue - “Omar, make sure you’re wearing your sweater. It’s cold out there.” I could
hear my father even though I was already out of the gate.

5. Listing - Kind, caring, attentive and, not to forget, as handsome as a movie star – that’s my
father. His name is Patrick.

6. Question - Who’s the man in your life? The man in my life is about 42 years old. He doesn’t
look it though. He’s very energetic.

7. Quotation - “A father is like a tree that gives shelter to all his children.” I read that once in an
old Reader’s Digest magazine.

8. General Statement - Every child in the world needs a father. Fathers are there to help and
guide us as we grow older and wiser each day.

9. Opinion - My Father is the best father in the world. I say that not because he is my father but
because of what he has done for my family.

10. Idiom/ Proverb - “A friend in need is a friend indeed”. My father is my best friend. I tell him
all my problems because he will always have a way out of the problem. Even when he
doesn’t, he always knows how to make me feel better again. That’s why he’s my best friend.

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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM
Note: Choose the one that fits your essay BEST. Sometimes, you might want to combine a few
methods into one paragraph. It is advisable to start answering the question/task in the first
paragraph itself. Don’t wait or delay it.

Step 5: CONTINUE WRITING BASED ON YOUR PLAN
 GOLDEN RULE #4: STICK TO YOUR PLAN
 GOLDEN RULE #5: DON’T DEVIATE FROM THE TOPIC
 GOLDEN RULE#6: USE STANDARD ENGLISH. DON’T COPY LANGUAGE OF COMICS, TV, SMS,

AND BOOKS WRITTEN LONG, LONG AGO
Step 6: EXPANDING YOUR IDEAS
What is a paragraph/ are paragraphs?

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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM

USE THE ‘L.A.E.R’ Method

L -- LIST YOUR TOPIC SENTENCES
A – ARRANGE THEM TO YOUR WAY OF TELLING STORIES.
E – EXPAND OR ELABORATE YOUR TOPIC SENTENCES
R – REVISE/ REVISIT YOUR PARAGRAPHS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

 GOLDEN RULE #7: USE VIVID DESCRIPTION, INTERESTING EXPRESSIONS TO AROUSE THE
READER’S INTEREST

Step 7: EDIT YOUR ESSAY

 GOLDEN RULE #8: SPEND SOME TIME TO CHECK YOUR ESSAY
You can check the following:

1. STANDARD ENGLISH
2. PRECISE VOCABULARY
3. PUNCTUATION
4. SPELLING
5. SENTENCE VARIETY AND LENGTH
6. PARAGRAPHING

Note: You might not have enough time to edit in the real exam but it is good practice in
classroom setting. Everything must be done within 60 minutes. Don’t bother counting the
number of words. Don’t forget to write the number/ option of the question.

You should write using standard English. So,

what is standard English?
It should have the following qualities:
1. Communicates clearly
2. Obeys the rules of spelling, punctuation and grammar
3. Vocabulary is suitable
4. English used should be formal. It should not contain
(a.) slang e.g. chicks are cool
(b.) expressions which are accepted in the conversation between friends, but are out of

place in a piece of writing e.g. gonna, swing, crap, SMS language

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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM
WRITING TIPS
FOR NARRATIVE ESSAYS

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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM
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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM
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CONTINUOUS WRITING NOTES FOR SPM
THE DON’TS

 DO NOT REPEAT WORDS OR PHRASES OR SENTENCES FOR NO REASON BECAUSE IT
MEANS ‘LIMITATION OF VOCABULARY OR SENTENCE STRUCTURES’.

 USE SHORT SENTENCES ALL THE TIME. YOU NEED SOME VARIATION OF SENTENCE
STRUCTURES

 DEVIATE FROM THE TOPIC.
 EXPERIMENT DURING THE EXAM. DO YOUR BEST AND GIVE YOUR BEST.

Note: If you can, write on something that you think will arouse your readers’ interest.
GOOD LUCK........

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