MODUL BAHASA INGGERIS SPM 2020 SET B

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
Love
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
than those of Santorini in Greece.

The first time I saw one of the photographs at Trek Earth Could not
capturing the white little houses that scattered all over the island It had
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
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! Exoticism
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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
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

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
like there was no tomorrow and all of a sudden, life didn’t feel saved
did not
so difficult anymore. If I could just imagine myself opening that
door and see that deep blue sea stretching out to nowhere ... I am
Travelling
And then there was that one night during the weekend when I
was home alone, flicking at the TV channels randomly until I had
settled on HBO where it was showing a movie about four girls become
who apparently could fit into the same pair of jeans despite the
differences on their body shapes. That’s right, I’m talking about 9
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the movie adaptation of
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
ever.

I’d been obsessing about this island ever I had
since. It was my 10

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

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 agree
yourselves. Both locals and foreigners agreed that the night
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 are arriving
momentum. More cars and vans had arrived. By now, the stalls
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.

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

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the people from rain and shine. A mixture of blaring music could can
Is
be heard in the night market background amidst the constant Is known
shouting. It was an amazing kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, arrive

smells and colour. The night market had been known as a
haven by local ‘gourmets’ who can enjoy various kinds of
mouth-watering local cuisine. Still more people arrived, they
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, Add
they added gaiety to this atmosphere, and it is like a funfair. The
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 common
3. prevalent synonym: typical antonym: limited
4. absolve condemn
synonym: widespread antonym:

synonym: forgive antonym:

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5. crammed synonym: crowded antonym: empty
6. infamous famous
7. create synonym: notorious antonym: knock down
8. faithful treacherous
synonym: construct antonym:

synonym: committed antonym:

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

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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

32

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

33

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

34

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.

35

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

36

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

37

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?

38

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

39

SET B1

Section A
[15 marks]
[Time suggested : 25 minutes]
Question 1 to 8 are based on the given stimuli. Study the information carefully and
choose the best answer.
Questions 2 and 3 are based on the following extract

LETTERS: As a result of the smooth reopening of schools with the first
batch returning on June 24, the next group with a bigger number of
schoolchildren will follow suit starting July 15.

The much-awaited news may have made those students jump for joy as
schools are their second homes, while teachers and friends their second
families. Friendships will be rekindled while the thirst for knowledge in
classrooms will be quenched.

Are we are creating a safer learning environment for schoolchildren? It
is best for them to learn by example. Teachers, staff, contract workers, security
guards and canteen workers should serve as role models for schoolchildren
who are about to familiarize themselves with standard operating procedures
(SOP) in schools.

1 The text tells us that

A the SOP will be made familiar by models.

B the students are going to make new friendships.

C the canteen should prepare enough food and drinks.

D the school authority should show safety measures to students.
2. The much awaited news refers to,

A school reopening.

B students feeling joyful.

C big number of schoolchildren.

D teachers meet second families.

SHAH ALAM: Police are searching for the driver of a white Hyundai
vehicle found to be driving against the flow of traffic in Batu 5, Jalan Meru,
Klang last night.North Klang district police chief, Assistant Commissioner
Nurulhuda Mohd Salleh said in a statement today that the car was
recorded travelling from the three-way Haji Abdul Manan intersection
towards Bukit Raja around 10.50pm. "The white Hyundai vehicle with a
yet to be determined registration number was said to be driven against
the traffic flow, thus endangering other road users.

3 From the newspaper report, we can conclude that
A the car was found at Jalan Meru, Klang.
B the driver could have caused accident.
C the driver was recording while driving.
D the car was stolen from its owner.

I like talking to myself. It is one of my greatest pleasures. I often
have long conversations all by myself, and I am so clever
sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
- The Rocket from The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar
Wilde

4 We can conclude that the writer
A talk to himself for hours.
B talk to himself for pleasure.
C talk to himself but he did not understand.
D talk to himself because he was all alone.

Staying motivated with online learning
STAYING focused and motivated are the two main challenges university
students are experiencing ever since they had to switch from face-to-face
learning to the virtual and remote method due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While
some have adapted well to this new norm, many are still grappling with technical
issues, as well as the solitude and isolation, while trying their best to keep on
track with their studies.
The feeling of loneliness or isolation may also set in as students tackle
new topics and assignments without the support they are accustomed to,
particularly the physical and immediate communications with lecturers and peers.
5 We can conclude that staying focused
A is difficult for online learning.
B comes together with motivation.
C keeps the students on track with their studies.
D is the main problem among university students.

6 When he said, …. Besides that, I mean, he meant that
A he was expecting easier options.
B he did not want to do his works.
C he wanted to drop the subject.
D he did not like the teacher.

Malaysian Celebrity chef
Redzuawan Ismail, or better known as Chef Wan, is a Singapore-born
Malaysian celebrity chef. His early career was as an accountant. He says
after seeing the popularity of many types of Asian food in Western countries,
he decided to promote Malaysia and other South East Asian countries using
their food.
He has an associate degree in Professional Chef Training and Hotel
Management from the California Culinary Academy and a Ritz Escoffier
Diploma from the Hôtel Ritz Paris. In 2009, he won the Best Celebrity
Television Chef of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Chef Wan is a
Tourism Malaysia culinary ambassador. He is currently a brand ambassador
for AirAsia.
7. What can we learn from Chef Wan’s story?

A Successful careers start from academic.

B Do not be afraid to take risks.

C Popularity equals to success.

D Always change your careers.

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Content creator Dustin Pfundheller published a video on
his Facebook page "Other Side of the Truth" on May 18, praising Malaysia's swift and
effective methods in curbing the spread of Covid-19. Facebook, however, seems to
think the video promotes "false, misleading and deceptive claims”. The video, entitled
"How Malaysia Did the Impossible", lists how both the Malaysian Government and its
people worked in tandem to combat Covid-19 and safeguard the people's welfare.

8 From the newspaper report, we can conclude that

A the video became viral in Facebook.

B the video was proven to be misleading.

C the creator was accused of making misleading video.

D the creator published a video and mistaken to be misleading.

Question 9 to 15 are based on the following passage. Choose the best answer to
fill in each blank.

Aina Abdul is no stranger to Malaysia’s music scene. Fondly known as Aina

Mentor, the title derived from the national prime reality television singing competition

MENTOR 9 she got selected to participate in 2014. She came into the

limelight 10 becoming the first runner-up of the show under the apprenticeship

of Malaysia’s Queen of Rock, Ella. This was not the only highlight of her

achievements in that particular year.

She later surprised Malaysia and the world as she 11 to win the Senior

Grand Vocalist Champion’s title in the World Championships of Performing Arts

(WCOPA) held in Hollywood, Los Angeles. 12 young lady can certainly take

any stage by storm! She has also made appearances on national television where

she performed in the opening and ending slots for one of Malaysia’s top talk shows’,

Wanita Hari Ini and also a special appearance in one of Malaysia’s famous reality

shows’ Akademi Fantasia where she was 13 to share her vocal knowledge and

techniques to the contestants.

Since, Aina has actively been composing her own material and has started

performing publicly at some of KL’s best live venues. Aina has been using the 14

as a medium to create her own kind of music for her fans. She believes in originality

and creating her own sound would inspire listeners 15 her story.

9 A which 13 A request
B where B requests
C when C requested
D what D requesting

10 A before 14 A opportunity
B when B chance
C once C effort
D after D skill

11 A rise 15 A from
B rose B with
C rises C as
D rising D to

12 A These
B Those
C This
D That

Section B
Read the following information and answer the questions that follow.

HANDY HELPERS
To prepare for any eventuality in the home, here are some must-haves to be kept near.

Questions 16 - 20

Using the information given, write the name of the most appropriate handy helper in the
boxes below.

No Description Name of Handy Helper

Alice's children always dirty their hands while
16 playing.

Aznil's mother ofthen forgets to take her
17 medicines.

18 Jane cleans her house but is allergic to dust.

19 Molly wants to colour her hair.

20 James had a fall and has cuts on his knees.

[5 marks]

Questions 21 – 25
Complete the sentences below using the information given.

21.The disposal gloves are useful for anyone having to do ___________________
______________________________________________________________

22. We should use the 3-ply masks to avoid ______________________________

23. Using the pill organiser helps to keep track of our medication for ___________
______________________________________________________________

24. The plasters help wounds to heal faster as they are _____________________
______________________________________________________________

25. Zippy Kid’s Hand Sanitiser will have an orange _________________________
______________________________________________________________

[5 marks]

Section C
[25 marks]
[Time suggested : 50 minutes]

Questions 26 to 31 are based on the following passage.

1 City girl Cheryl, 31, never dreamt that she would one day give up her corporate
career to become a volunteer teacher. But that was exactly what happened. Cheryl
was sent to a rural school in Kedah and contributed to her school by establishing a
choral speaking team. The team went on to become a top qualifier at a district-level
choral speaking competition. It was a triumphant moment for the school because it 5
had never won a prize, let alone make it to a top tier in a competition.

2 “I was a public relations (PR) consultant for four years. During that time, I used
to teach students in Puchong. Then I reached a point where I realised I liked
teaching more than PR so I decided to leave.” In 2013, she joined Teach for
Malaysia and was trained for eight weeks. During her training, she was taught 10
different teaching strategies like how to engage the students and how to plan and
have class games. Upon completion, Cheryl was then sent to SMK Pinang Tunggal,
Kedah.

3
Despite the smaller paycheck after switching careers, Cheryl persevered and

went on to assemble a team of students whom she initially saw as lacklustre and 15
polished their talent through sheer grit. She said the experience was an emotionally
charged and physically draining one as she had to start from scratch to find
prospective students. They had problems with speaking English. There were times
my students would get tired but some of them would persevere. It was difficult.
There were issues with pronunciation too as they were used to conversing in the 20
Kedah dialect. “The students don’t pronounce the suffix ‘-s’ but English has a lot of
that, so that was my biggest challenge with them, but I trained them continuously
even through the fasting month and it was so tiring. I even encouraged them with
motivational words to stay focused and soldier on, so they would not lose their
4 spirit.”

25
Privately though, Cheryl did consider giving up after having a difficult time
assembling her 35-student team for the competition. Many opted out owing to lack
of confidence and attendance was just too poor to begin practice. Refusing to give

up, she put her foot down and gave an ultimatum to her students. “There was

another teacher who did it with me. We reached a point where we thought we didn’t 30

want to do it because attendance was discouraging, and the students were dropping

out. So, I called them and reminded them the reasons they joined the competition. It

was then they felt inspired to finish what they started. I had no choice but to tough it

out because I felt that they can ace this competition. But they need to realise it

5 themselves too. I couldn’t get that message across easily. I too got emotional at

times,” she added. 35

The team was made up of students from Form One up to Form 5, some of whom
hail from rural villages and had no transportation to and from the choral speaking
practice sessions. But Cheryl volunteered to chauffeur some of the students to
motivate them to turn up. There was also the regular food and drinks which she
6 would supply on days where the practice took a long time. This also took a hit on 40
Cheryl’s monthly wage of RM2,000. Nevertheless, it gave her much satisfaction.

“One of the ways I motivated my team was I told them that no one is going to
look at them at the competition as we were going up against 25 schools. I told them
they had to make heads turn and that’s how they are going to win which they did. Of 45
course, there were vast differences between our school and the other schools. We
were competing for a spot against schools categorised as cluster institutions,
religious schools, and Chinese schools. On that day, my students delivered an
7 outstanding performance. I saw the reaction on the judges’ faces and they were all
like: Wow! This is such a good school! I never thought we would get the placing but
we did.”

SMK Pinang Tunggal won the fifth spot in that competition.

Adapted from the Malay Online, February 2017

26 (a) From paragraph 1, why was the team’s achievement a triumphant moment for the
school?

...….…….……………….……………….………….………………………….…[1 mark]

(b) From paragraph 2, what made Cheryl leave her job?
………….……………….……………….………….………………………….…[1 mark]

27 From paragraph 3,
(a) why did the experience affect Cheryl emotionally and physically?
………….……………….……………….………….………………………….…[1 mark]
(b) what was her main problem with the team?
………….……………….……………….………….………………………….…[1 mark]

28 From paragraph 4,
(a) which word conveys the meaning of “a final warning”?
…….…….…………….…………..…….………….………………………….…[1 mark]
(b) how did Cheryl motivate the team to keep on practising?
….…….……………….……………….………..….……….………………….…[1 mark]

29 (a) From paragraph 5, lines 37 to 38,
“This also took a hit on Cheryl’s monthly wage of RM2,000.”
What does the word this refer to?
….…….………………....……………….………….………………………….…[1 mark]

(b) From paragraph 6, why did the judges give a positive reaction?
….…….……………….……………….………..….……….………………….…[1 mark]

30 What do you think Cheryl and her team did after winning the competition?
Give a reason for your answer.

Action: …..…….….…………….……………………………………………………[1 mark]

Reason: ………………..….…….……………………………………………………[1 mark]

31 Cheryl trained the choral speaking team and led the team to victory.
Based on the passage, write a summary on what she did to win the competition.

Credit will be given for the use of own words but care must be taken not to change the
original meaning.

Your summary must:
 be in continuous writing form (not in note form)
 use materials from line 13 to 45
 not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:

After becoming an English teacher at a rural school, Cheryl…

[15 marks]

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SECTION D
Exercise SET 1 B
What has happened to Lulu?
By Charles Causley

(a) Where did the incident take place?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
[ 1 mark ]

(b) What do you think the item that Lulu took with her?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
[ 1 mark ]

(c) Identify one feeling of the mother when the persona asked
‘And why do the tear-drops fall?’ [Stanza 2, Line 2]
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
[ 1 mark ]

(d) If you think that Lulu has ran away, state one reason and a solution to avoid it.
Reason:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
[ 1 mark ]
Solution:
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[ 1 mark ]