Hi,
you can call me realz even that is not my real name.
I am hoping to make this thread as a thread where we all discuss about English Paper.
I hope can get good response
The thread will be a discussion board of 2009 SPM candidates which focussing paper English 1119.
Frankly I think we just need discuss the Essay part.
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FORMAT[U][SIZE=7]

PAPER 1

[COLOR=orange]SECTION A – DIRECTED WRITING
A) Article
B) Speeches / talks
C) Reports
D) Formal letter
E) Informal letter

SECTION B – CONTINUOUS WRITING
A) Narrative
B) Descriptive
C) Expository
D) Argumentative

PAPER 2
Section A - Objective
Section B – Information transfer
Section C – Reading Comprehension, Summary
Section D –Poems, Short Stories, Novel

TECHNIQUES[SIZE=7]
Paper 1
Section A
Total marks : 35 marks
3 for format
>Use appropriate format, usually some of it are mentioned in the questions
12 for content
>Usually a total of 12 points are given. Just state it with a little description
>If the points given only 10 or >8, the question usually will order us to add points to make a sum of 12
>If only 6 points given, every points need strong elaborations at least in 2 sentences.
20 for language
>Precise use of vocabulary, grammar
ANALYSIS
STATES TRIAL FORMAT
JOHOR FORMAL LETTER
KEDAH REPORT
MELAKA SPEECH
PERAK REPORT
PERLIS REPORT
PULAU PINANG REPORT
SABAH REPORT
TERENGGANU FORMAL LETTER
SELANGOR I DON’T KNOW – UPDATE ME
SBP SPEECH
MRSM I DON’T KNOW – UPDATE ME

>>>General<<<
1.The questions usually formatted essay
2.Points are given
3.Follow the sequence of the points
4.Do not amend the points
5.Mind the plurality of the points

PAPER 2
> I will put some example essays here, please pm me to have your essay on the first page.
Minimum marks is >40

INFORMATION BOARD
SPM 2009 TARGETS
PAPER 1
DIRECTED WRITING
REPORT
PAPER 2
POEM
MONSOON HISTORY
SHORT STORIES
THE NECKLACE
LOOKING FOR THE RAIN GOD
NOVEL
Something related to characters

>for appropriate format of directed writing, please download english module from module

Just for variety,
here's from andrew choo
Directed writing
formal/informal letter/Report
Section D
Poem - Monsoon History/Sonnet 18
Short Stories - Necklace/looking for a rain god
Novel - themes/Moral values

This post has been edited by realz: Nov 16 2009, 09:39 PM

On continous writting:

There will be 5 choice of essays

More than 350 words

-Story-telling essay

-Factual essay

-General essay

-Describing essay

3 from 5 is combination of describing essay and story-telling essay

It is not advisable to choose factual essay

whats general essay?

factual essay is something like "teenages nowadays are more inclined towards entertainment only"
right?

if it's true, then factual essay is my forte.

but why u discourage ppl from writing factual essay?

essay part is really important if u wanna score both A in SPM and GCE.

well.. an advice in DW.. its a 35 marks question

normally ur given a few points... heres the formula to score..
Format-?
Content-?
Elaboration-?
Language-20
Total-35

so here is how it goes.. language is fixed at 20 marks.. and the rest 15 marks are from format, content and elaboration. this is where u have to find where are the marks from..

those given points are contents.. they must be in the essay.. once the point is written in the essay.. automatically u score.. like for a free essay.. lets say given 7 points for content.. 8 marks will be for elaboration and no marks for content as its a free essay with not format..

lets say letter writing.. ur given 12 points.. the rest would be 3 points for format.. and no elaboration needed..

the thing is just to make sure u get 15 points from ur total calculation..

Directed Writing.. as the name says.. it DIRECTS u.. u dont have to elaborate much.. basically.. jus score the points.. keep it short.. more strength rather then length.. well make sure u get all the 15 points.. it really easy.. some essay give u 15 points.. ur lucky.. jus write short sentences with the points.. u get all the scores.. u dont have to elaborate much..

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Added on June 16, 2009, 8:51 pmhmm.. im not really trained for factual essay..

well.. for factual essays.. u must really have good command in ur language and points.. u have to impress the examiner in the way u express your points.. well im not tat good.. plus.. the examiners have a marking scheme.. which ur point might not be the same.. and u might lose marks..

for story essays.. its easy.. u can express urself freely.. theres not marking scheme for it.. any story will do.. u just have to play with some vocab.. maintain ur language.. make no mistakes.. and u'll nail it..



This post has been edited by Batusai: Jun 16 2009, 08:51 PM

for factual essays u need an analytical mind.. like you have to think up reasons etc. and also you need to have good general knowldge, which is lacking in most secondary school students... its kinda challenging and i like it .. heh..

in fact all my life in secondary school, i nvr touched story writing..

hahaa.. yeah.. challenging.. but better be safe than sorry..

I answered factual essay last year and i scored A1 in GCE-O.
The question was Examination, Good or Bad?
I was very very lucky because I just did that essay 3 days ago, which has similar title "the advantages of examination".

What you need to score factual essays:
-Impressive and correct facts
-Coherent language use
-Wide range of vocabularies, with relevant usage of words
-Clear stand (either you agree/disagree or stand on the fence)
-KNOW RECENT NEWS or related news
-Organized paragraphs

that's all i know... And remember to read a lot. I am trained to do factual essays, so i can't write narrative/descriptive at all. I ALWAYS do factual, and it never failed me~

And who said factual not advisable to do? It's easy to score if you are on the right track...

I was actually once advised by my English teacher to write descriptive essays instead of factual essays simply because there will be too many people writing factual essays and it's easier to score if I choose to write descriptive essays.

I gave her the WTF look and didn't bother. Only got a B for 1119 in the end, but I'm happy.

haha really lucky there zell,
uh i cant get lucky simply because i dont spot questions for english.. i suck at spotting questions.
in fact the BM question which came out, my teacher had predicted it, but i wouldnt listen to her. Lol..
nvm.. BM also i wrote factual in the end, and still got my A1..

but the thing is, do what suits you.
you yourself know what's your forte and what's your kryptonite right?

All I can say is do more past year paper questions. That helped me a lot in Add Maths actually. I did a lot of past year papers and spotted some answers and i went from E in my trial SPM to A2 for SPM.

If anybody needs help in English pls see my signature below.

This post has been edited by B@rt: Jun 17 2009, 10:41 AM

haha practicing for english wont do much when there's nobody to correct you.. u need somebody to pin point ur mistakes...

for add maths.. u have the answers and workings.. its fixed..

for language.. its flexible.. u have to read and read and read..

like zellon said.. factual essay if your ON THE RIGHT TRACK.. what is ur on the wrong track?

like wise.. u wont go out of track in narrative essays.. its a wider scope.. theres no limit for it..

On the directed writting:
Let say I got 8points.
Let say Ive been asked to make a talk based on this:
4points in causes
4points in suggestion
So its not mean that I need to elaborate each points?
I did joining some points(2-3)in one paragraph.Is it ok?

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Added on June 17, 2009, 4:22 pmMost of English teachers said it is too hard to get mark on factual essay.
I just get 25/50
I have several question:
a)Story-telling essay
I kinda not familiar with it and I guess my minds only work on something that I have been faced.Where can I get examples of story essay.
b)Descriptive essay
The essay seems easy,my dream house but how to elaborate it?
c)General essay
The title is easy.On my midterm the title is "Flower"
How can I make an essay of it?can it be story-telling too or what?

This post has been edited by realz: Jun 17 2009, 04:22 PM

becareful with your grammar, becareful with overbombastic writing style. simple and accurate is enough to earn u a GCE-O A1

My question on directed writing has not been answered few years after I took SPM. Is altering keywords in Directed Writing acceptable to score content points?

My classmates and I were taught to use 100% of the given keywords without changing the nature of words (verb -> gerund, noun -> verb in infinite form, etc). Even the order of key points must be followed according to our question paper.

However, friends from other schools of my zone stated otherwise. In the end, "????".

I like this thread
I don't mind helping you out if I'm able to do so^^

I hope someone can answer this
But I usually follow it 100% but not the sequence

Glad you like it.
Actually my objective is to get comment in notes form.
means students share their school notes or their experience in note form so I can attach it on the first page and everyone can download or view it easily without having to read all the post on this thread.
You are form 5?

yeah, i am form 5 ^^ nice one, make sure you don't MIA suddenly one day,
cause no one will be able to edit the first post except mods.. and
i am taking Literature in English too. (extra subject)
can i post directed writing examples/etc here too?


it is not advisable to do so because some of us might alter them wrongly..
and the exam 's question paper itself stated clearly that
" you should remember .. to use all the information given"
.. conclusion, it is the best if you don't change anything and elaborate
your points/keywords/etc clearly!

read instruction next time.. ^^

This post has been edited by babysiiaozz: Jun 18 2009, 08:16 PM

PM me if you need any specific help in English. I'm more than willing ot help you guys out. =)

because its an english test,
i just wrote my interpretation of the sentences.
in EST as well.