SPM Bahasa Inggeris - Paper 1

Analysis of Section B

Bahasa Inggeris (Paper 1)

Hello everyone! This week we are going discuss on Section B of the SPM 2016 Paper 1. As usual there are five questions where the candidates need to choose only one of it to answer. Let's have a closer look at the questions in this section.

Section B: Continuous Writing

[50 marks]

[Time suggested: One hour]

Write a composition of about 350 words on one of the following topics.

-Write a story about a time in someone's life when music played an important role.

-Some people believe that all the students in Malaysia should learn at least three languages. What do you think?

-There many things to do after your SPM examination. Write about your plans for the next three months and the challenges you might face.

-Write about your experience helping Puan Ramlah, an elderly lady who lives alone.

End your story with: ... I learnt a lot about myself by helping Puan Ramlah."

-What is the best way to help teenagers to stay fit and healthy?

Question 1:

Write a story about a time in someone’s life when music played an important role.

We are going to start our discussion with Question 1. For the first time there are two _ narrative essays in the question paper. Since this is a narrative essay, it is always advisable for the candidates to start with a brief plot. They key words in this question are someone's life, music and important role.

Let us start with writing the draft plot of this story:

(a) 5W and 1H questions

1. What is the story about - it must have the element of music

2. What happens in the story - elaboration of your story

3. Why did it happen - the reason how music is important in someone's life

4. Who is involved in the story - it can be third person point of view or it can be you that is jj involved in the story

5. When did it happen - setting of your story

6. How did it ended - it must somehow show or emphasise to the reader the importance of music in someone's life

Question 2:

Some people believe that all the students in Malaysia should learn at least three languages. What do you think?

There are several ways to answer this argumentative essay question. The focus on this ques­tion is on all students should learn at least three languages In this essay you should have at i least three main points either agreeing, disagreeing or partial agreeing with the statement given

Introductory Paragraph

-brief introduction to the topic which is languages

-2 or 3 lines will be just fine

-state your stand and thesis statement

Body paragraph

-if you agree with the statement, provide 3 points supporting the topic

-if you disagree with the statement, provide 3 points disagreeing with the topic

-if you partially agree with the statement, you still need to give at east 3 points, maybe 2 points to support and l point of disagreement or vice versa

Concluding

-summary of all the points you have mention - reinforcement of your thesis statement

Question 3:

There many things to do after your SPM examination. Write about your plans for the next three months and the challenges you might face.

If you read the questions carefully there are two parts of the questions that the candidates need to address fully. It is a descriptive essay so candidates have to able to give a clear description of your plans for the three months after SPM (first part of the question) and the challenges to fulfil those plans (second part of the question). The problem comes when most of the candidates only focus on the first part of the question and totally forgot to answer the second part. When this happens you are considered as unable to fulfil the task required which will lower you marks on the whole. Look at the following diagram carefully.

Describe what are your plans for the next three months (before you get your SPM result)

- You have to focus on you short term plans not the plan for your future etc.

- Choose 2 or 3 plans and explain why you want to do it and add any interesting fact about it.

Challenges

- Explain what types of challenges that you will face to execute your plan (must be more than one).

Question 4:

Write about your experience helping Puan Ramlah, an elderly lady who lives alone. End your story with: "...I learnt a lot about myself by helping Puan Ramlah."

Lots of candidates attempted this question and some got it right but some do not. The focus of this question are your experiences, helping Puan Ramlah and what you learnt about yourself Majority of candidates were focusing on helping Puan Ramlah. Somehow they forgot to mention what they have learnt. My advice is before you answer this question; make sure you write a brief plot so you can be very sure to include all the important part of the question before you start writing.

Let us start with writing the draft plot of this story:

(b) 5W and 1H questions

- What is the story about - write how you help Puan Ramlah (not Puan Ramlah helping you)

- What happens in the story - what did you do to help her

- Why did it happen - the reason you are helping her

- Who else is involved in the story - name your characters

- When did it happen - setting of your story

- How did it ended - this is the most important part - you realised something about yourself after helping Puan Ramlah

Question 5:

What is the best way to help teenagers to stay fit and healthy?

This is a factual essay and the focus is on ways to help teenagers stay fit and healthy. The problem when answering this question is candidates do not have enough points so they keep repeating on the same points. So be realistic, focus on 2 or three main points only and I think this topic is quite easy because you are a teenager yourself!

Introductory Paragraph

-brief introduction to the topic which is to stay fit an d healthy

-2 or 3 lines will be just fine

-state thesis statement

Body paragraph

-make sure your points are on ways to stay fit

-you can include an example of bad health habit to show contrast and making strong argument of your points

Conclusion

-summary of all the points you have mention

-reinforcement of your thesis statement

Weekly Discussion Topics

Edition	Publication Date	Discussion Topic
718	25 January	Informal Letter Part l
719	l February	Informal Letter Part 2
720	8 February	Descriptive Essay Part 1
721	15 February	Descriptive Essay Part 2
722	22 February	Formal Letter Part 1
723	l March	Formal Letter Part 2
724	8 March	Argumentative Essay Part l
725	15 March	Argumentative Essay Part 2
726	22 March	Speech/Talk Part l
727	29 March	Speech/Talk Part 2
728	5 April	Factual Essay Part 1
729	12 April	Factual Essay Part 2
730	19 April	Article Part 1
731	26 April	Article Part 2
732	3 May	Trial Exam
733	10 May	Trial Exam
734	17 May	Trial Exam
735	24 May	Trial Exam
736	31 May	Trial Exam
737	7 June	Trial Exam
738	14 June	Trial Exam
739	21 June	Trial Exam
740	28 June	Narrative Essay Part 1
741	5 July	Narrative Essay Part 2
	12 July	Report Part 1
743	19 July	Report Part 2
744	26 July	Expository Essay
745	2 August	Cause and Effect Essay
746	9 August	Process and Procedure Essay
747	16 August	Trial Exam
748	23 August	Trial Exam
749	30 August	Trial Exam
750	6 September	Trial Exam
751	13 September	Trial Exam
752	20 September	Trial Exam
753	27 September	Trial Exam
754	4 October	Trial Exam
755	11 October	Report and Article
756	25 October	Informal and Formal Letter
757	l November	Talk/Speech

*Subject to change

Source: BH/SKOR/Wednesday, 18 January 2017

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SPM Bahasa Inggeris (Informal Letter)

We are going to start with Directed Writing question in SPM Paper 1.

The first format that we are going to discuss is an Informal Letter.

I am going to start with a sample question.

Sample Question

Your younger brother is studying overseas. He has failed one of his examinations and is thinking of giving up and returning home. You want to write a letter to advise him not to give up.

Use the notes given below to write your letter.

Do not give up (C1)

-resit your examination (C2)

Parents can finance you (C3)

-uncle also ready to help (C4)

Your success is important (C5)

-younger siblings look up to you (C6)

Be positive in attitude (C7)

-setbacks are temporary (C8)

Read the motivational book 'Seven Step to Success (C9)

-contains useful ideas to give motivation (C10)

Do not be overstressed (C11)

-take time out for sports and friends (C12)

Read the question carefully and you can see that the question has 12 content points. Please make sure you use all of it in order to get all the content marks. In order to write a good and organised informal letter, you should organise your points in three paragraphs with four content points in each of the paragraphs. The time allocated for this question is only 45 minutes. So you have to choose two or three content points to elaborate and if possible give example(s) to support your points. After you have understand the task clearly, then you have to know what format to use. Let us look at Figure 1.

Figure 1

As you can see in Figure 1, it is the format of an informal letter. Please take note that items numbering 1, 3 and 8 (highlighted in red) are compulsory in order to get the format marks. For the rest of the items, even though there is no mark allocated to them, it is always a good practice to write your letter in the proper format. No harm in writing appropriately. Now let us look into the details of each item:

Writer’s address - you need to write some form of an address at the top right hand corner of the page. It can be of a real address or you can create any address that you fancy!

Date - you can use any form of date;

9 January 2016,

9.01.2016 or

January 9 and so on.

Salutation / Greeting - the word DEAR is compulsory in your salutation:

Example - Dear Siti

Opening remarks - when you are writing a letter, before you state the reason of you writing it you should start by making few polite inquiries about the recipient, usually about their family, health or their current condition. This opening remarks usually quite short and simple. Don't waste your time by writing a lengthy paragraph. Here are some simple ideas for it.

How are you there? I hope you are doing fine especially in your studies. I am doing great here but a bit busy with all the extra activities after school.

It has been almost two months since I last saw you. Why the long silence? Hope you are as fit as a fiddle.

Hi. We miss you at home. Hope you are doing fine at your new school. Mum asks when are you coming home.

Body of the letter - this is where most of your marks will be allocated. Before you start writing your points, please make sure you read the question and count the points provided. You should have 12 content points altogether. If you do not have 12 points, read the question further because it will state if you are required to provide your own points. You should write down your extra points before you start writing your letter so you will not forget about it.

Next, you should divide the 12 points into 3 or 4 paragraphs. This is to make sure you will use all the points provided. You are not required to elaborate on all the 12 points so work smart and choose the points that you really know how to elaborate! For a better understanding on how to plan your paragraphing and elaboration of points, look at the content points provided in the Sample Question.

Then comes the paragraphing. I suggest you follow the sequence of points provided. You can put P1, P2, P3 and P4 in one paragraph. You can start your first content paragraph with something simple.

Elaboration and example for C2 a C3

I am writing to give you some advice. Take heart. Don't give up so easily. (C1) Have courage and resit the examination. (C2) I am sure that you will do better in your second attempt. Remember how many times I had to repeat my exams. If I had given up, would I be a successful accountant today? Father has told me that he has the money to finance your resit. (C3) Don't forget I am also earning and will send you any additional money if needed. If father is short of money, Uncle Kim is willing help you.

As you can see in my sample paragraph above, I do not elaborate on all the 4 points. I just give some elaboration and examples for C2 and C3 Actually you can choose any points that you know to elaborate on. Then you can go on writing your next paragraph.

I am sure you have an idea on how to write your content paragraph now. Please make sure you use all the 12 points in your letter.

Closing remark - it is a short paragraph before you end your letter. Here are some suggestions for your closing remarks.

This is all the time I have tonight. I have to go to bed now. I hope you will think about my suggestion and join the camp. Till the next letter dear brother.

It's getting late so I have to pen off now. Really hope that you will join the camp. Talk to you soon.

I have to stop here because I need to complete my assignment. Please think about what I have mentioned in the letter and I hope to see you soon.

Complementary close - for the informal letter we usually use Yours Sincerely but you can use anything that crosses your mind!

Signature / Name - it is compulsory to sign your name or simply write you name to get 1 more format mark.

I have explained to you in details on how to write an informal letter. I really hope that I manage to make it clear and easy for you to write your letter. Do take some time and try to discuss the sample question with your English teacher and friends. See you next week!
Source: BH/SKOR/Wednesday, 25 January 2017