UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR CONTINUOUS WRITING SECTION OF

SPM ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1119

ESSAY TYPE

THEME:

Instructions:

1. This module is divided into 6 sections: Let’s Recall, Let’s Discover, Let’s Learn, Let’s Replace,
Let’s Expand and Let’s Create.
2. You MUST attempt each section in sequence. DO NOT skip any section.
3. READ and understand all the instructions given.

English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC)

Ministry of Education Malaysia
2018
Question : Remember a time when you forgot something important. End your story
with, “…that I would not be forgetful again.”

LET’S RECALL

Look at this picture. Think of words or phrases that are related to it.
Write your words or phrases in the Circle Map below.

Image Source: www.itprotoday.com/management-mobility

Example: upset, confused

upset
confused

Being
Forgetful

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Read the sample essay below

QUESTION : Remember a time when you forgot something important. End your story
with, “…that I would not be forgetful again.”

I am a forgetful person. I always forget my things when travelling. I guess I never took
it seriously. It has reached the point where it has become more than just a minor problem in
my life. I could blame it on my father because he is a forgetful person too.

I had a black jacket once. It was expensive and felt very comfortable with lots of
pockets. I loved to travel with my black jacket.

Last year, I was in Changi Airport for five hours, and I felt bored. I decided to
discover as many places as possible within the five hours. While walking, I found a nice cafe
nearby and decided to have a drink.

After a few hours of hanging out at the cafe, I made some new friends. Then, it was
time to board my flight. Suddenly, I realised that my favourite jacket was missing. I thought
that I must have left it somewhere in the airport. I searched all over, but I could not find it. I
was sad as it was my favourite jacket. I swore that I would not be forgetful again.

(189 words)

Adapted from: www.budgettraveller.org

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Table I:
Read the information in the table below. The information in the table is from the sample
essay in Let’s Discover.

A B C D E

No. Phrases/
Meaning in Synonyms
Words Idiomatic Examples of use
context
Expressions
1. forgetful likely not to • absent- • mind like a I am sorry I can’t
remember minded sieve remember your
• scatter birthday because
brained I have a mind
• unmindful like a sieve.

2. blame feel that • fault • point the Do not point

someone or finger at your finger at
something is someone me because I did
responsible for not take your
a fault or money.
wrongdoing
3. expensive cost a lot of • costly • cost an arm My new BMW car
money • pricey and a leg has cost me an
arm and a leg.

• pay through I have to pay

the nose through my
nose just for an
iPhone.

4. comfortable provide a • snug • as My old house

pleasant • cosy comfortable may seem small,
feeling as an old but it is as
shoe comfortable as
an old shoe.

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 A B C D E

No. Phrases/
Meaning in Synonyms
Words Idiomatic Examples of use
context
Expressions
5. bored lack interest • uninterested • bored to This movie is too
• unconcerned death long that I am
bored to death.
The movie was
so long that I
was bored to
death.

6. discover to find • explore • make one’s He started to

information of • find way make his way to
a place or an the airport.
object
They decided to
explore the
public library.

7. cafe a small • snack bar The snack bar in

restaurant • coffee bar IOI Mall serves
selling light delicious cheese
meals and cakes.
drinks.
8. hanging out spending a lot • frequenting • rub shoulders He rubs
of time in a • mingling shoulders with
place or with the best of
someone society.

9. swore promised to do • vowed He promised his

something • promised teacher that he
would excel in
English.

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Fill in the blanks with suitable words or phrases from Column C in Table I of Let’s Learn.

QUESTION : Remember a time when you forgot something important. End your story
with, “…that I would not be forgetful again.”

I am a ________________ person. I always forget my things when travelling. I guess

I never took it seriously. It has reached the point where it has become more than just a
minor problem in my life. I could _________________ it on my father because he is a
forgetful person too.

I had a black jacket once. It was _________________________________ and felt

very ________________ with lots of pockets. I loved to travel with my black jacket.

Last year, I was in Changi Airport for five hours, and I felt ________________. I
decided to __________________ as many places as possible within the five hours. While
walking, I found a nice ________________ nearby and decided to have a drink.

After a few hours of __________________ at the cafe, I made some new friends.
Then, it was time to board my flight. Suddenly, I realised that my favourite jacket was
missing. I thought that I must have left it somewhere in the airport. I searched all over,
but I could not find it. I was sad as it was my favourite jacket. I ___________________
that I would not be forgetful again.

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Read the essay you have completed in Let’s Replace. Expand the essay in Column 2 by
answering the questions in Column 1.

Column 1 Column 2
Parts

Questions/Notes
Practice
for Expansion

1. Add a describing word I am a (1) ___________________________person. I

Example: an absentminded, a have a (2) __________________________________.
scatter-brained, an unmindful I always forget things such as (3) _______________
2. Add an idiomatic expression ________________________ when travelling. I guess
Example: mind like a sieve I never took it seriously. It has reached the point
3. Give examples of things or where it has become more than just a minor problem
objects – umbrella, mobile in my life. I could (4) ________________________
Introduction

phone ___________________ at my father because he’s a

4. Add a word and an idiomatic forgetful person too. I guess (5) _________________
phrase to describe. ____________________________________________.
Example: accuse, point a
finger
5. Why do you think both narrator
and the father have the same
problem?
Example: it runs in the family,
we have the same genes.

1. Add a describing word. I had a black jacket once. It was (1) ____________
Example: pricey, costly _________________ and felt very (2) ____________
2. Describe the jacket. ________________ with lots of pockets. It has cost
Example: snug, cosy me (3) ______________________________________
Body 1

3. Include the idiomatic ____________________________________________.

expression I loved to travel with my black jacket because it is
4. Include a simile. as comfortable as (4) _________________________.
5. Why is the jacket important? The black jacket has become my (5) ______________
____________________________________________.

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Parts Column 1 Column 2
Questions/Notes
Practice
for Expansion

1. Add a word to describe the Last year, I was in Changi Airport for five hours
narrator’s feeling. and I felt (1) ___________________________ I was
Example: uninterested, bored (2) _____________________________________
unconcerned _____________________________________________.
2. Add an idiomatic expression. I decided to (3) _________________________ as many
3. A word to describe the places as possible within the five hours. My feet
Body 2

narrator’s action. started to (4) __________________________________

Example: explore, find _____________________________________________.
4. Include the idiomatic phrase. While walking, I found a nice (5) ________________.
5. A word to replace café. nearby and decided to have a drink. I was so thirsty,
6. You are thirsty. What would so I ordered (6) _____________________________.
you drink?

1. Add a word/phrase to show After a few hours of (1) ________________ at

that the narrator was there. the (2) _________________________, I made new
2. Where was the narrator? friends. They were (3) __________________________
3. Describe the new friends. _____________________________________________.
4. Your feelings when you lost Then, it was time to board my flight. Suddenly, I
Body 3

something. realised that my favourite jacket was missing. I was

(4) __________________________________________
_____________________________________________.
I thought I must have left it somewhere in the airport.
I searched all over, but I could not find it. I was sad
as it was my favourite jacket.

1. Add a word that shows the I (1) ________________________________ that I

narrator has learnt his lesson. would not be forgetful again. (2) _________________
Conclusion

Example: promised, vowed. _____________________________________________.

2. What can you do to combat
forgetfulness?

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Now you are ready to write an essay. Do your best!

Instructions: Write a composition of about 350 words on the following topic. You are advised
to spend about one hour to complete this task.

Write a story about a friend who is forgetful. Begin your story with, “It was a long and
tiring walk and the road signs looked unfamiliar…”

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