SHARE

Back to SUBJECTS

Order books

Share

INDEX

of 6

Argumentative Essays 2
1. Single Session School - Advantages and Disadvantages

The single session school programme began as the ideal dream for
the Ministry of Education. Under this programme, school hours will be
extended by 110 minutes from the present 340 minutes to 450 minutes,
that is from 8.00 am until 3.30pm. So, single session schools here are
referred as classes being held in a school from 8.00 am until 3.30 pm

For one thing, a loud YES for the one session schools will definitely
come from most working parents who feel that their children will be safe
and sound under the eagle-eyed teachers in their own schools. They need
not worry about their sons and daughters loitering in shopping complexes
or being involved in social ills.

Also, as extracurricular activities can be carried out in the afternoons

on weekdays, parents can take a break during weekends. They need not
shepherd their children to schools but instead spend some quality time
during weekends with their children at home.

Moreover, extra classes can be carried out by schoolteachers after

school in the afternoons. Weaker students will be taken care of in the
schools by their teachers through extra coaching. There will also be more
time for formal lessons in schools and core subjects like Mathematics and
Science can be given extra time. In the meantime, extracurricular activities
can be carried out effectively on weekdays and attendance will be better.
Students can take part in a variety of activities as weekends are not
conducive for most students.

However, I personally feel that the disadvantages of the single

sessionschools far exceeds its advantages. The government's commitment
to provide allchildren at least nine years of schooling has changed the
landscape in which schoolsoperate. The number of pupils in primary and
secondary schools, especially in urbanareas, has increased tremendously.
Nowadays, it is quite common for schools tohave more than 1,500
students. Indeed, some schools have to cater to a studentpopulation of
more than 2,000.

Consequently, such a state of affairs takes its toll on students,

teachers aswell as parents. It also requires teachers to be present in
schools almost the entireday, leaving them tired and exhausted to make
preparations for the next day'steaching.

Besides, funds have been allocated by the government to build new

schoolsand buildings in the Year 2015 Budget. It is an expensive project on
the part of thegovernment as more schools will mean more teachers will be
needed to cater to thespillover of pupils. There could be possible shortage
of teachers in core subjects,such as in languages, Science and
Mathematics.

Moreover, longer hours in schools will tire the students. Also, as

mostschool canteens do not provide quality food, the students will be
gorging themselveswith junk food which is malnutritions for growing
children. Also, extended hours arenot conducive for studies as tired
students and teachers struggle in the swelteringheat. This is so because
schools do not have proper facilities like toilets, bathroomswith showers
and rest rooms for students to wash-up or rest.

In conclusion, I believe that single session schools are more of a

bane thana boon. Its disadvantages far outweigh its advantages.

2. Small families are happier families. Do you agree?

Small families may have only two or three children. They enjoy a lot
offacilities and attention from their parents. But are small families really
happier thanbig families? I do not think so.

In a small family, the children may enjoy greater attention from their
parentscompared to those from a big family. However, a person who
comes from a smallfamily may become overly-dependent on his parents.
He will feel helpless andmiserable once his parents are not around. On the
other hand, a person who comesfrom a big family receives lesser attention
from parents as there are too manychildren in the family for the parents to
focus on. Consequently, those who comefrom a big family will learn to do
things for themselves and become self reliant.Through this process, he
gains extra skills, and his character is moulded.
 I do not agree that small families are happier families. If one comes
from asmall family, one does not have much company and can feel lonely
at times. Thisproblem is further aggravated when both parents are working.
Conversely, in a bigfamily, there is much laughter and exchange of news
especially during festiveoccasions.

It is a fact that expenses are lesser in a small family. Thus, there is

usuallymuch leftover in food. There is no need to rush for the bathroom in
the morning too.Those from small families have greater opportunities for
overseas study. However, inlarge families, perhaps only the eldest child or
one child alone has that chance. Whatabout the others? Well, it is common
for the working brother or sister to help pay forthe younger siblings'
education. This promotes cooperation and brotherly or sisterlylove.

Some people say that quarrels occur more often in a big family
because themembers of a large family have to share rooms, beds and
even tables. Siblings mayargue with one another over space but quarrels
among brothers and sisters are verycommon. As long as they make up with
each other eventually, such quarrels arenever serious. In fact, those who
never share their things may grow up to be selfishand unsociable.

In times of emergency, those who come from big families possess a

biggroup of friends to rely on. If one member has a problem, the others can
sit down todiscuss a solution. However, in a small family, only a few people
are involved insolving the problem and so there is a lack of ideas and
manpower. Even when thereare no problems, the more people the better
as in the saying, More hands make lightwork.

In conclusion, small families are not necessarily happier families. It

alldepends on the concern and cooperation amongst the members of the
family. Goodand understanding parents normally create happier families.
However, in general, Ibelieve that big families have many reasons to be
happy. Therefore, I do notagree that small families are happier families.

3. Do you think homework should be abolished?

I personally believe that homework should not be abolished.

Homeworkis a necessary part of school education. Work allocated by
schoolteachers forstudents to be done at home is homework. It is meant to
help students revise whatthey have studied in school. As time allotted for
each subject in school is limited,teachers have to give homework to
students to cover the prescribed syllabus.

Therefore, when a student does homework at home, he or she

worksindependently. The student thinks for himself or herself and makes
decisionsindependently. At school, he or she can always approach his or
her teacher if heor she has doubts. Therefore, homework induces self-
study in students. In theprocess, students learn to do research. Since
research requires a lot of reference,it cultivates the reading habit among
students.

Furthermore, through homework, a student cultivates an interest in

acertain subject and can concentrate on it for as long as he or she wants,
and he orshe need not stop when the bell rings, as in school. The student
can also do moreexercises based on the lesson after completing the work
assigned for that day.

Also, homework teaches good discipline. A student learns to

workwithin a given time limit. Whether the student likes it or not, he or she
has tocomplete that piece of work. Hence, the student learns to work within
a stipulatedtime frame.

Moreover, homework provides an opportunity for students to

acquiremore knowledge. For example, the History syllabus is so wide that
not everythingcan be grasped by students during the period of time
allocated in school. Studentshave to take some initiative to read on their
own. This is one of the objectives ofhomework.

However, several considerations need to be heeded so that

theeffectiveness of homework need never be doubted. Homework should
be evenlydistributed so that students will not be overburdened on one day
and left free onother days. Homework should never stand in the way of
relaxation. Mental relief isvital for students. Students should not be bogged
down with homework that theyhave little time for physical exercise.4

Taking into consideration the numerous benefits homework has to

offer, itis imperative that it should not be abolished.

4. Tourism is good for our country. What do you think?

Tourism consists of activities of people visiting a place on holiday

andproviding the services to these people. All countries of the world from
the developedto the under-developed, from the first world to the third world
have jumped on thebandwagon to earn as many tourist dollars as possible.
Tourism is a big moneyspinner, from the safari parks in Africa to the
ancient historical sites in China.

However, to some people, tourism is not at all what it looks like. If we

delvedeeper, we may be able to understand why they say we do not need
to depend onthe tourist dollars. Some people say that we can do without
the Western tourists andtheir so-called decadent culture characterised by
the sprouting up of pubs, loungesand other centres of entertainment to
cater to their taste. They also claim that localconsumers and local people
lose out in the long run because the presence of foreigntourists and their
money have resulted in rising prices of food and services offered bylocal
vendors. Accusation of preferential treatment meted out to big-spending
touristsare rife but also justified.

However, if we look at the flip side, tourism is a much needed tonic

for theeconomy of any country for several reasons. Firstly, we cannot look
at the picture ofa few bikini-clad western tourists soaking in the sun on our
beaches or a few drinkersdoing happy hours at a hotel bar and get
paranoid. Even without the physicalpresence of these tourists and their
lifestyle, we cannot isolate ourselves and liveunder the proverbial coconut
shell and banish those scenes from our thoughts andlife. Given this age of
satellite television, we have to live and cope with the presenceof this brand
or any other brand of foreign culture, the money tourism brings in ismuch
needed. Besides, recent developments have shown that we are
alsowelcoming tourists from other parts of the world including Arabians,
Japanese andChinese. Hence, we need to look at the bigger picture; there
are other people fromother parts of the world to woo to our shores.

Secondly, there are limitless prospects for tourism given the natural
assetsthat we have as well as the rich cultural heritage of our country.
Natural attractionssuch as beaches, sand, exotic islands and wondrous
underwater sites and a warmtropical climate are nature-endowed and
lasting if we take well-concerted plan todevelop and display but preserve.
Our natural rainforests, our forest reserves,Taman Negara and the forests
of Borneo and our stupendous caves such as theMulu and our Mount
Kinabalu are Nature's gifts which we should use with tenderloving care.
Compared to other sectors such as agriculture and industrialisationwhich
are capital intensive, tourism is viable and attractive. We have so much
interms of cultural and historical legacy to offer to the tourists after more
than 500years of immersion in one cultural wave after another from the
Portuguese to theBritish.

We also have a rich historical legacy in what was formerly the British
StraitsSettlement, Malacca and Penang. This is attracting tourists' interest
and it comes ata small cost-maintenance and preservation. The multi-
ethnicity of Malaysia, with itscultural and culinary diversity is a tourist
attraction that comes by default. Hence,given all the potential, we should
focus on tourism.

Tourism is also seen as ideal because tourism gives employment to

peopleand has spawned a host of related activities from the hawker selling
'roti canai' to theticketing clerk to the hotel bell boy. For the majority who
may not be brilliant in theacademic sense but who have plenty of people
skills and the aptitude and interest towork with people and make people
happy, tourism means jobs. Tourism is also alifeline for the small business
and traders selling trinkets, bric-a-brac and souvenirs,not to mention the
host of cottage-based and handicraft industries such as silverware,batik,
songket and pottery.

Therefore, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and seen

from thisperspective, tourism is here to remain for the simple reason that
the groundwork isthere. We have what it needs for any type of tourism, be
it ecotourism or adventuretourism.

5. Should students be allowed to work? Discuss.

Most parents are keen for their children to find employment once
they haveleft school and many are willing for their children to do casual
work while they are stillat school. Some young people are in full-time work
before they are eighteen but it isnot unusual for children of compulsory
school age to be involved in paid work atsome point. Children may work to
earn pocket money or because they are interestedin a particular activity or
career. Sometimes they work because the family needs helpwith the family
business or because it will add to the family's income. Sometimesparents
think it will help their children to be better prepared for work when they
areolder.

Children can be employed in a range of activities, casual, part-time

and frill-time work, including in family business, fast food restaurants,
supermarkets andeven in apprenticeships. For most countries generally,
there is a minimum age to beallowed to work but it goes without saying that
the key point is that children are notallowed to be employed outside of
school hours if the job they are doing somehowinterferes with their
schoolwork. For example, if a child has to get up at 4 o'clock inthe morning
to help the tapping of rubber or has to work till 10 o'clock at night servinga
parent's restaurant, he would probably be too tired at school. Most
importantly too,children should not be involved in dangerous work or work
that might be harmful totheir health or their physical, mental, spiritual, moral
or social development.C

hildren mature at different rates and ages and have different talents
andlevels of enthusiasm. Parents or guardians need to take these things
into accountwhen deciding whether to allow their children to have an
educational and satisfyingexperience as well as providing them with their
own income. It can be the beginningof important learning about the value of
money, time management, different rules,getting on with others and the
expectations of people outside of school and family.

With an equal balance of work, play, exercise, rest and study

commitments, achild can learn a lot from the experience. Work should not
stop a child from enjoyingbeing a child and developing normally. Work
should not become more important thanschool. Watch to make sure your
child is not too tired to do homework.

However, it is also important to be both clear and in agreement about

whatwill happen with the money received from working. For instance, can
he do what helikes with all the money or only partly? Does he have to bank
some? Does he haveto buy certain things with it? Each family will have
different ways of dealing with this.It may be wise to agree with your child
that there should be a trial period so that bothparents and child can
measure the advantages and disadvantages of working whilestudying.

6. Mobile phones are a nuisance. Do you agree?

Mobile phones have revolutionized the world. Mobile phones

makecommunication easy and efficient. With the growing use of them, both
in businessesand in homes, this technology has become necessary.
Without doubt, mobile phonesoffer many advantages such as added
convenience, greater personal security andincreased communication.
However, a mobile phone does have its share ofdisadvantages.

Mobile phones are an excellent way to remain in touch and summon

help,especially in the event of an emergency. In critical points in times,
people with mobilephones can reach help more easily and faster than
those without mobile phones. Forexamples, victims of an earthquake can
use their mobile phones to call rescuers totell them their location. Here,
mobile phones can save life.

Another reason why it is good to have a mobile phone is that it keeps

childrenonly a phone call away. Teenagers can check with their parents to
let them knowthat they are okay or that they need assistance. In addition,
mobile phones provideconvenience. You can now search the web, check
email, watch television or takepictures with mobile phones.

Although mobile phones offer many advantages, there are

somedisadvantages and risks when using mobile phones. One of the more
obvious risksis talking and driving. Mobile phones usage can make drivers
less aware of theirsurroundings. As a result, drivers are slower to react to
potential dangers. Accidentcan easily happen in seconds.
 Another disadvantage of mobile phone usage is the possibility of
health risks.Many people still place their mobile phone close to their head
and this can causedamage to their head and body. Mobile phone usage
has been associated with anumber of illnesses. Signals from devices can
actually disrupt parts of the braininvolving memory and learning. Other
studies have shown that mobile phones causea rise in blood pressure and
brain cancer.

Some other disadvantages of mobile phones are more of a nuisance.

Peopleare heard speaking loudly in restaurants, libraries and theatres.
They do not care ofother people who want peace, quiet and are not
interested in their privateconversation. There are students who play games
or send SMS with their mobilephones. They do not pay attention to what
the teacher is teaching. Here, mobilephones disrupt the attention of the
students.

Mobile phones have bought new freedom, increase security and

peace ofmind. People feel safer having a mobile phone. In addition, mobile
phone offerconvenience and ease communication. However, with many
safety risks and the riskof an impolite world, many people are questioning
the value of mobile phones.

SHARE

Back to SUBJECTS

Order books

Share

INDEX

of 6

SPM Directed Writing

ESSAY 1
Write a letter of suggestion to the teacher-in-charge of the
beautification programme on How to beautify the school.

Ways of Beautifying the School

Dear Sir,
I have a few suggestions for beautifying the school.

My first suggestion is to maintain the school field and lawns properly.

- the school field and lawns are brownish and there are many bald patches
everywhere
- water the school field and lawns regularly
- the grass will turn green and the bald patches will disappear

Many of the walls in the school are bare and they look dull.
- Art Club members or other artistically talented pupils to paint murals
- murals will definitely make the whole school look more beautiful

Flowers can add beauty to any place.

- planted along the footpaths
- pots of flowers can be put in the hall, in the canteen, in the office, in the
staffroom, in the library, etc.
- plant flowers of all types of colours - make the school very colourful and
beautiful.

Well-designed sculptures will not only add beauty but also class to the
school.
- students are very talented in making sculptures
- put the sculptures in strategic places - will do wonders for the beauty of
the school

Building a fountain in the front part of the school will make it look very
beautiful.
- shining coloured lights on the water as it spurts upwards
- splashes down again at night will make the fountain a thing of
indescribable beauty

A fish pond will certainly add beauty to the school.

- the pond itself, can be a thing of beauty if is make of coloured stones.
- stocked with colourful fish, such as Japanese carp, the beauty of the pond
will be doubled

A decorative arch at the school entrance will definitely enhance the

school's beauty.
- the school's name can be shown proudly on the arch.
- everybody who comes to our school or passes by it will know the name of
our beautiful school

A school will not look beautiful if it is dirty.

- very important for the students to keep the school clean
- every student does his or her part - school can be kept spotlessly clean

A beautiful school will also not look beautiful if the students are slovenly
dressed.
- we come to school in clean and well-pressed uniforms - all students wear
ties to school
- smartly dressed students will make the school look more beautiful

If all the above measures are adopted, our school may win The Most
Beautiful School competition.

Johnny Lau

ESSAY 2
Write a letter of suggestion to the editor of the newspaper on How to
reduce traffic congestion.

Johnny Lau,
12, Jalan 4/12
Taman Jaya,
46000 Petaling Jaya

2 JUNE 201_
The New Straits Time,
31, Jalan Riong,
59100 Kuala Lumpur.

Dear Editor,

There are congestion in every street,

- at any time of the day or even night, the streets are choked with vehicles
of all sorts
- it takes about fifteen minutes to move even a metre along the streets
because of the congestion

I would like to make a few suggestions - how to resolve the congestion on

our roads.
My first suggestion is to encourage the people to carpool
- many of the cars on the roads have only one occupant, that is the driver
- if people practice carpooling, each car will have five people
- the number of cars on the roads will be reduced by as much as 80%!
- that means the roads will not be so congested

Another thing that the authorities can do is to persuade schools, shops,

offices and factories to stagger their times of operation.
- presently, almost all of them start about the same time which is around
8.00 am
- school children will be going to school and employees of shops, offices
and factories will be going to work
- the result is a massive congestion
- if school times and work times are staggered, there will be less vehicles
on the roads at any one time

The poor transport system is also another reason why many people prefer
to drive to work.
- too few buses - serve only profitable routes but refuse to serve routes
which are less popular
- they are undependable and seldom on time
- taxis are also too few - drivers refuse to use their metres and usually
overcharge or cheat the fares
- increase the number of buses and make sure that they are punctual,
many people will prefer to leave their cars at home and take the buses to
school or work

Yet another way to reduce the congestion on the roads is to discourage car
ownership.
- at present there are too many cars on the road because many people can
afford to buy a car. Cars in Malaysia are quite low-priced
- the government can reduce the number of cars on the roads by
discouraging car ownership
- higher tax on cars, increasing the prices of cars, raising the road tax or
requiring those who wish to own a car to pay for a certificate of entitlement
(COE)

To ease road congestion, the government can also build light rail transits
(LRTs) or mass rail transits (MRTs).
- these light trains can transport people quickly from one place to another
so that they need not drive their own cars
- at the terminals, there will be buses and taxis to take them to their final
destinations

I believe that if my suggestions are accepted and implemented, there will

be fewer cars on the roads and less congestion.
Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Jahnny

ESSAY 3
Write an article on The importance of studying English

I am Johnny Lau, the Chairperson of the English Language Society.

I wrote this article because I am concerned about many students' attitude

towards studying the English language.
- although the government has repeatedly told us of the importance of
English, many students are still not bothered
- English - the most important and the most useful language in the world
today

The first reason is English will help you a lot when you further your studies.
- almost all the books at university are written in English
- if your English is poor, you are going to have a big problem studying at
university

The second reason - help you to get a job.

- when you go for a job interview, the interviewer will surely talk to you in
English
- if you cannot speak English well, your chances of getting the job are very
slim

A good command of English - help you greatly in your job.

- involved in international trade, you have to speak to prospective
customers in English
- if your English is bad, you will not be able to get orders for your
company's products

Good English - help you a lot when you travel.

- every country in the world studies English
- some of the people you meet on your travels in other countries can
understand English
- you will not have any communication problems when you travel to other
countries
- inevitably, English is one of the languages used in airport announcements
- make travelling overseas easier

Besides all these, a good command of the language - enable you to enjoy
some of television's best programmes.
- we must admit that many of the best programmes are produced by
American or British companies
- if your English is not good, you will not be able to enjoy such
programmes

Knowing English - enable you to enjoy some of the world's most beautiful
literary works.
- many of the world's best books, novels and poems are written in English
- if you cannot read such great masterpieces of writing, you will have
missed a lot in life!

After all my explanation, I hope you now see the importance of studying
English well. You can enjoy many advantages if you improve your English.

Johnny Lau
(Chairperson of the English Language Society)

ESSAY 4
Formal letter of requesting for permission to voluntary service.

The Secretary,
Lion Charity Club,
14, Jalan Sila
40300 Shah Alam,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.

The Manager,
Intan Orphanage,
20, Jalan Barat
47600 Klang,
SELANGOR. 20 MARCH 201_
Dear Sir / Madam,

Requesting for Permission to Volunteer Service

I am writing to you and behalf of the Lion Charity Club of the Glenmarie
Heights. Shah Alam to request for permission to volunteer our services at
the Intan Orphanage on 12th and 19th April, 201_ (two Saturdays)

2. This visit is in line with the objectives of Lion Charity Club which is a
service club with public service as part of its constitution. Therefore, this
visit is aimed at exposing the member of the club to the concept of
volunteering and to raise their awareness about the less fortunate in our
society today. Such an activity would also meet the members interest in
social service.

3. There will be total of 44 members from various working sectors who will
participate in the activity including two teachers. We plan to board the bus
at our clubhouse at 7 a.m. and start our journey by 7.15 a.m. Therefore, we
should able to reach your premises by 8 a.m. and stay there till 5 p.m.

4. We should like to render our services to serve the needs of the

orphanage. I would like to propose that we assist you by providing some
physical help such as painting the centre.

5. Besides that, we could serve the academic needs of the children by

providing some help with their homework and such. The members of the
club are well-versed in subjects like Bahasa Melayu, English Language,
Mathematics and history and they will be supervised by two experience
teachers.

6. The Lion Charity Club will also bring along the cash donation on
Glenmarie Heightss residents as well as brand new revision book, clothing,
toys and voucher for shoes and spectacles to be distributed to the children.
We have also bring them used text book and storybook which were
donated by our members. We have also bought stationary for them such as
pencils, note books, files, pencil cases, colour pencil and many others.

7. We would also like to help out with some cleaning at the centre. We
could clean the ceiling and wall fans, wipe the windows, mop the floor and
do the laundry. In addition to that, we would like to help the cook to prepare
meals for the children as well. We could help to prepare three meals on the
day of our visit lunch, tea and dinner. The ingredients for the meals will
be donated by the club members.

Please let us know if you are agreeable to the activities stated above.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Johnny
(JOHHNY LAU)
Honarary Secretary,
Lion Charity Club.

ESSAY 5
A talk on How to find a right job to students.

Good morning to our Respected Principal, fellow colleagues and my dear

students.

For those who do not know my name, I am Puan Intan, the school
counselor. Today, I am going to talk to you about the finding the right job. I
am sure more of you are now wondering which career you would like to
pursuer after you graduate. I understand it is rather difficult at this point to
decide on your future career but it would be beneficial if you could put
some thought into the matter. You will soon complete your Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia (SPM) examinations and you may want to take different routes to
further your education. However, whichever route you would depend on
your career choice.

To choice the right job, you must first have to courage the dream. You must
dare to dream and be brave enough to follow your dreams. Your dream is
an indication of your ideal job. It will also indicate which field you are
interested in. Then, you should focus on your interest. For example, you
may be interested in either the fields of business, science, literature or
education. You should then do some research on the field of your interest.
You can attend career talks by speakers who are in the profession that you
are interest in, look for information in the Internet or newspaper, or you
could come by my office to obtain the information. After doing the research,
you will get a pretty good idea of what field you are interest in, the subject
that you may need to study, and the job which are available in that field.
You much also change your attitude. It is important for you to understand
that you should not endure a job you could barely tolerate and have no
interested in, just for the sake of working. Therefore, you should not choose
a certain job because you need to work, but you should choose a job
because you like doing it. You should go for something you enjoy. You
have to remember to that you will have to work for the next 20 or 30 years
of your life. So it would be wiser for you to choose a job that you love.
Besides that, you will also perfume better at something that you are
passionate about.

The next step is to check out the relevant courses which are available. This
will help you to plan your career path. Some of you may one to take a full-
time course at a college or university while others may prefer to work in the
day and attend night classes. So it is useful if you could network with like-
minded people so you can compare notes and help each other. You could
also take the plunge and try working part-time or volunteering in the field of
your choice during the SPM holidays. This could help you to make an
informed decision. After volunteering at a hospital, you may discover that a
career as a doctor is not meant for you. You could also discover that you
were born to become a doctor as you love to help sick people to get better.

However, do not make money the main issue. The job that you should
choose should not be base on the salary. You have to change your priority
and concentrate on doing things you love. You would be able to earn a
salary no matter which job you choose. So you must be wary that it is
important that you learn and grow while you work. You would not want to
have a job that limits your creativity. You must be brave to make the
decision to follow your dreams and dare to be different. Gaining moral
support from your family is also important. You may also need financial
support from your family to pursue your dream career.

I hope after my long speech, you now have a better idea on how to find the
right job for yourself. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to
come to the counseling office to see me. Thank you for listening.

ESSAY 6
Write an article on The importance of having a budget for the
societys newsletter.

Having a budget is not a choice but a necessity. It is important for everyone

to have a budget in order o balance the amount of income with
expenditure. Having a budget can help us plan our finances. With a
financial plan, we will know where the money we have goes to.

It is essential for us to be able to take control over our money and not have
our money control us. Therefore, we must be able to decide how we should
spend and save our money no matter how much or how little we have. This
way, we are in control of our finances. Being able to control our finances
means that we must also be smart to decide between the things we need to
buy and the things that we dont.

It is never too early to start having a budget. So, it is important for us start
planning our funds now, as it is good practice for the future when we start
working, As a working adult, one will have various money commitments
such as a car, house, family, and others. Therefore, budgeting is very
important. If we do not have a budget, we may spend more than what we
have. This will cause us go to into debt. Furthermore, we may also not
have any savings for times of emergency if we fail to have a financial plan.

One of the methods of budgeting is to set a spending limit. By having a

spending limit, we will be able to control our expenditure. A spending limit
will help us to decide what we need to buy. Besides that, knowing the
amount of money we have in hand will also give us an idea of how much
we can afford to spend and how much we would want to put away as
savings. With a budget, we will also be able to track our expenses. We can
list down all our expenses such as food, stationary, car repair, movie tickets
and others so that we will know what our money is spent on.

Having a smart spending habit is another way of budgeting. Being smart

means that we should only spend what is within our budget and avoid
extravagance. We must also avoid having the tendency to follow crowd
instinct or to be easily influenced by sales.

So where should we start? It is best to first determine our necessities. We

should only spend on things that we need and not on luxury items. As
working adults, credits card are the norm as they provide invaluable
convenience provided the item that we use them carefully and trim
spending on extravagance. To shop smart, we can list down the items that
we need to buy before we start shopping, avoid sales and set a limit
ourselves for each shopping trip.
ESSAY 7
INFORMAL LETTER Write a letter to your cousin and advise him on
How to lose weight.
12, Jalan
1/14, Taman Emas,
46000 Petaling Jaya.

8 April 201_.

Dear Lau,

I received your letter yesterday. In your letter, you told me that you have
put on a lot of weight. You now weigh 75 kg. All your shirts and trousers are
too tight now. Your weight gain has made you sluggish and lazy. I'm not
surprised that you feel this way.

Well, I have to tell you that you must stop putting on more weight. At your
weight now, you are 25 kg overweight. This is going to cause you many
health problems.

It is not difficult to get rid of some weight. All you need is to exercise some
discipline. You will also need tons of willpower. Follow a strict programme
of healthy eating and exercise. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables for
they are a rich supply of vitamins, minerals and fibre. At the same time, you
have to go easy on foods that are rich in fat and oil. Avoid sweet food like
chocolate and cakes. Such food contains a lot of sugar and this will make
you gain a lot of weight.

Eating healthy food must be accompanied by good eating habits as well.

Take three meals a day at regular rimes. Eat a low-calorie breakfast. It can
be toast and a glass of milk. For lunch, you can have a sandwich and an
apple. Cut down on dinner for this is the last meal of the day. You don't
need energy to sleep now, do you?

And of course, you need to exercise. Take up walking, cycling or

swimming. Exercise burns calories and builds up muscle.
I hope you will follow my advice. It is guaranteed to help you lose weight.
Do tell me if you have lost some weight. I am waiting to hear the good
news. Take care and God bless.

Your good friend,

Lucy

ESSAY 8
An article on Useful ways to spend leisure time.

Leisure time is set aside for relaxation. There can be useful and yet exciting
ways to spend our leisure time. Some suggestions include reading, taking
part in sports and doing charity work.

Reading is one of the best ways to spend our free time. Besides spending
our time in a relaxing manner, reading also has many benefits. It helps to
improve our language, grammar and vocabulary skills. Moreover, it
improves our general knowledge and gives us a better insight into life. We
can learn a lot about other countries, their cultures and people without
traveling to these places.

Engaging in physical exercises and sports is another fantastic way of

spending our leisure time. Exercise clears the mind and makes the body
healthy. It is also a good way to relieve stress. Examples of sports activities
we take up are swimming, jogging and playing games.

Perhaps one of the most rewarding ways to spend leisure time is doing
charity work at special homes for the disabled, the blind and the aged. This
is by signing up as a volunteer. We gain benefits that are two-fold. By
making others happy, we are making ourselves happy too.

With so many ways to spend ones leisure time at our disposal, one
wonders why youths today spend they free time on dangerous pursuits like
taking drugs, smoking and dangerous sports like racing. They are
detrimental to one's life, health and incur high expenses.

ESSAY 9
A speech on How to develop reading skill in children.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am Dr Raman of Raman Child

Development Centre. The topic of my speech today is 'Developing Reading
Skill in Children.

Parents and teachers should pay attention to developing the reading skill in
children. A study made on a group of children in a kindergarten school
found out that children from the age of two to three, who were read to
several time a day, did substantially better in kindergarten at the age of four
and five than those whose parents read to them only a few times a week.

Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the
existence of printed words. So, one effective way to develop their reading
skill is to read books aloud to them. Reading aloud to them stimulates their
imagination and understanding of the world around them. It helps them
develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the
written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become part of the
child's life, learning to read will be as natural as his learning to walk.

My advice to you parents is to start the child young. At just a few months of
age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to your voice and point to objects
on cardboard pages. So guide your child by pointing to the pictures and
saying the names of the various objects. Even after your children have
learnt to read by themselves, it is still important for you to read aloud
together.

Developing reading skills and thus cultivating the reading habit in children
will without a doubt benefit them greatly. With a love for reading our
children will not only enjoy the excitement and imagination of a good book
hut they will also grow up with a thirst for knowledge and new experiences.

Thank you.

ESSAY 10
A speech on The important of obeying school regulations.

Good morning, fellow students. I am Ahmad, the Head Prefect. My speech

today is to remind every student here the importance of obeying school
regulations. School regulations are imposed to ensure the smooth running
of the school. They are for the good of all students.

What are our school regulations? First, I will start by bringing attention to
your dressing. You must make sure that your uniform is always complete
and neat. Only white shoes with white socks can be worn and not any other
colours. And never forget to wear your school badge every day. You must
always keep your hair short and neat. Girls, if you want to keep long hair,
you have to tie it up. And as for the boys, long hair is not allowed.

Next, I wish to talk about proper conduct and behavior. You must always
respect your principal, teachers and other students. Greet your principal
and teachers when you meet them. There are also many actions that are
not acceptable in school. For instance, you must never play truant, cheat in
exams, fight or steal in school. Students who are caught cheating in exams,
fighting or smoking will have to face disciplinary action.

On any occasion, you cannot damage or deface any property of the school
or perform any act likely to cause such damage or defacement. In school,
you cannot disrupt teaching, study, research or otherwise prevent any
member of the school and its staff from carrying on his or her work. If you
are caught doing any of these, you will face disciplinary action.

I hope my speech has enlightened you on how to be a good student by

obeying school regulations. Thank you for listening.

ESSAY 11
A speech on Caning is an old-fashioned way of disciplining
students.

Good morning to the headmaster, teachers and students. I have been

asked to represent the Students' Affair Board to give you a speech on how
and why caning is an old-fashioned way to discipline students.

Caning students who break school rules is definitely a primitive method of

disciplining students. As we progress towards a caring society, we should
look into other more humane alternatives of disciplining They may react
negatively and in retaliation, they further break school rules as a form of
rebelliousness towards authority.

Moreover, caning students in most cases do not deter hard-core offenders

as they continue to remain blas about their actions. These offenders need
a total change of attitude where the violence and pain of caning will not
have any effect on them.

It is the wish of every disciplinary teacher, teacher and parent to see their
children behave well. However, caning only creates fear in the hearts of
children and that is not a good motivator. Students need to discover a
motivator that is intrinsic in nature. This will ensure that students behave
well because they want to and not because they are afraid of the cane.

Therefore, 1 believe that genuine concern and love for the students will
without a doubt show the students that teachers only want the best for
them and that the best may mean learning to discipline themselves for the
better.

Thank you for listening.

ESSAY 12
A speech on How to be a responsible student.

Good morning to the Principal, teachers and fellow students. As the Head
Prefect, I am honoured to be given the opportunity a speech for today's Co-
curriculum Awards Day and my topic entitled "The Responsibilities of a
Good Student" is apt one indeed.

It is the hope of everyone to work and study in an environment that is both

pleasing and conducive. Therefore, our collective responsibility is to keep
our school surroundings clean by ensuring that rubbish ends up in the trash
cans or dustbins and our classroom is always spick and span. Dusty
windowpanes and dirty floors do not encourage students to learn well. It
goes without saying that besides keeping the environment clean, we should
not vandalize school property either. The furniture, equipment and various
decorative items have been put in place to provide students with the
convenience of learning.

Furthermore, as students, it is also our responsibility to adhere to the

school rules and respect our teachers and those in authority. School rules
are enforced in order that we can become more disciplined and as a
method of preventing any unwanted incidents from occurring in the school.
The rules help to protect us and it is only right that we obey them. We
should also make sure that we complete all assignments, project work and
homework set by our teachers to their right deadlines. These forms of work
help us improve in our studies and keep us focused.

Dear students, keeping punctual are also the responsibility of every

student. It is disrespectful to those kept waiting if you arrive for classes and
meetings late. Playing truant is not the "in" thing to do as students will
definitely lose out on the input teachers hope to impart in class. The
lessons in class are just as important as your preparations at home for your
exams. Therefore, if you miss out on your lessons, you will be unprepared
for your exams and may resort to cheating which is dishonest.

Finally, my fellow schoolmates remember that the school is like a second

home to many students and we live together as a family. Family members
help and support each other irrespective of race, religion, performance or
size. So, as responsible family members, refrain from bullying each other
as it can cause severe physical and mental trauma to the victim. Therefore,
as you receive your various awards today, remember to keep in mind your
responsibilities.

Thank you.

SHARE

Back to SUBJECTS

Order books
Share

INDEX

of 6

Argumentative Essays
1. Co-curricular activities are a waste of time. Do you agree?

Co-curricular activities are non-academic activities and conducted

outside the classroom. Co-curricular activities cover a wide range of
activities from sports or athletics to uniformed societies.

Some people feel taking part in co-curricular activities is a waste of

time, but I think there are many advantages in participating in these
activities.
 Firstly, uniformed units such as Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and the Red
Crescent Society teach their members basic survival skills. This enables
their members to be prepared for any tough situation later. These
uniformed organizations also contribute a lot to the society each year
through donations and social work. Those active in such units learn to be
caring and helpful towards others. Furthermore, societies such as the Red
Crescent Society teach their members first aid which will become handy
when someone is injured or requires immediate medical attention.

Through group activities, members learn to respect and co-operate

with one another. Many members are also given a chance to head an
activity or a group project. In this way their leadership skills are honed.
These leadership skills are important after they leave school and starts
working because they have to deal with different types of people.

Besides the uniformed units, students can choose whatever club or

society they are interested in. Clubs such as the Drama Club or Maths Club
enhance their members' ability in those particular fields. Doing well in co-
curricular activities is important because many employers do not only look
at academic qualifications alone. Students active in co-curricular activities
show their potential employers that they have extra abilities acquired
outside the classroom.

Sport is also a part of co-curricular activities and can improve or

maintain one's health or well-being. People who participate in sports are
more active. Therefore, participating in sports also ensures better thinking
skills and alertness in the classroom. Sports such as swimming and
athletics build stamina and keep the body fit, so that the person will not fall
sick so easily.

Sports also instil discipline in students. Those who take part in sports
have to stick to a daily timetable and watch what they eat. They are
required to listen to their coaches attentively.

In fact, sports and other co-curricular activities help to develop strong

character, promote basic moral values, instill discipline and independence
and respect for peers and elders which cannot be found in any textbook.
Because of the factors given above, I strongly disagree that taking part in
extra-curricular activities is a waste of time.

2. Friendship is more important than money. Do you agree?

It is difficult to decide which one is more important - friendship or

money. This is because both are equally important. However, I think that
we can live without money but not without friends. What is the point to have
a lot of money but without friends.

Good friends are hard to find. They are with us all the time to
support, love and care for us. Friends are also good listeners. They lend us
their ear and shoulder to cry on when we are down. It is important for
everyone to have friends because when we are feeling sad, we can always
share our problems with them. They will always be there to console us and
try to help us to solve our problems.

Although money can make life comfortable, it is only a means to

material things. We may still be unhappy even though we have everything
that we want. We can have big houses, luxury cars, priceless jewellery and
overseas vacations all year round but we will still be unhappy if we do not
have friends. It will not be fun to enjoy our wealth alone.

We need friends to share our happiness and life experiences with us.
We will not be alone or lost if we have friends. We can do many things with
them, especially if we share the same interests and hobbies. We can also
share our experiences with our friends, even if it is an embarrassing
experience because true friends are always loyal to us and they do not
judge us. True friends are good companions and accept us for who we are.

True friends also remain our friends no matter how poor we are.
However we must be careful because money sometimes attracts the wrong
company. Some people may want to be our friend if we have material
wealth. Their friendship is not genuine. If we are no longer wealthy, these
friends may go away. They will not be there during our bad times but true
friends will be there with us regardless of our financial status. True friends
will help and provide us with moral support to help us during bad times.

Therefore, there is no doubt that friendship is more important than

money. Friends can give us support, love and care, whereas money can
only provide us with temporary happiness through material things.
Furthermore, we can live without having a lot of money but we certainly
cannot live without friends.

3. Keeping pets is good. Do you agree?

Pets are animals which we rear, love and nurture. Whether it is a

dog, a cat or a bird, pets make our life interesting. They can become our
companions when we are lonely.

Pets are useful. Dogs can guard our homes. They can see and smell
any strangers who may be lurking nearby. It makes us feel safer in our
homes. Cats are also useful because they can help us keep our homes
free from rats and mice. Furthermore, cats are also very cuddly and playful.
Rearing fish is also beneficial. It can provide us with an inexpensive way to
relax. Fishes are decorative, and it is very calming to watch the colourful
fishes swimming in the aquarium.

Keeping pets is also beneficial for children. Children can be given the
responsibility of feeding and keeping the pets clean. This trains them to be
responsible caregivers. They learn to be independent and less self-centred
by caring for the pets. They will learn how to love and be kind to animals.
This will teach them to be generous, kind and caring people when they
grow up.

It is highly recommended for childless couples to keep pets. Pets can

bring them closer by sharing the responsibility of taking care of the pets.
Pets also provide companionship when either one of the couple is not
around. Pets can also enrich the couple's life by providing them a special
kind of relationship as well as a hobby. Couples who have dogs can take
their dogs out for walks together or play fetch in the park.

Dog can help some people with disabilities with their daily tasks.
Those who are visually impaired keep guide dogs to help them get around.
These guide dogs will go everywhere with their owners to guide and protect
them. Others who are paralyzed train their dogs to help them around the
house like to fetch the newspapers or mails.

We must have some responsibilities when keeping pets. Pets must

be adequately fed. This is not a difficult task because pet food is quite
cheap and it is easy to prepare. Dogs and cats can be fed with biscuits
which come in packs and are ready-to-eat. Fish foods also come in the
form of flakes or biscuits which require no preparation. We must also
provide a comfortable place for them to stay.

Keeping pets brings us a lot of joy and benefits. We get to share our
lives with our pets and enjoy their company. Pets also add a new
dimension to our lives. These are the reasons why I think keeping pets is
good.

4. Nuclear Energy Good or Bad?

Although coal power is the main provider of electricity, many parts of

the world rely on nuclear energy to supply electricity. Nuclear energy has
different benefits that make it a better alternative than coal power, but this
source of power has its
 The process of producing nuclear energy requires atoms to be split
to produce heat. The heat is used to turn water into steam. The steam will
then spins a turbine of a generator that creates electricity. This process is
what makes the uranium radioactive which is harmful to all living things.
When a nuclear plant explodes or burns down, the harmful radiation is
exposed into the air and can harm living things as well as contaminate
water.

Countries like Germany and France are rich in uranium and they can
remain self-sufficient with their power supply and keep costs down by not
having to import elements from other countries. Another major benefit of
using nuclear energy is pollution free. Nuclear power plants emit no carbon
dioxide or other pollutants into the air. It never contributes to global
warming as well.

However, producing nuclear energy seems to have more

disadvantages than advantages. One of them is radiation poisoning which
affects the body. Its initial symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting,
fatigue and anorexia. Most fatalities caused by radiation exposure are due
to extremely large radiation exposure. The Japan is a good example.

Also, one of the largest economic drawbacks to nuclear energy is its

steep price. Nuclear reactors are multibillion-dollar capital project, with new
ones expected to cost in excess of billions of ringgit to construct. This is
due primarily to the greatly increased cost of labour and materials.

The storage and management of nuclear waste has also been a

problem plaguing the nuclear industry. The waste products of nuclear
fission have a half-life measured from decades to centuries making their
management very much a long-term prospect. The storage and handling of
nuclear waste has not been without incident. Containment failure led to
increased incidents of leukemia and other symptoms of chronic radiations
poisoning.

Therefore, it is very clear that nuclear energy poses more problems

than benefits. Those countries that already use this form of energy must
step up efforts to ensure that all possible precautions have been taken to
prevent a nuclear accident such as Russian Chernobyl incident from
occurring.

5. Does Academic excellence guarantees success? Discuss.

Does academic excellence ensure a successful life? To answer this

question properly, we must know how a successful life is viewed.
 To materialistic people, a successful life is the accumulation of great
wealth and a lot of property. They say that the more money and property a
person has, the more successful he is.

However, people with a spiritual turn of mind think that a successful

life is living happily, harmoniously or contentedly with other people. Many
university graduates fail to fulfill the conditions of either these two
definitions of a successful life. Firstly, a person who has graduated from a
university does not necessarily have a higher income than a person who
has not stepped inside one. The average salary of a university graduate is
around RM2,000 a month. This is a minuscule amount compared to what
hawkers earn. Many hawkers or roadside-stall operators who may have
dropped out even from primary school would consider it a failure if they
earn less than RM3000 a month. If we measure success by the size of
one's income, then the hawkers and vendors are clearly more successful
than the graduates.

If we consider the spiritual version of a successful life, many

university graduates are also failures. Their lives are filled with disharmony
and discontent. They live in constant conflict with their fellow-men and they
are highly discontented with their lot in life. So, these people fail to fulfill
even the spiritual conditions of a perfect life. Many lowly-educated people
are the opposite of the graduates. They live in happily, harmony and
contentment with their fellow-men and their environment. This goes to
show that having academic excellence does not necessarily bring
happiness or success.

Academically, there is no denying that a person who has passed out

of university is more successful than one who has not. However, we all
know that is not what we mean by a successful life. We view success in life
in a different way.

Therefore, in order to be able to answer the question whether

academic excellence guarantees successful, we have to know what people
mean by success. Is it material success, is it spiritual success or is it
academic success? If we view success as a material or spiritual
achievement, academic excellence does not give the slightest advantage to
anyone. Only in academic success is a person with a degree superior to
one who does not have one.

6. Should school students be given a mobile phone? Discuss.

Mobile phone has become a fashionable trend especially among the

younger generation. Nowadays, the function of a mobile telephone is no
longer limited to just a communication tool but more. We get to use it to
send text messages, play games, take photographs, play music, record
sound and videos and so on. The list goes on and on with the help of
software and technology. In fact, it is believed that mobile phones will
continue to evolve and become an inseparable part of our life in the near
future.

The use of mobile phones among students, however, has raised a lot
of questions and debate among society. Many believe that students should
not be using mobile phones because it causes distraction and students will
lose track of their responsibilities. Students who frequently use mobile
phone will not be focusing in their study thus their grades will slip
tremendously. Although such belief has yet to be proven statistically, life of
a student who has plenty of tasks to juggle with already, should not be
further complicated anymore with the use of a mobile phone.

Students who often use mobile telephone with its many features tend
to misuse the gadget if they are not properly guided. They may send or
forward useless messages when they are bored, take pointless
photographs for fun, play meaningless games on the phone just to kill time
and basically defeat the whole purpose of owning a phone in the first place.
Parents usually are willing to purchase a mobile phone for their school-
going children just to keep in contact but if they realize that the phone is
going to be misused in such a manner, perhaps parents would think twice
before doing so.

Besides that, there are also concerns over health hazards caused by
the use of mobile phones. Possible outcomes believed to be connected to
the use of mobile phone include cancer, brain tumor, migraine, lowering of
immunity level and so on. Scientific studies have been conducted
numerous times to prove the statement but so far the result has been
inconclusive. Nevertheless, we should all be careful with the excessive use
of mobile phone because we can never be too careful when it comes to our
health and safety.

All in all, technology like mobile phone should not be treated as a

threat but a convenience. However such convenience must never be
misused or it could bring upon negative consequences. Students,
especially, ought to practice moderation and self discipline when it comes
to the use of mobile phone because they should be aware that their
responsibility should never be taken over by any form of over indulgence.
 SHARE

Back to SUBJECTS

Order books
Share

INDEX

of 6

Descriptive Essays
1. Describe a friend of yours who has been an encouragement to you.

John is my best friend, even at present. We met at the age of twelve,

at my friends birthday party and have been best friends ever since. He has
been a great encouragement to me in many ways.

He is a hard-working individual who believes that hard work always

pays off, it is just a matter of time. In school, he was diligent in his studies
and even when he did not always excel in his schoolwork, he never let up
in keeping up with his studies. He took his homework and assignments
seriously and had never procrastinated in his work. He is really a well-
organized individual as he always allocates time for play and study
accordingly because he strongly believes that "All work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy". With all these qualities he possessed, he had inspired me
to acquire these traits as well.

We both played in the school football team and here too, he had his
little ways and gestures of keeping me encouraged. At times, when I
missed a goal or two, he was always ready with an understanding smile or
a gentle tap on my shoulder to remind me that all is not lost.

I remember the time when his father lost his job due to an accident.
He did not give up nor feel helpless, but instead, he was always upbeat and
hopeful for the future. He even took on a few part-time jobs to help make
ends meet. I remember being so impressed by his sense of responsibility
and duty. Later, when my mother passed away, he continued to show his
support and encouraged me to do well in my studies to make my mother
proud of me.

We had drifted apart after Form Five when we want to different

universities. I couldnt find any time to keep in touch with him as university
life was not as free as we thought if would be. Even so, he would either
called me or wrote to me whenever he would.
 Later, we had to go out into the real world, facing the hardships our
parents had to go through but he was still there encouraging me to move
forward in life. I remember he once quoted that the only thing that stands
between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it
and the faith to believe that it is possible. Today, I am a very successful
accountant and John continues to be a source of encouragement to me
and even to my two little kids.

2. Describe the happiest day of your life.

The happiest day of my life happened in 1981 when I rekindled my

friendship with my best friend from my teenage years. After Form Five, we
had to go separate ways as we were interested in different courses. I
couldnt find any time to keep in touch with her, much less anyone else.
Perhaps she too, had been very busy, in Australia where she had gone for
tertiary education because she neither called me nor wrote to me either.

After college, I went into accounting school and soon I became an

accountant. I had never given a single thought about her all those years as
I had to go out to face the real world.

It was only when I was cleaning my room one day when I found an
old photograph of Melissa and myself. Then memories of all the good times
we had shared started flooding back. She had been the one who consoled
me when I failed to do well in my test. We had discovered study together,
and giggled and cried through many movies together, too. I knew then I
had to call her.

Feeling a bit nervous, I dialed her house phone number. After a few
rings, I heard a voice saying hello. At once, I knew it was Melissa. She
sounded more mature of course but I could never forget that voice. We
agreed to meet at the shopping mall at 7.00pm that night.

Soon I found myself sitting opposite her, drinking coffee in the

Starbucks restaurant. The first five minutes were strained but before we
knew it, we were busy chatting. It was just talk about our jobs, our friend
and our families, but we were connecting as if the past twelve years of non-
contact had never happened.

It was as if a magic love-bow had strike our dusty relationship and

made it fresh and shiny again. Renewing a friendship can be a hard
process since both of us have been separated quite a spell of time but
somehow we regained it in those four intimate hours. We shared our ups
and downs, joked about the good old times, and wondered how we could
have let ourselves drift apart.
 We opened up with me talking about my career. Talking with her was
very comforting and it suddenly dawned on me why I had been so close
with her. Now, more than ever, I realized that she was a great listener,
letting me be myself without judging me.

Being with Melissa was very different from going out with the casual
friend I have now. The evening ended on a light note. We both agreed to
keep in contact more often. That evening was the most meaningful one I
had ever had and I went to bed feeling on top of the world.

I had learnt that one should not compromise our friendship but what
made the day extra-special was we had fall in love. After all, this wonderful
lady has turned out to be my wife, today.

3. Describe the perfect home.

My perfect home for me would be ideally situated near enough to

town and yet away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It would be nice if
it were within walking distance of facilities such as a local a library, the post
office and some shops. Of course, it would be better if it is near my school
as well.

My home itself would be beautifully structured of wood and bricks. It

would have four bedrooms: one for my parents and the last bedroom would
be for guests. All the bedrooms would have air-conditioner and their own
attached bathrooms equipped with hot and cold showers.

I would also like to have a nice big kitchen since my mother enjoy
cooking and trying out new recipes. There would have ample space to
prepare the food, place a refrigerator, freezer and an oven.

To me, the heart of any home would be the living room. Mine would
be large and airy, as the huge windows would open out so that the breeze
would gently blow into the house. There would be a great grandfather clock
in one corner, and inexpensive but beautiful paintings would hang on the
walls.

Of course a living room is for living so there should be some leisure

facilities in mine. Some of us could cuddle in front of our 60- inch television
while others would listen comprise a comfortable settee and huge
armchairs into which you could sink into and relax.

Outside there would be a swimming pool with a Jacuzzi. The pool

area would be surrounded by shady trees. Here, I could just relax on the
lazy chair whenever after swimming.
 The garden would be big and wide. It would be beautifully
maintained, with a lot of beautiful flowering plants of various colours, a few
bushes and a big angsana tree. I would also like to have a small pond with
Japanese carps lazily swimming in it.

All these features would unless it was shared with my family. I would
also love to have my grandparents living next door, so that they could drop
by easily.

What bliss to be living in such a perfect home with my family! It would

indeed be Home Sweet Home.

4. Describe the favourite place that you like to visit.

Penang, known as the Pearl of the Orient, is my favourite place to

visit. It is a small island of the north-west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. I
love going Penang because it offers visitors many attractions.

First, there is Penang Hill. No trip to Penang is complete without up

to the highest point of the island by tram. Its an exciting ride, as I can see
monkeys on both sides as the tram struggles to go up.

When I reach the peak, I can get a panoramic view of the whole
island and even the Straits of Malacca. By night, the view of twinkling lights
of the city below is simply breathtaking. It is also away from the hustle and
bustle of city life.

I can still remember the first time my uncle and aunt brought me up
there. I just didnt want to leave because it was so wonderful.

The palm-fringed sandy beaches of Batu Feringgi are a paradise for

sea-lovers. On every visit I can choose to stay in the luxurious but
expensive beach hotels or rough it out in the cheaper Chalets. Here I can
swim in the crystal-clear water, basking in the sun or sipping delicious ice-
cold coconut water under the shady trees.

Another place in Penang which I find irresistible is the Botanical

Gardens. Though I enjoy admiring the colours and smells of the various
flowers and plants, I much prefer seeing the chattering monkeys of which
the Gardens are full. I cannot resist feeding them with peanuts just like
other visitors do. They are so tame and wander all over the place freely.

Finally, one of the chief attractions that lure me to Penang is the

variety of mouth-watering hawker foods. This is the place to savour the
unbeatable Penang Laksa, popiah and lots more. It is simply delicious,
cheap and plentiful, that no other place where you can find.

In short, I love Penang because it is the home of my uncle and aunty.

They always look forward to my visits, just as much as I long to go there.
They are marvellous hosts and know when to entertain me and when to
leave me alone. They let me wander round the streets of Penang without
worrying about me too much, something that my over-protective mother
never lets me do.

5. Describe a Sport Day in School

As busy as a bee hive! That was how my school was last Friday.
Many students show determination on their faces. They were dressed to
conquer and their faces were decked out in their respective sports houses
colours. Ultimately to out-do their rivals. The students of last years overall
winners were seen pacing up and down the running tracks. Some stood
around in little huddles, probably discussing strategy. The rest were seen in
lines while various groups were crowded around the stadium.

Colourful banners and bunting were seen fluttering in the breeze.

They were seen swaying even for the slightest breeze. The teachers
looked very relaxed in their sports attire. The students are ready. The
invited guests are ready. Everyone looked ready. It was time for our annual
school sports day to begin!

The day started with the match pass of the five sports houses, Red,
Blue, Yellow, Green and Violet. They looked very smart and nice indeed.
This was followed by the singing of the national anthem Negaraku and the
school song. Everyone sang with vigour and gusto. Then, the raising of the
school flag and the sports day flag was carried out by the representative of
the Scouts and Girl Guides. Finally, our principal gave her speech and
officially launched the school sports day. A great cheer went up from the
crowd when a hundred colourful balloons were released up to the sky.
Everyone was astonished to experience such a memorable day.

The first event for the day was the 400m race. This was followed by
various events like the long jump, the shot-putt and other races. Students
were seen cheering their favourite participants. By 10.00 a.m., most of the
students had tired lines on their faces. The heat of the day was beginning
to take its toll on some of the participants. The team of St John Ambulance
and the Red Crescent members were kept busy running back and forth
with injured participants and so forth. Great effort was shown by both these
uniformed bodies.
 Finally, the most anticipated time of the day arrived the moment of
announcing the winners. It was a tense moment as our guest of honour,
Dato Yong, gave his speech and praised the students for their
perseverance, positive attitude and sportsmanship. Some of the students
just wanted him to get over with his speech so that the winner could be
announced. I believe they were too anxious to know the winner.

The winner is the Red sports house! Our principal voice rung out
loud and clear. A burst of hoorays and cheers resounded through the red
camp. After four years of taking the second place, it was official, the sports
house, Red, had wrested the coveted champions trophy from the other
houses. It was certainly a day to remember. After all, I was the captain of
the Red sports house! The feeling was terrific and everyone present had a
whale of time.

6. Describe pasar malam at your place.

The Malaysian night market or pasar malam is based on a concept of

open-air shopping where street vendors take over a designated street to
set up stalls. The designated street is closed to traffic from the early
evening to late at night, only to be transformed into a network of brightly-lit
stalls.

The night market is the place where you can weave your way around
the stalls, enjoy the smell of local foods and maybe pick up some trinkets.
Many night markets are also famous for their imported fabrics, imitation
leather goods and branded items.

At night, the whole area is illuminated by bright and colourful lights

giving the whole place, a fiesta-like atmosphere. People, who move from
stall to stall, seem oblivious of others and just push their way through the
crowd. Some people, usually young couples and teenagers, take a leisurely
stroll looking at the various items on display.

By around 6 p.m., the market is in full swing as the first batches of

people sweep in. For those who cook, there is stall upon stall selling fresh
seafood, meat products and a limitless variety of vegetables. Dried and
preserved items such as dried shrimp, mushrooms, salted eggs and
century eggs are easily available here too.

It is no secret that all night bazaars share a common treasure -

scrumptious street cuisine. It would be a sin to breeze through these places
and not nibble on mouth-watering local dishes. Thirst-quenchers such as
the ever-popular soy bean drink and sugarcane juice are a permanent
feature here.
 Noisy jostling crowds are the hallmark of the night market. Therefore,
it is not a place for the faint-hearted or the gentle. To many, they are fun
and thrilling places to explore. You can even indulge in discoveries of the
antique kind which can be found in some night markets.

Bargaining is a practice in this part of the world where you try to

persuade the vendor to part with his ware at a price lower than the price he
is offering to sell you. A good starting point would be to offer to pay 40-50%
of the price quoted.

Some places are 24-hour markets, which are livelier at night when
traders set up numerous stalls selling unusual local food, exotic tropical
fruits, cheap clothes, second-hand goods as well as fresh produce. The
night market is truly an exciting experience and a feast for the eyes on a
tropical night out. There is so much to see, buy and eat. It is indeed a
shoppers paradise.

After ten o'clock, the crowd dwindles and traffic eases. The makeshift
stalls are dismantled and the whole site is strewn with rubbish. The odour
of rotting food pervades the air. Then the air begins to chill and the site of
the pasar malam, which only hours ago was bustling with life, is once again
quiet.

SHARE

Back to SUBJECTS

Order books

Share

INDEX

of 6

Paper 1 Section B:
Continuous Writing
Open Compositions
1. Movies
 A movie encompasses individual motion pictures. Movies are
produced by recording images from the world with camera or by creating
images using animation techniques or special effects.

The making and showing of motion pictures became a source of

profit almost as soon as the process was invented. In the United States
today, much of the film industry centres around Hollywood. Other regional
centres exist in many parts of the world, such as Mumbai-centered
Bollywood, the Indian film industry's Hindi cinema which produces the
largest number of films in the world. Profit is a key force in the industry due
to the costly and risky nature of movie making.

Watching movies is a favourite pastime in many countries. There are

many different types of movies. Different people prefer different genres.
Whether it is drama, comedy or suspense or horror or family drama, it
seems like they are all equally preferred. Just like any influences, movies
can have a good or a bad influence on the viewer.

A movie can have a positive influence on one person, but the same
movie may have a negative influence on another person. There are many
factors that determine if the movie will have a positive or negative influence
on the viewer. These factors include the age of the viewer, the maturity
level of the viewer, and the level of knowledge of the outside world.

There are so many movies out there that it is hard to pick and
choose which movies are positive and which are negative. The positive and
negative perception comes from the viewer who is viewing the movie. The
movie 'Eyes Wide Shut' for example would be perfectly acceptable for a
mature teen or an adult, where as it would be very unacceptable for public
school children to view it. Movies have the ability to make people feel like
they are not alone. They also have the ability to make us laugh when we
are sad.

For every positive there is usually a negative, and this does not
change when it comes to movies. There are many movies released with
extended scenes of gore, violence and nudity. There is nothing wrong with
these movies as long as you understand they are just movies. The problem
with movies is sometimes the wrong viewers view them, such as children.
A child watching a movie with a lot of violence may think it is all right to act
violently.

Modern complexes today are a distant cry from the panggung

wayang ten years ago. Today, we enjoy a more sophisticated cinematic
experience modern cineplexes are equipped with surround-sound systems,
comfortable plush chairs, air-conditioning and carpeted flooring. In addition,
there are ushers dressed smartly in uniform vests, tearing our tickets at the
entrance with a smile and ever ready to show us our seats.

2. Malaysia

Malaysia is a multiracial country. Malaysia has a population of 23.27

million consisting of 61 percent Malays, 30 percent Chinese, 8 percent
Indians and 1 percent of other ethnic groups. Malaysia is unique because
of its diversity of races, religions and cultures, the stability of the country
and many places of interests. Besides, there are many international
achievements which are the pride of our nation.

Diversity of races, religions and cultures is a significant characteristic

of our nation. Malaysia is a multiracial country with a rich cultural heritage.
Unique to Malaysia is the 'Open House' concept where during the various
cultural and religious festival like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali,
Gawai Day and others, friends and families and even strangers would visit
the homes of those who are celebrating the festival, to wish them well and
enjoy the feast prepared by the hosts. Although the visitors may be from
different races, they still can tolerate with each other and live under the
same roof where they celebrate the festival together. This will help to
strengthen the ties among themselves.

Moreover, the stability and peacefulness of Malaysia is also a

uniqueness of us. We live harmoniously in a country where there are no
wars and conflicts among Malaysians. War is dreadful and it may
deteriorate humans' lives. We are fortunate that our country is safe and
runs off the war. So, people can live safely here. Somehow, Malaysia is a
paradise for those Iraqis or Pakistanis. Besides, our country is freed from
natural disasters such as earthquakes. Earthquakes may bring death and
destroy many buildings. Therefore, Malaysia is unique because of the
stability and peaceful environment.

On top of that, there are many places of interests in country such as

beaches, islands and rain forest. Malaysia's rain forest is considered as the
oldest in the world. The diverse species of animals and plant life continue
to excite a great deal of scientific research. Many believe that some
undiscovered plant may hold cures to many currently incurable human
diseases. There are many islands in our country such as Pulau Langkawi,
Pulau Redang, Pulau Ketam and many others. Pulau Langkawi has a lot of
historitical informations. Those who are in favour of history can go there to
explore the history of that place. All the beaches in those islands are
beautiful. The sand is soft and white. The accommodation is well-
established and that makes those islands ideal places to visit.
 Following this, there are also international achievements of our
country. Those achievements include the existence of Kuala Lumpur
International Airport (KLIA), Formula One (F1) racing circuit and the
Petronas Twin Towers. KLIA is unique because it has all that is needed for
business, entertainment and relaxation within its boundaries. The airport is
part and parcel of the Multimedia Super Corridor where high technology
industries are being actively developed. Nevertheless, there is a Formula
One Race Track near the airport, so foreign car racing enthusiasts from all
over the world can come for a visit to gather here. Besides that, Petronas
Twin Towers which is a building that soars 452 metres into the sky is once
upon a time, the tallest building in the world and yet it is a national pride to
the people of Malaysia.

In short, Malaysia is unique that it has diversity of races, religions

and cultures, a stable and peaceful environment, places of interest and
some internal achievements. Those are important characteristic of our
nation. It is rich of cultural heritage; it would be worth to play a visit here.

3. Friends

There are many qualities that a good friend should have. The
qualities may differ from relationship to relationship. The need for the
qualities will also change from person to person. Whatever the qualities
are, a good friend is someone that is not easy to come by every day.

One of the important qualities of a good friend is honesty. In order to

achieve this, you as a good friend must always listen to your friend and tell
him or her what you really feel. Another quality is to be reliable. A good
friend is always able to be there when you need him on her most. For
example, if you are ever in trouble, you are most likely going to phone your
friend to get you out of the situation.

Friends must be able to trust one another. To trust your friend you
must believe and have confidence in that person. Friends as good
confidantes have the ability to keep secrets. Part of being a good friend is
being prepared to make sacrifices of your time and energy in order to help
out your friends.

If a friend needs help with an unpleasant chore or if he or she just

needs a shoulder to cry on.

It is important that you choose your friends wisely. As you befriend

more people, you might find that some are easier to get along with than
others. While you should always give people the benefit of the doubt,
sometimes you realise that certain friendships are unhealthy such as if the
person is introducing dangers or threats into your life. That being the case,
ease your way out of the friendship as gracefully as possible.

These are some steps to meet new people and form strong, lasting
friendships. Spend more time around people. Friends do not come
knocking on your door while you sit at home. Join a club with people who
have common interests. Or you can join a sports team. A common
misconception about this is that you have to be really good at playing a
particular sport in order to make friends with others on the team. This
should not be the case. Not all teams are so competitive. As long as you
enjoy the sport and support your teammates, joining a local team could be
a great way to make new friends.

The Internet is a great place to make friends. It can also help you find
other people around the world who share your interests even if you live in
an isolated place. However, you have to be cautious because not every
person you meet online is who they say they are.

Seeking friends especially good ones is a good investment. They

make your life happy and meaningful. Good friendship usually lasts a
lifetime.

4. Hobbies

Hobbies are activities we do during our free time that allows us to

relax while doing something we enjoy. Through hobbies, our leisure time is
used for entertainment and fun. For young children and teenagers, a hobby
can be a way to develop their skills and talent and of course to keep them
away from things like drugs, alcohol and bad company.

Some people are lucky with their jobs because they do what they
want and like to do. Their job-becomes their hobby. It is a case of work
going with pleasure and fun. Not all of are so fortunate. Work is not a hobby
for most of us.

Not everyone likes the same hobby. Our choice of hobby depends on
our interest and environment. A popular hobby is collecting objects such as
stamps, postcards, badges, model cars, ships, coins, guns, beetles or even
bottles. Collectors attend special shows where they have the chance to
swap their items with others.

The hobby of many teenagers is doing physical activities, for

example playing ball games like football, basketball, volleyball, golf,
bowling, water polo, squash, tennis and table tennis. Other activities
include running, jogging, swimming, going camping, hiking, fishing or
hunting. However, not all of us are good at sports. So for some, their hobby
is watching television, reading books or magazines, watching video or DVD
or playing board games such as chess, cards, scrabble or monopoly.

A lot of people take pleasure in art and they spend their free time
painting, drawing, pottering, singing or listening to music. They like to visit
theatres, ballet and concerts. The most popular art is music. It is quite
common to see young people walking down the street with headsets on.
The younger generation is crazy for computers, playing all sorts of
computer and play-station games and surfing the Internet. They can spend
many hours a day on the computer.

Having a hobby helps to make you a more interesting person and

gives you something fascinating to talk about with others. It can also help
you to avoid feeling bored and often provides the opportunity to meet new
people with similar interests. Learning something new is always good for
keeping the mind alert and active as is a long-term interest that enthralls
you.

As to what hobby to choose, these are some steps to follow. First,

think of a hobby that might interest you. It can be an interest that you have
always wished you had time to explore, but never had the time or money
required to pursue. It can be collecting things for a hobby. Think of the
items you might like to collect, for example, coins, dolls or chocolate
wrappers. You will need to consider how you will get your collectibles,
where you will put them and whether you will display them. Sports make a
good hobby. Watch soccer, basketball, athletics or tennis tournaments on
television.

The point is it does not matter what hobby you have as long as you
have a great time doing it. However, it must not be a hobby that harms your
health and body. If it does, it certainly defeats the purpose of having a
hobby which should be a positive way of spending our time.

5. Snack food

Snack food is a type of food not meant to be eaten as the main meal
of the day - which is breakfast, lunch or dinner. Rather, it is intended to
assuage a person's hunger between these meals, providing a brief supply
of energy for the body. The term may also refer to a food item consumed
between meals purely for the enjoyment of its taste.
 Traditionally, snacks were prepared from ingredients commonly
available in the home, often leftovers, sandwiches made from cold cuts,
nuts, fruit and the like. With the multiplication of convenience stores,
packaged snack foods are now a significant business. Snack foods are
typically designed to be portable, quick and satisfying. Processed snack
foods are designed to be less perishable, more durable and appealing than
prepared foods. They often contain substantial amounts of sweeteners,
preservatives and appealing ingredients such as chocolate, peanuts and
specially designed flavours.

Snack foods are often subjectively classified as junk food; they have
little or no nutritional value, and are not seen as contributing towards
general health and nutrition. With growing concerns about diet, weight
control and general health, health bodies are recommending that people
make a conscious effort to eat more healthy, natural snacks such as fresh
fruit, vegetables, nuts and cereal grains while avoiding high-calorie, low-
nutrient junk food.

Some people prefer to eat snacks a few times a day rather than take
a heavy lunch and dinner. Eating smaller meals more often has a number
of advantages. By snacking, you can keep your energy levels high
throughout the day. There are several healthy snacks in the market that
snack eaters can enjoy. Whether you need a sweet, sour or salty taste, one
of these snacks will likely satisfy your craving without increasing body fat.

However, do keep in mind that the whole idea of snacking is not to

eat too much until you feel bloated. The main aim is to satisfy cravings,
maintain energy levels and prevent hunger. Many great-tasting cereals will
satisfy your hunger and sweet tooth.

Snack food can be healthy food. For example, a high-fibre wheat

flake cereal has a very small amount of fat. Add some fresh fruit and skim
milk and not only does it satisfy your craving for a delicious, sweet, crunchy
snack but you also get some valuable nutrition as well. Non-fat yogurt is a
delicious, healthy snack. It provides a good source of calcium and protein.
Snacking on fruits and vegetables not only provides you with a tasty treat
but it also helps you meet your daily vitamin, mineral and fibre
requirements. Fruits and vegetables are very convenient snacks. Most of
them come in their own handy wrappers.

The golden rule of snacking is to eat wholesome healthy food. It

should not be junk food that is high in calories and sugar.

6. TRUE LOVE
 The sun shone over the quiet suburbs. Everybody hid here and there
to avoid the scorching rays of the blazing sun that oppressed all. Ryan
sauntered about in his room glum and disheartened. The room was in a
mess. The fashion magazines carpeted the dirty floor and the empty hair
gel boxes and bottles of perfumes adorned the corner where stood the old
dressing table. It was all to please her the girl he loved.

He remembered the first time he saw her. She stood out of the rest.
Her beautiful blue eyes and her curly-blonde hair added to the charm of her
stunning perky body. He loved her, but was unable to express it. Soon, the
clouds covered the searing sun, and a gentle breeze started to blow, in
which the pollen fluttered like butterflies in a flower garden. But Ryan was
not much influenced by the weather, for he was caught up in the bog of his
own thoughts and feelings. He lay down on the couch, while his mind kept
on thinking of the girl he loved, Gina.

He lay down on the couch, thinking of her. He looked pretty down-at-

heel in the shabby clothes he wore. His hair was all messed up, and his
face looked as if it was unwashed since he woke up today. The wind
seemed to get stronger and faster by the minute and so did his abnormal
and concerning behaviour. He gazed in the empty space senselessly,
thinking of her.

A thin layer of perspiration covered his face and he ambled all over
the room, kicking all that came in his way. Why did she not respond to him?
Did she not feel his passion, his ardour for her?

He loved her but he could not express his feelings. Soon darkness
covered the sun and his heart. He was fed up of this life of deprivation, so
he took a bold step he swallowed the poison!

Gina never responded to him. Maybe she never felt what was in his
heart. But the poor soul loved her more than his life. Her ignorance led him
to his doom. That morning, they had a dialogue. He had dared to say what
was in his heart, but in reciprocation, he received insult. She embarrassed
him in front of the whole class.

It was all gloomy now, both inside and outside. Dark clouds covered
the sky. The winds slapped sand on the dirty windows that banged. It was
really dark by now. The poison had now started to take over. He felt weak
and feeble. A knock at the door was heard above the howling wind. Gina
stood in front of him.

"I'm sorry Ryan, I didn't mean to. Ryan I'm sorry, I love you too,
Ryan." Her eyes were filled with tears. She advanced towards him, but he
stopped her with a raised hand. Before he could say anything, he fell. His
body was lifeless, motionless. Tears rolled down her cheeks and fell on his
pale skin. She clasped her true love and wept. Her bashfulness had cost
her too much. The winds blew even more stridently, the sky grew darker,
and the clock kept ticking.