A QUICK GUIDE TO CONTINUOUS WRITING

TYPES OF COMPOSITIONS :
 NARRATIVE – writing a story
 ARGUMENTATIVE – stating views
 DESCRIPTIVE – describing an event/scene,
place, person
 FACTUAL – characterising facts
 REFLECTIVE – reflecting OWN experience
1. NARRATIVE COMPOSITIONS ( stories )
 Stories which begin with a given sentence
 Stories which end with a given sentence

A narrative is a story. It has to have a beginning, a series of incidents leading to a conflict

or climax and a suitable ending.

Tips on Writing Narrative Compositions

1. Write a suitable introduction. Introduce your characters. Provide a setting and

start the story.
2. Make your characters lively and interesting. Limit your characters to about
three or four. Your reader should be able to identify the main character and the
minor characters.
3. The incidents you relate must lead to a conflict and later to a climax.
4. Resolve the conflict and end the story.
5. Make your story realistic. You can do this by one of the following methods :
 Give actual names of places, roads, etc
 Use dialogues
 Give your story a time frame.
 Bring in actual events, for example, Merdeka Day, the SEA Games, etc

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Some Types of Opening

1. Describe the background to your story. This sets things off in a straightforward
manner; establishing clearly your characters and situation. Example: There was
once a poet who spent all his days shut up in his dark and shabby rented room
on top of a coffin shop. Describe the setting

2. Describing the setting will create the mood for your story. Example: Towards
two o’clock, the huge theatre was thronged – floor gallery, boxes and stage
were all crowded. So many people were gathered in front of the box offices
that the management had to telephone the police, fearing a riot.

3. Use direct speech. This can be a lively way to begin, especially if your character
says something that grabs attention. For example: “May God wipe out my whole
family if I am lying! “She whispered, raising hand in oath.”

4. Use sounds. Using words which convey sounds is an easy way to start on a
dramatic note. For example: Plop! The lead at the end of the fishing line
dropped into the sea.

2. DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITIONS
Describing people

1. When describing people, select only the significant details.

2. Mention some of the following: - build, facial features, clothing, height,
hairstyle, age, size of the person, distinguishing marks or scars.
3. Mention character or personality traits, habits, behaviour and relationship with
others.

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Write about a person you admire ( sample )

Composition outline

 Introduction
- who the person is
- how you know the person
 Body
- physical description
- character/personality
- habits
- important incidents
- relationship with you and others
- why you admire him/her
 Conclusion
- what the person stands for
- what the person means to you

Describing places or scenes

When you describe places, pay attention to the following aspects :

 Type of place
 Location
 Distance
 Attractions
 Facilities/Amenities
 Accommodation

When you describe scenes, pay attention to sensory description.

 Sounds
 Smell
 Taste
 Touch
 Sight

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3. FACTUAL COMPOSITIONS
The main purpose of factual composition is to inform. So, to write factual
compositions, you must have accurate information about the topic being discussed.

Information about a topic

 Causes and effects
 Analysis of problems, issues and situations and proposals for solutions

Some examples of factual topics:

• Pollution – causes and effects
• Tuition – reasons for its popularity •
• Tourism – how to promote it
• Deforestation – causes and effects
• E-learning – benefits
• Dental care – importance
• Smoking – health effects
• Mobile phones – health hazards

4. ARGUMENTATIVE COMPOSITIONS
An argumentative composition requires you to develop or justify a given argument or
to put forward a particular point of view.

An argumentative composition requires you to do one of the following:

• take one side of an argument and present your stand clearly

• put forward your argument – for and against – and then make a stand

5. REFLECTIVE COMPOSITIONS
A reflective composition is one in which you express your personal thoughts,
opinions feelings. To write reflective compositions, you need to have a good command
of the language which will enable you to express yourself clearly.

Examples of Reflective essays:

• My dream house • The qualities I would look for in a friend

• Things I treasure
• My ideal husband of wife
• My greatest problem

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BOMBASTIC WORDS FOR SPM ESSAY
Accolade praise
Allusion indirect reference
Ambivalence uncertainty; having 'mixed' feelings
Ambivalent unable to decide
Analogy comparison
short account of something interesting;
Anecdote story
Anomalous odd; not fitting the pattern
Apparition ghost; something that 'appears'
Aspersion negative feeling; damaging remark
Belligerence aggression
Bombastic too elaborate; exaggerated
Candid Truthful
Capricious changeable; fickle
Cherished cared for; firmly-held
Cliche over-used expression
Conception 1. idea; view. 2. beginning of pregnancy
Convoluted complicated or long-winded
Credence Belief
Cryptic Hidden
Currency 1. widespread acceptance, 2. Money
Decorous good and correct (used of behavior)
Denunciation act of speaking out against
Derailed thrown off course
Derivative Unoriginal

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 Despotic acting like a tyrant
Detritus Rubbish
Diaphanous very thin and transparent
Dictum often-used saying
Dilettante person who dabbles in the arts
Disdained showed contempt for
Dispassionate unbiased; fair
Dowager an elderly woman of elevate social status
Dubious Doubtful
Egalitarian equal; believer in equality
draw out (used mainly for information or
Elicit feelings)
Elliptical 1. shaped like an ellipse, 2. Indirect
Epitomises acts as a typical example of
Equivocate speak ambiguously/vaguely
Evasiveness trying to avoid something
Explicitly very clear; nothing hidden
Foraging searching for food
Hypothetical based on guesswork; not proven
Iconoclast person who goes against accepted authority
Idiosyncratic quirky; unique to an individual
Imponderable cannot be understood
Indecorous not well-behaved; lacking in dignity
Indigence extreme poverty
Inept Clumsy
Inherent inbuilt; genetic

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 Intricate Complicated
Irrefutable cannot be proved wrong
using words to stir up exaggerated
Jingoism patriotism
Jubilant Joyful
Judicious fair and equal
Lament express regret over something
Loquacious talkative; using too many words
Mendicancy Begging
Metaphorical not literal; figurative
Milieu environment; surroundings
Mitigated made less severe
Nascent just begun; in an early stage of development
Nostalgia longing for the past
Obtrusive easily seen
Orthographical concerned with writing and spelling
Ossified become fixed and rigid
Ostentatious Showy
Palpable can be felt
1. concerned with the countryside, 2.
concerned with the care a pastor gives to
Pastoral someone
Pedestrian 1. boring (adj), 2. person who walks (n)
Perfidy treachery; betrayal
Profligacy wasteful and immoral behavior
Prohibitive very expensive
Prudence wisdom; caution

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 Pugnacious Aggressive
one who sells something or causes
Purveyor something to spread
Resonance Echo
Respite break (from work etc.)
Resurgence Revival
Sparse thin; not thick
Stringent Strict
Succumbing giving in to; falling under the influence of
Supercilious Arrogant
Tenacity firmness of purpose
Transcend go beyond a limit
Variegated multi colored
Venerable worthy of respect
Viable workable; able to live or grow
concerned with the 'guts'; physical rather
Visceral than mental

To indicate more information

 Besides - Making an additional  Also
point; anyway  As well
 Furthermore  Foremost - Ranking above all
 In addition others; Preceding all others in
 Moreover spatial position
 Likewise  First, Second, Third, Finally
 Indeed – In truth  Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly
 In fact

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To indicate an example
 For example  Specifically
 For instance  To illustrate
 In particular  To demonstrate
 Particularly - Specifically or
especially distinguished from others

To indicate a cause or reason

 Since  As
 Because  Inasmuch as - Since
 Because of  Whereby - As a result of which, By
 Due to which, "the means whereby we
 For achieved our goal"
 For the reason that
To indicate a result or an effect
 Accordingly - because of the reason  There from - From that
given circumstance or source
 Consequently  Thereof - Of or concerning this or
 Hence that, From that circumstance or
 So source
 Therefore  Corollary - A practical consequence
 Thus that follows naturally, "blind
 Thusly - In the way indicated jealousy is a frequent corollary of
 Thence - From that fact or reason passionate love"
or as a result
To conclude
 For the aforementioned reasons  Given these facts
 For the aforementioned reasons,  In conclusion
there is no doubt that  In closing
 To sum up the foregoing,  To conclude

To express an opinion
 In all due fairness  With good judgment, (one/we may)

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To describe or make
 vivid  delineate
 portray  represent
 depict  demonstrate
 exhibit  constitute - Form or compose
 illustrate  embodied - (adj) Expressed by
 expose  embody - (v) Represent or express
 present in tangible form
 paint a portrait  embodiment
 limn - Trace the shape of, make a
portrait of

To prove
 manifest - Provide evidence for; stand as proof of
 attest - Provide evidence for
 testify - Provide evidence for
 certify - Provide evidence for
 endorse, indorse - Give support or one's approval to
 shrew - Establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or
experiment
 instance - (v) Clarify by giving an example of
 exemplify - (v) Clarify by giving an example of

To compare or contrast
 Whereas  Yet
 In comparison  Withal - Despite anything to the
 In contrast contrary (usually following a
 However concession)
 Although  Withal - Together with this
 On the other hand  Nevertheless - Despite anything to
 Likewise the contrary
 Similarly  Nonetheless - Despite anything to
 But the contrary

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  Notwithstanding - Despite anything  All the same - Despite anything to
to the contrary the contrary
 Even so - Despite anything to the
contrary

To indicate time
 After  Once
 Before  Previously
 Currently  Simultaneously
 During  Soon
 Eventually  Subsequently
 Finally  Subsequent - Following in time and
 First, Second, etc. order
 Formerly  Hitherto, Heretofore - Used in
 Immediately negative statement to describe a
 Initially situation that has existed up to this
 Lastly point or up to the present time,
 Later “The sun hasn’t rose hitherto.”
 Meanwhile  In due time
 Next  Henceforth
To indicate certainty
 Truly  Absolutely
 Sincerely  Indubitably
 Genuinely  Certainly
 Surely  Without doubt
 Rightfully  Needless to say
To indicate doubt
 Most likely  Dubitable - Open to doubt or
 More likely suspicion
 Possibly  Dubious - Distressed with
 Probably uncertainty or doubt
To summarize
 Overall  In summary
 To summarize  To sum up

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  Paraphrased  précis - A sketchy summary, Make a
 Briefly summary (of)
 In brief  synopsis - A sketchy summary
 Summing up  apercu - A short synopsis
 To put it briefly
To provide a condition
 provision, proviso - A stipulated  if
condition  whether
 stipulate - Specify as a condition or  whenever
requirement in a contract  when
 given  while

To express positive words

 magnificent  illustrious - Widely known and
 grandeur - The quality of being esteemed
magnificent or splendid or grand,  notable - Worthy of notice
the quality of being exalted in  respected
character or ideals or conduct  impressive
 magnanimous - The quality of  splendid
being exalted in character or ideals  splendiferous - Having great beauty
or conduct and splendor
 fantastic  resplendent - Having great beauty
 fantastical and splendor, Richly and brilliantly
 phenomenal colourful
 wonderful  flamboyant - Elaborately or
 extraordinary excessively ornamented, Richly and
 marvelous brilliantly colourful
 superb  redoubtable - Having or worthy of
 avid - Emotionally desirable pride
 avid ambition to succeed  formidable - Extremely impressive
 excellent in strength or excellence
 spectacular  prowess
 prodigious  superior
 grand  terrific
 brilliant  tremendous
 glorious - Bringing great happiness  wondrous - Extraordinarily good
and thankfulness  wonderful

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  sublime - Inspiring awe, Lifted up or  paramount - Having superior
set high power and influence
 flair - natural talent  predominant
 knack - A special way of doing  preponderating
something  prevailing
 outshine - Attract more attention
and praise than others

To intensify
 incredibly intensifiers, With sublimity; in a
 exceedingly sublime manner
 toppingly - extremely well  absolutely
 extremely  perfectly
 extraordinarily  sublimely
 truly  dramatically
 really  sheer - (adj.) Complete and without
 very restriction or qualification;
 utterly - Completely and without sometimes used informally as an
qualification; used informally as intensifier; (adv.) Directly "he fell
sheer into the water

Said
 enounced, enunciated - Speak,
pronounce, or utter in a certain
way
 pronounced - Speak, pronounce, or
utter in a certain way
 articulated - Express or state
clearly
 vocalized - Express or state clearly
 posited - Put firmly
 stated
 expressed
 reported
 alleged - Declared but not proved
 averred - Report or maintain, To
declare or affirm in a grave manner
and formally as true
 affirmed, asserted
 wrote
 composed
 indicted - Produce a literary work
 penned - Produce a literary work
 spelt - Indicate or signify
 voiced, sounded - Give voice to
 demean - Reduce in worth or
character, usually verbally

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Noted (said)
 remarked  mentioned
 denoted - Be a sign or indication of,  referred
"Her smile denoted that she agreed"  announced
 observed  noticed
 commented

Precisely
 explicitly  exactly
 accurately  incisively
 expressly

Numerous
 innumerable  diverse
 many  umpteen
 various  myriad (noun and adj.)
 several

Praise
 extol - (v) Praise, glorify, or  proclaim
honour  revere
 exalt  idolize
 glorify  worship
 laud  venerate

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 USEFUL WORDS & PHRASES TO DESCRIBE
EMOTIONS AND REACTIONS
EMOTION FACIAL BODY FEELING
GESTURE
EXPRESSI
 smiled from  danced  want to fly
ONS
ear to ear  jumped  feel like hugging
HAPPY  singing everyone
 blushed cheeks
 tears of joy  tell the whole world

 heart missed a  slumped  do not want to face

shoulders
beat or two anyone anymore
 head bowed
SAD  jumped out of  want the ground to
 heart breaks
my skin open to swallow
into pieces
 eyes nearly (you)
popped out  want the world to end
 stared dagger  slammed the  want to stab
door
 flaring nose  want to strangle
 clutching fists
 started  turn to lion
 kicked
ANGRY calling
whatever in
names /
sight
cursing

 gritted teeth  trembling  it was a dream

AFRAID
 pale-white face  sweat  to disappear
 legs nailed to  to be invisible
the ground

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 USEFUL VOCABULARY & SENTENCE PATTERNS
A. THE SKY
 The blazing sun was shining through the cloudless sky ( a hot mid-day)
 The sun rose, slowly and majestically, over mountains (early morning)
 The sun appeared over the horizon, giving out rays of faint yellow light.
(dawn/sunrise)
 Everything looked radiant in the early morning sun.
B. THE BEACH/SEA
 Tall coconut palms swayed gracefully to the sounds of the sea waves (beach)
 The gentle waves rolled endlessly towards the white sparkling beach
(beach)
 The whispering breeze and splashing waves gently rocks me to sleep.
 The wind caresses my cheeks and ruffles your hair as I relish the tickling
sensation of the waves crashing at my feet.

C. A STORM
 The sky darkened and it threatened to rain but the weather held (gloomy
with no rain)
 Lightning streaked across the sky
 There was a flash of lightning followed by a rumble of thunder.
 The wind shrieked. The wind howled
 A peal of thunder boomed in the distance.
D. A VILLAGE
 The village houses were huddled together ,surrounded by lush green
shrubs and trees
 As it was a fruit season, the wind carried the strong fruity aroma,
tantalizing all who came across it.
 Behind the quaint little huts, thick green forests and hills lends

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 a majestic surrounding to the village.
 The garden was a kaleidoscope of colour as red, pink and orange
flowers danced gracefully in the gentle breeze

E. DAY/NIGHT
 The dark night was slowly crawling by and the dawn was approaching
 As the moon makes a retreat, the sun rises in all its radiance and
splendour.
 A new day is born.
 The night crawled by slowly.
 The stars twinkled in the black sky like thousands of fireflies
 The cry of million cicadas broke the silence of the night
 In the dead of the night, came the sound of the banging of a door.

The Sense of Sight

The white sand.

The tiny pink shells.
The way the sea is the same blue as the sky, making it hard to tell where one
ends and the other begins.
The rocks still wet from high tide.

The Sense of Smell

The smell of woodland in summer after rain.

Sour milk in the refrigerator.
The first smell of the sea through a car window.

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The Sense of Sound

screeching gulls and waves breaking on pebbles

his heels clicking on the marble
The jangle of loose change in his pocket.

The Sense of Taste

When a character arrives at the coast, the usual thing would be to have
them smell the sea. Instead, you could have them taste the salty breeze.
When a young boy captures a frog at the bottom of the garden, have him lick it.
When a character is returning to his childhood home, have him taste his
mother's roast chicken and gravy when he is still 100 miles away.
It is the first icy day of winter and it starts to snow. A character looks up and
tries to catch the flakes on her tongue.
Further down the street, her younger brother, tortured by curiosity, licks a
metal pole.

The Sense of Touch

like the feel of cool cotton sheets,
like being head butted in the nose,
A greasy stove
A character's cracked lips
A cold, sweaty handshake

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 IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
To face the music
To live from hand to mouth
To sit on the fence
To be in the same boat
In hot water
Have green fingers
Burn the midnight oil
Once in a blue moon
At the eleventh hour
Bear in mind
Turn over a new leaf
To paint the town red
Raining cats and dogs
Keep an eye
In high spirits
Getting on my nerves
Out of the blue
Not my cup of tea
Eye catching
Around the corner
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MEANINGS
To take the punishment or scolding
To live in hardship
To take no sides in a debate/ a quarrel
To be in the same circumstances
In trouble
Good at gardening
Study until late at night
Seldom
At the last minute
Remember
To change for the better behaviour
To enjoy oneself
Raining heavily
Look after
Happy
Making me annoyed/irritated
Unexpectedly
Not to my liking
Attractive
Coming soon
By hook or by crook By all means
To keep one’s fingers crossed To hope for the best
Keep your word Keep your promise
Where there’s a will, there’s a way When you are determined, you will succeed
Lend a hand Help
I am all ears I am listening
A close shave A narrow escape
Flying colours Good grades
To believe your ears To believe what you hear
Not kidding Not joking
Blow one’s trumpet To boast
Down to earth Humble/Honest
Caught red handed Caught in the act
In a twinkling of an eye Very quickly
Under the weather Slightly ill
Took to heart Be upset by
Bad blood Feeling of strong dislike
Throw in the towel Give up
Easier said than done Easier to talk about an idea than carry it out
Count me in Include me
Don’t lose heart Don’t be discouraged
Practice makes perfect You will be good if you do it often
Drive me up the wall Make me very angry
The early bird catches the worm Those who are early will benefit
Let the cat out of the bag Let a secret out
Black sheep Person who is an embarrassment
A white elephant Useless possession
Drop a line write
Put your mind to it Concentrate
A bookworm One who likes to read

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 PHRASAL VERBS MEANINGS
Run into Meet
Put off Postponed
Call on Visit
Watch out Be careful
Close shave Narrow escape
Turn up Attend/Arrive
Look out Be careful
Look into Investigate
Get through Pass
Cut down Reduce
Look forward Expect with pleasure
Look after Take care of
Break/Broke into Enter/Entered by force
Break/Broke down Stop/Stopped because of a fault
Hold/Held up Delay/Delayed
Give up Stop trying
Rely on Depend on
Set Off Start the journey
Takes after Looks like/Behaves like
Come across Find by chance
Throw up Vomit
On and off Sometimes
Drop in Make a visit
Come up Happen
Passed away Died
Deal with Handle
Get over Recover
Carry on Continue

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Get along with Be friendly with
Running out Lacking
Put in To spend time or energy/contribute
Map out Plan
Get ready Hurry
Look out Look for/ Search
Crash into Hit
Look up to Respect
Make up Compensate
Tag along Accompany
Round up Gather
Ages ago Long ago

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