SPM English 1119/1

Paper 1

Section A Directed Writing ( 35 marks

)
Section B - Continuous Writing (50
marks)
TIME : 1 hours
Section A 45 min
Section B 1 hour

A:How your compositions will be Assessed

B: Writing Descriptively
C: Supporting Your points Effectively
D: Using Greater Sentence Variety
E:Planning Your Composition

A: How Your Compositions will be

Assessed
Directed Writing (35 marks)
Content 20 marks
Language Use 15 marks
Content
-ability to carry out detailed instructions given
-mentioning points
-analyse material, develop ideas, provide
relevant points in the form of comparisons
opinions,reasons,examples,details,etc
-specific formats-marks for correct use of format

Language use
- The examiner will decide which
category the answer falls into and allot
the marks accordingly

B: Writing Descriptively
1.Describing People
- Physical Attributes

e.g
Mr Baba, my neighbourhood
hairdresser, is a short man with a paunch.
He has a huge nose with long hair poking
out of the nostrils and two flappy ears that
stick out of each side of his head. Balding on
the top of his head, Mr Baba has curly hair
that goes round his head like a croissant.

Dressing
- characters dressing
Realistic detail
personality
Personality
Adjectives
Illustrations to amplify adjectives
e.g Sally was very kind. She was always
willing to help her friends when they were
in trouble, even at her own
inconvenience.

Descriptions
- of habits and idiosyncrasies that are
unusual and amusing

Movements
- various actions
Choosing apt verbs for actions
Describing the way actions are
carried out
Direct speech

2. Describing Places And Scenes

- what would one see, hear, smell, touch or
taste at this scene?
e.g blue sea - sight
crashing of waves - sound
fishy smell of seaweed smell
salt water in your mouth taste
roughness of sand under your feet touch
- what emotions would one feel at this time?
- what words would convey my feelings
exactly?

C: Supporting Your Points Effectively

In factual, discussive,
argumentative and reflective
compositions, you have to develop
each of your points by supporting it in
an effective and interesting way.
HOW ??

DESCENDS

D
E
S
C
E
N
D
S

Definations
Explanation
Statistics
Comparisons/ Contrasts
Examples
Narratives
Descriptive Details
Sayings/ Quotations

Using Greater Sentence

variety
Varying the length of your sentence
Using a variety of sentence
structures
- Joining sentences with
coordinators
We link ideas of equal importance
by using coordinators : as, and, but, or,
so, for
- Joining sentences with
subordinators

- Joining sentences with

subordinators
We link ideas of unequal importance
using subordinators :
Because,as long as, since (cause and
result)
Although,unless,so that ( reason/result)
When,before, after, until ( time )
Where, wherever ( place )
When we use subordinators,we give more
info to our readers . COMPARE:
He was depressed and his girlfriend did not
understand him.

- Joining sentences with Relative

Pronouns
We use them to link clauses.
e.g who, whom, which, that, etc
- Using Participle Phrases
Participles can be in the present or
the past form. E.g
a) She smiled happily. She thanked the
boys.
Smiling happily, she thanked the boys.
b) She was filled with dismay. She tried
to apologise.

Planning your Composition

WHY???
1. Select the best Points.
2. Select best Structure or Approach.
3. Focus on your writing Style.
4. Pace yourself according to time and
points.
5. Control the length/balance of
composition.

The Planning Process

1. Brainstorming
2. Selecting and Organising the Points
3. Substance