2.

Acquisition of knowledge

Task A: Based on the first 2 paragraphs, identify subjects (nouns / pronouns) and
verbs used.

1. Pink : Nouns
2. Green : Pronouns
3. Yellow: Verbs

Task B: Based on paragraph 3 & 4, identify adjectives and adverbs used.

1. Turquoise : Adjectives
2. Red : Adverbs

Task C: Based on the first 3 paragraphs on page 2, identify the sentence types
used.
1. Green : Simple Sentences
2. Grey : Compound Sentences
3. Bright Green : Complex Sentences

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 She was so special.

The gaunt figure that inched its way slowly towards the medicine counter
looked old and haggard. Her dreary-looking outfit did nothing to conceal her
bleak and depressing demeanour. Anyone who looked at her would have thought
she carried the world’s burdens on her shoulders. Quietly, she sat on one of the
chairs and waited patiently, like the rest of us, for her number to be flashed on
the digital screen.

I was rattled. I knew I had seen her somewhere before, a younger, happier
version. There was no way I could be wrong. Like an arrow released from its
bow, the buried and forgotten memories pierced my heart with an unknown
intensity.

It had to be Mary Anne, my best friend in secondary school. Then again,

this person looked old, much too old to be 29. Anyway, I summoned enough
courage and went towards her. Hearing my footsteps, she looked up slowly. The
flash of recognition in her eyes told me I was not wrong.

“It is you, Mary Anne Danker, is it not?”

She nodded her head silently as if embarrassed.

“Hello, John? You are looking good.”

Her remarks reminded me of how beautiful she had been once. Mary
Anne had been the school beauty. Everyone had admired her for her looks, her
brains and her beautiful character. Many had said, rather enviously, that God had
worked overtime with her – making her one of his masterpieces.

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 One day, Mary Anne had stopped coming to school. Devastated, I had
gone to her house, only to find it all locked up. Checks with neighbours proved
futile. No one knew where the Danker’s family had gone and why they had left so
suddenly. Taking a seat next to her, I wondered what had happened to the
ravishing beauty I had once known.

“Why did you leave so suddenly, Mary Anne? Why?”

She looked at me nervously, clasping and unclasping her hands in her lap.
I could sense that she was rather reluctant to talk, reluctant to expose a part of
her life which had probably caused her a great deal of pain and suffering. A
prolonged silence ensued. Finally, she inhaled deeply and started telling me her
story. Her mother had been diagnosed with end stage cancer and there was
nothing the doctors could do. They said that she had only three months to live.
Her father thought it best to return to their hometown, to let her live in peace in
the surroundings she had grown up in. Her father, devastated by his wife’s death,
started to neglect his own health and three months later, he too died of a broken
heart, leaving Mary Anne in the care of relatives.

Tears rolled down Mary Anne’s cheeks as she related the difficult years
with her aunt. The old widow treated her badly, forcing Mary Anne to quit school
and to work as a dishwasher in a restaurant. The cruel old lady often beat her,
and her cousins jealous of her beauty, were more vicious than their mother. Now
that the aunt was old and suffering from cancer, her five children had deserted
her when they realised that she needed special care. Despite her aunt’s ghastly
treatment of her, Mary Anne felt sorry for her.

“I cannot leave her. She has no one else,” she said. “I have promised to take
care of her till the end of her life.”

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 I looked at Mary Anne and saw her goodness. Instead of seeing a gaunt
and weary figure, I saw an amazingly beautiful human being. My heart went out
to her. Just then her number was flashed on the screen. She got up and
collected the medicine which, I understood, was for her aunt. Never had I felt so
helpless and wretched. Her story reminded me of something my late grandfather
used to say,

“Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you
weep.”

Before leaving, Mary Anne turned and smiled sadly at me. I never saw her again
after that; she was so special to me.

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3. Mastering of knowledge
Task A:

1. Non- action verb question

• Is the narrator knew Mary Anne?

Yes, the narrator knows Mary Anne because she was his friend at
his secondary school.

• Will Mary Anne tell the narrator about her story?

Yes, she will.

• Is the narrator helps Mary Anne to settle her problem?

No, the narrator does not see Mary Anne again after the incident.

• Is Mary Anne’s mother safe?

No, she dies a few months later.

• Are Mary Anne’s aunty and her daughter doing the good things to
her?
No, they are bad person because they always beat Mary Anne.

2. Action verb questions

• Did the writer angry with Mary Anne?

Yes, he was at first, but after he listened to Mary Anne problem, he
became sympathy towards her.

• Does Mary Anne remain beautiful just like before?

No, she not. She looked much older than before.

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 • Does Mary Anne aunty is a good person?
No, she’s not.

• Do you agree with Mary Anne action?

No, I don’t because her aunty is a bad person.

• Did Mary Anne regret with her life?

No, she didn’t.

3. Tag Question

• Mary Anne is a beautiful person at first, isn’t she?

Yes, she is.

• The writer like Mary Anne, isn’t he?

Yes, he is.

• This incident took place at the pharmacy, wasn’t it?

Yes, it is because Mary Anne wants to take the medicine as state in
the story above.

• Mary Anne’s father also suffering cancer, wasn’t he?

No, he wasn’t. He died because of frustrated with his wife death.

• The writer is Mary Anne best friend, isn’t he?

Yes, he is.

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4. Wh-Questions.

• Who is Mary Anne?

Mary Anne is the writer best friend.

• What is the writer’s name?

His name is John.

• How was the writer feeling towards Mary Anne after he listened to
her story?
He felt sympathy towards Mary Anne.

• Why was Mary Anne moved from his old place?

She moved because she has to take care of her mother that is
suffering cancer.

• When was Mary Anne last seen at her by the writer?

She was last seen by the writer the day they were met at the
pharmacy.

• Where does Mary Anne live after she left her old place?
She lives at other place with her family.

• Who was remaining the writer to Mary Anne problem?

His grandfather remained him to Mary Anne problem.

• How old Mary Anne at that moment?

She was 29 years old at that time.

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 • What was Mary Anne known as before she left her old place?
She was known as school beauty.
• Why is Mary Anne still live with her aunty although she knows that
her aunty is a bad person?
It is because she felt sympathy with her aunty who also has a
cancer and no one takes care of her.

5. Evaluation Level Question.

• Do you agree with the action of Mary Anne’s father? Give your
opinion.
No, I don’t agree with him. It is because as a father, he should give
support to his daughter so that his daughter can be a strong girl
and she can also face with the problem easily.

6. Appreciation Level Question

• What is the story all about?

This story is about Mary Anne who suffering a bad condition of life
since her father and her mother passes away. It also tell us how the
secret revealed when the narrator meet her at the pharmacy.

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Task B: Produce a story line of text in form of graphic organizer.

Important characters

• Mary Anne

• Narrator

• The aunt

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 Setting
Setting

Time:
Time: Place:
Place:
AApast
pastevent
event(no
(nospecific
specifictime
time
Mostlikely,
likely,aapharmacy/clinic
pharmacy/clinic
mentioned).
mentioned). Most

Exposition

This story begins when the narrator went to the pharmacy and he met with his
best friend, Mary Anne at his secondary school. He was shocked with Mary
Anne condition and he started to ask her about herself and why she moved
When Mary Anne started to tell everything about her life after she left, the
from her old place. After that, when he asked her a lot, Mary Anne started to tell
narrator became upset and sympathy about her. Mary Anne said that her
everything.
mother was already died because she had cancer. So as her father who also
died because he devastated by his10wife’s death. Then, the narrator started to
Rising
ask other question to know more Action
about Mary Anne.
 Climax

The climax happens when Mary Anne has to live with her cruel aunt. She
always beats her and forces her to quit from her school. This incident makes
Mary Anne becomes afraid of herself and her aunty. Beside, her cousin also
jealous with her beautiful.

Falling Action

This is happen when Mary Anne’s aunty is also suffering cancer just like her
mother. At this time, no one wants to take care of her. Her children also refuse
After telling all of her story to the narrator, Mary Anne goes and takes her turn to
to take care of her. So, Mary Anne wanted 11 to take care of her aunty.
take the medicine. The narrator does not see Mary Anne again since that day.
Resolution
4. Application of Knowledge

Sadness

Time pass by. No one knows why I am here. Everything changes.

Everything makes me afraid. Because of her, I left my hometown. Here I am,
at a place where is so weird for me. But, it is alright. It is for my life. To make
me forget the past. But, the memory is still here, in my mind.

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3 years ago…

“Tasha, I want to join a trip tomorrow. Do you want to go with me?” asked
Sarah.

“Where is the trip?”, I replied.

“At your favourite place”, she told me again.

“Wow! How interesting, alright I’ll join you”, I agreed with her.

The next day, we packed our things before we went to that trip. Both of
us were very excited. We went to Gunung Tebu at 8.00 o’clock in the
morning. The journey was very interesting. We can’t wait to arrive there. After
1 hour later, we arrived there. Then, our group started to finish our
expedition. The place was very calm. Although it looked scary, but all of us
can’t wait to arrived at the top of the mountain.

“Tasha, look! It is nice right?”, Sarah asked me while showed me a piece of

leave.
At that time I just laughed at her without looked at her. Then, we continued
our journey.
After a few, we decided to take a break under a big tree. The trip was
very interesting. Suddenly, Sarah looked at me and asked me to follow her.

“Where do you want to go Sarah?”, I asked her.

“Come, let’s go to that waterfall, it is beautiful”, she told me.

Then, I followed her to that waterfall. I also excited to look at that

waterfall nearer. Sarah was weird at that time. I never looked her just like

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 that. I don’t know what happen to her. She looked very happy without
noticing everyone there. Suddenly, she shouted at me,

“Tasha, I want to take a bath here. What about you? Come and join me
swimming in this beautiful waterfall”, she shouted.

At that time, I told her that I did not want to swim. I just want to sit
nearby. I just looked at her. She smiled at me. She looked very beautiful.
Suddenly, I saw her gasping for air. She drowned in the water.

“Someone, please help her, she is drowning”, I shouted.

A few minutes later, she was brought to our camp. Everyone tried to
save her. Perhaps that she will alright. But, she left me. I am alone at that
place. I lost my best friend. No one could save her. I was upset. I still
remember her smiled. But she left me. I never thought that thing will happen
to me. She drowned in front of my eye, but I could not do anything. What a
bad person I am. I never met a friend just like her since that day. She was so
special. (487 words)

Reflection

Before finishing the work, I had been given a briefing on how to finish the
work. From that, I can understand a few of the information o finish the work.
Then, I started to find the articles. After that, I asked Encik Yahya whether my

14
essay is suitable or not. Thank to Allah that my essay is suitable to be used in
this coursework.

Then, I also asked my friend about the ideas to finish the work. Everyone
gives some comments, for example, I have to add more information in my story
line. Besides, I also asked them to check on my own essay. I like to finish that
essay because it was so interesting to me. Thank goodness that I already finish
the essay.

Instead of that, I also discuss with my friends about the question types so
that I can finish it correctly. I also make some revision on the essay by using the
essay book. It makes me become more confident to finish the coursework. My
friend and I also find the suitable books at the library so that we can make
revision to make the design. Instead of that, I also find the information from
internet. I find the example of tag question make the question as asked to finish
my assignment. Thank to Allah that I find the information and the examples that I
need.

Bibliography

From Books:

1. C B Chong. (2006). Easy Steps to Grammar. Johor, Malaysia.

Penerbitan Pelangi.

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 2. Choo Wan Yat. (2008). Ace Ahead Muet. Selangor Malaysia. Oxford
Fajar.
3. Magdalene Cheah. (2007). Model Essay and Summaries. Selangor,
Malaysia. Marshal Cavendish.
4. Nazaruddin Hj. Mohd Jali. (2007). Malaysian Studies Nationhood and
Citizenship.

From Internet.

1. www.studygs.net/wrtstr3.htm. Assessed on 24
February 2010
2. www.bestessaytips.com/expository_essay.php.
Accesed on 25 February 2010
3. asnic.utexas.edu/asnic/countries/malaysia/Malayedu
cation.html. Accesed on 4 March 2010

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