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Questions:

Based on the novel sing to the dawn by Minfong Ho , it is true that one has to face many
challenges in her life before reaching his or her goal. Based on one of the novels that you
have studied, describe how far this is true and support your answer with textual evidence.

Answers:
Based on the novel sing to the dawn by Minfong Ho, it is true that one has to face
many challenges in life before reaching his or her goal. An obvious example is the main
character, Dawan, who has faced many obstacles in her way to catch her dream to study in
city school.

One of the obstacles faced by Dawan is facing her brother, Kwais initially jealousy that
leads to a rift between the two previously-close siblings. They had stop talking nicely to each
other for sometimes. It started right after the bell ring at school in the first day she knew
the result. Dawan called out for Kwai who was standing alone in the doorway but he just
turned away and stalked out abruptly. In my opinion, one should not feel jealous of their
siblings success, instead, they should be proud of them.

The misunderstanding got worst when Dawan told her family about the scholarship
result. Her father was very angry and dont want Dawan to go there. In chapter three, at the
first Dawan asked his permission to study at the city, he even accused Dawan for stealing
her brothers only opportunity to study in city school. Her father thinks that proper study in
the city is no place for a girl. He thinks even if Dawan success, she still could not make any
changes to their village. I think her father should not mind about the gender discrimination.
He cannot stop Dawan from being successful in her life just because she is a girl. He should
give her an opportunity to shoe what she is capable of.

Lastly, Dawan face another problem when she and her mother went to see her
cousin, Noi, and his husband, Ghan. However, they do not want to help her to convince her
father to let her study in the city school. In the meantime a truth was discovered when they
actually tells Dawan and her mother about how the city actually are. In chapter four, Noi has
described the city as cruel and ugly. She also add that the city is not suitable for a young,
healthy girl. In my opinion, Noi should help Dawan as her family member. Besides, she has
to think positive about Dawan.

The conclusion is, Dawan is a very determined and ambitious girl. Even though she
had faced a lot of obstacles, she still wanted to study in the city school. Dawan was nervous
and worried at the start but she became calmer and more confident towards the end. She
overcame her fears by presenting a logical and sensible appeal to her father. Her sincere
and calm appeal helped her father realize that Dawan too had a dream that her father could
share in.

Based on the novel


you have studied,
which character
do you sympathise
with? Givereasons
for your answer
with close
reference to the
text.
R
ECOMMENDED
O
UTLINE

State the novel


you have studied
and the author.

Name the
character you
sympathise with.
Give some
information about
the character in
thestory.

Give three reasons


to support your
answer.

Give textual
evidence to
support each of the
three reasons.
Model Answer
The novel, Sing to
the Dawn by
Mingfong Ho, is about
won
Dawan, a young Thai girl who livesin the village with her family. She

first place in a test


and was
announced as the
of ascholarship, giving her an opportunity to pursue her studies in a City school. Her brother, Kwai,came in
winner

.
second after her Both of them have great ideas of using their education to improve lifein the village. The

character whom I sympathise with in the novel is Dawan.Instead of getting support and encouragement for her
achievement, Dawan faces anger andrejection from her parents. Her father is angry with her because he wants his
son to get thescholarship. Her mother does not encourage her because she thinks it is foolish to give her
hope.Dawans close relationship with Kwai suffers because her brother is jealous of her success.He threatens to take
the scholarship from her, making her worried and defensive. The conflict between them worsens with Dawan
thinking Its either him or me. His betrayal causes her pain.She even gets hurt physically when Kwai pushes her,
causing her to injure to her ankle.Thirdly, Dawan is sad to leave home. After all, she is only fourteen years old and
she isleaving her home for the first time. She will be alone in the ugly, cruel city. She will also be faraway from
nature which she loves.For these reasons, I sympathise with Dawan. She has to struggle to pursue her dream.
Byright, she should have received support from her family and her community. She will also face alot
of challenges in her new life in the city.

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