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PMR Essay Writing Techniques (Based On Pictures/Notes Given)
PMR Essay Writing Techniques (Based On Pictures/Notes Given)
Where?
When?
Who?
Why?
What?
How?
(Date)
2nd March 2013
(Salutation)
Dear Sam,
(Introduction)
How are you? I hope you are in the pink of health. I was thrilled when I got your
letter. I read your letter eagerly .To be honest, I had mixed feelings after reading
your letter. One was of happiness while the other was of sadness. I am happy that
you got chosen to go for the National Service Programme. On the other hand,
sad, seeing how worried you are to join this programme. I have penned this
letter to encourage you to go for this programme.
(Body 1)
Benefit 1 - One main point
- Two / Three supporting details
- Close
(Body 2)
Benefit 2 - One main point
- Two / Three supporting details
- Close
(Body 3)
Benefit 3 - One main point
- Two / Three supporting details
- Close
(Closing)
I hope my reasoning will convince you to go for this National Service Programme.
To be honest with you, I am a bit jealous that I was not chosen for the
programme. I surely would trade places with you if I could. I will keep my fingers
crossed that you will take my advice and join this programme. Bye and have fun.
Your Cousin,
(Your Signature)
Important Points!
1. Precious experiences:
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2. Taught to independent:
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3. Spending post-SPM holidays in useful manner:
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4. Diversify friends list:
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5. Build the spirit of patriotism:
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6. Develop helping tendencies:
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7. 4 modules physical module, nation building module, character
building module, community services module
PMR ENGLISH
NOVEL: THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
SYNOPSIS
Roberta is 12 years old. She has a brother named Peter and a younger
sister named Phyllis. She is fondly known as Bobbie in this novel. She is the eldest
of the three. One of her characters is, she is a very persistent person. She doesn't
easily throw in the towel when the odds seem to be against her.
There are many incidences in the novel where we can see her persistence.
For example, in chapter 3 (page 17 - paragraph 5 - lines 1-3), we can see how
determined she was in getting the things necessary for her mother's
recovery when her mother was ill. Her persistence paid off when the old
gentleman gave the things needed for her mother's recovery.
In chapter 6 (page 38 - read the whole page), Perks was not happy with people
giving him presents. He was worried that people would laugh and make fun of
him. Bobbie persistently reasoned with Perks about the good intentions of the
village people giving him the presents until he relented and accepted the gifts.
Finally, Perks celebrated his birthday with a happy note.
In chapter 7 (pg 42 - the whole page), she did not give up in finding a way to help
secure her father's release from prison. She was persistent even when her mother
had given up. She secretly wrote a letter to her friend the old gentleman asking
for his help to clear her father's name. In the end her father was released from
prison.
*Moral - we must not easily give up when things seem impossible. We must keep
trying by finding means and ways to make the impossible possible like Roberta.
PETER
PHYLLIS
Phyllis is the youngest child in the family. She is the cutest of the three.
She is quite a bubbly character. She is very naive and insecure. She is also very
sensitive but easily forgiving. In Chapter 5 (p29,30 & 31), we can see the brave
side of Phyllis. She together with her elder sister
and brother managed to stop the train from meeting with a terrible accident.
In Chapter 1 (p7 - p1 - last line), Phyllis felt very insecure when they moved in to
their new
house at the countryside. While in Chapter 6 (pg 38 - p1&2), Phyllis became very
sensitive when Perks refused to accept the gifts the children had brought to him.
She was so hurt by Perks words that she started to cry. In Chapter 4,5,6 and 8 we
can see how loving, caring and helpful Phyllis is.
MOTHER
PERKS
A Railway Porter
Friendly, Proud, Hardworking, Reasonable, Responsible
OLD GENTLEMAN
Friendly, Helpful, Kind, Resourceful
PMR ENGLISH
MODEL QUESTIONS BASED ON NOVEL
1. Describe about the character that u like the most/find the most
interesting in the novel that you read. [10m]
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2. Describe about the character that u dislike the most in the novel
that you read. [10m]
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MORAL VALUES
Example: The children managed to save the train and stop a very bad accident
from happening. One day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis saw a landslide which
blocked the railway line. The girls used their red petticoats to make flags. The
train was moving very fast. Bobbie braved herself and ran on to the railway
line and waved her flags. The train finally stopped just twenty metres from
Bobbie. The children's bravery saved the people on the rain from meeting with an
awful accident and from getting killed.
Example: In chapter 3, the children's mother was ill and had to stay in bed. Dr
Forrest came to check on their mother and told Bobbie her mother needed milk
and fruit and some other special things to eat in order to get well. They couldn't
afford to buy them, so the children decided to ask help from the old gentleman.
The old gentleman was a kind enough to provide them with all the things they
had asked and some they had not.
Example: In chapter 2, Peter and his two sisters stole some coal from the station
yard. They took the coal back to their house. One day, the station master caught
Peter red handed stealing coal in the station yard. Peter and his two sisters
admitted to helping Peter with his crime. The station master warned them not to
repeat it again and let them go. The children realised that stealing was wrong.
They repented and never took any coal from the station yard again.
THEMES
2. Hope and Optimism - The children's father was always optimistic that things
would be fine. For example, when Peter showed him his broken toy steam engine,
father looked at it and optimistically assured Peter that he would amend it.
Bobbie had high hopes that the old gentleman would be able to help her to seek
the truth about her father's innocence. The old gentleman helped Bobbie in her
quest because he had hopes that her father was innocent.
3. Bravery - Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis are brave children. They risked their lives
to stop a train from accident. Peter and Phyllis waved their flags by
standing along the railway line while Bobbie ran on to the line waving her
flags. The children also showed bravery when they entered the dark tunnel to
look for the boy in the red shirt. Mother stayed calm and brave for the childrens
sake while her husband was away in prison.
Mouth watering/
escape from the hustle
Additional words! and bustle of city life/
jovial/ had a whale of a
On the seventh time/ token of
heaven, greeted by appreciation
the warmth of the
sun/ astonished/
scorching hot/ longing
for a drink to quench
thirst/ gulped down
the drink in a second
Vocabulary
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Sample essay
Vocabulary
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Q. Choose most suitable word in the given below sentence.