CHEAT!

FORM 2 SHORT STORY

MARCH 11, 2016 4SKILLSACADEMIC 47 COMMENTS

Originality is very important when you are doing innovative and creative work. However, every new idea we
produced might be inspired from somewhere. So, the question is that, “does originality really exist in this
world?” What do you think?

Notes on Cheat! by Allan Baillie

Author: Allan Baillie

Setting: The story took place in various places of an Australian school (e.g. hall, library, classroom, corridor,
principal’s office). It set in the modern and educated social background where people were appreciate talent in
writing.

(p.102) “…how do you create a character from a one-eyed, dumb red kelpie……”

From the word “kelpie”, which is a type of Australian breed dog, we made a guess that the story took place in
Australia.

Step by step guide in understanding the story

Announcement winner for the Holmes – Walkins Medal

“Lynne opened her eyes and gripped her seat……”

1. How was Lynne Webbings feel while she was waiting for the result?
“Geoff Bolder and Lynne Webbings both wrote very fine short stories for the medal…… Lynne felt her mouth
moving…… Lynne’s story about a sheepdog in a flood was both exciting and moving…. Geoff’s story of a
circus elephant running loose in Albert Park……”

2. What is Lynne’s story about? And what is Geoff’s story about?

“She made her way to Geoff as he came down from the dais with the medal and congratulated him. She went
home and everything tasted of cardboard that night……”

3. Who won the medal?

4. How did Lynne feel after the result has announced?
Lynne’s discovery

“She read it again. And again. The tips of her ears prickled with anger…… He did not write it at all, he just
copied it down.”

1. Why did Lynne feel angry?

“Please sir, Geoff beat me in the short story competition and I hate to lose. So I am telling you how he cheated
so you can give the medal to me……”

2. What was Lynne thinking to do?

Lynne’s explosion of anger

“ ‘or Bradburie.’ The words exploded from Lynne’s mouth in a sudden burst of anger.”

1. Why did Lynne suddenly shout “Bradburie” in the class?

“Later Lynne saw that all the Bradburie books had been taken from the school library……”
 2. What happens to the Bradburie’s book in the library?
3. Who has taken the book?
4. Why was the book taken?
In the principal office
“…… I read the book. There’s a story there about an elephant escaping in a park. It is not much like Geoff’s
story, but Geoff feels he took the idea from the book without realising it. He wants me to disqualify him for
cheating”

What do you think? A story of similar idea but a different story, is it consider cheating?

“… your story, Lynne, being entirely original, must be considered a little better……”

So, is Lynne considered as the winner of the medal now?

“She began to wonder where it was that she had read a story about a sheepdog in a flood.”

Why is she doing that?

CHEAT
A short story by Alan Baillie

1. Themes

Themes Explanation and textual evidence

Explanation
The short story is revolved around the theme of being
judgemental. There are a few characters can be related to
this theme. They might jump into conclusion too soon and
it caused misunderstanding.

Examples
Lynne is one of the characters who is judgemental. After
she read about the book written by William Bradburie in
the library, she was filled with anger. She said that Geoff is
cheating in the short story competition even though she has
never read Geoff’s story before.

Another person related to the theme is Marge. She is the

classmate for Geoff and Marge. When Geoff mentioned
that he wanted to be a barrister or lawyer, Marge labelled
him as money minded. It can be hurtful when we labelled
someone.

Being judgemental

Explanation
A creative idea or innovation like is not always original
because we will take idea and inspiration from different
resources to make improvement. The same goes with story
writing, the originality does not really exist because our
story’s idea will come from the story that we read, our
experience and our surrounding.

Creative writing is not always original

 Example

Lynne emphasised the importance of originality in the

writing. When she realised that Geoff is not cheating, she
was wondering whether she had read any story related to
the sheepdog in flood.

As for Geoff story, although his story idea is similar to

William Bradburie’s story, Mr Velos told Lynne that the
story is still consider original and Geoff is not cheating.

2. Moral Values

Moral Values Explanation Examples

We consider that Geoff is an honest

Honesty and courage are about being
brave to tell someone the truth. We
must take responsibility to the
Honesty and courage mistakes that we have done.
person. After Lynne shouted at
Geoff, Geoff went to Mr Velos office
to confess that he might be cheating
due to the similarity of his story and
William Bradburie’s story.

Lynne used weeks to complete the

If we are perseverance, we will not
give up easily even the job is
challenging or difficult. We will keep
Perseverance on trying until we achieve success.
miserable story. She spent time to
draft and rewrite the story. Although
in the end, she won the second place
in the competition, I personally
consider that it is a good result from
her hard work.

After she read about the book written

We must not be judgemental because
the truth might be different from
what we think. If we do not know the
detail of the situation, we should not
Avoid being judgemental make the conclusion too soon.
by William Bradburie in the library,
she was filled with anger. She said
that Geoff is cheating in the short
story competition even though she
has never read Geoff’s story before.

3. Characters

Lynne Webbings Textual evidence

Lynne had a big dream to win the Holmes-Watkins medal

Ambitious in the short story competition. When the result announced,
 she felt really disappointed.

Lynne was jealous and vengeful when Geoff won the

competition. After she discovered that William
Bradburie’s story was similar to Geoff’s story, she wanted
to take revenge by reporting to Mr Velos so that she could
win back the medal.

Jealous and vengeful

Lynne used weeks to complete the miserable story. She

spent time to draft and rewrite the story. Although in the
end, she won the second place in the competition, I
personally consider that it is a good result from her hard
Persevering work.

Geoff Bolder Textual evidence

Geoff tried to cheer Lynne by telling her a joke. Geoff

joked about how Mr Velos picked the winner by climbing
up to his lovely special mahagony desk and dropped both
papers, and the papers that hit the floor first wins.

Humorous

Although Geoff has potential in writing, he wants to be a

barrister because he says that there is more money in law.

Realistic

Geoff confessed to Mr Velos that he had read a book by

the American Humourist, William Bradburie three years
Honest ago.

COMPREHENSION SHORT WRITING (PT3)

MARCH 9, 2016 4SKILLSACADEMIC LEAVE A COMMENT

In the non-linear text comprehension question of your PT3 examination, you will need to complete one short
writing task. Most of the time, it requires you to write a friendly invitation. This is one of the example question.

You intend to encourage your friend to join you in an English camp which will be held soon. In about 50 words,
write an invitation card to your friend.
In your invitation card:

● Encourage him/her to join you

● Give reasons why he/she should join you
 ● Add any other relevant information to make your writing interesting.
How to do the short writing?
1. Make sure you read and underline what the question wants.

So in this letter, you need to encourage your friend to join you in English Camp and give reasons why your
friend should join you.

2. Try to make your writing without copy from the text

3. You can make your own event. (you don’t have to follow the text unless the question ask you to follow the
text)

4. Usually we use the 5W1H to plan the writing: What, when, where, who, why and how.
For Example
a. What is the event?
b. When is that?
c. Where is that?
d. Who will be there?
e. Why we need to join? Is it good?
f. How we go there?
Here is the writing structure that you can follow. Always remember the following things when you do short
writing:

1. Imagine that you are talking to your friend and you want your friend to somewhere with you, you have to
make sure they know the details.
2. Follow this process to start your writing with (greetings) – (what events) – (when is that) – (where is that) –
(who will be there?) – (gives about 3 reasons) – (tell them how to join) – (Closing with “see you” or “bye
bye”) – (your sincerely, and sign your name)
Writing Structure
Dear ___________,

How are you? My school is organising (what event). I would like to invite you to join me. The event is held on
(when is that) in (where is that). (who will be there – it can be teachers. Friends, or your favourite idol?). I’m
sure that this event will be very interesting.
We should join this events because (reason 1). At the same time, we can also (reason 2). Besides, this event can
help us to (reason 3).
I really hope that you can join me in (what event). Please give me your reply by this Friday so that I can
submit our name to the teacher in-charge. See you soon.
Your sincerely,

(signature)