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 (THEMES AND MORAL VALUES)

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
Being judgemental 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.

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.

Honesty and integrity Geoff believed that he may had gotten the
idea for his short story from William
 Bradburie’s story. Although he did not do it on
purpose, he still asked to be disqualified as he
thought that it was not his original work.
1. Themes
Moral Values Explanation
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.
If we are perseverance, we
will not give up easily even
the job is challenging or
difficult. We will keep on
trying until we achieve
Perseverance success.
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 make the conclusion too
Avoid being judgemental soon.
2. Moral Values
Examples
We consider that Geoff is an
honest 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 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 Lynne 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.
3. Characters

Lynne Webbings Textual evidence

Lynne had a big dream to win the Holmes-

Watkins medal in the short story competition.
When the result announced, she felt really
Ambitious 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
Persevering that it is a good result from her hard 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
Honest Bradburie three years 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)