Perak: From the novel that you have learnt, describe an event that changes a character and how
the event affects
his/her life. Support your answer with close reference to the text.
EVENT IDENTIFIED: DAWAN HAS WON THE SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY IN THE CITY SCHOOL.
REASON 1
It is the turning point of Dawan’s
life – she becomes a more
matured person.
TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
1.When Dawan received the good
news about being the winner of
the scholarship, she started to think
about her future and how to help
the villagers. (page 38)
2.Dawan is also aware of the
unfairness experienced by the
villagers so she wanted to study
how the system works and find
ways to overcome the problem
with a better system. (page 39)
3.Dawan believes that studying
should be the way of learning how
to help the people and not just
spewing words from the textbooks
(page 39)
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Here, Dawan has shown her
maturity when she decided to
change the way of life of her
family and the villagers. At a
young age, she clearly understood
that only education can help free
her family and the villagers from
the system that has been
oppressing them all these whiles.
Not many people would sacrifice
for others, but this mere fourteen-
year-old girl is willing to do so for
the sake of her village.
CONCLUDING SENTENCES
It is clear to me that Dawan has
changed for the better after
winning the scholarship and this
has given a good effect to herself
and people around her.
REASON 2
It also portrays Dawan’s
determination to achieve what
she wants
TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
1. When Dawan remains firm to
grab her opportunity to pursue
her education when her father
asks her to decline the offer. She
persuades her father not to
discriminate her and gives her
equal chance as Kwai is getting
in seeking education which I
quoted from Dawan’s word to
her father.
“If you can share in your son’s
dreams why can’t you share in
mine too?
Her disappointment of being
unjustly treated does not dim her
spirit and determination to
achieve what she wants.
2. Further obstacle of not
receiving support from the
people around her; her brother,
Kwai, her cousin Noi and the
head monk has not dampened
her from striving towards her
rights for education.
PERSONAL RESPONSE
I believe that we must put some
effort to achieve our dreams as
the saying goes, ‘no pain, no
gain. Dawan’s winning the
scholarship has sparked a
change in her and this has made
a significant change in her life.
REASON 3
It also shows how Dawan becomes
more courageous as a mere girl to
stand up for her rights.
TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
1.She is so brave to gain the
support from the people around her
after her father discouraged her
from accepting the scholarship.
2. When her cousin Noi outlines the
ugly truth about the city life, Dawan
softly but firmly said that she
wanted to experience the city life
for herself. This is truly for a young
girl who has never been out of her
village before to venture out into
the real world as we all know
reality bites. Yet, Dawan is willing
to have a go at it due to her
courageous spirit.
3. When she confronts her father to
persuade him again to allow her to
go to the city school as she knows
her father is very authoritative and
his words are usually the last words
in the family.
PERSONAL RESPONSE
It takes great courage to make
changes and we can see that
Dawan’s life has changed greatly
due to winning the scholarship.
Without bravery, dreams will not
become a reality.
Outline your response
Intro
Based on the novel STTD, there are few issues that happen in the novel and at the same time exist in the
present time and could be a universal issue.
Contents
No Your Response relevant to
question
1. The first issue that I think still
exists till now is gender
discrimination. Ladies are
regarded as less capable
and less important than men.
Your evidences Your personal response /
(Evidence that shows the conclusion of your statement
gender discrimination that
still exist till now)
1.Dawan represents many I do hope that everybody is
other ladies whose right for treated equally regardless
education is being denied. their gender race and religion
Dawan’s father prefers his son as the world needs to be a
Kwai to further his education better place to live and both
over Dawan. To him, it is not gender should receive equal
right for a “ mere girl” to go in rights to education to improve
Kwai’s place to the city. He their lives.
also unfairly compares and
favours Kwai over Dawan with
the idea that Kwai will become
a man who will be able to help
him after studying whereas a
fancy education will be
worthless if it is given to
Dawan. In many cases, men
have priority in almost
everything including education.
According to traditions, ladies
are expected to be
homemakers and housewives.
Most of them do not even go to
school just like Bao, who has to
sell flowers at the market due
her being a girl. Their
education rights have been
denied.
The head monk, the most
respected man in the village, is
seen asking Dawan what a
“mere school girl” like her can
do. This is a clear example of
discrimination. He further says
that he will fully support Kwai
if he is the one going to the
city which enrages Dawan of
being subjected to such
discriminating act.
Even her mother is helpless and
is unable to fully support her
because she herself is a victim
of the times. She favours
 Dawan but she has to bow to
her more domineering
husband.

2. Another issues that we cannot In the beginning of the story,
deny its existence is the we are informed about the
unjust system in the society. scenario where the poor is
being oppressed by the rich.
The farmers are unhappy with
the unfair system, but they are
helpless to fight it. It is the
scenario where the rich will
become richer and the poor
will continue to be poorer.
They cannot reap what they
sow as their harvested crops
are used to pay the rent to the
landlord rather used to be sold
and get money in return.
I believe this issue will be
ended if everyone respects and
help each other without any
restrictions. The rich help the
poor and the poor will happily
work for the rich to improve
their lives. They cycle will
always continue but in a better
way for everybody in the
society.

The same scenario is also found

in the city. Noi and her
husband describe the city as
anugly and cruel place and not
safe to be in when Dawan and
her mother come to see them to
gain their support to convince
Dawan’s father to allow her to
study in the city school.
According to Noi, the rich takes
advantage of the poor and
uneducated. The villagers who
go to the city struggle to
survive. They work very hard
but are paid very little.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the novel Sing to the Dawn has clearly shown the issues of gender discrimination and the unjust
system in society are among the few issues that are happening in the present society.