Phrases you could use in your writing:

HAPPY

1. She was as happy as a lark.

2. He was flushed with delight when he was declared the winner.

3. She was in seventh heaven when she heard that she had scored the top mark in English.

4. She felt on top of the world when her children bought her the vacation package to Spain.

5. His face lit up with the most radiant smile.

6. Lily was estatic. She finally stopped her joyful jig and looked around. She was grinning from ear to ear

and clearly on cloud nine.

7. I was utterly relieved and overwhelmed with happiness. A radiant smile coursed through my lips

and I punched the air with delight. I felt jubilant and euphoric and this was truly the luckiest day

in my life.
SAD & DESPAIR

1. He was in the depths of misery.

2. Tom had a lump in his throat and was blinking away the tears.

3. They were consumed by bitterness and anguish at the lost of their only son.

4. She felt her world going to pieces. She found herself at the lowest ebb, having no money or friends.

5. It was a heartbreaking sight. The overcast sky darkened blocking out the sun’s vibrant ray and my

heart sank deeper.

6. I cried my heart out. Life seemed to be so meaningless. Everything was not attractive anymore and

hope had vanished from the world. My soul was empty and I felt as if someone had ripped my

heart out and pounded it with hammer.

7. A sharp pain stabbed deep in my heart when it dawned upon me I had caused the break up of my

family, all because of my stupid and foolish notion of being upright and truthful. I have now realized

rather belatedly that being absolutely honest to a fault can only cause anguish, pain, agony and

suffering. What transpired on that fateful day would forever be etched in my memory.

EMBARRASSED

1. All eyes were on John. He was so embarrassed that he did not know where to put himself. He wished

that the ground would open up and swallow him.

2. Peter was burning with humiliation and as red as a beetroot.

3. The room filled with an awkward silence. They all avoided each other’s eyes.

4. She was abashed to know they had heard her singing in the bathroom.

5. Ijmal often blurts out whatever comes into his head. Unfortunately that morning, he had blurted out

the four letter words which caused him to feel like putting his foot in his mouth.

6. Every time I walk past the ladies’s washroom, my cheeks burn and the most embarrassing incident

flashes vividly, emblazoning my mind.

7. Her face turned crimson red. She was too embarrassed by the incident that if she could be an emu

she would stuck her head in the ground.

EXCITEMENT

1. When the hullabalo died down, the teacher continued his lesson.

2. The keyed up fans cheered boisterously for every point.

3. She was so wrought up with nervous anticipation that she is unable to think clearly.

4. It was a wonderful morning. I opened the parcel with anticipation. “Wow” I shouted with joy. It was

my favourite Nike.

5. I was in utter disbelief and excitement. I could only manage to open my eyes wide and grin from ear

to ear.

6. The atmosphere in the concert hall was electrifying. Standing backstage, Jinky heard the excited buzz

of the crowd and tried to tame the butterflies in the stomach.

HARDSHIP

1. We were poor and our house was mortgaged to the hilt. The meager salary my father received by

working as a junior clerk would have maintained us modestly had not half of it gone or the

support and medical expenses of ill and destitute relatives.

2. My mum was a strong woman. “Nothing is impossible” was the maxim that helped her through the

difficult days. She always upheld her principles and never gave up on any baffling problems.

3. He recalled how life struck a heavy blow when he was fifteen. His father succumbed to injuries

sustained in an accident. They only had a roof over their heads. His mother’s courage, grit

and steely determination was the driving force that spurred them on during those difficult

times.

4. We were not born with a silver spoon but that did not give them the right to treat us like dirt.

5. Worry was written all over his face as he apologised profusely. His shabby clothes told me he was an

odd job worker transporting goods from one side of the town to eke out a living.

6. My mother was an extremely kind and good natured woman who solaced the family by saying that

if one has character one has the better part of wealth. However the cruel world did not share this

outlook. She succeeded in making austerity bearable. By efficient and frugal management of our

meagre income, she made our house a happy and beautiful place to live in.
FEAR

1. A few agonizing moments trickled by. Being all alone a terrible fear gripped my heart.

2. Fear enveloped me. My heart pounded and my throat was constricted. It was difficult to breathe.

3. Peter was scared stiff when the murderer’s face twisted into a hideous smile.

4. She stood rooted to the ground, her terrified gaze fixed on the dreadful sight.

5. Every bone in my body froze in terror. I could not get back to sleep. The eerie sounds of the night

seemed to echo all around me.

6. Cold sweat trickled down my forehead. It was getting harder to breathe. A lump formed in my

throat. I tried my best to gulp it down. I opened my eyes as wide as I could in the darkness.

Sample Essay 1:

End your essay with, ‘….and that is the saddest moment in my life.’

Everyone would have gone through sad moments in their life. It Opening –
differs from one person to another on how we manage to express Opinion Technique
our feelings. Some might share their feeling with others and some
might just keep to themselves. One thing for sure everyone would
feel miserable when sad episodes strike them. Me? All I could do
is cry. I will also find ways to forget the things that had happened.

Life is a gift and love is a joy. However all those are luxuries
that had been robbed from me. Death had taken all those away. Exposition
It happened on a normal Friday. Note the setting and
characters

Just like any other Friday, I went to school as usual. However

on that fateful Friday, I was quite late. My mother was late to send
me to school. I noticed something was amiss on mother’s face but
I decided to keep quiet about it. I asked myself why my mother’s
face pale, why did she give a bunch of advises on ways to live
independently. I kept questioning myself but still there were no
answers to my questions.

As usual, when I wanted to leave the car, I kissed mum’s hand.

I really did know why on that day she cried when I said my usual
“Goodbye Mum”. She even stroked my hair lovingly while she
smiled to me. It felt weird. I felt as if something was about to
happen. My feet felt very heavy to leave her. I felt very lazy to go to
school but mum reminded me, I was late. Without any objection, I
went into the school compound. Mother managed to shout, “Nana,
study hard. Take care. Love you.” I never really thought the depth
of the words at that moment but now years later, I do. I will never
forget those magical words. They are so meaningful to me.

Rising action
That day at school, my friends kept asking me why I was acting Building the
weird. Normally I was fun, jovial, funny and loud but somehow that interest
day, I became a quiet person. I could not even focus on my
studies. Increasing
complication
s

“Kring…” the bell rang and it was time to pack our bags and go
home. It was 6.30 in the evening. Usually a green car with the plate
number BFK 6886 would be ready in front of the school gate.
However, on that day, there was no green car. I was worried but I
tried to think on the bright side and be positive. Mother might have
gone to the market for groceries and fruits. So, I waited at the bus
stop in front of the school. I waited and waited and every five
minutes or so I would look at the time. After about 30 minutes, I
started to worry and was almost on the verge of tears. Mother
would never be this late. Climax

Point of
Suddenly, I heard my name being called by my friend, Amira. greatest
She was my best friend and our mothers knew each other well. I suspense
turned to look at her and was greeted by her red puffy eyes. She
started crying uncontrollably and could hardly talk. I was puzzled
by her reaction but there was nothing I could do. We sat at the bus
stop and she told me the story. Falling action
Event that wrap up
the story
Mother was admitted into a hospital a few hours after sending
me to school. The fibroid in her womb was getting worse. Mother
had a terrible ache in her abdominal area. After consulting a
doctor, she was advised to have an operation. She agreed to it. So
did my brother, grandfather and aunties. Everybody loves her but
God loves her more. A complication took place during the Resolution
operation and she could not be saved.
The conflict is
resolved and reflection
She passed away. There was nothing I could do but cry when I is made.
heard the news. I felt like I was not stepping on firm ground. I even
hoped that it was all a dream but unfortunately it was not. I really
did not know what to do because I was so sad. I have lost the one
person whom I love the most. The one who had been there
through all my ups and downs.

No longer will I feel her soft touch, her warm hugs and most of all the
depths of her love. No wonder she was acting very weirdly that fateful
Friday. I had been shaken really bad and it took me quite some time to be
back on my feet. Now, I know how much I truly love her. I finally realized it is
actually not a matter of letting go of the past or forgetting but a matter of
accepting and moving on.
And that, is the saddest moment in my life.

Event that wrap up

A lawyer came to him to clarify everything. Adam broke the story
down on the floor. Adam was angry at his deceased wife for lying.
Anna’s slowness, her fatigue. Anna had been suffering.
Resolution
It had taken Adam time to recover, but he knew that he
never would. He regretted putting work over his own wife. Heaving
his shoulders, he kept on walking in the direction of home. The conflict is resolved