STRATEGIES ON ENGLISH PAPER I

SECTION A
COMPOSITION – PICTURE GUIDED

When you first get your topic, read it carefully. Then follows these simple steps.

Step I
Work out the Writing Plan.

Introduction

Content
Writing
Plan Conclusion

Step II
Introduction:

o First paragraph
o Very short
o Set the scene (Setting)
o Introduce the ‘characters’ of the story
o Try to grab reader’s attention - Dramatic
(refer Appendix A)
o Two to three sentences long.

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Appendix A

When Suggested Phase

1. The sun shone brightly on Monday

morning.
2. It was a bright morning.
3. It was a breezy morning.
4. The morning was cool.
5. It was a tranquil morning.

1. The sun shone fiercely on a Monday

afternoon.
2. On a warm Monday afternoon,
3. It was a warm afternoon.
4. On a scorching hot afternoon,
On a blazing hot afternoon,

1. On a pleasant evening,
2. It was a breezy Tuesday evening.
3. It was a cool evening.
4. It was a windy evening.
5. As the sun set in the evening,

1. At night, the moon hung high.

2. It was a quiet night.
3. It was a cold night.
4. It was a chilly night.
5. On a soundless night,
6. Late at night,

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Time Writers Advanced Writers

1. In the early hours of the 1. In the wee hours of the morning,

morning, 2. As the sun slowly peeped out
2. Early morning, from the horizon,
Morning 3. The sky was still dark when 3. As the skies slowly brightened,
4. At dawn, 4. At daybreak,
5. As the sun slowly rose, 5. On a balmy Monday morning,

1. In the afternoon,
1. As the blazing sun shone
2. At mid-day,
fiercely,
3. On a warm Monday afternoon,
2. On a swelteringly hot afternoon,
4. On a humid Tuesday
Afternoon 3. As the scorching sun beat down
afternoon,
mercilessly,
5. On a quiet weekday
4. As the sun hung high,
afternoon,
5. On a pleasant afternoon

1. In the evening, 1. As the sun slowly dimmed in the

2. At dusk, horizon,
3. As the sun slowly set, 2. As the skies slowly darkened,
Evening 4. As the day come to an end, 3. As the sun slowly disappeared
5. As the sky slowly turned from the horizon,
dark, 4. As the sun slowly lost its fiery
glow.

1. At nightfall,
1. On a dusky night,
2. Late at night,
2. As the darkness descended,
3. In the still of the night,
3. On a soundless night,
Night 4. In the middle of the night,
4. Cloaked in darkness,
5. On a Friday night,
5. On a typical Thursday night,

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Step III
Content:

Main story
Write information or Describe the pictures
Plot and purpose
Paragraph depending on the pictures

Step IV
Closure:

Wrap up the story

Complete the story
Give your impression or emotion or
feelings
Use amusing ending

Other useful tips:

Use wide interesting range of Vocabularies

(refer Appendix B)
List the Nouns and Verbs you think useful for each picture
Try to use direct speech and dramatic story lines
Check the Punctuation

(refer Appendix C)

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Appendix B
Sight
witness
notice
See
detect
view
peek
glance
Look
peer
peep
gaze
gape
Watch
survey
stare
perceive
spot
Observe
examine
monitor
Feelings
overjoyed
Happy thrilled
elated
depressed
glum
Sad
distressed
gloomy
fearful
anxious
Scared
alarmed
terrified
enthusiastic
eager
Excited
delighted
passionate
furious
enraged
Angry
cross
displeased
contented
gratifying
Pleased
satisfied
thankful

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Movements and Actions

trudge
pace
Walk
stroll
stride
dash
race
run
sprint
whisk
skip
bounce
Jump
hop
leap
cast
chuck
Throw
hurl
fling

Appendix C

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Use the simple past tense
with time words like:
Yesterday …
Last Saturday / week /
month…
When I was ..
In 1990 … (past date)
7
Use the past continous
tense with time words like:
The past continuous
describes actions or events
in a time before now, which
began in the past and is still
going on at the time of
speaking.
Example:
I was watching Tv when the
phone rang
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Question: Look at the set of pictures in this section. Write about the
pictures you have chosen. Write at least 60 words.
It was a hot day. Uncle Salleh was working at his large potato farm.

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Sample of Pupil’s work

Step I
Example of
Captivating
beginning

Last Monday morning, as the sun slowly brighten, Uncle Salleh

woke up and immediately showered. After he showered, he had
bread and milo for his breakfast. He wore his work clothes. He
went to his potato farm and dug some potatoes. He went there by
small truck. He whistled while driving to his potato farm. At last,
he arrived at his potato farm. He started to dig using his shovel.

Step II
A very clear
information
or description
of situation.

In the afternoon, it was hot, Uncle Salleh lost his energy. There
were many potatoes that had been dug. “What a hot day?”
mumbled Uncle Salleh while he put the potatoes in the big bag. He
carried the bag and rested under the tree. He was really tired and
slowly fell asleep under the tree.

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Suddenly, out of nowhere, a monkey appeared. It was hungry. It

walked slowly towards Uncle Salleh and it took a look at Uncle
Salleh’s potatoes in the big bag. The monkey smiled and decided
to take the potatoes with it. The monkey took the potatoes with
him.

Paragraphing and Sequence

Direct Speech
Nouns Verbs

Step II
Plot
monkey appeared
uncle Salleh walked
big bag took
Potatoes smiled

Then, Uncle Salleh woke up and the potatoes were gone. “Hmmm,
where are my potatoes? It can’t run away. It’s not even a person”,
Uncle Salleh talked to himself. If there was someone with him,
that person will think that Uncle Salleh was a crazy farmer. Uncle
Salleh started to search for the potatoes. He noticed a monkey
with his potatoes. “Hey monkey! Give me back my potatoes!”
shouted Uncle Salleh while throwing some stnes to the monkey and
the monkey got hit at its head.

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Step IV
Wrap up the story
Complete the story
Give your impression or
emotion or feelings
Use amusing ending
Vocabularies

The monkey was enraged and threw the potatoes to Uncle Salleh.
Uncle Salleh threw more stones so that the monkey will be more
furious. The monkey threw all the potatoes in the bag. After a
few minutes later, the monkey calmed down and realised that it
threw all the potatoes. Uncle Salleh collected the potatoes that
had been thrown by the monkey. “Hey monkey, thank you for giving
me back the potatoes!” shouted Uncle Salleh happily and smirked.
The monkey regretted to throw the potatoes toward Uncle Salleh.
“What a foolish monkey” mumbled Uncle Salleh. He went home and
enjoyed his potatoes. The monkey just stared at Uncle Salleh ate
the potatoes. Uncle Salleh felt sorry for the monkey so he gave
some potatoes to the monkey. The monkey gladly accepted and ate
it.

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SECTION B
DIARY WRITTING

Preposition of time

The morning

In The afternoon
The evening
February
The spring / The fall / the autumn / the summer / the
winter
2016 / 2005
The 1990s.

Sunday

On
Monday morning
Tuesday afternoon
Wednesday evening
My birthday
A holiday
May 5th
A week day
The weekend

At
Night
10.30
6 o’clock
Noon / midday
Bedtime
Sunrise / sunset
The weekend

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6. Add ideas but not too much.

WHEN? WHERE? WHAT? WITH WHO? WHY?

1. Read instruction
very carefully.
5. Signature :
 From  who? From, Norlina

 To  who?
Diary Letter
writing
2. Past tense

4. Introduction  1st paragraph

3. Write in the diary (A) Monday & Tuesday  2nd paragraph
a) use past tense (B) Wed & Thursday  3rd paragraph
b) at 8.00am (C) Friday & Saturday  4th paragraph
c) on Monday (D) Sunday  5th paragraph
d) adverbs Closing

Sample of a diary writing

LOOK AT AZIM’S DIARY FOR LAST WEEK.

October 2016 October 2016

17 Monday 20 Thursday
2pm – play football 7.00 am Fishing with grandfather
9 pm – visit grandma

18 Tuesday 21 Friday
9.30am – dentist 12.30 pm Prayer
9.00pm – visit grandma
22 Saturday
19 Wednesday 8.00 pm – Stadium
10.30 am - shopping
3.30om - swimming Sunday
4.30 pm – Barbeque at Serasa
Beach

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NOW WRITE A LETTER FROM AZIM TO HIS FRIEND YUSOF.

AZIM WANTS TO TELL YUSOF ABOUT WHAT HE DID LAST
WEEEK.

No 9 simpang 85
Jalan Kampung Pandan Address
Kuala Belait

30th october 2016 Date

Dear _______________, Greeting
Opening
Hi how are you? I am fine here. I have an interesting time when I was
sentence
on holiday last week.

On Monday afternoon, I went to play football at the football field with

my friends at 2pm. It was a hot day. On Tuesday morning, I went to the
Content
dentist to have a dental check-up at 9.30am. At 4.00 pm, I visited my grandma
with my parents. We had our dinner there, I was so full.
A

On Wednesday, I went shopping with my mother at 10.30 am. We bought

lots of stuffs and I bought a new pair of shoe. At 3.30pm, I went swimming Content
at the BSRC club with my siblings. It was fun. On Thursday morning, I went B
fishing with my grandfather at 7.00am. We caught a lot of fish.

On Friday, I went to the mosque for my Friday prayers with my Brother

Content
and my father at 12.30 pm. On Saturday evening, we went to the stadium to
watch on Brunei played football against Malaysia. It was an exciting match! C

On Sunday, My family and I had a barbeque at the Serasa Beach at 4.30pm. Content
we had so much fun but we felt so tired. D

Well, that’s all about what I did last week. I hope you enjoyed your holidays
too. Goodbye and take care. Closing

From, ____________________
Signature

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RECOUNT WRITING

What is recount writing?

* Recounts retell past events.
* Aim to inform the reader.

Features of recount writing:

* Normally starts by setting the scene, example : ‘ what ?’ ‘where?’ ‘when?’ ‘how?’
* Followed by series of events, in order that they happened.
* Written in the PAST TENSE and the ACTIVE VOICE.
* Use CONNECTIVES related to:- i. Time, e.g. : after, then, next, meanwhile
ii. Cause, e.g. : because , since
iii. Contrast, e.g. : however, although, nonetheless

* Focus on specific people or events, not general topic.

* Use the FIRST PERSON (I, we ) in autobiography and fiction; otherwise use the
THIRD PERSON .
* Use critical vocabulary appropriate to subject.

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PROCEDURAL TEXT

 Text that provides instructions on how to do or make something.

Examples of procedural text

 Recipes
 Craft instructions
 Game rules
 Science experiments

Before writing:
 Read the instructions
 Find clue what genre of writing required
 Tense to be used

Example
Ahmad is hungry and he wants to cook instant noodles ‘Mi Goreng’. Using the pictures
below and key words provided, describe how Ahmad cooks his instant noodles ‘Mi
Goreng’.
“… how Ahmad cooks…” - - - - - > This tells me, I should write in present tense.

Structure
A procedural text – recipe has four parts:
1. Goal or Aim (title)
 The heading (title) tells us what to be done.

2. Materials/ Equipment/Ingredients
 Items needed to complete the task are mentioned here.

3. Steps/Methods
 The steps to complete the task are listed in order.

4. Evaluation (closing)
 This states how the success of the procedure can be tested.

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Language features of a Procedure – Recipe

When writing a procedural text – recipe, we use:
1. Imperatives
 These are verbs used to give commands.
 Usually at the beginning of the sentence.
 Examples:
Peel the banana and slice it into half.
Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
2. Prepositions
 Words come after the noun, pronoun or verb.
 Words such as on, along, between, under, beside and in.
 Examples:
Place banana slices along the sides of the dessert dish.
Scoop each type of yoghurt onto the dessert dish between the bananas.
3. Connectors
 Use words such as when, while, before, after, since, first, next and then to join
two sentences.

4. Specific vocabulary that connects to the goal

 Words for cooking or making a dish are used in the text.
 Examples:
Peel, cut, scoop, and sprinkle.
________________________________________________________________
______________
Guideline:

How to make Fruit Juice

Fruit juice is very easy to make. Here is how I make my fruit juice.
The ingredients and materials needed to make the fruit juice are pineapple, orange,
apple, knife, kitchen board, glove and blender.
First, wash…
Next, cut…
Then, put…
Finally, pour
The fruit juice tastes good and it is nice to share with your friends and family.

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WEATHER FORECAST REPORT

 Talk about the weather forecast using if and will.

 Write a weather forecast using the information given on a weather
map.
 Use weather symbols to tell what the weather will be like in the
FUTURE : tomorrow / next month/ next week/ next December.

Tips:
1. Weather words
2. Include adjectives
3. Time prepositions
4. Sentence openers
5. Additional information

1. Weather vocabulary and synonyms:

 Weather: climate/ conditions
 Morning : after sunrise
 Afternoon ; after 12 o’clock/ pm
 Night : dark/ night time
 Next: after that/ subsequently

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Key weather symbol with synonym

full of sunshine / hot / warm/ bright/ clear/

Sunny
cloudless / fine day

dull/ gloomy/ overcast/ darkened weather/

Cloudy
foggy/ partly cloudy / fuzzy cloud

wet/ showery/ drizzly/ downpour/ damp/ heavy

Rainy
rain/ downpour / humid

heavy downpour / cloudburst/ stormy / storm

Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and thunder / rain
accompanied by lightning and storm

clear sky/ sparkling stars and magnificent

Fine night
moon/ clear night

Windy brisk wind / breezy/ blowy / bleak wind

Target language:
It will be sunny in Tutong.
There will be fog in the afternoon.
There will be a typhoon at night in Phillippines.
Tomorrow afternoon there will be cloud in Temburong.

Remember, some sentences begin with It will be and others There will
be.

There will be (nouns) examples There will be thunderstorms.

It will be (adjectives) It will be sunny.

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2. adjectives: add adjectives to describe weather conditions.

Bright, hot, light, heavy, cool, cold, feelings, gloomy
Weather noun:
Sun  sunny
Rain  rainy
Fog  foggy
Storm  stormy
Cloud  cloudy
Wind  windy
It will be windy.
It will be sunny.
It will be cloudy

3. Time preposition: remember to add time preposition.

On, at, in the
On Saturday, the weather will be fine
It will rain heavily at night.
In the morning it will be sunny.

4. Sentence openers: openers are words to begin a sentence.

At the beginning Afterwards
The first day of the Afterwards… At the end of the day
week … Next, in the afternoon Finally at night
On the first Monday Then, in the afternoon… Later
morning… After… Finally
The next day… Soon Eventually
The next morning… It continues until in the After sunset
Then in the afternoon… afternoon… In the evening
In the beginning… Followed by Meanwhile
At first… Lastly
Firstly… On the last day…
On Monday It continues until at
On the second day…. night.
On the third day… Come at night
There will be

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6.Additional information: add extra information in your report.

If it is a sunny day?
 It is suitable to do outdoor activities such as picnic and fishing.
 Don’t forget to put on sun cream protector.

If there is cloudburst or thunderstorm?

 You will be hearing loud thunderstorm.
 It is best to stay indoor.
 It is not suitable to do outdoor activities.

If it is a fine night?
 You will be seeing magnificent moon and sparkling stars in the sky.
 You can see clear sky with sparkling stars.

If it is heavy rain or showery?

 You must make sure you bring your umbrella

Etc.

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Sample :

Title: Weather forecast for Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Version A:

On Monday morning, the weather will be sunny, later in the

afternoon it will be cloudy and a fine Monday night. On Tuesday it will be
sunny in the morning and there will be thunderstorm followed by raining at
night.
On Wednesday morning, it will be raining for the whole day and it will be a
fine weather at night. On Thursday morning, there will be thunderstorm
followed by raining in the afternoon and cloudy at night.

Version B:

On Monday morning, the weather will be bright and clear. It will be

suitable to do any outdoor activities. Later in the afternoon it will be
cloudy and fine at night. The next day it will be warm in the morning and
there will be thunderstorm and don’t forget to bring along an umbrella as
it will be raining at night.
It will be wet for the whole day and people are advice to stay indoor on
Monday morning. The weather will be a fine at night and sparkling stars
can be seen. On Thursday morning, there will be thunderstorm followed by
downpour in the afternoon and clear sky can be seen at night.

Add additional information

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Instruction Future Tense: Will be

s

Same
weather:
From
morning till
afternoon.
The next
Wednesday,
the weather
will be hot
and bright
from
morning till
the
afternoon.

Starting from
afternoon to
evening, the
weather will
be showery.
Or
It will be
showery in
the afternoon
and it
continue to
night time.

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Title: Weekly weather report Title

Good morning readers, I am Hanisah reporting for Brunei Darussalam weekly weather
report. Here is the weekly weather report.

introduction

On Monday morning, the weather will be rainy. Later in the afternoon it will be sunny.
It is suitable to do outdoor activities such as picnic and fishing. Then at night it will be
thunderstorm. The next morning, it will be hot. The weather on Tuesday afternoon will
be gloomy. At night there will be cloudburst. You will be hearing loud thunderstorm.

2nd paragraph
Monday and Tuesday

On next Wednesday, it will be sunny. It continues until in the afternoon. Then at night
the weather will be a fine night. On Thursday morning, the weather will be warm. Don’t
forget to put on sun screen cream. In the afternoon, it will be drizzle and it continues
until at night.
3rd paragraph
Wednesday and
Thursday

On the fifth day, the weather will be damp in the morning followed by cloudy in the
afternoon. While at night it there will be cloudburst. The weather on Saturday morning
will be wet. Don’t forget to put on your rain coat. Later in the afternoon the weather
will be dull. Then at night it will be clear. You will be seeing magnificent moon and
sparkling stars in the sky. Finally, on Sunday morning, there will be heavy downpour with
lightning and storm and it is not suitable to do outdoor activities. In the afternoon, it
will be showery. Make sure you bring your umbrella. Afterward at night it will be cloudy.
You will be seeing fuzzy clouds filling the skies.

That’s all about the weekly weather report. 4th paragraph

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

closing

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MAP DIRECTION

Tense present tense / future tense

Modal should / will
Transition Words First, secondly, next, then, after that, finally

Sample of Map Writing

INTRODUCTION
Kassim and his family are on the way to Roslan’s
Tell the reader
house to attend a wedding ceremony.
where to go and why.

To get to Roslan’s house, first they should go

CONTENT straight along Jalan Selamat. They will go past the four houses.
Follow the directions
given.
Secondly, they go straight and go through an old
Use transition words bridge at Sungai Lumpur.

Next, they should go straight and past by a fuel

station before they reach the roundabout.

Finally, they will reach Roslan’s house. It is a big

CONCLUSION
blue wooden stilt house with a swimming pool near the house.
Tell the reader you
reach the
destination.

Describe the place

that they will see.

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DIRECTION PHRASES:
-Turn right/left.

-Go straight.

-You’ll see it on the right/left.

- It’s at the corner of ____________.

- It’s opposite the ______________.

-It’s next to _________________.

- It’s between _____________ and _______________.

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