Performance Plus for the HKDSE — All-in-one Exam Practice (Vol.

2) (2nd Edition) Set 6 Paper 2

Part B Question 6
Learning English through Popular Culture
Your class did a project entitled ‘Hong Kong Pop Culture’. You have decided to organise a display in the
school hall showing what Hong Kong pop culture is and how it has evolved. Write a letter to the school
principal, Mr. Lee, describing what you plan to show in the display and how you want to present the
information.

Topic Analysis
Your Role A student
• Your class did a project titled ‘Hong Kong Pop Culture’
Situation / Task Requirements • You have decided to organise a display that shows what Hong
Kong pop culture is and how it has evolved
• Describe what you plan to show in the display
Sub-topics
• Describe how you would like to present the information
Text Type Formal letter
Target Audience The principal
• Formal
Language and Tone
• Use the simple present tense to express opinions
• To describe
Purpose of Writing
• To explain

Topic-related Vocabulary
alternative approach broad celebrity
comics controversial decade display
display panel exhibition mainstream open space
publicity to be open to suggestion to coordinate to disrupt
to ensure to evolve to pull off

Writing Plan
Formal greeting
Greeting
• Dear Mr. Lee,
Mention the English project ‘Hong Kong Pop Culture’
Introductory paragraph
Tell the principal about your idea of organising a display in the school hall
Tell the principal about your plan
• The display will be scheduled on a weekend.
• The topic will be ‘Hong Kong Pop Culture’.
Body paragraphs
• The display will cover topics such as music, dance and art.
• The bulk of the display will be on music, fashion, TV dramas, media
celebrities, comics, etc.

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Performance Plus for the HKDSE — All-in-one Exam Practice (Vol. 2) (2nd Edition) Set 6 Paper 2
Describe how you would like to present the information
• Information will be displayed on display boards.
• It will be presented digitally in slide shows.
Tell the principal that you have formed a committee to coordinate the event,
Closing paragraph
and urge him to support the event and give his approval
Formal closing
Closing • Yours sincerely,
Chris Wong

Sample Essay
Dear Mr. Lee,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am sure you are aware that our class has recently completed a project
entitled ‘Hong Kong Pop Culture’. Mrs. Wong, our English teacher, was so impressed with the quality of the
work that she thinks it should be shown to a wider audience.

She has asked me to approach you suggesting that we put on a display in the school hall so that we can
show our work to all the students as well as any interested parents who may wish to come along.

The class thinks that this is best done at a weekend so that the display will not disrupt the normal school
programme. However, we are open to the suggestion of doing it during a school day and into the evening if
you think this is a suitable alternative.

As you probably know, the topic ‘Hong Kong Pop Culture’ is broad and could include topics like music,
dance, art and many other communication forms. Our class took a broad approach and we realise that while
some elements of pop culture may be controversial, it is difficult not to include some fringe elements. Who
knows; one day they may become mainstream?

Our interpretation of pop culture also looks at the history that evolved and contributed to what is
considered pop culture today. So there are elements of Chinese opera singing that go back several decades.
However, the bulk of the display will consist of music (especially Cantopop), fashion, television dramas,
media celebrities, comics and also the role of news in defining pop culture.

Many of the students have prepared this information on display boards and others have done computer
presentations. We think both media will be suitable for the display. As this was a project for our English
lessons, the material will be presented in English but if need be, we are prepared to include some material in
Chinese.

There has been a suggestion that we also approach TVB and ViuTV to see if we can get them to set up
displays as well as have them invite some celebrities. We are not sure whether any of them will be interested
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Performance Plus for the HKDSE — All-in-one Exam Practice (Vol. 2) (2nd Edition) Set 6 Paper 2
in such a small project but if they do come, we think that it will ensure the event’s success.

We have formed a committee to coordinate this event and we look forward to your support as we think
pop culture is relevant to school life.

Yours sincerely,
Chris Wong

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