UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR CONTINUOUS WRITING SECTION OF

SPM ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1119

ESSAY TYPE

THEME:

Instructions:
1. This module is divided into 6 sections: Let’s Recall, Let’s Discover, Let’s Learn, Let’s
Replace, Let’s Expand and Let’s Create.
2. You MUST attempt each section in sequence. DO NOT skip any section.
3. READ and understand all the instructions given.

English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC)

Ministry of Education Malaysia
2018
QUESTION: Computer games are harmful for health. Do you agree?

Look at this picture. Think of any words or phrases that are related to it.
Write your words or phrases in the Circle Map below.

Image source: http://www.oddee.com/_media/imgs/articles2/a98407_video-game-addict.jpg

Example: online games, unhealthy

online games

unhealthy
Computer games
are harmful
for health

2
Read the sample essay below.

QUESTION: Computer games are harmful for health. Do you agree?

People these days are spending a lot of time playing online computer games.
However, these games come with a lot of health issues. I totally agree that
computer games can cause a lot of health problems.

First of all, people, mainly children and young adults, often spend long hours
playing online computer games. As a result, this may affect their health in the long
run.

Furthermore, addiction to online computer games may cause harm to one’s

eyesight. This happens when he or she is continuously staring at the computer
screen. Too much strain on the eyes can damage them and some online games
players have even gone blind.

Next, another health issue that results from online computer games is the lack
of physical activity. Since people who enjoy online computer games sit in one
position for a long time and do not move much, they are at risk of gaining extra
weight due to the lack of exercise. They should be encouraged to play outdoors so
that they can limit their time playing online computer games. Being overweight can
lead to obesity and other health complications such as high blood pressure and
diabetes.

In conclusion, playing online computer games can be exciting, entertaining and

fun. However, these games can also be very harmful to our health.

(212 words)

3
Table I:

Read the information in the table below. The information in the table is from the sample
essay in Let’s Discover.

A B C D E

No. Phrases/
Meaning in
Words Synonyms Idiomatic Examples of use
Context
Expressions
1. spending using (time) in • wasting • using up The students nowadays
a specified way • occupying • putting in are using up their time
on online activities.

2. issues important • problems He has many health

topics for a problems due to his
debate or unhealthy eating
discussion
habits.

3. addiction obsession with • craving • fixation Fixation with online

a thing or with games can harm one’s
activity • fixed on health.
• craved for

4. cause make • create • lead to Addiction to online

something • produce • result in games results in one
happen spending more money.

5. continuously without a • always • without He plays online games

pause or break • constantly end without end.
• round-the-
clock

6. strain to force a part • stress • stress out I have so much to do

of the body to and I am completely
do something stressed out.
unusual or
difficult

4
 A B C D E
No. Phrases/
Meaning in
Words Synonyms Idiomatic Examples of use
Context
Expressions
7. gaining obtaining • getting They are not getting
something anything from playing
online games.

8. obesity the state of • fatness • extremely If you do not exercise

being fat at all, you may get
overweight extremely fat.

9. complications something that • issues • difficult He is in a difficult

is difficult • problems situation situation because he
• hard to does not have enough
crack money to pay his
debt.

10. harmful likely to cause • injurious Playing online games

damage • damaging can be damaging.
• dangerous

5
Table II:

Read the words and phrases in the table below. They will help you to organise your ideas
clearly.

• Next
• To start off
• Besides
First reason/ • To begin with
Next reason/ • Another
opinion • The first reason
opinion • Furthermore
• First and foremost
• In addition
• One important reason
• It is also found that

• Thus
• As a result • Yet
To emphasise • Due to this • By contrast
earlier • Therefore To introduce • In comparison
other possible
reason/ • Consequently • In other words
opinion
opinion • In view of this • On the other hand
• In other words • Another possibility is
• To put it simply

• Finally
• To sum up
• For example
• To conclude
• For instance
• In conclusion
To introduce • … mainly
To conclude • On the whole
examples • … such as …
• My final reason
• … in particular
• Last but not least
• An example of this is
• It can therefore be
concluded

6
Fill in the blanks with suitable words or phrases from Column C in Table I and from Table II
of Let’s Learn.

QUESTION: Computer games are harmful for health. Do you agree?

People these days are ____________________ a lot of time playing online

computer games. _________________, these games come with a lot of health
____________________. I totally agree that computer games can cause a lot of
health problems.

___________________ people, mainly children and young adults, often spend

long hours playing online computer games. _________________, this may affect
their health in the long run.

_____________________, ____________________ to online computer games

may _______________________ harm to one’s eyesight. This happens when he or
she is __________________________ staring at the computer screen. Too much
____________________ on the eyes can damage them and some online games
players have even gone blind.

__________________________, another health issue that results from online

computer games is the lack of physical activity. Since people who enjoy online
computer games sit in one position for a long time and do not move much, they are
at risk of _______________________ extra weight due to the lack of exercise. They
should be encouraged to play outdoors so that they can limit their time playing
online computer games. Being overweight can lead to ____________________ and
other health ____________________ such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

____________________, playing online computer games can be exciting,

entertaining and fun. __________________, these games can also be very
____________________ to our health.

7
Notes:

Image source: https://achildinmind.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/what-why-how2.jpg

You can use the WH-Questions to brainstorm for ideas to expand your essay. It is a way to
get deeper into your topic and add more information or ideas.

D’s - Describe, Details

E’s - Explain, Examples

Details – Provide exact names, time and do not be too brief.

Describe – Use adjectives (size, colour, shape and others), and
adverbs (how the action is done) to make the idea more vivid.
Explain – Give reasons and explain by providing relevant facts or details.
Examples – Mention things, people, places or anything that are related or represent the
idea/opinion.

8
Read the essay you have completed in Let’s Replace. Expand the essay in Column 2 by
answering the questions in Column 1.

Column 1 Column 2
Parts

Questions/Notes
Practice
for Expansion

1. Who are the online People these days are spending a lot of time
computer players? playing online computer games. (1) ________________
2. What kind of health _______________________________________________
Introduction

issues? However, these games come with a lot of health issues.

3. Give example of health
problems.
I totally agree that computer games can cause a lot of
health problems. (2) _____________________________
_______________________________________________
(3) ____________________________________________
_______________________________________________

1. Details of the hours, and First of all, people, mainly children and young
name of the games. adults, often spend long hours playing online computer
2. Describe the games.
games. (1) ______________________________________
3. Explain how these affect
their health. ________________________________________________
Body 1

As a result, this may affect their health in the long run.

(2) _____________________________________________
________________________________________________
(3) _____________________________________________
________________________________________________

1. Give example of another Furthermore, addiction to online computer games

effect. may cause harm to one’s eyesight. This happens when
2. Explain why is it harmful he or she is continuously staring at the computer screen.
to health? Too much strain on the eyes can damage them and some
Body 2

online games players have even gone blind. (1) ________

________________________________________________
(2) _____________________________________________
________________________________________________

9
 Column 1 Column 2
Parts

Questions/Notes
Practice
for Expansion

1. Give details of the Next, another health issue that results from online
health issue. computer games is the lack of physical activity. Since
2. Describe how it people who enjoy online computer games sit in one position
affects their health. for a long time and do not move much, they are at risk of
3. Explain what happens gaining extra weight due to the lack of exercise. (1) ______
if you do not limit __________________________________________________
your time playing (2) _______________________________________________
computer? __________________________________________________
Body 3

4. Give example of They should be encouraged to play outdoors so that they

health complications. can limit their time playing online computer games. Being
overweight can lead to obesity and other health
complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
(3) _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________
(4) _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________

1. Describe your In conclusion, playing online computer games can be

hopes for these
Conclusion

exciting, entertaining and fun. However, these games can

teenagers.
also be very harmful to our health. (1) __________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

10
Now you are ready to write an essay. Do your best!

Instructions: Write a composition of about 350 words on the following topic. You are
advised to spend about one hour to complete this task.

Spending too much time on electronic gadgets is dangerous for mental and physical
health. Do you agree?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

11
_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

12