Summary writing:

1. Read the question carefully. Ask yourself: “What am I required to

summarise?”
2. Mark the first and last lines of the passage you are asked to refer
to.
3. Select information that is relevant to your answer.
– Underline the relevant lines or ideas as you read the text.
– Always ask yourself: “Is this...” (Example: “Is this a reason tigers have become
extinct? or Is this a measure that should be implemented?”
4. Look through the lines/ideas you have underlined.
– Sometimes an idea is repeated (paraphrasing)
– Ask yourself, is this a repetition?
 Summary writing:
5. Summarise these ideas. 
– combine ideas - combining phrases or sentences,
– paraphrase ideas/sentences.
– make sure complete sentences
– cannot paraphrase – replace the words (without affecting meaning)
– Example: pronoun to replace a noun.
6. Weak student
– copy the complete sentence.
– not lose marks (content /language)
7. Begin
– with the 10 words given
– Remember! three dots after the tenth word - complete the sentence
with some relevant information from the text.
5. Organise the ideas/points as in the text. Do not waste
time trying to rearrange ideas.
6. Stick to to the word limit.
– more - no marks.
– Less - lack content.
7. Pay attention to the tense (and sometimes pronoun) used
in the given 10 words.
8. One paragraph.
A QUICK GUIDE TO CONTINUOUS
WRITING (SPM ENGLISH)
• Narrative
• Descriptive
• Factual
• Argumentative
• Reflective
 NARRATIVE COMPOSITIONS
Tips on Writing Narrative Compositions

1. Suitable introduction.
2. Introduce your characters.
3. Provide a setting and start the story.
4. lively and interesting characters.(3-4 only)- main character and the
minor characters.
5. Plot (exposition, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action,
resolution)
6. Make your story realistic. You can do this by one of the following
methods:
• Give actual names of places, roads, etc
• Use dialogues
• Give your story a time frame.
• Bring in actual events, for example, Merdeka Day, the SEA Games, etc
 Some Types of Opening
• Describe the background to your story
– This sets things off in a straightforward manner; establishing clearly your characters and situation.
– Example:
There was once a poet who spent all his days shut up in his dark and shabby rented room on top of a
coffin shop.
• Describe the setting
– Describing the setting will create the mood for your story.
– Example:
Towards two o’clock, the huge theatre was thronged – floor gallery, boxes and stage were all
crowded. So many people were gathered in front of the box offices that the management had to
telephone the police, fearing a riot.
• Use direct speech
– This can be a lively way to begin, especially if your character says something that grabs attention.
– Example :
“May God wipe out my whole family if I am lying! “ she whispered, raising hand in oath.
• Use sounds
– Using words which convey sounds is an easy way to start on a dramatic note.
– Example :
Plop! The lead at the end of the fishing line dropped into the sea.
 How do I write a narrative essay for the
exam?

ACTION PLAN: (1 hour)

A. Planning = 15 minutes
B. Writing = 35 minutes
C. Checking = 10 minutes

(This plan is for those who are quite weak in English.

For those who are proficient, you may only need 10
minutes for planning)
 A. PLANNING
• Let’s say you have chosen topic - Write a story ending
with, “I shall never forget this day for the rest of my
life.”

1. Read the question carefully and underline important

phrases. Pay particular attention to the ending.
2. Brainstorm for ideas and jot down notes. For exam
purposes, the simplest way is to divide it into three
parts:
i. ii. iii.
 B. WRITING THE ESSAY
Linkers and phrases - link the
events to move your story
(chronological order.)
• It was very dark….
• I will never forget …..
A few minutes later….
• Suddenly,…
• When the disaster
happened, …..
Sensory details - to reveal the events and
involved the reader
• Example:
a. I went into the restaurant.
b. I walked into the restaurant
c. I sauntered into the restaurant.
• a - merely states that I went into the restaurant
• b- little more information-how I went into the
restaurant
• c - more specific word – (clearly) the idea of
how I went into the restaurant
• Sentence c. allows the reader to see what I am
doing.
• ‘sauntered’ = ‘to stroll’ - image of a person
walking slowly into the restaurant.
• Thus, sentence c. is more effective in narrative
and descriptive writing.
 C. CHECKING
• Read your essay once through and check for the following things:
– Is the spelling accurate?
– Is the punctuation appropriate? Did you use too many commas in a
sentence?
– Did you vary the sentence structure? Are your sentences too long?
– Does one thought follow the next in a logical order?
– Did you stick to the topic? Did you use words so that your reader could
experience the incident?
– Did you use the appropriate tense of the verb throughout?
Make any corrections neatly.
 DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITIONS 
Describing People Describing Place
• select only the significant • Pay attention to the following
details. aspects :
• Example: Write about a person – Type of place
you admire – Location Distance
– Introduction - who the person is - – Attractions
how you know the person – Facilities/Amenities
– Body - physical description - – Accommodation
character/personality - habits -
important incidents - relationship • When you describe scenes,
with you and others - why you pay attention to sensory
admire him/her description.
– Conclusion - what the person – 5 senses (Sounds, Smell, Touch,
stands for - what the person Taste, Sight)
means to you
 FACTUAL COMPOSITIONS 
• Main purpose - to inform.
• You must have accurate information about the topic being discussed.
• Some examples of factual topics:
Pollution – causes and effects
Tuition – reasons for its popularity
Tourism – how to promote it
Deforestation – causes and effects
E-learning – benefits
Dental care – importance
Smoking – health effects
Mobile phones – health hazards
ARGUMENTATIVE COMPOSITIONS
• requires you to develop or justify a given
argument or to put forward a particular point
of view
• An argumentative composition requires you
to do one of the following :
– take one side of an argument and present your
stand clearly
– put forward your argument – for and against – and
then make a stand
 REFLECTIVE COMPOSITION
• express your personal thoughts, opinions feelings
• you need to have a good command of the language
which will enable you to express yourself clearly
• Examples of Reflective essays:
– My dream house
– Things I treasure
– My ideal husband of wife
– Memories
– The qualities I would look for in a friend
– My greatest problem
Writing Better Paragraph
 What is a paragraph?
• A paragraph can be divided into three different
sections:
– Topic Sentence - beginning of the paragraph,
– Body
– Closing
 Topic Sentence Body
• tells you what the • support the topic of the
paragraph is going to be paragraph
about – Supporting details
– Elaboration
• how it relates to the subject
of the essay and the
previous paragraph.

Closing
• completes the idea
expressed in the paragraph.
• It should also set up a
connection to the next
paragraph.
A good paragraph has only one main idea
and one or two supporting details.
• Example:
First and foremost, I would buy a house for my parents,
preferably a bungalow, in a quiet town. I would equip the
house with the latest technology so that it would be a
smart home. My mother would have a state-of-the-art
kitchen as she loves cooking. There would also be a robot
to clean and vacuum the house. I will certainly make sure
that my family is comfortably settled in this house.
How to elaborate or add supporting details?

• To support a topic sentence, consider some of

these possible ways:
– Add examples
– Supply further details or explanation
– Tell a story that illustrates the point you're making
– Discuss a process
– Compare and contrast
Example:
Most word processing software gives you several options for
printing. You can print a copy or several copies of the same
document with different fonts. Besides that, you can also print a
range of pages. What is more, you can even preview a document
before printing it out. You can finally say goodbye to the good old
typewriter

• Topic sentence: word processing software – several options for

printing.
• Body sentences (Supporting details): print a copy, several
copies, different fonts, a range of pages, preview.
• Note that I have given examples and explanation to support my
main idea.
• Closing sentence: I end the paragraph by implying that now that
you have the software, you can say goodbye to the typewriter.
 Choice of words
Dont’s Do’s
tired words like ‘beautiful’ or ‘nice Use: magnificent, breathtaking,
inspiring, fantastic, and so on.
Ever since Mr. Tan came into my class, he Mr. Tan transformed my class. (Here,
transformed it, changing it so that it was give examples of how he did it.)
altogether different from what it has been like
before.
unheard of or too bombastic

Example:
Chin Yit, a student from Pahang wrote to ask
whether using ‘beatiful words’ will gain her more
marks. She had taken these words from a
thesaurus. Her teacher is right. She will not gain
more marks as she is testing the examiner and
boring her readers.

(propitious, bullient, affray, edacious) (Favourable , cheerful, scuffle, fight,

voracious)