Some tips for handling Paper 2 and Paper 1
Grammar:
- Remember some of the basic grammar rules like "a word retaining its root form after 'to' " e.g. to run, to swim NOT to swam, to ate.
- If you REALLY do not know, go for the "it sounds right" or "it sounds strange" theories.
Vocabulary:
- Look out for the prefixes of a word to guess its meaning e.g mis, un, dis usually means the opposite of the word attached to it. e.g. misunderstanding is the opp of understanding, unlikely is the opp of likely, disrepair is the opp of repair.
- Other prefixes are bi-, tri-, quad- for 2,3,4...
- The meaning of the word can be projected from the clues given in the full sentence for the vocab section.
- READ MORE!!! Make an effort to check the dictionary.
Grammar cloze:
- Do NOT cross out the letter after you have used the word.
- READ the passage once after you have filled in the blanks to double check on the answers.
Editing:
- Use the methods I have taught. For grammar items (which are underlined), remember to write out the different forms e.g. They uses the guns yesterday. other forms of 'uses' are use, using, used. CORRECT ANSWER: USED because of the word yesterday.
Cloze Comprehension:
- Read the passage once to understand the passage.
- Look for clues in the sentences before and after the blank.
- Look for similar, dissimilar or related clues in the sentences before and after.
- Look for words which might actually be the answer or similar to the answer.
Synthesis and Transformation:
- PRACTICE!!!
- Remember your Unless, Despite and Inspite...
- "Rudy! Where is the pen?" asked Gary.
Gary asked Rudy where the pen WAS.
Paper 1
- Composition: READ THE MODERN ESSAYS here and in the booklets you have.
- Situational Writing: REMEMBER PAC: Purpose, Audience, Context.
All the best kids!! :)
Cheers
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Hijack
Dear Mom and Dad
This may be my last letter to the both of you. I am currently on board flight TQ69 and the situation here is not really ideal. There are hijackers on the plane and I am extremely frightened. I do hope the both of you can get hold of this letter, because I do not think I might survive this hijack. The terrorist has been threatening to crash the plane and I think they are serious about it.
Just after I boarded the plane, I took my seat and placed my luggage in the compartment above me. Feeling excited about the stay in America, I was really quite looking forward to it. Initially, I saw this suspicious person lurking around the front of the plane. I thought of informing the stewardess but little did I realize that I was too late! They ordered everyone, including the air stewardesses, to crouch down and put their hands above their heads. They fired their guns to instill fear into everyone. Feeling like a cat on hot bricks, I did not know what to do next. One of the terrorists went to the cockpit to control the plane while the other was maintaining “order”. I was shocked and dismayed. One of the toddlers was wailing non-stop while the mother was hushing him. The terrorist could not stand the noisy wails and fired three times at him. Fresh crimson blood came oozing out profusely from the wounds while there was an incredulous look on the mother’s face. “ It couldn’t be… it couldn’t be… not my baby…” She continued to shake her head in denial. I could hear her heart shatter into a million pieces. Everyone was appalled and could not believe what they had seen.
I am disturbed by the scene I had just witnessed committed by the heartless terrorist. I can never imagine someone being so brutal and evil. I do not really think that they will let us off so easily. I would really like to apologise for whatever wrongs that I have committed previously that had angered the both of you. I am very scared now as I can feel the plane taking a downward plunge. My heart is in my mouth and all I can think of now is to write this letter to you and finish it before my time comes. I sincerely seek your forgiveness. Do not grieve for me as I believe that all that is happening now is predestined. Mom and Dad, I love y… …
September 11, 2001.
News Flash!
Two planes have just crashed into the World Trade Center. Terrorists are suspected to be involved. This saddening piece of news has shaken the world and the above was a letter that was found among the rubble of the World Trade Centre, fluttering in the wind.
Wendy Tang 6I 2006
This may be my last letter to the both of you. I am currently on board flight TQ69 and the situation here is not really ideal. There are hijackers on the plane and I am extremely frightened. I do hope the both of you can get hold of this letter, because I do not think I might survive this hijack. The terrorist has been threatening to crash the plane and I think they are serious about it.
Just after I boarded the plane, I took my seat and placed my luggage in the compartment above me. Feeling excited about the stay in America, I was really quite looking forward to it. Initially, I saw this suspicious person lurking around the front of the plane. I thought of informing the stewardess but little did I realize that I was too late! They ordered everyone, including the air stewardesses, to crouch down and put their hands above their heads. They fired their guns to instill fear into everyone. Feeling like a cat on hot bricks, I did not know what to do next. One of the terrorists went to the cockpit to control the plane while the other was maintaining “order”. I was shocked and dismayed. One of the toddlers was wailing non-stop while the mother was hushing him. The terrorist could not stand the noisy wails and fired three times at him. Fresh crimson blood came oozing out profusely from the wounds while there was an incredulous look on the mother’s face. “ It couldn’t be… it couldn’t be… not my baby…” She continued to shake her head in denial. I could hear her heart shatter into a million pieces. Everyone was appalled and could not believe what they had seen.
I am disturbed by the scene I had just witnessed committed by the heartless terrorist. I can never imagine someone being so brutal and evil. I do not really think that they will let us off so easily. I would really like to apologise for whatever wrongs that I have committed previously that had angered the both of you. I am very scared now as I can feel the plane taking a downward plunge. My heart is in my mouth and all I can think of now is to write this letter to you and finish it before my time comes. I sincerely seek your forgiveness. Do not grieve for me as I believe that all that is happening now is predestined. Mom and Dad, I love y… …
September 11, 2001.
News Flash!
Two planes have just crashed into the World Trade Center. Terrorists are suspected to be involved. This saddening piece of news has shaken the world and the above was a letter that was found among the rubble of the World Trade Centre, fluttering in the wind.
Wendy Tang 6I 2006
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Curiosity
The sky turned from aquamarine blue to soft pastel bands of a new day. Birds began chirping among the still foliage of trees. It is the third day since I was lost in the forest. My food supply was running low. Only a few drips of water were left. It was entirely my fault not to listen to the elders of the village and to run into the forest because of my curiosity. But it is too late now to regret my disobedience. I got to think of a way to get out of this forest.
I lived in fear every now and then. Afraid of beasts attacking me, carnivores capturing me and the chill of the night. Even the ruffling of the leaves, the moving of the bushes frightens the wits out of me. I once heard stories from my mother that people who went into the forest were killed by fearful beasts and only a few had survived. I had been heading north ever since I realized that I was lost. I had a feeling that something very bad may happen today but something good may also happen. I walked silently with every step I took. I almost fell into a hole if not for the squirrel’s call, which, I thought, was trying to warn me of the danger in front of me.
I had just traveled for a few kilometers when there was movement in the bushes. Out of the blue, a wolf, the size of a lion, sprung out of the bushes with its mouth open, saliva dripping out of it. I was unable to dodge the first bite, and blood began oozing out of my right shoulder. Pain penetrated through my whole body. As I recovered from the pain, the wolf was already preparing to make its second pounce. I pulled out my knife swiftly. The knife was the only possession I had inherited from my father and I shone it everyday. Seeing the wolf just a few meters away from me, I plunged my knife right into its stomach making it whine in pain. I thought that the wolf would just die like that. Foolish, naive me. I had underestimated the beast's ferocity and hunger. Bearing the pain, the wolf pounced again this time aiming for my torso. I plunged the knife with all my strength through its head and the growling of the wolf gradually died down. This was the very first animal that I had killed.
Not believing myself, I panicked. Pulling the knife out of the wolf’s body Iran like a bat out of hell towards the north side of the forest. Slowly, I grew exhausted. I slowed down my steps and laid myself underneath a tree; not realizing that the sky had already grew dark. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed. Then the rain started to pour down. Surrendering myself to my exhaustion from the exertions of the fight, I closed my eyes and darkness claimed me.
A few hours passed, but rain was still pelting down hard on me. I heard voices. Opening my eyes, I saw dozens of people with flaming torches shouting my name. It was the villagers! I tried to reply but nothing came out. Hot tears came streaming down my cheeks as I watched the line of people moving away from me. So near yet so far. Mustering all my remaining strength, I gave a loud yell hoping against hope that it was not another silent scream. For the second time this day, darkness claimed me yet again.
When I woke up, I found my mother beside me with tears flowing down her cheeks profusely. I tried to move my right arm but I felt nothing. Leaning over, I looked and saw a bloody stump where my right arm should be. My right arm! It was gone! “What happened? Why is my right arm severed? Why?” I probed my mother frantically. “I am sorry, my child.” my mother said, then got off her seat and went out of the room.
Till today, I still did not know what exactly happened on that day after I had fainted. My whole life changed, things that I had taken for granted in the past became daily challenges. A simple act of wearing my vest could take me ten minutes. As a strong, young warrior of the tribe, I was now reduced to a weaver of mats, forced to watch hunting parties leave the village and bringing back food for the tribe. Forced to watched my humiliation, knowing that I will never be one of them. Curiosity kills the cat. But for me, curiosity has killed my soul...
Glen Ting
Primary 6I 2006
Comments:
Glen Ting was another good writer of mine from 2006. He is currently studying in NUS High School. Glen's essays might not be as soulful as Siao Shuen's but his essays never fail to surprise me with its fast paced action. I studied many essays and I have come to the realisation that essays with too many 'locations' (meaning; places where the stories take place) in a single essay never did well. What would win a reader over is the development of the location (in this case the forest) and the characters in the story (the boy and to some extent the wolf) I have seen many essays where pupils end off with a moral e.g.
.... and the moral of the story is "Curiosity kills the cat."
Sounds familiar? :) Actually such endings can be awkward and I would always advocate my kids to SUBTLY put in the moral of the story and not GIVE THE WHOLE PLOT AWAY SO SOON. The phrases in BOLD are my suggestions to develop the essay further. REMEMBER: THE CONCLUSION IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE INTRODUCTION AND AWKWARD ENDINGS CAN SPOIL THE MOST BRILLIANT ESSAYS. :)
Cheers
I lived in fear every now and then. Afraid of beasts attacking me, carnivores capturing me and the chill of the night. Even the ruffling of the leaves, the moving of the bushes frightens the wits out of me. I once heard stories from my mother that people who went into the forest were killed by fearful beasts and only a few had survived. I had been heading north ever since I realized that I was lost. I had a feeling that something very bad may happen today but something good may also happen. I walked silently with every step I took. I almost fell into a hole if not for the squirrel’s call, which, I thought, was trying to warn me of the danger in front of me.
I had just traveled for a few kilometers when there was movement in the bushes. Out of the blue, a wolf, the size of a lion, sprung out of the bushes with its mouth open, saliva dripping out of it. I was unable to dodge the first bite, and blood began oozing out of my right shoulder. Pain penetrated through my whole body. As I recovered from the pain, the wolf was already preparing to make its second pounce. I pulled out my knife swiftly. The knife was the only possession I had inherited from my father and I shone it everyday. Seeing the wolf just a few meters away from me, I plunged my knife right into its stomach making it whine in pain. I thought that the wolf would just die like that. Foolish, naive me. I had underestimated the beast's ferocity and hunger. Bearing the pain, the wolf pounced again this time aiming for my torso. I plunged the knife with all my strength through its head and the growling of the wolf gradually died down. This was the very first animal that I had killed.
Not believing myself, I panicked. Pulling the knife out of the wolf’s body Iran like a bat out of hell towards the north side of the forest. Slowly, I grew exhausted. I slowed down my steps and laid myself underneath a tree; not realizing that the sky had already grew dark. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed. Then the rain started to pour down. Surrendering myself to my exhaustion from the exertions of the fight, I closed my eyes and darkness claimed me.
A few hours passed, but rain was still pelting down hard on me. I heard voices. Opening my eyes, I saw dozens of people with flaming torches shouting my name. It was the villagers! I tried to reply but nothing came out. Hot tears came streaming down my cheeks as I watched the line of people moving away from me. So near yet so far. Mustering all my remaining strength, I gave a loud yell hoping against hope that it was not another silent scream. For the second time this day, darkness claimed me yet again.
When I woke up, I found my mother beside me with tears flowing down her cheeks profusely. I tried to move my right arm but I felt nothing. Leaning over, I looked and saw a bloody stump where my right arm should be. My right arm! It was gone! “What happened? Why is my right arm severed? Why?” I probed my mother frantically. “I am sorry, my child.” my mother said, then got off her seat and went out of the room.
Till today, I still did not know what exactly happened on that day after I had fainted. My whole life changed, things that I had taken for granted in the past became daily challenges. A simple act of wearing my vest could take me ten minutes. As a strong, young warrior of the tribe, I was now reduced to a weaver of mats, forced to watch hunting parties leave the village and bringing back food for the tribe. Forced to watched my humiliation, knowing that I will never be one of them. Curiosity kills the cat. But for me, curiosity has killed my soul...
Glen Ting
Primary 6I 2006
Comments:
Glen Ting was another good writer of mine from 2006. He is currently studying in NUS High School. Glen's essays might not be as soulful as Siao Shuen's but his essays never fail to surprise me with its fast paced action. I studied many essays and I have come to the realisation that essays with too many 'locations' (meaning; places where the stories take place) in a single essay never did well. What would win a reader over is the development of the location (in this case the forest) and the characters in the story (the boy and to some extent the wolf) I have seen many essays where pupils end off with a moral e.g.
.... and the moral of the story is "Curiosity kills the cat."
Sounds familiar? :) Actually such endings can be awkward and I would always advocate my kids to SUBTLY put in the moral of the story and not GIVE THE WHOLE PLOT AWAY SO SOON. The phrases in BOLD are my suggestions to develop the essay further. REMEMBER: THE CONCLUSION IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE INTRODUCTION AND AWKWARD ENDINGS CAN SPOIL THE MOST BRILLIANT ESSAYS. :)
Cheers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)