PT3 GUIDED WRITING (RECOUNTS)
Writing a Recount
Introduction
In this chapter, you are shown how to write
a recount or story based on the notes given.
You have to understand the notes in order
for you to write.
Guidelines
Follow the guidelines below to write a
recount:
Read the question and notes carefully.
Understand the notes given.
Make sure you know exactly what you have
to write.
Jot down your own notes.
Expand the notes given with your own
notes.
Based on the notes, you now have a good
understanding of the topic.
Arrange the points in your outline.
Ensure that the composition flows smoothly.
Check for any errors in your grammar,
spelling and tenses.
Format
This is an example of the format on writing
a recount:
Writing Outline
Introduction: mention the setting and what
the incident or topic based on the notes -
write a clear introductory line
Main body:
Paragraph 1 - illustrate the story based on
the notes
Paragraph 2: expand your story to the other
points and explain further
Paragraph 3: include the climax of the
story or subsequent point
Conclusion: write clear concluding lines for
your recount or story.
Model Question 1
You should spend 30 minutes on this
question.
You and your friends went for a recent
beach outing. Write a recount of the outing
and describe what happened on the beach.
Use the notes to help you write.
Beach outing:
-checked in chalet
-went jungle trekking - many plant species
-heard shouts while relaxing
-a child is drowning
-swam fast - rescued
When writing out your recount:
-you may use the notes given
-suggest the ending of the recount
-add any other relevant information
-write in not less than 150 words
Model Question 2
You should spend 30 minutes on this
question.
You and your friends heard a loud bang
while you were playing football. Describe
what happened in your recount. Use the
notes to help you write.
-playing football
-heard a loud bang
-saw a car crashed into a tree
-phoned ambulance
Model Question 3
You should spend 30 minutes on this
question.
There was a burglary at your house. Write a
recount about the incident and describe what
happened. Use the notes to help you write.
-watching television
- parents not around
-heard noise from a burglar
-idea - wear monster costume
-burglar frightened
Writing Outline
Introduction: a beach outing - fun-filled night -
barbeque and campfire
Main Body: Describe how you and your friends
went trekking in the jungle and how you saved the
childs life.
Paragraph 1: trekked in jungle - studied plant
species
Paragraph 2: relaxing - heard shouts for help from
sea
Paragraph 3: You saved drowning child
Conclusion: childs parents - thankful
Model Answer 1
A fortnight ago, Akmal, Boby and I, visited a beach
resort as part of our holiday plans. As we arrived, we
checked into the chalet and went swimming. At
night, we had a barbeque and campfire on the beach.
We really had our fun.
The next morning, we woke up early. The whole
morning was spent on trekking in the jungle to study
some unusual plants species for our science project.
We found many rare species the we never met before.
After lunch, we decided to have a relaxing afternoon
under a shady tree. Akmal was happily played his
guitar and Boyb and I were excitedly singing.
Suddenly, we heard someone shouting, Help! Help!
Someone is drowning!
I looked far into the sea and saw a child struggling in
the water. There was someone nearby who did not
dare to enter the water. Without hesitation, I ran to
the sea and swam quickly towards the child. I then
pulled the child to the shore.
Everyone, upon seeing this, applauded. The childs
parents ran to the crowd and thanked me for saving
their childs life.
Writing Outline
Introduction: day and setting of the story - playing
football head a loud bang
Main Body: Explain what you did to help the
accident victims.
Paragraph 1: after hearing a bang - ran and saw
crashed car - injured victims
Paragraph 2: phoned the police and ambulance -
took the victims - hospital
Paragraph 3: police took statements - left
Conclusion: glad - saved lives - right place
Model Answer 2
Last Friday, Soo, Haider, and I were playing football
in the field near our school. Suddenly, we heard a
loud bang. It came from a tree near the field.
With hearts thumping hard, we ran towards the loud
sound to see what happened. We were very shocked
to see a car crashed into a tree. The driver and his
lone passenger were seriously injured. My friends
and I used our full strength to bring the victims out of
the wrecked car as quickly as we could.
Then, I quickly phoned the medic and the police. I
explained to them on what had happened briefly. An
ambulance and a police car came fifteen minutes
later.
At the secene, the policeman took down statements of
what had happened from us again. After the
ambulance had taken the victims to hospital, we left
the scene of the accident. We prayed that the victims
will be recovered soon.
We were very glad that we had done our part to save
the two lives. For some unknown reason, we felt like
we were at the right place at the opportune time.
Writing Outline
Introduction: setting - you and sister were alone at
home
Main Body: Describe how you frightened the burglar
and prevented him from stealing.
Paragraph 1: hid in a cupboard - heard the burglars
movements
Paragraph 2: put on a costume - frighten the burglar
Paragraph 3: crept and screamed to frighten the
burglar - ran for his life
Conclusion: parents came back - felt proud
Model Answer 3
My sister and I were at home by ourselves last
Saturday. Our parents had gone out to a friends
birthday dinner. We were watching television when I
heard a noise coming from the kitchen. I told my
sister to be quiet.
I suspected that it was a burglar and quickly pulled
my sister to hide. We switched off the television and
hid in a cupboard. From inside, we could hear the
burglar rummaging through our things. My sister was
very afraid but I calmed her and said everything will
be alright.
Suddenly, an idea struck. I noticed a scary costume in
the cupboard. That was a costume that I wore on last
halloween. I put it on and bravely stepped out of the
cupboard.
I crept towards the unsuspecting burglar from behind
and made some scary sounds. The burglar turned
around, saw the monster and screamed. He
immediately fled for his life out of the house.
When our parents came back and heard the story,
they were proud of me. They were also glad that
nothing had happened to us. Our father told mum that
they should never leave us alone at home, ever again.
Model Question 4
You should spend 30 minutes on this
question.
You are friendly with an old widow who
has an ungrateful son. Write a recount
about the old lady and describe what
happened to her. Use the notes to help
you write.
-lonely old widow waiting for son from
overseas
-son promised to bring her to the city
-son graduated - a successful lawyer
-old widow went to sons office
-son feigned not to know her
When writing out your recount:
-you may use the notes given
-suggest the ending of the recount
-add any other relevant information
-write in not less than 150 words
Writing Outline
Introduction: setting - lonely widow
waiting for her son
Main Body: Describe how the lonely
widow went to see her son and was
rejected.
Paragraph 1: spent long hours looking
at his photographs - happy times
Paragraph 2: son - back in town -
successful lawyer
Paragraph 3: took bus - office - son
feigned not to know her
Conclusion: rejected by son - cried and
burnt his photographs - no longer had a
son
Model Answer 4
Fauziah is an old widow that lives near
my house. She had been waiting for her
only son, Rushdi, to come back and
bring her to live in the city with him. She
always tells me about him.
She spent long hours staring at the old
photographs of Rushdi. Fauziah really
looked forward to him coming back to
the country. She had not heard from
Rushdi for a long time.
One day, Fauziahs friend, Khatijah, told
her that there was news that Rushdi was
back in the country. It seemed that he
had already set up his own legal firm in
the city and was a successful lawyer.
Fauziah was excited.
She took bus to the office the very next
day following the address given by
Khatijah. Fauziah had expected her son
to welcome her. However, when Rushdi
saw the old lady in shabby clothes
asking for him, he feigned that he did
not know her.
Extremely sad, Fauziah took out her
precious photographs and burnt all of
them. At that moment, she realised that
she no longer had a son and all her
hopes of a better life had crumbled to
the ground.
Model Question 5
You should spend 30 minutes on this
question.
You wanted to meet your friends after
school and you asked for your parents
permission. Describe what happened in
your recount. Use the notes to help you
write.
-asked parents permission
-meet friends
-went to a game shop
-friends asked to join them for dinner
When writing out your recount:
-you must use the notes given
-suggest the ending of the recount
-add any other relevant information
-write in not less than 150 words
Writing Outline
Introduction: asked parents
permission - to meet friends
Main Body: Describe the setting
between you and your friends.
Paragraph 1: game shop - latest games
players - dinner
Paragraph 2: bought things - garden -
football match
Paragraph 3: looked at watch - it is 8
p.m - need to go home
Conclusion: do not want to miss
curfew - parents trusted you
Model Answer 5
Yesterday, I asked for my parents
permission to meet my friends at the
mall at 5 p.m. My parents allowed me to
go but they reminded me of my 8.30
p.m. curfew. Then, I bid them goodbye
and left for the mall.
I met my friends and went straight to a
game shop. We looked at the latest
games and spent a long time there After
we bought things that we needed, we
went to a garden outside of the mall. We
had our chit chat about our future
football math. We were very excited
about it. At 7.45 pm., my friends wanted
to have dinner and they asked me to join
them.
I looked at my watch and realised that it
was almost 9 p.m. I told my friends that
I had to be home by 8.30 p.m. My
friends kept asking me to join them.
However, I insisted that I would not
miss my curfew. I told them that my
parents trusted me so I would not lose
their trust. My friends understood and
they bid goodbye.
Model Question 6
You should spend 30 minutes on this
question.
Last Sunday, Form 2 students of SMK
Hang Tuah went on a Kuala Lumpur
tour. Describe what happened in your
recount. Use the notes to help you write.
-Kuala Lumpur tour
-Petronas Twin Towers
-National Museum Zoo Negara
When writing out your recount:
-you may use the notes given
-suggest the eating of the recount
-add any other relevant information
-write in not less than 150 words
Writing Outline
Introduction: Form 2 students - SMK
Hang Tuah - Kuala Lumpur tour
Main Body: Describe the places the
students went to visit.
Paragraph 1: boarded school bus -
Petronas Twin Towers
Paragraph 2: National Museum -
paintings - historical items
Paragraph 3: last destination - Zoo
Negara - see animals - excited
Conclusion: back to school - arrived at
7 p.m.
Model Answer 6
Last Sunday, Form 2 students of SMK
Hang Tuah went for a tour in Kuala
Lumpur. There were 86 students in total
and 4 teachers in charge to look after us.
We were very excited as it was our first
time to land in Kuala Lumpur.
At 7.00 a.m., we boarded the school bus
from Malacca and headed straight to
Kuala Lumpur. We arrived at the
Petronas Twin Towers after a two-hour
bus ride. We went to the sky bridge and
the park. We really enjoyed ourselves
and I even bought some sourvenirs for
my family.
At 11.00 a.m., we went to National
Museum and spent time there looking at
the paintings and historical items. After
that, we had lunch at a restaurant near
the museum and continued our journey.
Our last destination was Zoo Negara. We
were so excited to see the varieties of
animal species there. There were also
some species that we were not familiar
with. The trip to Zoo Negara was the
best!
At 4 p.m., the bus driver drove us back
to our school and we arrived at 7 p.m.
Although we were tired, we would never
forget the experience we just had.
Model Question 7
You should spend 30 minutes on this
question.
Your eldest brother has finished his
degree programme and you were there
at his convocation day. Write a recount
about the convocation day. Use the
notes to help you write.
brothers Convocation Day
wear a robe
received scroll
bought a bouquet of flowers
When writing out your recount:
-you may use the notes given
-suggest the ending of the recount
-add any other relevant information
-write in not less than 150 words ^ ^
Writing Outline
Introduction: brothers convocation
day - graduated
Main Body: Describe the Convocation
Day.
Paragraph 1: place - crowded - smart
in robe
Paragraph 2: waited outside the hall -
parents were inside
Paragraph 3: went to a florist stall - a
bouquet of flowers
Conclusion: parents - proud of him -
wish to be like my brother
Model Answer 7
Yesterday, my family and I went to my
brothers Convocation Day at UTM
Skudai, Johor. He has finally graduated
with flying colours after four years of
studies.
The place was very crowded with
students, families and staffs of the
university. The Convocation Day started
from yesterday. My brother looked very
smart in his robe and I was very proud
of him.
His session started at 2 p.m. My sister
and I waited outside of the convocation
hall while my parents are seated inside
the hall. As his name was called,
everybody applaud very hard as he
received a first class degree. He was also
awarded as the best student of his
programme.
While waiting for the end of the
ceremony, I went to a florist stall nearby
to buy a bouquet of flowers for my
brother to celebrate his success.
The ceremony ended well and my
parents were very proud of their son. We
took pictures of him and were very
happy. And for me, I wish to study hard
so that I can be like my brother one day.
Model Question 8
You should spend 30 minutes on this
question.
Faizal loved to eat sweet food. Although
his parents and friends had advised him
to stop eating excessively, he still ate it
tremendeously. Describe what happened
in your story. Use the notes to help you
write.
-Faizal is a generous boy
-he cannot accept advice
-donate his blood
-diabetes
When writing out your recount:
-you may use the notes given
-suggest the ending of the recount
-add any other relevant information
-write in not less than 150 words
Writing Outline
Introduction: Faizal - generous boy -
however - cannot accept advice
Main Body: Describe Faizals eating
habits.
Paragraph 1: parents - friends - advise
- did not listen P
Paragraph 2 : blood donation
campaign - donate his blood
Paragraph 3 : blood test - diabetes -
regret
Conclusion: eat healthily - living a
healthy lifestyle
Model Answer 8
Faizal was a very generous boy. He liked
to share his things of food with his
friends. However, he did not like people
to advise or critique him. He liked sweet
food very much.
His parents advised him to not make
eating sweets a habit. His friends, on the
other hand, told him about the danger of
eating excessive sweet food. However,
he would not listen to anything they
said. He stood still with his principles.
He kept eating chocolates, candies,
carbonated drinks and ice cream. One
day, his school was having a blood
donation campaign and the students
were urged to donate blood. Faizal
would like to donate his blood too.
Unfortunately, the result of his blood
test showed that he suffered from an
early stage of diabetes. He was very
shocked and felt regret for not listening
to his parents and friends advice. He
apologized to them especially his
parents for being so stubborn.
He promised himself to change his
eating habits, start eating more
nutritious food and living a healthier
lifestyle.