Section A: Directed Writing

[35 marks]
[Time suggested: 45 minutes]

Depression is a serious but treatable disorder that affects millions of people, from young to
old and from all walks of life, but many are still unaware of it. You decided to write an article
to a magazine on common signs shown by people with depression and tips to help them.

Signs of depression:

 loss of interest in daily activities

 sleep changes
 withdrawing from close family and friends
 anger or irritability
 loss of energy
 reckless behaviour
 difficulty concentrating
 [own idea]

How to help people with depression:

 be willing to listen
 give positive reinforcement
 seek professional help
 make plans together
 [own idea]

When writing your article, you should remember to:

 Give it a title
 Include the name of the writer
 Use all the notes given
 Give your own ideas when needed
 Write in paragraphs
SENTENCE VARIETY
DO NOT START YOUR SENTENCES THE SAME WAY
- The first sign shown by a depressed person …
- Besides, people will also … when they are depressed.
- People who are suffering from depression also ……
- Not only that, instead of … they also …….
- We can also recognize people with depression when they …
- … is also another sign of being depressed
- Moreover, please be worried when your friend or family member begin to ….
- Additionally, you should act when you start seeing them …
- Likewise, … is also a worrying sign that shows emotional turmoil inside a person.

- To help people with depression, we should …

- Moreover, … is also a good step to take when helping people with depression.
- Another measure that we can take is ….
- It is also important for us to … in order to help people who are suffering from depression.

SENTENCE VARIETY
DO NOT START YOUR SENTENCES THE SAME WAY
- The first sign shown by a depressed person …
- Besides, people will also … when they are depressed.
- People who are suffering from depression also ……
- Not only that, instead of … they also …….
- We can also recognize people with depression when they …
- … is also another sign of being depressed
- Moreover, please be worried when your friend or family member begin to ….
- Additionally, you should act when you start seeing them …
- Likewise, … is also a worrying sign that shows emotional turmoil inside a person.

- To help people with depression, we should …

- Moreover, … is also a good step to take when helping people with depression.
- Another measure that we can take is ….
- It is also important for us to … in order to help people who are suffering from depression.

SENTENCE VARIETY
DO NOT START YOUR SENTENCES THE SAME WAY
- The first sign shown by a depressed person …
- Besides, people will also … when they are depressed.
- People who are suffering from depression also ……
- Not only that, instead of … they also …….
- We can also recognize people with depression when they …
- … is also another sign of being depressed
- Moreover, please be worried when your friend or family member begin to ….
- Additionally, you should act when you start seeing them …
- Likewise, … is also a worrying sign that shows emotional turmoil inside a person.

- To help people with depression, we should …

- Moreover, … is also a good step to take when helping people with depression.
- Another measure that we can take is ….
- It is also important for us to … in order to help people who are suffering from depression.
SENTENCE VARIETY PRACTICE
Depression is a serious but treatable disorder that affects millions of people, from young to old
and from all walks of life, but many are still unaware of it. You decided to write an article to a
magazine on common signs shown by people with depression and tips to help them.

Use the following notes to write your article:

Signs of depression:

- loss of interest in
daily activities

- sleep changes

- withdrawing from
close family and
friends

- anger or irritability

- loss of energy

- reckless behaviour

- difficulty
concentrating

How to help people

with depression:

- be willing to listen

- give positive
reinforcement

- seek professional
help

- make plans
together