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: Describe a family member who has inspired you.

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: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4XXq17ISVH3ed6eGFMeCVvMH5DhI-xao61y_O_yAhpqCYB2FVuA

Example: loving, caring, dark hair, straight nose

caring

My Father

loving

dark hair

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Read the sample essay below.

QUESTION: Describe a family member who has inspired you.

My name is Haziq Aiman bin Abdullah. I am 17 years old. I am staying in Bandar

Saujana Utama. I was born in Petaling Jaya. My date of birth is on 16th of September
2001. I study at SMK Saujana Utama. I have five siblings. I have two brothers and two
sisters. My father is a mechanic and my mother is a housewife. The family member who
inspires me is my father.

My father’s name is Abdullah bin Ahmad. He is 45 years old. He was born in

Malacca. My father is lanky and handsome. He has a straight nose and dark hair. He is
very kind. He likes to eat chicken fried rice. His hobby is fishing.

My father inspires me because he works diligently for our family. My father is

working in Subang Jaya. He goes to work at 7 a.m. and comes back at 6.00 p.m. He
works far from home, but he never complains. He is a very dedicated man. That is why
he inspires me a lot.

My father is a loving and kind man. He buys food and clothes for us. He also helps
my mother to wash the dishes and helps us with our homework. He is the reason why I
can complete my homework every day. He also buys presents for our birthdays although
he does not have a lot of money.

In conclusion, a family member who inspires me is my father. I want to grow up

to be just like him.

(250 words)

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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 Synonyms
Words Idiomatic Examples of use
context
Expressions
1 inspire to make • motivate • inspire She motivated us
someone feel • persuade someone with with heroic stories.
they want to • encourage something
do something You inspire
and can do it. • inspire patriotism in me.
something in
someone

2 lanky tall and thin • slender • lanky kid The lanky kid
and move • slim transformed almost
rather • lean overnight into a
awkwardly • skinny handsome young
• bony man.

3 handsome good-looking, • fine-looking • handsome is I know you don't

especially in • good- as handsome think he's very
having looking does good-looking, but
regular, • attractive he's just the nicest
pleasing, and • gorgeous guy, and
well-defined • stunning handsome is as
features • elegant handsome does.
• personable
Johnny is in a bit
• high, wide, of a bad mood, but
and just give him a new
handsome toy to play with
and he will be
high, wide, and
handsome again in
no time.

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 A B C D E
No. Phrases/
Meaning in Synonyms
Words Idiomatic Examples of use
context
Expressions
4 kind having or • concerned • kind-hearted She is a kind-
showing a • considerate person hearted teacher as
friendly, • benevolent she likes to help
generous, poor students in
sympathetic, her school.
or warm-
hearted
nature.

5 hobby An activity or • pastime • ride (one's) Once grandpa rides

interest • leisure hobby-horse his hobby-horse
pursued • pursuit about fishing,
outside one's there's no stopping
regular him!
occupation
and engaged
in primarily
for pleasure.

6 diligently steady • conscientious • in a diligent He is a very

attention and • hardworking manner dedicated worker.
effort that is • tireless He does his job in
undertaken to a diligent manner.
accomplish
something

7 complains To express • grumbles • complain If you love your job

feelings of • whines about so much, quit
dissatisfaction complaining about
it.

• complain of The patient came

into the clinic
complaining of
stomach pain.

• complain to If you complain to

the teacher, your
phone will be
taken away.

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 A B C D E
No. Phrases/
Meaning in Synonyms
Words Idiomatic Examples of use
context
Expressions
8 dedicated wholly • purposeful • dedicate to The song was
committed to • committed someone dedicated to me.
a cause • devoted
• dedicate to He devoted
something himself to writing
songs.
9 loving feeling, • caring • tender loving Children just need
showing, or • affectionate care a little tender
indicating love loving care and
and affection they'll be happy.

10 presents things that are • gifts • make I'll make you a

bestowed someone a present of your
voluntarily and present of class.
without something
compensation

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

QUESTION: Describe a family member who has inspired you.

My name is Haziq Aiman bin Abdullah. I am 17 years old. I am staying in

Bandar Saujana Utama. I was born in Petaling Jaya. My date of birth is on 16th of
September 2001. I study at SMK Saujana Utama. I have five siblings. I have two
brothers and two sisters. My father is a mechanic and my mother is a housewife.
The family member who ___________ me is my father.

My father’s name is Abdullah bin Ahmad. He is 45 years old. He was born in

Malacca. My father is ___________ and ___________. He has a straight nose and
dark hair. He is very _______. He likes to eat chicken fried rice. His _________ is
fishing.

My father inspires me because he works _________for our family. My father

is working in Subang Jaya. He goes to work at 7 a.m. and comes back at 6.00 p.m.
He works far from home but he never ___________. He is a very ___________man.
That is why he inspires me a lot.

My father is a ________ and kind man. He buys food and clothes for us. He
also helps my mother to wash the dishes and helps us with our homework. He is the
reason why I can complete my homework every day. He also buys ____________ for
our birthdays although he does not have a lot of money.

In conclusion, a family member who inspires me is my father. I want to grow

up to be just like him.

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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 for
Practice
Expansion

Fill in the blanks with My name is ___________________________________.

information about I am ____________ years old. I am staying in
yourself. ________________. I was born in ________________. My
Introduction

date of birth is _____________. I study at

___________________________. I have ____________
siblings. I have _____________brothers and
_____________ sisters. My father is a _______________
and my mother is a ____________________. The family
member who inspires me is my father.

Fill in the blanks with My father’s name is _______________________. He is

information about your ___________ years old. He was born in ___________ My
Body 1

father. father is _________, ____________ and _____________.

He has a __________ and ___________ hair. He is
Add details: ___________. He likes to eat ____________. His hobby
a. When does he do his is _____________________________________________
hobby? (a) ____________________________________________
b. Why does he like his (b) ____________________________________________
hobby? _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

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 Column 1 Column 2
Parts

Questions/Notes for
Practice
Expansion

Fill in the blanks with My father inspires me because he works hard for our
Body 2

information about your family. My father is working in_____________________.

father. (a) ____________________________________________
He goes to work at _________________ and comes back
Add details: at _______________. He works far from home, but he
a. How does he go to never complains. (b) ______________________________
work? _______________________________________________
b. Why does he never That is why he inspires me a lot.
complain?

Add details: My father is a _________________ and kind man. He

a. How does that make buys food and clothes for us. He also helps my mother
you feel? to wash the dishes and helps us with our homework. He
Body 3

is the reason why I can complete my homework every

day. He also buys ________________ for our birthdays
although he does not have a lot of money. (a) ________
_______________________________________________

What values have you In conclusion, I have learnt a lot of from my father.
learnt from your father? _______________________________________________
Conclusion

_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

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Now you are ready to write another 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.

Describe someone you know who does well in life. Write about his/her achievements and
explain how he/she has overcome the challenges in life.

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