PROGRAM PENINGKATAN 2Q PMR 2012

ANSWERING TECHNIQUES FOR ENGLISH 12/2

In order to get an A

• Students must score at least 35/ 40 for paper 1• Students must score at least 37/ 50 for paper 2• Suggestions, students must at least score• 15 marks for section A• 12 marks for section B• 10 marks for section C

In order to pass (a D)- Students must score at least 20/40 for paper 1- Students must score at least 20/50 for paper 2- Suggestions for paper 2

Section A – 12 marksSection B - 5 marksSection C - 5 marks 22 marks

In order to get at least 15 marks, a student’s essay must at least fulfill these criteria• Ideas developed with sufficient details• Vocabulary is apt• Able to use variety of sentence structure• Interest is arouse

An A

essay

Ideas and Details

Well-developed

LanguageAnd

MechanicOf writing Is accurate

SentenceStructures

VariedAnd

effective

Vocabularyis

wideInteresting

To read

BRAINSTORMING FOR IDEAS

How to find ideas?

1. Find the words related to the given words

2. Observe the picture and list the things that can be seen-what can you see? ( a car, a boy, a family..etc)

3.Utilize all the words and information given in the picture.Father… mother..children chatting, a car..

Sample answer Section A ( PMR 2007)

The usual cliche start

During the holidays, Johan and his family travelled to Melaka to attend a wedding. They went there by car. In the car, there were his father, Encik Jamil, his mother, Puan Sara, Johan and his younger sister, Lily.

Comments-sentences not varied-lack elaboration and details-vocabulary too simple.-safe writing but not interesting.And most probably…Almost all students with average command of English write the same thing. It’s not interesting!

Sample 1 : Using description

They started their journey very early in the morning that day. Mother said they were going to a cousin’s wedding in Sungai Petani, Kedah. The thought of four to five hours of travelling in a cramped car with his two younger siblings not only disturbed him but added headache to his already reluctant mood.

No school

Free time

relax Family activity

camping

trip

vacation

holiday

Sample 2: Using quotation/saying/proverbs

Experience is the best teacher. One might not understand the meaning of this saying unless he experiences it himself. That was what had happened to Johan and his family. On that day, what started as an ordinary journey to attend a wedding had turned out to be a life-time experience for this one happy family and surely something which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

Sample 3: Using dialogues

“ Dad, how far more is the place?” Johan’s restless little sister was asking the same question over and over again.

It had been a three-hour non-stop journey and boredom was clearly seen on everybody’s face. Johan’s family was traveling to Melaka to attend a cousin’s wedding. What began as an exciting trip turned exhausting as the clock ticked but they were yet to reach the bride’s house.

REMEMBER1) Give an interesting title to the story.2) Start the essay with an interesting introduction. This will give a good impression of the

essay.3) Make sure the students use the right and consistent tense in the essay.4) Include a moral value if possible.5) To gain some merits ( which could push the band higher), students should know how to

use idiomatic expressions such as proverbs, similes, figurative words…etc6) Avoid spelling mistakes because it is a serious error if repeated and occurs to common

words.

Past year questions

2005 - description/report 2006 - informal letter 2007 - story 2008 - speech 2009 - article for school magazine 2010 - story 2011 - opinion/making a choice

SECTION B : LITERATURE BASED ON POEMS AND NOVELS

1.Section B has 2 parts : Question 1 : Poem Question 2 : Novel

2.Question 1 The question will be based on one of these poems.

- A Fighter’ Line by Marzuki Ali- Leisure by William Henry Davies- The River by Valerie Bloom- Mr. Nobody by Author Unknown- Heir Conditioning by M. Shanmughalingam- I Wonder by Jeannie Kirby

3. Question 2This section requires candidate to write a short essay and give a simple personal response.

A candidate’s response should come from ONE novel only.

Outline suggestion1.Should start by mentioning the title of the novel and the author.2. Write a brief synopsis3. State the answer.4. Cite evidence Cite at least two (2) evidence5.Conclude your answer by summarizing the evidence.

SAMPLE ANSWER FOR SECTION B (PMR 2008)

Choose one of the novels, then write about an incident that you think is important. Give reasons why you think the incident is important.Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

1. The novel – How I met myself2. Brief synopsis of `how I met myself3. The incident – When John Taylor first met his doppelganger.4. Evidence 1) This incident changed John Taylor. He started to find out more about the man and

spent more time at Gergely Utca Café.5. Evidence 2) This incident affected John’s relationship with his wife.

Remember• To elaborate and give the details for the reasons.• Use simple sentences and avoid from making grammatical and structural mistakes.• If the students are not sure of a fact, don’t write about it.• Make sure the spelling of the characters’ name are correct.

Past year questions2005 - Moral value (Honesty/responsibility)2006 - Like/dislike the ending2007 - characters, cooperate to gain success.2008 - important incident2009 - characters/friendship2010 - a positive quality of a character2011 - an event that makes you unhappy

SECTION C: SUMMARY

1)Awarding of marksContent – 5 marksLanguage – 5 marksTotal - 10 marks

2)The summary will be assessed based on the following:

a)Ability to identify main content.b)Ability to write the main content using own words without changing the original meaning.

3)Things to remember

1)To use the 10 words ( introductory line) given and make sure the spellings are correct.2)Omit the examples3)Do not include unnecessary details like explanations, repetitions or long-winded explanations.(check – such as, for instance, like)4)Check the pronoun to be used (I, you, she, he).5)Do not exceed the word limit. (do not exceed 60 words)

4)REMEMBER

If the summary is longer than the words allowed, the candidate might have included irrelevant points.

If the summary is too short, a candidate might have missed out important points.

TO EARN MAXIMUM MARKS FOR SUMMARY

1.REARRANGE THE SENTENCEThis hobby enriches one’s geographical and historical knowledge of a country.

(Arranged as)

One’s geographical and historical knowledge of a country can be enriched.

2. REPLACE SOME WORDS WITH SYNONYMSThis would enhance family ties.

This would improve family ties.

(but make sure the new word does not change the meaning or the idea presented by the content point).

3.ADD LINKERSCollecting coins enables us to widen our circle of friends and enhance our family ties.(arrange the points as they appear in the original text)

Example of linkers : First, Second, Next, Furthermore, Besides, also, In addition.

REMEMBER• To use simple and precise sentences to present your content points.• To write the number of words.• Do not exceed the word limit.

MISTAKES STUDENTS DO IN EXAMINATION

WRONG RIGHT

1 Spelling of pronouns i , u I, you

2 Stringing To combine more than 3 simple sentences in a sentence.

Example,Today I helped my mother to do the gardening and I also helped her to cook for lunch and then we took a break and we got ready to watch a movie at a cinema in Alamanda.

Not to write lengthy sentences and try to keep them simple.

Today, I helped my mother to do the gardening. I also helped her to cook for lunch. Then, we took a break. Later, we got ready to watch a movie at a cinema in Alamanda.

3 The use of contraction

I’m, don’t, couldn’t

Contractions are only used in dialogues and informal letter. At other times use ‘I am, do not, could not, etc

4 Modals and also also can, also will..etc

can also, will also..etc

5 ‘I’ used with a group of people

I and my family…I and my friends…

My family and I….My friends and I…

6 The use of ‘etc’ To write ‘etc’ ‘and others’

SECTION A

WORKSHEET 1 (A)Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

Introduction(topic sentence)

Elaboration 1( further detail about the topic)

Elaboration 2(examples, more details)

Conclusion

Paragraph 2

Introduction(topic sentence)

Elaboration 1( further detail about the topic)

Elaboration 2(examples, more details)

Conclusion

Paragraph 3

Introduction(topic sentence)

Elaboration 1( further detail about the topic)

Elaboration 2(examples, more details)

Conclusion

Paragraph 4

Introduction(topic sentence)

Elaboration 1( further detail about the topic)

Elaboration 2(examples, more details)

Conclusion

Paragraph 5 (Closure)

Introduction(topic sentence)

Elaboration 1( further detail about the topic)

Elaboration 2(examples, more details)

Conclusion

Paragraph Content

Introduction

1st paragraph

2nd paragraph

3rd paragraph

Closure

WORKSHEET 1(B)WORKSHEET 2 (A)

LITERATURE

Based on the novel that you have learnt , ________________________________________________

Provide evidence from the novel to support your answer.

NOVELAUTHOR

BRIEF SYNOPSIS

STATEMENT( character, incident, place, moral value, theme, lesson)

The character/place/incident that I think important is….

The moral value/ theme/ lesson/ message that I learn from the novel is….

I like/dislike the ending/beginning/character/incident because…..

Evidence 1

Elaboration (E.1)

Evidence 2

Elaboration (E.2)

Evidence 3(optional)

Elaboration (E.3)

Conclusion

WORKSHEET 2(B)

LITERATURE

Based on the novel that you have learnt, write about a character that interest you the most

Provide evidence from the novel to support your answer.

NOVEL How I met myself

AUTHOR David A Hill

BRIEF SYNOPSIS

This story is about John Taylor, an Englishman who worked in Budapest. One day as he was walking home from work, he met a man who looked exactly like him. He felt that the man was connected to him. In the end, he found out that the man was his doppelganger, a ghost from the past who came to help him saved his family.

QUESTION( character, incident, place, moral value, theme, lesson)

The character that interest me the most in the story is John Taylor.

Evidence 1 First, I like John Taylor because he is a very determined person.

Elaboration

(E.1)

After he accidentally met his doppelganger, he set his mind to find the truth. He returned to

the place he found the man and waited almost every day in the hope that he would meet

him. He asked people and searched through newspaper article about a man named Janos

Szabo, who had lived at the place in 1945. His determination paid off and he understood

why the doppelganger came to find him.

Evidence 2 Besides, he is also a brave person.

Elaboration

(E.2)

He thought he had found a ghost, nevertheless, he goes all out to find out the truth. Not

many people are brave enough to face such encounter. He was also brave enough to go into

the burning café to save his wife.

Conclusion All in all, not only John Taylor a determined person, he is also

brave .These characteristics make him a very admirable person and

that is why I admire him.

HOW I MET MYSELF

DAVID A. HIL

QUESTIONS

1. The name of the main character in the novel is _________________________

2. He is a _______________ ____________________ from _________________ but was working in

____________________ . He has a wife named _____________ and a daughter named

_______________ .

3. One day while he was walking home from work, he was knocked down onto the snow by a man. The

name of the street where the incident happened was ________________________________.

4. The main looked like ___________ _____________. He even believed that the man not only looked

like him, but it was him! The man was his ____________________ .

5. Since then, ____________ _____________ waited for his ______________________ in front of a door,

number _______________, _____________ _________________ .But nothing happened.

6. He was ______________ and _________________ and later he decided to tell Andrea about it.

7. John Taylor learned the meaning of Doppelganger. Doppelganger is a ____________ word that means

_______________ or _______________, a ghostly double of a person who comes to give

_________________ about danger or to offer _____________. It can only be seen by its `

___________’. However, it can sometimes be seen by somebody close if it has an important message.

8. The next year, on the same date, _____________________ , John Taylor decided to take Andrea to

Thirteenth District because he was sure that the same incident will happen.

9. Just as he expected, the same thing happened. The man knocked him down but Andrea didn’t see him.

She just saw him fell onto the snow.

10. John Taylor decided to find out about what happened between 12 and 25 January. He found out that

on ________________, a Russian bomb had hit a __________ ___________ building but didn’t

exploded. However it destroyed the cellar, killing a young mother and her daughter. The woman’s

name was Mrs Szabo.

11. John Taylor went to ____________ _____________ at met a lady called ________________. She

remembered a man called _____________ _______________ who had lost his wife and daughter.

12. A year passed. JohnTaylor found out that Janos means `__________’ in Jerman and Szabo is

`____________’.

13. John found out from the ____________ _______________ _____________ that Janos Szabo had lived

in Felka Utca in ___________ and died in ____________. They had the same birth date which is on

___________________ . he also found out that their wives and daughters names were also the same.

14. On 18th January that year, a fire broke out at ___________ ___________ where Andrea was working.

Now John understood that his ____________ had come to warn him about the tragedy.

15. John Taylor and Andrea was lucky that his doppelganger had come to safe Andrea and his daughter,

Kati.

(PMR 2007)

SUMMARY WORKSHEET 3 (A)

LINKERS/ CONTENT POINTSSEQUENCE CONNECTORS

1. __________________ __________________________________________________________

2.___________________ _________________________________________________________

3.___________________ _________________________________________________________

4.___________________ _________________________________________________________

5.___________________ _________________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL CONTENT POINT

6.__________________ __________________________________________________________

7.__________________ __________________________________________________________

8.__________________ __________________________________________________________

WRITE THE POINTS INTO A PARAGRAPH (write the introductory line into the first 10 boxes)

( words)

WORKSHEET 3 (B)

SUMMARY

LINKERS/ CONTENT POINTSSEQUENCE CONNECTORS

1. First __________ the taxi driver greeted him with a warm smile______________

2. and _________ he was kind enough to recommend places of interest_________

3. Besides__________ Andrew travelled around the country._____________________

4. Furthermore____ he had the opportunity to be with the locals _

5. and____________ enjoy home-cooked dishes_______________________________

ADDITIONAL CONTENT POINT

6. Lastly_____________ he was truly touched by their friendliness and hospitality____

7.___________________ the way people of different races and religions live peacefully.

8.___________________ ____________________________________________________

WRITE THE POINTS INTO A PARAGRAPH

Andrew visited Malaysia and he was

impressed with Malaysia because first, the

taxi driver greeted him with a

warm smile and was also kind

enough to recommend places of interest.

Besides, Andrew travelled around the country

and had the chance to be

with the locals and enjoy home-cooked

dishes. Furthermore, he was truly touched

by their friendliness and hospitality.

( 59 words )

AZILAH

LIST OF EXPRESSION

For reports1. We put our best foot forward to make the event a success. (buat habis baik)

2. Our school had been looking forward to the event since early of the year.( menunggu-nunggu).3. The event kicked off on the dot. (tepat seperti yang dirancang)4. Our team was in the limelight since we were the strongest. ( popular, terkenal)5. We took part by playing the game fair and square. (adil)6. We work hard around the clock to make sure nothing goes wrong during the celebration. ( tanpa

henti)7. 3 Amanah stands out during the competition because they win most of the competitions.

(cemerlang).8. We were all ears listening to the principal’s speech. ( tekun mendengar)9. We were all eyes watching the game. ( tekun menonton)10. It was a red- letter day for our school. (hari yang penting)11. Next, we carried on with our next activity. ( teruskan)12. The best will be achieved if you put your heart and soul into it. (usaha dengan tekun)13. Everybody got their hands dirty to make sure the school compound is spick and span. (membanting

tulang)( bersih)14. Everybody was as busy as a bumblebee . (sangat sibuk)

For informal letter1. I hope you are in the pink. ( sihat)2. My family and I are as fit as a fiddle. (sangat sihat)3. I am feeling a bit under the weather. (tidak berapa sihat)4. I have to pen off now. ( berhenti menulis)5. I am looking forward to your reply. ( menunggu-nunggu).6. Do keep in touch! (Teruskan berhubung)

Sequence connectors1. In a nutshell , exercise is more important than diet. ( kesimpulannya)2. In the long run , we will succeed if we work hard. (Akhirnya)3. In a twinkling of an eye, the money disappeared. ( Sekejap sahaja)4. First and foremost, we have to consume a balanced diet.5. Last but not least, I want to remind all of you to be alert of your surrounding.

Feelings1. I was over the moon when he proposed to me. (sangat gembira)2. I was on cloud nine when I knew I was the champion. (gembira)3. I feel sorry for your loss .( simpati)4. You drive me up the wall! ( sangat marah)5. I had butterflies in my stomach. ( sangat nervous, gemuruh)6. I was dead beat. ( sangat penat)7. I am feeling on top of the world! ( sangat gembira)8. Take things easy ! (Rileks)9. I almost blew my top when I knew he cheated during the test. ( sangat marah)10. The scenery took our breath away. ( terpegun)11. With heavy heart, we had to leave our house because the flood water was rising. ( dengan berat hati)12. Why are you at sixes and sevens about the matter?( berbelah-bahagi)13. You broke my heart.( patah hati)14. I feel at ease. ( rasa selesa).

15. I was taken aback by your behavior ( sedih)16. Before the contest, she got cold feet.( takut).17. You got on my nerve ! ( buat saya marah)

Examination1. The examination is just around the corner ( sangat hampir)2. Students have to give their arms and legs to succeed in the examination. (berusaha keras)3. Do not study at the eleventh hour ( last minute)4. I have to step up my revision because I don’t have much time before the examination. ( percepatkan)5. She was so busy during the day. So, she decided to burn the midnight oil to do her revision.6. I want to pass with flying colours in my examination so I can further my study at a good university.