TIPS : Writing in English.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

A reader emailed me and asked me about writing in English.

Well, as far as I am concerned, if you are a good reader, you will remember the sentence structures of the piece that you have read. Imagine that you've read several books already and that would be amazing, because, you will be familiarised with the sentence structure. 

But then, in the email, it said that he wanted to know about how I get the ideas to write in English.

Now, writing in English is just the same as writing in other languages. You need to have the knowledge because having enough is not enough nowadays. You need to have more knowledge to become a knowledgeable person.

Let say the question in SPM is about pollution in general. Now, what you need to do is, first, define what pollution is, since pollution has three elements which are air, water and sound, you can write about these three in three different paragraphs. So, plus introduction, you now have four paragraphs. Then, put another paragraph for Hope or Recommendation and now you have five paragraph and add another for the conclusion. Voila, you have a passage worth marking. Haha... seriously. 

See, writing is all about planning. You need to spend at least 5 - 10 minutes for each question to find the points you need to write your passage. How to get solid and strong points? Through reading. Yes, it does not have to be textbooks, but any kind of writing materials. It could be a newspapers, a simple passage or even through you own rational thinking. Who knows right? Even television would be a helping hand in triggering the ideas for you writing but make sure that you watch something that really helpful and informative, not Keeping Up With The Kardashians, okay?

Good luck dear readers for your exam on Monday, right?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: I will write more tips for your sake. Ok?

SPM Literature Component : Short Story : Tanjung Rhu by MinFong Ho.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

In the previous post, I did write about another short story written by Minfong Ho. Now, I will write more on the other elements that you as students need to analyse and also write during the exam.

Setting

As for setting, we divided it into three parts, Physical Setting, Social Setting and Time. For the physical setting, as you read this short story, the physical setting was in Tanjung Rhu, Singapore. Mr.Li had big house and he had big office because he was the owner of a shipyard company. When he was younger, he was living in a hut at Tanjung Rhu with his parents.

Social Setting.

As for the social setting, after read this piece, we can easily say that Mr. Li was living in a rich neighbourhood. The reason why I said that is because Mrs. Li was shown as a woman who happened to have lots of activities including tea parties. Another character mentioned in the story was Mr.Li's son who were studying in Cambrige and his daughter, Ying, who are going to New York soon. And yet, his mum's altar , the big house and their lifestyle reflects their wealth and position in the society.

Time

The time set in the recent past and could be applied to the present times too.

Characters :

As for the characters, they were four people in this story and one was mentioned by the characters but did not appear in this short story. Let us see one by one.

1. Mr. Li

63 years old man who is very rich and owned a shipyard and he just lost his mother. Loves to count the ships at the shipyard. A caring man because he bought  binoculars to his lat mother just because he wanted her mother to see as far as she can. He loved his mother very dearly and she even scolded her daughter Ying for being rough with her. He was torn between traditions and modern ways. Even tough he was a successful man, he still believed in the parents' blessings in finding comfort and strength.

2. Li's mother

A very gentle lady, who has lived so many years and had gone through so many things in her life and now is old and frail. She loved her son very dearly and she did not need anything but loves and cares. She too loved her granddaughter, who is very proud that she can do lots of things. Li's mother was a very well-mannered woman and she hold to the traditions very strong. She strongly believed that custom and traditions need to be hold carefully and respectfully.

3. Helen

Mr.Li's wife and she really enjoys tea parties with her friends which it was very displeasure to Mr. Li.

4. Ying

The daughter of Mr.Li and Helen. A young and modern girl but very kind and understanding. She was very sensitive and she too was trying to build a bridge between her father and mother. 

Themes

1.Traditions and rituals count in life.

2. Love is a wonderful element in live.

3. Material things do not really count.

Moral Values

1.Respect

2. Traditions should be maintained

3. Kindness and consideration matter

Point of View

This story was written in the third person point of view. The whole story was from Mr.Li's eyes.

That is all for now, I will be back with Tone and Mood, Language and Style.

Thank you for reading my writings.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Keep on reading.

SPM Literature Component : Short Story : Tanjung Rhu by MinFong Ho.

Assalmualaikum WBT,

Have you read about Tanjung Rhu by MinFong Ho?

If you haven't, please do. Why? It was one of the short stories in the Literature Component for SPM and one most important thing is, that short story was amazing. I read it and I admit that it took me quite a few readings to understand it, but I managed, so, please, you still have time to read it before the SPM. Hihu...

But then, since I have read the story, I will write about it here, through my understanding of the short story. Tanjung Rhu was written by MinFong Ho and the version that we are using is the retold version by Clare West. Tanjung Rhu is about a family lived in Tanjung Rhu, Singapore. The main character is Mr. Li, who own a big shipyard and he was very rich man. Mr. Li had a mother and his mother died at the beginning of the story. Helen was Mr.Li's wife and Ying is Mr.Li and Helen's daughter. There were on four characters in the short story. 

If you read the story, it was quite intense but you really need to understand what is the gist of the short story. You have to read to understand the story, do not just read the synopsis, no. You have to read all the way. 

I will write more on the about all the things that you need to know about elaborating a short story. Okay?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: I am so sorry, I was too busy with things. 

SPM Literature Component : Leaving by M.G. Vassanji. Read more.

Assalamualaikum WBT and hello everyone.

I noticed that my writings were read by many people who came from various backgrounds. Thank you very much. 

Now, as promised, I will write on Moral Values, Point of View, Tone and Mood, Language and Style and last but not least, Literary Devices.

As you all know that Leaving by M.G. Vassanji is from the book Changing their Skies. Stories from Africa. We are going to jump straight at the topic.

Moral Values : 

1. Thinking rationally.

Rational thinking is important because in this story, Aloo's mother needs to stop being emotional because she needs to put her emotions aside, just to let her mind do all the thinking. Remember when Aloo said that he wanted to go abroad because he wanted to study differently from what his mum has planned for him? Medicine instead of agriculture. But then, after have a deep thought of it, his mother decided to talk to the school officer, Mr. Velji before making the decision. She is shown as a very humble, balanced and yet emotional mother. Well, who does not want the best for their children, right?

2. Paying attention to important things is what bring success to Aloo.

As told in the story, Aloo is a very hard-working and smart student. He passed all the exams with flying colours. Why? It is because he is talented, gifted and yet very hard-working student. He listened to his teachers. He too read all the brochures about the university that he wanted to go, in America. The land where dream comes true.

3. Be a responsible person

The moral values of responsibility can be found anywhere in the short story IF you read it carefully understood the story and you can relate it to your lives. Trust me, it would make a lot better. Let say, you take the example of Aloo's mother of being responsible to her children or Aloo being responsible of being a student at school. You can elaborate simple based on that. Connect the dots, okay?

Point of View :

Leaving was told by Aloo's sister, remember that right? It was in first person point of view. It is the family relationships through her eyes.

Tone and Mood :

Heartwarming is the tone for this story and it generally reflects the love and care the family members have for each other. The mood is positive and optimistic. The main character also hopes to have better future and one day he will comeback to his hometown and take care of his mother. Now, usually in the SPM question, it needs you to put some examples and do not hesitate to put some example from you point of view, okay?

Language and Style :

After you read Leaving by M.G. Vassanji, you will find that the author was using basically simple and direct language. Easy to understand.

Literary Devices :

The famous Literary Devices used by authors are Imagery, Simile and also Symbolism, but you can choose any from many Literary Devices that you know but you have to put the example. Find it for yourself but here I will write a few for your reference.

1. Imagery

Descriptive words create interesting and vivid images in the reader's mind.

E.G.

"Wild land, with tall trees and at night it felt lonely, frightening place." (Page 32)

"An exciting new world was waiting or him." (Page 33)

Simile

A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind.

E.G.

"He had a large head, which looked like an egg". (Page 36)

"He walked in like a soldier...". (Page 36)

IronyThe expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect or in other words, sarcasm.

E.G.

Aloo's mother refers to Aloo's uncles in America who will pay for the university fees. (Page 32,34)

Now, Aloo's mother was being sarcastic and Aloo did not have uncles or relatives in the USA and the reason why she said that because, she was trying to cover her sadness because she does not have money to pay for the college.

Tips for SPM in answering the questions.

1. You need to read and understand the story and also the gist of the story. Do not neglect that.

2. You need to understand the pages, well, at least a few of it.

3. You CANNOT LEAVE blank answer sheet. PLEASE, write anything that related to the questions. Anything.

4. Be prepared.

5. Read.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Good luck for your SPM dear readers.

p/s: Keep reading and understand the concept then you will be able to answer the questions.

1st Year BEN UniSZA 2008/2009

Assalamualaikum WBT,

How do you my dear readers?

Now, while I was driving later this afternoon, I was thinking about my first year in UniSZA. It was in 2008. 7 years ago. Time really flew. Huhuhu... I can not catch it. Ever.

But, I still remember the people who I first met during my first day. I was alone. In a land where things were so different. They were. Very different. I still remember how awkward the situation was when I was given the wrong key to the temporary room. They gave me the female dorm's key. Stupid they were indeed, but I cannot blame them for being confused with me. Hahaha... No, I was not even confusing to others, no.

Then, we were moved from the temporary rooms to the real ones. NOW, I was thinking, what it they were just trying to make us bring out baggage just to see us suffer from carrying all those bags. Hahaha... 

Then, I entered the class and in the class, we came from every sort of lives, trust me but the majority of the students were the ex-TESL students from the same faculty. Well, now you know. To be honest, the class was divided to several groups, the Ex-Tesl students, the STPM students, the 2nd intake, the 3rd intake and the pulled-in students. No bad people or terms and I will explain later.

1. Ex-TESL students

These students were the ex-TESL from the same faculty, Faculty of Languages and Communication but before UniSZA became UniSZA, it was Pusat Bahasa during KUSZA time. Diploma in TESL was offered for the students and that was where ex-TESL students came from. They were nice, yes. Some of them were good.

2. The STPM students

This was my group. Haha, I was too a STPM student who came just because I managed to get Band 2 (Upper) and my SPM was A2. Haha, my STPM result was not that good but I managed to get to university, talking about rezeki. I am grateful. Grateful indeed. We were the STPM students who happened to have potential but most of us not really know what English was. Haha, awkward. To be honest, I was not a good student before and I did not know how to speak using English language, but I learned. Now, alhamdulillah, we at least after 4 years, I am able to know some rules and grammar in English language, well, at least the simple ones. 

3.  The 2nd, 3rd and so one intakes

Even though they were 2nd or 3rd intakes, now, they ware scattered around Malaysia doing amazingly. For example, Dean, he is now a full time lecturer in UNIMAS and he has finished studying for his Master's Degree. Another is Fauzan, he is now in Terengganu and he was doing amazingly. I could not be proud with them. Amazing.

4.  The pulled-in students

As far as I am concerned, there were three pulled-ins, they were the late Shirazi, Nadhirah and also Fauzan. Why the heck, I called them the pulled-in, right? Now, the Dean at time was Madam Azizah Endut, I really heard rumours that she pulled some guns to get my friends in and to be honest, she really made a great choice because now, Nadhirah was not only the best student in the Batch, she is now a Master's Degree holder and a businesswoman. Beat that peaches. Haha, and Fauzan. I cannot be proud of him anymore. He is one of my bestfriends, he is amazingly great. Great human being, great person. Enuff said.

During my first year, I did quite okay, I managed to get 3.00 and 2.99 respectively for the two terms. At first, to be honest, my English structure was like, "What the heck" level, then I managed to get it fixed by learning more from friends and my own initiative. Love it. Haha.... 

My first was great and I managed to get along with great friends. Love it.

My innocence year.

1st year BEN UniSZA 2008/2009.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: I will write on my years more later on.

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia 2015.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Hi SPM students, how do you do? Are you ready for SPM 2015?

Now, for English subject, the papers will be on 3rd November 2015, both 1 and 2 Papers.

And, ARE YOU READY? WITH ALL THE EXERCISES AND PREPARATION?

I really hope you are because, it is less that 10 days, and it is 8 days to be exact.

Now, for the last tips, how can you be more prepared for both Papers?

I really hope you can focus more on the Literature Components because it is not that difficult to be mastered and to be answered. All you need to do is read, understand the items in the particular things and apply it to your own sense.

If I were the examiners, I will look at this qualities because apply things that you understand is better than copy things but we are in the world where answers on paper is more like photocopy. We need to perfectly copied things to get A., right? haha, better that way , I guessed.

So, remember your answers.

Good luck and I will try giving you more last minute tips.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Good luck guys.

Writing in English Language.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

I actually have one question to asked to all my readers,

"When you started writing, what did you do first?"

Well, now, when I started writing, I will think about the ending of my writing. Why? It is because, the ending is the best part. That is why you need to think about the ending first. But, the first thing ever, you need to jot down all of the possibilities of your passage.

You need to think about the points that you want to put in your passage. Let say, you passage is about Your Dream. Therefore, you need to write about your dream and also you need to think what inspires your dream. Let say, you want to be a soldier, then, you have to identify the person/situation/spirit that inspires you in becoming a soldier. You need think about all the points and in the end, the ending must be amazing.

But if it is quite different when you write something formal. You need to at least draft the format. Let say, you were given a task on writing a formal letter to your classroom teacher because you need to take a day off. Now, what you need to think about the appropriate reasons that would support your writing. Then you need to think about the date, days and explanation on the reason that you wrote. 

So, it is the same with Bahasa, you need to think about the format that suitable for your writing. 

Now, is that all clear? I think yes for now, I do not want to put your mind into something that too far for your thoughts. Later on in my next entries, I will write more on this okay?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: hope you get something from my writings.