WRITING....

DEAR MR. KILMER.... 2018

Question 1
Using the details from the novel that you have studied, write about the character who deserves sympathy.
With close reference to the text, give reasons for your decision?

Sample answer

The novel that I studied was ‘Dear Mr Kilmer’ by Anne Schraff. The character who deserves sympathy is Richard.. He had a problem to tell people that he wrote poetry. This was the right decision for him eventhough it was hard for him to do so and I felt sympathy for him because he was alone facing the difficulty.

Richard Knight had a secret. Nobody knew that he wrote poetry including his family, teachers and schoolmates. One day, Richard learnt about Mr Kilmer when Richard’s English teacher, Mrs Hansen read a poem to the class. The title of the poem was “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer. Mr Kilmer was a famous poet. He enlisted in the army. He wrote a letter to Mr Kilmer. In his letter, Richard told Mr Kilmer that he wrote poems too.Richard asked for Mr Kilmer’s advice. He wanted to know whether he should tell his secret to everybody.

A few days later, Richard received a letter from Mr Kilmer. Mr Kilmer advised Richard to overcome his fear. Mr Kilmer advised Richard to share his poetry with people around him. Nobody was interested when Richard told his family about Mr Kilmer’s letter and his secret. Gus did not believe that Mr Kilmer was famous.Pa did not believe that Richard wrote poetry. Richard asked whether his family members wanted to read his poems. Nobody was interested. Richard was sad.

The next day, Richard told Mrs Hansen that he wrote poetry. He showed her Mr Kilmer’s letter. Mrs Hansen helped Richard to choose a poem. Richard would send the poem to Mr Kilmer. As advised by Mrs Hansen, Richard shared Mr Kilmer’s latest letter and his poem with the class. Some of his classmates, including Blanche and Peggy, were deeply moved by his poem. They started to respect Richard. Hannah suggested a different ending to Richard’s poem.

In conclusion, Richard was a brave boy when he decided to tell his secrets to everyone. Eventhough he deservesd sympathy from us, he managed to handle and solve the problem successfully. We should make Richard as an example in our life.

Question 2 (SPM 2015 à Similar to SPM 2007)

Suggest one character in the novel you have read who you think is a good role model for teenagers.

Briefly describe the character and give reasons for your choice with close reference to the text.

Sample answer

he novel that I read was ‘Dear Mr Kilmer’ by Anne Schraff. A good role model for teenagers was Richard. Richard was 15 years old. He was tall, pale and slender. Richard was Mr Knight’s son. He was Angie and Gus’s younger brother. He was Mr Kilmer’s penpal and Hannah’s best friend. He loved poetry. There were three reasons why I chose Richard.

Firstly, he was kind. One day, Mrs Hansen asked her class to sign a card for the Schermers. Someone vandalised the tavern owned by Hannah’s parents. They painted “Dirty Huns” all over the walls. Mrs Hansen brought a card to express regret for what had happened. The troublemakers like Abner, Harry, Blanche and Peggy refused to sign the card. They warned other classmates not to sign the card. The boys were afraid Abner and Harry would hit them. The girls worry that popular girls like Peggy and Blanche would not speak to them. However, Richard was the only student who signed the sympathy card for Hannah Schermer. After school, Richard took the card from Mrs Hansen. He wanted to give the card to Hannah. Hannah accepted the card reluctantly. Later, Hannah apologised to Richard for being rude. This was the beginning of their friendship.

Secondly, Richard was brave. This was shown when Richard told his family he wrote poetry. Before telling his secret to his family, Richard wrote a letter to Mr Kilmer. Mr Kilmer was Richard’s penpal. Richard learnt about Mr Kilmer when Richard’s English teacher, Mrs Hansen read a poem to the class. The title of the poem was “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer. In his letter, Richard told Mr Kilmer that he wrote poems too. However, he kept this as a secret from everyone.Richard asked for Mr Kilmer’s advice. He wanted to know whether he should tell his secret to everybody. One day, Richard received a letter from Mr Kilmer. Mr Kilmer advised Richard to overcome his fear. Mr Kilmer advised Richard to share his poetry with people around him. Nobody was interested when Richard told his family about Mr Kilmer’s letter and his secret. Gus did not believe that Mr Kilmer was famous.Pa did not believe that Richard wrote poetry. Richard asked whether his family members wanted to read his poems. Nobody was interested. Richard was sad. Gus advised Richard not tell anyone he wrote poetry. He wanted Richard to fit in with other people. Everyone called him a Hun Lover after he signed the card for Hannah.

Thirdly, he was supportive. Hannah and Richard won the roles of Lady Liberty and the Doughboy respectively because they wrote the best essays. Mrs Hansen asked the class to write an essay as one of the activities for a patriotic programme which helped sell Liberty bonds. Many students were angry when Hannah won the role. They regarded Hannah as an unpatriotic German although she was an American citizen. Hannah told Richard that her essay started a little war in Turtle lake. She did not want to cause any more problems. So she declined the role of Lady Liberty. Richard wanted to support Hannah. Therefore,Richard declined his part as the Doughboy. His family, his schoolmates and the Turtle Lake People criticized him for turning down his role. They called him unpatriotic and a traitor. These criticisms never stopped Richard from standing up for what was right.

In conclusion, Richard was a good role model for teenagers because he had good personalities.

Good luck Guys.....

NARRATIVE ESSAY FOR SPM

Write story ending with: "...That is the reward for my patience and hardwork,"

        No guts no glory. No pain no gain. Those are my life mottos. I feel that nothing can be achieved by simply sitting and doing absolutely nothing to make dreams come true. Life can be so hard especially when you are not born with silver spoon in your mouth. It is also the time when true friends are hard to come by just because you do not much money to treat them at Kentucky Fried Chicken or Burger King. That is something that I have experienced ever since my family moves to this metropoilitan city and I study in the new school.

        In my new school I study hard to complete with all my fellow classmates who come from all walks of life but most are from rich background. They have all that I have ever wanted in my life but fail to get. They can buy branded shoes and clothes, unlike my worn out Bata. They afford the latest hand phone brands with the latest technology but me? There is nothing I could do to be on par with them. So, I just let them show off their fancy gadgets without feeling remorse with the fact that I am only an ordinary student coming from a family clerk. I just feel sad that they act as if I do not have feelings. I do not feel the least discourage since I know that I can also be like them one day if I work hard enough to score in my SPM exam.

        Day after day, night after night, I do not to do anything else but concentrate on my studies. Spm examination is just around the corner and I have no other wish apart from wanting to pass Spm with Flying colours. My parents are my inspirations. They always remind me to work hard and hang our fate, make them proud as well as prove to everybody that a son of a plain clerk can also succeed in life and deserve some respect. At times, I feel so stressed out that I almost give up and cry. Nevertheless, thinking of my parent's hope and wishes, I would never surrender and that is my final decision. I engage myself in group discussion, have consultations with my Physics and Chemistry teachers, the two subjects that I am weak at as well as burn as much midnight oil as possible to attain my ultimate goal -10A+ in the exam. Sometimes, I feel overworked myself but I know I have to muster every single once of my strength to pull through this ordeal and pray that it will end soon.

        The most awaited moment has arrived. With prayers and good luck wishes from my father and mother, I step into my examination hall with full awareness that I have to do really well in the exam to realize all my parent's dreams and mine. The torturous moments last for three weeks and as far as I am concerned time really flies but I trust myself that I have given my very best for each paper.

        March 2013 comes I heard on the television that the SPM result will be out today. With anticipation and nervousness I walked to school with my good friend, Samah. I could not imagine getting less than 8A+ because according to my counselor, only getting 8A+ will I be able to secure any scholarship, something which is very important to me due to my parent's incapability to pay for my tertiary education. The moment Ms. Asiah, my form teacher hands me the result slip, my heart skips a beat. i am cold from feet to toe from the suspense. Then the moment arrives!!!  It is the most unforgettable time of my life. I mange to get 10A+ and my prayer has been answered. Thank God for giving me the opportunity to succeed and make my parents proud. That is the reward for my patience and hardwork

A holiday I would never forget

        Holidays, A time everyone gets hyped up over, parents planning activities for the family to spend quality time with and school children ( as well as teachers) jumping for joy. Hello, waking up late, celebrating, goin for tuition and best of all, vacations! In my case, a holiday I would never forget is a fruitful one I experienced five years ago, where my family I spent six days in the land of K-Pop and ' kimchi '- Korea.

        Finally, after ages of waiting, our family arrived in beautiful Korea. Stepping out of the plane, we could feel the chilly weather to our bones. Never experiencing that kind of weather, my siblings and I were totally excited. Passing through immigration and baggage claim, we were talking animatedly about our new surroundings. Since we went with tour group, we knew we were in good hands.

        Incident number one. We were supposed to take a bus to check in at the hotel, as instructed. I guessed I was overeager and without thinking. I ran to a random bus and knocked on the door. The young bus driver opened the door and looked at me with a puzzled expression. He started asking me something in Korean, which of course I did not understand. I tried to reply in English, but before I could make the attempt, my father quickly apologized to the driver and walked me back to the tour group who was watching from afar, shaking with laughter. It turned out that the bus I was running to was not the bus we were supposed to take. I dismissed my burning cheeks. I was glad I could be the butt of everyone's jokes on my first day in a foreign country.

        It was a bit past lunch time when we were done checking in our hotel. Not doubt, everybody's stomachs were grumbling. Thank God after checking in, we were going to have our lunch and do a bit of sightseeing. While waiting for the others outside the hotel, we walked around nearby. There was a row of vending machines that sold various snacks and beverages, including Haagen Dazs ice-cream , and instant noodles. My mother had a craving for Nescafe, so she spent her first Korrean money on that.

        At the restaurant, a delicious meal was already spread out for us. That was the first time we all tried kimchi, a spicy  and sour vegetable side dish.I did not think it was horrible,  but I preferred the fish kimchi much better. We all ate using chopsticks, so that was kind or awkward for me  and  my siblings, as we were not skilled at using them yet. Being Malaysians, we were used to rice, so it was a good thing that the Korean meal included rice and a few other side dish, eaten from a Bento box. It was weird though, the rice was stickier compared to the rice  we eat at home, mainly to make it easier to eat using chopsticks. There was also hot and scumptious miso soup together with the meal. Since my sister and my brother did not like it much, I finished up theirs. I gulped the warm soup down my throat- a nice contrast from the shivering weather outside.

        One of the highlights of our activities that we did in Korea was skiing. Everybody from the tour group was looking forward to that, even the 52-year old couple traveling with us. Since it was not fully snowing yet, the hill was covered with artificial snow. After grabbing our ski gear, we listen to a briefing by the instructor. He was very help ful, especially with us kids and the elderly couple.

        Feeling jumpy and hyperactive, me and my sister made our way to the cable car and successfully skied down a slope. I thought, " We're natural at this," and my sister could not agree more. When we came to see how our parents and brother were doing, my brother started to throw a snowball towards me and my sister. It hit me, and we started having a small snowball fight of our own, just like in the movies! I guessed we got a bit out of hand and my sister accidentally hit a woman's back. when she turned around, she had this angry look on her face and started to walk towards us.I hurried my siblings to continue skiing with our parents,and we ran away before she cold catch us. Breathless, we giggled  as we recapped the moment.

        In a way, skiing is like swimming. Why do I say so? Well, when swimming ,you do not feel tired , but you would see the effect when you get ravenous and eat more after a session or when you tend to take a nap, but it is extended to long hours. The same goes to skiing. When we arrived at the hotel after skiing, we were drained out and starving. Instant noodles saved the day! We all ate curry-flavoured Maggi together, savouring the momentary pleasure. We also dozed off quite early that night , right after going for a walk to enjoy the amazing night view of the mountains, and breathing the cool, fresh winter air.

        Shopping in Korea was also different compared to Malaysia. Its malls were packed with small shops or stall on every floor. Big boutiques were not seen as much as the quaint kiosks. Nevertheless, I found shopping at their markets more enjoyable, especially because you could haggle the price. Their specialities   were crystals, fabrics and outerwear. Apart form that, I also liked their wet markets , mainly because they were very clean and they did not have that fishy smell. I remembered a shocking incident when walking through the stalls of the wet market. A large fish jumped  out its aquarium  and onto the floor. I stared at it and suddenly, I saw a huge cutting knife slicing through the fish's neck! It was the owner of the stall's doing. Then, the owner left the fish flapping around lifelessly without a head.

        There was also a treasure trove among the stalls of the wet market- a tiny shop which served grilled seafood. My family stepped into the shop and ordered some grilled fish and cockles.

        After saying our prayers, we devoured our mouth-watering find of the day. Dripped in a type of source, the seafood was the best I had ever eaten, as you could taste the freshness. Or maybe I was just hungry after  a full day of activities.

        If it was up to me, there were so many things to write on my memorable trip to Korean. Not only we got to spend quality time together as a family, but we also learnt countless new things and even discovered hidden talents. My father always said we should travel with an open mind and an open  heart. This is when you get to see your capability to adapt to changes. Just enjoy the simple things in life and be thankful of what you have. So, do just that. Who knows you might discover a part of yourself you never know existed?    

INFORMAL LETTER

SPM Directed Writing: Informal Letter
You recently went an expedition with your classmates to Langkawi. You have been asked to write a letter to your cousin about your visit to Langkawi Island.

Rosni Alias

No.3,Jalan Sutera,

Taman Cempaka,

43600 Bandar Baru Bangi,

Selangor.

12 March 2018.

Dear Zarina,

        How's life? I hope you are in the best of health. How's my beloved Uncle Johari? I miss him too.The reason I write this letter is to tell you about my expedition to Langkawi. Guess what? We just came back from Langkawi . I went there with 25 of my classmates and my class teacher. Mr, Zaid had kindlly accompanied us for the 3 day-trip. You should have joined us. It was such an awesome experience!

        Well, on the first day, we arrived at Langkawi in morning after a short flight. Then, we were taken to Langkawi Geopark, a UNESCO World Heriatage Site where we could see magnificent rock formations. We were taught the history of the place and some fossils of fish could also be sighted. This is a wonderful opportunity to understand geogical aspect of the island at the Geopark.

        After visiting Geopark, we were taken to Pulau Dayang Bunting which about an hour boat ride. I forgot to mention that the boat ride itself was so exciting and adventurous. Upon arrival at the island, we were greeted by monkeys and soon, we saw a breathtakinng lake, with its gree clear water. Not forgetting the fish spa where thousands of catfish nibble at your feet when you lower feet into the water. Again, this is a new experience for me. Other than that, we could really enjoy the beautiful scenery of the island.

        The next day, we went to Underwater World where we saw the penguin, giant fishes, colourful onemones and all sorts of marine life there.I'm sure, it's heaven for fish lovers. One advantage of this trip is I could  learn about themarine life. Well, on the final day, we went to Mahsuri   Tomb and Padang Mat Sirat to relive the legend of Mahsuri. It was a good experience since I managed to see the historic sites and understand Mahsuri legend better. Other than that, I also learn about the importance of being true to our words and do not spread false gossips since these can lead to horrible consequences. I also managed to make friends with some other tourists visiting the site.

        Okay, I guess I have to have to pen off now. Hope to see you in the next letter. Please convey my love and regards to my uncle and aunti. Take care!

                                                                                                                                                            Love,                                                                                                                                      Rosni 

Sample Question
Your younger sister, who is studying in a boarding school, has written to complain that she finds the compulsory co-curricular activities very tiring. Write a letter to her to explain the benefits of co-curricular activities.

Use the notes given below to write your letter.

>       help you become a better person

>       instill discipline

>       learn good values - cooperation

>       respect for others

>       develop leadership skills

>       learn to organize activities

>       provide opportunities - to develop social skills

>       to take part in competitions

>       keep you healthy

>       get a good testimonial

When writing your letter, remember to include the following:

>       your address

>       a proper salutation/greeting

>       a complimentary close

>       all the notes given above
Sample answer 1

10, Jalan Mega Minang, Taman Minang Sari,

68000 Ampang, Selangor.

7th September 2018.

Dear Lina,
       It was lovely to hear from you. All of us miss you very much. Mum and Dad are glad that you are slowly adjusting to life in a boarding school.
       In your letter you complained about the compulsory co-curricular activities. Well, let me tell you that you can reap many benefits through active participation in these activities. Firstly, the various co-curricular activities help you become a better person (point 1). Participation in uniformed units, clubs and societies, sports and games will help you discover your talents and develop your character. You will become a more confident and well-rounded person. The strict rules and good behaviour expected of you as a member of a uniformed unit will instil discipline (point 2) in you. This is important if you are to become a law-abiding citizen.
       Besides, you will learn good values (point 3) through the various co-curricular activities. You will learn about the importance ofcooperation (point 4) and respect for others (point 5). These values are very important in a multi-racial society like ours.
       You have always said that you admire great leaders like Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln. Well, co-curricular activities will certainly help you to develop leadership skills (point 6). There will be ample opportunities to enable you to become a good leader. Besides learning how to plan events, you will learn to organise activities (point 7).Sometimes, you might even have to handle a challenging situation and this will teach you how to make on-the-spot decisions.
       More importantly, co-curricular activities provide you with many opportunities (point 8) to help you develop social skills (point 9). As you know, a person with good social skills has an edge these days. Extra-curricular activities will also provide you with opportunities to take part in competitions (point 10) at various levels. Schools usually select their representatives for competitions at zone, state or national level by looking at their students’ performance in school-level competitions.
       These activities also keep you healthy (point 11). Who knows, you might finally shed your baby fat! Most importantly, you will get a good testimonial (point 12) if you are active in co-curricular activities. This will definitely boost your chances when applying for a scholarship or a job.
There is no need for you to worry that participation in these activities will affect your grades. On the contrary, it has been proven that students who are actively involved usually do well academically.
I hope you will take the opportunities co-curricular activities provide to experience new things and discover your strengths.
I have to stop here. I have to study for my trial examination, which is in two weeks’ time. Till I hear from you, take care.

Your loving sister, 

Shuhada

Study.... Study.....Study

Useful Words and Phrases 

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument.

Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point.

Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance.

Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise.

Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”.

Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making.

Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information.

Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”.

Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned.

Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”.

Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”.

Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”.

Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information.

Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time.

Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other.

Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis.

Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said.

Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion.

Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”.

Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence.

Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion.

Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”.

Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

23. Yet

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea.

Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence.

Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else.

Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing.

Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else.

Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”.

Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”.

Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”.

Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent.

Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it).

Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”.

Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview.

Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay.

Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing.

Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above.

Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

POEM FOR SPM CANDIDATE....

A Poison Tree by William Blake

Stanza 1

I was angry with my friend: (line 1)
I told my wrath, my wrath did end. (line 2)
I was angry with my foe: (line 3)
I told it not, my wrath did grow. (line 4)

Stanza 2

And I watered it in fears, (line 1)
Night and morning with my tears; (line 2)
And I sunned it with smiles, (line 3)
And with soft deceitful wiles. (line 4)

Stanza 3

And it grew both day and night, (line 1)
Till it bore an apple bright;(line 2)
And my foe beheld it shine, (line 3)
And he knew that it was mine, (line 4)

Stanza 4

And into my garden stole (line 1)
When the night had veiled the pole: (line 2)
In the morning glad I see (line 3)
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.(line 4)

Line by line Meaning

Stanza 1- I had a misunderstanding with my friend and was angry. I told my friend about
 my wrath. I got over my anger and forgot it. But when I got angry with my foe, I didn't
tell him about it. I bottled up my wrath and it intensified. It grew and grew like a plant.

Stanza 2- My anger grew like a tree. I nourished my anger-tree with anger, suspicion
hatred. I was suspicious of my foe and I was angry with him. But I tricked him to
 bring him closer to me. Outwardly, I smiled and I was friendly to gain his trust.

Stanza 3- My "tree" was poisonous because it was full of anger, hatred and
suspicion. Later, it bore a shiny poison apple. My foe saw it and knew it was mine.

Stanza 4- One night when there were no stars, my foe came into my garden and
stole my poison apple. He fell into my trap. He ate the apple and died. In the
, I was happy to see him lying dead under my poison tree.

Summary of the Poem

In this poem, the persona is angry after a misunderstanding with his friend and his foe.
 He talks about the misunderstanding with his friend and gets over his anger. But
he doesn't talk about his anger to his foe, so his anger increases and grows into an
anger-plant.

The persona treats his growing anger like a growing plant. He feeds the seed of his
"plant" with anger and hatred. He waters it with doubt, suspicion and hatred and he nourishes
 it with fake sunshine. He gives his anger-plant "smiles" and "deceitful wiles". Outwardly,
the persona smiles and is friendly to his foe so that he will trust him and be close
to him. He is scheming to trick and trap his foe. His increasing anger and hatred
grows into a poison tree. The poison is actually the persona's wrath and hatred for his foe.

Then the persona becomes spiteful, revengeful and murderous as his anger and hatred i
ntensify. He plots to kill his foe and his devious plan works when his poison tree
bears a deadly poison apple. The persona's foe sees it and is tempted to eat it.
One dark night, he sneaks into the persona's garden and steals his poison apple.
Then he eats it and dies. The next morning, the persona is happy to see him lying
dead under his poison tree.

Setting

• Place - in his garden , under the poison tree
• Time - in the darkness of the night , the next morning

Tone

Anger, bitterness and maliciousness- The persona is extremely angry with his foe.
As his anger intensifies, he becomes scheming and murderous. In Stanza 4,
the tone is also accusing. The persona accuses his foe of stealing his apple in his
garden at night.

Themes and Moral Values

1. The importance of communicating when there is a misunderstanding- 
2. When there is a misunderstanding, we should talk about it to resolve our differences.
3. Harbouring ill feelings against someone- We shouldn't harbour ill feelings against anyone.
4. Forgiving and forgetting- When there is a misunderstanding, we must forgive and forget.
5. Bottling up ill feelings- Bottling up ill feelings is bad for us and those around us.

Word vs Meaning

• wrath ~ extreme anger
• foe ~ enemy
• watered ~ poured water on plants
• sunned ~ provided sunshine
• deceitful ~ dishonest behaviour to make people believe things which are not true 
• wiles ~ clever tricks a person uses to get what he wants 
• bore ~ produced fruit
• beheld ~ looked at or saw
• veiled ~ covered with something to hide something partly or completely
• pole ~ the Pole star which is the star that is above the North Pole in the sky