CW

'Honesty is the best policy.’
Describe an experience when this was true for you.

The proverb ‘honesty is the best policy’ advises people that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I have always believed in the proverb. When I was about eleven years old, my honesty saved two friends’ lives.

Charlotte has been my best friend since we were very young. We are extremely intimate and do everything together. Her father passed on when she was three years of age and she lives with her mother and elder sister. Since the demise of her father, her mother is the sole breadwinner of the family. Although Charlotte’s mother does all she could to bring up Charlotte and her sister, Charlotte tells me that her mother is extremely strict with them. At times, she is so harsh that they find it hard to accept her ways.

Unfortunately one day, Charlotte and her sister had a big argument with their mother. The next day, Charlotte told me that she and her sister planned to run away from home. I felt really uneasy about their plan. I persuaded them against running away and to think twice before they acted. In spite of my persuasion, Charlotte told me that they had already made up their mind. When I asked her where they were planning to stay, she replied to say that they would stay at the abandoned house at the edge of the forest. She also said that I could go and visit them but I must not tell anyone about their hiding place. She also sworn me to secrecy.

That very night, Charlotte and her sister ran away from home when their mother was sound asleep. The next day when she discovered that they were missing, she was worried sick. Apprehensive about their safety, she lodged a police report. The police formed a search party to search for the sisters but their efforts were in vain. In desperation, she asked me whether I knew where they were. Although I did, I said I had no idea of their whereabouts in order to keep the promise that I made to the sisters. Their mother was disappointed at my reply and I felt guilty about lying to her.

The following day, I went to visit Charlotte and her sister. It was a wet morning as it had been drizzling since daybreak. Upon arriving at the place, I was taken aback to see the bad state of the dilapidated wooden house, which stood in a bleak and desolate landscape. Many parts of the house were rotten and its roof was leaky. The sisters, who appeared to be pale, were glad to see me. Even though they were tired, weak, thirsty and hungry, they pretended that they were happy to live in the house.

After visiting them, I felt sorry about their living conditions. Although I promised to bring them some food and drinks, I went to see their mother instead. I apologised to her and told her the truth. All at once, the huge weight of keeping the secret and lying were lifted off my shoulders. Their mother could not be more grateful to me. Accompanied by the police and me, she went to fetch her daughters from the house. By the time we reached there, the sisters were almost dying of dehydration and starvation.

Albeit Charlotte was angry with me for breaking the promise, she eventually forgave me and realised that I was actually doing the right thing. She and her sister thanked me for doing them a favour and saving their lives. Their mother promised to be more reasonable and she does live up to her promise. Until today, I still believe that ‘honesty is the best policy’.

CW

Write a story of a small town girl who worked hard to become a successful chef. Begin your story with: “She has used the last of her savings to get to the cooking competition
in the big city and ...”

- by Brian Shu Pui Hong

SMK Sungai Maong,

Kuching, Sarawak

She has used the last of her savings to get to the cooking competition in the big city and she has tried her best to emerge victorious. It is all up to the professional judges now. While waiting for the announcement of the result, very second seems like an eternity. She could feel her heart drumming against her ribs due to her anxiety, and has even started to think whether she could accept the fact if she fails in this competition. Just then, the magnified voice of the announcer makes her jump. She hears her name, and out of the blue, the hall is filled with tumultuous applause. She actually wins! She is going to be crowned ‘Best Chef of The Year’ in her own right! After the glittering trophy is handed over, she recounts her past endeavours, and tears of gratitude fall.

Eileen, who hailed from a suburb, dreamt of becoming a successful chef. Money became her first concern when she first moved to the big city. However, she knew that if she persevered, she would eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel. With that in mind, she worked as a cleaner and a waiter in order to build up experience. When she was still raw, managers kept going ballistic and referred to her as ‘the gormless girl’ because she was slow and jerky in performing her tasks. Bombardments notwithstanding, she persevered and deemed it necessary for her to be a fully-fledged culinary professional in times to come.

In the midst of her journey towards success, she was struck by the bad news of her mother’s death due to terminal illness. Her mother no longer had the chance to see her daughter’s dream come true, while the daughter held her hand and told the world this is her mother. All of these seemed to be a million miles away then. Eileen felt her heart being torn apart beyond the point of repair. Her working capability was greatly disrupted by the mourn, as she felt that even the silver lining of the cloud had disappeared. The manager was more impatient and irascible than ever when Eileen made mistakes in every possible occasion. Eventually, she was fired when she, being in her hopeless and forlorn state, spilled a pot of freshly cooked soup onto fellow workers. Being rendered jobless, she was broke. She could not afford even the rent and was consequently exiled as a tenant. For some days, she slept on the five-foot ways and under the staircase of shophouses on makeshift beds.

Eileen was lucky to have her former colleagues. They offered her a place to stay, with the proviso that she would get a grip on herself and move on. Thanks to their kindness and encouragement, she managed to come to terms with the bereavement. She decided that strong people should not dwell on the past and wallow in despair; they move forward for the better. She found a new job and strove harder than ever. Due to her natural talent, she shone in cooking. Soon, her efforts and skills received attention and praise from her new manager. She was promoted to an assistant in the kitchen. Things started to fall into place as she was introduced to works with a higher level of difficulty. Her skills were greatly honed as she imbibed knowledge and practical skills from the main cook.

The day that marked the watershed moment of Eileen’s life came most unexpectedly on a mesmerising, peaceful sundown. The main chef got home earlier as he had come down with the flu. She was asked to inform the customers that the dishes from the main chef was unavailable. All of a sudden, a customer in a black suit walked in briskly. He ordered a dish which was not found on the menu – Taste from Heaven. Eileen’s jaw dropped. She felt her heart skip a beat. For a fraction of a second, she stood rooted to the ground, undecided. The next moment, she instinctively asked for some clues from the customer. After a minute’s brainstorming session, she started cooking! Little did she know where her courage had come from as she was well aware that the reputation of the restaurant was banking on her performance.

Every drop of blood seemed to curdle in Eileen’s veins as the customer slowly tasted her cooking. Before she knew it, the customer had wolfed down all his food and paid for it. The next day, Eileen had the feeling she could no longer tolerate any more shock when she learnt that customer was the CEO of an international business group as well as a good friend of the main chef. The Taste from Heaven, which was meant to spoof the chef, had instead put Eileen to the test. He explained that Eileen had a potential to become a chef, and he could use her in one of his chain restaurants. He further expressed that Eileen could realise her full potential through undergoing professional training. Deeply impressed by her skills, he offered her a scholarship to study in one of the top culinary arts school in France! She was also offered a 5-year employment contract with the business group upon graduation.

Eileen was on cloud nine. She could not believe that Lady Luck had smiled upon her. She accepted both offers. However, she was never one to be on her high horse as she knew that pride comes before a fall. She worked hard doing the 4-year course offered by the school, which was located in close proximity to Paris, and graduated with a first-class honours degree. Before returning to Malaysia to fulfil her contract, she had an opportunity to participate in a world-class cooking competition in Paris. As days of sweats and tears passed, she finally managed to have herself qualified for the final of the championship and the rest is history.

Eileen’s hard work and determination have helped to fulfil her aspiration – to be a successful chef! Now, she brings joy to this world with her dishes, as everyone cheers for her – the small town girl who persevered and created miracles with her bare hands.

Good luck ...

Informal Letter Sample - SPM English Essay Writing

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

                                     No.3,Jalan Sutera,
                                     Tmn Cempaka,
                                43600 Bandar Bangi,
.                               Selangor.  

                               2 March 2012.

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 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

SPM Sample Essay - Report (charity run)

SPM Sample Essay - Report (charity run)

QUESTION 1

Your school recently organised a charity run. As the Secretary of the organising committee, write a report for the Principal about the event.
Write your report based on the notes below:

Charity Run

• Date
• Time
• Location
• Purpose - to raise funds for the local orphanage
• Length / Duration of run
• Number of participants
• Winners
• Incidents - some participants lost their belongings during the event
                - some participants sustained minor injuries

When writing the report, you should remember to:

• address your report to the Principal
• provide a title
• use all the information given
• provide two suggestions for next year's event

SAMPLE ANSWER:

To   :   Encik Abdullah Bakri,
Principal, SMK Bukit Tinggi
   
Title   :   Charily Run 2013
SMK Bukit Tinggi annual Charity Run for 2013 was held on 18th September. The event was originally scheduled to start at 6.30 a.m. but the flag-off only took place at 7 a.m. due to the rain. Like the past years, the run started and ended at the school field.

The purpose of this year's Charity Run is to raise funds for the local orphanage. Participants were charged a RM15 registration fee that includes some mineral water and a t-shirt.

The entire route of the run was 10.5 kilometres. A total of 578 students throughout the school took part in the event. Nur Amalina from Form 5B came out first, followed by Boon Keat from 5A, second and Ganesh Lingam from 4D, third. The winners were presented with medals and hampers by the President of the Parent – Teacher Association, Datuk Rahim Mahmud.

While the event was successfully completed, there were some incidents that occurred during the run. Two participants lost their belongings. Both of them left their bags at the side of the field despite being repeatedly reminded by the organisers not to do so. Participants were advised to leave their belongings in the hall next to the field where there were students on duty. Fortunately, they only lost small amounts of money and some snacks.

Apart from that, some participants also sustained minor injuries. This was due to the fact that they did not do warm-up exercise before running. As a result, they suffered cramps halfway through the run. They were immediately attended to by the medical team on standby and recovered after a short rest.
From this year's event, it is clear that there are still room for improvement in the organisation of this event. For example, more refreshment stands should be made available throughout the course of the run. This will ensure that participants are well hydrated while running. Besides, more volunteers should be brought in to control and direct traffic where the route meets with the main street. This will ensure the safety of the participants as well as the safety of road users passing by the area.


Reported by,



ADRIAN YOUNG,
The Secretary.
Organising Committee,
Charity Run 2013,
SMK Bukit Tinggi.

DEAR MR. KILMER

EVENT........ THE ENDING

Question 2 (SPM 2008)

Using the details from the novel that you have studied,

•      Describe what happens at the end of the novel.

•      Explain why you find the ending either happy or sad.

The novel that I read was ‘Dear Mr Kilmer’ by Anne Schraff. At the end of the story, Richard’s father finally supported  his passion in writing poetry. This was a happy ending. 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. One day, Richard received a bad news about Mr Kilmer. Mr Kilmer was killed in the war between the Allies and the Germans. Richard wrote a poem as a tribute to Mr Kilmer. In the poem, Richard likened Mr Kilmer to the “world”. The tribute was printed in the local newspaper, “The Turtle Lake Weekly”. Richard’s father read the poem. Richard was afraid that his father was going to be angry at him. His father did not like Richard writing poems. After reading the poem, his father told Richard about what happened to Richard’s uncle, Roland. His father never told Richard about this story. Roland was killed in a war in Cuba. His father regarded Roland as his “world”. His father was amazed how Richard could use the same word in his tribute. Richard continued writing poems about farm life for the local newspaper. Richard got his father’s help as he was an experienced farmer. Every night, Richard read his poems aloud. His father would correct or give suggestions to improve the poems. His father finally supported Richard’s passion in writing poetry. In conclusion, the ending of this story was truly heartwarming when a father and a son finally got along through the love of poetry.

Question 4 (SPM 2012)

Based on the novel you have studied, write about an event that makes you angry?

With close reference to the text, give reasons why the event makes you feel this way.

Sample answer

Event

The novel that I studied was ‘Dear Mr Kilmer’ by Anne Schraff. An event that made me angry was when the Schermers’ tavern was vandalised. I was angry because of two reasons. Firstly, I was angry because some Turtle Lake people were being unfair to the Schermers. They vandalized the Schermers tavern. They painted “Dirty Huns” all over the walls. They said that the Schermers were Huns. Some Turtle Lake people believed that Huns were a barbaric clan originated from Germany. They said that the Schermers were unpatriotic because they spoke German and served Hun food at their tavern while a war was going on against Germany. Secondly, I was angry because Richard’s classmates were being unkind to the Schermers after the Schermers’s tavern was vandalised. Mrs Hansen brought a card to express regret for what had happened Mrs Hansen asked her class to sign the card. 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. In conclusion, the event where the Schermers was being mistreated infuriated me. I truly believed that discrimination was unjust.

4 3 4

Question 5 (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

Event

The 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.

4 2 5 6

Continuous Writing

FRIENDSHIP

Close friendships are hard to come by these days. In an ever-changing world with people striving to achieve their interpretation of preordained success, it is hard to know who your true friends are. Fortunately, I found my best pal early at the tender age of seven. We were both enrolled at the same school and were at wits’ ends as we searched tirelessly for our designated classes.

Samantha and I got acquainted as both of us were in the same class and sat next to each other. Samantha was a happy-go-lucky girl who always managed to breathe fresh air into the sometimes arid classroom. She always knew what to say and would voice them at the best possible moments. Both pupils and teachers alike enjoyed her company and liveliness. There was hardly ever a dull moment when she was around with her funny quips and expressions.

Samantha was born with a silver spoon. Her father was a businessman and her mother owned and ran a boutique. Both her parents were very caring towards her as she, just like I, was the only child of the family. Samantha came to school each day with a perpetual smile. She was a very nice person to be around with. She and I used to go everywhere together and both of us were rarely seen apart. We used to talk about so many things as we walked, thoroughly enjoying our time together.

One day, I went to school and forgot to ask my parents for lunch money. At first, I was not hungry and thought I could bear going without a meal but soon, my stomach began to growl. Without asking, Samantha generously paid for my meal and drinks during recess. The incident revealed to me how lucky I was to have such a caring and compassionate friend.

As time went on, people started teasing us as we were spending more and more time together. We seemed to know what each other thought and we cared for each other deeply. Was I in love with her? I did not know then and we both knew we were too young for all that emotional roller coaster.

Currently, Samantha and I are studying at different schools. It was hard to be apart at first, but technology in the form of instant messaging and e-mails have helped to bridge the gap in our friendship. I sincerely wish our friendship will never end as it would be equivalent to waking up from a beautiful dream.

AN AFTERNOON AT A BUS STATION

It was two o’clock in the afternoon. I was heading towards the bus station with Mohan after Mrs Wong’s extra class. The sun was beating mercilessly on my back and I could feel my sweat trickling down my spine. I have often wished that my mother would allow me to ride a motorcycle to school. She says that I am not ready but we both know that she is terrified that a car would knock me down.

When I reached the bus station, it was nearly empty except for a handful of boys. Mohan and I strode to a bench near the stationmaster’s office. I could feel the tension on my shoulders as the straps of my school bag ate into my shoulder. “Where is the bus?” I sighed to myself. An elderly woman came and asked me where I was going. She started a conversation but gave up after my monosyllable answers.

Suddenly, someone shouted and I saw a bus swerved into the station. I got up, thankful for the chance to escape from the woman. . It was Mohan’s bus. The group of boys were jostling each other to get into the bus. “Masuk! Masuk!” shouted the conductor but nobody seemed to be moving. The black fumes made me nauseous. All of a sudden, people started appearing from all directions to board their bus. In no time, the passengers were packed like sardines in the bus. It started to move, leaving some unfortunate passengers behind. I waved at Mohan when I noticed him dangling on the steps of the bus. The bus swerved out of the station again. It left another trail of black smoke.

I decided to go to Panjang’s ice stall. The iced sugar cane juice soothed my parched throat as I sipped slowly, all the while keeping an eye on the bus. Then I saw the bus heading towards the station. I paid for my drinks. “See you tomorrow,” I waved to Panjang.

Once more, the crowd began to swell near the bus. I noticed that the elderly woman was being shoved around by the boys. She started hitting them with her umbrella. Then, I saw Raja, my classmate at the back of the bus. I hurled my bag through the window and he caught it. By the time I got into the bus, it had already started moving. I got into my seat and told myself that I must really try to convince my mother about the motorcycle again.

Source: By Jenny Tan

MALAYSIA, A UNIQUE COUNTRY

Malaysia is a multiracial country. Malaysia has a population of 23.27 million consisting of 61 percent Malays, 30 percent Chinese, 8 percent Indians and 1 percent of other ethnic groups. Malaysia is unique because of its diversity of races, religions and cultures, the stability of the country and many places of interests. Besides, there are many international achievements which are the pride of our nation.

Diversity of races, religions and cultures is a significant characteristic of our nation. Malaysia is a multiracial country with a rich cultural heritage. Unique to Malaysia is the 'Open House' concept where during the various cultural and religious festival like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Gawai Day and others, friends and families and even strangers would visit the homes of those who are celebrating the festival, to wish them well and enjoy the feast prepared by the hosts. Although the visitors may be from different races, they still can tolerate with each other and live under the same roof where they celebrate the festival together. This will help to strengthen the ties among themselves.

Moreover, the stability and peacefulness of Malaysia is also a uniqueness of us. We live harmoniously in a country where there are no wars and conflicts among Malaysians. War is dreadful and it may deteriorate humans' lives. We are fortunate that our country is safe and runs off the war. So, people can live safely here. Somehow, Malaysia is a paradise for those Iraqis or Pakistanis. Besides, our country is freed from natural disasters such as earthquakes. Earthquakes may bring death and destroy many buildings. Therefore, Malaysia is unique because of the stability and peaceful environment.

On top of that, there are many places of interests in country such as beaches, islands and rain forest. Malaysia's rain forest is considered as the oldest in the world. The diverse species of animals and plant life continue to excite a great deal of scientific research. Many believe that some undiscovered plant may hold cures to many currently incurable human diseases. There are many islands in our country such as Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Redang, Pulau Ketam and many others. Pulau Langkawi has a lot of historitical informations. Those who are in favour of history can go there to explore the history of that place. All the beaches in those islands are beautiful. The sand is soft and white. The accommodation is well-established and that makes those islands ideal places to visit.

Following this, there are also international achievements of our country. Those achievements include the existence of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Formula One (F1) racing circuit and the Petronas Twin Towers. KLIA is unique because it has all that is needed for business, entertainment and relaxation within its boundaries. The airport is part and parcel of the Multimedia Super Corridor where high technology industries are being actively developed. Nevertheless, there is a Formula One Race Track near the airport, so foreign car racing enthusiasts from all over the world can come for a visit to gather here. Besides that, Petronas Twin Towers which is a building that soars 452 metres into the sky is once upon a time, the tallest building in the world and yet it is a national pride to the people of Malaysia.

In short, Malaysia is unique that it has diversity of races, religions and cultures, a stable and peaceful environment, places of interest and some internal achievements. Those are important characteristic of our nation. It is rich of cultural heritage; it would be worth to play a visit here.

Corrections made in the essay above:
Do not put an extra hyphen - multiracial is correct, multi-racial and multi racial are wrong
Use noun instead of adjective - diversity of races, religious and cultures is wrong; it should be diversity of races, religions and cultures; a unique of us is wrong, a uniqueness of us is correct
This sentence is wrong because there should be two phrases in the sentence where you use the conjunction although - Although the visitors may be from different races. However… It should be ‘Although the visitors may be from different races, they…’
Article – an unique is wrong, a unique is correct
Subject-verb agreement - the stability and peacefulness of Malaysia is should be the stability and peacefulness of Malaysia are – Wrong: there is no wars and conflicts. Correct: there are no wars and conflicts
Use adverb instead of noun – we live in a harmony country should be we live harmoniously in a country or we live in harmony.
Singular or plural - humans' life is wrong, humans’ lives is correct, human beings is more appropriate
No plural form – Wrong: historitical informations. Correct: historical information
Avoid using informal word - has lots of is informal, has a lot of is formal

Essay Rating: 3.5
Good points and examples are discussed in the essay. However, there are some gross and minor grammatical and spelling errors. Gross errors include subject-verb agreement errors and wrong use of nouns and adjectives. All in all, there is still room for improvement. Keep up your writing effort!

Finally, A Voice Message

    [PLEASE LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE AFTER THE TONE...BEEP!]

    [Hello...How do I start this? Err, it’s Pippy here. So, how was school? I’ve tried reaching your phone but I was always answered by a robot-voice woman. Your Uncle Tom said you might be too busy, but I knew my grandson was just being a good boy who wouldn’t break the school regulations. How are you?]

    Amongst hundreds of scholars scattered dot-like in front of the brick-red edifices of an elite boarding school, were two friends deeply absorbed in their conversation.

    Mick, a bright student, was bargaining his friend to stay with him during the holiday. With little reluctance, his friend said yes, so much for the 3DVC* Mick owned and so that they could discuss the ‘Passive Cigarette Filter’ project.

    [Here’s the truth about your mother, Diana. When it came time you were born, not a glimpse of disgust had she shown despite your condition. There was only one regret...]

    True, as they say, life isn’t all beer and skittles. His fantastic blueprints of childhood dreams, hardship borne – flying suit, smart robot maid, and fountain of youth – were sold by his associate, Mick, out of the trust and friendship they had been through for so long. In fact, there was a story about a man’s-best-friend terrier biting its master.

    [...her chicken boyfriend. She besought me to be strict with you, and soon she died of AIDS. By God’s will, you were alive! Don’t play fool with lust, believe me He won’t save you twice.]

    Somehow, somewhere in the midst of glory, he was dragged back to where he began assembling, bit by bit, the ingredients to bake a cake of success. He felt for and found an old luggage.

    Strewn inside were a Bible, an iPhone, and a forgotten photo capturing a grinning boy clasping the eyes of an old man – picture perfect. From this place in an old apartment, through the windowpane, as he started combining the pieces of nostalgic puzzle, he caught a forlorn view of the boarding school, his ‘alma mater’. Then it dawned on him; his friend wasn’t just a biting terrier, he was an evil obscured beyond the look of an angel.

    [Once, you asked why there were still bad people if really God is almighty. You see, on a rainy day, some cursed, but in truth, farmers, trees, and starving African all gave their thanks. He is fair...simple answer for simple question. Now stop questioning and read the Bible.]

    Soon the decelerating car halted to a rest, floating aloft the electromagnetic roadway. Hence he set forth all he could an effort to run, with an anxiety that just grew stronger, almost staggeringly so.

    He dashed his way inside the house, all the rush only to witness a humorous hanging banner: WELCOME HOME, CITY BOY. His sight improved to a wider angle. At once he was dumbfounded as he realized the dust in place everywhere; the unwanted but the logic had happened.

    [No one can travel to the past but it’s never not alright to make mistakes. Upon every breath, give your best; cherish every chapter of life. If on your way the road gets harsh, step into a carriage of faith and it will escort you to the triumphant sky. One of these days when your feet crumble, flip the Bible and inside it you’ll find wisdom, with little or no searching. Sometimes even the slightest failure can shut the voice of a fighter, that’s when others’ advices can guide you, but above all, bow your head and pray...]

    Gone were the days of storm and chillness, and after came the warmth of the sun and comfort of the breeze, which blew a pale gold leaf pass three figures, already loud in a lunatic burlesque. While one busied himself fixing the camera, the other was persuading his cheeky grandson not to stand on the bench. The way it defied the world, the grandson’s synthetic leg wasn’t something that brought him slumping. But that is how it goes with young children: the more you prevent them, the more rebellious they will be.
 
    The old man gave in and sat beside his grandson. Just a split second before the cameraman (whose name was Tom) flashed his camera, the bolt-quick hands of the grandson had closed the eyes of his grandfather – picture perfect.

    [I know it’s busy life there but...I really miss my boy. I can still kick a ball you know...I need a tissue, Tom...Why in the world am I crying like a sissy? Maybe my boy has turned handsome and gentleman now, but if you need a Grandpa, Pippy’s not going anywhere –]

    [YOU HAVE ZERO TALK-TIME LEFT ON...]

    [...I hate that robot woman, for real...]

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 yuor mouth. It is also the time when true friends are hard to comeby 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 metropilitan 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 handphones 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 hange 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 myseld 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 atain 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 2015 comes I heard on the television that the SPM 2014 result will be out today. With anticipation and nervousness I walk to school with my good friend Samah. I cannot imagine getting less than 8A+ because according to my conselor, 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 bea. 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 apportunity to succeed and make my parents proud. That is the reward for my patience and harwork.

Source: By Roshini Bala

My Most Embarrassing Situation

            Everyone has been embarrassed at one time or another. It is that moment in time when you wish the earth would open up and swallow you. The anxiety and discomfort felt during that time which may only last a few seconds feels like time has stood still.

            I remember so well when I had my most embarrassing moment. I was in Form 4 and it was during the school recess. The minute the bell rang for recess, I rushed to the toilet because I had been controlling my urges since class started. I didn’t want to miss class because the lesson taught that morning was to include tips for the forthcoming examination.

            Without realising, I had rushed to the girls’ toilet. The prolonged control and an upset stomach made worse by two glasses of cold milk in the morning made me grunt and groan in what I thought in what I thought was the privacy of the cubicle. I thought I heard giggling outside and wondered why the giggles sounded unusually near. A few minutes later I came out the cubicle and discovered my horror that I had entered the girls’ toilet. To make matters worse, the few girls standing outside didn’t even turn away when I came out. Instead they looked down at me, then only they turned quickly away. Horror of horrors, I had forgotten to zip up! No beetroot could have matched the colour of my face at this point in time!

            They news of my predicament spread like wild fire throughout school. I was truly the talk of the town. I felt like I could either walk around feeling perpetually self-conscious and embarrassed or I could turn the situation round, perhaps even to my advantage. I remembered my mother’s words that ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’. So I decided to make fun of myself, to laugh at myself too. It works. Everyone got bored after a while and nobody teased me after that.

            It was indeed an eye-opening experience for me. I have learnt that when people laugh at you, you should laugh along. You must not take yourself seriously. Learn to look at yourself through other people’s eyes and you will realise that most of the time when they laugh at you, they just want to have some fun. They mean no harm. If you can make people laugh, it’s like bringing sunshine into their lives and as someone said, ‘those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.’

421 words

SHORT STORY

TANJONG RHU - BY MINFONG HO

SHORT STORY

TANJONG RHU - BY MINFONG HO

Synopsis

Mr T. W. Li, a successful businessman, has just lost his mother. As he mourns her death, he recalls some important events before her demise,most significantly revolving around a pair of binoculars. He had bought his mother a pair of binoculars so that she could see farther as she had cataracts. However, his mother's only concern was to see Tanjong Rhu, a place where they used to live while he was growing up. His father owned a small shipyard there before it was torn down about thirty years ago. When Mr Li finally convinced his mother to use the binoculars, he was upset that she still could not see the ships at the harbour, in front of his office. Instead, in her mind's eye, she saw Tanjong Rhu in the past, back when Mr Li was still a young boy accompanying his mother digging for crabs along the beach. He became impatient with his mother who seemed adamant to hold on to the past and had no interest in the present. He refused to listen to her stories. Back in the present, Mr Li regrets his actions as now he too longs to go back to his childhood in Tanjong Rhu. He finds that his memories are vague and there are many things that he does not remember clearly. Unfortunately, there is no one to answer his questions as the person who shares the memories with him, his mother, has passed on.

SETTING

• Published in 1986, the story is set in Singapore and the time frame goes back and forth between the     present (after the death of Ah-Ma) and the past (before the death of Ah-Ma).
• The most important location mentioned is Tanjong Rhu, a shipping port in Singapore where Mr Li
  grew up. In the present day, it is filled with tall buildings and skyscrapers. However, eighty years
 ago, Tanjong Rhu only had small shipyards where fishing boats were built. Mr Li's father owned  such a shipyard.
• Mr Li's office is located on the 18th floor above Shenton Way, a central business district in      Singapore.
• Mr Li has a big house with many rooms, a garden and a swimming pool. He first shows the      binoculars to his mother in the garden.
•An important part of the house is the altar room, where Ah-Ma performs her daily prayers.
• The hospital where Ah-Ma passes away is also mentioned in the story.

CHARACTERS

Mr T. W. Li
 • A successful businessman in the shipping sector
 • Has a happy childhood with his family in Tanjong Rhu
 • Happy family life - wife, son and daughter
 • Close relationship with his mother but does not open up to her easily
 • Modern in his ways and ideas - takes pride in his modern ways - makes sure no one is about when       he bows to show respect to his dead parents
 • Tolerant - does not interfere in his mother's traditional ways
 • Meticulous - keeps track of number of ships every day by counting them
 • Patient and respectful - waits for mother to finish prayers although he had to leave for office - does    not hurry her
 • Filial - made sure funeral of mother is done in the right way - full of customs and traditions
 • Strict and does not entertain disrespect from the young - expects daughter to respect elders
 • Regrets not talking to Ah Ma and never listening when she talked

Mr Li's mother (Ah-Ma)
• Small and thin with grey hair and a bent back
• A mother of nine, grandmother of thirty-four and great-grandmother of seventeen
• Has cataracts but does not want to have surgery to fix it
• Speaks Cantonese
• A traditional woman who still keeps chickens in the garden and practises the old Chinese                     customs and rituals
• Particular and meticulous when it comes to taking care of the altar and performing her prayers
• Yearns to see Tanjong Rhu, where she used to live years ago
• A simple woman who is content with what she has
• Seems to belong in the past as she is often lost in memories and likes to relate stories of the past

Ying
• Daughter of Mr Li and Helen
• Has an older brother at Cambridge University
• Is soon leaving for New York
• Speaks English to her father and Cantonese to her grandmother
• Loves her grandmother, whom she calls Popo, and is very close to her
• Affectionate towards her grandmother
• Takes the customs and rituals lightly and does not seem to acknowledge the importance of it
• Takes care of her grandmother at the hospital and gives her blood
• Very anxious that her grandmother is dying

Helen
• Wife of Mr Li
• Often has tea parties with her friends
• Seems to like socialising

Mr Li's father
• Used to own a shipyard where he built boats in Tanjong Rhu
• Died at the age of 53
• Upon his death, his wife offers daily prayers to him in the altar room and sometimes even talks           to him

Mr Li's son
• Unnamed in the story
• Soon to complete his studies at Cambridge University

PLOT

Exposition

Mr T. W. Li, a rich businessman stood at his office window high above Shenton
Way. Concerned about something which he could not lay his finger on he was
not ready to go home. His mother's (Ah Ma) funeral was just a day before
and everything had been done correctly. He counted the number of ships in
the harbour as was his habit with his binoculars. The binoculars reminded him
of his mother.

Conflict
He recalled he had bought them for Ah Ma and was eager to give them toher. He wanted her to use them as she did not want to undergo a cataract operation. His wife was having tea with friends in a room. Ah Ma was in the garden feeding her chickens. Speaking to her in Cantonese, he mentioned the binoculars as see-far glasses. Ah Ma was irritated as it reminded her of her refusal to have a cataract operation. Later, she mentioned her willingness to use them at his office to see Tanjong Rhu where her husband's shipyard used to be.

Climax

Next morning, Ah Ma prayed in the altar room. Then, she talked to her dead husband to inform him of her going to their son's office. Her granddaughter, Ying offered to do the praying with the joss sticks for her but she would not allow it. Mr Li ticked off Ying for criticising her grandmother for wanting to do things her way. While waiting for Ah Ma, Mf Li looked at his father's photograph and remembered their time together. When they were in his office, Mr Li pointed out the ships and the whole harbour to Ah Ma but she could not see anything. Instead, she talked about seeing their old hut, walks and crabbing on the beach. Coming back to the present, Mr Li felt nostalgic and
wanted very much to go back to the time of his childhood. He tried to recall but had very blurred memories.

Falling Action

He recalled that he tried to ask Ah Ma again. But, by then, she had become very sick and was bedridden in hospital, unable to move or talk very much. Ying helped to look after her. Knowing that her father wanted to talk to Ah Ma, she lifted her grandmother's eyelids and told her father to say something. But, Mr Li could not and scolded Ying for not being respectful. Ah Ma moved restlessly and managed to say something about the key to the altar being hidden before she drew her last breath.

Resolution

Now back in his office/ the day was becoming dark and he suddenly thought of the altar and what he had promised Ah Ma at her deathbed. This was what had been troubling him the whole day, something he had left undone. He rushed home to do that one last thing for her. He paid his respects to Ah Ma but, he could not open the drawer. He cried and told Ah Ma he saw Tanjong Rhu that day and then decided to leave well alone.

THEMES

Seeing

It tells us how the different generations view or 'see' their culture. 1 examines the relationship between a successful businessman named Mr L and his mother, and looks into the different meanings of'seeing'. Mr Li look: at material goods as sources of happiness and a better life. He buys a pair o binoculars for his mother, who has cataracts, to see clearly. Mr Li assume* his mother needs a pair of binoculars to see more clearly so that the rest of her life would be more comfortable. But his mother sees Tanjong Rhu, not literally, but metaphorically, as the place where the children had grown up.

Tradition vs modernism

•   Mr Li's mother values the importance of traditional practice. Everything must be done properly and she must 'tell' his father about visiting her son's place of work. In Chinese traditions, praying to the ancestor and the dead is important to every family.

•   Mr Li, his wife, Helen, and daughter, Ying, are moulded in modernism. Mrs Li plays host to her high society friends with her tea sessions, and Ying speaks in English with her father but in Cantonese with her grandmother.

Generation gap

A picture of a big generation gap arises, with a conservative mother who refuses to have her eyes 'cut open', a severe and slightly self-centred father who always assumes young people do not respect the elders and a naive daughter who openly shows her feelings and opinions without considering her audiences. This generation gap is a result of modernisation eating into old ways, causing each generation to misunderstand the next. It is a common situation faced by people living in rapidly growing societies.