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English For All

SPM SAMPLE OF ESSAYS - DIRECTED WRITING

DIRECTED WRITING: 35 MARKS

DIRECTED: ARTICLE: Factual

You are concerned over the implications and long-term health effects of the haze.
Write an article to the local newspaper expressing your concern based on all the notes
below.

 the reasons behind the haze


 role of government and society
 steps that can be taken
 give relevant examples of:
- health complications
- measures
- roles of government and individuals

When writing the article you should remember:


- to lay out the letter carefully
- to use paragraphs
- that you letter is to the press

Haze: A Danger to Health

The haze is a constant phenomenon faced by Malaysia and her neighbouring


countries. The haze is basically pollution of atmosphere, which is clogged with
pollutants and other substances from forest fires.
The haze is a direct effect of forest fire in Kalimantan and other parts of
Indonesia due to slash and burn method of farming. The Indonesian authorities appear
to have no power to control farmers from practising such methods. The haze is further
worsened by open burning practised by most Malaysians. Open-field burning of rice
straw by the rice planters and open burning of dried leaves and garbage done by the
public are a few examples that done by Malaysian. Many are ignorant of the health
effects of open burning.
During the haze, hospitals and clinic often report a dramatic increase in
respiratory problems, lung infections and asthma attack. The Air Pollution Index (API)
usually indicates the hazardous and dangerous levels of pollution during this period.
The haze has long-term side effects. Prolonged inhalation of polluted air will result in
serious lung infection which particularly affects the elderly.
The government must play its role to reduce the haze treat. It has to cooperate
with the Indonesian authorities to stamp out forest fires. The culprits must be brought
to justice, either through healthy fine or prison sentence. Constant vigilance would
ensure the perpetrators do not repeat their offence.
The government should also raise the public awareness of the dangers of forest
fire. Continuous campaign of the cause, solutions and steps-need-to-be-taken to
reduce the haze need to be promoted through all types of social media like television,
radio, newspaper and even via internet. The authorities should also provide assistance
to farmers and introduce more sophisticated forest clearing methods.
In Malaysia, strict laws must be imposed to penalise those who practise open
burning. On-going campaigns on the dangers of open burning should be intensified.
Individuals too have a role to play. They must participate in every campaign and stop
burning. Students can advise their parents not to practice open burning.
Every individual has to remember that we do not own the world, but instead
we lent it from our future generations. We must protect our world so that our
grandchildren woulh have a healthy earth to live.

Ahmad Harun bin Hashim


Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

375 words
From: Penilaian Topik Vista SPM/Sasbadi/2009

ARTICLE: Article for School Magazine / Newsletter

In spite of government’s clear call to students to study English well, many students still
show very little interest in studying the language. As Chairperson of the English
Language Society, you are going to try to persuade the students to study the language
by writing an article in the school newsletter. In the article you have to tell the students
the importance of studying the language. Your article is given in the point form below:

 will help you to further your studies


 will help you to get a job
 will help you in your job
 will help you in your travels
 will help you to enjoy many interesting programmes in television
 will help you to appreciate many of the world’s most beautiful literary works

The Importance of Studying English

It is a big concerned for teenagers nowadays as they are unaware of the


importance of English language as they tend to ignore to learn the language. Students’
attitude towards the language is also crucial to make sure that these teenagers can
face the future world better by learning English language as it is an international
language.
Although the government has repeatedly told us of the importance of English,
many students are still not bothered about studying it seriously. There is also a
campaign that still on to make all the Malaysian becomes a better English learner,
which is ‘Enhance Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthen the English’. English is
the most important and the most useful language in the world today. There are many
reasons why you should study the language properly.
First and foremost, English will definitely help you a lot when you want to further
studies. Almost all books at university are written in English in all subjects. Plus, it is a
compulsory for any candidate to pass English with credit before entering any
universities. So, if you are poor in English, you will blow you chance for better
education or worse, you are going to have a big problem studying at university.
The second reason why you have to study English well is that it will help you
to get a job. When you go for a job interview, the interviewer will surely talk to you in
English. The first impression you should give in order to success and have the job is,
to respond in English fluently. Your chances of getting the job are very slim if you
stutter while interviewing.
A good command in of English will also help you greatly in your job. If the
company you work is actively involved in international trade, you have to speak to
prospective customers in English. Miscommunication might occur if your English is
bad. And this will put your company at risk and you will likely be dismissed if this
happen.
Good English will also help you a lot when you travel. Every country in the
world studies English. Even the roadside stall-holders in China speak fairly good
English! At least some of the people you meet on your travels in other countries can
understand English. The language is certainly practical when you are lost in your trip.
Communication problem will not happen if you can converse well in English. Inevitably,
English is one of the languages used in any airport in the world in making
announcement. Knowing English well, therefore, make travelling overseas easier.
Besides all these, entertainment is one of the major advantages you will
experience if you good in English. You will enjoy television’s best programmes. We
must admit that many of the best programmes are produced by the Americans and
British companies. High self confidence influenced by the programmes will indirect
inculcate in yourself when you are fluent in the language. Quality time is worthily spent
if you understand and enjoy the programmes.
Based from all the above elaboration, I hope that students will see the
importance and realise how importance the language is for their own future. Although
it is a second language in our country, it is now a main language all over the world.
544 words

DIRECTED: ARTICLE / REPORT: Newspaper Article / Report


There has been an attempted robbery in your area. As a newspaper reporter, you
have been assigned to write a report of the incident for publication in a local
newspaper. Using the notes below, write out your report.

 couple – taking a walk


 two men approached them
 ordered couple to give jewellery
 a struggle – husband injured
 one neighbour – taking a dog for a walk
 heard shouts – went to investigate
 robbers saw dog – fled
 couple made police report

Couple Foils Robbery Attempt


PULAU PINANG, Thu – An elderly businessman and his wife foiled a robbery attempt
by two men armed with a screwdriver and a knife. The victims were reported safe from
any bad injury.
Tan Ah Wok, 60 and his wife were taking a morning walk near their home in
Helen Heights yesterday when two men on a motorcycle stopped them under the
pretext of asking for directions. As Mr. Tan was giving directions, one of the robbers
pointed a knife at him and ordered them to keep quiet. He then relieved Mrs. Tan of
her jewellery and instructed Mr. Tan to hand over his ring and watch. When he refused,
a struggle ensued. Meanwhile, his accomplice grabbed a helmet and hit Mr. Tan on
the head with it. On seeing this, his wife started screaming.
One of their neighbours, R. Subramaniam, who was taking his dog for a walk,
heard the screams and when to investigate. On seeing Subramaniam and his dog, the
robbers fled. “I was taking my dog for a walk when I heard someone shouting for help.
Knowing that something was wrong, I ran there as fast as I could. Before I reached
the scene, the robbers fled on a motorbike. They were probably afraid of my
Rottweiler.”
Mr. Tan, who suffered a small cut on his head, was given outpatient treatment
at a private clinic. He said that it was a horrified experience as he never expected the
two men would attack his wife and him. He thought that they were lost and needed
help. He also mentioned that the guard who in charge nowadays easily allowed the
strangers to enter their residents. State CID Chief Supt Harun Din advised him and
the people to be more careful in giving help to strangers. The guard also must be
stricter in letting people from entering any residents without proper permission.
He added that the suspects, aged between 25 and 30, were believed to be
illegal immigrants. He said there had been similar incident last week when two men
approached a factory worker who was on her way home after work. The duo then
relieved her gold chain and cash. He advised the residents to be alert and reports to
police any suspicious-looking characters lurking in their area.

380 words
From: Spot on Model Compositions and Summary/Oxford Fajar/2007

DIRECTED: REPORT – Police Report


You witnessed an accident. The police officer has asked you to make a report. Use
the points given below:

- when the event happened


- where the event took place
- how it happened
- description of the vehicles
- step taken

To: Sergeant Razali Kamrin


From: Julia Selamat
Date: 7th September 2011

Report of the accident on Jalan 2/14


On 7th September 2011 at 10.30 a.m., I was walking alone Jalan 2/14 which is
next to the children’s playground. As I was about to cross the road to enter the park, I
saw a car driving swiftly down Jalan 4/14. It was a Honda Civic with the number plate
BEH 9110. Another car, a Toyota Vios 1.5 with plate number WHM 4657 came out of
Jalan 4/14 as well. The Honda Civic was driving too fast that make it did not have time
to avoid collision.
The accident caused a loud crash. The Honda Civic hit the Toyota Vios on the
driver’s door. The door could not be opened and the driver had to get out from the
passenger’s door. The driver of the Toyota Vios was lucky as he survived with no
physical injuries. Both air bags popped up when they collided to each other. They both
were fortunate as their car was not badly damaged and dented.
The Toyota Vios’s windscreen was shattered to pieces. The Honda Civic’s
headlight and signal light were smashed. There was plenty of glass on the road. The
two drivers startled to argue. The driver of the Honda City was a woman. They blamed
each other and the argument stopped when her mobile phone rang. Most of the
passerby slowed down their vehicle to watch the accident. Some pedestrian came by
and offered help.
As it happened, I ran into my house which is close by. I called the nearest police
station and in ten minutes, a police car drove up. I told the police officer I had witnessed
the accident and offered to come out to the station to give a statement. The cars were
towed to the side of the road first, and then were brought to the police station before
to workshop. Pictures were taken for insurance claim.
In my opinion, the driver of the Honda City is to blame for the accident. She was
driving too fast and did not pay any attention to vehicles coming out from the side road.
The driver of the Toyota Vios should have stopped at the junction.

Julia Selamat
Julia Selamat

355 words
Write Better Compositions and Summaries for SPM 1119 English/Oxford Fajar/2006

DIRECTED: REPORT – Book Report

As a class project, you have been asked to write a book report. You decide to write a
report of a book you have just read.

Use the following notes in your report:


- author
- title
- setting
- synopsis
- main characters
- themes
- response

“The Story of My Life” is an autobiography written by Helen Keller. It tells us


how Helen Keller, who was deaf, blind and mute, defied the odds to become one of
the most celebrated personalities in the world. The story was set in Alabama in 1997.
In the first half of the book, Helen Keller writes about how she was afflicted
with scarlet fever while she was still a baby and how illness left her deaf, blind and
mute. The story outlines the frustration Helen Keller experienced as a child – alone in
a dark and silent world – unable to communicate with anybody. The author then goes
on to say how her life changed with the arrival of her new-employed teacher and
nanny, Anne Mansfield Sullivan.
The second part of the book relates how Helen Keller studied the deaf and
dumb language and learnt how to write using Braille and then went to college and
graduated. The story goes on to say how she spent the rest of her life helping the deaf
and dumb all over the world.
I enjoyed reading every page of the book. I found some sections of the book,
especially those that deal with the early part of her life, poignant and touching. It made
me realize how difficult life must be for the handicapped. It also made me realize how
fortunate I was. It has made me more sympathetic towards the plight of those who
are less fortunate than I am, especially the handicapped who has given up hope in the
face of misfortune, and the severely handicapped who have lost the will to live.
The story is very touching and informative. It arouses the feelings of the
readers. I admire Helen Keller for her determination and diligence. I appreciate the
painstaking efforts taken by the teacher. The book has a good moral lesson for all. It
shows the triumph of the human spirit in the face of indomitable obstacles. It makes
us wonder whether Helen Keller was just another victim of fate or whether her birth
has a special significance. Was Helen Keller fortunate or unfortunate? Helen Keller
was unfortunate to have suffered the cruel twist of fate but the world is fortunate to
have had a person like her. Her life shining example to prove the adage, “where there
is a will, there is a way”.

393 words
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________
DIRECTED: REPORT – Report to Principal

You are very disappointed by the conditions and services provided by your school
canteen. You decide to write a report to inform your school principal about the poor
conditions and services of the canteen. These would include:

 insufficient table and benches


 food and drinks not covered
 too little food counters
 dirty and clogged drains – smelly
 food – expensive and lacks variety
 inadequate food – late comers have nothing to buy, to eat
 cold food – not fresh
 rude canteen workers

To : Mr. Hasnan bin Jalal,


The Principal,
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata

From : Malik bin Abdul


Date : 24 March 2011

Report about the School Canteen

I am writing this report is to draw your attention regarding the school


canteen. Many of the students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata are
unhappy about the conditions at the school canteen. There were lots of complaints
regarding this issue.
In the first place, there are insufficient tables and benches. Our school
has a student population of over 1 000. There is only one period of recess time for all
forms. More than 80 per cent of the students go to the canteen during recess to buy
food and drinks. Unfortunately, there are only about twenty-five tables and fifty
benches which can accommodate less than half the number of students. As a result,
many students have to stand while eating.
The food sold at the canteen not only expensive but lacks of variety. The menu
is the same every day. For the past five years, ever since the present canteen
management took over, students go back to the same food.
The hygiene and preparation of food leave a lot to be desired. The food and
drinks are not covered. They way canteen attendants dress speak volume about
hygiene. With their lackadaisical attitude, the food they sell would one way or the other
become contaminated.
My fourth complaint about the canteen pertains to the etiquette of the canteen
workers. They are rude and arrogant. They often shout at students. The students are
always on the receiving end of their bad moods.
We hope that conditions at the canteen will improve. The canteen should
provide better amenities. There should also be a different menu everyday so that
students will not have to taste the same food day in and day out. Cleanliness should
be given top priority.
We hope that you will look into our complaints and take steps to remedy the
situation. The students are prepared to boycott the canteen if their complaints go
unheeded.

Reported by:
Malik
Malik bin. Mohd Jalil
314 words

DIRECTED: FORMAL LETTER: Letter of Complaint

Raju a/l Lingam,


123 A, Lorong Bahagia,
Taman Sentosa,
07231 Bandar Baru Sentol,
Kelantan
___________________________________________________________________
______

The President,
Bandar Baru Sentol Council,
Kompleks Utama,
07200 Bandar Baru Sentol 16 JUNE
2011

Dear Sir,
Uncollected Rubbish and Clogged Drains

I am writing this letter is to attract your attention to the above title. As the representative
of the community, I am calling to tell you that the 300 odd residents living in Taman
Sentosa are extremely unhappy about the lackadaisical attitude of the local town
council towards the uncollected rubbish and clogged drains in our area.

2. The rubbish in our area has not been collected for more than a week. The
rubbish is supposed to be collected on alternate days but this has not been the case.
The town council workers collect the rubbish according to their own whims and fancies.
The uncollected garbage has attracted not only flies and mosquitoes but also wild
dogs which had attacked the residents on several occasions. These stray animals also
scatter the rubbish and make the roads dirty and smelly. As a result, residents have
to bear the discomfort of stench from the garbage and risk their health.

3. We are also disappointed with the town council workers for not clearing the
clogged drains which are filled with rubbish. The drains would usually overflow when
there is heavy rain and the rubbish would then flow into the compounds of our houses.
Besides, putting up with the unbearable stench emitted from them, the residents have
to spend hours cleaning their compounds of rotten vegetables, food leftovers and other
rubbish.

4. Due to dengue outbreak recently, we are really concerned about the residents’
health especially the children. Fogging service also was not done accordingly to the
schedule. The fogging authority only did their job whenever a case of dengue aroused.
They even fogging the neighbourhood late at night that caused us to leave the
residents. They need to consider the residents who have babies and also to those who
need to wake up early in the morning for work. The fogging also caused the people to
have breathing problem when we were not told the exact time of fogging.

5. We have made numerous appeals to the Municipal Council to look into our
complaints but to no avail. We have been putting up with this predicament for more
than a week. We hope the health authorities would do something to check these health
hazards.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
Raju
(RAJU a/l MANIAM)

380 words
DIRECTED: FORMAL LETTER: Letter of Application

You came across the following advertisement for the post Accounts Assistant Clerk.

Write a letter of application together with curriculum vitae to the manager.

In your letter, include the following:


- your curriculum vitae
- the reasons for your interest in the job
- your ability to work independently
- pursuing a degree in Accountancy

Do remember to:
- use the formal letter
- use all the points given
- elaborate each points given

Chong Mei Lin,


40, Jalan Templer,
Taman Hati Bersih,
76 000 Seremban,
Negeri Sembilan
___________________________________________________________________
______

The Manager,
Lim and Sons Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.,
Lot 123, Interstate Industrial Area,
76 001 Nilai,
Negeri Sembilan 18 JULY
2010

Dear Sir / Madam,


Application for the Post of Accounts Assistant

I wish to apply for the post of Accounts Assistant as advertised in The New Strait Times
dated 15th July 2011.

2. I have the necessary qualifications as stated in my curriculum vitae which is


attached to this letter. I have experience working in both food manufacturing and also
auto manufacturing fields. I am currently working in Lazat Ice Cream Sdn. Bhd. in
capacity of an Accounts Assistant and have been here since January 2008. Before
this, I was working in TFR Auto Enterprise as an Accounts clerk. Since my present
position offers little prospect for career advancement, I would like to be attached to a
fairly large organisation such as yours.

3. I would like to work in Nilai as I intend to further my studies and get professional
qualification. I have registered with a college in Nilai to do ACCA on part-time basis.
With this high additional education level and knowledge, I can perform better in
applying the accounts knowledge in the future job.

4. I can assure you that I am capable person who can work independently. I am
able to handle full sets of accounts, up to three sets at a time. I am interested in working
with a company like yours as I feel I can grow well with the company. I am a team
player, adapt easily to any working environments and can work with people from all
works of life.

5. I was active in extra-curricular activities and was considered as responsible


and dedicated worker. I led and organised many activities for the school clubs so I am
confident that I can be an asset to your company in this capacity. Furthermore, i have
a good command of English.

6. In view of my qualification and experience, I would expect a salary more than


RM 2 000. And since I have my own car, I would have no problems travelling outstation
should the job require.

7. I look forward to hearing from you and I am fully prepared to attend an interview
at any time convenient to you.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
Raju
(RAJU a/l MANIAM)

358 words

DIRECTED: INFORMAL LETTER

Your friend in Singapore has written to you to inform you that his cousin in Penang
was down with dengue fever. He would like to know the situation in Malaysia as he
plans to bring his family over for the holidays in June. Write a letter to brief him about
the current situation.

In your letter, include the following:

 express concern over the health of your friend’s cousin


 news about the situation
 steps taken authorities
 present situation

Do remember to:

 use the informal letter format


 use all the points given
 expand each of the points given
 write in paragraph

No. 34, Street of Fame,


Taman Bukit Bintang,
Bukit Bintang,
67500 Ipoh,
Perak

14 January 2011

Dear John,

How are you? I’m sorry to hear that your cousin had dengue fever. This
problem seems to have become very serious all of sudden. We always feel that the
problem is not our concern until someone close to us is affected.
My neighbour’s daughter who was in Standard 6 last year could not sit for
UPSR examination because she was down with dengue fever on the eve of the exam.
Fortunately, the authorities gave her an exemption so she is now in Form One. There
were also a few students taking the examination in the hospital.
According to the news, students made up nearly 30 per cent of the 1 500
suspected cases over the first three weeks of the year. About 53 per cent of 621
confirmed cases last year comprised children and youth under the age of 24. These
statistics are quite worrying. This has prompted the health ministry to increase checks
on aedes breeding grounds in school and public areas. The construction sites are
largely to blamed. The problem is made worse by the rainy season. The stagnating
water attract the mosquitoes to lay egg and breeding on the areas.
The authorities have taken various steps to control the situation. Fogging has
been carried out in many public areas and most of the housing estates. Contractors at
the construction sites have been instructed to take appropriate actions and warned to
clean up. They could be fined up to RM 3 000 for breeding aedes mosquitoes. Lot of
campaigns through the television, radio and newspapers were taken to make people
aware of the issue and take precaution rather than cure them.
Before the long holidays for the Chinese New Year, schools all over Malaysia
carried out a clean-up campaign of the school compound. The residents’ association
in my housing are also organised a family day clean-up of the housing estate. There
were huge piles of rubbish especially old tyres and containers littered by the hawkers
near the might market site.
The situation in Malaysia has improved since the end of January. There have
been no reports of new cases of dengue. So, don’t worry. You can bring your family
for a holiday here in June. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.
Send my regard to your mom and dad. Do take care.

Yours sincerely,
Harun Din

387 words

DIRECTED: SPEECH

Your school is having a month-long ‘A Healthy Body Campaign’. As President of the


Health Club of your school, you decide to give a speech on the ‘Tak nak Campaign’
recently launched by the government.

Tak Nak Campaign


A very good morning to our dear Principal, Mr. Hasnan bin Jaafar, teachers
and students.
Recently, our former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched
an anti-smoking campaign called “Tak Nak”. You can now see this short and rhyming
catch phrase “Tak Nak” everywhere – on billboards, posters, TV ads, and sometimes
I even hear it on the radio. Though some people have criticised our government for
setting aside a staggering sum of RM100 million over 6 years for the campaign, it is
nothing compared to the huge amounts that tobacco companies spend to promote
smoking.
But in this war against smoking, money definitely talks; it is necessary for the
Tak Nak Campaign to constanly remind us of the hazard of smoking because about
50 Malaysian teenagers light up for the first time every day. In fact, some of these
youth progress steadily from this to regular use, with addiction raking hold within a few
years. And this is despite the warning on every pack of cigarettes that states
unequivocally “Smoking is dangerous to your health”.
What can the Tak Nak Campaign do to combat this? Their aggressive
advertising creates media awareness among the public, especially among the
fashionable young crowd, that smokers have yellowed teeth and suffer from shortness
of breath and tells them that it is not cool to smoke. It is also not responsible of them
to affect non-smokers with second-hand smoke.
Also, there is a succession of infomercials on TV and in the papers showing
the debilitating effects of tobacco addiction on the body and gruesome statistics of
smoke-related deaths. We are now familiar with the graphic pictures of damaged lungs
on billboards which should scare people into not smoking. This works, as I know some
of my friends are quitting now, or trying to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke
per week.
However, I feel any anti-smoking campaign is more effective if other people
and organisations are actively involved too. Yes, the first step has been taken by the
top, but sad to say, many of our politicians smoke themselves. Nearer to home, so do
some of our parents and teachers.
These adults have to be good role models by not smoking themselves. If they
do smoke, they should tell their children and students that they regret that they ever
started, and then take steps to quit smoking as soon as possible. They must practise
what they preach.
On a more positive note, I commend the Malaysia Amateur Athletic Union for
its zero-tolerance of smoking because they know that smoking and health just do not
mix. How can our sportsmen excel if they cannot stop smoking.
Dear teachers and students, thank you for your attention. Let me end my
speech by reiterating that smoking is a bad habit, so make Tak Nak your mantra. If
you have started smoking, say Tak Nak and quit! And if you haven’t started smoking,
say know that smoking not only damages your health but you are also literally burning
your money.

502 words

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