Ajeng Rosmala, S.Pd., Gr.

UNTUK MA/SMA KELAS XII SEMESTER 1

TAHUN PELAJARAN 2020/2021

First of all, the authors would like to thank Allah Swt for His blessing and guidance
throughout the process of finishing this module.

This module has been carefully designed to provide the learners with the language
skills that will be very important in global communication. All the activities in this
module include the four language skills listening, speaking, reading, and writing,
organized in an integrated sequence of activities. The materials encourage the
teacher to put the focus of learning and teaching on learners, encompassing
student-centered method. Once the learning activities have been completed,
learners are expected to be able to conduct independent presentation or write in
different text types.

Finally, the author hopes learners have a productive and enjoyable time using this
module. May this module be a companion to all learners in achieving success.

The Writer

i
PREFACE …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… i
CONTENTS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ii
BASIC COMPETENCE ………………………………………………………………………………………… iii

CHAPTER 1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
CHAPTER 2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
CHAPTER 3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 21

REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 32

ii
 KOMPETENSI INTI DAN KOMPETENSI DASAR BAHASA INGGRIS UMUM MA KELAS XII
KOMPETENSI INTI 3 (PENGETAHUAN)
3. Memahami, menerapkan, dan
menganalisis pengetahuan faktual,
konseptual, prosedural, dan metakognitif
berdasarkan rasa ingin tahunya tentang
ilmu pengetahuan, teknologi, seni,
budaya, dan humaniora dengan wawasan
kemanusiaan, kebangsaan, kenegaraan,
dan peradaban terkait penyebab
fenomena dan kejadian, serta
menerapkan pengetahuan prosedural
pada bidang kajian yang spesifik sesuai
dengan bakat dan minatnya untuk
memecahkan masalah
KOMPETENSI DASAR
3.1. Menerapkan fungsi sosial, struktur teks,
dan unsur kebahasaan teks interaksi
interpersonal lisan dan tulis yang
melibatkan tindakan menawarkan jasa,
serta menanggapinya, sesuai dengan
konteks penggunaannya. (Perhatikan
unsur kebahasaan May I help you?, What
can I do for you? What if ...?)
3.2. Membedakan fungsi sosial, struktur teks,
dan unsur kebahasaan beberapa teks
khusus dalam bentuk surat lamaran kerja,
dengan memberi dan meminta informasi
terkait jati diri, latar belakang
pendidikan/pengalaman kerja, sesuai
dengan konteks penggunaannya
3.3. Membedakan fungsi sosial, struktur teks,
dan unsur kebahasaan beberapa teks
khusus dalam bentuk teks caption,
dengan memberi dan meminta informasi
terkait gambar /foto /tabel/grafik/ bagan,
sesuai dengan konteks penggunaannya
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KOMPETENSI INTI 4 (KETERAMPILAN)
4. Mengolah, menalar, dan menyaji dalam
ranah konkret dan ranah abstrak terkait
dengan pengembangan dari yang
dipelajarinya di sekolah secara mandiri,
bertindak secara efektif dan kreatif, serta
mampu menggunakan metode sesuai
kaidah keilmuan
KOMPETENSI DASAR
4.1. Menyusun teks interaksi interpersonal
lisan dan tulis sederhana yang
melibatkan tindakan menawarkan jasa,
dan menanggapinya dengan
memperhatikan fungsi sosial, struktur
teks, dan unsur kebahasaan yang benar
dan sesuai konteks
4.2. Surat lamaran kerja
4.2.1. Menangkap makna secara kontekstual
terkait fungsi sosial, struktur teks, dan
unsur kebahasaan teks khusus dalam
bentuk surat lamaran kerja, yang
memberikan informasi antara lain jati
diri, latar belakang pendidikan /
pengalaman kerja
4.2.2. Menyusun teks khusus surat lamaran
kerja, yang memberikan informasi
antara lain jati diri, latar belakang
pendidikan/pengalaman kerja, dengan
memperhatikan fungsi sosial, struktur
teks, dan unsur kebahasaan, secara
benar dan sesuai konteks
4.3. Teks penyerta gambar (caption)
4.3.1. Menangkap makna secara kontekstual
terkait fungsi sosial, struktur teks, dan
unsur kebahasaan teks khusus dalam
bentuk caption terkait
gambar/foto/tabel/grafik/bagan
 4.3.2. Menyusun teks khusus dalam bentuk
teks caption terkait
gambar/foto/tabel/grafik/bagan,
dengan memperhatikan fungsi sosial,
struktur teks, dan unsur kebahasaan,
secara benar dan sesuai konteks

iv
In this chapter, you will learn how to:
 Identify expressions to offer help and to respond to it (accepting and refusing)
 Identify the social function, text structure, and language features of an offer
 Make offer and respond to it with the correct social function, structure, and
language feature
ACTIVITY 1

Observe these pictures. Fill in the call out with the suitable expressions provided in
the boxes.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5.

2
 (a)
Perhaps I could (d)
assist you with (c)
May I help you
that machine in If you have anything cook it, please?
some way to ask about my
presentation, please
feel free to come to (e)
(b) my office I’ll help you
Let me help you carry your bag
cross the road

ACTIVITY 2

Pay attention to the following dialogue. Then, answer the questions.

Mechanic : Good morning, Nashville Auto Garage, can I help you?

Man : Yes, I hope so. I’m having trouble with my car engine. It wouldn’t
start this morning. Can you come to my house and repair it for me,
please?
Mechanic : Umm…. What can I say? Mm…. My men are working on some cars
right now, Sir. I think you’ll have to wait for a few hours. What if we
come to your house tomorrow?
Man : But I need the car tomorrow.
Mechanic : You could try other garages.
Man : I want to, but I don’t have any contacts. Besides, I have been your
loyal customer for a long time.
Mechanic : I have friend who might help you. He’s also a car mechanic like me
and I can guarantee that he will repair your car as well as we do. Let
me call him for you now.
Man : Oh, that’s very kind of you to offer. Thanks.

Questions
1. What is the dialogue about?
2. Can the mechanic repair the man’s car right away? Why?
3. What does the mechanic offer the man?
4. Does the man accept or refuse the offer? Why?
5. What are some expressions to offer help and also the responses that exist in the
dialogue above?

3
ACTIVITY 3

Human as a social creature can not live alone. We need to build communication to
others to run our daily life well. We also often need to help others to keep our
interpersonal relations. Below are some expressions that you can use to offer help
to others and how to respond to it.

Offering Help

Expressions to offer help are expressions which are used when you want to help
someone to do something. We usually use an offer to ask people if they need
something or help.

When we want to offer help, we say:

 Can I help you?  Perhaps I could assist you with that
 Let me help you  Could I assist you in some way?
 May I help you?  May I offer you assistance?
 Do you need help?  How can I help you?
 Would you like some help?  What can I do for you?

Other useful expressions:

 I’d be happy to type the letter for you.
 Can I type the letter for you?
 I can type the letter for you if you want.
 If you don’t mind, I can type the letter for you.
 If you like, I’ll type the letter for you.
 Do you want me to type the letter for you?
 Let me know if you need help with anything.
 If you need any help, just let me know.
 Shall I type the letter for you?

Accepting an offer: Declining an offer:

 Yes, please  Thanks. But I can do it myself
 Yes, I need it very much. Thank you  It’s okay. I’ll handle it myself
 How kind of you. Thanks a lot  No, it’s okay. Thanks
 Yes, that would be great  No, thanks. I’ll be alright soon
 That would be so kind. Thank you
 Oh really? Thanks a million
 Thanks. That’s just what I need.

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ACTIVITY 4

In pairs, make a dialogue based on the model below. You can expand your
dialogue if you want to.

Example:

A : I have a headache
B : Shall I get you some aspirin?
A : Yes, please. Thank you.

1. . 2.

3. 4.

5.

5
ACTIVITY 5

Read the following letter of offering help from Holiday Home for Pets to Mr. And
Mrs. Roncards. Fill in the blanks with suitable expressions of offering help that
provided in the box.

Holiday Home for Pets

Boarding Kennels since 1983
Auduborn Street 333, Kingsway, London
website: www.petpet.co.uk
Emai: pet4pet@gmail.com Telephone: 222 378 9000

May 22, 2015

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Roncards:

A friend of yours, Mrs. Linda McPherson, tells us that you are going on a trip to
China for a month and that you have no one to take care of your Persian cat during
your absence from home.
The Holiday Home for Pets is ready to solve your problem. 1)
________________ in a centrally heated kennel? Since pet are easily get sick, 2)
________________ before it goes to the kennel?
In order to keep your cat’s appearance looking good, the fur should be
trimmed, it should be washed once a week in a warm shower. 3) _______________.
We always feed the pets with our home-cooked food. We never allow them to be
fed with canned food. 4) _______________?
Well, Mr. And Mrs. Roncards, to promote our business, we won’t charge you an
expensive price. We’ll give you a special discount. 5) ________________ please
don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll be happy to respond.

Sincerely yours,
Carol Bakers

Answer choices:
a) If you have any questions about pet boarding
b) Do you want us to keep your cat
c) Do you want us to do the same thing to your cat
d) would you like us to vaccinate your cat
e) We can do that for you if you like

6
ACTIVITY 6

Complete the following dialogues with expressions to offer help and the
responses.

Dialogue 1
Friska : Huh! This work is really stressing me.
Dory : ____________________?
Friska : Umm, ___________________.
Dory : ____________________?
Friska : Umm, would you like to put these figures in the data, please? This is a
very urgent matter.
Dory : Okay, I’ll do it.
Friska : ____________________. I don’t know what I should do without you.
Dory : That’s what a friend is for.

Dialogue 2
Mother : Raymond, I’m going to cook your favorite soup.
Raymond : Wow, I can’t wait then.
Mother : But, I’m running out of salt.
Raymond : Oh really? ___________________?
Mother : Yes, ____________________.
Raymond : How ____________________?
Mother : Get two packets, please. And be careful. Cross the road only when
the cars have passed.
Raymond : Alright, mom.

Dialogue 3
Shop Assistant : _____________________?
Customer : Yes, I’m looking for a teenage novel. Do you have some?
Shop Assistant : Yes, Sir. We have many new novels here.
Customer : I need The Evening Rose by Jacklyn Rosemary. Do you have a
copy?
Shop Assistant : Here you are, Sir.
Customer : I’d like to take this book, please.
Shop Assistant : Alright, Sir. And let me___________________ the price off.
Customer : _____________________. I want to give it to a friend.
Shop Assistant : _____________________?
Customer : Yes, that would be nice. Thanks.

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 ACTIVITY 7

In pairs, create a dialogue based on the following situations.

a. Your friend is thinking about something seriously. You ask him/her what has
happened and offer him/her some help. He/she accepts it.
b. Your neighbor is an old lady. She has a mango tree which bears a lot of fruit. As
she lives alone, she has no one to pick the mangoes from the trees. Offer some
help to do it for her.
c. An old man is going to cross a busy street. Offer him help to cross the street.
d. Your friend’s computer and printer are broken. You are offering to repair them.
e. You want to go to the supermarket downtown. You are asking your elderly
neighbor if she has anything to buy at the supermarket.
f. You want to go to town. You are asking your neighbor if he wants to go with
you in your car.

What did you learn from this unit? Put a check (√) in the right column based on your actual
achievement.
No. Aspects Very Well Well Poorly
1. Using expressions of offering help in a conversation
2. Responding to help offers in a conversation
3. Offering help to others

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In this chapter, you will learn how to:
 Identify the characteristics of application letter and resume
 Identify the social function and text structure of application letter
 Identify the social function and text structure of resume
 Write an application letter and resume in a proper way
 APPLICATION LETTER

An application letter is a formal letter written to apply for a job. The application
letter generally contains personal information and includes reasons for applying for
the positions.

ACTIVITY 1

Read the following example of application letter below and answer the questions.
Azzikra Queensha
Mentari No. 200
Surabaya
queenshaazzikra@gmail.com

04th of March, 2016

Jason Mell
Red Company
87 New Street

Dear Mr. Mell,

I am writing to apply for the programmer position advertised in your
company.
As requested, I am enclosing a completed job application, my certification,
my resume, and three references.
The opportunity presented in this listing is very interesting, and I believe that
my strong technical experience and education will make me a very competitive
candidate for this position. The key strengths that I possess for success in this
position include, I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live use
applications and then I strive for continued excellence and the last I provide
exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers.
I also have experience in learning and excelling at new technologies as
needed. Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.
I can be reached anytime via email at queenshaazzikra@gmail.com or my cell
phone, 087 5768 0000.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with
you about this employment opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

Azzikra Queensha

Questions
1. To whom was the application letter addressed?

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2. What position did the applicant apply for?
3. What are the applicant’s competences?
4. Why does the applicant match the position?
5. What is the applicant ready for?

Here are some parts or elements of application letter.

Applicant’s Address
Your name
Your address
Your telephone number
Your e-mail

Date

Employer’s Address
Employer’s name
Job title
Company’s name
Company’s address

Salutation
Dear Sir / Madame

Opening Paragraph
Explain the basic reason for the application letter. What job are you
applying for? When and where did you see the position advertised? If it is
not advertised, state how you heard about the position.

Body of Letter
Demonstrate confidently that your skills, background, and experience are
suitable to the desired job requirements. Mention specific qualifications
which make you a good fit for the employer’s need. Mention how your
personal skills enhance and support your technical abilities and state that
you would highly regard an opportunity to work for the company.

Closing Paragraph
State your availability for an interview or test and include your contact
number or e-mail.

Closing
Yours sincerely / Yours faithfully

Signature
Your name

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Remember! To write a perfect application letter, you should:
 begin with your contact information (complete address and phone number) at
the top so they can reply to you;
 write the date in the letter
 write the name of the employer to whom you are applying for a job and the
address;
 write the name of the person to whom you are writing;
 state the position for which you are applying so that the employer knows for
certain;
 begin the letter by telling the employer why you want the job and why the job
would be suitable for you;
 summarize your strengths and any particular qualifications or experience that
would be considered relevant to the post;
 explain how you think you can contribute to the company and help it become
successful;
 write “I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience” at the
bottom of the letter but before your closing and signature;
 end appropriately by using “Yours sincerely” or “Yours faithfully”; and
 sign and write your name underneath.

ACTIVITY 2

Read the following application letters. Then, compare the letters by completing
the table that follows.

Application Letter 1
Dear Sir:

Junior Office Clerk, The Semarang Post, October 20, 2015

I should be glad if you would consider my qualification for the post you
advertised.
I have a special interest in English and books. Since I graduated, I have
intended to get a post in a reputable publishing firm. Your present vacancy seems to
offer the opportunity I have been waiting for. I enclose copies of testimonials from
Mr. Sanusi Pane, my former principal, and Dr. Endang Sulastri. These and the
references noted on the enclosed sheet supply evidence of my ability to work
efficiently and to get on well with other people.
If appointed, I am sure I would enjoy the work. I hope you will call me for an
interview.

Yours truly,

Ni Luh Putu Santi

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Application Letter 2

Robinson Elohansen
586 Sudirman St.
Jakarta
45965
Tel. 021 555 1212
Email: relohansen@gmail.com

July 23, 2017

Jasmine Investments, Inc.

Attn.: Budi Waluyo
4634 Menteri Supeno St.
Semarang 50242

Dear Mr. Waluyo,

I am writing to you regarding your advertisement in Star Magazine on
September 13, 2016. Considering my educational background and five years
working in office management, I am sure that I have enough experience for this
position. I believe I also have the necessary skills to work in a team to support the
position of Office Manager.
I believe I fulfill some requirements of the position below.
 Organizing a team efficiently and working in a team
 Leading and manage office well by supporting ‘E’ systems
 Work with clear vision and objectives
 Finish tasks within a tight deadline
In my last position, I was able to lead a company with over 250 employees. I
enjoy working with people from various backgrounds. I improve my interpersonal
skills by creating a congenial and creative office environment.
I hope after reviewing my application letter, you will find that I have abilities
which suit your requirements. Please get in touch with me if you have any further
questions. Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Robinson Elohansen

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Application Letter 3

Personal Manager
Sri Ayu, Sri Ayu & Co.
GPO BOX 345
Singapore 222 2220

September 21, 2015

Dear Sir/Madame:
I am writing to you to express my interest regarding your advertisement in Weeks
currently. I have given careful consideration to the job description and believe that I
have the necessary qualification and personal attributes to take up the position.
Although I do not have a lot of practical experience in the field of advertising, my
past work experience shows that I am able to learn fast from experienced staff. In
my previous job as a salesgirl, I was in charge of handling costumers’ complaints and
boosting the product brand.
I have enclosed my resume for your consideration with copies of my certificates and
qualifications.
I would like the opportunity to work as part of an enthusiastic office team. I look
forward to the opportunity for an interview.

Sincerely yours,

Ninarika Gosh

ACTIVITY 3

Pay attention to the application letters in Activity 1. discuss with your friends the
important elements of the letters.
1st 2nd 3rd
No. Questions
Yes/No Yes/No Yes/No
1 Is there the date when the letter was written?
2 Is there the name of company to be applied
to?
3 Did the applicant write the full name of the
recipient?
4 Did the applicant mention the recipient’s
address?
5 Did the applicant mention the city, state, and
zip code?
6 Is there any phone number or email address
of the recipient?
7 Is there a salutation?

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8 Did the applicant write the title of the
position applied for?
9 Did the applicant state a reason for being a
good fit for the position?
10 Did the applicant list job requirements that
he/she can relate to his/her background
experience?
11 Is there a closure in the letter?

ACTIVITY 4

Complete the following letter of application with the appropriate words provided
in the box.

DEA Computer Manufacturer

68 Createburg St.
Colorado

November 30, 2015

Dear Sir/Madame:
I am (1) ________ on GogoDigi on October 28, 2015. Please find my resume,
certificates, and letters of reference enclosed.
The position you advertised matches my interests and I believe that (2) ________
for this position. The key strengths that I possess for success in the position include:
 Designing, developing, and supporting live-use applications;
 Striving for continued excellence; and
 Providing exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers.
(3) _________ , I have a full understanding of the full life cycle of a software
development project. I also have (4) ________. Please see my resume for additional
information on my experience.
I (5) ________ at pedrosa.dwi@gmail.com or my cell phone at 909 555 5555. thank
you for your time and consideration. I look forward to an interview with you about
this employment opportunity.

Sincerely yours,

Dwi Pedrosa

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Answer’s choices:
a) experience in learning and excelling at new technologies as needed
b) writing to apply for the programmer position advertised
c) can be reached anytime via e-mail
d) my technical experience and education will make me a very competitive
candidate
e) With Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Programming

ACTIVITY 5

Write an application letter based on the following job vacancies.

1.

16
2.

3.

17
 RESUME

When you apply for a job, you should submit your resume along with
application letter. A resume includes your personal information and descriptions of
your education, experience, skills, and accomplishments. Your resume is one of the
most important documents in your job search since it provides the vital first
impression upon a hiring committee. You can attach the recent photograph on your
resume.
A resume should contain the following:
1. Your Contact Information
It states your full name, address, phone (cell/home) and e-mail address.
2. Personal Information
It includes your full name, gender, place and date of birth, age, marital status,
and interest.
3. Career Objective (Optional)
It describes your desired job.
4. Education
It lists the name of schools or institutions and dates attended in reverse order;
university, high school and primary school.
5. Work Experience
It states the companies you worked for, dates of employment, the positions you
held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and achievements. If you are fresh
graduate, you can mention your training attended.
6. Summary Qualification
It includes your skills related to the position/career field that you are applying
for, such as computer skills or language skills.
7. Organization
It describes the organization attended.
8. Honors and Awards
It states honors and awards received.
9. Reference (Optional)
It states the person’s contact information of the previous employers who are
willing to give information about the applicant. If you have details of referees,
put them in. Common practice is to write ‘References are available on request’
and wait until they asked for.

18
ACTIVITY 6

Read the following example of resume below.

Baskara Aditya
Jl. Flamboyan No. 21 Palembang
Mobile number: 0821 99997777
E-mail: aditbrahma@yahoo.co.id

Full name : Baskara Aditya

Gender : Male
Place and Date of Birth : Mataram, March 30, 1999
Age : 19
Marital Status : Single
Interest : Basketball, Automotive modification

I am a fresh vocational school graduate currently looking for a motorcycle mechanic

position. I would like to utilize my skills and experience as well as my passion at
automotive industry. Moreover, I would like to work with other mechanic
professionals to improve my skills.

 2015 - 2018 SMK Bina Muda Yogyakarta

 2012 - 2015 SMP Karya Bangsa Yogyakarta
 2006 - 2012 SD Tunas Mataram

2017 internship at PT Gemilang Motor, Yogyakarta

 Attended various competitions

 Proficient at computer programs
 Excellent communication skills

 A class captain for the eleventh grade of Automotive Class at SMK Bina Muda
 The OSIS chairperson at SMK Bina Muda

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  The captain of a basketball team at SMK Bina Muda
 A member of Community Volunteer at SMK Bina Muda
 A member of scouts

 The runner-up of an automotive modification contest in Yogyakarta

 The 2nd runner-up of an interschool basketball competition in Yogyakarta

Please contact the following:

Mr. Denny Wibowo
Head of Mechanic at PT Gemilang Motors
Phone: 0812 33334444

ACTIVITY 7

Make a resume of yourself. Relate your resume based on the job vacancy you’ve
chosen, as if you owned the qualifications needed in each job vacancies.

What did you learn from this unit? Put a check (√) in the right column based on your actual
achievement.
No. Aspects Very Well Well Poorly
1. Identifying characteristics of application letter and
resume
2. Identifying elements or parts of application letter
3. Identifying elements or parts of resume
4. Writing application letter
5. Writing resume

20
In this chapter, you will learn how to:
 Identify characteristics of a photo caption
 Identify social function, structure, and language features of a photo caption
 Make a photo caption
 Present captions include the pictures in front of the class
ACTIVITY 1

Match the following pictures with the right captions.

a. b.

©AP Photo/Chao Soi Cheong © Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

c. d.

© Achmad Ibrahim © Photo/China Daily

Caption 1
An Indonesian investigator has concluded that a cascading series of technical
failures, compounded by crew error, brought down an Indonesian AirAsia jetliner
nearly a year ago. The crash of Air Asia Flight 8501 killed 162 people on December
28, 2014.

Caption 2
Smoke, flames and debris erupt from one of the World Trade Center towers as a
plane strikes it Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The first tower was already burning
following a terror attack minutes earlier.

Caption 3
Huoshenshan Hospital takes shape in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Jan 30, 2020. The
1,000-bed Huoshenshan Hospital is scheduled to come into operation on Monday
and the 1,500-bed Leishenshan facility will follow three days later.

Caption 4
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, left, and President Donald Trump shake hands
during a meeting on the south side of the Military Demarcation Line that divides
North and South Korea, in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of Panmunjom in the
Demilitarized zone (DMZ), on June 30, 2019.

22
ACTIVITY 2

Read the following explanation about photo caption.

The element of publication that is often read first is the photo captions.
Writing photo captions is an important part of a photographer’s work. A
photo caption gives readers basic information to understand the
photograph and it is related to the news. Therefore, writing a photo caption
should fulfill professional standards of clarity, accuracy, and completeness.
Professional standards photo caption include:
 the identification of the people, the place of the event, and the date
when the photograph was taken in the first sentence; and
 relevant information in the next sentence to help readers understand
the picture.
The photo and the caption complement each other. The photo provokes
the reader’s emotional reactions while the caption satisfies the reader’s
curiosity. Every caption should also intrigue the readers in a way that makes
them look back at the picture and the headline, and then read the whole
story.

ACTIVITY 3

Discuss with your friends.

1. What is the definition of a caption?
2. What is the function of photo captions?
3. What makes a good photo caption?

23
 Writing Captions
When you write a photo caption, there are some rules that you have to
follow.
1. Supply specific information (answering 5WH-questions)
 Who/What is that?
 What is going on?
 When did it happen?
 Where did it happen?
 Why did it happen?
 How did it happen?
2. Use present tense to describe action in the photo.
The first sentence is often written in the present tense to give the
sense of immediacy. The following sentence is written in the past
tense.
3. Captions are written in a complete sentence － mostly a declarative
sentence. One or two sentence(s) are enough to describe a photo, but
if more explanation is needed, a caption may have three sentences.
4. Clearly identify the people and location that appear in the photo. Mind
the correct spelling of names.
5. For photographs more than one person, identify from left to the right.

ACTIVITY 4

Analyze the following photo and its caption according to rules in writing captions.

Fire brigades fight a fire which

occurred at Roots Store, a
three-story commercial building
on Queen Street, West Toronto,
Canada, after midnight on
Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

© Photo/The Star

No. Criteria Yes (√ ) No (√ )

1. 5WH-questions
2. The use of present tense
3. Completeness of sentences
4. Clear identification of people and location

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ACTIVITY 5

Read this photo caption and answer the questions.

© Dimitri Maruta/iStock

To celebrate the 95th anniversary of Victory Day, the Red Arrow Fast Aerobatic Team
performs aerobatics in Hawk jets above Tallinn Bay, Tallinn, Estonia as its 50th
display season on Monday, June 23, 2014. The RAF aerobatic team representing the
speed, agility, and precision of the Royal Air Force is the ambassador for the U.K.
armed forces.
a. What is the topic of the photo?
b. What was happening on the 95th anniversary of Victory Day?
c. Where was the photo taken?
d. How many times have the RAF aerobatic team given a display?
e. Who took the picture?
f. What words in the caption have the same meaning as:
- nimble
- quickness

ACTIVITY 6

Read a photo caption below and decide whether the statements are true (T) or
false (F).

© Omepl1/iStock

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 Fair race. Rivals regardless of who are winners or losers, friends or foes, greet each
other after finishing the race on Shing Mun River Channel, Sha Tin, Hong Kong,
during Duanwu Festival on June 12, 2013. spectators witnessed the sportmanship of
their teams from afar.

No. Statement True False

1. They did not greet each other teams after the race.
2. Duanwu Festival was held on a river.
3. The participants of the boat race competed fairly and squarely.
4. No one watched this race.

The first step in writing a photo caption is to make a title of the photo. The title may
come from the main idea of the story. The title has to reflect and confirm the
information of the photo. Caption titles play an important role in drawing readers’
attention to continue reading both the caption and the story.

ACTIVITY 7

Let’s take a look at the following two photo captions. Do the titles reflect the
photos and the information? Analyze them.

Aqua-cycling. Three bikers cycle on

flooded Abdullah Syafei St., South
Jakarta on Sunday, January 22, 2014.

Caption Title

© Herianus/iStock

Impressive. Dancers perform Legong

Dance for tourists in Ubud on
Monday, July 31, 2004. The
performance has gained popularity
and praise among the audiences.

Caption Title

© Travlinmad

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ACTIVITY 8

Supply the best title for the three photos below.

1.

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________

© Instagram @noah_site

2.

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________

© Syah/MAMHTroso

3.

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________

© Wahyu Subyanto/Nextren

The second step in photo caption writing is giving relevant information about the
photo. Remember the pattern of 5WH-questions. Use complete sentences. Write
1-2 sentence(s) only.

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 ACTIVITY 9

Use 5WH-questions to write your photo captions.

1.

Who/What?
What’s going on?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?

© Instagram @noah_site

2.

Who/What?
What’s going on?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?

© Syah/MAMHTroso

3.

Who/What?
What’s going on?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?

© Wahyu Subyanto/Nextren

ACTIVITY 10

Now, arrange your information into good sentences. Write 1 or 2 complete

sentence(s) for each photo.

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 1.

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________

© Instagram @noah_site

2.

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________

© Syah/MAMHTroso

3.

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________

© Wahyu Subyanto/Nextren

The third step is to write a photo credit. Photographers should include their photo
credit in the caption. Style varies by publication.
 Jill Connelly for the New York Times
 Jill Connelly/AP
 AP Photo/Jill Connelly
In this book, the photo credits are written based on RF License, photo credits according
to RF License are written as follows © [photographer’s name] / [source].
Example: © Jill Connelly/AP Photo

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 Punctuation in Captions
 Captions normally begin with a capital letter.
 Captions should not be in italics, unless that also occurs in the main story.
 All sentences and any sentence fragments in that caption should end with a
period.

ACTIVITY 11

Put the correct capital letters and punctuation into photo captions below.
1. students of singapore international school (sis) semarang commemorate earth
day on april 22 2014 by planting trees on the school grounds they wore gloves
and used shovels to plant around 80 trees of various species
2. police in depok west java assisted by soldiers from the jakarta garrison check
vehicle documents and driving licenses of motorists in operation zebra on
margonda raya st on tuesday the police checked vehicle documents of civilians
while the military officers checked military personnel

Photo captions are also often called cutlines. However, they have slight differences.
Photo captions are shorter than cutlines, with only titles or sentences of one-line
length. Look at the examples. The first is a photo caption, and the second one is a
cutline.
1. A train crashed into a gas tanker at a level crossing in Bintaro on Monday
morning.
2. A school bus is towed following a collision with a car on the Major Deagan
Expressway (I-87) in the Bronx on Friday, September 29, 2017. There were no major
injuries reported among the 42 students and eight adults on board from St. Joseph
School in the Bronx.

ACTIVITY 12

Make a photo caption.

a. Write your own photo caption. The photo has to be original (You take the photo).
b. Show your photo and its caption to your teacher and your classmates in front of
the class.

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What did you learn from this unit? Put a check (√) in the right column based on your actual
achievement.
No. Aspects Very Well Well Poorly
1. Identifying characteristics of a photo caption
2. Identifying text structure and language feature of a
photo caption
3. Make a photo caption

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REFERENCES
Ali, A. Faidal Rahman. 2018. Basic and Fundamental English Grammar for
Elementary Level. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Widyatama.

Bima M., dkk. 2017. Bahasa Inggris. Klaten: Intan Pariwara.

Sudarwati, Theresia M., Eudia Grace. 2015. Pathway to English. Jakarta: Erlangga.

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