TEACHERS’ EDITION

ENGLISH IN CAMP 2013 :

GUIDED WRITING

There will always be someone better than you,

there will always be someone worse... but
there is no one exactly like you!
 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing
Analysis of PMR Guided Writing Questions

YEAR SECTION A

2002 Informal Letter

2003 Giving opinion

2004 Speech

2005 Report based on pictures

2006 Informal Letter based on notes given

2007 Story based on pictures

2008 Speech based on poster about safety in school

2009 An Article (report, recount) – A visit to old folks’ home

2010 Story based on pictures

2011 Giving Opinion : Manzhu Highlands vs Zinga Island

2012 Speech : How to be a good student

Informal Letter + Recount

Example : Writing a letter to friend telling him/her on our experience in a camping trip

2 things to remember :

1. Format of a letter
2. How to write a recount

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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing
Format Of A Letter :

1. Informal letters are written to friends & relatives.

2. The format:

Your address ,
,
.

Date

Greeting,

Opening

Contents

Closing

Signing off,
Signature

3. The language used is simple and friendly.

a. You can use contractions such as can’t, I’m, won’t, you’re and so on.
b. For examination, do not use slang like, “Hey, Wassup.” , “gonna” , “kinda”, “wanna”
4. Explanation about the format:
Format Explanation
Address  The writer’s address is written at the top right-hand corner
 For example:
25, Jalan Tebing 8/8, Add a coma at the end of each line of the
Seksyen 8, address
40000 Shah Alam,
Selangor Darul Ehsan. Add a fullstop at the end of the address
Date  Written below the address. For example: 6 June 2011
Greeting  Written on the left-hand side of the letter. Begin with:
 Dear........, For example: Dear Amin, Dear Latifah,
 Dearest…….., or My dear…., (for close friends & family)
For example: Dearest father, My dear Uncle Syed, Dearest Siti,
Opening You may begin your letter by:
(1st paragraph)  Asking about the person’s health. For example:
 How are you? I hope that you’re in the pink of health.
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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing
Format Explanation
 How’s your family getting on?
 I’m fine and I hope you’re fine too.
 I hope that you’re as fit as a fiddle.
 Asking what the reader had been up to?
 How’s the weather at your place? Not too hot I hope.
 Did you get to visit your grandparents?
 Did you go on your trip to Paris as you had hoped? They say Paris
is a beautiful city.
 Expressing happiness: For example:
 I received your letter on…
 I’m happy to receive your letter…
 Thank you for your letter which I received…..
 I’m so glad to hear…..
 I’m glad to learn that….
 Expressing sorrow:
 I’m sorry to hear that…..
 Expressing apology:
 I’d like to say sorry for…
 I’m sorry for not writing….
Content  In the 2nd paragraph, mention your main reason for writing the letter. You
(Several may use the following phrase:
paragraphs)  In your last letter, you wanted me to describe / advice…..
 I’m writing this letter to….
Closing Inform the reader that you are ending the letter. You may use the following
(Last paragraph) phrases:
 I’ll write again soon.
 Do write to me soon.
 Well, that’s about all for now.
 Please give/send my regards to…
 Please convey my warm regards to….
 Let me pen off here.
 Take care of yourself.
 Hope to hear from you soon.
 I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
 Hope to receive a reply from you.
 Bye / Goodbye.
Signing off If you are writing to your parents, you can sign off using:
 Your loving daughter,
 Yours lovingly,
 Yours affectionately

If you are writing to friends or relatives, you can sign off using:
 Your friend,
 Yours sincerely,

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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing
Format Explanation
 Yours faithfully,
 Your niece / nephew,
Signature Sign your name at the bottom of the letter in the right-hand corner.
For example:
Credit to : http://teachernuha.blogspot.com/

A good sample of Opening that you can memorize :

Dear ………………………………….,
How are you? I hope you are in the pink. My family and I are hale and hearty.
Thank you for your letter which I received three days ago. Sorry for the late
reply. I have been very busy with my study as the examination is just around the
corner. Mother was furious at me for studying at the eleventh hour. How about
you? I heard you passed your last exam with flying colours.
Well, the reason I am writing this letter is ……………….

A good sample of Closing that you can memorize :

Well, I have to stop here. My mother is calling for me. It must be my devilish
little brother again. Yesterday he drew Spongebob on my mother’s new sofa!
Hope to hear from you soon. Don’t forget to send my warmest regards to your
family.

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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing
How To Write A Recount :

1. Read and understand the notes and instructions carefully before you begin.

2. Study the picture / pictures carefully.

3. Ask yourself WH questions to help you;

- Where is the place?

- Who are the people?

- What are they doing?

- What happened? / What is happening?

- When it is? (time)

4. For picture series, try to connect the ideas from one picture to the next.

5. Write down the words and ideas beside each picture.

6. Organize your ideas. Use linking words such as ‘After that’, ‘Later’, ‘The next day’, ‘On the last
day’.

7. Elaborate each idea by adding interesting details.

8. Think about the conclusion. What happened in the end?

9. Try to have some moral values or lesson learnt from the story.

10. Keep the same tense. We usually use past tense to tell story or describe something that
happened.

Practise 1 : Using descriptive adjectives to make your idea more interesting.

List down any descriptive adjectives that you know according to the categories given.

Unforgettable

Experience
(Pengalaman)

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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing

Contented

Feeling : Happy
(Perasaan :
Gembira)

Scenic

View : Beautiful
(Pemandangan
: Cantik)

Luscious
* Easy way
to memorize,
‘o’ comes Taste : Tasty
before ‘u’ in
the alphabet (Rasa : Sedap)

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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing

Practise 2 : Using idioms / phrasal verbs to make your sentences more interesting.

Here are some examples of idioms / phrasal verbs that we often found in an essay. Find the
meaning of them.

Idioms / Phrasal Verbs Meaning

jumped at the chance
hale and hearty
in the pink
the eleventh hour
with flying colours
once in a blue moon
hustle and bustle
Mother Nature
hit the road
eye-opener

Practise 3 : For every trip / event / occasion, do not forget to state the objectives.

Here are some events / occasions, what do you think the aim of these activities :

 Camping trip / jungle-tekking / hiking

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
 Sports Day
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Teachers’ Day , English Week, Enviromental Week etc

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing

The Nature Club of your school organized a 3-day trip to Pulau Langkawi. The places you visited
and the activities carried out are given below. Write a letter to your bosom friend and tell him / her
on your experience there.

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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing

Help us to fill in the

blanks and complete the
letter below.

…………………………….
…………………………….
…………………………….
…………………………….

…………………………….
My dearest friend …………………………..,
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Well, the reason I am writing this letter is to tell you on my experience at Pulau Langkawi.

Recently, the Nature Club of my school organised a 3-day trip to Pulau Langkawi. There were 15 of us,

accompanied by 3 teachers. The aim of this trip is to instil awareness and love of nature. When my

teacher told me that I was selected for the trip, I jumped at the chance. For me, it was once in a blue

moon opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of

Mother Nature.

We hit the road at 8 in the morning. Along the journey, I saw yellowish paddy field and many

children flying kites happily at the ‘Kampung’. Then, we boarded a ferry at Langkawi Jetty. Even though I

felt a little seasick but the journey was interesting. Upon our arrival, we checked in for our chalets. The

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 English In Camp 2013 : Guided Writing
chalet was big and spacious, with 4 rooms, a living room and a kitchen too. We unpacked our things and

rested for a while before our first activity.

Our first destination was Pantai Cenang Underwater World. The entrance fee was only RM7. We

walked through a gigantic tunnel with large fish such as stingrays and sharks. There were also lots of

colourful small fishes. I bought some fridge magnets and key chains as souvenirs for my friends and

family. (Here I enclosed one for you)

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast of ‘Nasi Lemak’ and ‘The Tarik’, we went to Pantai

Kok. We visited Summer Palace, a film set for the popular movie, Anna and the King. We found some

props from the film and I asked my friend to take some pictures of me wearing one of the costumes.

Later, after lunch, we took a nap. At 3.00 p.m, we went for a cable car ride. Phew!! The wind was

strong and the cable car was swaying. It was a steep climb to the top. Even though it was a frightening

experience, I was mesmerized to see the spectacular and picture-postcard view of Pulau Langkawi.

On our last day, we went for a Mangrove Tour. We took a boat ride to visit the fish farm. We also

had a chance to watch the eagle feeding. They just simply swoop down to catch the fish. Our last

destination was Seven Wells Waterfalls. It was so relaxing to dip in the crystal clear, cool and refreshing

water. I really enjoy the picturesque view of the lush forest. At 5.00 p.m, we checked out and headed

home.

All in all, the trip was an eye-opener to all of us. We learn to appreciate the wonder of nature

and I really hope that we can go there together one day.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Yours Truly,

……………………………..
( )
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