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DIRECTED WRITING TEMPLATE FOR SPM

Step 1: READING THE QUESTION


Remember the F.A.C.T.S
FORMAT
AUDIENCE
CONTENT
POINTS
TASK(S)/ TENSE
SCENARIO
Step 2: UNDERSTANDING FORMAT (relevant aspects of format)
You must know the aspects of a particular format, so you will get 3 marks for it.
a
Formal report
b
Formal letter

1. To: ________________ (addressee)


2. From: ______________ (reporter)
3. Title: ________________ (relevant title)
1. Senders address
2. Recipients post
Recipients address
3. Date (1 April 2013)
4. Salutation (Dear Sir,)
5. Title (Relevant title)
6. Complimentary Close (Yours faithfully/ sincerely

Informal letter

1. Senders address
2. Salutation (Dear )
3. Complimentary Close (Yours sincerely/Your cousin)

Speech / Talk

1. Greeting
2. Topic/Purpose
3. Ending/ Thanking audience

Article

1. Title (relevant to the task)


2. Writers name
3. Appropriate ending/ write in paragraphs (depending

on the reminder given in the question paper)

Step 3: UNDERSTANDING AUDIENCE


Your audience will determine the TONE to be used in your writing. There are ONLY
two tones: Formal and informal tone.
People
without
authority

Cousin/ friend/
uncle/ auntie

People with
authority

Principal/ manager/
Formal / Direct / Respectful/ Polite
chief of police

Informal/ polite/ friendly

Step 4: UNDERSTANDING CONTENT POINTS

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DIRECTED WRITING TEMPLATE FOR SPM

Step 5: UNDERSTANDING TASK(S)/ PURPOSE OF WRITING and


TENSE
Year

Task(s)

Tense(s)

2012

Giving advice

Present

2011

Sharing information/ Informing

Present

2010

Informing/ giving reasons

Present

2009

Giving reasons/ suggestions

Present

2008

Sharing information/ informing

Mixed

2007

Persuading/ informing

Present

2006

Giving reasons

Mixed

2005

Informing / sharing information

Mixed

2004

Complaining/ requesting

Mixed

How to improve vocabulary for TASK

The thesaurus is a very helpful tool in providing students with an arsenal


of wide and precise vocabulary. But, care must be taken because not all
words related to a particular word can be used to replace it. You have to
see whether the word suits or fits in with the context.
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DIRECTED WRITING TEMPLATE FOR SPM

TASK/ VERB

RELATED WORDS/ SYNONMYMS

Inform

Tell, let someone know, notify, advise

Advise

Counsel, recommend, suggest, advocate, urge


Inform, notify, give notice
Protest, grouse, whine, make a fuss, bleat, grumble, carp
(informal) gripe, moan, whinge
Criticize, protest about, object to, find fault with

Complain

Suggest

Encourage

Request

Reason

Choose

Report

Propose, put forward, recommend, advocate, advise,


nominate
signify, indicate, show, imply, hint
Support, motivate, inspire, cheer, spur on, egg on
Persuade, urge, press, coax
Stimulate, foster, nurture, cultivate, promote, boost,
strengthen
Ask for, appeal for, call for, seek, apply for, beg for,
demand
Call on, ask, invite, entreat, implore, beg, beseech
Argue with, persuade, talk round
Select, decide on, pick out, opt for, plump for, settle on,
vote for, elect
Decide, determine, prefer, resolve
Communicate, give an account of, describe, announce,
publish, broadcast, disclose
Complain about, inform on, denounce
(informal) tell on, rat on, shop
Present yourself, make yourself known, check in

Step 6: UNDERSTANDING SCENARIO (Information that cannot be


changed)
The context of the writing will revolve around your life as SPM students.
Step 7: PLANNING YOUR ESSAY / PARAGRAPHING (3 minutes)
How many paragraphs do you need? How do you put the points in
paragraphs? Paragraphs should be meaningful.
Introductio

Purpose of writing and some background information

n
Paragraph

Maybe points C1 and C2

#1
Paragraph

C3 and C4

#2
Paragraph

C5 and C6

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DIRECTED WRITING TEMPLATE FOR SPM

#3
Paragraph

C7 and C8

#4
Paragraph

C9 and C10

#5
Paragraph

C11 and C12

#6
Conclusion Restate your purpose/ tell about your hopes and wishes
Step 8: WRITING YOUR ESSAY (within 30 minutes)
Your essay should about 1 page to 2 pages. Remember you must :
get 3 marks for FORMAT
use all 12 CONTENT points.
Plan your essay
ELABORATE your points.
Edit
HOW TO START YOUR OPENING PARAGRAPH
You can either write using your own way or use the following way.
1. Use the information found in the background information given in
the question paper.
2. Change the pronouns (Normally, we only use the pronouns I for
the writer and You for the reader/audience)
3. Add details where possible (We usually answer questions using
WHO, WHERE and WHEN)
Example:

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DIRECTED WRITING TEMPLATE FOR SPM

HOW TO WRITE YOUR CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH


In the concluding paragraph, it is normal to:
Reiterate your thesis statement/ purpose of writing
Write about your hopes and wishes/dreams
Give your final thoughts
Give a rhetorical question
Provide a relevant quotation/ proverb or idiom
Example:
Generic
I have come to the end of my ........................ I hope you have understood
what I have written. I also hope that I have given you all the
information/tips/steps/ advice that you need.
Specific:
I hope you have learned how to spend your money wisely and not to waste
it on unnecessary items.
I hope you will take the appropriate actions after reading my report.
I hope after this you will definitely improve your first aid skills.
I hope you will be excited to join the NS programme and get all the
benefits from it.
Rhetorical Questions
Why are you still having second thoughts? (Go for it. Im sure youll enjoy
yourself there.)
Are you going to ignore my suggestions until a student die before taking
actions?
What are we going to be? (A success or a failure. Number 1 or NO one)
ELABORATION
Elaboration is a MUST. This is one of the reasons why you are tested. It is for you
to show your ability in using the English language. Elaboration will be awarded
marks under the category of LANGUAGE.
What is ELABORATION?
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DIRECTED WRITING TEMPLATE FOR SPM


THE INCLUSION OF OWN MATERIAL RELEVANT TO THE TASK AND MUST BE
DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CONTENT POINT. IT CAN BE EITHER:
A SINGLE WORD ] add adjectives or adverbs
A PHRASE
] answer questions like WHO, WHERE, WHEN
A WHOLE SENTENCE
HOWEVER, IT MUST ADD A NEW DIMENSION OR GIVE MORE INFORMATION.
Elaboration could be an EXPLANATION, a DESCRIPTION, a DETAIL, an EXAMPLE, a
SUGGESTION or a SOLUTION. It can be a mixture of all six.
(Note: Dont over elaborate. Remember, there is a time limit of 45 minutes for this
question.)

This is the opportunity for students to show their creativity and maturity and
depth of thoughts. You can add on your own ideas to the essay.
How to ELABORATE?
1. LOOK AT THE CONTENT POINT
2. THEN, ASK RELEVANT QUESTIONS ABOUT IT
(Use the 5W1H technique, ask WHY four or five times or simply ask So
what?)
3. NEXT, ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS
Example:

Step 9: EDITING YOUR ESSAY USING THE SPOTCAP METHOD (5


minutes)
Please spend some time to edit your essay.
Spelling

British spelling. Make sure no errors in copying

Preposition/ Phrasal Verbs


Order of words
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from the rubric


Be careful with their usage

DIRECTED WRITING TEMPLATE FOR SPM


Tense
Choice of words
Agreement (SV, number,
gender)
Punctuation

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Make sure you are consistent and use it correctly


Dont repeat words unnecessarily
Check your sentences

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