Section a : Directed Writing

Section A : Directed Writing

( 35 marks)

( Time Suggested : 45 minutes)

Father’s Day is just around the corner and you wish to buy a present for your father. You would like to get him something special. You have two items in mind for him but you do not have any idea which would be a better gift. Using the information given below, write a letter to your mother asking her for her advice.

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CANON CAMERA
· RM 800
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· Digital zooming during movie recording
· Built-in- video editing
· Colour function for colour customisation / SONY
· RM 900
· PDA with four gigabytes of storage
· Colour screen
· Wireless access using built-in Wi-Fi with Bluetooth wireless technology
· Can store songs, appointments and pictures

When writing the letter, you should remember:

· to compare the items using all the notes given

· to state the item that you have chosen

· to give reasons for your choice by providing information about:

- what your father’s occupation

- your father’s hobbies

- your father’s likes and dislikes

- how it will be useful to him

· to give two reasons of your own

Section B : Continuous Writing

( 50 marks)

( Time Suggested : One hour)

Write a composition of about 350 words on one of the following topics.

Describe an unforgettable childhood experience.
A personal computer is a need, not a luxury. Do you agree? Support your opinion.
A caring society.
Write a story that ends with:

… At last, he knew that nothing in this world could bring his mother back to him again.

Recycling

PAPER 1 (85 marks)

Format : 3 marks

Content : 10 marks

Elaborations : 2 marks

Language : 20 marks

Total 35 marks

F1 / Address & date
F2 / Dear …. & Introduction
F3 / Closing & Signature

** Indicate errors of language by underlining the word or phrase. Indicate by a tick (√), good appropriate vocabulary,

structure and tone. Award marks on a ‘best-fit’ basis by referring to the marking band.

** Need not use exact words given. However, own language must convey the same meaning

** Do not award marks for mere mention of key words.

CONTENT POINTS AND ELABORATIONS

Marks / Main ideas
C1 / Compare- price
C2 / Compare - Feature 1
C3 / Compare - Feature 2
C4 / Compare - Feature 3
C5 / Compare - Feature 4
C6 / State the item chosen
C7 / Reason - your father’s occupation
C8 / Reason - your father’s hobbies
C9 / Reason - your father’s likes and dislikes
C10 / Reason - how it will be useful to him
C11 / Own reason 1
C12 / Own reason 2

MARKING BAND FOR LANGUAGE IN DIRECTED WRITING

Category / Marks allotted / Remarks/Description
Excellent
(A1 – A2) / 19 - 20 / · No mistakes in grammar (including spelling and punctuation)
· Effective use of varied sentence structures
· Wide vocabulary, used expressively/precisely
· Good style/tone
· Coherence in paragraphing
Good
(B3 – B4) / 16- 18 / · Few mistakes in grammar – mistakes arise from more unusual/complex language use
· Some variety in sentence structures
· Some width in vocabulary – con convey shades of meaning
· Satisfactory style/tone
· Some coherence in paragraphing
· Points organized in paragraphs
Satisfactory
(C5 – C6) / 13 - 16 / · Some mistakes in grammar but language use is mainly accurate. Mistakes arise from more complex language use
· Some variety in sentence structures – but mostly repetitive sentence types
· Mainly basic vocabulary – errors use of more ambitious vocabulary
· Fair style/tone
· Some coherence in paragraphing
Passable
(D7) / 10-12 / · Many mistakes in grammar but the meaning is still clear. Patches of accurate language use occur
· Little variety of sentence structures
· Mainly basic vocabulary – errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
· Barely adequate style/tone
· Little coherence in paragraphing
Unsatisfactory
(E8) / 7-9 / · Many serious mistakes in grammar but the meaning is fairly clear. A few simple structures may be correct
· Little variety in sentence structures
· Only basic vocabulary – errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
· Inadequate style/tone
· Disorganized points
Poor
(F9) / 3 - 6 / · Frequent and serious mistakes in grammar vocabulary make the meaning barely comprehensible
· Only simple sentence structures
· Very basic vocabulary – many errors in use of even simple words
0 - 2 / · Almost unrecognizable as English
· Almost no sense can be made at all

MARKING SYMBOLS

√ / Merit
------ / Serious error(single word error)
~~~~ / Minor error(single word error)
^ / Omission (words, preposition, etc.)
® / Repetition
|| / Multiple word error (parallel lines in the right-hand margin) – whole sentence that doesn’t mean anything

CONTINUOUS WRITING (50 MARKS)

The free composition is basically assessed by “general impression”. However, the following levels can be noted:

Category / Marks allotted / Remarks/Description
Excellent
(A1 – A2) / 44 – 50 / · Hardly any mistakes in grammar (including spelling and punctuation)
· Effective use of varied sentence structures
· Wide vocabulary, used expressively/precisely
· Good and relevant points
· Coherence in paragraphing
· Well-organized paragraphing
· Essay is very interesting and shows originality
Good
(B3 – B4) / 38 - 43 / · Few mistakes in grammar – mistakes arise from more unusual/complex language use
· Some variety in sentence structures
· Some width in vocabulary – con convey shades of meaning
· Relevant points
· Some coherence in paragraphing
· Points organized in paragraphs
· Essay is interesting
Satisfactory
(C5 – C6) / 32 - 37 / · Some mistakes in grammar but language use is mainly accurate. Mistakes arise from more complex language use
· Some variety in sentence structures. However, generally, repetitive sentence types are found
· Mainly basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
· Relevant points
· Some coherence in paragraphing
· Not very well-organized points
· Essay is slightly interesting
Passable
(D7) / 26 - 31 / · Many mistakes in grammar but the meaning is still clear. Patches of accurate language use occur
· Little variety of sentence structures
· Only basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
· Points are mostly relevant; some illogical/irrelevant points
· Little coherence in paragraphing
· Not very well-organized points
· Essay is not interesting
Unsatisfactory
(E8) / 20 - 25 / · Many serious mistakes in grammar but the meaning is fairly clear. A few simple structures may be correct
· Little variety in sentence structures
· Only basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
· Topic is not well-treated
· Disorganized points
· Little coherence in paragraphing
· Essay is not interesting
Poor
(F9) / 14 - 19 / · Many serious mistakes in grammar and the meaning is not very clear
· Only simple sentence structures
· Very basic vocabulary; many errors in use of words
· Poor treatment of topic due to poor linguistic ability
· Hardly any organization; probably no paragraphing
8 - 13 / · Very frequent and serious mistakes in grammar vocabulary make the meaning barely comprehensible
0 – 7 / · Almost unrecognizable as English
· Almost no sense can be made at all

** No precise penalty for short scripts